Sports briefs for July 3, 2003

Thursday, July 3, 2003 | 11:29 a.m.

Avalanche lands Kariya and Selanne

Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, unrestricted free agents and two of the NHL's top forwards, were to be introduced today as new members of the Colorado Avalanche, an NHL source told the Associated Press.

Kariya, who played with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks last season, agreed to a $1.2 million contract. Selanne, who declined his option at $6.5 million with the San Jose Sharks, agreed to a $5.8 million contract with Colorado.

The source said Kariya had specific reasons for signing the relatively low contract figure, but did not elaborate. Selanne was not expected to be at the news conference, remaining in Finland.

Rockies fans hurt

A three-story-high stadium escalator packed with fans leaving a Colorado Rockies game suddenly accelerated, tossing screaming people into each other and spilling some into a heap at the bottom. At least 20 were injured, none critically. Engineers found no structural problems Wednesday night, and city building inspectors planned to check for mechanical problems today,

Bucks sign top pick

T.J. Ford became the first 2003 NBA first-round draft pick to sign, agreeing Wednesday to a four-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

A 6-foot point guard from Texas, Ford was the eighth overall selection in last Thursday's draft. Terms were not disclosed but according to the 2002-03 NBA rookie scale, a four-year deal for the No. 8 pick would be worth about $7 million.

Price loses his appeal

Mike Price's appeal of his firing as Alabama football coach was cut short Wednesday by the university's Staff Mediation Council, prompting Price's lawyer to say a suit will be filed within two weeks.

Holyfield gets married

Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was married in a ceremony at the Fayette County (Ga.) Courthouse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today. Holyfield, 40, whose Oct. 4 bout with James Toney will be a pay-per-view show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, married Candi Calvana Smith, 24, who listed her occupation as "student" on the marriage license. It was Holyfield's third marriage.

This is it for Hamm

Mia Hamm, the all-time international women's scoring leader with 133 goals, said the 2003 World Cup competition will be her last.

Hamm has led the U.S. women to World Cup championships, in 1991 and 1999. She also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and a silver in 2000. She has said that she will play in the 2004 Olympics at Athens.

UFC title match set

Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will meet newly crowned interim champion Randy Couture for the uncontested title in the main event of "UFC 44: Undisputed" Sept. 26, at a Las Vegas site to be determined.