on the SIDELINES

Big Ten to hold Bowl game\nThe Big Ten Conference has partnered with the Motor City Bowl for a four-year deal to place a seventh bowl-eligible team from the Big Ten. The team will play against the No. 1 or No. 2 team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The agreement begins with the upcoming 2002 season.\n"This is the absolute best thing that could happen to the Motor City Bowl, the Mid-American Conference, the city of Detroit and the great state of Michigan," said Ken Hoffman, executive director of the Bowl.\nThe game is expected to be played on Ford Field, the new home of the Detroit Lions scheduled to open later this summer.\nThe Bowl will be televised by ESPN on Dec. 26 at 5 p.m.\nCostas signs multi-year contract to stay with NBC\nNEW YORK -- Bob Costas signed a multi-year contract to stay with NBC Sports on Wednesday.\nA conference call was scheduled for Thursday to discuss what was termed Costas' "new role at NBC."\nDetails were not released, but the Associated Press reported last week that the announcer and network had agreed to a four-year deal, worth more than $1 million a year.\nCostas' current deal with NBC expires in June.\nHe had talks this year about joining Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN and ABC, and was offered a job as host of an NBA studio show on ABC and a variety of work at ESPN.\nEarlier this year, Costas signed a two-year extension with HBO as his primary cable outlet.\nDoctor: Hingis injuries may be career-threatening\nZURICH,Switzerland -- Martina Hingis may have to give up tennis because of joint injuries, her doctor said Wednesday.\nDr. Heinz Buehlmann told a Swiss radio network that Hingis, 21, is suffering severe pain in her feet, left knee and left hip, which had forced her to stop training.\nThe former top-ranked player was due to have tests Wednesday and Thursday, Buehlmann told Radio 24. She may have inflammation which has led to joint damage and may have to consider ending her career, he said.\n"We cannot yet say how sensible it would be for her to continue her career or whether an end to it would be advisable on medical grounds," Buehlmann said.\nResults are expected by the end of the week, Buehlmann said.\nHingis' mother, Melanie Molitor, confirmed that her daughter was undergoing tests in Zurich.\nShe said the damage may have been caused by the shoes that Hingis wore for tennis from the age of 11 until three years ago.