STILL GOING: Don't feel sorry for Blaine Wilson. At least not yet.
The five-time U.S. Gymnastics national champion is determined to make his third Olympic team despite tearing his left biceps muscle Feb. 28.
Wilson, 29, was competing on the rings at the American Cup in New York when the muscle tore completely off the bone at the elbow.
He had surgery Tuesday to reattach the tendon.
Normal recovery time is around six months, which probably would rule Wilson out of the Athens Games and almost certainly keep him out of the U.S. Olympic trials in June. Wilson could miss the trials and still petition for a spot on the team in July.
"We've already started lobbying for a little more time," Wilson said.
"I've been on the last two Olympic teams ... hopefully USA Gymnastics will work with me on this one."
Wilson was the national champion from 1996-2000 and was a member of the U.S. team that won a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships.
DAILY DOUBLE: For Gail Devers, one final hurdle remains.
Well, actually, there are several hurdles.
Devers could pull off a historic sweep today by winning the 60-meter hurdles at the indoor world championships in Budapest, Hungary. She is the defending world champion.
Devers won the 60-meter sprint Friday and, at 37, is seeking to become the first double winner in event history.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Devers became the first runner in more than 30 years to sweep the two races at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships last month. At the national meet, she had to run both events on the same day.
The world indoor championships will be broadcast by Fox Sports Net next weekend.
PAGING BUD SELIG: When steroid tests conducted last season resulted in positive tests for as many as 7 percent of the Major League Baseball players participating, baseball officials said it was evidence there was not a widespread problem.
By comparison, the United States Anti-Doping Agency recently announced its figures for 2003. Of the 1,378 tests conducted in the final three months, six showed potential steroid involvement. That would be about 0.4 percent.
PASSING THE BUCK: The folks at USA Boxing aren't afraid to make a tough decision. They are, however, a bit worried about standing behind it.
Winter Haven's Andre Berto, the nation's No.1-ranked welterweight, will not make the Olympic team after weeks of waffling by USA officials.
Berto was originally disqualified by a referee after pushing his opponent to the canvas during an Olympic trials qualifier.
Berto was reinstated after an appeal but then had the appeal reversed. Later, USA Boxing decided to re-draw the entire welterweight class. That decision, also, was eventually reversed.
The issue finally was resolved by an arbitrator, who upheld the disqualification.
Vanes Martirosyan, who was not ranked in the nation's top 10 welterweights at the end of last year, eventually won the trials. He must reach the finals of the Americas Qualifier in Mexico this month to earn a spot in Athens.
SOFTBALL DOWNS USF: USF pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis held the U.S. softball team hitless until the fourth inning, but Crystal Bustos had a two-run double in the sixth, and the Olympians won 3-0 Saturday in Clearwater in front of 1,900.
Lisa Fernandez had seven strikeouts and only gave up one hit in six innings for the United States, playing in its "Aiming for Athens" tour. Lori Harrigan retired the Bulls in order in the seventh.
- Compiled by John Romano from staff and wire reports.
