Gators cheerleading coach terminated over T-shirt flap
By wire services
Published August 14, 2004
GAINESVILLE - Florida's cheerleading coach was fired after he gave the squad permission to wear sexually explicit T-shirts at a cheerleading camp.
Gene Moore, 39, said he was unfairly terminated for allowing squad members to wear the shirt that listed "10 Reasons to Cheer Naked." He was fired after the University Athletic Association received complaints. The firing leaves the squad without a coach three weeks before the first football game. Practices were temporarily suspended. Moore had been coach for five years, making $19,000 last year.
The squad was at a camp this week in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when a couple of cheerleaders distributed the shirts for Spirit Day. "Yes, I was aware of it and, yes, it was a mistake," Moore said. "I don't feel like firing me over it after I've put in five years was justified."
FSU SOCCER: Junior forward Leah Gallegos, who led the women's team to the national semifinals last season, was named a first team All-American.
N.C. STATE: North Carolina State reassigned assistant strength coach C.J. Hunter due to his connection with the BALCO investigation of steroid use by track and field athletes, including his ex-wife, Marion Jones.
NHL: Niedermayer gets $7M
Defenseman Scott Niedermayer of New Jersey was awarded a record-tying $7-million contract for next season by an arbitrator Friday. The award matches the $7-million given to Philadelphia forward John LeClair in 2000. Niedermayer had 14 goals and 40 assists, and averaged nearly 26 minutes of ice time last season. The Devils also signed eight free agents, including center Pascal Rheaume and goaltenders Scott Clemmensen and Ari Ahonen.
SABRES: Forward Daniel Briere, 26, was awarded a one-year, $2.55-million deal by an arbitrator. He earned $1.6-million last year.
SHARKS: Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a two-year deal worth more than $8.8-million shortly before his hearing was to begin.
ET CETERA
TENNIS: French Open champion Anastasia Myskina left the Idea Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland, without explanation before her semifinal, forfeiting to Klara Koukalova. The match was washed out along with the entire day's program.
SOCCER: Spanish power Real Madrid acquired English striker Michael Owen from Liverpool in a deal reported by the British media at about $18-million. Owen teams with superstar David Beckham to add further dazzle to one of the most glamorous clubs in the world. ... Dallas' MLS franchise is changing its name from the Burn to FC Dallas after the season. FC is short for Football Club.
NBA: Detroit re-signed veteran guard Lindsey Hunter. HORSES: Bounding Charm took command at the quarter pole and drew off in the stretch to win the Waya Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
