Sports briefs for October 3, 2003

Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 10:24 a.m.

Olympic champion Rulon Gardner was knocked out of the Greco-Roman World Championships in the first elimination round today at Creteil, France, losing 3-0 to Russia's Khassan Baroev.

Gardner must now progress through a qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan in February to qualify for next year's Athens Olympics.

"It's my fault," he said. "I didn't fight to the best of my abilities."

Gardner won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympics and the world title in 2001. Last year, he needed to have a toe amputated after he was stranded in subfreezing temperatures for 18 hours in a snowmobiling accident.

Gardner is third U.S. wrestler eliminated at the tournament. Team captain Brandon Paulson was beaten in the 121-pound class Thursday and Kevin Bracken lost in the 145 1/2-pound category.

"I'm going to stay here, educate myself and learn some more about wrestling," Gardner said. "I'm a student of the sport, there are always things I can pick up here that can help me."

Over for Overstreet

Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Will Overstreet had season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left shoulder.

Heatley moved

Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley was transferred from Grady Hospital to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Heatley was the driver in a one-car accident Monday night that left teammate Dan Snyder unconscious and in critical condition.

Gooden Jr. arrested

Dwight Gooden Jr., 17, the son of former major-league pitcher Dwight Gooden, was arrested in Tampa, Fla., after he allegedly sold crack cocaine to undercover deputies.

Belmont showdown

A week after reigning Horse of the Year Azeri's 11-race winning streak was snapped, Sightseek takes on seven rivals in the Beldame at Belmont Park on Saturday with a showdown looming in three weeks between racing's leading ladies. If Sightseek can win her fourth consecutive Grade 1 race, then the 4-year-old filly will enter the Breeders' Cup Distaff with the divisional championship riding on the outcome of her meeting with 5-year-old Azeri.

UNLV seats go on sale

Individual game tickets to all of UNLV's men's and women's basketball games for the upcoming 2003-04 season will go on sale on Monday at 11 a.m. Call 739-FANS for information or visit UNLVtickets.com to purchase season or individual tickets.

Champion acquitted

Former Tour de France champion Marco Pantani was acquitted of sports fraud charges stemming from a doping test in the 1999 Giro d'Italia, the ANSA news agency reported.

Argentines withdraw

Three injured Argentines -- Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio -- withdrew today from the CA Trophy tournament in Vienna, Austria.