Sports briefs for May 3, 2005

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

Twins pitcher suspended for drugs

Juan Rincon, who emerged last season as one of baseball's top setup men for Minnesota, became the highest-profile violator of Major League Baseball's new policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Rincon was suspended for 10 days after testing positive for an undisclosed substance, the fifth player to be suspended this season.

Michael Weiner, general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said a grievance would be filed Tuesday. But unlike other penalties, such as for fighting, suspensions under this policy take effect immediately and are not delayed pending a hearing.

Rincon is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 appearances this season.

Wallace voted NBA's top defender again

Ben Wallace won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in four years.

Wallace, who was presented with the trophy at an afternoon news conference, joins Dikembe Mutombo as the only players to win the award three or more times.

Wallace also won the award in 2002 and 2003. Mutombo won in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001.

Cowboys sign former Bears RB Thomas

Free agent running back Anthony Thomas agreed to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

Thomas will provide depth at running back and some veteran experience, especially after the release last week of Richie Anderson. Julius Jones became the top back as a rookie last season for the Cowboys, who also chose Marion Barber in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

Sharapova could reach No. 1 at German Open

A Wimbledon champion at 17, Maria Sharapova could soon reach No. 1 at 18.

If she wins this week's German Open, Sharapova will move up one spot and overtake Lindsay Davenport to become the first Russian atop the WTA Tour computer rankings since they began in 1975.

She is ranked a career-high No. 2, followed by Amelie Mauresmo, Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva.

USA Hockey exec quits nine months before Turin

Doug Palazzari resigned as executive director of USA Hockey, nine months before the Turin Olympics. Palarazzi, who had been the executive director for the past six years, said he had "lost the confidence of some of the members of our executive committee." -- Sun wire services