IN BRIEF

COLLEGES

Stanford considers cuts due to budget shortfall

Stanford's athletic department is projecting a $5 million loss in revenue over the next three years and is considering cutting staff and eliminating some sports teams, The Associated Press has learned.

The school is expected to decide in the next 30 to 60 days on staff cuts, a Stanford employee familiar with the budget issues told the AP on the condition of anonymity, because the person is not authorized to discuss the shortfall.

The person also said Tuesday it wasn't clear which teams, if any, would be considered for elimination. Reducing travel costs also was being discussed.

Stanford has 35 sports teams, 19 for women, 15 for men and one coed squad.

Also: The Big East Conference has decided not to take any action following Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma's postgame exchange with a Syracuse player last week.

Commissioner Mike Tranghese issued a statement saying both schools' athletic directors have assured him there will be no repeat of the incident.

Auriemma had words with Syracuse's Nicole Michael in the handshake line after the Huskies' 107-53 victory Saturday, and was pulled away from the junior forward by assistant coach Shea Ralph.

When Auriemma went back through the line to leave the court, Michael appeared to step in his direction, and he tripped over her foot.

Kansas officials are checking to see if basketball coach Bill Self's brief encounter with a top recruit might constitute an NCAA infraction.

Self agrees he said hello to John Wall, a 6-foot-4-inch guard who had just played in a high school tournament in Springfield, Mo. It happened during an evaluation period last week when college coaches are not allowed contact with prospects other than to exchange greetings.

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez hired Greg Robinson as defensive coordinator. Robinson, the former head coach at Syracuse who was fired in November after going 10-37 in four seasons, replaces Scott Shafer.

HOCKEY

Isles goalie DiPietro shelved for season

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro is out for the season after playing only five games because of persistent problems with his surgically repaired left knee.

The Islanders cited persistent swelling and took precautionary action because they are not in playoff contention.

DiPietro is in the third season of a landmark contract, having agreed to a $67.5 million, 15-year deal in the summer of 2006.

Also: Columbus Blue Jackets backup goaltender Pascal Leclaire will undergo ankle surgery Friday that probably will sideline him through the regular season.

General manager Scott Howson also said starting goalie Steve Mason will skip this weekend's YoungStars exhibition game in Montreal because of back spasms.

MISCELLANEOUS

Vitaly Klitschko will defend title in Germany

Vitaly Klitschko's mandatory WBC heavyweight title defense against Juan Carlos Gomez of Cuba on March 21 will be in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Ukrainian had been hoping to fight David Haye in June in London, but will instead take on the No. 1-ranked challenger by the WBC.

Also: PGA Tour pro Paul Goydos, who has combined golf with being a single father the last five years, is taking a leave of absence after his former wife died suddenly over the weekend.

Blue Giraffe Sports, his management company, said Wendy Goydos died Saturday morning.

Goydos said last year that his ex-wife continued to cope with an addiction to painkillers, which led to their divorce. He was awarded full custody of his daughters in 2004, when they were 13 and 11.

Anthony Kim withdrew from this week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic because of a sore left shoulder, leaving the tournament without a player ranked among the top 15.

The five-round tournament begins today in La Quinta, Calif.

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract.

After signing his first 10-day deal on Jan. 10, Miles played three games and averaged 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Miles is back from major knee surgery. His return put the Portland Trail Blazers on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his current contract.

UNLV's Charlie Tapp was named Mountain West Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week. Tapp won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events in the Rebels' victories at Air Force and at Wyoming, and he also swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay team in both meets.