Knicks fire Fisher as coach

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Derek Fisher had just finished a long playing career when Phil Jackson picked him to coach the New York Knicks. But 1 1/2 seasons later, Jackson decided he needed someone else. Fisher was fired Monday. Associate head coach Kurt Rambis was promoted to interim head coach.

BASEBALL

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Star Cuban infielder Yulieski Gourriel and his younger brother slipped away from their hotel in the Dominican Republic in an apparent effort to launch careers in Major League Baseball. The departure of Yulieski and his brother Loudes was confirmed by Granma, the Communist Party newspaper in Cuba that serves as an outlet for official government statements.

MIAMI — Delmon Young was arrested after authorities said he choked and threatened a parking attendant at a Miami hotel. A police report says the former Baltimore Oriole and current free agent grabbed the attendant’s neck and called him a “stupid Cuban” Sunday night. He was arrested and charged with battery. Jail records show he was released on $1,500 bail.

SOCCER

The union that represents the Women’s World Cup-winning American national team opposed an expedited schedule in the lawsuit filed against it by the U.S. Soccer Federation last week, insisting no collective bargaining agreement exists.