BRIEFLY.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Two locals among 4 Arizona players arrested, suspended

Four University of Arizona reserve football players have been arrested on suspicion of underage drinking, police said Monday.

Campus police arrested the players and two women in a pickup truck early Friday in Tucson, Ariz., then cited and released them, said department spokesman Sgt. Eugene Mejia.

Tyler Lyon, 20, a redshirt freshman and third-string quarterback who played at Hart High of Newhall; Saugus High product Kyle Monson, 18, a defensive back; and Cole Graybill, 20, a linebacker were arrested on suspicion of being under age with liquor in their systems, Mejia said. Craig S. Sedoris Jr., 19, the driver of the truck, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and suspicion of being a minor operating a motor vehicle with liquor in his system, Mejia said.

Arizona's legal drinking age is 21.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops said four players, whom he declined to identify, would be suspended indefinitely for a breach of team behavioral guidelines.

MEDIA: Mike Tirico and Stephen A. Smith are the choices to fill the three-hour midday weekday block on ESPN Radio recently vacated by Dan Patrick, starting Thursday.

Tirico, ESPN's "Monday Night Football" play-by-play man, will host a show from 10 a.m. to noon PDT, eminating from whatever city he happens to be in for the network assignment. Smith, who currently has a show on the ESPN affiliate in New York, will do a national hour from noon to 1 p.m.

KSPN-AM (710) will carry both shows, said program director Larry Gifford.

-- Tom Hoffarth

BASKETBALL: NBA referee Joey Crawford was reinstated by commissioner David Stern, five months after he was suspended indefinitely for improper on-court conduct.

San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan contended Crawford challenged him to a fight during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 15. Crawford ejected Duncan while the player was laughing on the bench.

Restricted free-agent guard Charlie Bell signed a $18.5million, five-year offer sheet with the Miami Heat, and now will wait to see if the Milwaukee Bucks choose to match that deal.

Former Oklahoma State basketball star Byron Houston was sentenced to four years in prison for violating probation on an indecent exposure conviction.

HOCKEY: Versatile center Mike Fisher agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $21 million with Ottawa.

Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo is out indefinitely due to a hairline fracture in his left wrist.

HORSE RACING: Champion thoroughbred John Henry is recovering well after battling dehydration last week, officials at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., said.

The 32-year-old gelding, who won Horse of the Year honors in 1981 and 1984, was treated with intravenous fluids last week when kidney problems prevented him from staying hydrated, said Cathy Roby, barn manager at the Park's Hall of Champions.