Daily Sports Capsule

*Index*
HOCKEY	FOOTBALL	BASEBALL	GOLF
TRACK & FIELD

HOCKEY

Ron Hextall is retiring from hockey, ending a career in which he led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals 12 years ago when he was the league's best goalie. He said yesterday at the Flyers' training camp in Voorhees, N.J., that he had accepted a job as a professional scout for the team. The 35-year-old Hextall was released by the Flyers this summer after playing backup all season. He was not claimed in the expansion draft and his retirement was expected. Hextall was 10-7-4 with a 2.53 goals-against average last season and finished with a 296-214-69 career record. ... The Ottawa Senators yesterday indefinitely suspended captain Alexei Yashin, who is in the midst of a salary dispute, and said they may sue him if he doesn't play this season. Yashin's agent has told the team to trade the 25-year-old center or renegotiate his contract, which has one year remaining at $3.6 million. Senators General Manager Marshall Johnston said he rejected a proposed three-year contract on Friday that would have paid Yashin $3.6 million this season, followed by $11 and $12 million for the next two years. Yashin was the sixth-leading scorer in the NHL last season with 44 goals -- tied for second in the league -- and notched 50 assists.

FOOTBALL

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense, as listless during the preseason as it was at the end of last season, may not have a completely healthy Jerome Bettis for Sunday's season opener at Cleveland. Bettis, limited to less than a full week of practice during training camp by a left knee injury, was listed as questionable yesterday by coach Bill Cowher. Bettis' status will be updated depending on how much he practices. Even if Bettis plays, backup Richard Huntley and rookie Amos Zereoue will likely get most of the carries Sunday night against the expansion Browns. ... Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, a first-round bust in San Francisco, was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional draft choice. The trade had been expected since the 49ers kept four quarterbacks when they cut their roster on Sunday: Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Steve Stentstrom and Druckenmiller. In two seasons with the 49ers, Druckenmiller was active for only six games, starting one. ... Deion Sanders worked out in pads and a helmet yesterday for the first time since undergoing toe surgery in April, increasing the chances he'll play for Dallas in the season opener. Sanders moved at only half-speed during his hour-long workout and didn't make any hard cuts that would have forced him to push off on his rebuilt left big toe. "He did work against receivers, so I guess you can call it an official return to practice," coach Chan Gailey said. "I had a feeling of optimism that he'd be back soon, but this gives me even more of that feeling." ... Florida State, Penn State and Tennessee remained 1-2-3 and Colorado tumbled out of sight in The Associated Press' Top 25 college football poll. The Buffaloes, in their first game under new head coach Gary Barnett, were beaten 41-14 by Colorado State and dropped out of this week's Top 25 after coming in at No. 14. The Rams (1-0), meanwhile, moved in at No. 24. ... Steve Little, who kicked the longest field goal in NCAA history for Arkansas, died yesterday at the age of 43. Little, who later played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL, was paralyzed from the neck down in an automobile accident in 1980. He died around 6:30 a.m. at his home in Little Rock, Ark. The cause of death has not been determined.

BASEBALL

Having lost patience in his offensive ability, the Montreal Expos released third baseman Shane Andrews following the team's 5-2 loss to Colorado yesterday. Montreal's first round selection in the 1990 amateur draft, Andrews was hitting just .181 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs in 280 at-bats.

GOLF

Rookie Mi Hyun Kim of South Korea shot a 2-under 70 to win the State Farm Rail Classic by one shot yesterday, her first triumph on the LPGA Tour. Kim finished with a 54-hole total of 12-under 204 at the tournament in Springfield, Ill. The victory put her in position to win 1999 LPGA Rookie of the Year honors, one year after countrywoman Se Ri Pak. Kim took advantage of a stumble by second-round leader Janice Moodie of Scotland, and held off a late surge by defending champion Pearl Sinn. "She (Kim) is good at everything," said Sinn, also of South Korea, who tied Moodie for second at 205.

TRACK & FIELD

Linford Christie, the 1992 Olympic 100-meter champion, was cleared yesterday of drug charges by British track authorities, but he still must await a final ruling by track and field's world governing body. The UK Athletics panel ruled it "could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt" that Christie used prohibited substances despite traces of the steroid Nandrolone showing in a urine sample he gave after a meet in Germany in February.
-- COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS