Sports briefs

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 26, 2004

Basketball

WATSON LEAVES: Guard Mikel Watson, who figured to see a lot of playing time in the backcourt as a sophomore next season, has left the Wyoming basketball program.

Watson, of Oceanside, Calif., told the Casper Star-Tribune that he was returning to the San Diego area Friday because there was a problem "with us and the coaches." He declined to go into detail.EWU COACH MOVES: The director of basketball operations at Eastern Washington University this past season is joining the University of Montana staff under new coach Larry Krystkowiak, school officials announced Friday.

Andy Hill fills out Krystkowiak's three-man staff.

Krystkowiak, a former UM star who played in the National Basketball Association, said Hill brings a great work ethic and "knows what it takes to get the job done."

$136,000 SETTLEMENT: The University of Missouri paid more than $136,000 to two basketball coaches accused of breaking NCAA rules in exchange for their resignations and pledges never to sue, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Missouri had no legal obligation to pay anything to associate head coach Tony Harvey or assistant coach Lane Odom. Coach Quin Snyder confirmed to the AP that neither had a contract.

OSU GRADE SCANDAL: The woman at the center of the lawsuit that led to the firing of Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said Friday that assistant coach Paul Biancardi directed her to ask professors to change a former player's grades.

A Columbus child-care provider, Kathleen Salyers, is suing her former employers, Dan and Kim Roslovic, for more than $600,000, charging that they promised to pay her $1,000 a month plus expenses to let Buckeyes player Boban Savovic live in her home.

The lawsuit also alleges that O'Brien gave $6,800 to Ohio State recruit Aleksandar Radojevic in 1999. O'Brien was fired June 8 by athletic director Andy Geiger after admitting he gave the money to Radojevic, who never enrolled in school or played for the Buckeyes.

Hockey

STARS TRADE: The Dallas Stars on Friday traded goaltender Jason Bacashihua to St. Louis for the rights to defenseman Shawn Belle.

Belle was the Blues' first-round selection in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He scored nine goals and had 20 assists in 55 games last season for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Bacashihua was the Stars' first-round selection in the 2001 entry draft. He played in 39 games with Utah of the AHL last season.

NEW JACKETS COACH: Gerard Gallant was appointed coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, nearly six months after he took over on an interim basis.

Gallant led Columbus to a 16-24-4-1 record, replacing Doug MacLean on Jan. 1. The Blue Jackets finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference last year.

CONTRACT EXTENDED: Canadiens coach Claude Julien received a long- term contract from the team Friday.

Montreal general manager Bob Gainey declined to discuss the length and terms of the deal.

Last season, Julien led the Canadiens to their best regular- season record in 10 years, going 41-30-7-4 for 93 points. The Canadiens reached the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay.

Olympics

SECURITY TEST: An eight-nation exercise to test security for the Athens Olympics began Friday, and the Greek government wants to extend surveillance powers to screen phone calls.

The simulated exercise will plan responses to a deadly array of potential problems, from terrorist attacks to forest fires, Greek law enforcement officials said.

The 200 participating officials include experts from members of the seven-nation advisory group assisting Athens with security, including the United States.

Cycling

BRITON BARRED: World champion cyclist David Millar of Britain was barred from next week's Tour de France after he was implicated in a doping investigation.

Police sources, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said investigators found syringes in Millar's home and he confessed to using doping products.

Millar, the defending world time trial champion on road, spent two days in police custody this week. A police official said Millar admitted during questioning he has taken the endurance-enhancing drug EPO during his career.