Sports news briefs for August 19, 2003

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 | 10:33 a.m.

Malone off U.S. team; Martin takes his spot

Karl Malone, grief-stricken over the death of his mother, will not rejoin the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets was chosen today as his replacement.

Malone's agent informed U.S. team officials Monday night of the decision. He will retain his spot on the 2004 Olympic team if the United States earns one of three berths to the Athens Games at a qualifying tournament that begins Wednesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Malone, a 40-year-old two-time Olympian, left the team's training camp in New York on Aug. 13 to return to Arkansas after his mother, Shirley Jackson Malone, died.

Martin was expected to join the team at its afternoon practice today in San Juan. Martin, who got married Saturday in Las Vegas, is not guaranteed a spot on the 2004 team, USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said.

Second Cuban defects

A second Cuban male gymnast defected at the World Championships, joining a teammate who left the Cuban delegation a day earlier. Charles Leon Tamayo joined teammate Michel Brito Ferrer, whose uncle Ramon Ferrer brought Brito Ferrer to his Los Angeles home Sunday.

No Williams forgery

Criminal charges won't be filed against two of Ted Williams' children who were accused by their brother-in-law of forging a note stating the slugger wanted to be frozen after death. A laboratory analysis of the note determined Williams' signature appears to be genuine.

Agassi gets top seed

Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters were seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open. Neither Pete Sampras nor Serena Williams will play, marking the first time both defending champions have missed the U.S. Open since Ken Rosewell and Margaret Smith Court didn't play in 1971.