REGION

REGION
Blue Jackets moves
COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets activated captain Luke Richardson from the injured reserve list Friday and recalled rookie Aaron Johnson from Syracuse of the AHL.
Richardson was placed on injured reserve Nov. 16 after he fractured his finger two days earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. He appeared in the Blue Jackets' first 16 games this season and had three assists and 20 penalty minutes.
Johnson made his NHL debut earlier this season and had one assist and two shots on goal in three games. He has four goals in 24 games with Syracuse.
WNBA will hold WNBA sets draft
CLEVELAND -- The WNBA will hold a dispersal draft on Jan. 6 for players of the former Cleveland Rockers.
The NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, who had sponsored the Rockers, cut their ties to the WNBA team in September. No new owner was found and the Rockers folded, WNBA spokesman John Maxwell said Friday.
The Rockers ranked 10th out of 14 teams this season in attendance, averaging 7,400 in the 20,000-seat Gund Arena.
The Rockers did not turn a profit in any of their seven seasons, Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund said.
The Rockers were one of eight WNBA charter teams in October 1996.
NATION
Former GM dies
PHILADELPHIA -- Paul Owens, general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies' 1980 World Series championship team, died Friday. He was 79.
Owens died at Underwood Hospital in Woodbury, N.J, following a lengthy illness, the Phillies said in a statement.
Owens, nicknamed "The Pope" because of his resemblance to Pope Paul VI, also managed the Phillies team that won the National League pennant in 1983. He is widely credited with signing and developing some of the team's major talents of the 1970s and 1980s, including Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Bob Boone and Greg Luzinski.
During his 48-year career with the team, Owens also served as general manager when the team won Eastern Division titles in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980. The Phillies reached post-season play during the strike-shortened season of 1981.
Owens managed the Phillies during part of the 1972 season, replacing Frank Lucchesi. His second stint as manager began midway through the 1983 season, when he took over for Pat Corrales, and he continued as skipper through 1984.
"Pope was one of my dearest friends and my mentor," said Dallas Green, who managed the 1980 Phillies. "He was one of the best baseball men I've been around. He taught me so much about baseball and life. He had great judgment, tremendous patience and a love and feel for this game."
Owens remained with the team in various positions until he died, Phillies spokesman Larry Shenk said.
Born in Salamanca, N.Y., on Feb. 7, 1924, Owens is survived by his wife, Marcelle, two sons and five grandchildren.
NBA trade
PHOENIX -- Forward Robert Archibald was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Orlando Magic on Friday for a conditional 2005 second-round draft pick, the second deal between the teams in three days.
The 6-foot-11 Archibald, who was acquired from Memphis on Sept. 30, appeared in only one game for the Suns, scoring one point.
On Tuesday, Phoenix acquired forward Donnell Harvey from Orlando.
WORLD
U.S. beats Austria
HAAMENLINNA, Finland -- Zach Parise had three goals and an assist to help the United States open the world junior championships with an 8-0 victory over Austria on Friday.
Parise, the son of former NHL player J.P. Parise, is a sophomore at the University of North Dakota. He was selected 17th overall in the June NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils.
Brett Sterling had two goals, James Wisniewski, Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves also scored, and Al Montoya made 15 saves for the United States, which had 61 shots on goal.
The United States will continue Group A play Sunday against Slovakia, which opened with a 2-2 tie against defending champion Russia.
In Group B games Friday in Helsinki, Canada beat Finland 3-0, and the Czech Republic routed Ukraine 8-0.
Anthony Stewart had a goal and an assist for Canada, and Dion Phaneuf and Dan Paille also scored. Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 16 saves for the shutout.
Expos sign Batista
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Expos added some much needed power to their lineup Friday, agreeing to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with third baseman Tony Batista.
Wire reports