Reports: Former USC lineman has leukemia

Kenechi Udeze, a starting defensive end for USC’s 2003 national championship team and a four-year starter for the Minnesota Vikings, has leukemia, two Minnesota television stations reported Monday.

KSTP reported that Udeze, 24, is still undergoing tests and it could be several weeks before the severity of the cancer is known. The station did not reveal its source for the story on its website. KMSP also reported the news.

Udeze, who went to Los Angeles Verbum Dei, played three seasons at USC, earning All-American honors in 2003. He left school following his junior season after helping the Trojans to the Associated Press national championship.

He was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 2003. Udeze played in all 16 games last season, making 53 tackles.

Ethan Lock, Udeze’s agent, would not comment on the diagnosis to KSTP.

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Quarterback Trent Green was acquired by the Miami Dolphins last year to help turn the franchise’s fortunes around.

Not surprisingly, Bill Parcells’ ideas differ from the previous model.

In the Dolphins’ first major player purge since Parcells took charge of Miami’s football operations, the team parted ways with Green, wide receiver Marty Booker and seven other players -- ushering in the start of a likely big off-season roster shakeup by the team that finished 1-15 last season.

There is a chance that the 37-year-old Green -- who was due a $500,000 roster bonus if he wasn’t cut and who would have cost the Dolphins more than $3.6 million against their 2008 salary cap -- could see his Miami tenure continue.

His agent, Jim Steiner, told the Palm Beach Post that Green and Parcells plan to meet soon to discuss options.

Other notable cuts included tackle L.J. Shelton and defensive tackle Keith Traylor, both of whom were starters. Miami also waived tackle Anthony Alabi, defensive tackle Anthony Bryant, tackle Marion Dukes, defensive tackle Marquay Love and tackle Joe Toledo.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed with their players’ wishes and will keep grass at Heinz Field, a surface regularly rated by opposing players as one of the NFL’s worst. College’s Pitt Panthers, who play there too, also prefer grass.

BASEBALL

Atkins, Rockies avoid arbitration

Avoiding arbitration, third baseman Garrett Atkins and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year, $4.3-million contract. Atkins, 28, batted .301 with 25 homers and 111 RBIs last season for the National League champions.

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First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, 33, agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . First baseman-designated hitter Mike Sweeney, 34, a Kansas City Royal for all of his 13 seasons, agreed to a minor league contract with the Oakland A’s. . . . Shortstop Khalil Greene, 28, and the San Diego Padres finalized an $11-million, two-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

TENNIS

ATP to award points for Beijing Olympics

The ATP, hoping to ensure top players attend the Beijing Olympics, will award rankings points to players who compete at the Games.

The WTA announced in July it would award rankings points to its Olympians.

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Eighth-seeded Paul-Henri Mathieu edged Marc Gicquel, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4), to reach the second round of Open 13 in Marseille, France. . . . Yaroslava Shvedova upset fifth-seeded Sybille Bammer, 6-0, 3-6, 6-2, to reach the second round of the Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium. . . . Petra Cetkovska upset third-seeded Emilie Loit, 6-2, 7-6 (6), in the Cachantun Cup, the first WTA event in Chile, in Vina Del Mar. . . . Second-seeded Tommy Haas lost a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 decision to Diego Hartfield in the first round of the Delray Beach International in Florida.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wulff completes deal at Washington State

Paul Wulff has finalized a five-year contract as Washington State coach. He will make $600,000 a year with $200,000 in base pay, $50,000 deferred and $350,000 in collateral funds for media duties.

Wulff also has incentives for team academic performance, coach-of-the-year honors and bowl appearances.

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Louisiana State defensive end Kirston Pittman was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

Pittman sat out the 2005 and 2006 seasons because of injuries.

MISCELLANY

Book on De La Hoya promises new insight

Oscar De La Hoya’s autobiography, “American Son,” will be published May 20, HarperEntertainment announced after acquiring the worldwide rights to a book that promises “new insight into the private life of this very public figure.”

De La Hoya, the 1992 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner from East Los Angeles, will address subjects including his roots in Mexico, his greatest fights and his “wild life,” in which he “details his gambling habits,” the publisher said.

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The U.S. Soccer Federation finalized exhibition games for the senior national team at Poland on March 26 and at Spain on June 4.

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Argentina and Chile will stage the 2009 edition of the Dakar Rally, which was canceled this year because of fears of terrorism in Africa. It will run from Jan. 3-18.