Les Miles agrees to 7-year deal with Louisiana State

Les Miles made it clear, in his own particular way, that he is living in the present.

His nostalgia for Michigan, where he played, and his enduring pride in his alma mater could not outweigh the relationships he has built in the last six seasons at Louisiana State, where he has won 62 games and five bowls, including the 2007 national title.

“I’m one of those guys that believe where you are at is where you live your life,” Miles said Wednesday shortly after LSU announced that the Tigers’ coach had agreed to a new contract that would keep him in Baton Rouge for the next seven seasons.

The announcement of Miles’ new deal came two days after Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon flew to Louisiana to meet with Miles about the Wolverines’ coaching vacancy, which has since been filled by Brady Hoke.

Miles’ annual salary will remain the same at a little more than $3.75 million. However, his new deal gives him three additional years and more opportunities to win bonuses based on postseason success.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said the contract will lend stability to a program that has averaged more than 10 victories a year since Miles arrived.

Miles said that stability would only make him a better recruiter and allow him to weather intermittent down years caused by injuries or unexpected departures of key players on account of personal or academic factors.

Joe Torre, recently retired from managing the Dodgers, said he is “definitely interested” in working for Commissioner Bud Selig.

Torre said he and Selig have had several discussions in recent weeks and expect to talk again during the two-day owners meeting that began Wednesday in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

The 70-year-old former skipper of five major league teams, including the New York Yankees and Dodgers, was a major league player for 17 seasons. He said he has known Selig for decades and that the commissioner has told him that when he’s finished with managing and would be interested in some kind of executive job to let him know.

Torre said no job offer has been made and that he thinks Selig is talking to others. Torre said he did not know exactly what the job would entail, but several reports had him taking over as executive vice president of operations, a post previously held by New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.

Jeff Mathis, Angels agree to deal

Catcher Jeff Mathis agreed to terms on a $1.7-million contract with the Angels, a moderate raise from his 2010 salary of $1.3 million.

Mathis beat the Angels in arbitration last winter, earning a salary that was significantly higher than the $700,000 figure submitted by the Angels.

But after hitting .195 with three home runs, six doubles and 18 runs batted in during a 2010 season in which he was hampered by a wrist injury and limited to 68 games, Mathis had little to build an arbitration case around this year.

— Mike DiGiovanna

Kyle Farnsworth, Rays near one-year deal

Free agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth is approaching an agreement on a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The deal could be agreed to Thursday or Friday and would be worth about $3.25 million.

Ryan Raburn, Tigers strike two-year deal

Outfielder Ryan Raburn and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $3.4-million, two-year contract. The 29-year-old hit .280 last season with 15 homers and 62 RBIs.

Koyie Hill, Cubs agree on contract

Catcher Koyie Hill and the Chicago Cubs agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

Baseball luminaries will be honored in Century City

Brooks Robinson, Tom Seaver, Joe Garagiola Sr., Bobby Valentine and Robin Yount will be among the award winners at the eighth Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation fundraiser Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. Larry King and Bob Uecker will serve as emcees. Information: 310-996-1188.

Mississippi State hires co-defensive coordinator

Mississippi State hired Geoff Collins as its co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

The 16-year coaching veteran goes to Mississippi State after one season as defensive coordinator at Florida International. He will share coordinator responsibilities with Chris Wilson, who was promoted after Manny Diaz left to become defensive coordinator at Texas.

Oklahoma State’s Blackmon and Weeden to return

All-American receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden will return to Oklahoma State for another season.

Forcier leaves Michigan football program

Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon said quarterback Tate Forcier is no longer with the program.

Brandon made the announcement during a news conference Wednesday after introducing Brady Hoke as the teams’ new football coach.

Forcier was academically ineligible to play for the Wolverines in the Gator Bowl. Forcier backed up Denard Robinson last season after starting ahead of him when they were both freshmen during the 2009 season.

Floyd to stay with Fighting Irish

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame’s leading receiver last season and one of the top pass catchers in school history, has decided to return to the Fighting Irish for his senior season.

Iverson to have lesion removed from leg

Former NBA star Allen Iverson plans to have a lesion removed from his right leg in the United States and intends to rejoin his Turkish team in time for the playoffs.

Gary Moore, Iverson’s manager, said Iverson told him that he doesn’t plan to retire because of the painful condition. Moore said Iverson has a lesion that is pressing up against the bones of his leg and requires surgery.

“It has to be removed and tested to see if it’s benign or not,” Moore said. “Once that’s removed, Allen is going to look to rehabilitate his leg because the doctors tell him he’ll be out four to six weeks, He’s hoping to be able to play in the playoffs.”

Iverson, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001, agreed to a $4-million, two-year deal with Besiktas after no NBA team offered him a contract. Moore said Iverson last played Saturday.

Ronaldinho returns to huge welcome in Brazil

About 20,000 fans showed up for Ronaldinho’s official introduction with Brazilian club Flamengo.

Fans wearing Ronaldinho masks and sporting the team’s No. 10 jersey packed the team’s training stadium in Rio de Janeiro to see the two-time world player of the year on Wednesday.

The former Brazil star joined from AC Milan on Monday, ending a 10-year stint in European soccer.

Hewitt wins in warmup for Australian Open

Lleyton Hewitt upset Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, at the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, Australia, to gain some momentum ahead of the Australian Open.

The 54th-ranked Hewitt beat the 10th-ranked Youzhny in his first appearance at Kooyong, where several top stars are tuning up for the season’s first Grand Slam, which starts Monday.

Frenchman Gael Monfils got in shape with a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over defending champion Fernando Verdasco of Spain, and Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko beat Czech Tomas Berdych, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, in the third match on opening day.

Del Potro loses, Clijsters wins in Sydney

Juan Martin del Potro’s comeback from injury has briefly stalled with his 6-2, 7-5 loss to Germany’s Florian Mayer in the second round of the Sydney International in Australia.

Mayer said later it was clear del Potro was not yet 100% after a long battle with a wrist injury last year.

In other matches, No. 3-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia beat Igor Andreev of Russia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the women’s draw, No. 3-seeded Kim Clijsters beat No. 7 Victoria Azarenka, 6-3, 6-2 in 85 minutes to advance to the semifinals. Li Na of China beat Svetlana Kuznetsova, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Predators sign Smithson to two-year deal

The NHL’s Nashville Predators signed forward Jerred Smithson to a two-year, $1.6-million contract taking him through the 2012-13 season.