Connecticut governor calls Jim Calhoun’s tirade ‘embarrassing’

Connecticut basketball Coach Jim Calhoun’s tirade at a freelance journalist posing questions about his $1.6-million salary was an “embarrassing display,” the state’s governor said Tuesday.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell says she believes Calhoun regrets the outburst directed at Ken Krayeske, who questioned the veteran coach about his salary after a game Saturday.

“I think if Coach Calhoun had the opportunity right now, he would welcome a do-over and not have that embarrassing display from last week,” Rell said.

Krayeske, a freelancer and political activist, asked why the coach of a public university was making $1.6 million while the state has a $944-million deficit.

Calhoun first responded with a joke, then grew angry as Krayeske continued the line of questioning.

“My best advice to you is, shut up,” Calhoun said.

BASEBALL

Anderson deal completed

After spending his 15-year career with the Angels, outfielder Garret Anderson completed a $2.5-million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves.

“I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “It will be different, but my chapter with the Angels is closed.”

The Oakland Athletics officially scrapped their plans to move to Fremont, capping months of speculation that the team would pull out over procedural holdups. . . . Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells expects to miss two weeks after an MRI exam showed he re-injured his left hamstring.

JURISPRUDENCE

Bonds hearing postponed

Barry Bonds’ personal trainer is likely to tell a federal judge Friday that he has no plans to testify at the home run king’s perjury trial.

Greg Anderson had been scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston today to tell her whether he would break his silence. The hearing was postponed at the request of Anderson’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, who is busy with another trial.

Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was suspended from team activities after a weekend arrest in Pullman. Officers say they found him passed out, apparently from alcohol, in the passenger seat of a pickup truck in the police department parking lot.

ETC.

Tour loses sponsor FBR

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem announced that FBR has decided not to renew its contract after 2010 for the popular tournament outside Phoenix. FBR has been the title sponsor since 2004 at the TPC Scottsdale.

Manchester United held Inter Milan to a 0-0 tie in the first leg of a European Champions League matchup at Milan, extending its unbeaten streak in the competition to a record 20 games. In other games, Arsenal beat visiting AS Roma, 1-0, Barcelona tied, 1-1, at Lyon, and Porto tied, 2-2, at Atletico de Madrid. . . . Clint Dempsey scored as Fulham beat Swansea, 2-1, to advance to an English FA Cup quarterfinal at home against Manchester United on March 7.

Michael Phelps will swim in a meet at Charlotte, N.C., in May, ending his three-month suspension for being photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe. . . . Kikkan Randall held off Finland’s Pirjo Muranen in a photo finish at Liberec, Czech Republic, to take silver in the sprint at the Nordic skiing world championships, becoming the first American woman to win a world or Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. . . . Salt Lake City police said that thieves who ransacked the home of David Zabriskie stole thousands of dollars in bikes and Olympic memorabilia from the world-class cyclist. Zabriskie’s loss is estimated at just under $160,000. Zabriskie has been away since Feb. 13 while participating in the Tour of California. . . . The Indianapolis Colts officially released Marvin Harrison, ending the star receiver’s 13-year stay with the team. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs released linebacker Donnie Edwards, quarterback Damon Huard and cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Former Lakers center Vlade Divac was elected president of Serbia’s Olympic committee. . . . Jordan Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 basketball forward from Compton Dominguez, has lost his final appeal to CIF Executive Director Marie Ishida, who denied his attempt to gain a fifth year of athletic eligibility.