Sports briefs

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 | 10:02 a.m.

NCAA may alter tournament format

Hoping to better balance the Division I men's basketball tournament bracket, the NCAA selection committee has proposed doing away with predetermined matchups for the Final Four.

If passed, the proposal, which goes before the NCAA Championships/Competition Cabinet for approval in September, would mean the top two seeds couldn't meet until the final.

The committee would wait until Selection Sunday to match up the regional brackets for the Final Four.

The committee also decided to do away with geographic names for regionals. In 2004, instead of teams playing in the East, South, Midwest and West, the regionals will be named for the host cities. The decision is in part a result of the two-year-old "pod" system, in which an opening-weekend site no longer automatically feeds into a specific regional.

Suit over Bonds ball

San Francisco attorney Martin Triano, who represented one of the fans who claimed ownership of Barry Bonds' record-setting 73rd home run ball, is suing his former client for $473,500 -- $23,500 more than the historic ball fetched at auction. Triano says Alex Popov owes him that much in legal fees stemming from the long-running dispute.

Ballesteros out

Three-time British Open champion Seve Ballesteros pulled out of next week's tournament at Royal St. George's -- the second consecutive year he will miss the major. Ballesteros gave no reason.

Zaher at Elite camp

Bishop Gorman High's Michael Zaher began six days of training Tuesday at the adidas Elite Soccer Program Olympic development camp at Wilmington, N.C. He was one of 150 players chosen nationwide.

LVCVA on board

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority today agreed to spend $50,000 for sponsorship of the Las Vegas All American Bowl all-star game Jan. 17 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Koreans want 2014

Officials in the South Korea resort village of Muju said today they will seek to host the 2014 Winter Games.