Sports briefs 4/19/05

Baseball

The spectator who interfered with New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield had his season tickets for 2005 revoked Monday by the Boston Red Sox.

A fan who spilled beer on Sheffield was prohibited from buying tickets for the rest of the season.

Boston acted after a four-day investigation following the play last Thursday night at Fenway Park in which Sheffield was chasing a ball along the low right-field wall that Jason Varitek hit for a triple.

The season ticket holder, Chris House, reached over the 3-foot high fence, and Sheffield said he was struck in the face. Sheffield picked up the ball, pushed House, then threw the ball to the infield. Sheffield turned toward House but did not make contact with him again as a security guard jumped over the wall and stood between House and Sheffield.

Major league baseball also is investigating. The name of the other spectator has not been released.

Boston said House would receive full reimbursement when he returns his 2005 tickets. The club said it will consider reinstating his tickets after this season.

Colleges

* Valparaiso center Kenny Harris remained unconscious and in critical condition Monday, a week after he collapsed while lifting weights.

The 6-foot-10, 300-pound sophomore had battled weight and health problems since he came to Valparaiso from nearby Griffith High School in 2003, when he was an Indiana All-Star and runner-up for the state's Mr. Basketball award.

* Saint Louis University has tapped Arizona assistant Yeshimbra "Shimmy" Gray to be the Billikens' new women's basketball coach, the school said Monday.

The 33-year-old Gray, who spent two seasons with the Wildcats after three seasons as an assistant at Washington, will be introduced Tuesday in St. Louis.

* Matt Doherty's relationship with Florida Atlantic began a couple weeks ago, when he called to recommend Rex Walters to fill the school's vacant men's basketball coaching job.

They ignored his advice.

The Owls wanted Doherty -- and the former North Carolina coach decided it was time to return to work.

Doherty was hired Monday as Florida Atlantic's coach, starting over two years after he resigned from North Carolina. Doherty, a former national coach of the year, replaces Sidney Green, who was fired last month after three consecutive losing seasons, including a 10-17 mark this year.

Cycling

* Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton was suspended Monday from competitive cycling for two years for a blood-doping violation discovered at a race in September.

The suspension was handed down by the independent American Arbitration Association-North American Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He can return to competition April 17, 2007, but he forfeits all competitive results since Sept. 11, 2004, the day of the positive test at the Spanish Vuelta.