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In brief

Cone has a feeling he'll retire

TAMPA -- David Cone could be ready to call it a career.

Cone, who did not pitch last season but kept open the possibility of coming back, may be ready for retirement.

"My gut feeling is that I'll probably retire at this point," the 40-year-old Cone said Wednesday while visiting the Yankees' minor-league complex.

"In the next few weeks I'm going to have to make a decision one way or another. I imagine during spring training I'll probably say something officially," he said.

Cone was 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA for Boston in 2001. He is 193-123 with a 3.44 ERA in 16 seasons.

GIANTS: Five-time All-Star first baseman Andres Galarraga signed a minor-league contract.

PIRATES: Jeff Suppan, a right-hander who won 39 games the past four seasons with the Royals, agreed to a one-year, $1-million contract that is loaded with performance bonuses.

ROCKIES: Left-hander Darren Oliver signed a minor-league contract.

WHITE SOX: Reliever Billy Koch signed a two-year contract.

WOMEN'S SPORTS: Debate slows meeting

A divided Bush administration commission considering changes to Title IX debated procedural issues and approved several modest recommendations, setting the stage for a combative finish as the most controversial ideas are presented today. In a key development, commissioners who favor maintaining the law's current standards won the right to have dissenting views included in the final report that will be sent to Education Secretary Rod Paige next month. Most of the approved recommendations dealt with technical issues in the complex law, and there was no problem reaching a consensus on at least one topic: The Education Department must do a better job explaining guidelines to colleges and high schools.

TRACK: Runners facing questions

Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery are under pressure to explain why they're working with Ben Johnson's former coach. Five-time Olympic medalist Jones and 100-meter record holder Montgomery have been training with Charlie Francis in Toronto since last month. Francis was Johnson's coach when Johnson failed a drug test and was stripped of his gold medal after winning the 100 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. USA Track & Field and the International Association of Athletics Federations want an explanation. "This is about the reputation and image of the sport. ... We believe it is our duty to get involved," IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai said.

SOCCER: U.S. women best of best

Devvyn Hawkins kicked in a cross from Brandi Chastain to give the United States women a 1-0 win over Germany in the Four Nations Tournament in Shanghai, China. With two wins and a loss, the United States won the competition featuring the world's top four teams. China, which beat the Americans on Sunday, finished second. "From game to game, from tournament to tournament, our goal is always to finish first and we pride ourselves on that," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said.

COLLEGES: South Florida's Hunter West was named to the College Soccer News Freshman All-America first team.

ET CETERA

ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm signed quarterback Anthony Buich, fullback/linebacker Charles Kirby, offensive/defensive lineman Jermaine Benoit and defensive specialist Brent Browner to its practice squad.

OLYMPICS: The British government delayed until next week a decision on whether to support a London bid for the 2012 Games.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Florida State is ranked No. 9 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today preseason poll.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: Stanford's Logan Tom was named the nation's outstanding female player for the second straight year.

WINTER SPORTS: Colorado football player Jeremy Bloom qualified for the moguls finals at the World Freestyle Championships in Park City, Utah.

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