MINNEAPOLIS -- Magic Johnson criticized a pair of talk show hosts Friday for accusing him of faking AIDS but said he didn't want them to be fired.

Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of KTLK in Minneapolis made the remarks during Baker's conservative radio show on Wednesday. After Johnson condemned the statements, the station said it regretted "some offhand remarks" by the pair.

"We can't have people out here making false statements and putting out bad information, because this battle is too big when it comes to HIV and AIDS," Johnson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

FOOTBALL: Korn in, Harper out as Clemson QB

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- From preseason player of the year to a seat on the bench, Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper has had a miserable fall.

Tigers coach Tommy Bowden said Friday he'd start freshman backup Willy Korn against Georgia Tech on Oct. 18, seeking to spark up what was supposed to be among the country's best offenses.

In control of it all was Harper, a steady senior who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing efficiency a year ago and set nearly two dozen school marks in his first season as a starter.

TRACK: Former Olympic star gets 5 years for heroin

NORFOLK, Va. -- Disgraced former Olympic track star Tim Montgomery, once dubbed "the world's fastest man," was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for dealing heroin to an informant.

Montgomery, 33, will serve the five-year sentence after he completes a 46-month prison term for an unrelated conviction in New York.

Under an agreement with the government, he pleaded guilty in July to possession and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin. He received the minimum term under federal sentencing guidelines.

A prosecutor described Montgomery's athletic skills as "superhuman," but said he had squandered his talent and the acclaim and the money that came with it. Montgomery won an Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter relay at the 2000 games and a silver in the same event four years earlier.

BASEBALL: Rangers promote Sundberg to senior VP

ARLINGTON -- The Texas Rangers promoted former catcher Jim Sundberg to senior executive vice president Friday.

Sundberg will assist team President Nolan Ryan in oversight of the Rangers, and become the liaison for the club's spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz.

Sundberg has worked in the club's front office since 2004. He is also a former Rangers television analyst.

FOOTBALL: Browns' Winslow in hospital

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow will spend a second night in the hospital with an undisclosed illness that could keep him out of Monday night's game against the New York Giants.

Winslow was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday. He practiced Monday but had been feeling ill for several days and the team sent him to the doctor for further tests and evaluation.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel had expected the 25-year-old player to be discharged on Friday, but team spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said Winslow will remain hospitalized.

FOOTBALL: Kircus a no-show at hearing; warrant issued

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- An arrest warrant has been issued for former Denver Broncos wide receiver David Kircus after he failed to show up for a court hearing.

His lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said Kircus didn't know he needed to be present at Friday's hearing.

Kircus pleaded not guilty to a felony assault charge stemming from a fight at a party in suburban Denver in May 2007.

Friday's hearing was rescheduled for Oct. 17. His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 20. If convicted, Kircus could be sentenced to 5 to 16 years in prison.

FOOTBALL: O.J. seeks new robbery trial in Las Vegas

Las Vegas -- O.J. Simpson's lawyers cited judicial errors and insufficient evidence Friday in seeking a new trial for the former football star, who was convicted of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino hotel room.

"Simpson should be granted a new trial," attorney Gabriel Grasso wrote in a motion faulting Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass' decisions during jury selection, her limitations on cross-examination of witnesses during trial and her instructions to jurors before deliberations.

In a separate filing, a lawyer for co-defendant Clarence "C. Jo" Stewart said Stewart suffered from being tried with Simpson, who was acquitted more than a decade ago of killing his ex-wife and her friend. Attorney Brent Bryson also alleged misconduct by the jury foreman, whom he quoted as saying he thought Simpson should have been given a life sentence for murder.

--Wire reports