IN BRIEF (Page 24)

NBA

Spurs re-sign Thomas

HOUSTON: The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed forward/center Kurt Thomas, the team said on its website (www.spurs.com) on Tuesday.

Thomas joined the team in February from Seattle and appeared in 28 games last season, averaging 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. He played in all 17 playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed in principle on terms of a contract with guard Sebastian Telfair, the team said on its website (www.timberwolves.com).

Telfair averaged 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and a career-high 5.9 assists last season before spraining his left ankle and missing the final 21 games of the season.

Baseball

Astros get Wolf from Padres

HOUSTON: The Houston Astros boosted their starting rotation by acquiring 31-year-old pitcher Randy Wolf from the San Diego Padres, the Astros said on their website (astros.mlb.com) on Tuesday.

The Padres acquired minor league right-hander Chad Reineke from their fellow National League strugglers in exchange for the left-handed Wolf.

"Randy is an experienced starter and a great competitor," Astros general manager Ed Wade said in a statement.

Wolf posted a 6-10 record with a 4.74 earned run average in 21 starts with the Padres this season. He has an 84-76 career record during 10 Major League seasons and is expected to start on Sunday at Milwaukee.

Soccer

Crime gang tried to buy Lazio

ROME: A notorious Italian organized crime gang tried to buy soccer club Lazio through third parties using funds gained from violence and intimidation, authorities said on Tuesday.

The plan by the Casalesi clan of the Camorra, the Naples version of the mafia, came to light as police in Rome served arrest warrants to 10 people including former Lazio player and president Giorgio Chinaglia.

In 2006 Lazio president Claudio Lotito was given police protection after receiving threats from "ultra" fans who were allegedly trying to intimidate him into selling to a consortium led by Chinaglia.

Chinaglia was charged with market-rigging linked to his bid and had since been a fugitive in the United States.

Barcelona to sign Henrique

MADRID: Barcelona has agreed to sign Brazilian defender Henrique on a five-year deal from Palmeiras for a fee of eight million euros ($12.74 million), but said the player will be loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen next season.

The Primera Liga side released a statement that said the deal included an additional two-million euro bonus payment if the club qualified for the Champions League after Henrique returns from Bayer.

Barcelona has sold Ronaldinho to AC Milan and brought in Martin Caceres, Gerard Pique and Daniel Alves to bolster its defense and Aleksandr Hleb and Seydou Keita to strengthen the midfield.

Tennis

Djokovic opens title defense

TORONTO: World No 3 Novak Djokovic opened the defense of his Toronto Masters title in impressive style with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Canadian Frank Dancevic on Tuesday.

The Australian Open champion was joined in the third round by sixth-seeded American Andy Roddick, who launched his hard-court campaign earlier in the day with a battling 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 win over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

World No 1 Roger Federer and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal open their accounts on Wednesday after receiving first-round byes in the $2.6 million event.

(China Daily 07/24/2008 page24)