Ohio State fires Jim O'Brien
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 8 (UPI) -- Ohio State University has fired basketball Coach Jim O'Brien for alleged NCAA recruiting violations, Athletic Director Andy Geiger announced Tuesday.
Rick Boyages, O'Brien's longtime assistant, was named interim coach.
O'Brien coached at Ohio State for seven years. His team reached the NCAA Final Four in 1999. Last season, the Buckeyes were 14-16.
FSU women's basketball player, 19, dies
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 8 (UPI) -- Ronalda Pierce, a 19-year-old player on the Florida State University women's basketball team, died Tuesday, apparently after suffering an aneurysm.
A preliminary autopsy indicated the 6-foot-5 Pierce died of a ruptured aorta caused by an aneurysm that was possibly the result of Marfan syndrome, a statement from the Tallahassee Police department said.
Victims of the disease are often tall and slender.
Pierce was pronounced dead at a hospital, where she was taken after she could not be awakened in her apartment.
The young woman, from Ashburn, Ga., averaged 5.3 points as a freshman in 29 games for the Seminoles last season. She was the Class AA Player of the Year in Georgia as a senior at Turner County High in 2003 and was a three-time all-state selection.
"Words cannot begin to express the loss we feel," said FSU Coach Sue Semrau. "Ronalda was a very special person and although she was with us for such a short time, she enriched our lives in many ways."
Pierce's death came just over three years after another FSU athlete, Devaughn Darling, an 18-year-old linebacker on the football team, collapsed and died.
U.K. pushes huge security for Euro 2004
LISBON, Portugal, June 8 (UPI) -- Britain's best soccer players have arrived in Lisbon to represent their nation in the Euro 2004 competition, the Mirror reported Tuesday.
But no matter how well the athletes do, or how much glamor stars like David Beckham lend to the venture, a great deal of scrutiny will be on the 50,000 English fans expected at the matches.
British officials, seeking to curb the hooliganism that has marred so many soccer matches involving British players, launched its biggest security operation ever launched for a football tournament abroad.
Officials said 2,253 people are legally banned from attending and another 500, allegedly involved in football related disorders, have been prevented from traveling because of bail conditions.
On Monday at least another two suspected soccer "yobs" were arrested in Britain before being brought before the courts.
"We want to be pro-active in our approach and not just wait for known hooligans to turn up at airports," said a Home Office spokesman.
"We now have 24 hours to bring anyone arrested before a court and either get a banning order, or bail conditions preventing them from leaving the country."
Murray named coach of Ottawa Senators
OTTAWA, June 8 (UPI) -- Bryan Murray is a National Hockey League coach again, this time with the Ottawa Senators.
Murray, who previously coached four NHL teams, took the Ottawa job Tuesday after resigning as general manager of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
He succeeds Jacques Martin, who was fired in April and later was named coach of the Florida Panthers.
"Having interviewed excellent and qualified candidates over the past six weeks and spending time with Bryan, I knew I had in him an experienced coach with the energy and passion it takes to win a Stanley Cup," said Senators General Manager John Muckler.
Murray, 61, has coached for 14 years in the league, compiling a record of 513-413-131. He coached the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks before becoming their general manager in 2002.
He takes over a Senators team that has consistently made it to the playoffs, but not to the Stanley Cup finals.
Anaheim named Al Coates, the team's senior vice president of business operations, as interim general manager.
