Sports briefs for August 3, 2005

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

Free agency heats up

For at least one day, Atlanta and Columbus drew the eyes of the NHL their way.

After a slow first day of free-agent shopping, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers both made big moves on a crazy Tuesday.

In what looked more like a fantasy league draft than a major league offseason, about 30 players either signed new deals or were traded. After a locked-out season, there was no stopping the spending in the new world of the NHL salary cap.

Two of the league's three youngest franchises jumped into the fray as Columbus nabbed topflight defenseman Adam Foote, and Atlanta signed rugged forward Bobby Holik.

The Philadelphia Flyers retooled their defense corps by signing Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje and Chris Therien and trading Danny Markov to the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick in the 2006 draft.

The St. Louis Blues traded four-time All-Star defenseman and captain Chris Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers for defensemen Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch and Jeff Woywitka.

The Red Wings brought back their oldest player, signing captain Steve Yzerman and ensuring he will play his 22nd season in Detroit.

Mariners pitcher suspended for steroids

Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin was suspended 10 days for violating his sport's steroids policy, the eighth major league player caught under tougher drug rules enacted this year.

Henman, Philippoussis upset at Legg Mason

At Washington, third-seeded Tim Henman and two-time Grand Slam finalist Mark Philippoussis were upset in their opening matches at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, a tuneup for the U.S. Open.

Henman, who got a first-round bye at the hard-court tournament he won in 2003, lost 7-6 (4), 7-5 to Wesley Moodie. Philippoussis was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by Luis Horna in a first-round match.

Top-seeded Andy Roddick, the 2001 champion, moved into the third round by defeating Giovanni Lapentti 6-3, 6-4.

No. 2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, the top player left after the No. 1-seeded Davenport withdrew with an injury on the eve of the tournament, struggled in her first match before pulling out a 7-5, 6-3 second-round win over Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic in the featured night match.

It was the first time Nieminen beat a No. 1 seed. He will play Nicolas Almagro, who beat Albert Portas 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, in the second round.

-- Sun wire services