NCAA tourney opens quietly
By United Press International
The NCAA basketball tournament's Tuesday night opening was a rather inconspicuous beginning for one of sports' premier events.
Siena, the only team in the 65-team tournament with
a losing record, took center stage against Alcorn State in a "play-in" game at Dayton, Ohio. The winner gets a Friday night date with Maryland, the top-seeded team in the East Region.
The rest of the action in the men's tournament begins Thursday. Defending champion Duke is top-seeded in the South Region, Kansas is No. 1 in the Midwest and Cincinnati is top-seeded in the West.
The women's NCAA tournament begins Friday. Connecticut is seeded first In the Mideast Region as in Oklahoma in the West, Vanderbilt in the Midwest and Duke in the East.
Meanwhile, the National Invitation Tournament also got under way with five games Tuesday night. The matchups included South Florida (19-12) at Ball St (20-11), Saint Joseph's (18-11) at George Mason, (19-9) and Montana St (19-9) at Utah St (23-7). Also, Princeton (16-10) at Louisville (18-12) and Arizona St (14-14) at UNLV (20-10).
Siena (16-18) was the seventh seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference but won four games in as many days in the league tournament to clinch an automatic NCAA berth.
Alcorn State (21-9) won the regular-season Southwestern Athletic Conference title with a 16-2 record and captured the league tournament to earn the automatic NCAA bid, but that was not enough for the Braves to escape the play-in game.
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Powerful college sports figure retiring
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 12 (UPI) -- Roy Kramer, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and one of the most powerful figures in college sports, announced plans Tuesday to retire.
The 72-year-old Kramer will continue to serve his post for the SEC until a successor is found.
While his tenure with the SEC has been a lucrative one for the conference, Kramer may best be remembered for devising the Bowl Championship Series for college football.
Kramer has been SEC commissioner since 1990, helping the league's exposure by negotiating multi-million dollar broadcast deals with CBS, ESPN and Jefferson Pilot. During his stint, the league also has added Arkansas and South Carolina and instituted a conference championship game for football.
Before joining the SEC, Kramer was athletic director at Vanderbilt for 12 years. He was football coach at Central Michigan for 10 years, compiling an 83-32-2 record.
Yankees drop outfielder over alleged theft
TAMPA, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees released Ruben Rivera Monday night amid allegations the reserve outfielder stole equipment from Derek Jeter's locker in the Legends Field clubhouse.
The New York Daily News said Tuesday the alleged incident involved the theft of a bat and glove from Jeter's locker, which came to light when Rivera's teammates learned of the sale of the items.
After the players voted unanimously to kick Rivera off the team, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman announced at a hastily called Monday night news conference that Rivera had been given his unconditional release, the report said.
"I will not go into details," Cashman told the newspaper. "He is no longer a member of this organization."
Rivera, 28, refused to speak to the media, and Yankee players and management refused to disclose details of the incident.
Ruben Rivera once was considered a top prospect in the Yankees' organization but frustrated management with his lack of discipline on and off the field and was traded to San Diego as part of the deal which brought pitcher Hideki Irabu to New York in 1997. He rejoined the Yankees in the off-season.
More bargain hunting for the Patriots
FOXBORO, Mass., March 12 (UPI) -- After bargain shopping their way to a Super Bowl title, the New England Patriots are at it again Tuesday, signing free agent receiver Donald Hayes.
Hayes had 118 catches over the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Terms were not disclosed, but Hayes reportedly received a two-year deal worth about $3.5 million.
Those figures would be in line with the bargains New England landed last season when it signed running back Antowain Smith, fullback Marc Edwards, receiver David Patten, linebackers Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel and Bryan Cox, guard Mike Compton and defensive backs Terrell Buckley and Terrance Shaw.
The Patriots are hoping that philosophy works again. Rather than pay big money to the likes of Az-Zahir Hakim, who signed a five-year, $16 million deal with Detroit, Cris Carter or Michael Westbrook, New England instead pursued Hayes and Joe Jurevicius, the New York Giants' third receiver.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick was seeking a physical receiver to complement Pro Bowler Troy Brown and opted for the 6-4, 218-pound Hayes over Jurevicius.
Kwan, four others among Sullivan finalists
ORLANDO, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- Figure skater Michelle Kwan, Chicago Cubs prospect Mark Prior and track sensation Alan Webb were named among five finalists for the Sullivan Award Tuesday.
Also named finalists for the prestigious amateur sports honor were University of Calfornia swimmer Natalie Coughlin and gymnast Sean Townsend.
The Sullivan Award honors AAU founder James Sullivan and is given to the athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.
The 2002 winner will be named on April 9. The New York Athletic Club will host the presentation for the first time.
Past recipients include wrestler Rulon Gardner (2001), NFL star Peyton Manning (1997), speed skaters Dan Jansen (1994) and swimmer Janet Evans (1989), former major league pitcher Jim Abbott (1987) and basketball star Bill Bradley (1965).
Astros add versatility in trade
KISSIMMEE, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- The Houston Astros added some versatility to their infield Tuesday, acquiring Geoff Blum from the Montreal Expos for third baseman Chris Truby.
A switch-hitter, Blum batted .236 with nine home runs and 50 RBI in 148 games last season. He made 67 starts at third base, 27 in left field, 17 at second base and nine at first base.
Originally selected by Montreal in the seventh round of the 1994 draft, the 28-year-old Blum has a .254 career average with 28 homers and 113 RBI. In 2000, Blum started at each infield position.
Truby hit .206 with eight homers and 23 RBI in 48 games last season. He was Houston's starting third baseman until Vinny Castilla was acquired last May 15.
Tuesday's trade is the first by the Expos since Major League Baseball took over day-to-day operations of the club.
Magic's Brown back on firing line
ORLANDO, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- Former Orlando Magic guard Dee Brown will move from the front office to the firing line for at least 10 days after signing a contract with the team Tuesday.
An 11-year veteran, Brown retired on Aug. 29, 2001 and had been working in the front office as special assistant to Magic operations before signing a 10-day contract. He played in just seven games with Orlando last season after missing the first 75 with a per-season injury.
The 6-2 Brown has averaged 11.2 points, 3.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 601 career games with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Magic.
US World basketball team complete
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 12 (UPI) -- USA Basketball filled out its World Championship roster Tuesday, adding forwards Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz and guard Andre Miller.
To be coached by George Karl of the Milwaukee Bucks, the first seven members were named on Nov. 1. The U.S. will seek the gold medal in the event that runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
Pierce gives Karl another explosive option at small forward, joining a frontcourt that includes Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns.
An All-Star for the first time this season, Pierce ranks third in the NBA with 26.1 points per game and has the Boston Celtics on the verge of their first playoff appearance since 1995.
LaFrentz offers the team some needed size up front, adding his 6-11 frame to a roster relying on 6-9 Antonio Davis of the Toronto Raptors and 6-11 Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers.
Dealt from Denver to Dallas last month, LaFrentz is second in the NBA with 2.98 blocks per game. He also is averaging 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.
