IN BRIEF

BASEBALL

Reds trade outfielder Hamilton to Rangers

The Cincinnati Reds traded outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers on Friday for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera.

Hamilton, 26, was one of baseball's best comeback stories last season, when he finally made it to the majors after years of alcohol and drug abuse nearly ended his career. He batted .292 in his first major league season with 19 home runs and 47 RBIs in 298 at-bats.

Hamilton showed why he was the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 1999 draft, displaying his speed, power and defense. His season was interrupted by an inflamed digestive track and a sprained wrist, but he still received 151,000 write-in votes for the All-Star Game, the top total in the National League.

Also: The NL champion Colorado Rockies filled a vacancy in their bullpen by agreeing to a $7.5 million, two-year contract with right-hander Luis Vizcaino.

Cuban slugger Alexei Ramirez has agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox. Terms were not disclosed. Ramirez, who primarily played second base and outfield for Cuba, batted .335 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs last season.

BASKETBALL

Pitt starter Cook out for season with injury

Senior small forward Mike Cook will miss the rest of the season for No. 11 Pittsburgh after injuring his left knee in overtime in the Panthers' 65-64 victory over No. 6 Duke on Thursday.

Cook, who has started 48 consecutive games for Pitt, will have surgery in the next two weeks to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and other injuries. He was averaging 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this season.

Also: New Mexico State starting center Hatila Passos and reserve guard Paris Carter were suspended indefinitely by coach Marvin Menzies for violating team rules. Passos is averaging 10.5 points per game and Carter 6.1.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Desmond Mason was scheduled to have surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Mason, averaging 8.0 points and 3.9 rebounds, is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

MISCELLANEOUS

NHL's Hurricanes lose All-Star wing Williams

Carolina right wing Justin Williams will undergo surgery and miss at least four months after tearing a knee ligament.

Williams, an All-Star last season who has nine goals and 21 assists this season, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first period of the Hurricanes' 5-4 loss at Florida on Thursday. He had played in 205 consecutive regular-season games.

Also: The Columbus Blue Jackets activated right wing David Vyborny, the club's career leader in assists, points and games, off injured reserve. He had been sidelined since Dec. 1 with a groin injury.

The Philadelphia Flyers and John Stevens agreed to a one-year contract extension that will take the second-year coach through the 2008-09 season.

American Lindsey Vonn won a women's World Cup downhill in St. Anton Am Arlberg, Austria, despite skiing off the course in the first part of the race. Vonn finished in 1 minute, 32 seconds for her second victory of the season.

A 21-year-old nephew of Trevor Berbick has been convicted along with another man in Kingston, Jamaica, of killing the former heavyweight champion. Authorities said the two beat Berbick to death in October 2006.

UNLV women's soccer player Katie Carney was named to the Soccer Buzz All-West Region Third Team. The senior forward led the Rebels in scoring for the fourth straight year, finishing with 21 points.