Marcus Vick Arrested on Firearms Charges

Marcus Vick, the former Virginia Tech quarterback kicked off the team last week for his behavior on and off the field, was charged Monday with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a restaurant parking lot in Suffolk, Va.

Vick surrendered at the Suffolk magistrate’s office after three warrants were issued for his arrest Sunday, Magistrate Lisa Noel said.

Vick, 21, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of brandishing a firearm, and was released on $10,000 bond.

Police said the parents of a 17-year-old boy reported that Vick pointed a weapon at their son and two others during an altercation at a McDonald’s in Suffolk, where Vick’s mother lives, Sunday night.

If convicted of all three counts, Vick could be sentenced to up to three years in jail and fined $7,500, said Lt. Debbie George, a police spokeswoman.

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Louisiana Tech running back Mark Dillard was charged with rape and released on $40,000 bond in Ruston, La., after a female acquaintance accused him of attacking her, university police said.

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Booker Stanley, suspended Wisconsin reserve running back, was charged in Madison, Wis., with sexual assault, battery and bail jumping, stemming from two alleged fights with his girlfriend.

Stanley, a junior, already faced battery and disorderly conduct charges for his alleged role in a fight during a block party in April.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Leak Picks Florida Over the NFL Draft

Florida quarterback Chris Leak ended speculation about his immediate future, attending the first day of spring classes and saying he would return for his senior season.

Leak had petitioned the NFL underclassman advisory council in December to find out where he might be drafted. He would not elaborate on the feedback he received.

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Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims made himself available for the NFL draft, giving up his final year of eligibility.... Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano, South Carolina safety Ko Simpson and cornerback Johnathan Joseph and Pitt receiver Greg Lee all said they too were giving up their remaining eligibility to declare for the draft.

BASEBALL

Cubs Trade Patterson to Orioles for Prospects

Made expendable by the acquisitions of Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones, outfielder Corey Patterson was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of minor leaguers, shortstop Nate Spears and left-hander Carlos Perez.

Patterson, 26, has hit .252 with 70 home runs in parts of six major league seasons. He struggled last season, batting .215 with 13 home runs in 126 games.

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Results of balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced today. There are 14 new candidates and 15 holdovers from last year’s balloting in which Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg were elected, including Bruce Sutter, who was 43 votes short of election in 2005.

Candidates need to be named on 75% of the ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America to be elected. Last year, the only candidates other than Boggs and Sandberg to receive more than 50% of the vote were Sutter, 66.7%; Jim Rice, 59.5; Rich Gossage, 55.2; and Andre Dawson, 52.3.

Among the first-year candidates are former Dodger Orel Hershiser, Dwight Gooden, Albert Belle, Will Clark and Ozzie Guillen.

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Former San Diego Padre coach Rob Picciolo, former Cleveland Indian pitcher Charles Nagy, former Angel outfielder Eric Owens and former Angel pitcher Ken Patterson are among those who have been added to the Angels’ minor league coaching staff for the 2006 season, the team announced.

Picciolo has been named the Angels’ roving infield instructor. Nagy will be the new pitching coach at triple-A Salt Lake, Owens will handle hitters at Class-A Cedar Rapids, and Patterson is the new pitching coach at double-A Arkansas.

Among other changes in the farm system: Former catcher Brian Harper, who spent five seasons at rookie-league Mesa, Ariz., will manage at Salt Lake, replacing Dino Ebel, who was added to the Angel staff; Tyrone Boykin, after two seasons at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, will manage at Arkansas; and Bobby Mitchell, formerly the organization’s roving infield/baserunning instructor, will manage at Rancho Cucamonga.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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Free-agent outfielder Michael Tucker agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, who also retained reliever Luis Ayala with a two-year contract. Tucker, an 11-year veteran, last played in Philadelphia.... The Minnesota Twins asked a Hennepin County district judge to rule that the team isn’t obliged to play in the Metrodome after next season. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Metrodome, said the Twins had a legal agreement to remain there until a new ballpark is built. A ruling is expected in two weeks.

WINTER SPORTS

Top Ski Official Criticizes Miller

World Cup ski champion Bode Miller’s comments about his drinking alcohol and racing send a “dangerously inappropriate message,” said Bill Marolt, president and chief executive of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Assn.

Marolt said comments made by Miller during an interview on “60 Minutes” were “unacceptable” and “irresponsible.”

Marolt said he would meet with Miller this week to discuss the comments.

Miller won two silver medals at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Last year, he became the first U.S. skier since 1983 to win the overall World Cup title.

MISCELLANY

Decision Possible Today on Skeleton Coach

A New York Supreme Court judge will not decide until at least today in Elizabethtown, N.Y., whether to grant embattled U.S. skeleton coach Tim Nardiello’s request to have his suspension temporarily overturned, a delay that hurts his chance of joining the national team at a World Cup race this weekend.

Nardiello was suspended Dec. 31 after two allegations of sexual harassment were filed with the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.

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Mike Van Diest, coach at Carroll College in Montana, was named the Rawlings-NAIA football coach of the year by the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics. He has led Carroll to four straight national titles.