Sports briefs

Baseball

METS HIRE RANDOLPH: Willie Randolph was hired Wednesday night by the New York Mets, taking over as manager of a troubled team trying to compete with its crosstown rival for success, free agents and fans.

A six-time All-Star who was a coach with the New York Yankees for the past 11 years, Randolph replaces Art Howe, fired at the end of the season. Randolph, 50, will be introduced Thursday at a news conference at Shea Stadium.

Randolph met earlier Wednesday with new general manager Omar Minaya, who also had second interviews with the other finalists, Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and former Houston and Anaheim manager Terry Collins.

Hockey

ZHOLTOK DIES: Nashville Predators center Sergei Zholtok died Wednesday of an apparent heart ailment. He was 31.

The Predators announced that Zholtok died in Latvia where he was playing for Riga 2000 during the NHL lockout.

"We are all saddened and shocked to hear of Sergei's sudden passing," Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement. "He was a hardworking player who was well-liked by his teammates and coaches. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Zholtok family."

TSN.ca reported Wednesday night that Zholtok excused himself from a game and collapsed and died on the way to the locker room.

Pro football

CAVILLO NOMINATED: Another year, another outstanding player award nomination for former Utah State quarterback Anthony Calvillo , as the Montreal Alouettes quarterback was named the Canadian Football League's East Division nominee for the award Tuesday for the third straight year.

He was a finalist to Winnipeg receiver Milt Stegall in 2002 before winning it last year over B.C. Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson.

Calvillo, 32, led the CFL in pass attempts (690), completions (431) and yards (6,041) and was tied for second in touchdown tosses (31) as Montreal posted a league-best 14-4 record. The 11-year veteran won the honor last year after throwing for a league-best 5,891 yards.

Calvillo lettered at Utah State in 1992 and 1993 and led the Aggies to the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl Championship. In his two-year career in Logan, he threw for 5,642 yards, which ranks fifth on the school career passing list.

Olympics

TURIN 2006 TICKETS ON SALE: More than 500,000 tickets for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics go on sale Thursday.

Of a total of 1 million tickets, 65 percent will be available to the public. The other 35 percent are reserved for national Olympic Committees, sponsors, international sports federations and broadcasters.

More than half the tickets to the Feb. 10-26, 2006 games are between $25.50 and $64, Valentino Castellani, head of the organizing committee, said Wednesday.