Sports briefs for August 24, 2005

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 | 10:43 a.m.

Maradona fesses up: His hand, not God's

Diego Maradona acknowledged that he struck the ball with his hand in the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.

Speaking on his local television talk show, Maradona called one of soccer's most controversial goals "something that just came out of me. It was a bit of mischief."

Maradona appeared to punch the ball into the net, and officials allowed the goal to stand despite protests by the English team. Argentina went on to win the 1986 quarterfinal match 2-1 and then win the World Cup.

In his most detailed comments yet, Maradona said he was unable to reach the ball for a header when he went up against the taller English goalkeeper, Peter Shilton.

Shilton "was very tall. He didn't see anything, and a teammate told him" afterward what happened, said Maradona.

After the score, Maradona said he quickly realized the line referee had allowed the goal but none of his teammates had rushed to celebrate with him, figuring the goal would be waved off.

"I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me and no one came," said Maradona, who was the team captain. "I told them, 'Come hug me or the referee isn't going to allow it.' "

Senators trade Hossa for Thrashers' Heatley

The Atlanta Thrashers traded former NHL rookie of the year Dany Heatley to the Ottawa Senators for Marian Hossa, a blockbuster deal requested by Heatley less than two years after he was blamed for a wreck that killed a teammate.

The teams swapped high-scoring right wingers on the same day Hossa agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract with the Senators, avoiding salary arbitration.

Davenport dominant in return to game

At New Haven, Conn., Lindsay Davenport easily won her first full match since losing to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final, beating the Czech Republic's Kveta Peschke 6-4, 6-1 in the Pilot Pen tournament.

Davenport, who lost the world's top ranking Monday after missing several weeks because of a back injury, appeared confident in the match.

Federer, 24, has won nine tournaments this year, including his fifth Grand Slam at Wimbledon. He's held the top spot in the world rankings since January.

Sharapova, 18, took over as No. 1 in the women's rankings Tuesday. -- Sun wire services

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