New Owner of Reds Fires O’Brien as GM

General Manager Dan O’Brien was fired Monday by new Cincinnati Red owner Bob Castellini, his first major change since taking control of the team.

O’Brien was beginning his third season as general manager and had one year left on his contract. The Reds are coming off their fifth consecutive losing season, their longest such streak in 50 years.

Major league owners approved the Reds’ sale to Castellini on Thursday.

“I want someone in this job who is my choice,” Castellini said in a statement.

Brad Kullman, baseball operations director, will be interim general manager.

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Left-hander Casey Fossum avoided arbitration with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, agreeing to a $4.55-million, two-year contract.... The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Wade Miller agreed to a one-year contract that will pay $1 million in salary and up to another $1 million in bonuses. Miller played for Boston last season.

Houston Astro outfielder Lance Berkman will undergo arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove scar tissue that developed in his right knee after surgery in November 2004, the team said. He is expected to be ready for spring training.... Reliever Mike Remlinger, 40, is returning to the Atlanta Braves, agreeing to a minor league contract.

Under an agreement between the commissioner’s office and the players’ association, players preparing for the World Baseball Classic may report to spring training as early as Feb. 1. Other players start reporting Feb. 15.

SOCCER

England’s Coach to Leave After Cup

Sven-Goran Eriksson will resign as England’s coach after this summer’s World Cup, the Football Assn. said. The announcement was made eight days after a British tabloid published comments by Eriksson criticizing some players.

Eriksson, England’s first foreign coach, was hired in 2000 and is under contract through 2008. He has coached England to a 34-10-15 record.

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The U.S. under-20 women’s team defeated El Salvador, 5-0, in Cordoba, Mexico, qualifying for the semifinals of the CONCACAF pre-world tournament.

TELEVISION

Ratings Decline for Playoff Games

Dominating performances by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s NFL conference championship games led to a drop-off in television ratings from the previous year.

The Steelers’ 34-17 AFC victory over the Denver Broncos on CBS got a 24.6 national overnight Nielsen rating with a 44 share. Last year’s AFC championship game, a 41-27 victory for the New England Patriots over the Steelers, earned a 27.0/38.

The Seahawks’ 34-14 NFC victory over the Carolina Panthers on Fox drew overnight numbers of 22.2/33, compared with a 28.6/48 for the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last year.

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Manny Pacquiao’s 10th-round knockout of Erik Morales in Las Vegas on Saturday night, televised on HBO pay per view, will be replayed on HBO Saturday night at 6:45.

-- Larry Stewart

HIGH SCHOOLS

Gerhart, Bradford Win Southern Section Honors

Norco’s Toby Gerhart, the state’s all-time rushing leader, was selected the Southern Section’s offensive player of the year, and Colton’s Allen Bradford, considered the top outside linebacker prospect in the nation, was defensive player of the year.

Gerhart, who has committed to Stanford to play football and baseball, was The Times’ Glenn Davis award winner as the Southland’s outstanding football player last season, and Bradford, who is headed to USC, was The Times’ back of the year.

Complete teams in all divisions can be found at cifss.org.

MISCELLANY

Wells’ Attacker Arrives to Finish His Sentence

A man who punched David Wells to the floor of a New York diner, knocking out two of the pitcher’s teeth, surrendered to finish his sentence for misdemeanor assault.

Rocco Graziosa came to Manhattan Criminal Court wearing a blue, cotton velvet, athletic warmup suit.

Despite his self-defense claim, Graziosa was convicted on Nov. 22, 2002, of third-degree assault for hitting Wells. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

Graziosa’s lawyer, Henry Mazurek, said Wells is still pursuing the civil suit he filed in September 2003 against his client. Mazurek said he would take a sworn statement from Wells in a deposition on Feb. 13.

Graziosa served fewer than 20 days of the 45-day sentence before he was released pending appeal of his conviction. In November, the state Supreme Court’s Appellate Term voted 3-0 to uphold the guilty verdict.

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Brian Mann will start at quarterback for the Avengers in their Arena Football League opener Sunday against Arizona, but Coach Ed Hodgkiss said Ryan Van Dyke would also play at Staples Center.