Briefly

Jones withdraws from London event

Marion Jones has withdrawn from a pre-Olympic meet this week in London, where she had been scheduled to compete in the 100 meters and the long jump.

Jon Ridgeon, a spokesman for Friday’s grand prix meet at the Crystal Palace track, said organizers were informed Tuesday that Jones would not be competing.

She now plans to run the 100 at a grand prix meet in Zurich, Switzerland, on Aug. 6. She also is set to run in a relay in Munich, Germany, on Aug. 8.

Hockey

Coyotes offer Hull two-year contract

The Phoenix Coyotes have made a two-year contract offer to right wing Brett Hull.

“We have a genuine interest, we’ve made a serious and substantive offer, and we’re awaiting his reply,” Coyotes GM Mike Barnett.

No deadline has been set for Hull to make a decision.

“The Boston Bruins agreed to terms with right wing Tom Fitzgerald on a 2-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Goaltender Jocelyn Thibault agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.

“The Red Wings re-signed defenseman Mathieu Dandenault to a one-year contract. He agreed to terms on a deal worth $1.6 million, general manager Ken Holland said.

Basketball

Heat give Shaq some help, re-sign Butler

The Miami Heat gave Shaquille O’Neal some frontcourt help by re-signing free agent forward Rasual Butler.

Butler, a 6-foot-7 small forward and a second-round draft pick in 2002, averaged 6.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 45 games last season. He also led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.463), ranking second all-time on the team’s season list.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The Charlotte Bobcats signed Michigan forward Bernard Robinson, the 45th overall selection in the NBA draft.

“Etan Thomas will remain with the Washington Wizards. General manager Ernie Grunfeld said the Wizards will match the six-year, $36.6 million offer sheet Thomas signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 14.

“The United States (1-0) received a 20-0 forfeit win over Venezuela at the FIBA Americas World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Originally scheduled for a 6 p.m. local time tipoff, the game was postponed until 10 p.m. after officials learned of flight delays affecting the Venezuelans arrival in Halifax.

When it was determined they wouldn’t make it in time for the 10 p.m. start, officials ordered Venezuela to forfeit the game.

The American team, including Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, will play tonight at 6 p.m. against Brazil.

Venezuela hopes to arrive in time for today’s 2 p.m. game against Puerto Rico.

Auto racing

Seven to be inducted to Motorsports Hall

At Indianapolis, former Indianapolis 500 champions Bobby Rahal and Johnnie Parsons head a class of seven inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Rahal, the 1986 Indy winner, and Parsons, who took that title in 1950, will be inducted today in Novi, Mich. Also being inducted into the 16th class will be NASCAR executive Bill France Jr., NHRA Top Fuel champion Joe Amato, multiclass sports car champ Geoff Brabham, driver-designer-builder Don Vesco and longtime Los Angeles Times motorsports writer Shav Glick.

“PPI Motorsports has signed Bobby Hamilton Jr. to replace Ricky Craven as driver of the No. 32 Chevrolet in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup series.

Hamilton races full-time in the Busch Series for Team Rensi Motorsports and has five career victories. He finished fourth last season and is currently eighth in the Busch standings.

Craven, a veteran of 14 seasons in the Cup series, said last week he would finish out the season with PPI but would not return to the team next year.

Boxing

Judge orders Ayala to return to prison

At San Antonio, boxer Tony Ayala, known as “El Torito,” was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating terms of the probation he was serving from a burglary conviction.

Ayala refused to submit to a drug test earlier this month after he was stopped for speeding and charged with possessing drug paraphernalia. That was enough for a state judge to order him back to prison.

Sports people

McGwire makes golfing debut

Mark McGwire, the former baseball slugger, made his debut in a major amateur golf event with a 12-over 82 at the 102nd annual Western Amateur at Benton Township, Mich. He was 17 strokes behind the co-leaders and tied for 152nd in the field of 156. … Alicia Molik used a dominating serve to upset second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Acura Classic in Carlsbad, Calif.