Sports briefs for October 27, 2004

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

Braves might switch Smoltz to rotation

Faced with the possibility of losing three starting pitchers to free agency, the Atlanta Braves are considering moving bullpen closer John Smoltz back to the starting rotation. It is a move Smoltz wants. Smoltz, 37, hasn't been a full-time starting pitcher since 1999 and has become a successful relief pitcher, accumulating 154 saves.

General manager John Schuerholz said it was too early to say for sure what the Braves were going to do.

Smoltz is scheduled to earn $12 million in 2005, but would earn an additional $100,000 for each start.

BCS talks begin

Bowl Championship Series officials, after an offer from ABC for a one-third decrease in rights fees for the season-ending bowls, have invited other networks to bid on the next contract that starts after the 2006 bowls, according to USA Today. The newspaper said a meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3 in Chicago after the end of exclusive negotiations with ABC, which has been paying the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls an average of $25.5 million a year in the present contract.

Colangelo in charge

Jerry Colangelo, who sold the Phoenix Suns in April but remains the team's chief executive, was re-elected chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.

Azeri in Classic

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced that the filly Azeri will race Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the $4 million headline race on the card at Lone Star in Grand Prairie, Texas. Post positions were to be drawn today.

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