Sports briefs for June 30, 2004

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 | 10:29 a.m.

Unser Jr. retires from auto racing

Two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. retired today because he was no longer having fun as a driver.

Unser also won two CART championships, but struggled in recent years and had little success since joining the IRL series in 2000.

Unser said he would stay with Patrick Racing as an adviser. The team said it would select a replacement driver later.

Unser had three IRL starts this year, never finishing in the top 10. His final race was last Saturday at Richmond, where he ended up 22nd.

Texas coach apologizes

Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido insisted a misunderstanding -- not poor sportsmanship -- prompted his team's failure to attend a trophy ceremony at the College World Series.

After losing the championship to Cal State Fullerton 3-2 Sunday, the Longhorns did not return to the field to receive their second-place award.

Haas duo wins CVS

Jay Haas made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give his father-and-son team a one-stroke victory in the CVS Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club.

Yim injures Achilles

Olympic hopeful gymnast Tabitha Yim ruptured her right Achilles' tendon during training Tuesday, ending her chances of making the Athens Games. Yim will have surgery today, but recovery is expected to take several months.

Carolina signs O'Neill

Right wing Jeff O'Neill and the Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms Tuesday on a one-year contract that will keep the former All-Star with the franchise that drafted him 10 years ago.

O'Neill had more than 60 points and led the team in goals each season from 1999-2003. But he scored just 14 goals in 2003-04 before season-ending surgery in March to repair a tear in his right shoulder.

U.S. District Judge William D. Stiehl ruled Tuesday that extensive media coverage of the case hasn't been harmful enough to merit a change of venue.