PITTSBURGH — Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has interviewed for the Pittsburgh Pirates' managerial job.

Gibbons, the Kansas City Royals' bench coach, follows former Indians manager Eric Wedge and former Arizona and Florida coach Bo Porter in interviewing. The Pirates fired John Russell on Oct. 4, a day after completing a 105-loss season.

Gibbons has a much different personality than Russell, who rarely showed anger or argued calls. Gibbons had a much-publicized run-in in Toronto with designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand and confronted Ted Lilly in a dugout runway after the pitcher became upset at being removed from a game.

Gibbons was 305-305 in Toronto from 2004-08, including an 87-75 record in 2006. He was replaced by Cito Gaston midway through the 2008 season.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina kicked defensive tackle Marvin Austin off the football team Monday and the NCAA declared Robert Quinn and Greg Little "permanently ineligible" amid an ongoing investigation into whether players received improper benefits from agents.The Tar Heels, who are also being investigated for possible academic violations, began the season with 13 players sidelined. The status of six players remains in question.The NCAA said Quinn and Little received travel accommodations and jewelry, then lied about it to investigators in three separate interviews.Meanwhile, the school decided it wouldn't wait any longer to cut ties with Austin after the NCAA provided preliminary information that Austin had received double the benefits furnished to Quinn and Little.

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings signed coach Mike Babcock to a four-year extension.Babcock helped the Red Wings hoist the Stanley Cup in 2008 and come within one win of repeating the next season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Babcock also coached Canada to the gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics earlier this year.The Red Wings hired Babcock when the Anaheim Ducks let him go after he led them to the Stanley Cup finals in 2003. Then, he became the first coach to have 50-win seasons in his first four years with an NHL team.

LOS ANGELES— Developers planning an NFL stadium near Los Angeles are tweaking their design to lure World Cup soccer matches.Architect Dan Meis said Monday he adjusted his plans for the stadium in the city of Industry to incorporate field measurements and bleacher configurations based on guidelines from FIFA.Los Angeles is among the 12 U.S. cities that would vie to host matches if FIFA's executive committee votes in December to give the 2018 or 2022 tournament to the United States.Developer Majestic Realty has the necessary approvals to build a planned 75,000-seat stadium about 15 miles east of Los Angeles but has yet to secure a team.