CBS, Turner Might Make Olympics Bid

CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc. executives have discussed joining forces to bid on rights to televise the Olympics in 2014 and 2016, turning that competition into an even greater clash of media titans.

TV empires headed by incumbent NBC, Fox and ABC-ESPN have all said they expect to bid on the U.S. rights to the games. Because of the economy, the International Olympic Committee has said it is prepared to postpone its bid selection until after the host city is named next October for the 2016 Summer Games.

If CBS works with Time Warner, competition could be televised on CBS, plus cable networks TBS and TNT. Time Warner owns CNN, CNN Headline News, Turner Movie Classics and the Cartoon Network.

The CBS-Turner talks were only preliminary. No decision has been made about going forward with a bid, said Shirley Powell, a Turner Networks spokeswoman.

· BASEBALL: Rafael Furcal accepted a three-year, $33 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Atlanta Braves accused the shortstop of reneging on a deal they thought was agreed to earlier this week. Furcal finalized his decision yesterday, a person familiar with the negotiations said. . . .

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain had his arraignment on drunken-driving charges delayed until next month. Chamberlain was pulled over Oct. 18 by the Nebraska State Patrol. . . .

Iván Rodriguez will play for Puerto Rico at next year's World Baseball Classic. . . .

Ryne Sandberg will manage the Chicago Cubs' Class AA Tennessee Smokies in 2009.

· COLLEGES: Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger has undergone back surgery and will not play in the BCS national title game against Florida on Jan. 8. . . .

Coastal Carolina's athletic department was put on two years' probation by the NCAA for violations involving ex-women's golf coach Brian Ashley. . . .