Sports briefs for March 3, 2004

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 | 10:05 a.m.

Bailey-Portis deal clears final hurdle

Cornerback Champ Bailey's agreement on a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Denver Broncos has cleared the way for a trade today that will send running back Clinton Portis from Denver to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Bailey and the Redskins' second-round draft choice in April.

Portis, who earlier this week came to terms on an eight-year, $50.5 million contract with Washington, will join quarterback Mark Brunell and defensive lineman Phillip Daniels as players brought on by new coach Joe Gibbs to help revive the Redskins.

NFL officials said Tuesday the Bailey-for-Portis trade will be the league's first involving two major players since the Oakland Raiders traded quarterback Ken Stabler to the Houston Oilers for quarterback Dan Pastorini in 1980.

Marge Schott dies

Marge Schott, controversial owner of the Cincinnati Reds until giving up controlling interest in the team in 1999, died at a Cincinnati hospital. Racial slurs directed at her players and public praise for Hitler kept her continually in hot water with Major League Baseball. A chain smoker, Schott was hospitalized three weeks ago for breathing difficulties. She was 75.

Tiger won't go

Because of a conflict with his own foundation clinic in October, Tiger Woods announced that he will again skip the World Match Play Championship in London. He played in 1998, losing the final to Mark O'Meara, but hasn't gone back.

Georgia case to NCAA

The University of Georgia agreed with NCAA findings of four rules violations in the men's program, including three that name former assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr.

Kovalev traded

Frustrated by his unpredictable, improvisational style of play, the New York Rangers traded forward Alex Kovalev to the Montreal Canadiens for minor-league forward Josef Balej and a second-round choice in the 2004 draft.