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(12/04/02 6:53am)
CHICAGO -- Dumping yet another big salary, the Oakland Athletics traded closer Billy Koch to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in a six-player trade.\nIn exchange for Koch and two minor leaguers, the Athletics will get White Sox closer Keith Foulke, catcher Mark Johnson, minor league right-hander Joe Valentine and cash.\n"Keith Foulke and Mark Johnson did a tremendous job for us, and we appreciate their contributions to our success, but this trade made sense for us in the short- and long-term," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.\n"The cash considerations on our part make this a cash-neutral deal for both clubs," Williams added. "Because minor league rosters are frozen right now, we will announce the two other players in the deal sometime in late December."\nKoch, who turns 28 on opening day, has emerged as one of the American League's top closers, becoming the first ever to start his career with four consecutive 30-save seasons. He won AL reliever of the year honors this season, going 11-4 with 44 saves.\nHe led major league relievers in victories and led the AL with 84 appearances. Only Minnesota's Eddie Guardado had more saves, with 45.\nIn four seasons with Toronto and Oakland, Koch is 22-17 with 144 saves and a 3.48 ERA.\nBut once again, the small-market A's are trying to pare payroll by dumping some of their big names -- and their big salaries. A year after allowing Jason Giambi to sign with the New York Yankees as a free agent, Oakland has already traded right-hander Corey Lidle.\nKoch had a $2.35 million base salary this season and made $150,000 in performance bonuses. He's eligible for salary arbitration this year, and his salary is likely to double.\nBy acquiring Koch, the White Sox hope they've finally found a long-term, reliable closer. Foulke saved a career-high 42 games in 2001 and ranks third on the White Sox saves list. But he struggled last season, losing his closer role in early June. He went from June 27 to Sept. 17 without a save, and finished with only 11.\nHe was 2-4 with a 2.90 ERA. He is due $6 million next season, the final year of a $10 million, two-year contract. He's eligible for free agency after next season.\nFoulke did regain some of his old form at the end of the year, not allowing an earned run over his final 17 2-3 innings. But the White Sox still had three different pitchers with 10 or more saves -- Antonio Osuna had 11 and Damaso Marte had 10 -- and they'd like to stay off that merry-go-round in the future.\nJohnson had a career-high .994 fielding percentage in 86 games last year. But the White Sox are expecting big things from rookie Miguel Olivo.\nThough Olivo played in just six games, it was enough to show his savvy behind and at the plate. In his first major league at-bat, he hit a three-run homer off Andy Pettitte on Sunday in his first at-bat.\nOlivo didn't commit any errors in his six games, and threw out the only runner who tried to steal on him.\nValentine, a converted catcher, was acquired off waivers from Detroit last season. He went 4-1 with 36 saves and a 1.97 ERA at Double-A Birmingham last season.
(12/04/02 6:52am)
CHICAGO -- Mike Remlinger doesn't see why his string of playoff appearances has to end with the Chicago Cubs.\nThe left-handed reliever finalized a $10.65 million, three-year contract with Chicago on Tuesday and will bolster a Cubs' bullpen that blew numerous leads last season and squandered 25 saves.\n"I've had the luxury of going to the playoffs for four straight years with Atlanta, and I don't look at this as anything other than a chance to keep that winning tradition going," Remlinger said Tuesday.\nHistory suggests otherwise.\nThe Cubs haven't had back-to-back winning season in 30 years and haven't appeared in a World Series since 1945.\nRemlinger was 7-3 with a 1.99 ERA in 73 games with the Braves last season, his fourth year with Atlanta. He came up to the major leagues with the Giants in 1991 when new Cubs manager Dusty Baker was San Francisco's hitting coach.\nRemlinger expects Baker to have an immediate impact in Chicago.\n"I don't think we're too far away here as far as what we need to win. We've got great young pitching and a lot of talent," he said. "Dusty's a guy who's really good at putting those pieces together and pulling the right strings to make it all work."\nHe has appeared in 440 major leagues games -- all but 59 as a reliever -- with a 44-41 record and a 3.80 ERA.\nRemlinger, who struggled with the decision to leave Atlanta, said the fan support at Wrigley Field and a chance to mentor some of the Cubs' young pitchers ended up steering him to the Cubs.\n"It probably could have been done maybe a week or so ago, but every time we turned the corner it point us back to Chicago," he said. "The bottom line was I wanted to be in a place where the fans were going to be excited about the team they have on the field."\nThe signing of Remlinger is one of several offseason moves for the Cubs.\nThey hired Baker as their new manager, less than a month after he took the Giants to the World Series. And they have also acquired catchers Damian Miller from Arizona and Paul Bako of Milwaukee in trades.\nAlso on Tuesday, they reached a tentative agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers to trade first baseman Eric Karros and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to Chicago for catcher Todd Hundley. The sides were given 72 hours to complete the deal, which hinges on whether Grudzielanek and Hundley will restructure their contracts.\n"We're certainly not done addressing the bullpen," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "Mike, obviously, was the key to get things rolling, but we still have some work to do"
(12/04/02 6:50am)
Just two weeks ago, IU was 4-5-0 overall, 0-2 in conference play, and looking up at an 8-point deficit in the Great Midwest Hockey League. Coming off a pair of conference losses, the Hoosiers could have easily let the season start to slide.\nIU responded with a four-game win streak, including a pair of conference victories over Ferris State and Michigan, and two Southeast region victories over Liberty University.\nAfter a pair of home wins over the University of Dayton, the Hoosiers averaged just over 2.5 goals in seven games. They gave up 27 goals while scoring 15 and were killing 68 percent of their powerplays.\nIn the last four games, the Hoosiers have been a different team. IU has scored 24 goals, for an average of six per game. IU has given up just eight over that span and killed 85 percent of its penalties. Despite the recent success, coach Rich Holdeman said he won't jump to conclusions too soon.\n"I don't want to say, 'we've arrived' but we certainly are headed in the right direction." Holdeman said.\nIU now has four points in the GMHL and trail Michigan by five points. The Wolverines (10-4-1, 4-2-1) have played three more conference games than IU (8-5-0, 2-2-0). The Hoosiers will have to wait until January 31 to make those games up.\nIU has scheduled one home game against Bowling Green State University (12-4-0) Dec. 13 to replace a vacancy left when IPFW's hockey program folded earlier this season.\nThe Hoosiers will face off against Miami (OH) twice this weekend, playing a game in Oxford, OH Friday night and one Saturday at Frank Southern Arena.
(12/04/02 6:48am)
The IU women's basketball team lost 58-47 to Florida State Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla. IU was outscored by 15 points in the first half. IU's previous low total in a half this year was 27 against Eastern Kentucky in the second half of the Nov. 26 game. \n"We missed a lot of opportunities early in the game," coach Kathi Bennett said. "Obviously, success early always helps. I feel that we get affected too easily when we're not playing well individually and that is what happened tonight."\nThe Hoosiers, who only made seven field goals in the first half, fell to 3-2 on the year, while the Seminoles improved to 4-1.\nSophomore Jenny DeMuth left the game just 11 minutes in with a mild concussion. DeMuth, who is IU's scoring leader this season, drove to the basket at the 9:00 mark in the first half and was called for a charge. The sophomore guard/forward crashed on the floor and was forced to leave the game. She did not return.\n"Jenny is our leading scorer. She has scored a lot of points for us this season, and it was a tough loss for us," Bennett said.\nDeMuth scored 26 points in the last contest versus Nevada.\nWith the absence of DeMuth, the IU newcomers scored 26 of Indiana's last 32 points and outscored Florida State by four in the second half at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center.\nAt one point, Bennett played an all-freshman lineup and said she was satisfied with their play.\n"We got a spark in the second half, and I liked that," Bennett said.\nFreshman Angela Hawkins, a Florida native, finished with eight points and nine rebounds.\nFreshman April Williams also tallied eight points for the Hoosiers, while freshman Cyndi Valentin added seven before fouling out late in the second half.\nBoth senior Jill Hartman and Kristen Bodine failed to score in the contest. Hartman played 19 minutes, while Bodine logged 22 minutes. IU's seniors combined to score 12 points. \n"Our starting group has to bring more energy to the court and not come out so soft and tentative," Bennett said. "That seems to be our problem right now, and if we get that corrected, it will help a lot."\nIU will look to get back on the winning track Saturday as the Hoosiers host Georgetown at 5 p.m. in Assembly Hall.
(12/03/02 5:43am)
PHILADELPHIA -- Jim Thome hit a lot of home runs and helped the Cleveland Indians sell out Jacobs Field for several years. The Philadelphia Phillies hope he does the same at their new stadium.\nThome, the most coveted hitter in the free-agent market, agreed Monday to a six-year contract with the Phillies, two baseball officials said. He accepted a deal worth about $87.5 million, one of the officials said on the condition of anonymity.\nFor the deal to become final, the 32-year-old first baseman must pass a physical.\nThe Phillies are aggressively trying to improve as they prepare to move into their new ballpark in 2004.\nPhiladelphia agreed to a $17 million, four-year contract with third baseman David Bell on Nov. 24. The Phillies also have a $30 million, three-year offer out to free agent left-hander Tom Glavine, a two-time NL Cy Young award winner.\nPhillies general manager Ed Wade wouldn't discuss whether Thome had signed. He said negotiations with Glavine are in the "critical stage."\nThome, who hit a club-record 52 homers for the Indians last season, turned down a $60 million, five-year offer from the only team he has played for since he was a 13th-round pick in the 1989 amateur draft. The left-handed slugger has a .287 batting average, 334 homers and 927 RBIs in a 12-year major league career.\nThome hit .304 with 118 RBIs, 122 walks and a .445 on-base percentage last season. He has hit at least 30 homers seven straight years and has driven in more than 100 runs in six of the last seven seasons.\nWhile Bell takes over at third base from All-Star Scott Rolen, traded to St. Louis last summer, Thome replaces Rolen's power in the middle of a lineup that includes Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell.\nThome's arrival signals the end of Travis Lee's time as Philadelphia's starting first baseman. Lee came to the Phillies in 2000 in the trade that sent Curt Schilling to Arizona.\nThe Indians won six division titles and went to the World Series twice during Thome's tenure. The Phillies, meanwhile, are coming off their 14th losing season in 16 years.\nThome began his career as a third baseman, but moved to first when the Indians acquired Matt Williams before the 1997 season. Thome hit 40 homers in 1997, 49 in 2001. Though he has had some back trouble, Thome has played at least 146 games in six of the last seven seasons.\nThome's departure leaves a big hole in the Indians' lineup and another one in the heart of Cleveland fans.\nHe was one of the most popular players in club history, and was recently given the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by the commissioner's office for charity work and community service.\nThome is the third slugger since 1996 to leave the Indians as a free agent, following Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez.\nIndians second baseman John McDonald was saddened to hear Thome was likely leaving.\n"Coming up in the Indians system, Jimmy was a guy everyone looked up to," McDonald said. "I always wanted to play next to him, and I'm just sorry I won't ever get a chance to do that again. I'm happy for Jimmy and his family, but I'm just really sorry for the Indians family."\nThome becomes the highest-paid player in Phillies history, and the most prolific free agent to sign with the team since Pete Rose joined them 24 years ago. Thome met with team officials and toured Philadelphia on Nov. 7, but waited nearly a month to make his decision.
(12/03/02 5:11am)
Saturday's 3-1 loss to Illinois was potentially dire for the women's volleyball team. The loss placed them into a three-way tie with Northwestern and Michigan for sixth place in the Big Ten. All three teams stood at 10-10 in the conference with varying overall records. With only five to seven conference teams expected to make it into the bracket, a Hoosier post-season bid was in jeopardy.\nBut, after sitting through 48 selections and seven Big Ten teams, IU's wish for a post-season bid came true. The Hoosiers will play in the opening game of the Pacific Regional in Tucson, Arizona Thursday against the Texas Longhorns. \nThe Big Ten stood at second in the country in conference RPI (Ratings Percentage Index). With eight schools named, the Big Ten conference tied the PAC-10 for the most invitations this year. \nThe Hoosiers will come into the match with a 20-12 overall record and will face the 22-18 Longhorns. The winner of that match will play either Arizona or Texas-Arlington in the second round.\nIU's offensive game is led by sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald and junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer. Archibald tied Anne Eastman's 1994 single season kill record with 539 while Brewer led the Hoosiers with a .312 hitting percentage. Setting up Archibald and Brewer's impressive hitting is sophomore Victoria Zimmerman who set an IU single season assist record with 1,711 and is among the nation's top ten in that category.\nIU's last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 1999, when the Hoosiers advanced to the second round by defeating Clemson and then falling to Northern Iowa. Texas last met with the Hoosiers in 1990 and leads the series 2-0 overall.\n"Certainly, the Big Ten had a tremendous regular season and we are proud to be one of eight teams representing the Conference in the NCAA Tournament," coach Katie Weismiller said in a press release. "We're excited about playing Texas. They are traditionally one of the top teams in the Big Twelve Conference and consistently made the Elite Eight throughout the 1990s, including an appearance in the NCAA finals"
(12/02/02 4:15am)
Thanksgiving weekend was an eventful one for the women's volleyball team. They posted their first 20 win season since 1999. This season placed head coach Katie Weismiller as IU's most successful coach with 159 career wins, and placing IU squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble with a 10-10 Big Ten record and 20-12 overall.\nSitting at 10-9 in the Big Ten, the Nov. 30 match against Illinois was crucial for a guaranteed NCAA Tournament bid, but after the Hoosiers fell in four games their fate would be in the hands of the selection committee.\nEarly in the first game, Illlinois blew the game open with a 9-1 run to put the score at 14-6. IU clawed back to a two point deficit to place the score at 29-27, but a kill by llini's junior middle blocker Lisa Argabright closed out game one.\nEarly in game two IU sped to an 8-2 lead, but the Illini proved they had some horsepower of their own by posting an 11-1 run making the score 24-16. Illinois then coasted to a 30-21 win, placing the match at 2-0.\nIU regrouped at halftime and blasted out to a 10-3 lead and defeated the Illini 30-18. The Hoosiers controlled game three's hitting by posting an impressive .316 hitting percentage, to Illini's .067.\nComing into game four, the Hoosiers' momentum during game three's lopsided victory had shifted in the visitor's favor. Illinois led 8-3 early in the game and managed to keep IU at bay by winning the game 30-26 and the match 3-1.\n"Illinois recorded 20 blocks in four games," Weismiller said. "You have to give them credit. They got off to a fast start in game one and kept the pressure on throughout the match."\nThe Illini also managed to keep balls alive with long stanzas throughout the match.\n"They were scrappy at times, keeping balls up and in play, and blocking a lot," sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom said. "We just tried to terminate every opportunity we could."\nSenior libero/outside hitter Hillary Toivonen started the match at the outside hitter position posting five kills and 11 digs while the team groomed sophomore Beth Heimann for the purely defensive libero position. Sophomore outside hitter Chirstina Archibald's ten kills moved her into a tie with Anne Eastman's 1994 record for single season kills honors with 539.\nSaturday's loss placed the Hoosiers in a three-way tie with Michigan and Northwestern for sixth place in the Big Ten. The tie could hurt IU's chances; the Big Ten is expected to earn six or seven tournament bids. As the only team of three with 20 wins along with decisive wins against both the Wolverines and Wildcats, Weismiller said they have a chance.\n"(An NCAA tournament decision) is in somebody else's hands now," Weismiller said. "We'll keep our fingers crossed. That's about all we can do right now."\nThe Nov. 29 sweeping 3-0 match against Purdue had IU in top form. The Hoosiers came out of the gate with a 20-12 lead in game one and never looked back, winning 30-23.\nGame two was highly contested with neither team leading by more than four points. With the teams knotted at 23-23, IU managed to put together a three point mini-run to take a 26-23 advantage. Pollom spiked home an end to the tight game with a final score of 30-28.\nThe final game of the match was another battle for the Hoosiers, starting out with a 17-14 deficit until IU managed to tie the game at 17 apiece. Again tied at 24, the Hoosiers stifled the opponents with a six point run to win the game 30-24 and sweeping the match 3-0.\nArchibald posted a match-high 16 kills while junior outside hitter Monique Pritz added nine kills of her own along with five block assists and a .500 hitting percentage.\nThe weekend's split also marked the end for Toivonen's home career, but she said she remains hopeful for a postseason run.\n"It's tough to go out with a loss, but I'm hopeful it's not over yet," Toivonen said. "I have received such great support at Indiana University, and it's been a wonderful career. I really appreciate the time I have spent with my teammates"
(12/02/02 4:14am)
In the 1970's, women's basketball was an entirely different ballgame. Head coach at the time, Bea Gorton was the fastest to reach the 40-win plateau in just 46 games. This weekend women's head coach Kathi Bennett became the second fastest coach to reach the 40-win plateau and accomplished the feat in 65 games.\nBennett wasn't aware it was her 40th win Tuesday night in Alaska when the team defeated Eastern Kentucky 61-49.\nSome members on the team weren't surprised that Bennett had won 40 games so fast.\n"She just cares so much, genuinely for everyone," senior Jamie Gathing said. "She's a great coach overall."\nGathing said she knows Bennett attributes much of her success to her support staff, and if it weren't for the support staff, her job would be a lot tougher.\nSenior Jill Hartman said she noticed Bennett's approach and confidence when it comes to being a basketball coach.\n"I think she is different because of her defense focus," Hartman said. "It's different than any other team, and that's what sets her apart."\nBennett's knowledge of the game doesn't go unnoticed by her players. Hartman said Bennett is inspirational and prepares the team well before every game.\nOnce again not taking all the credit for her wins, Bennett said she thinks that good players are what help make a good coach.\n"They've got to buy into your system," Bennett said. "They've got to believe in how you're going to play; they've got to buy in and do it."\nBennett's favorite IU memory is a toss up between two games from the previous years. \n"Winning the Big Ten Tournament last year against Penn State was really special to me," Bennett said. "Actually, my very first game at IU against Washington was pretty special too."\nThe Washington game in November 2000 was the first overtime win for Bennett. A three-pointer at the buzzer helped the Hoosiers defeat the Washington Huskies 77-74. Bennett said it's a win she'll never forget.\nAlaska was full of ups and downs for the Hoosiers. While Bennett celebrated her 40th win in Alaska, she said she's most concerned about where the team is mentally for the games to come.\n"You have to work just as hard mentally as you do physically," Bennett said. "They have to learn how to do both."\nPart of Bennett's winning strategy is to hold the team accountable for their mental game. She does this with repetition until they grasp the concept. Gathing said she likes the fact that Bennett isn't even always concerned with just winning.\n"Overall she wants us as people to do well in life, not just on the court," Gathing said. " That's good because basketball isn't just about winning on the court; it's about life too"
(11/25/02 4:56am)
The end of the 2002 Hoosier volleyball regular season looms ever closer as IU is looking to capture an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament. This weekend pitted the Hoosiers against the highly touted Minnesota Golden Gophers Friday and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. The No. 6 Minnesota squad lived up to their billing by sweeping IU 3-0. But, IU did not leave the weekend empty handed as it overpowered Iowa 3-1.\nComing off of a dismal match against Minnesota, IU came into Saturday's Iowa match with a mission, as their aspirations for post-season play rode on the match. IU cruised through the first game of the match 30-14, but the Hawkeyes lurched back into life in game two by amassing a 17-13 lead. The Hoosiers were able to pull themselves back into the game and eventually took game two 30-25. But, IU was not able to pull a sweep as the Hawkeyes pulled out to an early 12-5 lead. The Hoosiers then regrouped with a timeout and pulled within one for a 13-12 Iowa lead. The game was hard-fought throughout until the Hawkeyes were finally able to finish IU 32-30. The Hoosiers then closed out the match with a 30-27 win in the fourth game.\n"This was certainly a match that we needed to win to keep this season moving in a positive direction, which it certainly has been to this point," coach Katie Weismiller said in a statement. "With a small roster, we've been fighting through some injuries that have forced us to shuffle our lineup. I thought our team responded really well tonight although we definitely would have liked to have closed out the third game."\nSophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman amassed 64 assists to place her as IU's single season assist leader with 1,614 with two more matches to go in regular season play. Zimmerman's setting prowess set up four players with at least 13 kills, led by sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom with 18, and libero Hillary Toivonen with 13. Toivonen typically doesn't hit as a libero, but she changed out of the position for this match. \nFriday night's match against the No. 6 Minnesota Golden Gophers was an uphill battle for the Hoosiers as Minnesota hungered for their first Big Ten title. The Golden Gophers came into the match winning 21 out of the last 22 matches and an impressive 15-1 conference record.\nDespite the prowess of their opponents, IU did not rise to the occasion. Offensively, the Hoosiers were off the mark, logging a .021 hitting percentage and only amassing 12 kills per game. Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald led IU's hitting attack with 12 kills.\nGame one saw both teams fighting, culminating in a 16-14 Golden Gophers lead. But Minnesota amassed a run to put the score at 22-16. IU was then able to pull within three for a score of 22-19, but the Golden Gophers downed IU 30-27. Games two and three were lopsided victories for Minnesota, winning 30-19 and 30-22 respectively.
(11/25/02 4:53am)
The IU Women's Cross Country team will head to Terre Haute today for their first NCAA Championship appearance since 1990. \nJunior Audrey Giesler said she is pleased with how much more competitive the team is this year.\n"Last (cross country) season was frustrating," Giesler said in a statement. "We worked hard during indoor and outdoor track, and picked up some momentum. A lot of us stayed in Bloomington last summer to train, and we have a great group of freshmen. They have made a huge impact, and we have such great team chemistry. That's been the difference."\nThe Hoosiers made it to nationals after finishing fourth in their region last weekend at West Lafayette. The top two teams in each regional get automatic bids into nationals but the Hoosiers along with four other teams from the region received at large bids to the NCAAs. \nOne advantage the Hoosiers will have this weekend is the course they are running on, which is the Wabash Family Sports Center. Just last month the Hoosiers ran at the same course for the Pre-NCAA 6k Invitational. The team finished eighth overall out of 38 teams at that meet. \nFreshman Lindsay Hattendorf said she thinks that having raced there previously will be an advantage.\n"We've trained and competed on the course there, so we can visualize key points of the race," she said. \nGiesler said she expects a strong performance.\n"It's exciting, especially considering where we were a year ago," Giesler said in a statement. "On one hand, we've taken a big step forward. But now, it's on to that next step. We want to close the year with a strong performance."\nThe women's 6K race will start at noon.
(11/25/02 4:51am)
This weekend the Hoosiers took to the pool and continued their undefeated streak. The No. 13 ranked Hoosiers, winners of five in a row, defeated No. 19 Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Arkansas, Clemson, Evansville, New Mexico, and Cincinnati, with the second place team trailing by 245.5 points at the Indiana Open Invitational. IU hosted the event, a three-day competition, which ended early Sunday night.\nIU started off slowly, finishing fifth in the 200-free relay with the team of senior Anne Williams, junior Meghan Medendorp, and sophomores Erin Smith and Tammy Kostner. IU's B-relay finished tenth with a time of 1:38.60.\nBut, it didn't take the Hoosiers long to regroup, as juniors Sarah Fiden, Brooke Taflinger and Erin Gorlesky went 1-2-3 in the 500-free. Gorlesky's time of 4:55.30, Fiden's time of 4:52.65, and Taflinger's time of 4:54.39 were all season bests. The cream and crimson tandem of freshman Lauren Torpey and Doherty Colgin placed sixth and seventh.\nThe Hoosiers got their boost on Saturday from a fantastic performance in the 400 IM by Taflinger, who set a season best time at 4:18.93. Taflinger's time is among the top ten nationally this season. Also leading the Hoosiers to victory was a second and third place finish in the 800-free relays. IU's A-relay, finishing second, comprised of Colgin, Fiden, Gorlesky and Smith. IU's B-relay scored in third place with leadership from seniors Taflinger, and Williams, with help from freshman Nina Thurston and Torpey. The A-relay's time of 7:31.58 was the fifth fastest in school history, while the B-relay's time of 7:32.67 was the seventh fastest in school history.\nIU extended their lead on Saturday by qualifying for the finals in every event except for the 200 breast stroke. In the final event of the weekend, the Hoosiers took second place in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:28.91. \nThe Hoosiers are back in action on the weekend of Dec. 5 in Minneapolis, Minn. for the US Open and in Oxford, Ohio for the Miami Invitational.
(11/25/02 4:48am)
The IU men's swimming and diving team hosted the annual Indiana Invitational this weekend at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The undefeated Hoosiers won the event with a score of 1,149 points followed by University of Cincinnati in second, Clemson University taking third, University of Evansville placing fourth, and the University of Miami (Fla.) finishing in fifth place. \nThe invitational is a hard and tiring meet for the swimmers to compete in. The event started on Friday at 9:30 a.m. with preliminaries and finals at 6 p.m. and continued that schedule on Saturday. The Hoosiers led the pack both days and finished out the victory on Sunday with prelims at 9 a.m. and finals at 3 p.m. \n"The effort was great. The times could have been better, but the attitude was great," Coach Ray Looze said. "We had some bad health and in a three-day meet like this that isn't a good thing. We sort of had to grind out a win. Clemson left after the morning prelims, so that kind of took the fun out of tonight. It was developing as a good team battle, but it evaporated. We really didn't get too true of a look as to where we are at, but that to a large degree is out of our control." \nSenior captain Dave Schulze led his team in the 200-yard breaststroke, swimming a winning time of 2:04.30 followed by junior Rob Dabrowski in second with a time of 2:06.92, sophomore Niles Madison in third with a time of 2:10.68 and freshman Hank Baldwin in fifth with a time of 2:12.87. Schulze was also victorious in the 100-yard breast with a time of 57.15. Schulze was joined by teammates junior Claes Andersson, sophomore Murph Halasz, and junior Dale Ramsy in the 200-yard medley relay where they swam a winning time of 1:32.10. A team of junior Matt Leach, Schulze, Halasz, and Andersson placed second in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:24.20\nThe sprinting contingent of Andersson, Ramsy, junior Mike Payne, and sophomore Nicolas Burgess placed first, second, fourth, and seventh respectively in the 50-yard freestyle finals. The foursome was also victorious in the 200-free relay, swimming a time of 1:22.65. \nSophomore distance swimmer Richard Bryant placed first in the 200-yard freestyle event with a time of 1:41.82. Bryant also helped his team score more points by placing second in the 500-yard free swimming a time of 4:31.28 and second in the mile swim (1650 yards) with a time of 15:53.72. \nJunior diver Marc Carlton scored a season personal best of 331.40 points on the one-meter. Carlton also won the platform competition with a score of 471.40 and placed second on the three-meter scoring 535.50 points. \n"I thought Carlton did a great job on one-meter, in fact he looked real good on both boards," Diving Coach Jeff Huber said in a statement. "I am real pleased to see that. I thought we were pretty weak all the way around on one-meter, but they stepped it up much better on three-meter." \nThe Hoosiers next face two much more competitive invitationals Dec. 5-7. The top 11 Hoosiers will be swimming at the Texas Invitational and the rest of the team will be compete at the Miami Invitational.
(11/19/02 4:37am)
ST. LOUIS -- Marshall Faulk was scratched from the St. Louis Rams' game against the Chicago Bears on Monday night.\nFaulk left last week's victory over the Chargers with a strained tendon in his left foot and a sprained right ankle, and did not practice last week.\nCoach Mike Martz said Saturday night that Faulk would run a bit before the game, but he did not dress.\nRookie Lamar Gordon got his first career start in place of Faulk. Martz has said that Trung Canidate, a first-round pick in 2000, also would play at running back.
(11/19/02 4:36am)
The men's tennis team was eliminated from the Big Ten Singles Championships on the second of three days of the tournament. Only two Hoosiers made it to the final 16.\nSophomore Jakub Praibis suffered a tough loss to Ohio State's senior Vincent Ng, losing 6-0, 6-1. Sophomore Ryan Recht played a intense match against freshman Andrew Wakefield from Penn State. Recht lost in three sets, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.\nFreshman Viktor Libel, sophomore Jullien Vulliez, and sophomore Tom Bagnato were all able to win their first matches, but unfortunately lost their next matches, putting them in the consolation round. \nLibel had his first win of the season on the first day of the tournament, and after being placed in the consolation round, started out the same way. He defeated junior Joel Cunney from Ohio State 6-4, 6-3, but then lost to freshman Pramod Dabir from Illinois, 6-4, 6-3. \nIn his first match of the consolation round, Bagnato lost to Northwestern's sophomore Chuck Perrin 7-5, 6-4. Vulliez went the furthest in the consolation round, defeating two players from Penn State to make it to the third round. Vulliez defeated PSU freshman Malcolm Scatliffe 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, and junior Todd Stecko 6-4, 6-4. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep his game up and lost to freshman Mark Barry, also from Penn State, 6-0, 7-6. \nFreshman John Stone lost his first and only match to senior Thomas Haug from Minnesota 3-6, 1-6. Senior Zach Held wasn't able to play in the tournament due to a torn rotator cuff. \nThe Big Ten Singles Championships wraps up the men's tennis season until January 18, when the Hoosiers will host Murray State.
(11/14/02 6:11am)
Manute Bol has always been able to block shots with his 7-foot-7 frame. The Indianapolis Ice now want to see if he can do that -- or anything else -- on skates.\nFirst, the Central Hockey League team has to find equipment big enough to fit the former NBA player.\nIn an effort to create a buzz around the minor league club, Ice general manager Larry Linde agreed to contract terms Tuesday with the lanky center -- well, that's what he played in his basketball career.\nLinde hasn't spoken to Bol yet and has no reason to believe the man from the Dinka Tribe has ever skated before. Bol is expected to make his first appearance with the Ice on Saturday when they play the Amarillo Gorillas.\n"Are you kidding me? Where?" asked 6-foot forward Geoff Sanderson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, twice a 40-goal scorer in the NHL. "At least he will have a heck of a poke check. His stick will be about 6 1/2-feet long."\nIt appears more likely that Bol will conduct a meet-and-greet with fans rather than a give-and-go in a game. Don't expect to see the giant on the ice.\n"We're in the business of selling tickets, the business of entertainment," Linde said. "We're not going to do anything to jeopardize the integrity of the game or Manute. We're out there to have fun.\n"We're not going to throw him out there if he's going to kill himself or someone else," he said.\nLinde admitted the deal is designed mainly to generate interest in his team and a cause that Bol has championed.\nThe GM was the driving force behind the signing after he read an article a month or so ago about Bol's difficult life after he left the NBA.\n"We're always looking for a unique angle," Linde said. "We like to expose our fans to people they might like to meet."\nBorn in Turalie, a remote village in southern Sudan, Bol now lives in Hartford, Conn., with his family.\nOver the years he has spent most of his life's savings trying to bring peace to his war-torn homeland, where many of his relatives were leaders in the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army, a rebel movement. At one point he became an important backer of the rebels, contributing an estimated $3.5 million.\nBol also had trouble getting out of Sudan after he went back a few years ago. Those efforts also dried up a lot of his funds as he supported himself and as many as 20 relatives.\nLinde did some online research and contacted Bol's representatives to set up a public appearance at an Ice game. The contract developed from there.\nBol recently took part in Fox TV's "Celebrity Boxing" show and beat former football player William "The Refrigerator" Perry in a bout.\nBol agreed to take part, so long as Fox agreed to air a toll-free number for the Ring True Foundation, a West Hartford-based charity he set up to benefit southern Sudanese children. He donated his $35,000 fight fee to the group.\nLinde also wants to help Bol's cause.\n"According to what I've been told he's open to different kinds of ideas," Linde said. "It seems like everything he's doing these days is trying to bring attention to his foundation."\nLinde said Bol will sign a standard player contract and then try to skate with the team on Friday and Saturday.\n"He's coming in Friday. We'll attempt to get him suited up. We'll see what we can do," Linde said.\nWhat happens with Bol's hockey career after that is unknown.\nCHL contracts last for a minimum of one season, but they are rarely guaranteed. Players are paid on a weekly basis at a minimum of $350.\nLeague spokesman Steve Cherwonak said the league would not stand in the way if Indianapolis filed a contract, and that the league president was in favor of it.\nIt was believed Bol, who weighs 225 pounds, would become the tallest player under contract in the history of professional hockey.\n"We commend the Ice for a unique and interesting manner of promoting ice hockey and a worthwhile cause," Cherwonak said. "Are you going to see him take passes and slap shots? I don't think so."\nBol was a 1985 second-round draft pick of the Washington Bullets, and the first foreign player ever drafted in the NBA.\nHe played 11 seasons with four NBA teams, blocking more shots per minute than anyone in league history. He retired in 1995 after averaging 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.6 points during his career.
(11/14/02 6:10am)
OXFORD, Ohio -- Two Miami University assistant football coaches were suspended Wednesday after one was charged with assaulting a fan and another acknowledged damaging a coaches' box at Marshall.\nCoach Terry Hoeppner apologized Wednesday, saying things got out of control when fans rushed the field following Marshall's last-second 36-34 win over its Mid-American Conference rival.\nHoeppner took two university police officers with him for extra protection on the field, anticipating a volatile situation.\n"It's scary," said Hoeppner, who hadn't slept following the bus ride back from West Virginia. "I had more police protection around me last night, and that shouldn't be necessary. We've lost a little bit of our perspective."\nDefensive coordinator Jon Wauford and linebackers coach Taver Johnson were suspended with pay while the southwest Ohio school investigates.\nWauford was led off the field in handcuffs and charged with battery, a misdemeanor, for allegedly shoving a fan who ran on the field after the game. Johnson acknowledged damaging the visiting coaches' box, Hoeppner said.\nThe post-game problems were uncharacteristic for a school that prides itself as the "Cradle of Coaches."\n"I don't want to prejudge our investigation of the facts. But I have to tell you, as president, to see one of my coaches led away in handcuffs was one of the most difficult things I've seen since I've been here," school president James Garland said in a phone interview.\n"We justify our support of athletics because of the message that it sends about character," Garland said. "These events of yesterday suggest that we've fallen short of our goal."\nInterim athletic director Steve Snyder said Miami will pay to repair the coaches' box. A shelf and chairs were damaged, and holes were knocked in the wall, Snyder said.\nWauford was released on $5,000 bond early Wednesday and has a court hearing Dec. 13. The fan, Robert Flaugher, 36, was treated at a hospital and released.\nFlaugher was among thousands of fans who stormed the field moments after Marshall scored the winning touchdown in the closing seconds.\nWest Virginia State Police said Wauford shoved Flaugher, who fell and struck his head on the artificial turf. He was taken away on a stretcher with what was diagnosed as a concussion.\nFlaugher's brother, Todd, said that neither he nor his brother used abusive language toward Miami players or coaches.\n"He was waving goodbye to Miami's players ... the coach basically hit him with a forearm. That knocked him flat. His head definitely hit first on the turf. It was basically a sucker punch," Todd Flaugher said.\nFlaugher said he and his brother ran onto the field and congratulated the Marshall players, then started running toward the facilities buildings. "That's the last thing I remember," he told WCHS-TV on Wednesday.\n"I'm tired and I've got a splitting headache and a little bit of a neck cramp where apparently my neck snapped back, but other than that, I'm feeling no worse for the wear."\nHoeppner predicted that Wauford, a Miami assistant for three years, will be exonerated because of the circumstances on the field.\n"It was emotional in all contexts," Hoeppner said.\nMarshall coach Bob Pruett said he didn't see the confrontation and declined to comment on it.\nAsked about the damage in the coaches' box, Pruett said: "People get excited after games. It's a very emotional game. You put your life and soul into a ballgame, and sometimes you react in ways that would be distressful."\nMid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst talked to both schools on Wednesday and approved of their responses.\nMiami is proud of its history of producing coaching luminaries such as Paul Brown, Weeb Ewbank, Sid Gillman, Ara Parseghian and Woody Hayes, who was fired by Ohio State for hitting a Clemson player who made an interception during a game.
(11/14/02 6:09am)
Part of being an authority figure is that you have the authority to punish. That's why the notion of the University of Michigan offering to discipline itself for its actions in its men's basketball program related to the actions of booster Ed Martin are ridiculous.\nPerhaps this argument is more moralistic than sports-related, but guilty parties do not have a right to determine their own punishment. They're biased. Victims, in this case many of the teams that played Michigan between 1992 and 1999, don't have the right to determine Michigan's punishment either. They're biased too. This is the National Collegiate Athletic Association's job.\nI assume that the NCAA lets schools recommend their own punishments in order to get schools to acknowledge their guilt and in order to save investigative resources. They feel that if schools have a better idea of who exactly the bad apples are in the program, then they know exactly who to ferret out.\nThis after-the-fact approach doesn't work however. While it might be a good idea to let schools acknowledge their problems, it seems to only lead to smug behavior thereafter.\nMaurice Taylor, a former Michigan player now playing for the Houston Rockets and one of the players who received money from Martin, had this to say about Martin: "I'd never call him a criminal. He's the guy that's always nice and cordial toward me."\nWell, Maurice, denial ain't just a river in Egypt, but Martin is a criminal. Martin pled guilty to participating in a money laundering conspiracy. What is so cordial about that?\nThen, Taylor went on to criticize the NCAA. "(W)hen somebody is trying to get something to help themselves to get into school, to help their family while they're in school, how can you fault them for that?"\nOf course, this argument is wrong. Anybody who thinks that illegal payments to college athletes will stop once we legalize stipends for college athletes is naive. Martin gave away $616,000 to just four players. He gave $105,000 to Taylor. The NCAA cannot compete with that. How much money does Taylor think the NCAA really has? Or is the NCAA's new motto "Bread on Every Table, An Escalade in Every Carport"?\nAs for the punishments, first, Michigan agreed to forfeit 112 wins garnered between 1992 and 1999 and the removal of any banners related to the accomplishments of these teams, including the Fab Five's Final Four appearances in 1992 and 1993. Does this make you feel better? I didn't think so. As former Michigan "Fab Fiver" and current Chicago Bull Jalen Rose said, "Because the reality of it is, you can try to erase it from the history books or pull it from the rafters, but you can't erase the most famous college team from the minds of people."\nSecond, the school agreed to ban itself from post-season play for the coming season. Of course, Michigan is a second-division team in the Big Ten with slim post-season hopes anyway. They haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1998, and even a winning record would be significant progress.\nThird, they put themselves on probation for two years. This is way too short. Five years sounds about right. Probation should cover everybody in the incoming freshman class through their entire college careers. Probation shouldn't be so short that players hope to wait it out. A five-year probation can help weed out the undesirables more permanently.\nLastly, the university will repay the $450,000 that Michigan received for post-season play during these years. Of course, the university has had up to ten years to invest this money. For all we know, they could repay this with the interest they gained during this time. The right thing to do would be to not only repay the money but also pay a significant penalty based on a percentage of gate receipts.\nWhat's funny in retrospect is how people have cried how unfair it is that the guys currently on the team have to suffer the punishment while many of the wrongdoers continue to play in the NBA and while then-coach Steve Fisher, aka The Fourth Blind Mouse, continues to draw a salary as the coach at San Diego State. Sorry, but I lack sympathy. Many players had to know of the investigation when they were being recruited, and it was not like there weren't other prominent Division I schools these guys could have attended.\nOf course, looking back, the biggest punishment Michigan gave itself is unrelated to the current scandal. It hired Tommy Amaker as its coach.
(11/14/02 6:06am)
Men's tennis coach Ken Hydinger announced the hiring of new assistant coach Matthew Pledger on Monday. \n"Matthew (Pledger) will bring a wide variety of things to our program," Hydinger said. "He has played professionally and he knows what the next level is like. He'll have high expectations."\nPledger previously was a head tennis professional and ran a Junior Development program at Middletown Tennis Club in Middletown, Ohio. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Fitness Management and a minor in business. Pledger had many athletic accomplishments in college, including being named to the All-South Eastern Conference tennis team twice and earning First Team All-American honors in 1997. He also earned Academic All-South Eastern Conference twice.\nPledger toured professionally from 1997-2000, competing on the ATP tour, the Challenger Circuit, and the Futures Circuit. During this time he acquired a doubles ranking of 256 and a singles ranking of 653 worldwide.\n"This is something I've been interested in since college," Pledger said about his new job. "I really loved the team aspect and I look forward to working with all the guys."\nPledger met the team Monday and is eager to start coaching.\n"I'm looking to have a good season. We have a lot of talented guys," Pledger said. "I think we can surprise a lot of teams out there."\nThe Hoosiers have been without an assistant coach since Mark Keil was dismissed from the position earlier in the year. Keil, who was hired on Aug. 5, was fired in October after being arrested and charged with residential entry.\nHydinger said he looks forward to working with Pledger for a number of reasons. \n"Starting off, he is a good character guy with an outstanding work ethic," he said. "Number two, he brings professional experience and can bring great exposure to the highest level of tennis. Three, he is a guy that has improved greatly as a player, so he has that conviction of the properties that make players improve. He is excited about being here, so he is going to help at all aspects of the program."\nPledger will get his first chance to see the team play when the Hoosiers conclude their fall season in the Big Ten Singles Championship this weekend in Minnesota, Minn.
(11/14/02 6:04am)
Senior Karie Schlukebir announced this past week that she is coming back next year as a fifth-year senior. Schlukebir was sidelined early in both her freshman and sophomore years because of cancer, but overcame it to become successful on the court.\nSchlukebir's highlights before IU include a state championship ring and a 25-0 record during her sophomore year of high school in Michigan, a pair of team MVP nods, and a No. 1 ranking in Western Michigan in singles in 1997-98. \nSchlukebir has been impressive in college as well. She has a career singles record of 47-42 and doubles record of 70-29. Schlukebir and junior Linda Tran have combined as one of the best doubles duos in collegiate tennis. Last year, they were selected to participate in the doubles National Championship, where the top 32 doubles teams in the nation play for a title. This year Schlukebir and Tran have been nationally ranked as high as No. 13.\nTran explained that Schlukebir's return means a lot to her on and off the court.\n"I am definitely glad she's coming back," Tran said. "We will have a great year next year and should have a chance to win a doubles championship. I'm also glad she's coming back because we've been best friends since my freshman year, and my senior year will be a lot better."\nCoach Lin Loring said the two have a good shot at winning a doubles championship next year. He said he has high expectations for Schlukebir and Tran.\n"They'll be preseason ranked high depending on how they finish this season," Loring said. "They'll definitely be in the top 15, and they have a good shot at a title."\nSchlukebir's return bolsters a team that is loaded with underclassmen. Five of the nine players on this year's roster are underclassmen. Along with Tran, Loring said he agrees that Schlukebir's fifth year is a bonus for next season.\n"Karie's return will mean a lot to us because she's a great leader on and off the court," Loring said. "She's also a good student and great when we have recruits come in."\nSchlukebir also helps with the recruiting process.\n"When the recruits come in, we have about 48 hours to show them the campus," Schlukebir said. "We take them out and make sure they feel comfortable."\nSchlukebir said she didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to play a fifth year. \n"I really figured that I can always work someday," Schlukebir said. "However, I would hate to look back and regret not playing out my last year of tennis.
(11/14/02 6:02am)
When junior Jamie Gathing entered the women's basketball game last Friday, she made an immediate impact, tumbled on loose balls, snatched offensive rebounds and found anything she could do to help the team. \nGathing embodies this sweat-at-all-costs mind-set. \nGathing's intense presence on the court was one reason IU was victorious Nov. 8 against Premier Sports. The stats might not show she had a good game, as she failed to reach double-digits, but her demeanor on the court insists otherwise. Gathing's plunging after loose balls, forcing turnovers and hitting the boards was arguably better than any other Hoosier player in the team's first preseason game.\n"I can bring sparks of energy," Gathing said. "Not so much scoring, but hustle. I make hustle plays and can inspire others to do the same. My role on this team is to be vocal. I can keep things together. I do other things besides scoring."\nGathing only started one game last year, while averaging 2.3 points per contest, but other players fed off her rousing energy.\nSenior Jill Hartman said it is beneficial to the team to have such a dedicated worker. \n"Players see her hustling, and it rubs off on them," Hartman said. "You can't sit and watch. It makes you want to work so much harder."\nCoach Kathi Bennett said she agrees with the senior guard.\n"Jamie is such a fearless competitor," Bennett said. "I respect her so much. She always practices hard, and I'm most impressed with her work ethic. Both in practices and in games, she never takes any possessions off."\nMeanwhile, Gathing is used to adversity as she has suffered a multitude of injuries.\nShe underwent off-season knee surgery. Two years ago, she redshirted the season after having surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. She sustained the injury while participating in training camp for the Big Ten All-Star Tour. Gathing said she did not realize the true nature and impact of her ACL injury until a few weeks later.\nGathing described how Bennett has helped her and her recovery process. Gathing said Bennett has been tolerant with her. Gathing has not been able to do anything with all her injuries. She has not played any basketball since April. \n"Coach has just been real patient with me and knows it takes time to heal," Gathing said. \nBennett is proud of the way Gathing performs each time she takes the floor.\nBennett said Gathing raises everybody else's game, by the way she plays -- yet she does it in a controlled way. Bennett emphasized that Gathing brings incredible energy to the team and that is fundamental to a successful team.\nSimilar to her performance last Friday, Gathing contributed with an excellent defensive effort in the Hoosiers' win over Penn State in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament last season. Bennett said Gathing can do more of that this year and expects it from such an experienced player.\nHartman echoes the sentiments of her coach.\n"She brings tremendous intensity and gets everybody else fired up," Hartman said. "Last Friday, she stepped up really well. Her experience is a key reason why she's very intense and is able to lead vocally."\nHartman is beginning her fourth year at IU with Gathing.\n"She's like my sister," Hartman said. "We have lived in the dorms together and spent a whole lot of time together. Me and her both have a thing we like to do. We both like to lead the team in cheers. We are both really vocal and like to pick up the team whenever we can."\nIn addition to all her other injuries, Gathing suffered a stress fracture in her left foot during her freshman year. She missed eight non-conference games and started in six as a freshman.\nDespite all her injuries, Gathing said she believes in the old adage time heals all wounds.\n"My inspiration is time," Gathing said. "Eventually, my injuries and everything else will be ok. Also, my teammates have been supportive and have helped me."\nBennett said she just wants Gathing completely healthy and happy at the end of the season. Bennett said she has not coached Gathing when she has been fully healthy at the end of the season.\n"When she's healthy and on her game, she brings us together defensively," Bennett said. "She ties us together. Every team needs a player like that"
