Stories from Wednesday, January 1, 2003

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team has beaten every squad in the Ohio Valley Conference this season, and that gives the Otahkians hope in the OVC Tournament. The six-team, three-day, double-elimination event begins today on the campus of OVC regular-season champion and top seed Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Some people still blink when his coach calls Ken Dorsey the one irreplaceable cog in the Miami machine. His roommate, Brett Romberg, understands why. Nobody looks less like a star quarterback than Dorsey. Even Romberg describes his close pal as a geek, the opposite of how the biggest man on campus is supposed to look, dress and behave...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Miami is well aware of the expectations: Beat Ohio State easily for the national title, then go for a third straight championship and college football's longest winning streak next season. Not so fast, Miami center Brett Romberg says...

Briefly Baseball Roger Clemens and Greg Swindell each pitched a scoreless inning for the Alumni team in a 3-0 loss to the Texas varsity Saturday. Clemens, the six-time AL Cy Young winner, struck out one in the top of the first inning. ...

Briefly Baseball The mayors of Portland, Ore., and the District of Columbia, and the Virginia attorney general lead delegations this week trying to convince baseball officials the Montreal Expos should move to their areas. Portland Mayor Vera Katz leads off this morning, followed by the Northern Virginia group and Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore later today. ...

Briefly Baseball A federal judge ruled that an attempt by baseball owners to discipline umpires union head John Hirschbeck is not subject to arbitration. Hirschbeck was sent a warning letter last May 10 by the commissioner's office, saying that during an April 28 game in Cincinnati he told plate umpire Mark Carlson not to issue a warning to Cincinnati's Gabe White after a pitch sailed over the head of San Francisco's Barry Bonds. ...

Briefly Baseball Infielder Ron Coomer reached agreement with the Dodgers on a minor league contract Thursday and was invited to spring training. An AL All-Star with Twins in 1999, Coomer spent last season with the Yankees, hitting .264 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 148 at-bats over 55 games. He played first base, third base and was a designated hitter...

Baseball Comiskey Park's name is being changed to U.S. Cellular Field under a deal that will pay the White Sox $68 million over 20 years. White Sox spokesman Scott Reifert said the team intended to announce more details at a news conference Monday. The agreement with U.S. Cellar Corp. is for 23 years. The White Sox have played at the current Comiskey Park since 1991. It replaced old Comiskey Park, across the street, the team's home from 1910 through 1990...

Briefly Baseball Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew, already rehabbing a surgically repaired knee, has had a cyst removed from the ball of his left foot. Drew had the cyst taken off Friday during a "minor surgical procedure," Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Saturday. ...

Briefly Baseball Left fielder Pat Burrell and the Phillies have agreed on a $50 million, six-year contract, in the latest big move by the team this offseason. Coming off a 14th losing season in 16 years, the Phillies have been one of the most aggressive teams, signing first baseman Jim Thome and third baseman David Bell and trading for pitcher Kevin Millwood.. ...

Briefly Baseball Former National League MVP Ken Caminiti was ordered to a state-run drug treatment facility Tuesday, giving him another chance to avoid jail time for cocaine use. Caminiti tested positive for cocaine use last week, prompting prosecutors to request his probation on a drug conviction be revoked...

Briefly Baseball David Justice announced his retirement on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio Thursday afternoon. Justice, who was a key player during the Atlanta Braves' dominance in the 1990s, ended his career after playing with four different teams. He won World Series titles with the Braves in 1995 and the New York Yankees in 2000...

Briefly Baseball Right-hander Terry Adams avoided arbitration by signing a $2.9 million, one-year deal with the Phillies on Monday. Adams was 7-9 with a 4.35 ERA in 46 appearances in his first season with the Phillies last year...

Briefly Baseball Florida left-hander Mark Redman became the first player to win in salary arbitration this year, getting a raise from $300,000 to $2.15 million on Tuesday instead of the $1.8 million the Marlins had wanted...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team knocked 12 strokes off its opening day round by shooting a 304 Tuesday, but after two days of the three-day Ohio Valley Conference tournament the Indians were seventh out of nine teams...

MIAMI -- Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer played keepaway from Brad Banks, and Southern California looked right at home playing in the Orange Bowl for the first time. Palmer dominated his duel with Heisman runner-up Banks, helping the No. 5 Trojans to a 16-minute advantage in time of possession as they beat third-ranked Iowa 38-17 Thursday night...