FanFare 4/17/03

Briefly

Baseball

A man who ran onto the field and attacked an umpire during a game between the Royals and the White Sox was charged with felony aggravated battery Wednesday. Eric Dybas also was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing for attacking first base umpire Laz Diaz at the end of the eighth inning in Tuesday night's game at Comiskey Park.

Giants closer Robb Nen will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right shoulder Friday in Los Angeles. Nen has been on the disabled list since opening day.

Colleges

The University of Kansas received permission to speak with Illinois basketball coach Bill Self about the coaching vacancy opened when Roy Williams left for North Carolina earlier this week. Kansas officials did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press. Chancellor Robert Hemenway has said the school plans to hire a new coach quickly.

Texas star point guard T.J. Ford was taken to a hospital emergency room by ambulance Wednesday after an incident during a pickup basketball game at a campus gym. Ford was checked into St. David's Hospital near campus about 6 p.m. Wednesday, where he was being examined by emergency room doctors. Texas coach Rick Barnes came out of Ford's emergency room about 7:15 p.m.

University of Kansas school officials lodged a formal complaint, seeking to stop former coach Roy Williams from engaging in what they fear may be a subtle attempt to lure away two blue chip prospects. Williams, who announced on Monday he was leaving the Jayhawks for North Carolina, denied he was trying to coax anyone into seeking relief from their Kansas commitment.

St. Louis signed 6-9 forward Tom Frericks of Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla.., to a national letter of intent Wednesday, hoping he'll step in for two departed inside players.

Football

Linebacker Junior Seau joined the Dolphins after passing a physical, completing a long-anticipated trade with the San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins sent a conditional 2004 draft choice to San Diego in return for Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection.

Super Bowl hero Dwight Smith of the Buccaneers was arrested and charged with brandishing a handgun at another motorist. Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2001, returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl victory over the Raiders in January. A backup cornerback in 2002, he is expected to become the starting free safety next season.

The Bears released wide receiver Marcus Robinson after 52 games over five seasons. Robinson was a starter in 28 of those games.

Skating

U.S. Figure Skating Association president Phyllis Howard announced that she won't seek re-election next month. In a letter posted on the USFSA Web site, Howard said she asked last month not to be considered. Criticized by some for not doing enough to promote U.S. interests in the International Skating Union, Howard said she doesn't want to cause any more problems for the already beleaguered sport.

Verbatim

Kirk Bohls of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman, on Kansas' search for Roy Williams' replacement as men's basketball coach: "Mess up this hire, and the Kansas chancellor can head to Kinko's with his resume. But don't shed a tear for Roy. He'll be spilling plenty of those himself."

On the air

GolfAlgarve Open de Portugal, 9 a.m., TGC

The Heritage Classic, 3 p.m., USA

High school baseballJackson at Sikeston, 4 p.m., KAPE-1550

MLB

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 1:10 p.m., WGN

NHL playoffsBoston at New Jersey, 6 p.m., ESPN

Edmonton at Dallas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

n CHARTER CABLE KEY:CNBC (ch. 53), ESPN (42), ESPN2 (43), Lifetime (49)Fox-Midwest (45), Fox-Central (352), Fox-Pacific (353), Fox-Sunshine (351), Fox-World (350), FX(50), Golf Channel (46), KBSI (9), KFVS (7), MSNBC (55), Outdoors (38), Outdoor Life Network (74), Oxygen (75), Speed Channel (44), TNT (48), WDKA (17), WPSD (6), WQWQ (33), WSIL (3). Listings and times are provided by the networks and individual stations and are subject to change.

Area events

College women's tennisMurray State at Southeast, 2 p.m.

College track & fieldSoutheast at Kansas Relays

High school baseballCentral at Trojan Classic, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Jackson at Sikeston, 4 p.m.

Bloomfield at Oran, 4 p.m.

Zalma at Meadow Heights, 4 p.m.

Woodland at Bell City, 4 p.m.

Bernie at Leopold, 4:15 p.m.

Windsor at Perryville, 4:30 p.m.

High school softballPortageville at Scott City, 4 p.m.

Bloomfield at Oran, 4 p.m.

Woodland at Bell City, 4 p.m.

Bernie at Leopold, 4:15 p.m.

High school girls' soccerCentral at Marion, Ill., 4 p.m.

St. Vincent at Perryville, 4 p.m.

High school track & fieldCentral at Sikeston, 4 p.m.

Perryville boys at Herculaneum Invitational, 3:30 p.m.

High school girls' swimming

Central at Lafayette, 5 p.m.