Warriors fire Musselman
OAKLAND, Calif., May 20 (UPI) -- Eric Musselman, 39, has been fired as coach of the Golden State Warriors after two years on the job.
The announcement was made by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.
"This was a difficult decision," said Mullin in making the announcement Wednesday. "This team certainly showed some progress the last couple of years and Eric should be given some of the credit. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions the last two seasons."
The Warriors overall record during Musselman's tenure was 75-89, including a 37-45 ledger during the recently-completed 2003-04 season.
He was named head coach of the club on July 26, 2002, when he was 37, the youngest head coach in the NBA.
The Warriors were 38-44 in his first season, posting the NBA's most-improved record over the previous campaign.
Soccer's Talia slashes toe with lawnmower
WYCOMBE, England, May 20 (UPI) -- Goalkeeper Frank Talia of England's Division Three Wycombe Wanderers sliced off part of a toe in a lawnmower accident, The Sun reported Thursday.
The embarrassed Australian told reporters he was pulling the machine backwards when he slipped. The mower flipped and fell on to 31-year-old's left foot, slashing through his shoe and the second toe.
"I was trying to cut my toenails with a lawn mower and discovered it doesn't work," he joked after leaving the hospital. "Seriously though, I know I am very lucky. I could have lost my foot."
Talia said he would still be fit enough for pre-season training in July.
Champion blind golfer's vision questioned
LONDON, May 20 (UPI) -- A blind British golfer who won the world championship for the second time is being investigated over claims he may have some vision.
The Times of London reported the English Blind Golf Association began the inquiry into David Morris after he became the first player successfully to defend the title at the competition in Melbourne, Australia.
The inquiry began after a complaint to the association that the 61-year-old Morris may have had an advantage over his rivals in the category for totally blind golfers.
The criterion for blindness is that competitors are unable to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance.
Association spokesman Barrie Ritchie said Morris was tested before joining the association and had provided medical evidence to support his application.
Morris, who is currently traveling to Japan for the Blind Open Tournament starting Friday, has been told of the complaint but was unavailable for comment.
