Baseball

The Phillies’ three-time all-star 2B Chase Utley will have surgery and may not be ready for the start of the 2009 regular season. Meanwhile, 3B Pedro Feliz underwent surgery on Thursday as well to fix a problem with his lower back.

Utley will have surgery next week to repair any bone or cartilage damage he may have in his right hip. Depending on the extent of the damage, full recovery could take until May, team officials said Thursday.

Feliz’s operation will be followed by an eight-to-12 week rehabilitation program.

MORE Baseball: George Steinbrenner’s 35-year reign as boss of the New York Yankees ended Thursday when he passed control of the team to his younger son, Hal Steinbrenner. . . . Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced the sport will enact a rules change stating that postseason games cannot be shortened because of bad weather. . . . Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex will once again host Atlanta Braves’ spring training in 2009. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14 and the first game against the Houston Astros is Feb. 26.. . . Joe Magrane, former player and Tampa Bay Rays announcer, will be a part of the MLB Tonight and Hot Stove on-air teams next season.

Boxing Bowe, Lewis planning 2009 comebacks

Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe will fight for the first time in three years on the undercard of the IBF title fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Hasim Rahman. Bowe’s opponent is yet to be determined. Reports in German newspapers said Lennox Lewis, 42, was also preparing for a comeback fight against Vitali Klitschko sometime in the middle of the next year.

Soccer Crew’s Schelotto named MVP of MLS

Columbus Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto won MLS’ Most Valuable Player award Thursday. The 35-year-old Schelotto had 19 assists and seven goals as the Crew finished with an MLS-best 17-7-6 mark. He and his teammates face the New York Red Bulls on Sunday for the MLS Cup.

Golf Sorenstam struggling to make cut

Annika Sorenstam shot a 2-over 74 in the opening round of the ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, good for a tie for 23rd in the 32-woman event, her final tournament before “stepping away” from competitive golf. The field gets trimmed to 16 after today’s play. She finished six shots behind leader Katherine Hull (68). Ji-Yai Shin and In- Kyung Kim were another shot back.

College basketball Michigan knocks off No. 4 UCLA

DeShawn Sims scored 18 points and Manny Harris added 15 to help Michigan upset No. 4 UCLA 55-52 in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic.

MORE COLLEGES: Jeremy Hazell scored 17 points and Eugene Harvey sank a free throw with five seconds remaining to help Seton Hall upend No. 19 USC 63-61 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. . . . Jeremy Sharpe scored 26 points and Rollins upended Puerto Rico-Cayey 112-68 in Winter Park.. . . Doneal Mack scored 19 points for Memphis in an 83-71 win against Chattanooga in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. . . . Gerald Henderson scored 20 points lifting No. 10 Duke to an 83-58 victory over Southern Illinois in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic. . . . Derrick Brown scored 16 points as Xavier rallied past Missouri 75-71 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

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