In brief

Victim: Bertuzzi should sit longer

By wire services
Published April 27, 2005

NEW YORK - Todd Bertuzzi got his chance to tell the NHL why it should allow him to play hockey again.

Steve Moore, who might never play again because of the vicious hit Bertuzzi dealt him, believes the Vancouver Canucks forward hasn't sat out long enough.

Bertuzzi, who landed a blindside punch to Moore's head in a game nearly 14 months ago, had his long-awaited reinstatement hearing with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Tuesday. Yet the league is not going to rush into a decision on whether to let him back on the ice.

Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely following the hit on March 8, 2004. Moore, who was playing with the Colorado Avalanche, was left with a broken neck, a concussion and no guarantee that he'll be able to play professional hockey again.

Sisi Hedges of Mulberry sank a 5-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff with defending champion Jackie Currier of Plant City to capture the 62nd annual championship of the West Coast Women's Golf Association at Innesbrook's Island Course in Palm Harbor. Both finished at 161.

In a match of scorecards, Agnie Pielaszek of Tampa Palms won Flight AA over Terrell Italiano of Palma Ceia Golf Club after both tied with 163.

Top-seeded Carlos Moya beat Felix Mantilla 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) in the opening round of the clay-court Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal.

The top-seeded woman, Flavia Pennetta, double-faulted five times and lost 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) to qualifier Olga Savchuk.

BMW OPEN: Top-seeded David Nalbandian struggled over three sets before beating Nicolas Lapentti 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in the first round in Munich, Germany.

Second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko began the defense of his title at the clay-court tournament by defeating Jerome Haehnel 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

J&S CUP: Kim Clijsters struggled on clay courts in beating Tatiana Perebiynis 7-5, 6-7 (7-5), 6-1 in the first round in Warsaw, Poland.

WIMBLEDON: Prize money at the tournament will be $19.16-million, up 3.9 percent from last year. Total prize money for the men's singles and doubles will be $9.56-million, $8.17-million for the women. The men's singles champion will get $1.19-million, the women's $1.14-million.

Robert Hughes, 76, retired after 47 seasons and more wins than any other prep, college or pro basketball coach in the country. Hughes, who led Fort Worth (Texas) Dunbar to 30 consecutive playoff appearances, finished his career with 1,333 wins, 264 losses and five state championships.

FOOTBALL: Canton (Texas) High football coach Joe Kinne has been released from the hospital, a spokesman said. According to police, Kinne was critically injured April 7 at the school's field house when Jeffrey Robertson, father of a Canton player, shot him in the abdomen.

AUTO RACING: NASCAR denied the appeals of team owner James Finch, driver Johnny Sauter and crew chief Joel Shear for having an illegal carburetor, discovered after the Busch series race April 16 at Texas Motor Speedway. The car, which finished 14th, was disqualified. Shear was suspended for four races and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

CYCLING: Former world champion and top Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini announced his retirement.

[Last modified April 27, 2005, 00:48:18]