Sports briefs for June 1, 2005

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 | 9:46 a.m.

Local junior star in international event

Fourteen-year-old Asia Muhammad, star pupil of the Team Agassi youth tennis program, will be one of six girls representing the United States this weekend against Australia in the 19th Bonne Bell Maureen Connolly Brinker Cup tournament in Burlingame, Calif.

Muhammad's list of accomplishments this year already includes the girls 16 doubles championship at the prestigious Easter Bowl tournament in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Brinker Cup event comprises 15 matches played over three days. The event was started in 1977 and the United States has a 15-3 lead.

Muhammad will be teammates with two girls from California, two from Georgia and one from Florida. The players were selected by the U.S. Tennis Association and the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation.

Yankees Quantrill, Torre suspended

New York Yankees relief pitcher Paul Quantrill was suspended for three games for throwing at the Detroit Tigers' Jason Smith, and Yankees manager Joe Torre got a one-game ban.

Quantrill and Torre also were fined undisclosed amounts. The suspensions started Tuesday, as bench coach Joe Girardi managed New York in a 5-3 loss at the Kansas City Royals, who have the major leagues' worst record at 14-37.

Report: ESPN ends negotiations with NHL

ESPN officially ended negotiations with the NHL for broadcasting rights next season, The Globe and Mail reported this morning.

ESPN announced Saturday it would not pick up a $60-million option under the previous contract, but tried to retain the rights for less money in talks with the league and commissioner Gary Bettman.

"Right now, we're done negotiating," Mark Shapiro, ESPN's executive president for programming and production, told the newspaper.

Zito voted into Hall of Fame

Trainer Nick Zito was elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

Zito, voted into the hall in his eighth year of eligibility, will be inducted Aug. 8 at Saratoga Springs, along with three standouts in steeplechase racing -- jockey Thomas Walsh, trainer Sidney Watters Jr. and five-time champion Lonesome Glory.

--Sun wire services