Overtime

Hockey

League makes new offers to players

During a 2½-hour bargaining session in New York, the NHL gave the players' association two six-year proposals: one with a tie between league revenues and player costs and one without. So far, the union isn't interested in either.

A source close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the "de-linked" offer contained a hard cap of $37.5 million per team, $5 million less than commissioner Gary Bettman's final, non-negotiable proposal made on Feb. 15 ñ the night before he called off the season.

The new offer, though, included a minimum payroll number of $22.5 and provided a mechanism to negotiate the cap upward if there was certain revenue success, the source said. The offers also dealt with issues such as the entry-level system, qualifying offers, salary arbitration and free agency.

College Golf

USC Aiken prepares for tough tourney

No. 1 USC Aiken will be vying for its biggest win of the year when it tees off today in the Hall of Fame Invitational in Houston. The 54-hole tournament pits the defending Division II national champion Pacers against defending Division III champs Gustavus Adolphus and 17 Division I schools, including No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 4 UNLV, No. 5 Wake Forest and No. 7 New Mexico.

USC Aiken and Houston were declared co-champions of the eighth annual Palmetto Inter¤collegiate on Tuesday after failing to break a tie after 56 holes.

No. 3 Georgia HEAD:s a 15-team field, which includes defending champion Florida. The Jaguars, the 2002 champions, are coming off a fourth-place effort at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate on Feb. 22.

High School Sports

ëChronicle' wants your team's stats

Individual player statistics for baseball and soccer are due every at 4 p.m. Tuesday, no exceptions.

The Augusta Chronicle will publish a listing of area leaders in the following baseball categories: Batting average, doubles, home runs, hits, runs batted in, on-base percentage and stolen bases. Pitching categories will be overall record, earned run average, strikeouts and saves. Soccer will include: Goals and assists plus keeper categories for saves and goals against average.

Nominations for players of the week will also be due at that time. Please include a few numbers to support the nomination.

The weekly stats will run each Friday beginning March 25. Stats can be faxed to (706) 823-3408 or e-mailed to Jeff Sentell at jeff.sentell@augusta chronicle.com. Call (706) 823-3425 with any questions.

College Football

Georgia Tech coach leaves hospital

Georgia Tech head football coach Chan Gailey returned home from the hospital late Wednesday night.

Gailey, 53, suffered a heart attack Monday and underwent an angioplasty to clear a blocked artery later that day at Piedmont Hospital. Georgia Tech postponed a spring practice session scheduled for Thursday. The Jackets will work out today, and Gailey said he hopes to attend and watch practice.

The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus, the source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Smith, selected by the Cowboys with the 17th overall pick in 1990, signed a one-year contract with the club. After Smith submits official written notification of his retirement to the NFL, the Cowboys will place him on the reserve-retired list.