Callahan Picked by Raiders to Replace Gruden

The Oakland Raiders promoted offensive coordinator Bill Callahan to head coach Tuesday night, three weeks after Jon Gruden left to coach Tampa Bay.

The Raiders will introduce Callahan during a news conference today at their Alameda facility.

Callahan spent four seasons as Gruden’s offensive coordinator with the Raiders and also worked with Gruden as Philadelphia’s offensive line coach from 1995-97.

Gruden, who left with a year remaining on his contract with the Raiders, received a five-year deal worth about $17.5 million from Tampa Bay. As compensation, the Raiders received two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders and $8 million.

Defensive tackle La’Roi Glover, who led the NFL in sacks in the 2000 season, has signed a $22-million, five-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. The deal includes a $6-million signing bonus

Dale Carter, the four-time all-pro cornerback suspended one year for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, signed a seven-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints also signed Minnesota wide receiver Jake Reed, who is Carter’s brother, to a one-year contract, and kicker John Carney.... The New England Patriots signed wide receiver Donald Hayes from the Carolina Panthers.... The Washington Redskins cut five-time Pro Bowl kick returner Michael Bates to save money under the salary cap.

Miscellany

Daron Rahlves, the world champion in the super-giant slalom, dislocated his hip, a few days before he was scheduled to race in the U.S. ski championships. Tina Chumas, a spokeswoman for the U.S. ski team, said Rahlves was injured while free skiing.

Waving a large American flag as he entered the finish area, Martin Buser captured his fourth Iditarod and completed the 1,100-mile race in record time. He and his dogs ended their trek from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, in eight days, 22 hours 46 minutes--the first musher to do so in less than nine days.

Cigar, a two-time winner of horse-of-the-year honors, heads the list of eligibles for this year’s Racing Hall of Fame ballot. Inductees will be announced April 30, with induction ceremonies scheduled for August in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Besides Cigar, other horses on the ballot in the contemporary-male division are Ancient Title and Precisionist. Eligibles among contemporary females are Dance Smartly, Flawlessly and Serena’s Song. The jockey nominees are Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Maple and Jack Westrope.

Elvis Stojko will skip the figure skating world championships this month and retire from amateur competition. The three-time world champion will skate professionally.

Carmen Cozza, the winningest football coach in Yale history, is recovering in a Florida hospital from a heart attack. University officials said Cozza, 71, was stricken on Thursday and is in good condition at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital.

Roy Kramer retired as Southeastern Conference commissioner, ending a career in which he created the bowl championship series and was one of the most powerful officials in college sports.

Nancy Fowlkes, whose teams won 13 Virginia state titles in field hockey, is coming out of retirement to take a job as assistant coach for the Cox High football team in Virginia Beach. The Virginia High School League has no record of any female football coaches in the state and a spokesman for the Indianapolis-based National Federation of High Schools could not name any in other states.

Michelle Kwan and high school runner Alan Webb were among five finalists announced for the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, which recognizes the nation’s top amateur athlete.