Sports news briefs for July 9, 2002

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 | 10:27 a.m.

Lawyer says Williams wanted to be cremated

Ted Williams asked in his will to be cremated and have the ashes scattered over the Florida Keys, the lawyer for a daughter of the baseball great said today.

John Heer, attorney for Williams' oldest daughter, Barbara Joyce Williams Ferrell, said lawyers for Ted Williams' estate told him about the contents of the will. Heer hadn't seen the will himself.

The daughter has accused her half brother, John Henry Williams, of having their father's body frozen, perhaps to sell DNA from it. The brother has not returned repeated calls seeking comment.

The estate lawyers planned to ask a judge today or Wednesday to decide if Williams' body should be cremated or frozen, a move to try to resolve the family feud over the remains.

Brett Bodine's wife OK after flipping her car

The wife of NASCAR driver Brett Bodine was not seriously hurt after flipping her car and hitting a utility pole early Sunday morning in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Diane Bodine was "sore but OK" after the accident, Brett Bodine Racing officials said.

Diane Bodine told police she swerved to avoid a small animal and lost control of her car, which hit a curb and crashed into a utility pole, knocking out power to 33 nearby homes.

Man with Buss' check sent to federal prison

A man who attempted to cash a $161,000 tax refund check payable to Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ordered Kenneth Reeves, 42, who is free on $25,000 bond, to surrender July 29. His co-defendant, Dwayne Kellum, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12.

Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud charges in March.

Authorities are still trying to determine who stole the state-tax refund check, which was made out for $161,171.32, from the U.S. Postal Service, authorities said.

Australian captures Tour's third stage

Australia's Robbie McEwen used a sprint at the finish to win the third stage of the Tour de France today.

Three-time champion Lance Armstrong, of the U.S. Postal Service team, finished in the main pack, shortly after McEwen.

McEwen covered the 108.19-mile stage through the flat wheat fields of eastern France in 4 hours, 13 minutes.