Sports briefs for January 6, 2005

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 | 9:25 a.m.

Anaheim files suit to block Angels' change

The city of Anaheim filed suit in a California court Wednesday seeking to block the Angels franchise from changing its name in an attempt to increase business in the second-biggest U.S. media market.

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, claims that by changing its name from the Anaheim Angels to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the team is violating a 33-year agreement with the city signed in 1996 that covered $30 million in renovations to its home ballpark

The team announced the change Monday, saying it would "strengthen the Angels' long-term economic health by enhancing the marketability through this metropolitan area and beyond."

Angels spokesman Tim Mead said the team's lawyers were still reviewing the suit.

Arturo Moreno bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Co. last year for $180 million. He's sought to expand the team's fan base beyond Anaheim, with about 330,000 residents, to include Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, which have a population of 16.2 million.

The team will stay in Angel Stadium of Anaheim, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles in Orange County, and continue to use the logo of a large "A" topped by a halo. The city has been the team's home for 39 years, after it played its first five seasons in Los Angeles.

Philippoussis hurt

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Mark Philippoussis, whose world ranking slipped to 109th in 2004, is a doubtful participant in the Australian Open after tearing a groin muscle while losing in three sets to Peter Wessels at the Hopman Cup matches in Perth, Australia. The Australian Open begins Jan. 17 in Melbourne.

Labor offer rejected

Coach Bruce Arena's proposal to push back the deadline in the U.S. Soccer Federation's labor dispute was disavowed by USSF management, which asked the players' union to accept binding arbitration for a new contract. The USSF is threatening to use untested players Feb. at Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match of the final round of World Cup qualifying unless a collective bargaining agreement is reached by Feb. 1.

Ex-Air Force QB returns

Former Ohio head coach Brian Knorr, who was fired in November after going 11-35 in four seasons with the Bobcats, was hired as coach Fisher DeBerry's defensive coordinator at Air Force, where he played quarterback on DeBerry's first Falcons teams in the mid-1980s. Knorr will replace Vic Shealy, who left last month to join Mike Sanford's new staff at UNLV.

Gators staffer indicted

University of Florida staff assistant Major Parker and a co-defendant were indicted in a Tallahassee, Fla., court on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and five counts of distributing cocaine.