In Sports from United Press International
Shea wins gold, Sweden ousted in hockey
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The United States piled up gold medals in record numbers Wednesday thanks in part to a third-generation Olympian with special motivation. Sweden's golden hockey dream, however, was erased by a bouncing puck that traveled 80 feet and somehow eluded one of the best goaltenders in the world.
With snow piling up in the Olympic city, Croatia's one-woman gang won her second gold medal and third overall, Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerdalen won his fourth gold of the Winter Games--becoming only the third athlete ever to do so--and another world record was turned in on the speed skating oval.
Two gold medal events remained Wednesday night in short-track skating, where American Apolo Anton Ohno sought revenge for the collision that cost him a victory last week. The United States hockey team also faced Germany in the quarterfinals while Canada had a date with Finland.
A busy day at the Olympics began with the first men's skeleton race since 1948 and the first women's skeleton race ever.
Jim Shea wasted no time in stealing the spotlight. His father competed in the 1964 Olympics in cross-country skiing and his grandfather, Jack Shea, won two gold medals in speed skating in 1932. All three were to have carried the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony, but Jack Shea died just months prior to the Olympics from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
With his grandfather's picture tucked safely away in his helmet, the first third-generation Winter Olympian in history led after the first run in the skeleton event. Then, on the second run, he trailed by .01 of a second at the last timing check point. Between that spot and the finish, however, he picked up a few precious hundredths of a second on world champion Martin Rettel of Austria and won the gold.
Making the moment even more special was the fact Shea's gold medal was the seventh won by the United States in the Games, setting an American record for a Winter Olympics. The total grew to eight moments later when Americans Tristan Gale and Lea Ann Parsley finished 1-2 in the women's skeleton to boost the medal supply. The bronze in women's skeleton went to Alex Coomber of Britain. It was that country's first medal of the Olympics and brought the total of nations winning at least one medal to 25 -- most ever in a Winter Games.
Norway equaled its record Winter Olympics gold total by capturing its 10th in the men's biathlon relay--edging Germany in a tight finish. On the Norwegian team was Bjoerdalen, who won all four gold medals available in biathlon.
The only other athletes to win four gold medals in a single Winter Olympics have been American speed skater Erik Heiden, who won five in 1980, and Russian speed skater Lydia Skoblikova, who captured four in 1964.
Janica Kostelic of Croatia also added to her medal haul by winning the slalom on the new fallen snow. It was her second gold and third medal overall, coming after Croatia had never before won a Winter Olympic medal. Of the 70 slalom skiers who began the competition, just 39 could complete the two runs in the difficult conditions.
At the Utah Olympic Oval, Germany Anni Friesinger established yet another speed skating world record by winning the 1,500-meter event in 1:54.02. She edged teammate Sabine Voelker with Jennifer Rodriguez of the United States earning the bronze. Eight events have been skated at the oval and six have produced world records.
While Norway led in the race for gold medals with 10, Germany had the overall lead with 31. The United States raised its total to 25 -- 12 more than any other American squad has ever won in a Winter Olympics. The United States needs just one more medal to double its previous best total.
There will be no medal, however, for the Swedish hockey team, which had aspirations of gold after winning the Olympic title eight years ago. Sweden was a huge favorite in the first of the day's four quarterfinals, but lightly-regarded Belarus fought the Swedes to a standoff and then got an enormous break to come away with a 4-3 victory.
O'Malley beats Tiger Woods
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Tiger Woods suffered a shocking 2 and 1 loss to Peter O'Malley, the world's 64th-ranked player, Thursday in the first round of the Match Play Championship.
Regarded as the world's best match play competitor, Woods received a rude awakening from his lesser-known opponent, who closed out the match on the 17th hole.
Woods was not the only high seed facing an early elimination in the 64-player event that is set up like the NCAA Tournament as No. 63 John Cook was 3-up against No. 2 seed Phil Mickelson through 15 holes. No. 3 seed David Duval also was getting a test but is 1-up against No. 62 Kevin Sutherland after 13 holes.
Among the top seeds advancing to the second round were No. 4 Sergio Garcia of Spain, No. 5 Ernie Els of South Africa, No. 6 David Toms, No. 7 Retief Goosen of South Africa, the reigning U.S. Open champion, No. 8 Davis Love III and No. 9 Vijay Singh of Fiji.
The Match Play Championship is the only World Golf Championships tournament that Woods has failed to win. He did not play in the event last year.
Tyson may get DC license
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A heavyweight title fight between champ Lennox Lewis and former champ Mike Tyson, a bout looking for a home, seemed to be headed Wednesday to Washington and the MCI Center, tentatively on June 8, the Washington Post reported.
The D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission gave its initial blessing Tuesday to Tyson's license application, the fight's main sticking point, and an event eagerly pursued by Mayor Anthony A. Williams.
The Post said, however, announcement of the commission's action "prompted a furious backlash." Business and church leaders and political activists warned the city it could lose its reputation as a wholesome tourist destination by playing host to the boxer, whom Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes recently dubbed "a sexual predator." It was Barnes' comment that led to fight promoters to drop Atlanta as a possible site.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gray Davis, asked Wednesday about the possibility of the fight being held in his state, said he was against it.
The fight was to have been staged in Las Vegas in April but the Nevada Boxing Commission refused to grant Tyson a license.
But, the three-member D.C. commission, meeting behind closed doors, unanimously welcomed Tyson's application at a time when authorities in four states have opposed bids by the boxer, a convicted rapist with two other investigations pending for alleged sex crimes. One member of the commission went so far as to say that approval of a license for Tyson was all but certain. A formal vote is scheduled for March 12.
Braves lose Dave Martinez
KISSIMMEE, Fla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Dave Martinez, a key veteran bench player for the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday revealed that he will undergo right knee surgery on March 1 that could end his season.
The 37-year-old Martinez, who could have seen time with Atlanta at first base or either corner outfield position, was diagnosed with chronic patella tendinitis in the knee late last season. He had hoped that rest would remedy the situation but he was still bothered by swelling and soreness and operated for surgery.
Dr. Koco Eaton will perform the surgery, which is similar to the one that forced St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire to retire.
Martinez hit .287 in 120 games last season but was a key contributor before the knee began to bother him. He hit .328 with 10 extra-base hits and 24 runs scored before the All-Star Game and .233 with six extra-base hits and nine runs scored after the break. Martinez is a career .276 hitter with 91 homers and 580 RBI in 1,918 games.
Report: Rogers, Delk to Celtics
BOSTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Boston Celtics, rumored to be contemplating a trade for Denver guard Nick Van Exel, apparently have made another trade which would improve their depth.
It was reported Wednesday that the Celtics have acquired forward Rodney Rogers and guard Tony Delk from the Phoenix Suns for rookie swingman Joe Johnson, guards Randy Brown and Milt Palacio and a first-round pick in the 2002 draft.
Neither team has confirmed the report.
The Celtics (31-23) own the second-best record in the wide-open Eastern Conference and are coming off a wild 109-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
There were reports that the Celtics offered guard Kenny Anderson and Johnson in a package for Van Exel. But the Boston Herald reported that the Celtics would not make the deal unless Van Exel waived the final two years of his contract, valued at $26.5 million.
The trade deadline is Thursday at 6 p.m. EST.
NFL must decide on franchise players
NEW YORK, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Eagles have already slapped a franchise tag on free agent linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and linebacker London Fletcher may be next.
NFL teams have until Thursday at 4 p.m. EST to designate their unrestricted free agents as franchise or transition players, which gives them the right of compensation or first refusal.
The Eagles have been unable to reach a multi-year agreement with Trotter, forcing them to use a franchise player designation. A two-time Pro Bowler, Trotter has led the Eagles in tackles each of the last three years. At 25 years of age, Trotter would have been a hot commodity on the free agent market if not restricted by the tag.
Franchise players must be offered a minimum of the average of the top-five salaries at their position or a 20-percent salary increase, whichever is greater. But the original club can match any offer and retain the player, or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if it decides not to match.
Williams, Seles advance in Dubai Open
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- After learning that she will become the No. 1 player in the world a day earlier, top seed Venus Williams moved into the quarterfinals of the $585,000 Dubai Women's Open Wednesday.
Williams defeated Russia's Anna Kournikova for the second time in as many weeks, posting a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory in the second round. She also defeated Kournikova in the quarterfinals of the Proximus Diamond Games at Antwerp, Belgium and has won all seven of their meetings.
Seles, the second seed here, cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italy's Tathiana Garbin. Seles also is coming off a tournament triumph. She captured her 52nd career title with a straight-sets victory over Tamarine Tanasugarn on Sunday in the Qatar Open.
The 28-year-old Seles is within three titles of Britain's Virginia Wade for seventh place on the WTA list of most career tournament victories in the Open era (since 1968).
Mattiace heads depleted Tucson Open
TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Len Mattiace won his first PGA Tournament last week and gets a chance to go back-to-back in a depleted field at the Tucson Open beginning Thursday at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa. The top 64 players in the world golf rankings are participating in the Match Play Championship at Carlsbad, Calif.
Mattiace, Fred Funk and Jay Don Blake are the top players on the PGA money list in this event.
Mattiace shot a 15-under-par 269 to win the Nissan Open last Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory, earning the first prize of $666,000 to move into eighth place on the money list. He has played in more than 190 events.
Dwight Gooden arrested for DUI
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Retired major league pitcher Dwight Gooden faced drunken driving charges Wednesday after police stopped him when they noticed his car weaving in traffic.
He was charged with intoxication, violation of the open container law and driving with a suspended license.
He was arrested shortly before midnight Tuesday and refused to take breath and urine tests, police said. Gooden, 37, later was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on $500 bond.
Gooden was suspended by baseball for 60 days in 1994 for testing positive for cocaine. He failed the test again while he was on suspension and had to sit out the 1995 season.
He retired from the New York Yankees in May, and was serving as an assistant to Yankees owner George Steinb
