Zito named AL Cy Young winner
NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Oakland Athletics lefthander Barry Zito Thursday was named the American League Cy Young Award winner after leading the junior circuit in wins and his team to a division title.
Zito, the fourth-youngest winner in AL history, edged Boston Red Sox righthander Pedro Martinez, who won the AL honor in 1999 and 2000 and the National League award as a member of the Montreal Expos in 1997.
Zito, just 24, collected 114 points, including 17 of 28 first-place votes, in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Martinez was second with 96 points and 11 first-place votes, followed by teammate Derek Lowe, who collected 41 points.
Anaheim Angels lefthander Jarrod Washburn received one third-place vote.
Zito has been outstanding and his repertoire is thought to be among the best in baseball. In only his second full season, he emerged as the A's' top starter, going 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA.
"For him to win this award in just his third season in the major leagues is a tribute to his tremendous talent and work ethic," said A's co-owner Steve Schott.
While Martinez led the major leagues in ERA and AL in strikeouts, Zito was the driving force behind Oakland's winning the AL West title, going 12-1 with a 2.83 ERA following A's losses, and 12-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 16 starts after the All-Star break.
Zito had as many strikeouts (182) as hits allowed in 229 1/3 innings. His dominant season allowed him to become the first A's Cy Young winner since closer Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and the fifth Oakland pitcher to receive the honor.
An A's pitcher had finished second in the voting each of the previous two seasons, with Mark Mulder following Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees in 2001 and Tim Hudson placing runner-up to Martinez in 2000.
After battling arm problems for a good chunk of the 2001 season, Martinez regained his health this year. He was his usual dominant self and did some of his best pitching in September, when the Red Sox were battling for a playoff spot.
One thing that might have hurt Martinez is that he made just 30 starts, five fewer than Zito and two fewer than Lowe, but Martinez, 30, finished 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA and allowed just 144 hits with 239 strikeouts in 199 1/3 innings.
Lowe made a spectacular conversion from faltering closer in 2001 to All-Star Game starter last summer. His season was highlighted by a no-hitter on April 27, the first at Fenway Park in nearly 37 years.
Lowe finished 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA. He allowed just 48 walks and 12 homers in 219 2/3 innings, and had 10 starts where he did not allow an earned run.
Lowe also was very tough away from home, going 12-4 on the road. He filled Boston's need for a No. 2 starter.
Michigan penalizes itself
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, calling it a day of great shame for the school, Thursday announced heavy self-imposed sanctions levied against the men's basketball program.
In response to alleges under-the-table moneys given to four former MU athletes by booster Ed Martin, the school forfeited wins from 1992-93 and 1995-99, took down four banners from its basketball home, Crisler Arena, said it would pay back $450,000 to the NCAA, and placed itself on probation.
"There's no excuse. It was wrong," Coleman said. "This is a day of great shame for our university. These sanctions are strong medicine."
Martin claims he gave money to Chris Webber, Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock. Webber, a star forward with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, allegedly was given $280,000.
According to Athletic Director Bill Martin, the school received a letter of inquiry from the NCAA on Oct. 29, and this was Michigan's response.
In addition to forfeiting more than 100 wins from the years in question, the school took down banners from a pair of Final Four appearances, a National Invitation Tournament title, and a Big Ten tournament championship.
The school placed itself on one year probation, and banned the team from any postseason appearance in 2003. The $450,000 reimbursement is equivalent to the money collected from two
Final Four appearances.
Coleman said all wins will be removed from media guides and other publications from the 1992-93 and 1995-96 to 1998-99 seasons.
"We will do this because we didn't win these games fairly," Coleman said.
In order to avoid further sanctions, Bill Martin has requested a meeting with the NCAA infractions committee.
Ed Martin met with representatives from the school, NCAA and FBI this summer, providing details of the payments he allegedly made to the four players.
Martin is accused of distributing or loaning cash from his illegal gambling business to high school or college athletes and their families. Webber, his father, and his aunt are alleged to have concealed cash, checks, clothing, jewelry and other benefits.
In May, Ed Martin, 68, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He admitted he took gambling money and loaned it to "at least" the four players, three of whom are in the NBA.
This past summer, Webber was indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit for lying to a grand jury regarding his dealings with Martin. He later denied the charges.
"(Martin) was a man "preying on our innocence," Webber said.
Webber's father, Mayce, and his aunt, Charlene Johnson, also were charged in the case. If found guilty of all charges, Chris Webber faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Webber played two seasons at Michigan and led the Wolverines to championship game appearances in 1992 and '93. He was the first pick of the 1993 NBA draft.
Taylor and Traylor each played three seasons and Bullock four. All three were on the team that won the NIT title in 1997.
Traylor and Bullock led the Wolverines to the conference tournament crown in 1998.
Traylor was the sixth overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in 1998 and currently plays for the New Orleans Hornets. Taylor was the 14th selection by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1997 and is with the Houston Rockets.
Bullock was taken in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1999 and now is playing in Spain.
New deal for Dakich
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Dan Dakich, who returned to coach the men's basketball coach at Bowling Green after a one-week stay at West Virginia this past April, has been given a new five-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Dakich guided the Falcons to a 24-9 mark and their second NIT appearance in three years last season before accepting the job at Morgantown.
However, Dakich left the Mountaineers' program after a week, saying he made a mistake. West Virginia officials claimed his decision may have been linked to a possible NCAA rules violation that happened at the school before Dakich arrived.
Dakich, a player and coach under Bob Knight at Indiana for 16 seasons, never signed a contract at West Virginia and abruptly returned to Bowling Green.
In five years with the Falcons, Dakich has gone 89-57, posting the second-best winning percentage (.610) in school history and the sixth-highest all-time among Mid-American Conference coaches.
"Under Coach Dakich's leadership, we have developed one of the finest basketball programs in the Mid-American Conference," said Athletic Director Paul Krebs. "Dan tirelessly promotes the community and university more than anyone I know and I am excited about extending the university's relationship with him."
Over the last four years, Bowling Green trails only Kent State, also a MAC member, in total victories, MAC wins, and overall winning percentage among schools in the conference. In the 1999-2000 campaign, Bowling Green won the MAC regular-season crown and went to the NIT.
Dakich has a challenge ahead of him this season, having lost all five of his starters from last season. The Falcons were picked to finish fifth in the MAC West Division, where they will be for the first time this season.
Martinez will not be back with Mariners
SEATTLE. Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Long-time designated hitter Edgar Martinez, a fixture in Seattle for many years, likely will not be with the Mariners in 2003 after the team announced late Wednesday that it will not pick up his option for next season.
The Mariners, facing a midnight deadline, decided to buy out the one-year option for $2 million rather than pay Martinez, 39, $10 million next season.
Martinez spent two months on the disabled list in 2002 after undergoing surgery to remove a ruptured tendon behind his left knee. He hit .277, his lowest average since 1993. He had 15 home runs and 59 RBI in 97 games.
"It's been hard," Martinez told the Post-Intelligence about the negotiations on a new contract which appear to have failed. "I know that's the way this business goes sometimes."
Martinez, who may be the best DH in baseball history, has said he wants to finish his career in Seattle, but Wednesday's decision by the Mariners makes it likely that Martinez will follow Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez and former manager Lou Piniella out of town.
In addition, eight Mariners already have filed for free agency, including first baseman John Olerud and lefthander Jamie Moyer.
Martinez won American League batting titles in 1992 and '95, and owns a .317 career average with 273 homers and 1,110 RBI in 1,769 games over 16 seasons. He is the franchise leader in most major offensive categories.
Lubick gets new deal
FORT COLLINS, Colo., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Sonny Lubick, who has guided Colorado State to six of its eight bowl appearances, has been
given a new contract.
The school has scheduled a news conference for 3 p.m. Eastern time Thursday to make an official statement.
Lubick is in his 10th season with the Rams (8-2), who are ranked 20th in the country. They have three games remaining, beginning with San Diego State on Nov. 16.
Lubick led the team to a bowl game in six of his first nine seasons, including wins in the New Orleans Bowl in 2001, the Liberty Bowl in 2000, and the Holiday Bowl in 1997.
At 82-36, he is the winningest coach in school history, been named conference Coach of the Year four times at Colorado State, and has had a team ranked in the top 25 three times at season's end.
Lubick, 65, was the defensive coordinator at Miami before going to Fort Collins. He was head coach at Montana State from 1978-81 before stints as an assistant at Colorado State, Stanford, and Miami.
Colorado State has had a winning conference record each year under Lubick, claiming three Western Athletic championships.
The Rams have an overall mark of 20-5 in the Mountain West, and are 4-0 in league play this season.
Capitals activate Kolzig
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Washington Capitals, who open a three-game homestand Thursday, activated veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig from injured reserve.
Kolzig was disabled Oct. 29, one day after hurting his right hand during practice. He started six of the Capitals' first seven games, going 4-2-0 with a 2.07 goals-against average and a league-leading .939 save percentage.
Kolzig, 32, is Washington's all-time leader in games (422), minutes (24,191), and wins (186). The 6-3 native of South Africa won the Vezina Trophy in 2000.
Sebastien Charpentier, who was 2-1-1 with a 2.69 GAA in Kolzig's absence, was assigned to Portland of the American Hockey League to make room for the No. 1 goalie. Veteran Craig Billington will remain the backup.
