Sports in brief

BASEBALLIndians sign Johnson

The Cleveland Indians said Monday they have signed oft-injured Nick Johnson to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training. The 32-year-old Johnson played in only 24 games last year for the Yankees before injuring his right wrist and going on the disabled list for the eighth time. Johnson had surgery in February and will continue his rehabilitation work at the Indians' complex and there is no timetable.

Zaun retiring

San Diego Padres catcher Gregg Zaun is retiring after 16 major-league seasons because of concerns over his surgically repaired right shoulder. The 39-year-old, at spring training with a minor-league contract, caught his first game Sunday since a June 15 operation to repair the labrum.

MLB fires 3 execs

Major League Baseball has fired three executives as part of the restructuring that put Joe Torre in charge of baseball operations. The commissioner's office said that vice president of umpiring Mike Port, vice president of operations and administration Ed Burns and senior specialist of on-field operations Darryl Hamilton have been let go.

NBAVan Gundy backs Howard

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says he thinks Dwight Howard has shown restraint on the court this season despite picking up the league's first suspension for excessive technical fouls. Howard sat out the Magic's 89-85 home loss to Portland last night after picking up his 16th technical on Friday.

Van Gundy quoted an Elias Sports Bureau statistic that notes Howard has been fouled 593 times this season without any of those calls being labeled flagrant. Asked if the Magic had a case to the league office about whether they believe Howard has been excessively fouled, Van Gundy said he thinks outside input doesn't carry much weight within the league office.

"This is the system David Stern and his minions like," Van Gundy said.

TENNIS

Wimbledon in 3-D

Wimbledon is going 3-D. The men's semifinals and men's and women's finals at this summer's tournament, which begins June 20, will be shown live by 3-D-capable movie theaters around the world. The deal was announced as part of Wimbledon's multiyear partnership with Sony.

Serve speed mark set

The International Tennis Federation says Croatia's Ivo Karlovic set a world record with a 156-mph serve Saturday during a Davis Cup doubles match against Germany. The prior mark of 155 mph was set by Andy Roddick.

- AP