Briefly in sports

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 24, 2000 by Capital-Journal

BRIEFLY IN SPORTS

BASKETBALL

- Joyce receives Gatorade honor --- Washburn Rural senior Jeneka Joyce, a three-time Capital-Journal All-State pick, has been named the Gatorade Kansas high school player of the year. Joyce, who signed early with Notre Dame, averaged 21.2 points a game this season, leading the Junior Blues to a third-place state finish in Class 6A. Halstead junior Dennis Latimore was named the boys player of the year. Latimore averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds this season en route to earning second-team All-State honors.

- Eustachy wins writers award --- Larry Eustachy, who led Iowa State to the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships, was selected Coach of the Year Thursday by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Under Eustachy, in his second year, the Cyclones were 31-4 heading into Thursday's NCAA Midwest regional semifinal game against UCLA. He is 46-19 in two seasons at Iowa State and 205-105 for his career. The Cyclones were picked last in the Big 12 in some preseason polls.

- Indiana trustees to look into allegations --- Two Indiana University trustees will investigate former player Neil Reed's allegation that he was choked by coach Bob Knight. "Anytime a student- athlete raises questions of physical abuse by a coach, it is a serious matter," university president Myles Brand said Thursday. "Once charges of this nature have been raised, we are obligated to review the matter. Brand's action came a day after an athletics advisory committee urged a review of Reed's claim that Knight choked him at practice in 1997. Knight has denied choking Reed. The trustees were told to report their findings to Brand within 90 days.

- SMU players suspended --- Two SMU basketball players face possible expulsion from school for their alleged shenanigans during a hotel party two weeks ago, hours after the team was ousted from the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Citing student privacy laws, SMU athletic director Jim Copeland refused to identify the two players, but a police report identified them as Jeryl Sasser, a 6-6 first-team all-conference guard, and Renaldo Bratton, a 6-foot reserve guard. Neither returned telephone messages left by The Associated Press. Sasser was SMU's leading scorer this season. Both players are juniors.

BASEBALL

- Glass to sell Wal-Mart stock --- David Glass, whose $96 million bid to purchase the Kansas City Royals awaits the approval of major league baseball, is selling off almost 40 percent of his stock in Wal- Mart Inc. The former president and CEO of Wal-Mart has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell about 2 million shares of stock valued at nearly $111 million. The stock sale is linked to his bid for the team, Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams said. Glass also this week has been preparing application forms and business plans for review by major league baseball. He hopes to have his proposal completed and approved at the April 18 owners' meetings.

- Beltre Agrees to 3-Year Deal --- Convinced that Adrian Beltre is a vital part of their future, the Dodgers rewarded the young third baseman with a three-year contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration and ending his five-month pursuit of free agency. The Dodgers gave Beltre, 20, a $5.05-million deal after his first full season after it was ruled that the club had signed him before his 16th birthday in violation of major league rules. Beltre's package includes a $1.5- million signing bonus and an escape clause after the second year.

- Raines announces retirement --- Tim Raines knew at the start of the week that his playing days were over. Still, he waited to make the announcement. He wanted to sit on a big league bench in uniform one last time. "I guess we all have an alarm for when it's time for your career to end, and I felt like my alarm went off two weeks ago," Raines said Thursday in the Yankees dugout. Raines, fifth on the career steals list with 807, never got into Tuesday night's game against Toronto. Manager Joe Torre gave him a chance to pinch hit against Toronto closer Billy Koch, but Raines declined.

FOOTBALL

- Judge hears appeal on agents' status --- The NFL and its players union asked a judge Thursday to allow them to sanction or fine agents if they violate the collective bargaining agreement when negotiating contracts. The appeal was made to U.S. District Judge David Doty in Minneapolis, Minn., who oversees the agreement, in a case that stemmed from an investigation of deals with players made by the San Francisco 49ers. The union and the league say they were designed to get around the NFL's salary cap.

- Upshaw to stay as NFLPA head --- Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard for the Oakland Raiders who has headed the NFL Players Association for 17 years, has been elected to his seventh three-year term as the union's executive director. The election took place earlier this week during the group's convention in Hawaii.

GENERAL

- Teen Roddick earns shot at Agassi --- High school senior Andy Roddick will get to meet idol Andre Agassi this weekend in the Ericsson Open. The only hitch is that Roddick has to play him, too. The 17-year-old Floridian earned his first victory as a tennis professional Thursday, beating Fernando Vicente 6-4, 6-0 before a small crowd on stadium court at Key Biscayne, Fla. Roddick will likely be back on the same court when he faces Agassi in the second round Saturday. Scouting the talented teen-ager from the stands Thursday was Agassi's coach, Brad Gilbert. Another promising Florida teen-ager, Mardy Fish, also won in his ATP Tour debut. Fish, 18, who lived with Roddick's family last year while training, led Galo Blanco 4-1 in the third set when the Spaniard retired because of a back injury.