Sports briefs for December 19, 2003

Friday, Dec. 19, 2003 | 10:54 a.m.

The baseball deflected by a fan in the stands during one of the Chicago Cubs' most agonizing losses sold today for $106,600 at auction.

The winning bid came from Grant DePorter, managing partner of Harry Caray's restaurant. He told radio station WLS-AM he plans to solicit ideas from Cubs fans on how to destroy the ball.

DePorter said he plans to do the deed Feb. 26, when the restaurant organizes a worldwide toast to Caray. Caray died Feb. 18, 1998.

Cubs fan Steve Bartman got his hands on a foul ball that appeared headed for the glove of left fielder Moises Alou in Game 6 of the National League championship series. The ball ricocheted off Bartman's hand and the Florida Marlins rallied, beating Chicago 8-3.

The Cubs then lost Game 7 and missed a chance to reach their first World Series since 1945.

MastroNet auctioned the ball on behalf of a 33-year-old Chicago attorney identified only as Jim. According to the company, he was sitting near Bartman when the ball was deflected. The man put the ball in his pocket after it bounced his way.

The ball was authenticated using affidavits, ticket stubs and other information.

Renna: driver error

The crash that killed Tony Renna at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway likely was caused by driver error, according to an IRL report obtained by The Indianapolis Star. The Indy Racing League, which the newspaper said intended to release its findings today, based the report on computer data from a recorder mounted in the side of the car.

St. John's fires coach

St. John's University fired men's basketball coach Mike Jarvis today. Assistant coach Kevin Clark will take over the Red Storm, which is 2-4 and has home losses to Fairfield and Hofstra. Jarvis was 110-61 with three NCAA tournament appearances and the 2003 NIT championship in five-plus seasons at St. John's.

Gold medal recovered

Olympic taekwondo champion Lauren Burns was thankful after her stolen gold medal was found today. The medal, won by Burns in the 49-kilogram class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was stolen from Burns' Melbourne home, then reportedly found under a dust bin in Melbourne.

Georgia hires black AD

Damon Evans was hired as Georgia's athletic director today, the first black person to hold that job in the Southeastern Conference. Evans, 34, also will be the youngest athletic director in the SEC when Vince Dooley retires in June.

Saban stays focused

LSU coach Nick Saban said he hasn't been contacted by any NFL teams about the various coaching openings and that he is concentrating on his team's Sugar Bowl date with Oklahoma for the national title.

Two lead Nevada Open

First-round co-leader Kevin Stadler, son of tour great Craig Stadler, shot a 67 to tie Matt Viguerie for the second-round lead at the $65,000 Nevada Open at Mesquite.

Armstrong wants two

Five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said in Washington that he will compete in two more tours before retiring.

NCAA final set

Florida defeated Hawaii and Southern Cal defeated Minnesota to reach Saturday's NCAA Divison I women's championship at Dallas.