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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 13, 2001
Doctor says he spoke too soon
The physician who said a faulty seat belt might have been responsible for Dale Earnhardt's death at the Daytona 500 admits he was quick in blaming the restraint system.
"I was trying to answer the questions the media and the public had to the best of my ability and I think I speculated more than I should have," Dr. Steve Bohannon told the News-Journal of Daytona Beach. "Sometimes you should just say it's too early to speculate."
Bohannon, the director of emergency medical services at Daytona International Speedway, withdrew his assumption after a court-appointed medical expert said restraint failure didn't play a role in Earnhardt's death Feb. 18.
Dr. Barry Myers, a Duke University professor who made his report public this week after looking at Earnhardt's autopsy photos late last month, is "more qualified to determine the cause of death," Bohannon said.
Myers' report was the culmination of an agreement between the Orlando Sentinel and Earnhardt's widow, Teresa.
Five days after the crash, Bohannon raised the theory of a faulty seat belt system as a possible reason why the seven-time Winston Cup champion died. At the time, Bohannon, 43, was the only doctor to see the racer's autopsy photos.
SOCCER: Mutiny defender Chris Houser, who must have surgery for colitis, came to an agreement with MLS to terminate his contract. "I've been trying to avoid surgery,, Houser said, "but the only cure for colitis is to have the colon removed, so that's what I need to do." ... DeMarcus Beasley of the Chicago Fire signed a contact extension with MLS through 2005.
TENNIS: The man convicted of stalking Martina Hingis was sentenced to two years in jail, his attorney said. Dubravko Rajcevic, 46, will serve less than one more year in the Dade County Jail after he was given credit for time served since being arrested after last year's Ericsson Open in Miami, attorney Frank Abrams said. ... Andre Agassi pulled out of next week's Monte Carlo Masters Series tournament. Agassi and his managers cited exhaustion as the reason for the withdrawl, ATP spokesperson Rebecka Hjorth said. ... Elena Dementieva beat Elena Likhovtseva 6-4, 6-2 at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, despite an injured heel. Her status for today's quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, a 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3 winner against Lisa Raymond, was undetermined. ... Third-seeded Dominik Hrbaty advanced to the quarterfinals of the $625,000 Estoril Open with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Jan Siemerink in Oerias, Portugal.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Alabama linebacker Marvin Constant quit the team because of lingering knee problems.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Blaine Taylor, who had consistent success at Montana before spending the past three seasons as an assistant at Stanford, was hired as coach at Old Dominion. ... McNeese State named former Memphis coach Tic Price its new coach. ... Detroit Mercy guard Rashad Phillips was named winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the nation's top senior player shorter than 6 feet.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Darren Truty struck out 14 in eight innings, leading Jacksonville past host FAMU 8-3.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Junior college All-American Courtney Cooper signed a letter of intent to play for UF.
HORSE RACING: Officials ruled the drowning death of trainer John Tammaro in a roadside canal was an accident.