Fiedler Re-Signs With Dolphins

Quarterback Jay Fiedler, who has played for four teams in six seasons, decided against testing the free-agent market and signed a $24.5-million, five-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.

The deal, which runs through 2006, was announced Wednesday. It includes a $4-million signing bonus.

“This was the one place that I wanted to be,” Fiedler said. “The excitement level I have coming back is definitely high, knowing the coaching staff is backing me, and knowing they have the respect that I can be a winning quarterback.”

Fiedler, 30, is 21-10 as a starter for the Dolphins. He had 3,290 yards passing with 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions last season.

“I don’t think there is a player on our football team who has had more of an impact in helping us win,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said.

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The Dolphins gave Wannstedt a one-year contract extension through 2004. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wannstedt, 49, has led Miami to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in each of his two seasons.

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Pittsburgh hired Kevin Spencer as special teams coach to replace Jay Hayes, who was fired last month. Spencer held a similar position with Indianapolis. Hayes was hired by Minnesota.

Baseball

The Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devils Rays were among the original candidates for elimination this year, baseball’s top lawyer told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Bob DuPuy, chief legal officer of major league baseball, said as many as 18 teams at first were considered for folding. The Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos later were selected as the two target teams.

The committee is considering legislation to further restrict baseball’s antitrust exemption.

Among Wednesday’s revelations:

Union head Donald Fehr committed to increasing revenue sharing, but management officials said the players’ initial proposal was to raise the amount of locally shared revenue from 20% to 22.5%, rather than the 50% in the owners’ plan.

DuPuy said Alabama businessman Donald Watkins had “submitted at least a preliminary offer to acquire the Minnesota Twins.”

Fehr said the union would consider accepting a competitive-balance draft in the next labor contract.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) claimed that one week before Commissioner Bud Selig said Jan. 17 that Washington was a “prime candidate” for getting a relocated team, baseball officials had told Watkins “it was a waste of time to discuss relocation of a team to Washington, D.C.”

Besides his involvement in negotiations to purchase the Twins, Watkins said Wednesday he wants to buy the Expos and move them to Washington.

He would be the first African American controlling owner of a major league franchise.

Rickey Henderson and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a minor league contract, giving baseball’s career leader in runs, stolen bases and walks a chance to play a 24th season.... Utility player Placido Polanco and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $1.75-million, one-year contract.... Right-hander Mark Gardner, a 13-year veteran who spent the last six seasons with the San Francisco Giants, announced his retirement. Gardner was 99-93 and had a 4.56 earned-run average with four teams in his career.

Tennis

Venus Williams defeated Anna Kournikova, 7-5, 6-0, to reach the quarterfinals of the Diamond Games at Antwerp, Belgium. Williams will face the winner of today’s match between Silvia Farina Elia and Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian. In other action, Justine Henin beat fellow Belgian Els Callens, 6-1, 6-4.... Australian Open men’s champion Thomas Johansson was ousted by Greg Rusedski, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the first round of the Open 13 at Marseille, France.

Miscellany

Lousiana State football Coach Nick Saban, coming off a Southeastern Conference title and Sugar Bowl victory, signed a new contract. Terms were not disclosed.

A six-bout card will open the 18th year of boxing shows at the Irvine Marriott tonight, the first program produced by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

In the main event, welterweight Ernie Zavala (13-1) of Burbank will fight Eduardo Castillo (15-16).

Los Angeles Verbum Dei High has suspended its football program for the 2002 season as it tries to implement a new work-study program that administrators insist is crucial to keeping the school open.

The decision to not field a football team next season came after the resignation of Coach Lalo Mendoza, who has been at the all-boys school for 36 years, including 32 as football coach. Mendoza has been chosen coach and athletic director at Salesian High.

This fall, the school will require all students to participate in its corporate work-study program. Students will work one day a week in a downtown corporation.

Verbum Dei’s enrollment this year is 180 but could fall to about 100 next school year.

Several returning football players are expected to transfer.

The school will continue to maintain its athletic program in other sports.

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Alex Merricks, one of the top left-handed pitchers in Southern California, lost his appeal for a hardship waiver from the Southern Section after transferring from Oxnard High to Moorpark.

He will be ineligible to play for the Musketeers unless he wins an appeal at the state level.

Merricks, a senior, signed with Arizona State last November.

Eric Sondheimer