Sports briefs for December 27, 2004

Monday, Dec. 27, 2004 | 10:36 a.m.

Gorman's White on all-star staff

Bishop Gorman football coach David White was named today to the West coaching staff for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 15 in San Antonio.

Gorman linebacker Ryan Reynolds was previously named to the West roster for the all-star game, which in past years has featured such college stars-to-be as Reggie Bush (USC), Chris Leak (Florida), Teddy Ginn (Ohio State) and Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma).

The game will be played in the Alamodome and will be telecast by NBC beginning at 10 a.m.

Kobe-Shaq a TV hit

Saturday's Miami Heat-Los Angeles Lakers game -- the reunion between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant -- drew the highest television ratings for a regular-season NBA game in six years.

Swiss juniors win

Kevin Romy scored twice and Michael Tobler made 19 saves as Switzerland beat Belarus 5-0 in its opening game at the 10-team World Junior Championships in Grand Forks, N.D. The Swiss will play the U.S. juniors (1-0) tonight. Roundrobin play will continue through Thurday and quarterfinals will be Saturday.

Perez to meet Mets

Free-agent left-hander Odalisi Perez, who played with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004, said today he will meet this week with the New York Mets.

AP picks Armstrong

Cyclist Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France this year for a record sixth consecutive time, was chose today as the Associated Press male athlete of the year for the third consecutive year.

NASCAR buys land

NASCAR promoters spent $100 million to buy a vacated 450-acre industrial site along the Staten Island waterfront last week but said it would be at least five years before one of their races is staged in New York City.