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In Sports from United Press International

Teen son of Ray Sherman killed at home

GREEN BAY, Wis., May 20 (UPI) -- A police investigation is underway after a 14-year-old boy was shot to death Sunday at the home of Green Bay Assistant Coach Ray Sherman.

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It was revealed Monday afternoon that the victim was Ray Sherman, Jr. According to a police report, the wound appeared to be self-inflicted. No foul play was suspected in the shooting, but an investigation is continuing.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported in Monday's editions that the boy was killed shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Lt. Rick Dekker, a police department spokesman. Dekker told the paper that the address of the incident was that of Sherman.

On Sunday, Dekker declined to say if the shooting was a homicide, suicide, or accidental. People at the house Sunday called it accidental.

The younger Sherman died of a gunshot wound to the head after finding the weapon that killed him in the garage of the house.

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A .38-caliber handgun was found near the body of the victim.

At a news conference Monday, Green Bay Coach and General Manager Mike Sherman confirmed the tragic news.

"This obviously is a very grievous time for all of us," said Mike Sherman, "but most certainly for Ray and Yvette Sherman, their two beautiful daughters, Erica and Alana, their entire family and many, many friends. Ray Jr. was an engaging young man who affected those he met in a very positive way. I ask that everyone respect the privacy of the Shermans as they attend to their needs as a family. I appeal to everyone to offer prayers as this family begins the process of dealing with their loss."

"Every death is treated as suspicious until we rule otherwise," Dekker told the paper in a phone interview Sunday night.

A team spokesman told the paper Sunday night he was unaware of the shooting.

Another officer told WBAY-TV that one person was found dead in the residence and others at the home were asked to leave while police investigated.

Sherman, a Fresno State graduate and 17-year NFL assistant, has been the Packers' wide receivers coach the last four years.

An NFL assistant coach for 15 seasons, Ray Sherman joined the Packers staff in February 2000. He also has coached for Minnesota, Pittsburgh, the New York Jets, San Francisco, Atlanta, and the Houston Oilers.

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Ottawa avoids being eliminated in NHL East

OTTAWA, May 20 (UPI) -- Playing his first NHL playoff game, Jason Spezza helped the Ottawa Senators win an elimination game for the first time.

Spezza set up Martin Havlat's go-ahead goal in the third period before scoring the Senators' first power-play tally of the series as they stayed alive in the NHL Eastern Conference finals with a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

A healthy scratch in each of Ottawa's first 15 playoff contests, Spezza replaced Chris Neil to provide offense after the Senators totaled just three goals in losing the previous three games. He did just that as Ottawa scored more than once in the third period for the first time in the postseason.

The Senators improved to 1-6 all-time when facing elimination. They must win again Wednesday in New Jersey to force a seventh game on Friday.

Havlat snapped a 1-1 tie with 12:01 remaining, scoring his fifth playoff goal and first of the series.

Peter Schaefer stole the puck behind the net from New Jersey's Sergei Brylin and backhanded it in front. Spezza worked it to Havlat, who moved out from the right goalpost and slid the puck into the crease. Goaltender Martin Brodeur tried to smother it, then swept it with his left pad. But the puck appeared to hit the right skate of Devils defenseman Richard Smehlik and caromed back into the net.

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Scoreless on their first 20 power-play opportunities in the series, the Senators got another chance when Brian Gionta was penalized for hooking with 7:36 left. Ottawa finally converted four seconds later as Spezza deflected defenseman Chris Phillips' pass from the left point between Brodeur's pads.

Spezza, the second overall pick in the 2001 draft, has been unable to win a regular lineup spot.


Argentina beats Sweden at World team tennis

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 20 (UPI) -- David Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio got Argentina's defense of its ATP World Team Championship off to a winning start Monday.

Argentina, on a high after placing four players in the semifinals at last week's Hamburg Masters, clinched a victory over Sweden with a pair of singles wins at this final tuneup for next week's French Open.

In Blue Group round-robin action, Nalbandian dispatched Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman, 6-2, 6-2. The match was transferred after three games from the Rochusclub to a backup clay court laid over the ice at the Brehmstrasse Ice Stadium due to rain.

Gaudio rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Thomas Enqvist in the second match. The doubles rubber was rescheduled for Tuesday morning.

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Nalbandian and Gaudio were coming off semifinal showings at Hamburg.

Also in the Blue Group, Chile is tied with Germany at 1-1. Fernando Gonzalez gave Chile the first point with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) triumph over Lars Burgsmuller.

But Marcelo Rios could not clinch the victory after falling to Tomas Behrand, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2). The doubles match between Burgsmuller and Behrand and Gonzalez and Rios was postponed.

Germany is without its top player, Australian Open finalist Rainer Schuettler, who is battling a viral infection but hopes to play later this week.

This was the seventh time in the 26-year history of this event that weather forced play to be moved indoors.

Eight teams are divided into two round-robin groups. Each team plays the others in its group to determine the top team. The teams with the best records play in the final.


Wade leaves East Tennessee State

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., May 20 (UPI) -- East Tennessee State leading scorer Tiras Wade, who went on a leave of absence last season to deal with personal issues, is leaving the program.

"After having multiple discussions with Tiras, it became clear to me that it was in the best interest of both parties to allow Tiras a chance at a fresh start," said new Coach Murray Bartow, who was hired last month.

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"In the end, my priority is to do what's best for ETSU basketball. I believe this will be the best decision for Tiras and our program here at ETSU."

A junior guard, Ward averaged 16.3 points in 18 games, including 17 starts, last season. He also was third on the team in rebounding at 5.6 per contest.


Knee surgery for Battie

BOSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Veteran backup center Tony Battie of the Boston Celtics has had successful surgery on his right knee.

A report by the Boston Globe said the procedure was done at New England Hospital on May 15 and was performed by Dr. Arnold Scheller.

The report said Battie's recovery would take 4-6 weeks, and that he had been hampered by knee problems throughout the season. The Globe also said he needed to take time off after back-to-back games, and could not complete stretches of four games in five nights.

"Something does have to get done when the season's over with because it doesn't look like it's going to get better on rehab alone," the Globe quoted Battie as saying after Boston was swept in four games by New Jersey in the semifinal rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

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In 67 games this season, Battie averaged 7.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1997 draft, when he was No. 1 by the Denver Nuggets.

In 378 career games with the Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Celtics, Battie has averaged 7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest.


Stringer family settles with doctor

MINNEAPOLIS, May 20 (UPI) -- The family of Korey Stringer, a Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle who died in training camp in 2001, has reached an out-of-court settlement.

The amount of the settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against the team's doctor was undisclosed.

Stringer's widow, Kelci, filed the lawsuit against the team and Dr. David Knowles of the Mankato (Minn.) Clinic after her husband's death, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

Kelci Stringer alleged that her husband was a victim of poor medical treatment on the two days prior to his death from heat stroke on Aug. 1, 2001.

He became ill after a practice session two days before he died. Knowles had coordinated the Vikings' medical care during that training camp.

The suit against Knowles was settled Monday morning, according to a statement by Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson.

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The statement said the suit was resolved to the "mutual satisfaction" of both sides, but Kelci Stringer's attorney, James Gould, said the case is not yet over, as the fight against the team continues.

Larson threw out the claims against the team last month, but his ruling is being appealed.

"The settling of the claims with Knowles and the clinic in no way changes our emphasis on our appeal against the Vikings," Gould told the newspaper. "Obviously, we felt it was appropriate to settle this with Knowles and the clinic, you know, pretty much because they were the only ones who were kept in the case by the judge."

A trial on the lawsuit against Knowles had been set to begin on June 9.


Sheffield NL Player of the Week

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- Atlanta Braves outfielder Gary Sheffield, a driving force behind baseball's hottest team, on Monday was named National League Player of the Week.

Sheffield helped the Braves to a 6-1 record for the week as he batted .461 (12-for-26) with two homers and 12 RBI. He also compiled a .769 slugging percentage and .515 on-base percentage.

Sparked by Sheffield, who leads the major leagues with a .361 batting average, the Braves have won 27 of their last 32 games and own baseball's best record at 31-13. Sheffield also leads the NL in slugging percentage (.653) and is second in on-base percentage (.446).

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Spiezio named AL Player of the Week

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- Anaheim first baseman Scott Spiezio, who helped take series from Boston and New York Yankees, on Monday was named American League Player of the Week.

Spiezio led the major leagues with a 1.048 slugging percentage and a .577 on-base percentage as the Angels went 4-2 on their six-game road trip. He batted .476 (10-for-21) with four runs scored, 22 total bases, four doubles, a triple, two homers and seven RBI on the trip.

Spiezio matched a career best with two homers and collected a career-high five RBI in Tuesday's 10-3 win at Yankee Stadium. He was 4-for-4 the following night in a 5-3 win, tying a career high for hits in a game.


Bethel transfering to N.C. State

RALEIGH, N.C., May 20 (UPI) -- Point guard Tony Bethel, who played for Georgetown last season, has decided to transfer to North Carolina State.

The 6-2, 170-pound native of Fort Washington, Md., started all 34 games for the Hoyas in the 2002-03 campaign. Georgetown went 19-15 last season, losing the title game of the National Invitation Tournament to Big East rival St. John's.

Bethel's father, Darnell, told the Washington Post that both he and his son were comfortable with the school and its coach, Herb Sendek.

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Bethel was granted his release from Georgetown on May 9. He averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest last season, and started 52 of 58 games in his two-year career at Georgetown.

He will sit out the 2003-04 season to meet NCAA transfer rules, but will have two years of eligibility remaining.

N.C. State was the only school he visited, and when he becomes eligible, he will be reunited with former high school teammate Levi Watkins. The two played together at Rockville (Md.) Montrose Christian.


Georgia Tech names new women's coach

ATLANTA, May 20 (UPI) -- Georgia Tech on Monday named MaChelle Joseph as its new women's basketball coach.

The Yellow Jackets' top assistant the last two seasons is replacing Agnus Berenato, who became coach at Pittsburgh after 15 seasons at Georgia Tech.

Joseph, 33, will have plenty of talent on hand to work with at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets return four starters from last season's team that posted a 20-11 record and reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history.

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