By PETE YOUNG, Times wires
Published June 10, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Bob Knight agreed to a three-year contract extension that keeps him at Texas Tech until 2009.
Athletic director Gerald Myers said Wednesday the deal probably will be signed next week. Knight's contract pays him $250,000 a year and runs through May 2006.
Knight needs 48 victories to overtake Dean Smith (879) as the winningest basketball coach in Division I. Knight has led Texas Tech to three consecutive seasons of at least 20 wins.
ARKANSAS: Lawyers for Nolan Richardson asked a federal judge to award the fired coach $8.86-million in his discrimination lawsuit against the university.
SOUTH FLORIDA: The school is considering an offer to participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Syracuse Carrier Dome, coach Robert McCullum said. The season-opening event is expanding from eight to 16 teams, with Kentucky, Syracuse, Cal and Duke hosting four-team minitournaments Nov. 11-12. Winners advance to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 18-19.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: BCS plans to add game
The Bowl Championship Series won't announce details of its new system until today, but the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times reported on a plan that calls for five BCS bowl games to be played at the four existing sites: the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange. The five-into-four format, which is being called double-hosting, resulted from a desire to appease non-BCS conferences by approving a fifth game. Starting in 2006, one of the major bowls will host both the added game and the championship game, which will be played 7-10 days later. Officials declined comment because university presidents have not formally approved the plan.
TENNIS: Dokic ousted in England
Jelena Dokic was upset at the DFS grass-court tournament in Birmingham, England, losing 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the second round to Shenay Perry, a U.S. qualifier ranked 88th. Also ousted were top-seeded Nadia Petrova and Daniela Hantuchova, a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist. Dokic, seeded fifth, won this Wimbledon tuneup in 2002 and was a Wimbledon semifinalist four years ago.
MEN: French Open finalist Guillermo Coria lost 6-2, 6-2 at Queen's Club in London to Lu Yen-hsun, ranked 102nd and playing his first ATP Tour match this season. French semifinalist Tim Henman was eliminated by Karol Beck 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-6) after holding a match point.
OLYMPICS: U.S. women's soccer gets a tough draw
The good news for the U.S. women's team is it should have no trouble reaching the quarterfinals in Greece. The bad news: The Americans must play an extra game. Ten teams were put into three groups. The United States was grouped with Brazil, Australia and Greece, and the other groups have three teams apiece. Teams in the U.S. group must play three games in seven days to complete the first round. Teams in other groups play twice in seven days.
ET CETERA
CYCLING: Lance Armstrong finished ninth to remain in fourth place in the Dauphine Libere, a tuneup for his attempt at a sixth straight Tour de France title. Nicolas Portal won the hilly third stage that ended in Aubenas, France.
TRACK AND FIELD: The International Association of Athletics Federations said it acknowledged Stacy Dragila's feat as the best outdoor mark, it shouldn't count as a world record. The IAAF recognizes the best indoor or outdoor performance as the record. Dragila, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist, cleared 15 feet, 10 inches at Tuesday's Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic. Yelena Isinbayeva has cleared 15 feet, 111/4 inside.
