Sacramento folds WNBA franchise

The Sacramento Monarchs folded, a shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of its original eight franchises.

The decision was largely based on the Maloof family's desire to focus all its energy and efforts on the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Maloof Sports & Entertainment had owned both teams.

Now, the WNBA is left scurrying to try to find a new owner for the organization and a suitable market: with the most logical place being the Bay Area, perhaps in Oakland or San Jose.

"We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs," co-owner Joe Maloof said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of an amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and the 2005 WNBA Championship. All of our resources are now dedicated to bringing the Sacramento Kings back to championship-caliber form."

BASEBALL

Relief pitcher John Grabow became the first of the 171 free agents to reach agreement on a new deal, getting a $7.5 million, two-year contract from the Chicago Cubs. The 31-year-old left-hander combined to go 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA last season in a career-high 75 relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs.

White Sox close to signing Vizquel

The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a contract agreement with free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel. The deal could be announced as soon as Monday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not commented.Vizquel, who will be 43 in April, has played 21 major league seasons. Last year he batted .266 in 64 games.

World Series DVDs for sale

A 20-DVD set of World Series films can be bought for $2,299, and it contains authenticated autographs of 12 Hall of Famers, including Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt. There are 65 films from 1943-08 that run for more than 50 hours. The package also has autographs from Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, Carlton Fisk, Whitey Ford, Brooks Robinson and Bruce Sutter.

The set is also available without the autographs for $179.99 on MLB.com and in stores with a suggested retail price of $229.

Nats' No. 1 pick won't need surgery

The Nationals say No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a dislocation in his left knee joint and should be fine for spring training.

Strasburg was examined Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. The Nationals say Strasburg will not require surgery, and that treatment will include rest and physical therapy.

The San Diego State right-hander twisted his knee during a workout Thursday and has been scratched from his start in the Arizona Fall League championship game.

AROUND THE HORN

Skeleton: Frank Rommel posted the fastest time on each of two runs to easily beat teammate Sandro Stielicke in the second race of the World Cup season in Lake Placid, N.Y. Rommel finished in 1 minute, 50.88 seconds, nearly a half-second ahead of Stielicke. The United States had its second consecutive so-so showing on its two home tracks. Eric Bernotas was fifth in 1:51.71, Zach Lund was 10th in 1:52.14, and rookie John Daly was 11th at 1:52.15 in just his second career World Cup race. Canada's Mellisa Hollingsworth won gold in the women's race. Katie Uhlaender of the United States finished 12th.

Luge: German doubles sliders Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch won the first World Cup luge event of the season at Canada Olympic Park. Leitner and Resch had a two-run time of 1 minute, 27.855 seconds to beat countrymen Andre Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich by three-hundredths of a second.

Skiing: Resi Stiegler of the United States is out for the season after breaking two bones in her left leg in a crash during giant slalom training. The U.S. Ski Team said Friday that Stiegler, a 2006 Olympian from Jackson Hole, Wyo., had surgery for fractures to her tibia and femur.

Skating: Joannie Rochette, the world silver medalist scored a personal-best 70 points in the short program at Skate Canada, putting her well in front of Americans Alissa Czisny and Mirai Nagasu. Czisny, the U.S. champion, scored 63.52, while Nagasu earned 56.34. The free skate is today. World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany took a commanding lead in the pairs competition. The men's short program and compulsory dance were later Friday.

Soccer: Ireland's hopes for a replay of its World Cup qualifier against France ended after both FIFA and the French Football Federation rejected requests for another game. FIFA said it could not interfere despite a hand ball by France captain Thierry Henry that led to the decisive score Wednesday that put France in next year's World Cup.

Tennis: The ATP Tour will not reopen a doping case against Andre Agassi even though he admitted to lying about using crystal meth in 1997. ATP chairman Adam Helfant said there was no way to sanction the American retroactively since he has retired from tennis.

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