Lindros Finally Joins the Rangers

Eric Lindros’ tenure in Philadelphia officially is over. The Flyers traded the star center to the New York Rangers on Monday, ending a 15-month impasse.

In return, the Flyers got left wing Jan Hlavac, defenseman Kim Johnsson, young forward Pavel Brendl and a third-round draft pick in 2003.

If Lindros, who has suffered multiple concussions, goes down with a head injury during the exhibition season or within the first 50 games of the regular season, and doesn’t return to action within a year, Philadelphia will send a first-round pick to the Rangers in 2003.

Lindros, who hasn’t played since May 26, 2000, when he suffered his sixth concussion, was confident he could come back.

“If you look at other players that have come back, they haven’t had the opportunity to heal,” he said.

Flyer General Manager Bob Clarke, who feuded with Lindros the last few years, was pleased with the deal.

“I guess ‘relief’ is a good word,” he said. “It’s been hanging over the team’s head for a long time.”

Goalie Olaf Kolzig signed a five-year, $31-million contract extension with the Washington Capitals. . . . New Jersey Devil assistant coach Viacheslav Fetisov was named coach and general manager of Russia’s Olympic hockey team.

Tennis

U.S. Open seedings, which now include 32 men and 32 women instead of 16 for each, were released with Gustavo Kuerten and Martina Hingis seeded No. 1.

Two-time champion Andre Agassi is seeded second, followed by defending champion Marat Safin. Pete Sampras is 10th, his lowest seeding since 1990. On the women’s side, Jennifer Capriati is seeded second, Lindsay Davenport third, Wimbledon champion Venus Williams fourth and sister Serena 10th.

Anna Kournikova, seeded 19th, withdrew because of a foot injury that has sidelined her most of the year. Mary Pierce, Richard Krajicek and Magnus Norman also withdrew.

Qualifier Anastasia Myskina of Russia upset South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer, 6-3, 7-5, in the first round of the Pilot Pen tournament at New Haven, Conn. . . . Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement of France rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) first-round victory over Wayne Arthurs in the Hamlet Cup at Commack, N.Y.

Miscellany

Mike Skinner, who failed to win a Winston Cup stock car race in five years, was fired by car owner Richard Childress. Skinner, who has one year left on his contract, will finish the season in the No. 31 Chevrolet but was given permission to search for a new ride. Childress has not selected a replacement.

Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, 81, has been hospitalized for the second time in less than a month, this time in Barcelona, Spain, apparently for kidney problems and dialysis treatment.

Robert Godfrey tied an East Lake Golf Club course record with a seven-under-par 63, and Lucas Glover, playing at Druid Hills, shot an eight-under 64 in the opening round of stroke play at the 101st U.S. Amateur at Atlanta.

Indiana defeated Oceanside, 2-1, at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. Oceanside (2-1) will play in the semifinals Thursday. Also, the Rolando Paulino team from the Bronx defeated Davenport (Iowa) East, 7-4; Mexico defeated Canada, 6-5; Louisiana beat Rhode Island, 5-2; Guam defeated Russia, 5-0; and Panama beat Japan, 6-1.

Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Point Given will try for his fourth consecutive Grade I stakes victory in the $1-million Travers Saturday at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., trainer Bob Baffert said.

Passings

Former Ohio State and NFL defensive back Neal Colzie, who ranks second for the Oakland Raiders in punt returns, is dead at 48 according to a funeral home in Coconut Grove, Fla. No other details were released.

Alexandra Huci, 12, one of Romania’s top young gymnasts, died of a brain hemorrhage five days after falling into a coma.