The Miami Dolphins have traded center Samson Satele to the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick, the Miami Herald Web site reported last night.

Satele, a Kailua and University of Hawai'i alum, was drafted in the second round by the Dolphins in 2007.

Satele started in every game the past two seasons.

The report, which cited two anonymous sources, said the deal "confirms the Dolphins' desire to transition newly signed center Jake Grove into the starting job."

Ironically, Grove was the Raiders' starting center.

The report added that the Dolphins' new regime "decided it was time for an upgrade after Satele struggled to deal with some of the bigger nose tackles in the AFC East."

The report said: "although Grove does not have much more size than Satele (both weigh about 300 pounds, but Grove is an inch taller at 6-4), the Dolphins believe his skill set makes him better equipped to handle the bigger players that concern Miami."tennis

NADAL EARNS TITLE

No. 1 Rafael Nadal powered his way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Andy Murray on a gusty afternoon yesterday at the BNP Paribas Open to win his second Indian Wells title in three years at Indian Wells, Calif.

Like Nadal, Vera Zvonareva was steadier in the wind than her finals opponent, beating defending champion Ana Ivanovic, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to win the women's title.

CYCLING

ARMSTRONG READY

Lance Armstrong will race against the past two Tour de France winners when the five-day Vuelta of Castilla and Leon begins today in Spain.

The seven-time Tour champion will line up against Spanish cyclists Carlos Sastre (2008) and Alberto Contador (2007) for the first time since his return this season after three and a half years in retirement.

The 37-year-old Armstrong finished 125th in the Milan-San Remo classic on Saturday, his first race in Europe since his comeback from retirement.