Sports briefs for May 4, 2004

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 9:13 a.m.

Force wins No. 110 at rain-delayed event

NHRA Funny Car ace John Force got the 110th victory of his career, winning the rain-delayed Thunder Valley Nationals on Monday in Bristol, Tenn.

It was the first victory at Bristol Dragway for the 12-time champion, who now has won at every venue on the circuit.

Tony Schumacher and Greg Anderson won in their divisions.

Force beat Whit Bazemore with a run of 4.781 seconds at 322.88 mph.

Garnett named MVP

Kevin Garnett received 120 of 123 first-place votes to beat two-time winner Tim Duncan for the NBA MVP award.

Garnett has played at an MVP level for years, but this was a breakthrough season for his Minnesota Timberwolves. They earned the top seeding in the Western Conference playoffs with a franchise-best 58-24 record, then ended a string of seven consecutive first-round exits from the postseason by beating the Denver Nuggets.

Playing everywhere from center to point guard, the 7-footer averaged 24.2 points, a league-leading 13.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season.

Canucks oust Burke

Brian Burke is out as president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Calgary Flames.

Israeli coach attacked

A disgruntled fan kicked an Israeli soccer coach in the face Monday during a league match.

The coach, Guy Luzon of Maccabi Petach Tikvah, was shaken but not badly hurt. He said he was giving instructions to his players when the fan ran up to him and kicked him.