Cox Begins Serving 5-Game Suspension

Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox began serving a five-game suspension after dropping plans to appeal the punishment he received for making contact with an umpire. Cox appeared to bump Derryl Cousins July 4. He was informed of the five-game suspension Thursday and immediately spoke of appealing the decision. But he changed his mind and sat out the Braves’ game Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

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Madison Square Garden Network has sued the New York Yankees, claiming that owners of the baseball club are trying to destroy the cable network and steal its right to broadcast Yankee games. In papers filed in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court, MSG says Yankee owners are violating contractual rights that MSG “bargained for carefully and paid for handsomely” in a $500-million deal in 1988. That deal expires at the end of the current baseball season.

The Yankees are trying to put the telecasts on a network in which they have 95% control.

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Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee, which he hurt in a collision a week earlier with Dodger shortstop Alex Cora. . . . Kansas City Royal outfielder Carlos Beltran will be sidelined until at least September because of a deep bone bruise in his right knee. . . . Chuck Knoblauch was out of the Yankees’ lineup for at least one night because of a bruised left wrist and thumb, the latest setback in a struggling season for the second baseman. . . . San Francisco put right-handed pitcher Joe Nathan on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder. . . . The Montreal Expos put outfielder Rondell White on the 15-day disabled list because of with a right hamstring strain. . . . Expo shortstop Orlando Cabrera left the team’s game at Tampa Bay in the third inning because of a right shoulder sprain.