Sports briefs for January 16, 2004

Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 10:39 a.m.

The president of world soccer has touched off a firestorm of reaction today for suggesting that women players wear more revealing uniforms.

Sepp Blatter, in an interview with Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick, said women's soccer needed different sponsors than the men's game and should try to attract fashion and cosmetics companies by featuring "more feminine uniforms."

"Tighter shorts, for example," Blatter told the newspapers. "In volleyball the women also wear other uniforms than the men. Pretty women are playing football today."

English goalkeeper Pauline Cope called it "typical of a bloke."

Swiss captain Evelyn Zimmermann and Norwegian players Lise Klaveness and Solveig Gulbrandsen also rejected Blatter's fashion advice.

"You can't compare us with volleyball players and, apart from everything else, those shorts are uncomfortable," Zimmermann said.

Said Klaveness: "If the crowd only wants to come and watch models, then they should go and buy a copy of Playboy," she said.

Added Gulbrandsen: "If I wanted to wear a bikini, I would have chosen to play beach volleyball."

Frazier wins at Hobart

Unseeded American Amy Frazier scored a 6-3, 6-3 victory today against No. 6 Shinobu Asagoe of Japan to win the Tasmanian International at Hobart, Australia.

Ishe Smith wins titles

Welterweight Ishe Smith of Las Vegas ran his record to 14-0 and captured three title belts with a unanimous, 12-round decision against Randall Bailey of Miami in Santa Ynez, Calif. The victory earned the vacant USBA, the WBC Continental Americans and the NABO titles.

Packers fire two

The Green Bay Packers fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and tight ends coach Jeff Jagodzinski.

Rodman on schedule

The Las Vegas Rattlers of the ABA have a two-game series scheduled next week against the Long Beach Jam, who are expected to bring along former NBA all-star Dennis Rodman. The games will be Tuesday and Wednesday at the All-American Sports Park Events Center, 121 E. Sunset. Games will start at 7 p.m.

Aaron says no to Rose

Baseball's home run king believes baseball's hit king has no place in the Hall of Fame or anywhere in the game. Henry Aaron told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Pete Rose "hasn't given any signs of an honest confession" in his recent book or the numerous interviews he has given.

Ramage charged

Retired NHL defenseman Rob Ramage was charged in Newmarket, Ontario, with driving with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit in the Dec. 15 crash that killed former Chicago Blackhawk Keith Magnuson.