BRIEFS

Testaverde misses

practice again

Carolina Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde missed practice for a second straight day Thursday with an Achilles' tendon injury, increasing the chances David Carr will start Sunday at Tennessee.

Coach John Fox held off selecting a starter, but Carr practiced without problems for a second straight day despite a sore back.

The 43-year-old Testaverde aggravated an existing injury in the first half of Sunday's loss to Indianapolis. He was replaced in the second half by Carr, who missed the previous game with his back injury.

Carr said Thursday he was feeling better and believes he'll be ready to play against the Titans.

Testaverde, who was wearing a walking boot early in the week, did not speak to reporters Thursday.

Torre agrees

to three-year deal

Joe Torre was an immediate success with the New York Yankees, managing them to four World Series titles in his first five years on the job.

The Los Angeles Dodgers can only hope for similar results.

Torre, who grew up in Brooklyn rooting against the Dodgers, was hired Thursday as their manager - a half-century after they moved west.

''He likes the idea that the Dodgers are the franchise that is looked upon in many ways as one of the great icons in American sports,'' general manager Ned Colletti said on a conference call. ''He likes the challenge of that, the market size, the chance to take a club that hasn't had a chance to go to the World Series since 1988 and do something about that.

''I don't have any doubts that his appetite is there and he's up for the challenge.''

Torre took the job two weeks after walking away from the Yankees.

''Joe Torre comes with a great resume,'' Colletti said. ''What he's done the last 12 years is as powerful as any manager in recent memory.''

Hokies get

back on track

The Boston College debacle is just an unpleasant memory. Virginia Tech is back on course for a run at the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Showing no signs of a hangover from their shocking collapse against BC, the 11th-ranked Hokies romped past Georgia Tech 27-3 on Thursday night, getting a big performance from fill-in quarterback Sean Glennon.

''It would have been easy for us to hang our heads,'' said Glennon, recounting how Virginia Tech gave up two touchdowns in the final 2:11 and lost to the Eagles 14-10 the previous Thursday. ''I've never been part of such a heartbreaking loss as that one.''

The Hokies (7-2, 4-1 ACC) are over it now, pulling into a first-place tie with Virginia in the Coastal Division. The rivals meet in the final game of the regular season, which may decide who winds up in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 1.

Glennon, who wore a replacement jersey provided by the home team when his own disappeared before the game, threw two long touchdown passes and ran for another score. He made his second straight start in place of freshman Tyrod Taylor, who was still hindered by a sprained ankle.

Tennis player tests

positive for cocaine

Martina Hingis revealed she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon, proclaimed her innocence and retired from tennis for a second time - all in one fell swoop.

It was a swift and stunning end to a career highlighted by five Grand Slam singles titles and a rise to the top of the rankings at 16, the youngest No. 1 ever.

Her voice breaking, her eyes moist, Hingis read from a prepared statement Thursday at a news conference in Switzerland, then departed without taking questions.

''I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous,'' the 27-yearold Hingis' statement said.