Warriors sign four players to contracts

The Golden State Warriors signed a quartet of players they already had in training camp Monday, reaching deals with forwards Antonio Lang and Larry Stewart and guards Dell Demps and Isaac Burton.

Lang spent last season with Cleveland, where he averaged just 2.7 points and a pair of rebounds in 64 games. The 6-foot-8 forward had seen limited action with the Cavs and Phoenix the previous two years after having been on a pair of national title teams with Duke in 1991 and 1992.

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Stewart was with Seattle last year, averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds for the SuperSonics after having spent the previous season in Spain. Before heading to Europe, the 6-foot-8 forward spent four years with the Washington Bullets.

Demps has spent more time in the CBA than the NBA since turning pro in 1992, with brief stints for Golden State and San Antonio.

Burton is trying to make the NBA after two years of working in the Australian Basketball League. In his 24 games Down Under last year, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 20.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and three steals.

Fielder may be headed back to Japan

New York Yankees designated hitter Cecil Fielder, who is not expected to receive a new contract with the team, is reportedly headed back to Japan.

Fox Sports News reported Wednesday that Fielder, who played in Japan in 1989, had his representatives contact Japanese teams after learning the Yankees did not have him in their plans for next season.

Fielder batted .260 with 13 homers and 60 RBI in only 98 games for the Yankees this season, as he missed two months with a thumb injury. He went 1-for-8 and added an RBI in the Yankees’ American League Division Series with the Indians, which Cleveland won in five games Monday.

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The 34-year-old has hit better than .250 with 302 homers and 940 RBI in his 12 seasons with the Blue Jays, Tigers and Yankees. He had his best season in 1990 with Detroit, as he hit .277 with 51 homers and 132 RBI. Fielder joined a select list, as the 50-homer season has only been achieved 16 times in major league history.

Notre Dame lineman’s career comes to end

The collegiate career of University of Notre Dame offensive tackle Chris Clevenger has come to an end because of a herniated disc in his back.

The fifth-year senior has been sidelined since the team’s second game of the season against Purdue University when he left midway through the opening half with back spasms. Before he was hurt, Clevenger started 14 straight games and 28 of the last 29.

Senior Luke Pettigout has started in Clevenger’s place, as the Irish have had major problems this season. Notre Dame has lost four straight games for the first time since 1963, and the Irish are 1-4 for the first time since 1986 Lou Holtz’s first year as head coach. Notre Dame plays at the University of Pittsburgh Saturday.