In brief: KU athletes fight each other; star hurt

Colleges: Two fights in two days between Kansas football and basketball players sent one basketball star to the hospital and left officials on this normally placid Midwestern campus in Lawrence, Kan., red-faced with embarrassment.

Tyshawn Taylor, a sophomore guard on the basketball team which could be ranked as high as No. 1 in the preseason polls, was taken to a hospital Tuesday night for treatment of a hand injury that could sideline him up to a month.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, there had been no arrests or charges.

The first fight broke out about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday outside Burge Union, the building where athletes take their meals. Police reports quoted witnesses as saying football and basketball players had been “baiting each other,” and that “there was a big mob of people outside the building and several people were fighting each other.”

Then, about 10 a.m. Wednesday on another part of campus, things got uglier. Witnesses reported some players hurling racial insults and a basketball player shoving a football player down a few stairs.

•Simon Fraser will begin NCAA play next fall: Simon Fraser University of Burnaby, British Columbia, will begin NCAA Division II play next fall, becoming the organization’s first non-U.S. member a year earlier than originally planned.

Simon Fraser will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, joining Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks, Central Washington, Montana State-Billings, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s, Seattle Pacific, Western Oregon, Western Washington and football affiliate members Humboldt State and Dixie State.

•Hall of Fame moving: The College Football Hall of Fame, which never managed to attract the number of visitors its organizers hoped for after moving it to South Bend, Ind., in 1995, is being moved to Atlanta to bring it more exposure, organizers said. Their lease ends in South Bend on Dec. 31, 2010.

Seahawks’ Mora assesses injuries

NFL: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck didn’t practice, and may not at all this week because of his broken rib. Yet head coach Jim Mora said the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback is feeling better, “so we’re not ruling him out at all” for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears (1-1).

Mora also updated reporters on other injuries:

Lofa Tatupu, the leader of a defense that got shredded for 207 yards rushing by San Francisco’s Frank Gore last weekend, may not practice or play this week because of a hamstring injury.

Sean Locklear is likely out a month because of a high ankle sprain. He had been playing left tackle for Walter Jones, the nine-time Pro Bowler who’s back to practicing following arthroscopic surgery on his knee Aug. 20. Mora said he isn’t sure if Jones will play against the Bears.

Center Chris Spencer has been out a month with a quadriceps injury. The Seahawks aren’t sure if Spencer or Steve Vallos will start Sunday.

Marcus Trufant, a Pro Bowl cornerback in 2007, will miss at least six games with a disk issue in his back. Cornerback Josh Wilson is also out with a high ankle sprain.

Deion Branch returned to practice and is expected to make his season debut against Chicago.

Shock cruise over Fever in opener

Basketball: Shavonte Zellous scored 23 points and Deanna Nolan added 22 as the host Detroit Shock easily cruised to a 72-56 victory over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Game 2 is Friday night at Indiana.

Briann January (Lewis and Clark) had seven points and five rebounds off the bench for the Fever.

•Mercury downs Sparks: Diana Taurasi scored 28 points and the Phoenix Mercury hit 14 3-pointers to hold off the host Los Angeles Sparks 103-94 in Game 1 of the WNBA Western Conference finals. Game 2 is Friday night in Phoenix.

•Yao encouraged by progress: Encouraged by progress in his recovery from major foot surgery, Yao Ming said he will return to action – just not next season.

“The (X-ray) picture looks good. The bones heal well,” he said in an interview with Houston television station KRIV.

He also said, however, that there is no chance that he will play in the 2009-10 NBA season.

Braves’ Cox to retire after next season

Baseball: Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox said he will retire after next season.

Cox, 68, agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2010, the Braves announced before Wednesday night’s game against the New York Mets. He will start a five-year consulting agreement to advise the team in baseball operations after he steps down as manager.

During an illustrious career on the bench, Cox has guided Atlanta to 14 consecutive postseason appearances (1991-2005) and the 1995 World Series title.

•Cubs’ Bradley apologizes: Suspended Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley apologized for behavior that led to general manager Jim Hendry’s decision to banish him for the rest of the season.

Bradley struggled and was booed loudly at Wrigley Field while hitting .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

“I wish that I handled certain things different and I apologize for those things that did not work out for the better,” he said in a statement. “The air has been cleared, and we all want to move on and look forward to better days.”