Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • A6

6D Obituary Former boxing champ Alexis Arguello: Alexis Arguello, who fought in one of most classic brawls and reigned supreme at 130 pounds, was found dead at his home in Managua, Nicaragua, early Wednesday. Coroners were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Sandanista Radio Ya and other local media were reporting it appeared to be a suicide. La Prensa newspaper reported that Arguello elected mayor of capital last year was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. The 57-year-old Arguello retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts and was a champion in three weight divisions.

Horse racing Borel off Mine That Bird: Calvin Borel is out as the rider of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. The move comes after trainer Chip Woolley, Borel and the agent could not agree on a long-term commitment. De Francis Dash returns: The Grade I De Francis Dash will return to Laurel Park in October after a one-year hiatus. Introduced in 1990, the six-furlong sprint is one of only three Grade I races held in Maryland, along with the Preakness Stakes and the Pimlico Special. The $300,000 De Francis Dash was not held last year because of a purse account shortfall.

Motorsports Wood, Childress among nominees for Hall of Fame: Former drivers- turned-owners Glen Wood and Richard Childress are among the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. NASCAR released the two names Wednesday ahead of the announcement of all nominees tonight. Soccer Brazil tops FIFA rankings: Brazil has ended one-year reign as the top soccer team, and the United States moved up two spots to No. 12 in the standings. The FIFA rankings released Wednesday reflected the recent Confederations Cup tournament in which Brazil rallied for a 3-2 victory over the U.S.

in the final. Golf Small wins pro event: Mike Small won the PGA Professional National Championship for the second time in five years, closing with a 3-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Mark Sheftic and Steve Schneiter in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Small, the golf coach at the University of Illinois, had a 7-under 277 total to top the 20 qualifiers for the PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Swimming Torres plans to have knee surgery: Dara Torres plans to have major surgery on her arthritic left knee at the end of the summer. The 42-year-old Torres said she might not swim the 100- meter freestyle at next U.S.

national championships because painful to do a flip turn. High schools No rules broken in death: A school system report released Wednesday on the heat-related death of a football player concluded a Louisville, coach and his staff did not break any high school athletic rules, and found evidence the sophomore was ill with a headache and other symptoms before the practice. The report comes after the death of 15-year- old sophomore Max Gilpin last August. Pleasure Ridge Park coach David Jason Stinson has been charged with reckless homicide. wire reports BRIEFS Kansas coach Bill fence- mending trip worked: Xavier and C.J.

Henry are still headed to Lawrence to play for the Jay- hawks. Aday after traveling to Oklahoma City for an air-clearing meeting with two of his prized recruits, Self said Wednesday that Xavier and C.J. will play for Kansas next season. resolved, at least from perspective involved in the Self said. The tension started this week, following a story about the Henry family in The Kansas City Star Carl Henry, the father and a former KU player, told a Kansas City radio station he was concerned the story portrayed Xavier and C.J.

as selfish and uninterested in attending college classes. He said the story, while factually accurate, made his sons look like prima donnas. The story and comments created an Internet buzz and speculation that the brothers might bolt Kansas for Kentucky. Briefly TCU basketball: Nikola Cerina, a 6-foot-9, 235- pound power forward from Vrsac, Serbia, has signed to play for the Horned Frogs. TCU golf: Sophomore Melissa Loh was named an All-America Scholar by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Bowl game: The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, which will be played on New Eve for the third straight year, will once again kick off at 11 a.m. The bowl matches teams from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference. TCU football: Senior Jerry Hughes, who led the nation with 15 sacks last season, was named a preseason first-team All-American and the top defensive end by COLLEGE NOTES Brothers will stick with Kansas From staff and wire reports Just when the slumping economy figured to put a crimp in spending for NHL free agents, Marian Hossa hit the open market again. And instead of taking a discount on a one-year deal to take a shot at a Stanley Cup title, Hossa cashed in a mega- deal with the up-and-coming Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. Afew hours after the NHL free-agent season was open, the Blackhawks said goodbye to Martin Havlat and set their sights on Hossa.

It take long to come to terms on a 12- year, $62.8 million contract. It was the headline move on the typically busy first day of free-agent shopping. The New York Rangers landed the second biggest prize, signing high-scoring forward Marian Gaborik away from the Minnesota Wild. The NHL salary cap rose only $100,000 from last season to $56.8 million. The Blackhawks seem too concerned, and will absorb a cap hit on contract of $5.23 million.

The Blackhawks also let goalie Nikolai Khabibulin go, watching him sign a four-year deal with Edmonton. The action got started even before 11 a.m., when teams were first allowed to negotiate with free agents from other teams. Vancouver reached a deal to retain identical twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin the leading scorers last season. They each signed five- year, $30.5 million contracts. Defenseman Mattias Ohlund left the Canucks after 11 seasons to sign a seven-year contract with Tampa Bay.

The Montreal Canadiens were busy, signing former Calgary Flames forward Mike Cammalleri and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill. Three goalies the Stars were interested in signed with other teams. Craig Anderson signed a two-year deal with Colorado for an average of $1.8 million per season (likely taking the Avalanche out of the race for Jonas Gustavsson); Ty Conklin signed with St. Louis for two years at $1.2 million a season; and Scott Clemmensen signed with Florida for three years at $1.2 million per season. Forward Steve Begin left the Stars to join Boston.

Defenseman Scott Niedermayer agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal to return to the Anaheim Ducks. The Islanders signed goalie Dwayne Roloson away from the Edmonton Oilers. Forward Erik Cole re-signed atwo-year deal in Carolina. Forward Steve Sullivan resigned with Nashville for two years, $7.5 million. The Capitals signed forward Mike Knuble to a two-year deal worth $5.6 million.

NHL NOTES Hossa cashes in with Chicago By IRA PODELL The Associated Press After one-year stints with Pittsburgh and Detroit, Marian Hossa, left, signed a 12-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. AP AVERY FRISCO Frisco left-handed pitcher Kasey Kiker might very well feel as if he were cast on the Texas version of Lost It can be downright easy to forget some in the talent-rich pipeline, which many consider among the best farm systems in the major leagues. Neftali Perez, Michael Main, Martin Perez, Wilfredo Boscan and Neil Ramirez are among the top pitching prospects. Blake Beavan, 20, like Kiker, is pitching at Double A Frisco. Derek Holland has arrived in Arlington, and only 22.

Injured Eric Hurley is only 23. And no doubt, if consensus reigns, those guys are prominent in the plans. But no one should forget about Kiker. not Frisco manager Mike Micucci said. still at the forefront of our organization.

There is so much pitching talent, which is a good problem to Kiker, the top draft pick (No. 12 overall) in 2006 out of Russell County (Ala.) High School, started for the South on Wednesday night in the Texas League All- Star Game at Dr Pepper Ballpark. He pitched one inning and gave up no runs and no hits with a strikeout in the 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of 10,314. Game MVP Corey Smith of Northwest Arkansas was 2- for-3 with a run scored, and teammate Kurt Mertins drove in the second run. In seasons in the minors before his promotion to Double Kiker had a 12-16 record with a 4.03 ERA, and he averaged about nine strikeouts a game.

His highest level before this year was High A ball in Bakersfield. In 14 starts this season, Kiker is 4-5 with a 3.00 ERA. He has 72 strikeouts, 37 walks and opponents are hitting a rather meek .232 off him. working on my consistency and on my curveball a little Kiker said. command on my fastball is better and the changeup is my go-to pitch.

Every day working to So far, so good. now a Texas League All-Star. And only 21 and developing just fine, Micucci said. velocity on his fastball was probably higher when he started out, but the command where it needed to be. Now in the low 90s touch 94 on occasion but the command is much better, which makes his secondary pitches A notable absence in game was Frisco first baseman Justin Smoak.

Smoak, another top prospect, play while resting a healed strained oblique muscle, which caused him to miss 28 games. Nobody is forgetting Smoak. The general agreement is when, not if, he will be ready for the majors. So, hypothetically, if the call comes tomorrow, is ready? course I want to feel like said Smoak, the No. 11 pick in last draft hitting .331 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 48 games.

day trying to get better in all aspects of the game. The biggest thing right now is trying to be consistent every day. Up there at that level consistent day in and day If not ready, not because of a lack of effort or vision. could probably go up there and hold his own right said Micucci, while also noting that this is only first full professional season after a three-year college career at South Carolina. But got some stuff he needs to do here.

We want to improve on his defense. had some good power numbers before the injury. He was on pace to do what everybody TEXAS LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME All-Stars Kasey Kiker and Justin Smoak are shining in Rangers future. By JOHN HENRY Special to the Star-Telegram NorthABRHBISouthABRHBI Jones Sutton Bourjos Strait Decalso Mertins Smith Conger Hill Henley c2000 Trumbo c2110 Kindel 3b3010 Mayora ss2000 Kozma ss1011 Totals 33262Totals 34171 Reckling, Sogard. DP: North 1, South 1.

LOB: North 13, South 12. 2B: Smith, Horton. SB: Sutton, DeLome. NorthIPHRERBBSO SouthIPHRERBBSO Fernandez, HBP: Trimbo (by Fernandez); Smith (by Benacka). Former Colleyville Heritage High School multisport standout Tyler Henley returned home Wednesday but as a guest, playing for the North in the Texas League All-Star Game.

He exactly come for tea. In the dog-eat-dog world of minor-league baseball always something to prove. Henley was 1-for-4 in the 2-1 victory. He singled in his first at-bat in the second, and he was a tough out in the fourth when he smacked a long drive into the right-center gap that Frisco center fielder Craig Gentry ran down and made a leaping catch. Henley flied out in the seventh and struck out in the ninth.

All in all, the trip was a perfect respite for Henley from the grinding, marathon season. to sleep in my bed the last couple of said Henley, a right fielder for the Double A team in Springfield. I got a The new crop had to help Henley weather the weather, which was sweltering during the 5 p.m. batting practice. The temperature was 96 degrees at first pitch.

in Houston, just as hot here, but the humidity is much said Henley, who played three seasons at Rice. seems bad compared with that. You walk outside in Houston, soaking The quality of the cut, though? Someone else will be the judge of that. see what the wife Henley said. John Henry SPOTLIGHT CHRIS HENLEY Henley After looking a little bit lost, star back on the rise.