NEWSWIRE

The David Justice era is over for the New York Mets, who traded him a week after acquiring him.

Justice was dealt to the Oakland Athletics on Friday for reliever Mark Guthrie and minor league pitcher Tyler Yates, a move that could lead the Mets to more serious talks with free agent Juan Gonzalez.

The Mets, who acquired Justice from the New York Yankees on Dec. 7 for third baseman Robin Ventura, will pay $1.2 million of Justice’s $7-million salary next season.

Jason Schmidt, the right-hander who went 7-1 after joining San Francisco in a trade with Pittsburgh, agreed to four-year contract with the Giants. The deal is worth about $31 million, with a club option for the 2006 season.... The Colorado Rockies have reached tentative agreement to trade third baseman Jeff Cirillo to Seattle, provided the Mariners can restructure his contract. If the money aspect is worked out, Seattle is expected to send reliever Jose Paniagua and possibly two minor league pitchers to the Rockies.... The Cleveland Indians have reached preliminary agreement with Chicago Cub free-agent shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, two sources familiar with the negotiations said.... The Dodgers announced that Brad Mills, an advance scout for the Cubs last season, will be their manager at triple-A Las Vegas. The club also said former Dodger pitchers Ken Howell and Roger McDowell have been hired as minor league coaches.

Jurisprudence

Former Dallas Cowboy lineman Nate Newton was denied bail on a charge that he intended to distribute 175 pounds of marijuana in Texas.

Newton, who appeared in court Friday in an orange jumpsuit and ankle chains, will remain at a federal detention center southeast of Dallas in Seagoville.

Leeds United soccer star Lee Bowyer was cleared of all charges in the beating of a student, and teammate Jonathan Woodgate was convicted of fighting but avoided a jail sentence.

Woodgate instead was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.

Miscellany

Mike Gell scored in the fourth overtime to give North Carolina a 3-2 victory over Stanford in the NCAA men’s soccer semifinals at Columbus, Ohio.

The Tar Heels (20-4) will try to win their first NCAA title when they play Indiana (18-3-1) on Sunday. The Hoosiers defeated St. John’s, 2-1, in the other semifinal when Vijay Dias scored seven minutes into the second overtime.

The NFL and its union agreed to set aside $342 million over the next four seasons to make up for a possible temporary decrease in television revenue when the current TV contracts expire after the 2005 season.

“It is an effort to ensure smooth salary cap growth over the entire collective bargaining agreement,” said league attorney Harold Henderson.

Budweiser announced that it will be the major sponsor of seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath for the next three years.

It is the first time Budweiser has sponsored a Supercross team, McGrath Racing. In 12 professional seasons, McGrath has never finished below second place in the series standings.

Germany’s Thomas Rupprath broke his third world record in two days, winning the 100-meter butterfly at the European short course swimming championships at Antwerp, Belgium.

Rupprath finished in 50.26 seconds, shaving .18 of a second off the mark held by Sweden’s Lars Frolander, the Olympic champion.