Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
SWIMMING PHELPS WINS GOLD AT SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Michael Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships last night, giving the world’s best swimmer a chance to equal the six gold medals he won at the Athens Olympics.
Phelps touched the wall first in 1 minute, 43.59 seconds. Rick Say of Canada was second in 1:44.39. Olympian Ryan Lochte of Daytona Beach, Fla., was third in 1:44.97.Phelps and Say recorded the fastest times in the world this year in the 25-meter pool.
Phelps finished third in the 200 free at the Olympics, one of two bronze medals he won. The Olympics are swum in a 50-meter pool.
The 19-year-old from Baltimore is entered in the 200 butterfly and the 100, 200 and 400 individual medleys. He is expected to swim some relays, too.
THOMPSON ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RETIRE
Jenny Thompson, who owns an American-best career total of 12 Olympic medals, will retire after the World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis, the city where her international career began in 1987. That year, Thompson was a 14-year-old competing in the Pan American Games, winning two golds and a bronze.
Now Thompson will trade in the pool for a career in medicine. She’s set to return to medical school at Columbia University next Tuesday, the day after the meet ends.
BASEBALL
SOSA FINED ONE DAY’S PAY FOR LEAVING GAME EARLY
Sammy Sosa was fined $87,400 – one day’s salary – for arriving late to the Cubs’ regular-season finale at Wrigley Field and leaving the game early. The slugger’s agent said yesterday that Sosa most likely will file a grievance.
Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday’s first pitch, and he apparently left 15 minutes after the game started without putting on his uniform, according to security cameras in the Wrigley Field parking lot. Sosa told the Chicago Sun-Times he was in the clubhouse until the seventh inning.
Sosa has said he was tired of manager Dusty Baker blaming him for the Cubs’ failures. The episode follows an injury-plagued season in which Sosa batted just .253 with 35 homers and 85 RBI, leading to speculation the Cubs will try to trade him.
PHILLIES START INTERVIEWING MANAGERS
The Philadelphia Phillies are wasting no time trying to replace Larry Bowa, setting up interviews with former managers Don Baylor, Charlie Manuel, and Grady Little for next week.
Baylor, who managed Colorado and the Chicago Cubs, will be interviewed on Tuesday. Manuel, who led Cleveland to a division title three years ago, will come in Wednesday. Little, fired by Boston after last season’s playoff loss to the Yankees, gets his turn Thursday.
Bowa was fired Saturday, one day before the Phillies finished a disappointing, injury-plagued season with an 86-76 record.
HOCKEY
FOUR-ON-FOUR SERIES WILL TOUR QUEBEC
Three teams of locked-out NHL players will play for free while touring the province of Quebec in a four-on-four hockey series from which all proceeds will be donated to children’s charities.
The 32-stop tour, which will not allow hitting or fighting, is being funded by sponsors. Fans will pay $20 per ticket. The tour’ s first stop is October 23 in Sorel, Quebec.
The tour is being organized by Joel Bouchard of the Rangers. Jose Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens and Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers will suit up for one team. Another squad features Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers, Alex Tanguay of the Colorado Avalanche, and Columbus goalie Marc Denis. A third squad includes Minnesota’s Alexandre Daigle and Anaheim goaltender J.S. Giguere.
Teams will dress 12 players and play 20-minute games in a round-robin tournament style at each stop.
FOOTBALL
LEWIS PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGE
Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty yesterday to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug deal and will be sentenced to four months in prison, to be served after the regular season ends in January.
Lewis could still be suspended this season by the NFL, which said yesterday it would have no immediate decision on any punishment. Even if Lewis is suspended by the league, he has five days to appeal, so he’ll probably play Sunday night against Washington.
– Associated Press