Sports briefs July 1, 2004

Thursday, July 1, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

Woods calls Harmon, works out differences

Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon have patched up their differences.

Woods said Wednesday that he called his former swing coach recently to talk about criticisms Harmon had made. During the U.S. Open, Harmon said Woods might be in a "bit of denial" over the state of his game.

The two split after Harmon modeled the swing that won seven of 11 majors in one stretch. Woods is now 0-for-8 in the majors, not winning since the 2002 U.S. Open, and has three victories on the PGA Tour in the last year.

"I decided to pick up the phone and call Butch and handle it the way it should be handled," Woods said after his pro-am round at the Western Open. "We talked about every single conceivable issue and point of view that each of us had."

Toronto inks Belfour

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed goalie Ed Belfour, forwards Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts and defenseman Aki Berg.

Belfour, Roberts and Nieuwendyk could have become free agents if they weren't signed before midnight.

Reynolds has surgery

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shane Reynolds had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Reynolds, 36, made his Diamondbacks debut Monday after being activated from the 60-day DL. He gave up six runs, six hits and two walks in two innings, throwing only 50 pitches against San Diego.

He had 277 starts for Houston and Atlanta before Arizona signed him as a free agent on Dec. 23.

SEMO changes nickname

After more than 80 years, Southeast Missouri State University will no longer use Indians as a nickname.

Years of debate over the use of the nickname and mascot ended when the board of regents voted unanimously to drop both for the men's teams as well as the Otahkians nickname for the women.

After a brief phasing out of the Indians, Southeast's teams will be known as the Redhawks.

The change is expected to come in the spring semester of 2005.

Black makes U.S. team

Aquil Hashim Abdullah became the first black male rower to qualify for the U.S. Olympic squad, teaming with U.S. Navy officer Henry Gantt Nuzum to win double skulls at the Qualified Olympic Small Boat Trials in West Windsor, N.J.

Their victory in 6 minutes, 23.59 seconds highlighted a morning in which all four races produced Olympic qualifiers, completing the small boat roster for the U.S. team.