Journey to Final Four starts Thursday
By United Press International
Its 65-man field completed with the addition of a team with a losing record, the NCAA men's basketball tournament springs into its first round Thursday with a full schedule of 16 games.
More first round action is on tap Friday. The championship will be determined April 1 in Atlanta.
Highlighting the Thursday slate, defending champion Duke (29-3), top-seeded in the South Region, opens against Winthrop (19-11) while Kansas (29-3), atop the field in the Midwest, faces Holy Cross (18-14).
The other two top-seeded teams make their tournament debuts on Friday. Cincinnati (30-3), No. 1 in the West, faces Boston U. (22-9) in its first round test and Maryland (26-4), tops in the East, opens against Sienna (17-18).
Siena, the lineup's only entry with a losing record, had to play its way in by beating Alcorn State 81-77 in a qualifying game Tuesday night.
In East Region play Thursday, Kentucky (20-9) meets Valparaiso (25-7) and Marquette (26-4) tangles with Tulsa (26-6). In the Midwest, in addition to the Kansas-Holy Cross tussle, Stanford (19-9) meets Western Kentucky (28-3), Wake Forest (20-12) meets Pepperdine (22-8) and Oregon (23-8) faces Montana (16-14).
In the West Region, it's Miami (24-7)vs. Missouri (21-11), Ohio State (23-7) vs. Davidson (21-9), Gonzaga (29-3) vs. Wyoming (21-8), and Arizona (22-9)goes against Santa Barbara (20-10). And, in the West in addition to the Duke-Winthrop game, it's Oklahoma State (23-8) playing Kent State (27-5), Alabama (26-7) vs. Florida Atlantic (19-11), Notre Dame (21-10) vs. Charlotte (18-11), USC (22-0) vs. N.C.-Wilmington (22-9) and Indiana (20-11) vs. Utah (21-8).
The women's NCAA tournament gets under way on Friday.
Raiders name Callahan head coach
OAKLAND, Calif., March 13 (UPI) -- The Oakland Raiders have ended their search for Jon Gruden's successor by promoting offensive coordinator Bill Callahan to head coach -- a post he never has held during a 22-year career.
The announcement was made in a one-paragraph posting on the Raiders' web site. Callahan was to be introduced later at a news conference at the team's Alameda, Calif., practice facility.
Like Gruden, his former boss, Callahan has no head coaching experience and moves up after serving as an offensive coordinator, a position he held with the Raiders the previous four seasons.
Callahan, 45, followed Gruden to Oakland after serving as offensive line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-97. He spent his previous 15 seasons in the college ranks, working as offensive line coach at Wisconsin from 1990-94 after one season as offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois.
Former outfielder Al Cowens dies
KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 13 (UPI) -- Al Cowens, the Kansas City Royals right fielder who finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1977, died of an apparent heart attack Monday near Los Angeles. He was 50.
Cowens, who also spent time with the California Angels, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, spent 13 seasons in the major leagues and compiled a .270 batting average with 108 homers and 717 RBI. His best year came in 1977, when he hit .312 with 23 homers, 112 RBI and won a Gold Glove. The Royals won a club-record 102 games that season.
Cowens finished second to Rod Carew in the MVP race that season but was traded to the Angels following in the 1979 season. He hit .270 with 20 homers and 78 RBI for the Mariners in 1982 but retired after a disappointing 1986 season in which he hit .183.
Cowens is survived by his wife Velma, sons Purvis, Dante and Rayvon and a daughter Trinetta.
Nancy Lopez scaling back schedule
ALBANY, Ga., March 13 (UPI) -- Nancy Lopez, one of the most dominant women golfers of all time, announced Wednesday that 2002 will be her final year as a regular on the LPGA Tour.
A tearful Lopez said she will complete this year then reduce her schedule to just two or three events a year.
"I will be playing one more full year then playing very few tournaments, maybe two or three a year," Lopez said. "It's time to get on to my other life -- my family."
The 45-year-old Lopez won 48 times on tour,including three majors. One of the most recognizable golfers in LPGA history, she helped bring the tour to prominence.
During her illustrious career, Lopez has captured the LPGA Championship three times and was runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open on four occasions.
Chiefs sign linebacker Cadrez
KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 13 (UPI) -- The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms on a one-year contract with linebacker Glenn Cadrez Wednesday.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Cadrez joined the Chiefs last season after spending six years with the Denver Broncos. He played all 16 games, starting five, and recorded 39 tackles, intercepted one pass and had a fumble recovery. He also had a blocked punt and 1 1/2 sacks.
The 6-3, 240-pound Cadrez has 330 tackles, 14 1/2 sacks, seven forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 155 career games. The 32-year-old was selected in the sixth round of the 1992 draft by the New York Jets and spent three seasons with them before joining the Broncos in 1995.
