Sports briefs for January 12, 2004

Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 | 10:42 a.m.

The Oakland Raiders will interview two assistants on Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells' staff for their head coaching vacancy.

The Raiders fired Bill Callahan after a 4-12 season that followed their appearance in the Super Bowl.

Team spokesman Artie Gigantino said Sunday night that assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Sean Payton would interview late Sunday or today, depending on his flight.

The Raiders also would interview Dallas offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon for the vacancy on Tuesday, The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported today.

Payton would be the third candidate to speak face-to-face with Davis. The Raiders interviewed Dennis Green before he took the job with the Arizona Cardinals, and met San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

Clijsters will play

Belgian star Kim Clijsters plans to play in the Australian Open despite an ankle injury that knocked her out of the Hopman Cup last week. The Australian Open starts next Monday.

Romero back in game

The eligibility of Argentine basketball player Diego Romero of Florida State was restored today by the NCAA. He missed 15 games on an amateurism violation, but Florida State contended he should have been exempted under the rules in place when he began playing basketball at a Texas junior college.

Goalie's move checked

The transfer of U.S goalkeeper Tim Howard to Manchester United will be investigated by England's Football Association. Howard moved from Major League Soccer's MetroStars to the English club in July for $3.6 million.

Neely's No. 8 goes up

Cam Neely will become the 10th Boston Bruins player to have his number retired when No. 8 is hoisted to the Fleet Center rafters tonight before the Bruins' game with the Buffalo Sabres.

Amateur champions

Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Richad Fairley Jr. of Lynchburg, Va., won the men's and women's championships at the USA Bowling National Amateur Championships at the Castaways.