Sports briefs for November 14, 2003

Friday, Nov. 14, 2003 | 10:40 a.m.

Olympic star Marion Jones and five NFL players appeared before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab, and the one making perhaps the biggest impact was Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley.

Wheatley's impact came on a sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in San Francisco -- he hit a photographer while heading in to the building.

Wheatley was one of four Raiders, including former NFL defensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield, to appear Thursday before the panel. Also there was Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Jones, who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 Sydney Games, appeared in the afternoon, after the football players had finished.

"I can't make any comment, you guys. I would if I could, but I can't," Jones said as she left the grand jury room.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TV cameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist and slapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Berger took a photo of him Thursday morning.

Berger, a freelance photographer on assignment for The Associated Press, said he was not hurt. He filed a report with the Federal Protective Service, but it was not clear whether Wheatley would be charged.

Wheatley, who appeared before the grand jury in the afternoon, declined to comment when asked repeatedly about the incident.

The five players -- also including Raiders fullback Chris Hetherington and defensive tackle Chris Cooper -- were the first non-track and field athletes to testify in the case.

Falcons oust Rebels

Sixth-seeded Air Force scored the last three goals of the match and defeated UNLV, 3-1, in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's tournament at Sacramento. Alex Hernandez gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead with his 12th goal of the season just six minutes into the match on an assist from Brendon Bain. UNLV ended its season at 6-12.

U.S. team on the ropes

The U.S. women's volleyball team lost to Brazil in straight sets today at the World Cup at Osaka, Japan, and must win its next match to qualify for the Olympics. The Americans (7-3) need to beat Cuba on Saturday to gain a spot in Athens next year. The top three teams from the 12-nation tournament advance. Brazil (9-1) earned a berth with its 25-15, 25-23, 25-20 victory. China (10-0) qualified Thursday.

Hamms switch coaches

Only nine months before the Athens Olympics, world all-around champion Paul Hamm and his twin brother Morgan are switching coaches. Theydecided to train at Ohio State with Miles Avery, who also coaches four-time U.S. champion Blaine Wilson. The Hamms split with Stacy Maloney, the only coach they ever had, on Oct. 31.

UNLV women in action

The UNLV women's team plays its final exhibition of the season tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center against the Latvian Select team. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are all $2.

Flyweight champ wins

Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (49-2) kept his WBC flyweight crown today with a unanimous decision against Australia's Hussein Hussein in Bangkok.