Golf legend Sam Snead dead
FAR HILLS, N.J., May 23 (UPI) -- Golf legend Sam Snead is dead.
The PGA Tour's all-time leader with 81 victories and seven major championships died Thursday of complications from a stroke.
He was four days shy of his 90th birthday.
Known as "Slammin' Sammy," a man with one of the sweetest swings in history, Snead has been credited with 135 worldwide wins, including three Masters, three PGA Championships and one British Open. He also won tour-sponsored events in six different decades.
Last month, Snead was the lone honarary starter at Augusta National Golf Club, a position he held each year since 1984.
Ironically, Snead died during the week of the Memorial, the PGA Tour event that honors the game's legends.
"Sam played the game with consummate skill and was an unforgettable champion," PGA Tour Commssioner Tim Finchem said.
Carolina takes command in NHL playoff
TORONTO, May 23 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have taken command of their Eastern Conference showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Arturs Irbe turned away 31 shots for his first career playoff shutout and Sami Kapanen netted his first goal of the postseason midway through the third period Thursday night to lift Carolina to a 3-0 victory over Toronto and a solid three games to one lead in their conference finals.
The Hurricanes spoiled Toronto Coach Pat Quinn's return to the bench and can reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history with a win at home Saturday.
Green hammers four homers
MILWAUKEE, May 23 (UPI) -- Shawn Green homered four times to match a major league record and went 6-for-6 with six runs scored and seven RBI, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 16-3 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday.
Green became the 14th player in history to homer four times in a game and the second this season, joining Seattle Mariners centerfielder Mike Cameron, who accomplished the feat May 2 against the Chicago White Sox.
With the wind blowing out to right field at Miller Park, the lefthanded-hitting Green homered off three different pitchers, smacking a three-run shot in the second and solo blasts in the fourth, fifth and ninth.
. Tway takes Memorial lead
DUBLIN, Ohio, May 23 (UPI) -- Bob Tway took a one-shot lead with a 7-under 65 the first round of the $4.5 million Memorial Thursday.
But, much of the attention went to two others -- Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Nicklaus shot a respectable 1-under-par 71 while Woods failed to break par for the first time all year.
Nicklaus said it wasn't a great round -- for him -- but he was "tickled pink" with it.
Woods meanwhile was so upset over his 74 he refused to meet with the news media afterward.
Ace earns tie for Corning lead
CORNING, N.Y., May 23 (UPI) -- Beth Bader sank the first hole-in-one of her LPGA career on Thursday, helping her gain a share of the lead after the first round of the Corning Classic.
In her second year on the tour, the 28-year-old enjoyed her best round, a 6-under-par 66 to tie Laura Diaz and Sherri Steinhauer atop the leaderboard.
The highlight came on the par-3 15th hole where she got her first ace with a pitching wedge from 125 yards. She finished her round with six birdies and two bogeys.
Montgomerie continues hot play
VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 23 (UPI) -- In between massages and doctor visits, Colin Montgomerie continues his resurgence.
Montgomerie overcame a lingering back injury Thursday, carding an 8-under-par 64 for a three-stroke lead at the Volvo PGA Championship.
After receiving intensive treatment from a specialist in Fulham, Montgomerie recorded his best round of the season, offsetting three bogeys with nine birdies and an eagle at the Wentworth Club.
Four players are tied for second.
Bowa draws 3-game suspension
PHILADELPHIA, May 23 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Phillies Manager Larry Bowa will miss his team's series with the Montreal Expos this weekend after being suspended three games by the league for excessive arguing against Arizona on May 17.
Bowa will not appeal the suspension, which was handed down prior to the Phillies' series finale with the New York Mets on Thursday.
Bowa was ejected in the eighth inning of the Phils' 12-9 loss to the Diamondbacks. Following a series of disputed plays, Bowa had to be restrained from going after plate umpire Tony Randazzo.
Reds getting Griffey back
CINCINNATI, May 23 (UPI) -- Ken Griffey Jr., who has been sidelined since the opening week of the season with a partially torn patellar tendon, will be activated by the Cincinnati Reds prior to Friday's game with the Atlanta Braves.
The 32-year-old superstar center fielder has worked out with the team this week and likely will be in the starting lineup Friday against Kevin Millwood.
Griffey suffered the injury running the bases during the exhibition season and was limited physically during the opening week of the regular campaign. The 11-time All-Star has been able to rehabilitate the injury without surgery.
Indiana's Davis gets new contract
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., May 23 (UPI) -- Mike Davis, who won over a basketball-crazed state by leading Indiana to the national championship game, was rewarded Thursday with a new six-year contract worth more than $5 million, the university announced.
According to the school, the new contract runs through the 2007-08 season. Davis, 41, will receive an annual base salary of $225,000 plus $25,000 in deferred compensation. He also will get $550,000 annually in guaranteed outside, marketing and promotional income.
Last season, his second as coach, Davis guided Indiana to an improbable run to the NCAA title game, where it battled favored Maryland before losing, 64-52. It was the best postseason performance by a Hoosiers squad since the school's last national championship in 1987 under Bob Knight.
Panthers' Anderson draws year suspension
NEW YORK, May 23 (UPI) -- Carolina Panthers defensive back Rashard Anderson was suspended one year by the NFL Thursday for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Anderson's suspension begins immediately and includes the entire 2002 season. He is prohibited from participating in any team activities during the suspension and will be eligible for reinstatement by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue next offseason.
A third-year pro out of Jackson State, Anderson played 15 games last season, recording 45 tackles, one interception and five passes defensed.
