Sports briefs for December 23, 2004

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

Owens' ankle surgery worries Grant Hill

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill said he cringed when he heard Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens would be having ankle surgery in Baltimore.

Owens, whose season ended Sunday when be was pulled down from behind by Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, had torn ligaments in his right ankle and a fractured bone in his right leg. He had surgery Wednesday to insert two screws and a metal plate. The operation was done by Dr. Mark Myerson, the same doctor who operated on Hill's ankle in 2000 and 2001.

"He is putting it out there that he was the one who got Grant Hill back, and we all know that wasn't the case," Hill told Florida Today. "I wasted my time with him."

Hill ultimately left Myerson's car and had additional surgery performed in Durham, N.C., by Dr. James Nunley.

Limited to just 47 games in his first four seasons with the Magic, Hill has played in 23 of 24 games this season and is second on the team with a 19.7-point scoring average.

The Eagles are hopeful that Owens can return and play in the Super Bowl if they get that far.

Kings lose Jackson

Sacramento Kings guard Bobby Jackson has a torn ligament in his left wrist that will require surgery and could keep him out of action for at least three months.

Berg has Alzheimer's

Patty Berg, 86, one of the 13 founders of the LPGA Tour in 1950, revealed that she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Berg won 60 tournament titles, including 15 majors.

Coach gunned down

Gunmen in Caldas, Colombia, shot one of South America's most successful club coaches when he tried to defend his wife in a robbery as she made a withdrawal at an ATM. Luis Fernando Montoyo, 45, was in critical condition in a Bogota hospital. He was struck by two bullets, at least one hitting him in the neck.

Bertuzzi pleads

As expected, Vancouver Canucks right winger Todd Bertuzzi entered a plea of guilty in a Vancouver court to assault for attacking Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche in a game last season. Bertuzzi was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and placed on probation for a year.

Auburn picks AD

Former Auburn offensive tackle Jay Jacobs, 44, was hired as the school's athletic director to succeed retiring David Housel. Jacobs had been an associate AD at Auburn.

Koubek suspended

Austria's Stefan Koubek was suspended three months by the International Tennis Federation for failing a drug test at the French Open.