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Sports Update

In Sports from United Press International

Chargers fire Coach Mike Riley

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The San Diego Chargers fired Coach Mike Riley Monday, one day after closing the season with a nine-game losing streak following a promising 5-2 start.

"It came down to one bottom line and that's winning football games and that didn't take place enough this year," Chargers general manager John Butler said at Monday's news conference. "I thought this was better than a 5-11 football team."

Riley was on shaky ground following a franchise-worst 1-15 season in 2000, but Butler opted to retain him. However, the Chargers hired former coach Norv Turner as their offensive coordinator to assist Riley.

"I have no regrets whatsoever," Butler said about staying with Riley after the 2000 season. "I'm glad he had the opportunity to try it again. Unfortunately, it just didn't happen."

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Riley was just 14-34 in three seasons with the Chargers, with eight of the wins coming in his first year.

The Chargers faltered in the close games this season, losing eight of nine games decided by seven points or less.

It has been speculated that Butler may pursue New York Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, who worked for Buffalo when Butler was the general manager with the Bills. But Butler made no commitments.

"I have no ideas of any successor," Butler said. "I know Norv is still under contract for several more years (as offensive coordinator), but nothing has been discussed regarding a coach."

Riley's tenure with the Chargers was also clouded by his possible interest in returning to college. The coach at Oregon State from 1997-98, Riley was rumored to be a candidate for college jobs at Southern California last year and San Diego State this season although he denied the reports.


Furman promotes Lamb to head coach

GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Furman University, which made it to the Division I-AA national title game this season, promoted long-time assistant Bobby Lamb to head fotball coach Monday.

Bobby Johnson stepped down as Furman coach last week in order to take the job at Vanderbilt. He went 60-36 at the school, including a loss to Montana 11 days ago in the national championship game.

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Lamb, 39, has served as an assistant on the staff for 16 years.

"Bobby Lamb is familiar to all of us and, as both a hall of fame quarterback and assistant coach, has played a major role in the outstanding success our program has enjoyed over the past 20 years," said Furman director of athletics Dr. Gary Clark at a Monday morning news conference.

A former quarterback for the Paladins, Lamb has spent the last 13 years as quarterbacks coach and since 1993 has served as passing game coordinator. His assistant coaching tenure also includes work with the program's receivers and defensive ends.

Over the past three seasons, Furman posted a 30-9 record and earned NCAA I-AA playoff bids each year In 2001, Furman claimed a share of the league title on the way to a 12-3 record and the program's third I-AA title game appearance, where the Paladins dropped a 13-6 decision to Montana.


Eagles DT out with broken foot

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Hollis Thomas will likely miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken foot on Monday.

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Eagles coach Andy Reid said Thomas would miss four to six weeks, but closer to the latter which would probably sideline him throughout the playoffs.

The 6-foot, 306-pound Thomas suffered the injury in an awkward manner prior to Sunday's game against the New York Giants while running onto the field in pre-game introductions. He already was nursing a strained foot before suffering his latest injury.

Thomas missed the Eagles' dramatic 24-21 victory over the Giants that clinched the club's first NFC East title since 1988.

The loss of Thomas is significant for the Eagles (10-5), who close the regular season against Tampa Bay next Sunday before hosting the Bucs in the wild card round of the playoffs the following week. Tampa Bay relies on a short passing game and the running of Warrick Dunn and fullback Mike Alstott.

One of the club's top defenders against the run, Thomas has 267 tackles and 14 ½ sacks in 90 career games. He has 46 tackles and one sack this season.


Coleman suspended, fined

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Philadelphia 76ers forward Derrick Coleman on Monday was suspended one game and fined $7,500 Monday for throwing a punch at Karl Malone in Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz.

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Philadelphia coach Larry Brown also was fined $7,500 for criticizing the officials in that contest.

After getting thoroughly outplayed in the second quarter, Philadelphia was trailing, 54-45, with seven minutes left in the third when Coleman threw a punch at Malone. He was ejected as the Sixers eventually suffered an 89-81 loss.

The Sixers, who have lost three of their last four games, will be without Coleman for Wednesday's contest at Phoenix.

Last week, New Jersey Nets forward Kenyon Martin was suspended one game and fined for a flagarant foul on Malone in a December 22 game.


U.S. beats France at Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Top seed United States began its Hopman Cup campaign with a sweep of France on Monday in round-robin action at the mixed team event.

Monica Seles started things off at the Burswood Dome with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Virginie Razzano before Jan-Michael Gambill clinched the tie with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement.

Seles and Gambill closed out the Group A victory by topping the French duo, 6-1, 6-4, in the mixed doubles.

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The United States lost to Switzerland in last year's final.

Seles, who won the Hopman Cup III when she played for the country of her birth, Yugoslavia, needed just 62 minutes to notch her 14th straight match win dating to last season. She finished 2001 with tournament victories at Brazil, Japan and Shanghai.


Kafelnikov wins first round match

DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat his former doubles partner Daniel Vacek for the sixth straight time Monday in the first round of the $1 million Qatar Open.

Kafelnikov defeated Vacek of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, improving to 15-4 all-time in head-to-head matchups. The two have won three Grand Slam doubles titles and numerous smaller events.

The 27-year-old Kafelnikov reached the quarterfinals here last year to start a season in which he captured two titles and finished ranked No. 4 in the world.

No. 8 Felix Mantilla of Spain, the only other seeded player in action Monday, thrashed Italian qualifier Cristiano Carrati, 6-1, 6-1. Mantilla claimed his lone title last year in Sicily and was a finalist at Estoril.

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