Back injury may threaten Eric Chavez’s career GIRO SANDWICH

Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez has a herniated disk and could be facing career-ending surgery if he injures his back again.

Chavez, rehabbing in Arizona, was moved from the 15- to 60-day disabled list Tuesday. He was put on the DL May 1 because of a strained right forearm, a move retroactive to April 25. He experienced back spasms May 10 and underwent an MRI exam one day later.

“We’re at a pretty serious point,” Athletics assistant general manager David Forst said. “We’re doing everything we can medically to get him back on the field.”

Chavez was limited to 113 games over the 2007 and ’08 seasons because of back problems, and was recently informed about the herniated disk. He was told the disk could go out at any time, which would require a spinal fusion procedure.

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San Francisco Giants left-hander Noah Lowry was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the first rib on his left side to correct a circulatory problem. The team said a prognosis for recovery won’t be determined until after surgery. . . . Carlos Delgado had hip surgery and the New York Mets expect their slugging first baseman to return in late July.

TENNIS

USC men win NCAA title

USC won its 17th NCAA men’s tennis tournament with a 4-1 victory over No. 3-seeded Ohio State at College Station, Texas.

The eighth-seeded Trojans (25-5) won the doubles point at the No. 3 line, with Jaak Poldma and Matt Kecki breaking at 8-7 on a forehand winner by Poldma for the first point.

USC went up 3-0 when Daniel Nguyen won the first seven games against Chase Buchanan and cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win, and Abdullah Magdas toppled Matt Allare, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 4.

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The United States lost both matches to Sweden at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, with Andreas Vinciguerra beating Robby Ginepri, 7-5, 6-4, and Robin Soderling defeating Sam Querrey, 6-2, 6-2.

BASKETBALL

Henderson on way to the NBA

Duke’s Gerald Henderson has signed with an agent and will remain in the NBA draft.

The school said the 6-foot-4 junior has signed with Arn Tellem, becoming the 10th player under Coach Mike Krzyzewski to leave early for the NBA.

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John Wall, one of the nation’s most sought-after high school recruits, has decided to play for John Calipari at Kentucky. The point guard from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C., had been pursued by numerous schools including Duke and Kansas.

HOCKEY

NHL, Coyotes go to mediation

A bankruptcy judge has ordered the NHL and Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes to mediation in an attempt to resolve their fight over who is in control of a franchise that both sides agree is insolvent.

The league and Moyes are to report their progress at a status hearing May 27. Judge Redfield Baum said the question of whether the team can relocate must be decided before it is sold.

CYCLING

Di Luca expands his lead in Giro

Danilo Di Luca won the longest stage of the Giro d’Italia with a late solo breakaway and added to his overall lead at Pinerolo, Italy. The 2007 winner clocked 6 hours 30 minutes 43 seconds for the 163-mile stage.

Lance Armstrong finished 13th, 29 seconds back.

ETC.

UCLA’s Dean set to transfer

UCLA tailback Aundre Dean has been given his release and will look to transfer, said his mother, Jennifer Dean. Dean played sparingly as a true freshmen last season, slowed by an ankle injury. He gained 22 yards in 10 carries.

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Jeff Gordon had an injection in his back to ease pain he has had for more than a year, and the four-time NASCAR champion says he’ll be able to drive this weekend in the year’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

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Rachel Alexandra’s victory in the Preakness Stakes drew the most viewers to the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown in five years and the second-most in 20 years. According to Nielsen Media Research numbers released by NBC, 10.9 million people watched the race.