U.S. pulls even with Croatia
ZAGREB, Croatia, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- It was a struggle, but the United States came out of Day One in a 1-1 tie with Croatia at the Davis Cup.
The U.S. pulled even when James Blake turned back 18-year-old Mario Ancic, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6, in the day's second match. Earlier, Mardy Fish was knocked off by Ivan Ljubicic, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
Blake was able to hold on after Ancic forced a tie break in the third set before a raucous, capacity crowd of 3,500. He had an easier time in the first two sets.
"I knew Ancic was very young, hadn't experienced this type of pressure before, and I wanted to take advantage of that," Blake said. "I felt like I was the veteran out there, which is weird for me at just 23 years of age, but it was a lot of fun and I'm glad I handled it well."
Ljubicic took advantage of the fast court conditions, the packed arena, and an inexperienced foe to record 30 aces and give the home team an early advantage.
"I played pretty good, I was serving big, and in the end I had only one break point against me," Ljubicic said. "I had a lot of options with how to make the points, and I felt pretty comfortable out there. I like this court, I like these balls, and playing at home really helps us, but we have to be careful because even if we have the first point it's not even close to being over."
Fish, 21, was playing in only his second Davis Cup and his first singles match.
"I've never played anybody before who served against me like that," he said afterwards. "I couldn't read it, I had no answer to it, and usually my return of serve is one of my biggest strengths."
American Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe was forced to turn to Fish because of the absence of Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi.
In other matchups, France leads Romania, 2-0; Netherlands is tied with Switzerland, 1-1; Australia leads Great Britain, 2-0; and Spain leads Belgium, 2-0.
Report: Hingis may be done
PARIS, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Martina Hingis, a former world No. 1 in women's tennis, may never pick up a racket again.
Hingis has all but ruled out a return to competitive tennis, and appears to be ready to finish playing competitive tennis because of her severe and ongoing ankle problems.
"A return to competition cannot be possible," the 22-year-old Hingis told the French sports newspaper L'Equipe from Zurich.
Hingis said she has no intentions of competing unless she can compete at the highest level.
"It's over for me but life goes on," the former teenage prodigy told the paper in Friday's edition. "I am not capable anymore (of doing) what's needed to be at the top. I have been at the top for long enough to exactly know what it means, and I am incapable of it."
Hingis, who topped the world rankings for four consecutive years, won three Australian Opens, one U.S. Open and a Wimbledon title between 1997 and '99.
"I don't want people to feel sorry for me," Hingis said. "I have a great life, even without competition. "I am happy. I am 22 and my whole life is ahead of me. What I am experiencing is nothing dramatic. The only thing I cannot do anymore is to remain competitive."
She did leave open a possibility of a return to the circuit sometime in the future.
"I am not coming back, not for now anyway, that is sure and definite," she said.
Hingis first underwent surgery on her right ankle in October, 2001, and seven months later, needed an operation for a similar ligament problem, but in her left ankle.
She fought her way back and reached the 2002 Australian Open final, where she lost to No. 1 Jennifer Capriati. At the Indian Wells final two months later, she lost in straight sets to Daniela Hantuchova of Slovokia.
Roland Garros was the only Grand Slam tournament she never won, but she still earned $18,344,660 in her career. She won 40 WTA Tour crowns in singles, plus 36 tournament victories in doubles, including nine majors.
In 1998, Hingis became the fourth woman all-time to achieve the doubles Grand Slam -- all four majors within a calendar year.
Wilson out at Georgetown -- for now
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- When Georgetown hosts similarly struggling UCLA Saturday, the Hoyas will be without center Wesley Wilson.
The 6-11 senior has been granted a temporary leave of absence, according to the Washington Post.
"Wesley has a problem that relates to more than his back," Coach Craig Esherick told the paper. "He has not been kicked off the team. Both his return to school and his return to the team are open-ended."
Wilson missed the Hoyas' loss at Syracuse Monday, and the Post also said he almost certainly will miss the game Tuesday at Rutgers.
The Post reported that Wilson was close to his grandfather, who died Dec. 31, but Esherick noted that "his mother and father want his privacy (in this matter) to be honored."
The once-powerful Hoyas (10-8, 2-6 in the Big East) are in a tailspin, having lost six of their last seven games. Most of the losses have come in close games.
They lost at 10th-ranked Notre Dame, 93-92, in double-overtime, blew a 15-point lead in a loss at St. Johns, lost at home to Seton Hall in overtime on a play where the Pirates had six men on the court on a play at the end of regulation, and no one noticed.
On that play, Seton Hall made a game-tying basket to send the game to its extra session.
Supporters are upset.
A former Georgetown player, Larry Barrett, expressed his anger to the Washington Times.
"When you've got a collective choke in every close game, it's the coach's fault," Barrett, a 1967 alumnus and longtime member of the Hoya Hoops Club, told the paper. "That's what we've got here. The lawyer's got one hand around his throat every time we come down to the wire. I live and die with those guys. I love Georgetown basketball, but it's breaking my heart. I can't even watch them now. The worst part is that the administration doesn't even seem concerned. They talk about giving Esherick an extension. They talk about unreasonable expectations. It's the imprimatur of mediocrity."
"When the head of the athletic department comes out and tells a member of the national media that it is unreasonable for us to expect to make the biggest basketball tournament of the season, I find that unacceptable," Chris Perkins, a 1994 Georgetown graduate and lifelong fan, told the Times. "Georgetown went to 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments at one point under (former Coach John) Thompson. That's basically why I went to Georgetown -- to watch big-time basketball, and I'm very frustrated by the state of the program."
Since succeeding Thompson, Esherick has a record of 27-33 in games decided by single digits. They are 1-6 in overtime games in the last two seasons.
Florida lands Leak
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- On a big signing day Thursday, Florida, a school noted for top-notch signal callers, landed another prized quarterback.
Chris Leak, a star at Charlotte Independence High School in North Carolina, officially committed to the Gators. Wednesday was the first day that top high school players made binding commitments with schools. The signing period runs until April 1.
Leak threw for 5,193 yards, 64 touchdowns and had just 12 interceptions as a senior to lead Independence to a third straight North Carolina big-school title.
"Not only is he a very talented athlete, he's a really great person," said Florida Coach Ron Zook. "The way he's handled it. He's a special person. We look forward to watch him throw the ball in 'The Swamp.'"
The job at quarterback is open at Florida after Rex Grossman decided last month to leave school early and apply for the NFL draft. One of the reasons Leak said he chose Florida is the chance to play as a true freshman.
"The thing we told him is he'd be given the opportunity," Zook said. "I've never been around a team that had too many good players."
Recent quarterbacks in Gainesville include 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerrfel.
Signing Day got even better for Florida when receiver Andre Caldwell, the younger brother of former Gator receiver Reche Caldwell, signed with the Gators. Caldwell had not made his intentions known until Wednesday.
Other top prospects who already have committed to the Gators include defensive tackle Jarvis Moss of Denton Ryan High School in Texas, cornerback Dee Webb of Ed White High School in Jacksonville, Fla., and Chad Jackson, a receiver from Hoover, Ala.
Another top quarterback prospect, Kyle Wright, also will head to the Sunshine State. The Monte Vista (Calif.) High School signal-caller will attend Miami, where the list of competitors includes Florida transfer Brock Berlin.
Some scouting services rated Wright higher than Leak.
Defending national champion Ohio State let one of the best prospects from the Buckeye State get away when defensive back Prescott Burgess of Warren Harding High School in Warren, Ohio committed to archrival Michigan. Burgess attended the same high school as current Ohio State star Maurice Clarett.
Southern California, which has enjoyed resurgence under Coach Pete Carroll, landed star running back Reggie Bush of Helix High School in San Diego.
Florida State landed two top local prospects who been undecided before Wednesday, signing Ernie Sims of North Florida Christian High School, considered one of the top linebacking prospects in the country, and defensive back Antonio Cromartie of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee.
Notre Dame landed Greg Olsen of Wayne, New Jersey, who is considered one of the top tight end prospects in the country.
The Fighting Irish got lucky with another prospect, Victor Abiamiri of Baltimore, who also signed. He had been expected to commit to Maryland, but apparently changed his mind after a linebackers coach there resigned when it was learned that Abiamirai apparently accepted a total of $300 from the coach, in violation of NCAA rules.
Colome involved in car crash
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays reliever Jesus Colome suffered minor injuries in an automobile accident Thursday night that killed three women in another vehicle.
The accident took place as Colome was headed home to San Pedro de Macoris, 43 miles east of Santo Domingo, according to a story on Tampa's Web site.
The Web site reported that Colome's car, driven by a chauffeur, crashed into a vehicle going in the opposite direction.
Altagracia Ortega, 54, and her daughter, 23-year-old Alexandra Donator, died instantly. A third woman, Erminia Ovalle, 20, died Friday morning of head injuries.
Colome and his 20-year-old friend, Helpis Sederino, were treated for minor injuries at Macoris Specialized Medical Center and released.
Colome, 25, was set to travel to Florida this weekend for the start of spring training. He was 2-7 with an 8.27 ERA in 32 games for the Devil Rays last season.
Report: Creditors accept bid by Bryden
TORONTO, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The bid by Ottawa owner Rod Bryden to retain control of the bankrupt Ottawa Senators reportedly has been accepted by the team's major creditors.
The Toronto Globe and Mail, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported in its Friday editions that details of the purchase agreement will be unveiled Friday, after attorneys sign final documents.
Bankruptcy courts in Canada and the United States must approve the deal, although most of the major creditors are expected to lend their support.
According to the newspaper, Bryden learned his bid was successful Thursday night while watching the Senators battle to a 2-2 tie with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Bryden's proposal reportedly is similar to one he submitted last year. A $234 million deal that would have erased much of the team's considerable tax debt was rejected last month by two major creditors -- FleetBoston Financial Corporation and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Since filing for bankruptcy, the team received short-term financing from the NHL that enabled it to cover operating expenses, including players' salaries. The Senators missed a payroll payment on Dec. 31, with players receiving a note from Bryden, saying they would be paid in the "next couple of days."
Ottawa's financial woes have not filtered down to the ice. The Senators lead the Eastern Conference with 74 points, and sent three players, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara, and Patrick Lalime, and Coach Jacques Martin to last weekend's NHL All-Star Game.
