Judge sells Rose Bowl tickets to benefit Illinois

The University of Illinois football team may have lost big to USC in the Rose Bowl, but an Illinois judge was a big winner when it came to reselling tickets to the game.

Moultrie County Circuit Judge Dan L. Flannell used the special access to tickets he has as a major booster and his connections to resell at a profit at least 60 tickets, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

Flannell, who frequently sells Illini athletic tickets online, said he puts the profits right back into the athletic department through the Sullivan Illini Quarterback Club.

Flannell is the president of the 200-member club, which last year donated $22,000 to the athletic department. Members pay $30 a year to belong, and the club raises additional money through events such as tailgate parties and steak dinners, Flannell said.

For the Rose Bowl, Flannell sold some tickets for as much as $340 above their $135 face value.

Posting the tickets on EBay, he sometimes noted that they were very good since they came from “a substantial UI donor account.”

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BASEBALL

Morneau, Twins agree on $80-million deal

The Minnesota Twins agreed to a six-year, $80-million contract with first baseman Justin Morneau and a three-year, $24-million deal with right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

Morneau batted .271 with 31 home runs and 111 runs batted in last season, becoming the first Twin since Gary Gaetti in 1987 to have back-to-back 30-homer seasons.

Cuddyer batted .276 with 16 homers and 81 RBIs last season. He led the league with 19 outfield assists.

The Dodgers signed left-handers Tom Martin and Mike Myers to minor league contracts that include invitations to spring training.

Martin pitched for the Dodgers in 2003-04, appearing in 127 games. He spent last season with the Colorado Rockies, posting a 4.91 earned-run average in 25 2/3 innings.

Myers, a 13-year veteran, was 4-0 with a 4.80 ERA in 54 1/3 innings last season with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal’s eighth-inning solo home run broke a 1-1 tie, lifting Aguilas Cibaenas to a 2-1 victory over Licey and giving the club its 20th Dominican winter league title.

Licey, with the Angels’ Erick Aybar at shortstop, also will advance to next week’s Caribbean Series.

The five-game series against the champions of the Mexican and Venezuelan winter leagues will be hosted by Aguilas in the central Dominican city of Santiago.

-- Kevin Baxter

Washington Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca injured his left knee during a workout this week and will travel to Washington next week to be examined by a team doctor.

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SOCCER

Galaxy to play in South Korea, China

The Galaxy plans to play friendly matches against clubs in South Korea and China as part of its preseason training.

The team is finalizing details of a trip that includes a game March 1 against FC Seoul at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul and a March 5 match against Chinese team East Asia in Shanghai.

Celtic FC Coach Gordon Strachan confirmed that the Scottish club has made an offer to Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who had been on trial with Celtic this week.

Guzan, 23, has returned to the U.S. and is said to be considering the offer. He has until the European transfer window ends Thursday to accept it..

-- Jaime Cardenas

Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Tony DiCicco, head coach for the U.S. women’s national team from 1994 to ‘99, has been named head coach of the U.S. under-20 women’s national team.

DiCicco replaces Jillian Ellis, who has been hired by U.S. women’s Coach Pia Sundhage as an assistant through the 2008 Olympics. Ellis is also the women’s coach at UCLA.

An unidentified American consortium reportedly has bought English Premier League club Derby County. Britain’s Press Assn. said that the multimillion deal has been completed and will be announced today.

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GOLF

Morgan (65) takes lead at Turtle Bay

Gil Morgan had two eagles during a four-hole stretch on his way to a seven-under-par 65 and the first-round lead in the Turtle Bay Championship at Kahuku, Hawaii.

Morris Hatalsky capped his round with consecutive birdies and was two strokes behind Morgan in the Champions Tour’s first full-field event of the year.

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MISCELLANY

DeLoach leaves UCLA for job at North Texas

Gary DeLoach, a defensive backs coach for UCLA the last five seasons, has been hired as defensive coordinator at North Texas. He spent five seasons as a North Texas assistant before being hired at UCLA after the 2002 season.

The State CIF Federated Council gave approval to continue the State Championship Bowl Games after holding a two-year pilot program.

It also agreed to expand the games from three to five divisions this year.

Top teams from Southern California are matched against Northern California teams based on enrollment.

-- Eric Sondheimer