Saints Finalize Lease Deal With Superdome

The New Orleans Saints have finalized a deal with Gov. Mike Foster to continue playing in the Louisiana Superdome until 2010.

The announcement Tuesday gave few details but said an agreement was reached on a lease for a new training facility. The agreement will keep the team in New Orleans “for the foreseeable future,” owner Tom Benson said.

The agreement appeared to conclude negotiations that have lasted more than a year, with Benson repeatedly threatening to move the team.

“We are delighted to have the deal finalized,” Foster said.

A commission is studying whether to build a new stadium or renovate the Superdome, and its report is due by June 2004.

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed safety Michael Lewis, a second-round draft pick from Colorado, to a five-year contract.... The Arizona Cardinals signed free-agent fullback Anthony Green to a one-year contract.... The Jacksonville Jaguars signed middle linebacker Rashad Harris, who played for NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons this spring.... The New York Jets waived cornerback Tony Scott and signed defensive end DeAngelo Lloyd and offensive lineman Matt O’Neal.

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Golf

Sergio Garcia made a three-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole worth seven skins and $160,000, and went on to win the two-day Telus Skins Game at Ontario, Canada.

Vijay Singh was second with nine skins worth $90,000 and John Daly had five skins worth $85,000. Canada native Mike Weir was shut out.

O.D. Vincent has been hired as men’s coach at UCLA.

While at Washington, Vincent was selected coach of the year in 1999 by the College Golf Assn., and received the same recognition in the Pacific 10 Conference.

He was an All-American for the Huskies and the Pac-10 individual champion in 1988.

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Jack Nicklaus told congressional lawmakers that golf is not only a game but also a standard of behavior that can help youngsters learn about sportsmanship and honor.

Nicklaus, who holds a record 18 major golf tournament titles, asked the House Education and the Workforce Committee to support programs such as The First Tee, which helps students hone their golf and life skills.

Last year, more than 60,000 children participated in the nationwide program.

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Miscellany

Kelly Babraj has been hired as women’s rowing coach at USC. She will succeed George Jenkins, who resigned in May. Babraj’s husband, Zenon, was appointed USC’s director of rowing. The two coached at UCLA in the late 1980s.

Sarah Fisher, the fastest female driver in Indianapolis 500 history, signed to remain with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s Indy Racing League team for the rest of this season.

Fisher, 21, had a four-lap qualifying speed of 229.439 mph at Indianapolis that gave her the record for a woman and put her in the third row of the 33-car field. She finished 24th.

The Independence Bowl renewed its agreement with the Southeastern Conference, two months after doing the same with the Big 12 Conference.

The Independence Bowl will be played Dec. 27 at Shreveport, La.

Doug Bateman has been re-elected to a second four-year term as president of USA Luge.

Since Bateman was elected president in 1998, the U.S. team has won one overall World Cup title and three World Championship bronze medals.

USA Track and Field nominated George Williams and Sue Humphrey to coach the 2004 U.S. Olympic teams.

Williams has coached at St. Augustine’s, a Division II school at Raleigh, N.C., since 1976 and won 24 national championships. He was an assistant at the 1996 Olympics.

Humphrey was the Olympic high jump coach in 1992 and ’96 after being an assistant at Texas from 1984-89. She is a former assistant at Long Beach State and Arizona State.

A disabled track star has been suspended for two months after testing positive for ephedrine, a banned substance commonly found in dietary supplements.

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Albert Reed, of Gainesville, Fla., failed the test at the 2002 Disabled Sports USA’s International Challenge on May 3-4 at Orlando, Fla., the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said.

Reed, a member of the 2000 U.S. Paralympic team, was suspended and disqualified from his victories in the men’s 100 and 200 meters at the International Challenge.

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T.J. Simers is on assignment.