Jordan wants the blame after this year

WASHINGTON (AP) - Michael Jordan wants the blame if the Washington Wizards fail to play .500 ball this season.

"Judge me by what happened this season, not what happened last year because I didn't have my print on it," said Jordan, who became the Wizards' vice president of basketball operations in January. "Whatever happens after the season, I will take full accountability."

The Wizards were 29-53 last season. Jordan said that he will trade, suspend or "recommend" benching players who fail to meet expectations.

"I think in the past they've hung themselves," he said. "They tried it their way, and it didn't work."

The Wizards begin training camp Oct. 2 in Jordan's hometown of Wilmington, N.C. He plans to attend every practice.

"I just want to make sure we get out of the blocks with the understanding of the dedication to the game," Jordan said.

Hardaway re-signs with Miami

MIAMI (AP) - Tim Hardaway has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Heat, the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale reported Friday.

Hardaway, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, said the contract was being shipped overnight for him to sign.

"I'm happy to get it over with," said Hardaway, whose one-year deal was believed to be worth $12 million, making him the league's highest-paid point guard. "I'm happy to be staying with the Miami Heat. I want to end my career there."

Hardaway, 34, had sought a multiyear deal earlier in negotiations and last month, while practicing with the U.S. team, spoke out against the Heat's one-year offer.

"I made some people mad, and sometimes people make me mad," he said. "But I'm not one of those people to hold my tongue. I'm going to say what I think."

Rison surrenders on felony charges

KANSAS CITY (AP) - Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Andre Rison surrendered to Jackson County authorities Friday on four charges of writing bad checks.

Rison, who is now with the Oakland Raiders, posted $10,000 bond and was released. His initial court appearance on the charges is scheduled for Wednesday.

The wide receiver was charged in April with four felonies for allegedly writing $158,000 in bad checks to an Atlanta jewelry store. Those charges involved checks from a Jackson County bank or transactions in the county in 1998, prosecutors said.

The Georgia store, Elif Fine Jewelry, won a civil judgment against Rison in December for $287,900 in jewelry, plus about $43,000 in legal costs. The civil judgment involves the Jackson County checks and other transactions with Rison, according to court records. The company went to prosecutors after it could not collect the debt.

Rison also owes more than $34,000 in child support for

his 2-year-old son, according to court records.

Everett criticized for breaking team rules

BOSTON (AP) - Red Sox manager Jimy Williams and closer Derek Lowe criticized Boston general manager Dan Duquette on Saturday for failing to discipline outfielder Carl Everett.

Everett reported late for the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against Cleveland, breaking one of Williams' rules, then got into a shouting match with Darren Lewis and had to be separated from his teammate. Everett openly cursed his manager in the clubhouse.

"If I was the general manager, I would back the manager, and if you can't, you probably need to get rid of me," Williams said before Saturday's game against Baltimore.

Lowe said Duquette's treatment of Everett was a slap at Williams and set a double standard.

"You hope it doesn't snowball to the point where there's no rules at all," Lowe said.