Johnny Damon signs $8-million, one-year deal with Detroit

To Johnny Damon, the Detroit Tigers were the right team.

“This is where I wanted to be,” he said Monday after completing his $8-million, one-year contract. “The Tigers were my first choice. I love it here and think I am a good fit.”

Let go by the World Series champion New York Yankees, Damon also drew interest from the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. When it came time to choose, he darted to Detroit.

“The Tigers are a scary team and the fact that this team has gotten even younger makes it a lot more fun,” he said.

The 36-year-old outfielder brings another left-handed bat to the Tigers’ lineup besides switch-hitter Carlos Guillen.

Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski has said Damon wasn’t in the team’s plans as late as January. But Damon came into the picture after the Tigers dealt leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson to the Yankees, then saw Placido Polanco leave as a free agent.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Lake leaving UCLA

Carnell Lake, UCLA cornerbacks coach, will not return next season for family reasons.

Lake, a former Bruins and Pittsburgh Steelers player, spent one season at UCLA.

He inherited a young cornerback unit, with Alterraun Verner the only player with extensive playing time, and then lost its second-best player in Aaron Hester (fractured tibia) during the season opener.

Former UCLA and NFL defensive back James Washington is believed to be among those who will be considered as a replacement for Lake.

-- Chris Foster Oregon Coach Chip Kelly has suspended linebacker Kiko Alonso for the 2010 season.

Alonso was arrested Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants -- the fourth Ducks player to be arrested in the last month.

Alonso played in 12 games as a redshirt freshman last season.

ETC.

AVP releases schedule

The AVP will play half of its 12 pro beach volleyball tournaments in 2010 in Southern California, according to a schedule the tour released.

The Southland schedule: Santa Barbara, April 29-May 2; Huntington Beach, June 3-6; Hermosa Beach, July 16-18; Malibu, July 24-25; Manhattan Beach, Aug. 19-22; Los Angeles, Sept 17-19.

Golfer John Daly has a new endorsement deal to go with those outrageously loud pants.

He also will be hawking underwear.

Slix, an online company that began four months ago, says the two-time major winner will endorse its line of Slix Closer boxer briefs.

Top-fuel driver Cory McClenathan and funny car driver Jack Beckman picked up victories at the weather-delayed NHRA Arizona Nationals in Chandler, an event marred by the death of a fan at Firebird International Raceway a day earlier.

The pro stock class completed only one round Sunday and the final three rounds were rescheduled for March 12-13 in Gainesville, Fla.