Thousand Oaks, Calif. — Tiger Woods’ caddie said Monday night he regrets his disparaging comment about Phil Mickelson at a charity dinner, saying he was making light of the Ryder Cup and his dislike for him.

“I don’t deny that him and I don’t get along,” Steve Williams told the Associated Press from his home in New Zealand. “I shouldn’t have said it, but no harm was meant. I was just having some fun.”

Williams was quoted in the Taranaki Daily News as saying he wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player “because I think he’s a (expletive).” In an interview the next day with another New Zealand newspaper, the Sunday Star Times, Williams confirmed making the comment and said it was no secret they don’t get along.

Woods criticized his caddie and said he would handle it privately.

“I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect,” Woods said in a statement. “It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with.”

Mickelson’s management company issued a statement Sunday evening to respond to what it called “grossly inaccurate and irresponsible statements” by Williams. It included a comment from Mickelson.

“After seeing Steve Williams’ comments, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones (Jim Mackay) on my bag and representing me,” Mickelson said.

NBA

Kings fire coach Theus

Sacramento, Calif. — Reggie Theus got barely more than 100 games to lead the Sacramento Kings before they headed in yet another direction with yet another new head coach.

Theus was fired by Sacramento on Monday after a 6-18 start to his second season with the club. Assistant coach Kenny Natt took over the last-place Kings for Monday night’s game against Minnesota.

college football

Chizik says he’s ‘right guy’

Auburn, Ala. — Gene Chizik wanted to win titles at Iowa State but instead went 5-19 in two seasons and lost 10 straight games. He knows the same results won’t fly at Auburn.

Chizik said Monday he understands the expectations as he takes over at Auburn following Tommy Tuberville’s departure.

“You gotta win,” Chizik said during a news conference. A half-dozen or so times, Chizik confidently said he was the “right guy” for the job.

Barkley: race factor in hire

Auburn, Ala. — Charles Barkley was pulling for Auburn to hire Turner Gill as football coach long before Gene Chizik emerged publicly as a candidate for the job.

Barkley’s take on why his alma mater hired Chizik instead: Gill is a black coach, Chizik is white.

UConn TB Brown to return

Storrs, Conn. — Connecticut tailback Donald Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, will return for his senior season. Brown ran for 1,822 yards and 17 touchdowns, leading the nation with an average of more than 151 yards.

BSU coach bolts for SDSU

Muncie, Ind. — Ball State coach Brady Hoke has resigned to accept the same position at San Diego State. Ball State went 12-1 this season, with its only loss against Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

NU player pleads guilty

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska tight end Hunter Teafatiller has pleaded guilty to a second drunken-driving offense. He also admitted Monday that he violated the probation he got in 2007 on his first drunken-driving offense.

Illinois St. taps Purdue aide

Normal, Ill. — Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack will be Illinois State University’s next head football coach. Illinois State sports information director Todd Kober said the school would introduce Spack at a news conference Wednesday.

college basketball

Men’s poll largely same

There weren’t many changes in the Associated Press’ college basketball poll Monday as most schools took a break last week for final exams. Things could look a lot different in next week’s Top 25.

North Carolina, Connecticut and Pittsburgh held on to the top three spots in the rankings and the only newcomer to the poll was Clemson, which replaced defending national champion Kansas at No. 25.

Vols’ top-10 streak ends

Tennessee’s record run in the top 10 is over. The Lady Vols’ streak of 211 straight weeks in the top 10 ended Monday when they were ranked 11th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Tennessee, which lost at then-No. 6 Texas, 73-59, on Sunday, was last out of the first 10 on March 3, 1997. The run went 56 weeks longer than the men’s record of 155 set by UCLA.

l Polls on page 4B

NFL

Raiders coach rips aide

Alameda, Calif. — Interim Raiders coach Tom Cable lashed out at assistant offensive line coach James Cregg on Monday for leaving with two games left in the season and joining former coach Lane Kiffin’s staff at Tennessee.

“Quite frankly, I’m disappointed by all these things, mostly by the fact that someone would quit on this organization, this football team and this head coach at this juncture,” Cable said Monday. “It’s wrong.”

Charger has collapsed lung

San Diego — Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd was hospitalized overnight in Kansas City after sustaining a collapsed lung in Sunday’s victory against the Chiefs. Floyd was flying to San Diego on Monday, coach Norv Turner said.

Giants CB cashes in

Corey Webster, who has developed into one the NFL’s top cornerbacks over the past year, signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension with the New York Giants.

Bills lose WR Hardy

Buffalo rookie wide receiver James Hardy will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee early in the first quarter against the Jets on Sunday.

Jags’ MLB sidelined

Jacksonville starting middle linebacker Daryl Smith injured his groin Sunday against Green Bay and won’t play Thursday night against Indianapolis.

Rams’ WR Stanley ailing

Rams wide receiver Derek Stanley will require reconstructive knee surgery for an injury sustained on a lost fumble in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks. Stanley, who also has been used in the return game, will be the Rams’ 11th player to go on injured reserve.

baseball

Phils keep Moyer, add Park

Philadelphia — Jamie Moyer understands the importance of timing. The veteran left-hander’s return to his native Philadelphia resulted in his first World Series title. And, last season’s success led to Monday’s agreement on a $13 million, two-year contract.

Philadelphia also confirmed it has a preliminary agreement with Chan Ho Park, a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.

P Mathis, Rangers agree

Arlington, Texas — Pitcher Doug Mathis stayed with the Texas Rangers, agreeing Monday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 25-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 6.85 ERA in four starts and four seasons with Texas last season.

Tigers reward SS Everett

Detroit — Shortstop Adam Everett and the Detroit Tigers finalized a $1 million, one-year contract Monday.

Astros, OF Michaels agree

Houston — Outfielder Jason Michaels and the Houston Astros agreed Monday to a $750,000, one-year contract. Michaels hit .224 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs in 123 games with Cleveland and Pittsburgh last season. He was 9-for-45 (.200) as pinch-hitter with 13 RBIs, third-most in the major leagues.

Rockies reward P Embree

Denver — Reliever Alan Embree was guaranteed $2.25 million in his one-year contract with a the Colorado Rockies. Embree has a $2 million salary next year, and the deal contains a $3 million team option for 2010 with a $250,000 buyout.

Football

Arena League cancels

New York — The 22-year-old AFL announced Monday it’s canceling the 2009 season as it seeks to mold a better business model in tough economic times. The decision was pending an agreement with the players union. League officials hope to return in 2010.