By The Associated Press

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) The football helmet that Jim Brown wore in his senior season at Syracuse in 1956 has been sold through an Internet auction for $5,000.

Curtis Worrell of Warsaw, Ind., and Jim Parker of Asheville, N.C., bought the helmet Sunday on eBay, eight minutes after it became available. The collectors said they were planning to loan it to the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

"This is like the holy grail of football helmets," said Worrell, who runs a Web site devoted to helmets.

The seller, who did not identify herself, wrote online that she found the helmet in the attic of her parents' home. She said her father received it from a friend of former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder.

Worrell and Parker said they are certain of the authenticity. Brown's name and his No. 44 are written in several places inside the helmet, which was widened to accommodate the running back's large head.

In his career with the Cleveland Browns, Brown played in the Pro Bowl nine straight years and was awarded the Jim Thorpe trophy as the NFL's most valuable player in 1958 and 1965.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) Olympic speedskating medalist Derek Parra was welcomed back home with a parade Tuesday.

Cheering, flag-waving fans lined the parade route as Parra, 31, rode by in a convertible.

Parra, who learned to skate at the local Stardust Roller Rink, won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters and a silver in the 5,000 meters at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Tuesday was declared "Derek Parra Day" in San Bernardino, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, with events ranging from a rally at the local baseball park to a $20-a-plate dinner at the National Orange Show fairgrounds.

Parra and his wife live in Orlando, Fla.

WACO, Texas (AP) Troy Aikman, who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles, heads the list of Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

Aikman, who won more NFL games than any other quarterback in the 1990s, is being honored along with former Houston Oiler linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews, and NASCAR champions Bobby and Terry Labonte.

NFL Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane and former Detroit Tigers slugger Norm Cash will be honored posthumously. Matthews is still active with the Tennessee Titans.

Aikman retired after the 2000 season after setting club records for passing yards (32,942) and touchdowns (165). He is also the Cowboys' all-time leader in completions and attempts.

LONDON (AP) The five Scottish women who won Britain's first Winter Olympics gold medal in 18 years were cheered by fellow passengers Tuesday at Heathrow Airport.

"To be honest, it's a good feeling to be home and I'm very impressed with the reception," said Rhona Martin, captain of the women's curling team. "I wasn't expecting this at all. When we left, it wasn't as big as this, and we haven't hit Scotland yet, so there will be a few more people welcoming us back up there."

Two weeks ago, Martin, Janice Rankin, Fiona MacDonald, Debbie Knox and Margaret Morton were virtually unknown in Britain.

But they became sensations last week when they beat Switzerland to win gold in Salt Lake City, the first winter gold medalists from Britain since Torville and Dean in ice dancing in 1984.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) World light heavyweight boxing champion Roy Jones is releasing "Round One," his first rap album.

Jones, whose other outside interests include playing minor league basketball and acting - his first film, "The Matrix Reloaded" is due out in 2003 - made its debut at No. 2 last month on Billboard's Hot Rap singles list. "That Was Then" is holding at No. 3 after eight weeks on the charts.

"I expected some response, but not quite as much as it got at the beginning," Jones said. "I wasn't real sure how people would react because some people have negative impressions of athletes trying to rap, but so far people like it."

LONDON (AP) Prince Naseem Hamed is determined to get a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, the man who handed him his only pro defeat.

Hamed, the former WBO featherweight champion, returns to the ring against Manuel Calvo on March 23 at the London Arena. Hamed said Tuesday he will then try to set up a match against Johnny Tapia before pursuing Barrera, who defeated him in a unanimous decision in April.

"I didn't show my ability that night, not even 30 percent," Hamed said. "I know I can beat him when I am 100 percent and I want to beat him. Next time I am going to box differently with regard to speed and power. I believe I am better than him and will prove it."

UTICA, N.Y. (AP) Nike co-founder and 1972 Olympic coach Bill Bowerman is among eight finalists for election to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

The other finalists are Browning Ross, an eight-time AAU cross country champion and founder of the Road Runners Club of America; Doris Brown Heritage, a five-time cross country world champion and former 3,000-meter world record holder; Marcy Schwam, who set world track records at 50 miles, 100 miles, and for 24 and 48 hours; Priscila Welch, who won the 1987 New York City Marathon at age 42; Buddy Edelen, the first American run a marathon in under 2 hours, 20 minutes; John J. Kelley, U.S. national marathon champion eight straight years; and Miki Gorman, two-time champion of both the Boston and New York City Marathons.

Four of the finalists will be inducted in July.

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