BRIEFLY : EX-COACH FISHER DEFENDS HIMSELF.

Steve Fisher said Monday he was surprised he was fired as Michigan's basketball coach. He said he doesn't believe he did anything wrong, but he didn't explain why he was fired.

Speaking publicly for the first time since being fired on Friday, Fisher said he honestly answered questions from a Kansas law firm hired by the university to investigate alleged NCAA violations. He criticized the university for not letting him see the results of the study before they were made public Thursday.

The investigation cited three NCAA violations the university termed minor. Fisher was fired by new Michigan athletic director Tom Goss, who said he made the decision to fire Fisher after meeting with him, not after reading the report. He said the basketball program needed a new direction.

Fisher said he remained silent after the report was released because the school asked him not to comment.

``I was asked by our administration when the whole process broke in March - to allow one voice to speak for the university and athletic department,'' Fisher said. ``I thought that voice should be mine. But I've always been a team player.''

Fisher said he made the mistake of not being more assertive in defending himself to school officials. Fisher said his wife urged him to defend himself.

``I said, `Don't worry, I've done nothing that needs defending. When the truth comes out, I'll be fine,' '' Fisher said.

The report called into question Fisher's role in arranging complimentary tickets for booster Ed Martin, who is at the center of the investigation.

``I will not apologize for who I am or what I've done,'' he said. ``I am immensely proud to be Steve Fisher.''

NHL: Daniel Alfredsson, back in the fold with the Ottawa Senators after signing a four-year, $10 million contract Sunday, is expected to play Wednesday night at home against the New York Rangers.

Buffalo Sabres right wing Matthew Barnaby is expected to miss a month after suffering a bruised chest in a collision during practice Friday.

Montreal Canadiens right wing Stephane Richer will miss at least two weeks after being cut on the right calf muscle by a skate in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: San Diego State quarterback Kevin McKechnie could miss the rest of the season after injuring his back in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's loss to New Mexico. Coach Ted Tollner said McKechnie could be out four to six weeks. The Aztecs (1-5) have six games left.

TENNIS: Rebounding from a qualifying loss last week in Germany, teen star Venus Williams routed Romania's Ruxandra Dragomir 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of the European Indoors at Zurich, Switzerland.