Sports

IU nabs highly ranked recruits for '04

By Zack Eldridge · Wednesday, July 23,2003 9:50 p.m.

In an attempt to solidify its success in the future, IU has garnered a very talented recruiting class for 2004-05. The headliners of that class are D.J. White, a 6-foot-8-inch, 233-pound forward from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Josh Smith, a 6-foot-9-inch power forward, who played at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., last season. White, who made his intentions clear while playing at the Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis, is considered by many recruiting services to be one of the top 10 players in the class of 2004.

Armstrong keeps Tour lead, but rivals near

By John Leiceister · Sunday, July 20,2003 9:57 p.m.

LOUDENVIELLE-LE LOURON, France -- Lance Armstrong kept his slender lead in the Tour de France on Sunday, still unhappy with his riding as two key rivals shadow him in the Pyrenees.

Curtis a surprise winner at British Open

By Doug Ferguson · Sunday, July 20,2003 9:56 p.m.

SANDWICH, England -- A wacky week at the British Open held one final surprise, and it was the biggest of them all: Ben Curtis holding the claret jug. An unknown PGA Tour rookie in his first major championship, Curtis outlasted Tiger Woods and a collection of All-Stars for perhaps the most stunning conclusion to a Grand Slam event in 90 years.

Hoosier holds her own

Sunday, July 20,2003 9:54 p.m.

Just a few months removed from her IU graduation, former Hoosier women's swimming and diving star Sara Hildebrand had an impressive weekend at the FINA World Diving Championships this weekend. The former Olympian finished in sixth place in the 3-meter springboard event and placed third in the 3-meter synchronized event preliminaries with IU junior Cassandra Cardinell.

Lakers sign Malone, Payton to contracts

By John Nadel · Wednesday, July 16,2003 8:49 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- True to their word, future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton signed contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers. And they did so at just about the earliest possible moment. Team spokesman John Black said Malone and Payton, who verbally committed to join the Lakers at discount prices last week, signed shortly after midnight EDT on Wednesday.

The hardest still to come for Armstrong

By Jerome Pugmire · Wednesday, July 16,2003 8:48 p.m.

MARSEILLE, France -- Ahead of the pack at the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong can't help but peek over his shoulder. The four-time champion held the overall lead by a handful of seconds following Tuesday's 10th stage. He is by no means clear of the chasing pack just a few days before Friday's individual time trials.

Dream bullpen can't close out game

By Nancy Armour · Wednesday, July 16,2003 8:46 p.m.

CHICAGO -- With a three-run lead and Billy Wagner, John Smoltz and Eric Gagne in the bullpen, the National League figured this All-Star game was pretty well wrapped up. "It's a pretty neat feeling," Smoltz said. "You feel pretty much armed. That whole staff, that's something undescribable. In a normal situation, you don't have that kind of ammunition." But this time, that overpowering arsenal misfired. Wagner allowed a solo homer to Jason Giambi in the seventh inning, and Gagne gave up three runs, including a pinch-hit, two-run homer to Hank Blalock, in the eighth as the American League rallied for a 7-6 victory Tuesday night. "I'll take the blame for the National League," Gagne said. "Sorry, but that's the way it is if you want to be a closer." But this was hardly the performance NL manager Dusty Baker expected when he put together his pitching staff. Smoltz (34), Gagne (31) and Wagner (25) lead the NL in saves, and Gagne has converted 39 consecutive saves going back to last season. From May 31 to June 13, he retired 24 straight batters.

Men's head coach retires

By Rob DeWitte · Wednesday, July 16,2003 8:46 p.m.

"Forty-three years -- it's a long time." After 21 years of service to IU's track and field teams and 22 more spent coaching high school track and cross country in Illinois and Indiana, men's head coach Marshall Goss has decided to retire from coaching.

Armstrong takes overall lead in Tour de France

By John Leicester · Sunday, July 13,2003 9:19 p.m.

L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France - Lance Armstrong took the overall leader's yellow jersey for the first time in the Tour de France after finishing third in the second mountain stage of the race Sunday. Iban Mayo of Spain dominated a battle with Armstrong and other chasing riders on the legendary L'Alpe d'Huez climb, powering up the 8.5-mile ascent and its 21 hairpin bends to win the eighth stage.

Bird already starting to sound like man in charge

By Michael Marot · Sunday, July 13,2003 8:59 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS - When Larry Bird watched the Indiana Pacers last year, he could tell something wasn't right. Bird didn't take long to start making evaluations or sounding like one of the league's key decision-makers after being named the Pacers' president of basketball operations. "I think they've got a lot of talent on this team," he said. "I don't know about the chemistry." Bird acknowledged Friday that he has much to learn about this team, one that hardly resembles the veteran-laden roster he left behind after leading the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals. The Pacers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in his final season as coach.

All-Star game puts 'The Cell' in spotlight

By Nancy Armour · Sunday, July 13,2003 8:53 p.m.

CHICAGO -- The last time U.S. Cellular Field was in the spotlight, yet another unruly fan had gone after someone on the field like it was WWE Day at the ballpark. This one grabbed an umpire around the waist. Seven months earlier, a father-and-son tag-team had taken down a Kansas City Royals coach.

A marathon journey

By Zack Eldridge · Wednesday, July 9,2003 9:50 p.m.

Not long ago, Amie Dworecki was forced to give up running competitively because of bad knees. Her doctor advised her to stop running long distances.

Three more players verbally commit to IU

Wednesday, July 9,2003 9:40 p.m.

Men's basketball coach Mike Davis always has been considered a knowledgeable recruiter. Chances are, he just landed another prized recruit to add to his resume. D.J. White, a 6-foot-7-inch, 233-pound forward from Tuscaloosa, Ala., verbally committed to play for the Hoosiers on Monday. He will begin playing in the 2004-2005 season. White, who made his intentions clear while playing at the Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis, is considered by many recruiting services to be one of the top 10 players in the class of 2004. White joins Pike's Robert Vaden and Fort Wayne Elmhurst's James Hardy as players who have committed to IU. All three are participating in the Nike Camp, getting the opportunity to play against the country's top 180 high school players. The experience they gain at the Nike Camp will help prepare them not only for their basketball careers, but also for decisions they will face off the court.

Assistant coach leaves

Sunday, July 6,2003 9:20 p.m.

IU men's basketball assistant coach Jim Thomas will not be returning to the IU staff for the 2003-2004 season, head coach Mike Davis announced Thursday. Thomas, who played his collegiate basketball career at IU, was instrumental in the championship run as the sixth man of the 1981 NCAA Championship team, and captured NCAA All-Tournament honors in 1981. During both of his junior and senior seasons in a Hoosier uniform, Thomas led in both steals and rebounds per game. Due to his impressive play at IU, Thomas was drafted in the second round by the Indiana Pacers and played for three seasons in the NBA. After spending seven years in the Toronto Raptors organization as an assistant coach and scout, Thomas returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in August 2001.

Federer takes Wimbledon title

By Steven Wine · Sunday, July 6,2003 9:03 p.m.

WIMBLEDON, England -- The final day at Wimbledon was dry, until Roger Federer won the men's title. Federer sobbed in his courtside chair, then cried again while holding the trophy, overwhelmed by his achievement. He become the first Swiss man to earn a Grand Slam title Sunday, out-serving Mark Philippoussis to win 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3).

Barnes selected as assistant coach

By Zack Eldridge · Wednesday, July 2,2003 9:29 p.m.

The IU women's basketball program added a new piece to the puzzle in hopes of securing a successful future for the team. Former IU player Quacy Barnes was tabbed an assistant coach to the team Monday. Barnes starred for the Hoosiers from 1994 to 1998 and was the first Hoosier ever to play in the WNBA. Barnes highlighted the intangibles she will utilize in her new job. "I feel I bring two things to the IU women's basketball program," Barnes said. "First, my experience gained when I played at IU. Second, we have ten young players and I feel I will be comfortable working with them. I can help them greatly with all the experience I've gained both professionally overseas and in the WNBA, and especially with playing at IU." Barnes was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in the 1998 WNBA Draft with the 22nd overall pick. Barnes also played for the Seattle Storm for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 1998 finished her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury in 2002. She said she left the WNBA because she really wanted the opportunity to get into coaching and added that she did not want to be a part of the business side of the league anymore.

Missing basketball player feared threats

By Angela K Brown · Wednesday, July 2,2003 9 p.m.

WACO, Texas - Before he disappeared last month, Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy and his roommate were so worried about threats to their safety that they armed themselves for protection, a longtime friend said Wednesday.

Belgium vs. the Williams sisters

By Steven Wine · Wednesday, July 2,2003 8:58 p.m.

WIMBLEDON, England - The best of Belgium will try to prevent another all-Williams final at Wimbledon. Defending champion Serena Williams will play in the semifinals Thursday against Justine Henin-Hardenne, an upset winner in their French Open semifinal four weeks ago. Two-time champion Venus Williams faces play against another Belgian, Kim Clijsters. "For Kim and me, it's going to be very difficult, for sure," Henin-Hardenne said.

Agassi returns at Wimbledon

By Alyson Brodsy and Howard Fendrich · Sunday, June 29,2003 10:12 p.m.

WIMBLEDON, England -- It was enough to draw double-takes. Was that really Andre Agassi charging the net the way a classic grass-courter would? Serve-and-volleying as if he'd done it all his life? And winning the points?

Divers fare well in tournament

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, June 29,2003 10:12 p.m.

Current and past IU divers participated this weekend in the Speedo National Diving Championships held at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Seven Hoosiers participated in the event, which took place from Tuesday to Sunday. Current Hoosiers junior Cassandra Cardinell, junior Marc Carlton, sophomore Ryan Fagan and freshman Brian Mariano competed alongside former IU divers Tom Davidson, Sara Hildebrand and Kimiko Hirai Soldati. Hildebrand, who competed in the 10-meter platform event at the 2000 Olympics, fared well at the National Championships in four events. The former Olympian, who completed her tenure at IU after the 2003 season, competed in the platform, 1-meter dive, 3-meter dive and synchronized platform and synchronized 3-meter diving events. This weekend also marked a milestone in Hildebrand's career as she and IU diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber were inducted into the IU Natatorium Wall of Fame in conjunction with the National Championships. During her career at IU, Hildebrand was a 10-time NCAA All-American selection and the Big Ten champion on the 1-meter, 3-meter, and 10-meter platform during her senior season. She was also named as the Big Ten Diver of the Year in 2003.