Sports news briefs for August 26, 2003

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

PCL suspends Beavers for Cashman incident

The Pacific Coast League suspended 19 Portland Beavers for their role in last week's incidentat Cashman Field, in which the team jumped into the stands in pursuit of a fan.

The PCL announced late Monday that 18 Beavers will serve four-game suspensions. Portland first baseman Tagg Bozied was suspended for the remainder of the Beavers' eight-game schedule. Of Portland's participants in the game, only starting pitcher Clay Condrey was not suspended.

None of the Portland coaching staff was suspended, and it will be manager Rick Sweet's discretion which players serve their suspensions on which night. The league said that at least three Beavers must be suspended for each game.

"It's unfortunate that it comes to this," 51s General Manager Don Logan said today, "but you have to take action. Players have to know that this is absolutely unacceptable."

State won't help Nets

New Jersey won't provide U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine and real estate developer Charles Kushner with at least $100 million in subsidies to help them buy the Nets and keep the team in the state, according to reports in several New Jersey newspapers. That strengthens the position of other suitors, including New York developer Bruce Ratner, who would want to move the team to Brooklyn.

One more for Yzerman

Steve Yzerman, the longest serving team captain in NHL history, will return to the Detroit Red Wings for a 21st season after he signed a one-year contract with the club.

Teen star turns pro

Allyson Felix, the 17-year-old sprinter from Los Angeles who has the world's fastest time in the 200 meters this year, will bypass college competition and become what is believed to be the first track athlete to go directly from high school to the pros.

Ex-coach Wacker dies

Jim Wacker, a former coach at TCU and Minnesota who won consecutive national championships in NAIA and Division II, died today in San Marcos, Texas, after a long battle with cancer.