Augusta Chronicle, The

Market Doesn't Have As Many Top Free-Agents

Drew Bledsoe has signed with Dallas and Muhsin Muhammad with the Bears. Ty Law has drawn interest from several teams. The Tennessee Six - especially Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason - are hot commodities on the free-agent market. As the signing period begins today, the players most in demand are those who have been released by their former employers or are about to be - as good or better than the rest of the free agents.

Overtime

High Schools Call goes out for spring schedules

Paine Needs All-Around Game to Win Tournament

Ron Spry gives a sheepish grin when asked about his team's tournament chances. Can Paine do what it did in 1999 and 2002 and bring home another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship?

Today in History

1962 Wilt Chamberlain scores an NBA-record 100 points to lead the Philadelphia Warriors to a 169-147 triumph over the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pa. Chamberlain scores 59 second-half points and 28 from the foul line for records. Both teams combine for 316 points to surpass the record of 312 set by Boston-Minneapolis on Feb. 27, 1959.

Overtime

High Schools Call goes out for spring schedules

Academic Plan Just Might Work

Myles Brand already held some credentials as a reformer when he was named to head the NCAA a little over two years ago. This was a guy, after all, who had the guts as president of Indiana University to give the boot to Bob Knight. That move didn't exactly endear Brand to the home folks, some of whom joined angry students to hang Brand in effigy outside his own home. Police had to come to take Brand and his wife away to a safer location until calmer heads prevailed.

Heels Not Sure When Mccants Can Return

Second-ranked North Carolina is still waiting to find out when it will have its leading scorer back in the lineup. Rashad McCants has missed two games with an intestinal disorder, and could miss Thursday's game against Florida State. His father, James, told The News & Observer of Raleigh that the junior should be back "at least" in time for Sunday's regular-season finale against No. 6 Duke.

Johnson Is a No Go for First Spring Start

Randy Johnson will miss his first scheduled spring training start with the Yankees on Thursday because of tightness in his left calf. The problem is not considered serious, and the left-hander is expected to be ready for what would have been his second start next Tuesday.

Study Says Nfl Teams Are Too Fat Players Union Says Report Is Not Accurate

It's no secret that size matters in the National Football League, but a new study suggests that a whopping 56 percent of NFL players would be considered obese by some medical standards. The NFL called the study bogus for using players' body-mass index, a height-to-weight ratio that doesn't consider body muscle vs. fat. The players union said that despite the familiar sight of bulging football jerseys, there's no proof that obesity is rampant in the league.

Women to Crown New Champion This Year

The last time Georgia College & State visited Christen-berry Fieldhouse, the Lady Bobcats climbed up ladders and cut down nets. That won't happen again this year.

Hudson Signs Through 2009

Tim Hudson, it seems, won't be a one-year wonder in Atlanta. The Braves and Hudson made sure that was the case Tuesday by agreeing to a four-year, $47 million extension for the recently acquired 29-year-old right-hander, a two-time All-Star who won 20 games in 2000.

Jack-of-All Trades Orr Could Earn a Spot On Opening Day Roster

Peter Orr grew up in Canada playing hockey in the winter, baseball in the summer. Maybe he'll get to spend this summer in Atlanta.

Pga Tour Should Embrace the Idea of Shorter Season

During the Sunday brunch break at the accosting at La Costa, the most exciting alternative was to listen to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. Finchem spoke of expansion and moving and changing. Without saying anything concrete, he opened the possibility that the future of the PGA Tour could look very different than the present.

More Than an Exhibition Nationals Play Their First Game

It's only an exhibition, and it's only spring training, when wins and losses don't count. Still, for a team that finally is setting down roots, it's a big deal to play a game - any game - with "Nationals" on the jerseys and a curly "W" on the caps.

Baseball

WESTSIDE 15, BUTLER 0 Butler 000 0 - 0 0 2

Bryant Case Nears End

Experts believe a settlement between Kobe Bryant and the woman who has accused him of rape makes the most sense for both sides because it allows them to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial that would bring out intimate details of their lives. ABC News Radio reported Tuesday that the NBA star and his 20- year-old accuser have reached an agreement in principle, with a settlement possible as early as this week.

Ford Helps Clemson Become Nit-Eligible

Sharrod Ford made a dunk with 0.2 seconds left to give Clemson a 66-64 win over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Olu Babalola made a 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining to tie the game at 64 for Clemson (15-13, 5-10 Atlantic Coast Conference). Then Vernon Hamilton made a steal, threw a pass to Shawn Robinson who found Ford streaking to the basket.

Jags Don't Count On Home Edge

Flying under the radar won't be an option for first-year coach Dip Metress and his Jaguars. Not after how they've performed at home. Three top-20 opponents have departed Christenberry Fieldhouse with a loss this season. In fact, Augusta State has surrendered just one defeat in 12 games on its home floor.

Bryant Case Nears End

Experts believe a settlement between Kobe Bryant and the woman who has accused him of rape makes the most sense for both sides because it allows them to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial that would bring out intimate details of their lives. ABC News Radio reported Tuesday that the NBA star and his 20- year-old accuser have reached an agreement in principle, with a settlement possible as early as this week.

Youth Is On Jackets' Side

One class of players could hold the key to Georgia Tech's hopes of a late-season and tournament run. The freshmen.