BRIEFLY: OAKLAND OUT OF 2005 SUPER BOWL.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Network Associates Coliseum officials refused on Thursday to back the effort to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, a move an NFL official said will almost certainly kill the city's chances to host the 2005 game.

Skeptics on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority refused to send a letter to the league stating support for a ``privately-financed Super Bowl at the Coliseum.'' Stadium officials fear a taxpayer bailout might be necessary if corporate sponsorships fail to cover expenses.

Earlier this month, the Oakland City Council also tabled a resolution to back the bid and to offer police and fire services during the four-day Super Bowl celebration. Jim Steeg, the NFL's vice president for special affairs, said he cannot imagine owners awarding the bid to Oakland next Wednesday when they meet in Atlanta.

Oakland is competing with Jacksonville and Miami for the game.

--The primary physician treating John Brodie said the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is making slow but steady progress from a major stroke.

The 65-year-old Brodie was hospitalized early Tuesday. Symptoms first appeared Monday night while he was watching the Miami Dolphins-New York Jets game.

BASKETBALL: The NBA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of a black player joining its ranks with a series of special events beginning Tuesday, opening night of the season.

The celebration tips off exactly 50 years since Earl Lloyd became the first black NBA player by suiting up for the Washington Capitals. Also to be honored at Madison Square Garden before the 76ers-Knicks game will be Hank DeZonie and the late Chuck Cooper and Sweetwater Clifton.

Lloyd will conduct the ceremonial opening tip and will be joined in pregame introductions by DeZonie. Clifton's daughter, Anita Brown, and Cooper's son, Chuck Jr., and his widow, Irva, also will be on the court for the ceremonies.

--USC guard Nate Hair might miss the Trojans' Nov. 18 season opener against Bradley after suffering a partial tear of the patella tendon in his left knee.

Hair is expected to be out a minimum of two weeks and probably longer.

``I'll be out a few weeks,'' Hair said. ``I'm not sure how long yet. I probably will be ready for the first game but I don't know.''

Another guard, Gennaro Busterna, is day-to-day with a sore toe. Point guard Robert Hutchinson, who broke a finger last week, has returned to practice.

- Scott Wolf

GOLF: Tiger Woods, playing the PGA Tour for the first time since Sept. 10, shot a 9-under 63 for a share of the first-round lead with Steve Flesch in the National Car Rental Classic at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Already a nine-time winner this year, including the last three majors, Woods birdied his first five holes to get off to a torrid start in his bid for a fourth straight victory.

He missed only one green, took only 25 putts and felt like he left a few shots out on the Palm Course. Still, the bogey-free 63 was his lowest first round this year, and his 40th consecutive round at par or better on the PGA Tour.

TENNIS: Twice taken to tiebreakers, John McEnroe edged Bjorn Borg 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-5) on the 20th anniversary of their 1980 Wimbledon final - a match noted for a fourth-set tiebreak.

Playing in the M1 Motorola 2000 Champions Tour event at Singapore Indoor Stadium, McEnroe downed his old foe to advance to today's final where he will play another Swede, Mats Wilander.

Known for his stoic on-court demeanor, Borg chipped away at some of his ``Ice Man'' image by smiling, talking and even kissing the net at one point after two consecutive balls dropped over the net well out of McEnroe's reach.

FIGURE SKATING: Michelle Kwan finished on top in the women's short program at Skate America 2000 at Colorado Springs, Colo., with a new routine that included a near-flawless triple flip. Sarah Hughes was second.

Kwan, using a program choreographed by former pairs champion Christopher Dean, earned five 5.8s for technique and five 5.9s for presentation.

China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, runners-up in the past two world championships, scored highest in the pairs short program.