briefly in sports

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jan 20, 2001 by Capital-Journal

Baseball

- Bush hopes for labor peace --- As a baseball man in the White House, President-elect George W. Bush will tell his old colleagues "loud and clear, I hope there's not a strike" next fall, but says owners and players must settle their differences without looking to him. Bush, once managing partner of the Texas Rangers, left the job to run for governor in 1994. The team was sold in 1998. His office in the Texas Capitol in Austin was lined with souvenir baseballs, and he said he still counts leaders of the game among his great friends. Baseball's labor contract with its players expires Oct. 31, and friction over soaring player salaries could lead to the ninth work stoppage since 1972, either an owner lockout or a strike.

- Sweeney to speak at KU --- Having finished salary negotiations that produced a two-year, $13 million contract, Kansas City Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney is scheduled to speak Monday in Lawrence. Sweeney will address a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting beginning shortly before 7:30 p.m. in the Kansas Union Ballroom. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. For more information, call (785) 749-4664.

Football

- Kansas State lands Newton's Sims --- Newton High School linebacker Ted Sims, who gave an oral commitment to Kansas in October, switched gears Friday when he told Mo-Kan Football he had committed to Kansas State. Rated No. 1 among Kansas prep linebackers by Mo-Kan, Sims said he made the decision after visiting K-State last week. "I think it came down to the fact of winning," Sims was quoted as saying. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior said the choice was the toughest he'd ever had to make. "I loved KU and the coaches were great," he said. "They handled my final decision very well. But I'm glad it's all over. I can't wait to get to Manhattan. I'm happy with my decision."

- Crouch recovering from another surgery --- For the second straight year, Nebraska's star quarterback Eric Crouch is in a sling, looking ahead to next fall and hoping this time his shoulder will hold up. "The process is slow. It might even take longer than last year. But at least I'll be pain free," Crouch said Thursday. Crouch, who had surgery to repair torn cartilage on Jan. 4, said this year, he will take his time before putting too much pressure on the shoulder. He felt he may have rushed his recovery last spring and started throwing too early. The result was a shoulder that felt good in the summer but was sore again once the season began.

- Women's league title game tonight --- The Houston Energy play the New England Storm at Pasadena Memorial Stadium tonight in the 11- team Women's Professional Football League first title game. The league started in 1999 with two teams --- the Minnesota Vixens and the Lake Michigan Minx --- playing a barnstorming tour. This season, teams in four divisions played 10-game schedules.

General

- Top wrestlers at Rural --- Some of the top wrestling programs in Kansas as well as two highly regarded teams from Missouri and Ohio will be at Washburn Rural today for the day-long Championship Dual Tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. Kansas entries include Baldwin, Blue Valley North, Columbus, Chanute, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, Olathe East, Santa Fe Trail, Shawnee Mission West, Valley Center and the host Junior Blues. Perennial Missouri power Helias of Jefferson City also will participate as will Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, an Ohio school that features junior national freestyle champion Harry Lester. Teams will wrestle duals in four three-team pools with the pool finish determining the placement on the championship bracket. First- round matches in the championship bracket are scheduled for 2 p.m. with the championship finals scheduled for 5 p.m.

- Wadley to sign with JCCC --- Brandi Wadley, a Shawnee Heights senior who earned all-city honors after placing third in the Centennial League at No. 1 singles, will sign a letter of intent to play tennis at Johnson County Community College. Wadley finished 6-1 in singles last season and teamed with Lindsey Sims to compile a 23- 7 record and qualify for state.

- Kwan perfect at U.S. Championships--- In a surpassing short program reminiscent of her masterful work at the 1998 nationals, Michelle Kwan earned seven perfect marks Friday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston. With grace, power, precision and captivating beauty, Kwan, 20, easily outscored Sarah Hughes, her main competition in the event, worth one-third of the total score. Kwan looked every bit the unbeatable skater she was at the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia in 1998, the scene of the best work of her career. She even matched the number of perfect scores for her short program in '98 and brought her career total of 6.0s to 29.

- Mayweather, Corrales meet in battle of unbeatens --- Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s guest list for his title defense tonight against Diego Corrales is almost as interesting as the fight in Las Vegas. That's saying something, considering the matchup of unbeaten 130- pounders has a little bit of something for almost every fight fan. Mayweather has a bitter dispute with his estranged father, who he fired as his trainer and later kicked out of his house. Corrales faces trial next month on charges he beat his pregnant wife, Maria, so bad last July that she was hospitalized for swelling to the brain and fractures to her ribs. If Mayweather has his way, both Floyd Sr. and Maria Corrales will be at ringside to watch. He offered both front row tickets to attend.