BRIEFLY : EX-DODGERS COACH AMALFITANO TO GIANTS.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Former San Francisco Giants stars Joe Amalfitano, Robby Thompson and Dave Righetti are returning to their former team to help develop young players.

Ex-Dodgers coach Amalfitano, a 10-year major-league infielder who was a rookie starter on the New York Giants' 1954 World Series-winning team, has been hired as special assistant for player development.

Thompson, an 11-year second baseman for the Giants and a two-time All-Star, was made a roving infield instructor. Righetti, who pitched for the Giants from 1991-93 and ranks 14th on the career-saves list with 252, will be a roving pitching instructor.

The Texas Rangers agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent pitcher Mike Morgan, who joins the 11th team of his 19-year major-league career.

USC left-handed pitcher/first baseman Jason Lane broke his left thumb in practice over the weekend. The senior is expected to miss about three weeks. The defending-national-champion Trojans earlier lost shortstop Seth Davidson because of a broken jaw suffered in practice. He is due back late next month.

BASKETBALL: Chuck Person, waived by the Chicago Bulls after they acquired him in a trade just four days earlier, signed with the Charlotte Hornets. The team did not specify the length or amount of the contract. Person said earlier in the day he would sign for one year.

The Orlando Magic signed six-year NBA veteran free-agent guard Doug Overton and re-signed free-agent guard Gerald Wilkins. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

FOOTBALL: The Idaho Board of Education has approved a landmark four-year, $625,000 contract for Boise State University coach Dirk Koetter. The deal includes such perks as a country-club membership and incentive clauses rewarding championships, victories and his players' academic performance. It replaces a one-year, $125,000 contract that expires Sunday.

TRACK & FIELD: Mark Crear, the No. 1 high hurdler in the world last year, has entered the 50-meter hurdles in the L.A. Invitational, Feb. 13 at the Sports Arena.

HOCKEY: Philadelphia Flyers center Alexander Daigle will no longer play or practice with the team after nixing a trade that would have sent him to Edmonton for Andrei Kovalenko. Flyers general manager Bob Clarke dealt Daigle to the Oilers during the All-Star break, but the trade was contingent on the seldom-used center signing a $1 million, one-year contract with the Oilers. Daigle refused.

WINTER SPORTS: In Collalbo, Italy, American Chris Witty shattered the rink record in winning a Speedskating World Cup 1,000-meter race. Witty, the women's 500-meter world champion, rebounded from a disappointing showing in that event to capture the 1,000 in 1:18.29, bettering the old standard of 1:20.75.

Olympic champion Bjarte Engen Vik had the two longest leaps to beat the field easily in the ski-jumping portion of a Nordic Combined World Cup event in Predazzo, Italy, and set himself up for a fifth straight win. The Norwegian, the reigning World Cup titlist, put together jumps of 94.5 and 96.5 meters to earn a total of 255.5 points.

GOLF: Just as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus helped pave the way 30 years ago for what is now the PGA Tour, touring pros in Japan are prepared to break from the PGA of Japan.