Sports Briefs

Hutchison qualfies for World Wrestling tourney

Melina Hutchison, a 19-year-old who finished up her wrestling career at Skyview High School last season, continued to show she's one of the best women's wrestlers in the country at her weight.

Hutchison won the 54-kilogram championship at the Junior Women's Nationals and World Team Trials June 1 through 3 in Dayton, Ohio. The victory earned Hutchison her second straight berth to the FILA Junior Women's World Wrestling Championships, which will be held Aug. 17 to 19 in Martigny, Switzerland.

Then Hutchison went and finished fourth at the Women's World Team Trials, which were held in Ohio June 21 though 23.

Hutchison won her category at the Junior Women's Nationals by defeating Brooke Bogren of Carbondale, Kan., 9-3 in the championship.

"I started off slow in the first part of the match, probably because I was too worried about winning it," Hutchison said. "After the first period I was ahead by one, and I starting thinking about getting into wrestling because it's fun.

"I went out and had fun, and I started wrestling better."

Hutchison said the championship was the toughest match of the tournament. She also said she's looking forward to turning in a better performance at the Junior Women's World Wrestling Championships this year.

"I didn't do that good last year," Hutchison said. "I had a tournament the week before and I hurt my shoulder.

"I took some medicine for that and it slowed me down a bit."

After the summer, Hutchison said she is planning on wrestling in college and majoring in elementary education. She still has not decided which college she will attend.

NBA relocation committee OKs Grizzlies' move

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Vancouver Grizzlies are just one step away from moving to Memphis, and local basketball boosters believe it's a short step at most.

The NBA's relocation committee approved the move Thursday. Now, the league's Board of Governors has until July 3 to cast the final vote.

''So after 30 years of Memphis pursuing a national sports team, we're just excited to be part of helping bringing it to our town,'' said J.R. ''Pitt'' Hyde, founder of AutoZone and leader of the Memphis ''NBA pursuit team.''

Hyde's group hopes to buy up to 50 percent of the Grizzlies, a move that also must be approved by the NBA.

Lakers' Fisher breaks foot, prompting trade

LOS ANGELES -- Lakers guard Derek Fisher has broken his right foot for the second time in a year, prompting the two-time NBA champions to acquire guard Lindsay Hunter from the Milwaukee Bucks for backup center Greg Foster on Thursday.

Fisher's latest injury was revealed in tests done two days ago, team spokesman John Black said Thursday. Fisher could be out 4-to-6 months.

IRL drivers get first crack at crowded RIR

RICHMOND, Va. -- Sarah Fisher and Donnie Beechler hit the wall, Jeff Ward spun out, and more than 17 mph separated the fastest and slowest after the first IRL practices at Richmond International Raceway.

Fisher was fourth fastest among the 19 drivers in the split afternoon session Thursday until clipping the wall heading out of turn two. Her car sustained only minor damage, but Fisher was taken to a hospital ass a precautionary measure after complaining of neck pain.

Pens give Jagr's agent permission to negotiate

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have given Jaromir Jagr's agent permission to talk to the New York Rangers and at least one other team -- likely, the Dallas Stars -- about a contract extension.

Such an extension probably must be reached before any team will trade for the five-time NHL scoring champion, who is owed $20.7 million over the next two seasons. Without an extension, Jagr would become eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2002-03 season.

Jagr has asked the Penguins to trade him, and team owner Mario Lemieux is agreeable to doing a deal, saying, ''It's probably time for a change.''

Jagr's agent, Mike Barnett, said he was given permission by the Penguins to talk to the Rangers and ''other specific teams'' about an extension. Now that the Stars have decided not to exercise their option on Brett Hull, they are also expected to pursue Jagr.

''We're trying to build a team,'' said Stars general manager Bob Gainey, who brought up Jagr's name several days ago. ''We have the basis for a good team. We need to add to it.''

Several other teams are believed to be interested in Jagr, including the Los Angeles Kings, but it is not certain if any have asked to negotiate with him. St. Louis also is a possibility if the Blues lose free agent Pierre Turgeon.

Penguins general manager Craig Patrick hinted at the NHL draft last weekend that he does not foresee a trade until after teams begin signing free agents this weekend.

Jagr's first choice is believed to be the Rangers because he likes the style of offense that coach Ron Low plays and he would be reunited with former Penguins teammate Petr Nedved.

''The team (New York) is good enough to start making it into the playoffs again and, ultimately, to get back to the very top,'' Jagr said Tuesday at a news conference in Prague.

The Penguins have 18 free agents, and they can't afford to keep Jagr and still retain their other core players, such as Alexei Kovalev, Martin Straka, Robert Lang and defenseman Bob Boughner.

Pittsburgh is expected to make a qualifying offer of $1.045 million this weekend to Boughner, which would be the required 10 percent raise from his $950,000 salary of last season.

To retain Boughner, the Penguins might have to trade defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, who made $1.6 million last season.