Sports digest 10/5/01

Israel-Austria soccer match postponedZURICH, Switzerland -- The World Cup qualifier between Israel and Austria was postponed Thursday by soccer's governing body, citing the crash of a charter flight from Tel Aviv.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter said the "tragic event" forced the federation's emergency committee to put off Sunday's scheduled match in Tel Aviv.

No makeup date was announced immediately.

The game will determine which team advances to a playoff against Turkey for a spot in the World Cup. Austria (4-1-2) is in second place in Group 7, and Israel (3-2-2) is third. First-place Spain already clinched a berth in next year's tournament.

On Monday, FIFA denied Austria's request to move the match because of security fears. The next day, nine Austrian players said they wouldn't go to the game.

"It was and is my opinion that it is simply too dangerous in Israel," player Cristian Mayreleb told Austrian news agency APA. "FIFA came to the same conclusion, but late."

A Russian chartered airliner heading from Israel to Siberia exploded Thursday and crashed off the Black Sea coast with at least 76 people on board.

Browns' Warren fined $35,000 for hit on QB

The NFL delivered its own hard shot on Gerard Warren, and this one wasn't cheap.

Cleveland's rookie defensive tackle was fined $35,000 for his hit on Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell in the Browns' victory over the Jaguars on Sunday.

Warren was fined by the league for hitting Brunell "in the most dangerous possible way."

"I was just doing my job," Warren countered.

The league didn't think so, and also fined three Jaguars for their actions in that game: linebacker Kevin Hardy $10,000 for stepping on quarterback Tim Couch's hand; and Sean Dawkins and Damon Jones $5,000 each for taunting.

And the league, which is cracking down on rough play this season, fined Oakland linebacker Elijah Alexander one game paycheck for his hit on Seahawks quarterback Trent Dilfer last weekend.

On the Jaguars' first play from scrimmage, Warren leveled Brunell from the side after the quarterback tried to the flip the ball to running back Stacey Mack.

The ball bounced off Mack and was intercepted by Browns defensive end Orpheus Roye.

In announcing the ruling, the league said Warren was fined "for both unnecessary contact on a passer after a change of possession and unnecessary roughness."

NFL fines nine Rams for uniform violations

ST. LOUIS -- The NFL has fined nine members of the St. Louis Rams $5,000 each for violating the league's uniform rules during last weekend's 42-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.

The league fined fullback James Hodgins, cornerback Dexter McCleon, and safeties Adam Archuleta, Kim Herring and Rich Coady for wearing socks either too high or too low.

"My socks were too high," Herring said. "I'm going to appeal it. I got fined for something last year and I appealed and got my money back. It just takes a month and a half, that's the only problem."

The league's uniform code requires players to wear their socks so that the white part rests at a player's mid-calf.

Wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and defensive backs Dre' Bly and Jacoby Shepherd, received fines for wearing pants that failed to cover their knees.

Duran seriously injured in auto accident

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Former boxing champion Roberto Duran was seriously injured when the car in which he was a passenger crashed on a Buenos Aires highway early Thursday, a hospital spokesman said.

Duran's injuries include a collapsed lung and several broken ribs, the spokesman said. The 50-year Panamanian, who held four world titles, was riding with two Argentine reporters and his son Roberto, 27, who had minor injuries.

The Argentines, Oscar Ruiz Dias and Luis Gimenez, were more seriously hurt, the spokesman said. Ruiz Diaz showed signs of internal bleeding and was in a coma. Gimenez broke several ribs.

Known as "Hands of Stone, Duran has fought at least once every year -- except 1985 -- since 1967. He has a 104-16 career record.

Spencer wins pole for UAW-GM Quality 500

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jimmy Spencer, looking for a strong close to his tenure with Haas-Carter Motorsports, took the first step Thursday night by winning the pole for the UAW-GM Quality 500.

Spencer, who last week said he was leaving the team after seven years, ran a lap around Lowe's Motor Speedway at 185.147 mph to take the top spot for Sunday's race.

He'll start on the front row alongside Todd Bodine, his teammate for just eight more races. Bodine turned a lap at 184.489 to put the Fords in the top two spots for the second time this season.

-- From wire reports