Sports briefs for March 5, 2004

Friday, March 5, 2004 | 12:07 p.m.

Colorado WR Bloom signs endorsements

Jeremy Bloom, the Colorado wide receiver and World Cup skier, has signed his first two endorsement deals since the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Six weeks after challenging the NCAA's rules on endorsement money, Bloom reached agreements with Under Armour for performance clothing and Bolle for eye wear, including goggles and sunglasses.

For the past two years, Bloom has played football for Colorado while competing on the World Cup moguls ski circuit with the goal of competing in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

NCAA rules prevent him from accepting endorsement money while playing football. Bloom said in January he needed money to continue his ski training and would begin to sign endorsement deals, in defiance of the NCAA.

"These two agreements will help me fund my ski career through 2006," Bloom said.

He said the NCAA would have to declare him ineligible to play football to stop him. The NCAA has given no timetable on when it may decide.

Strickland signs

The Toronto Raptors signed veteran point guard Rod Strickland today and waived guard Jannero Pargo.

Devils get Hrdina

The New Jersey Devils acquired center Jan Hrdina from the Phoenix Coyotes for right winger Mike Rupp and a second-round choice in the 2004 draft.

UNLV goes 1-1

Jacqueline Kerrigan threw her second one-hitter of the season as UNLV defeated Villanova 1-0 in eight inings at the Speedline Invitational. Also Thursday, UNLV lost to Team USA 8-0 in an exhibition. The U.S. team was led by UNLV grad Lori Harrigan, who struck out 11 and gave up just two hits.

Colorado cracks down

University of Colorado administrators announced new, stricter guidelines for recruiting in the wake of the scandal that has rocked the athletics program with accusations of sex, drunken parties and professional strippers used on visits by recruits.

Former champion dies

Albert Axelrod, a champion fencer and one of the few Americans of his era to achieve success in international competition in the sport, died Feb. 24 at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He was 83.

Russian wins juniors

Andrei Griazev of Russia won the men's title at the world junior championships in the Netherlands. Americans Evan Lysacek and Jordan Brauninger were second and third.