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New York — Hours after guiding the New York Yankees to a World Series championship, manager Joe Girardi stopped along a suburban parkway on his way home to help a woman who had crashed her car into a wall, The (Westchester) Journal News reported.

Early Thursday morning, Westchester County police officer Kathleen Cristiano congratulated Girardi on the World Series win as he passed through a drunken-driving enforcement checkpoint, according to the newspaper. Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte, who had started in the Series clincher, had passed through the same checkpoint earlier, she said.

About 15 minutes later, Cristiano was among the first responders to a one-car accident on the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester. She was surprised to again see Girardi, this time trying to flag down assistance, according to the report.

“The guy wins the World Series, what does he do? He stops to help,” said Cristiano, according to The Journal News. “It was totally surreal.”

The driver of the car in the accident, 27-year-old Marie Henry of Stratford, Conn., was able to get out of the car by the time police arrived, and she was shaken but unhurt, according to the report.

Girardi, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, then told them he “had to get going,” according to the newspaper.

“The driver didn’t know it was him until after I told her,” Cristiano told The Journal News.

In stopping to help, Girardi took a risk by running across the eastbound lanes of the parkway near a notorious blind curve, county Sgt. Thomas McGurn said, according to the report.

BASEBALL

K.C. trade report premature

Kansas City, Mo. — A reportsthat claimed the Kansas City Royals had agreed to send outfielder Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields apparently was premature. The report first appeared Thursday in the New York Daily News, then the Chicago Sun-Times cited confirmation from the White Sox. The White Sox also denied confirming the deal.

Rangers hire Hurdle

Arlington, Texas — Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is the new hitting coach for the Texas Rangers.

Hurdle was hired Thursday, taking over the job that Rudy Jaramillo held for 15 years before turning down a one-year deal at the end of the season. Jaramillo then got a three-year contract to become hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Hurdle was the Rockies manager for seven-plus seasons before being fired in May, and led Colorado to the 2007 World Series. Before being manager, he was the team’s hitting coach for five-plus seasons.

NFL

NOW: Suspend Cable

Alameda, Calif. — The National Organization for Women called on the Oakland Raiders to suspend coach Tom Cable while the team investigates allegations he has a history of violent behavior toward women.

NOW president Terry O’Neill praised the Raiders in a statement for undertaking a “serious evaluation” of charges made by Cable’s first wife, Sandy Cable, and former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, that the coach physically abused them at various times during their relationships.

But she said that Cable should be suspended while that investigation proceeds. The Raiders had no comment.

“This is the National Football League. Boys and girls around the country, as well as many women, look to the leaders of the NFL as our role models,” O’Neill said in a phone interview. “Why would the NFL tolerate having a man who admits to having battered his wife.”

TENNIS

Wickmayer suspended

Brussels — A Belgian anti-doping tribunal has suspended U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer for one year for allegedly failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times.

The Flemish regional tribunal said in a statement issued Thursday that the minimum one-year sanction is “reasonable.”

Agassi asks for compassion

New York — Andre Agassi is responding to criticism of his crystal meth use with a plea for compassion, telling “60 Minutes” he needed help when he took the drug while depressed in 1997.

Discussing his new autobiography, Agassi became emotional when reacting to comments by Martina Navratilova, who compared him to Roger Clemens.

CBS released excerpts from the interview Thursday, and will broadcast it Sunday night.

In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Navratilova said she was shocked Agassi lied about the drug use.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NCAA clears Stephenson

Cincinnati — The NCAA has cleared freshman Lance Stephenson to play at Cincinnati without having to miss any games.

There were questions about whether the 6-foot-5, 240-pound forward would be eligible because of his involvement in a documentary. Stephenson was a prep standout in Brooklyn, but his off-the-court issues made many schools back away.

Stephenson averaged 28.9 points, 10 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his senior season at Lincoln High School. He was picked as the Big East’s preseason rookie of the year, and coach Mick Cronin calls Stephenson a difference-maker.

IU freshman gets go-ahead

Bloomington, Ind. — Indiana freshman Bawa Muniru has been cleared by the NCAA to play college basketball this season. The Hoosiers had been waiting for the NCAA’s eligibility center to make its ruling on Muniru, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center from Tumu, Ghana. Muniru played high school ball the last two seasons in the U.S.

GOLF

Watney fires 64 at HSBC

Shanghai — Making the first of two trips to China this month, Nick Watney made an immediate impression Thursday in the HSBC Champions by tying the course record with an 8-under 64 to build a two-shot lead. As hundreds of cameras inside and outside the ropes tagged along to see Tiger Woods open with a 67, Watney quietly went about his business on a sunny afternoon at Sheshan International Golf Club.