NFC Finds Its Way in Pro Bowl

Derrick Brooks was just happy to be on the winning side for a change in the Pro Bowl. Being selected the game’s outstanding player was a bonus.

Brooks and the NFC’s solid defense gave the NFL’s so-called inferior conference something to feel good about Sunday in Honolulu, making the big plays in a sloppy 23-17 victory in a game that featured 10 turnovers -- six by the favored AFC.

Brooks, the Tampa Bay linebacker playing in his ninth straight Pro Bowl, made the biggest play, returning an interception 59 yards for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead with 5:10 left in the third quarter.

“I stand real humble,” Brooks said. “I’ve been here a few times, and I don’t have many wins. It was just important for me to get the win. Obviously, this award is a reflection of the NFC defense. We went out there and played a fine game.”

Neil Rackers kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:29 left to give the NFC a 20-17 lead. With Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, the NFC moved 59 yards before its drive stalled, and Coach John Fox was booed for opting for the field goal on fourth and two.

But it paid off.

Steve McNair mishandled two snaps from center after that, and the NFC recovered both. Jeremiah Trotter fell on the second one at the AFC 18, and Rackers kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:10 left to complete the scoring.

The AFC reached the NFC 49 before McNair threw three incompletions and was sacked by Michael Strahan on the final play.

AFC teams have won five of the last six Super Bowls, including Pittsburgh’s 21-10 victory over Seattle on Feb. 5, and the NFC had lost four of the last five Pro Bowls before this one.

It was the lowest-scoring Pro Bowl since the AFC’s 23-10 victory in 1999. The teams averaged a combined 73.7 points in the last six Pro Bowls, including the NFC’s 55-52 victory two years ago and the AFC’s 38-27 win last year.

The series that went to its current format in 1971 is tied 18-18.

NFC players earned $40,000 each, and AFC players collected $20,000.

TENNIS

Mauresmo Beats Pierce in an All-French Final

Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo won her second consecutive title of the year, defeating Mary Pierce, 6-1, 7-6 (2), in an all-French final at the Gaz de France in Paris.

Mauresmo overcame poor play early to extend her winning streak to 11 matches. She leads Pierce, 6-4, in head-to-head matches.

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Israeli’s Shahar Peer, 18, won her first WTA title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jelena Kostanic in the final of the Pattaya Open that was interrupted for 1 1/2 hours because of rain in Thailand.

In an all-Chinese doubles final, Athens Olympic gold medalists and second-seeded Li Ting and Sun Tiantian defeated top-seeded Australian Open champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5).

GOLF

Stadler Eagles Final Hole to Prevail in Australia

Kevin Stadler eagled the final hole for the third day in a row, winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia, with a three-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over Nick O’Hern.

Needing a birdie on the par-five 18th to avoid a playoff, Stadler made a stunning three-iron approach from 200 yards that caught the right side of the green and rolled within a foot of the hole.

Stadler, the 26-year-old son of 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler, had a 20-under 268 total. He earned $365,340 for his first European Tour title in the event sanctioned by the European, Australasian and Asian tours.

O’Hern birdied the final two holes for a 68. Fellow Australians Robert Allenby shot a 66 and Richard Green had a 71 to tie for third at 16 under.

BASEBALL

Reds, Hatteberg Agree to One-Year Contract

Scott Hatteberg agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract with Cincinnati, giving the Reds more flexibility at first base.

Hatteberg batted .256 with seven home runs and 59 runs batted in last season for Oakland, which declined his contract option for 2006.

Hatteberg can make an additional $250,000 in bonuses, based on plate appearances.

The Reds traded first baseman Sean Casey to Pittsburgh for left-handed starter Dave Williams this off-season.

They plan to move left fielder Adam Dunn to first base.

MISCELLANY

Russia’s Isinbayeva Vaults to Another Record

Russian Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva broke her indoor world record in the pole vault, clearing 16 feet 1 1/4 inches in Donetsk, Ukraine.

In her first competition this season, Isinbayeva bettered her mark of 16-0 3/4 set last spring at the European Indoor Championships. She cleared the height on her second attempt.

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Kenya’s Simon Bor won the Hong Kong Marathon in 2 hours 14 minutes 21 seconds.

Stephen Ndunu, also from Kenya, was second in 2:15:23. Ethiopia’s Dire Pune won the women’s race in 2:35:15.