Agents Asked to Keep Records

The baseball players’ association has asked agents to keep detailed records of negotiations involving free agents, a possible prelude to another collusion case against owners.

Several agents have told the union their clients received similar offers from several different teams.

Union officials asked them to maintain the records of the bids, and the three agents said the union was contemplating a collusion grievance. Baseball’s labor contract says teams may not act in concert with regard to free agents.

Former American League most valuable player Jose Canseco and his twin brother Ozzie are being sued for at least $1 million for beating Christian Presley of Laguna Beach during a Miami Beach barroom brawl .

Presley is one of two California men who fought the Canseco brothers at the Opium Gardens nightclub on Oct. 31, 2001. The Cansecos pleaded guilty to felony charges last year to avoid jail sentences.

Umpire Dave Phillips, 59, who worked in four World Series and two All-Star Games in a 32-year career, retired because of a knee injury.... Utility infielder Greg Colbrunn, who spent the last four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed to a two-year contract with the Seattle Mariners.... Reliever Dave Veres, who pitched the last three seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, agreed to a $2-million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.... Right-hander John Thomson, who spent last season with the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets, agreed to a $1.3-million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers.... Chuck Tanner, 73, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series title in 1979, has joined the Cleveland Indians as a special assignment scout.

Supercross

The opening event of the 2003 AMA season will get underway tonight at Edison Field without seven-time champion Jeremy McGrath, who announced his retirement last month.

Tonight’s 20-lap main event over a man-made course laid out with 11,000 tons of dirt over the Angels’ diamond also is the third race of the THQ world championship. David Vuillemin of France is the THQ points leader.

Tennis

Jan Michael Gambill of the United States beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-4, 6-2, and Stefan Koubek of Austria knocked off defending champion Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5), to advance to the final of the Qatar Open in Doha.

Slovakia’s Karol Kucera defeated defending champion Guillermo Canas of Argentina, 6-1, 7-5, to earn a slot in the semifinals of the Tata Open at Madras, India.

American Monica Seles brushed aside Russian teenager Maria Sharapova, 6-3, 6-0, to advance to the final of the Hong Kong Ladies Challenge. Seles will meet fellow American Chanda Rubin, who defeated Russian Anastasia Myskina, 6-4, 6-3, in the other semifinal.

Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek defeated Brian Vahaly, 6-1, 6-3, at the AAPT Championships at Adelaide, Australia, to reach his first ATP tour semifinals in 17 months.

James Blake upset Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3, 6-4, and Serena Williams beat Alicia Molik, 6-2, 6-3, today to give the United States its second Hopman Cup team title in Perth, Australia.

Sailing

Police in Auckland, New Zealand, are investigating letters threatening violence against the families of some team members of the Swiss America’s Cup syndicate Alinghi. The letters, sent by a group calling itself “Teach The Traitors a Lesson,” target New Zealand sailors working for the Swiss team.

Miscellany

Jeff Woywitka scored with 11:40 left as Canada defeated the U.S., 3-2, to reach the final of the World Junior Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

An arrest warrant has been issued in Flint, Mich., for former NFL receiver Andre Rison for failing to pay child support.