FanFare 10/16/03

Briefly

Basketballn Kobe Bryant's accuser showed up for her rape exam wearing panties containing another man's sperm, a startling discovery that defense lawyers called "compelling evidence" the NBA star is innocent. But Bryant's preliminary hearing ended with prosecutors telling a judge there was "uncontradicted" evidence that the Lakers' guard raped the 19-year-old woman. Judge Frederick Gannett said he hoped to rule by Monday whether Bryant will have to stand trial on a sexual assault charge that could send him to prison for life.

Bernie Bickerstaff will be the coach and general manager of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, two team sources told The Associated Press. Bickerstaff, who spent parts of 10 seasons as an NBA coach and the past year as general manager of the WNBA's Sting, will be introduced at a news conference today, the sources said on condition of anonymity. The Bobcats begin play in 2004-05, and the NBA plans to switch to six five-team divisions for the season as the Bobcats become the league's 30th team. They will replace the Hornets, who moved to New Orleans last year after 14 seasons in Charlotte. The 58-year-old Bickerstaff was an NBA head coach with the SuperSonics, the Nuggets, and the Wizards, compiling a record of 338-348 (.493). He was NBA Coach of the Year for the 1986-87 season after leading Seattle to the Western Conference finals.

Hornets guard Courtney Alexander is expected to miss the entire regular season with a ruptured right Achilles' tendon and is scheduled for surgery today. He was hurt in an exhibition game at Orlando on Tuesday night.

Collegesn Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons, the nation's leading passer who slightly twisted his knee last week after celebrating a touchdown pass, vowed he'll be 100 percent for Saturday's game at Oklahoma State. Symons said he "landed a little funny" after jumping to give a high five to Wes Welker after a TD pass in Tech's 52-21 win over Iowa State. But he returned to the game on the next series after trainers placed a brace on it. Symons, who has passed for 2,954 yards and 27 touchdowns, sat out Sunday's practice. His leg appeared to be bothering him on the team's off day Monday; he walked gingerly at the weekly news conference. But he returned to practice Tuesday.

Texas' Annissa Hastings will miss this basketball season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon, coach Jody Conradt said. Hastings, a senior forward, was hurt Monday during an individual workout session. She is scheduled to have surgery today. The long-term effects of the injury will be determined following surgery and a rehabilitation period, the university said. Hastings has started in 30 of her 80 career games, averaging 13 minutes per game with 2.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Footballn Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Falcons are changing quarterbacks, giving Kurt Kittner his first career start. Kittner will replace Doug Johnson when the Falcons (1-5) host the Saints (2-4) on Sunday. Johnson, who stepped in as the starter when Pro Bowler Michael Vick broke his right leg in a preseason game, leads the NFL with 10 interceptions. Kittner didn't play at all his rookie year and is just 7-for-17 for 53 yards this season. He also has thrown two interceptions, including one that was returned 74 yards for a touchdown in Monday night's 36-0 loss to the Rams. Vick did some light running while his teammates practiced, but he's still weeks away from returning. The earliest he could play would be Nov. 2 against Philadelphia.

A leg injury to quarterback Kordell Stewart means the Bears will start 16-year veteran Chris Chandler against the Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle. The exact nature of Stewart's injury to his left leg wasn't revealed. Coach Dick Jauron and Stewart merely said the leg was swollen. Stewart said the injury happened two weeks ago in the Bears' 24-21 win over Oakland while he fell out of bounds. Stewart said he aggravated it in Sunday's 20-13 loss to New Orleans. Stewart has completed 75-of-144 passes for 745 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bears who have started 1-4.

Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer is out for the next four weeks after breaking his left foot. Plummer, who missed last week's game against Pittsburgh with a shoulder injury, initially injured his foot against Kansas City on Oct. 5. The Broncos medical staff believes Plummer likely suffered a stress reaction in his foot that didn't show up on X-rays, then broke the foot at his home Monday night.

Hockeyn Blackhawks center Alex Zhamnov will have surgery on his back today and probably will miss at least six to eight weeks, team officials said. The team captain, who missed the first two weeks of training camp with what the Blackhawks described as stiffness and soreness in his back, reinjured his back in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Los Angeles, general manager Mike Smith said. Zhamnov, 33, played the final two exhibition games and the first three games of the regular season.

Tennisn Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport had surgery on her left foot in Los Angeles and will miss the rest of the season, including the WTA Championships. The operation removed a small nerve that was bothering her between two toes, according to her agent, Tony Godsick. Davenport is expected to be sidelined until December, when she should be able to return to practice, Godsick said. She plans to return to WTA Tour action in time for the Australian Open in January.

On the air

College footballClemson at N.C. State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Air Force at Colorado St., 9 p.m., ESPN2

GolfHSBC World Match Play Championship, 8:15 a.m., TGC

Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, 3 p.m., USA

High school boys soccerJackson at Central, 7 p.m., KAPE-1550

MLBBoston at N.Y. Yankees, 7 p.m., KBSI, KGIR-1220

NBACleveland at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m., TNT

NHLColorado at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

Area events

College volleyballSoutheast at Tennessee State, 7 p.m.

High school cross countrySEMO Conference Championships, Poplar Bluff, 4 p.m.

High school boys' soccerJackson at Central, 7 p.m.

High school volleyballChaffee at Portageville, 5 p.m.

Oran at Central, 7 p.m.

Jackson at Perryville, 7 p.m.

Scott City at Advance, 7 p.m.

Leopold at Meadow Heights, 7 p.m.

Clearwater at Woodland, 7 p.m.

Southern Missouri Christian at Eagle Ridge Christian, 7 p.m.

Marquand at Oak Ridge, 7:30 p.m.