Sports briefs for January 15, 2004

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

Graf, Edberg, Cheney to join Hall of Fame

Steffi Graf, Stefan Edberg and Dodo Cheney will join the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport, R.I., in July.

Graf and Edberg were elected in the Recent Player category by a media panel, Hall president Tony Trabert announced today. Cheney was selected in the Master Player category by a committee that includes Hall members.

Their inductions, at a July 11 ceremony, will bring the Hall's total to 186 members from 18 countries.

Graf won 107 singles titles, including 22 at Grand Slam tournaments: four Australian Opens (1988-90, '94), six French Opens (1987-88, '93, 1995-96, '99), seven Wimbledons (1988-89, 1991-93, 1995-96), and five U.S. Opens (1988-89, '93, 1995-96).

Cheney was the first American woman to win the precursor to the Australian Open, in 1938. Cheney, 87, has won more than 300 U.S. Tennis Association national senior titles.

Ponson back with O's

Sidney Ponson is returning to the Baltimore Orioles, who traded the right-hander last July. He and the Orioles agreed on a $22.5 million, three-year contract. It's $1.5 million more than the offer from Baltimore that Ponson rejected shortly before the team dealt him to the San Francisco Giants.

Kobe on injured list

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was placed on the injured list and is expected to be sidelined at least two to three weeks. He was injured Monday night when he faked Cleveland's Kedrick Brown into the air outside the 3-point line and Brown landed on his shoulder.

Flyer suspended

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeremy Roenick was suspended for one game by the NHL on for throwing a water bottle at an official.

WSU player opts out

Washington State receiver Devard Darling will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.