FanFare 2/8/03

Baseball

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned down a bid by former umpire Eric Gregg to revive a lawsuit against baseball that claimed he was fired because of a disability.

Gregg, who battled a weight problem throughout his 23 years as a National League umpire, claimed he was discriminated against illegally due to a disability under the Pennsylvania Human Rights Act. Gregg was among the 22 umpires who lost their jobs 3 1/2 years ago following a failed mass resignation.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Jesus Colome was questioned by police Friday after he was involved in a wreck in Dominican Republic that killed three women in another car.

Colome, who was only slightly injured, was driving a sports utility vehicle Thursday night when he collided with the car, Juan Dolio Police Chief Fernando Medrano said.

Colome was still in police custody Friday.

College

A judge issued an order Thursday for University of Missouri basketball player Ricky Clemons to have no contact for a year with the woman who accused him of choking her last month.

Associate Boone County Circuit Judge Chris Kelly granted the order requested by Jessica Bunge, 20, of St. Clair, after Clemons' attorney, Wally Bley, consented to it. Bley said Clemons denies the allegations in the petition.

Clemons, 22, was charged with second-degree domestic assault after Bunge accused him of choking her and preventing her from leaving his apartment the evening of Jan. 16.

Hockey

The slumping Carolina Hurricanes traded two-time All-Star Sami Kapanen to the Philadelphia Flyers for 1999 first-round draft pick Pavel Brendl on Friday.

The defending Eastern Conference champions have lost 22 of 28 games and are 10 points out of a playoff spot with 28 games left.

Two minor leaguers were also involved in the deal. The Flyers got defenseman Ryan Bast, while Carolina acquired defenseman Bruno St. Jacques.