A day after acknowledging he failed a drug test for cocaine last year, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admits he used marijuana and amphetamines while he was a player.

"When you're young you make mistakes," Washington said yesterday. "I wish I could take back some of the mistakes I may have made, but I can't."

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Washington would keep his job. He said the team was aware Washington used drugs as a player.

"There's a distinction between what people do in their youth vs. later in life," he told a group of reporters, according to the Web site of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Washington made his latest admission before Texas played a "B" game against Milwaukee on a practice field.

GOLF

WILLIS LEADS IN FLA.

Garrett Willis made the most of a sponsor exemption to his hometown event, birdieing five holes on the back nine for a 6-under 65 and the first-round lead in the Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla.

Defending champion Retief Goosen shot 67, along with Jeff Maggert, Jim Furyk, Carl Pettersson, Jonathan Byrd and PGA Tour rookie Rickie Fowler.

Jeff Quinney, J.B. Holmes, Steve Elkington and Ross Fisher opened with 68s, and Padraig Harrington and Lucas Glover topped a group at 69. Honolulu's Parker McLachlin shot a 73.

NBA

ANTHONY SHINES

Carmelo Anthony pulled down a career-best 18 rebounds to go with his 26 points in leading host Denver past New Orleans, 93-80, last night.

Anthony recorded his third straight double-double and his ninth of the season.

At Miami, Vince Carter scored 27 points, Rashard Lewis added 24, including a huge 3-pointer with 28.4 seconds left, as Orlando beat Miami, 108-102, in overtime.

TENNIS

NADAL ADVANCES

Defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 7-6 (4), to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in his first tournament since returning from a six-week injury layoff.

Nadal was hampered by knee injuries last summer that continued into the Australian Open in January, when he was forced to retire in the quarterfinals.

Ivan Ljubicic defeated Juan Monaco, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, in another quarterfinal.

Jelena Jankovic rallied from a 2-4 second-set deficit to beat Alisa Kleybanova, 6-4, 6-4, and reach the women's semifinals.

Sam Stosur defeated Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, 6-3, 7-6 (7), in another quarterfinal.

ELSEWHERE

NFL: The agent for San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said his client is still employed by the team — for now, anyway. Peter Schaffer, McCloughan's representative, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he has "not heard any different" regarding McCloughan's job status amid speculation he's on his way out. The 49ers have been mum on the situation.

Hockey: Paul Kariya scored his 400th NHL goal to snap a third-period tie and the visiting St. Louis Blues beat New York, 4-3. ... Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for eight games without pay for knocking Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook out of a game.

Boxing: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and welterweight champion Shane Mosley will undergo Olympic-style drug testing for their May 1 fight in Las Vegas, which they hope will set a new standard for boxing.

Baseball: Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right shoulder and could be out for the season. The surgery will be performed Tuesday by orthopedist James Andrews.

Wrestling: Iowa started a methodical march toward a third straight national title at the NCAA championships in Omaha, Neb. The Hawkeyes advanced eight of their 10 wrestlers to the quarterfinals and finished the meet's first day with 34.5 points. Oklahoma State was second with 26 points and Iowa State third with 24.

Swimming: Stanford's Julia Smit set a pool record in the 200 IM and put the Cardinal on top of the points standings after the first day of the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships at West Lafayette, Ind. Stanford leads with 142.5 points. Cal is second with 122 points.