New York — Chris Coghlan and Andrew Bailey both agreed to change, then quickly got their chance in the majors. Now each has a rookie reward that will last forever.

Coghlan, the pesky Marlins leadoff hitter, won the National League Rookie of the Year award in a close vote Monday, and Bailey took the AL honor after an outstanding season as Oakland’s closer.

“I couldn’t have written it better,” Coghlan said during a conference call.

A second baseman in the minors, Coghlan made a hasty shift to left field in May and found a home atop Florida’s lineup. Bailey also switched successfully, going from struggling Double-A starter to All-Star reliever in a year.

“I think the move to the bullpen allowed me to get back mentally to who I was,” Bailey said, explaining that he began challenging hitters again. “Just took the opportunity and ran with it.”

Baseball

Royals’ Butler honored

Kansas City, Mo. — First baseman Billy Butler is the unanimous choice for the Kansas City Royals’ player of the year.

Butler, 23, is the youngest player to win the Royals award since 23-year-old George Brett was selected in 1976. Butler led the Royals with a .301 average, 51 doubles and 93 RBIs. He also had 21 home runs.

The award was voted by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Women’s college basketball

UConn still No. 1

UConn remained a unanimous top choice in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll, receiving all 40 first-place votes Monday from the national media panel. The Huskies have been the top team the past 26 polls, including the last 17 as the unanimous choice.

The poll ranks Kansas University 19th.

Basketball

Ex-Jayhawk booted

Manila, Philippines — Former Kansas University and Oregon State basketball player C.J. Giles has been cut from the Philippine national basketball team, the Philippine Star reports.

Giles, 24, and his brother Malcolm left Manila for the U.S. last Sunday, the paper reported.

There was no explanation from team officials as to why Giles was released. The article cited rumors of behavior problems.

“He didn’t turn out to be a good influence on his teammates,” a source told the paper. “If he stayed, it would’ve gotten worse.”

At the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta early this year, Giles powered the Philippines to fifth place, averaging 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.7 steals in six games.

Rodman detained in Europe

Berlin — Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has been temporarily detained in Germany after a hotel said he skipped out on a $5,100 hotel bill.

Senior prosecutor Juergen Bauer said Monday that Rodman had played in a “USA Legends of Basketball” exhibition game in the western town of Trier and threw a party afterward at his hotel.

When Rodman left the hotel Monday morning without paying the tab, the hotel director contacted the police. Police found Rodman’s stretch limo on the highway and detained the star.

Bauer says Rodman then paid the outstanding bill along with an additional $2,500 to dismiss possible legal proceedings.

College football

UM releases audit

Ann Arbor, Mich. — College football’s winningest program just took another hit off the field.

The University of Michigan released embarrassing details of an internal audit Monday that discovered Rich Rodriguez’s team failed to file forms tracking how much time players spent on football during the 2008 season — his first — and the offseason last spring.

Perhaps coincidentally, the NCAA and the school are investigating the program about similar issues. The NCAA sent the school’s president a notice of inquiry last month, saying it plans to complete its investigation by Dec. 31.

Cal star ruled out

San Francisco — California star tailback Jahvid Best will not play in the Big Game against Stanford this week as he recovers from a concussion. Coach Jeff Tedford said Monday there is “no chance” Best would play Saturday against No. 14 Stanford. Best sustained his second concussion in an eight-day period when he fell on his back and head from about 8 feet in the air on Nov. 7 against Oregon State.

Mizzou WR fractures leg

Columbia, Mo. — Missouri wide receiver Jared Perry will miss the rest of the season with a fractured right leg.

Perry, a senior, was hurt on an end around for a five-yard gain in the second quarter of Saturday’s 38-12 victory at Kansas State. The school said the fracture is slight and is hopeful Perry could return to play in a bowl game if the Tigers (6-4, 2-4 Big 12) get an invitation.

NFL

Polamalu may not play

Pittsburgh — The Pittsburgh Steelers have not yet updated the condition of star safety Troy Polamalu, who injured his left knee for the second time this season during their 18-12 loss to Cincinnati.

Polamalu missed four games after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 10 against Tennessee. He played three games before hurting the knee again during the Bengals’ opening drive on Sunday.

The Steelers did not disclose the results of Polamalu’s MRI exam, but he is not believed to have been as badly injured as he previously was. The Steelers (6-3) play Sunday at Kansas City (2-7).

ESPN, Gruden agree

Bristol, Conn. — Jon Gruden has agreed to a multiyear contract to stay at ESPN, suggesting he won’t be returning to coaching anytime soon. The network said Monday that Gruden has “made a commitment to remain with ESPN.”