MLB: Mets, Heilman reach deal
The Mets and Aaron Heilman agreed on a one-year deal for the reliever at $1.2 million, and the Yankees did the same with Wilson Betemit at $1.165 million. Both players were arbitration-eligible. The Mets also finalized their minor-league deal with Jose Valentin, whose salary will be $1 million if he makes the major league team.
– Mark Hale
NFL: Jets hire Callahan
The Jets yesterday agreed to terms with former Raiders and Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan to be their assistant head coach in charge of the running offense. Callahan will work with the offensive line and Brian chottenheimer will remain the offensive coordinator. Schottenheimer, who was mentioned for the Ravens job, is out of the running because Baltimore hired John Harbaugh.
– Mark Cannizzaro
OBIT: Steelers’ great Holmes dead at 59
Ernie Holmes, who won two Super Bowls as an anchor of Pittsburgh’s famed “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970s, died in a car crash near Houston. He was 59.
* In Los Angeles, Georgia Frontiere, the St. Louis native who became a hometown hero when she brought the NFL’s Rams from Los Angeles in 1995, died. She was 80.
HOCKEY: Crosby hurt
Penguin star Sidney Crosby badly sprained an ankle while crashing into the boards in the first period of last night’s 3-0 loss to the Lightning in Pittsburgh.
BALCO: Former NFL player pleads guilty
Former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty to lying to investigators in the BALCO steroids case, making him the first football player charged in the long-running federal investigation. A plea deal calls for Stubblefield to spend zero to six months in prison.
SOCCER: Red Bulls draft three
The Red Bulls selected three players the MLS draft, led by Ohio State All-American defender Eric Brunner. The Bulls also took California’s Luke Sassano and Northwestern’s David Roth.
– Brian Lewis
LACROSSE: Game 2 for Titans
The 1-0 New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League play their second game of the season tonight when the travel to Buffalo to take on the 1-1 Bandits.