Sports briefs for October 22, 2004

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 10:19 a.m.

Red Sox fan killed in postgame revelry

A 21-year-old woman died after being shot in the eye by a police projectile intended to subdue an unruly crowd outside Fenway Park on Wednesday night, the authorities said.

The woman, Victoria Snelgrove, of East Bridgewater, Mass., was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon at Brigham and Women's Medical Center in Boston, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney's office.

Boston's mayor said he was considering banning alcohol sales in the city during the World Series to avoid a repeat of the rowdiness.The projectile that struck Snelgrove, a student at Emerson College in Boston, was meant to be nonlethal crowd control.

The Boston police commissioner, Kathleen O'Toole, said at a news conference that the department "accepts full responsibility."

"While I firmly and emphatically accept responsibilities for any errors," O'Toole said at a news conference Thursday, "I also condemn in the harshest words possible the actions of the punks who turned our city's victory into an opportunity for violence and mindless destruction."

Rick Snelgrove, the victim's father, expressed outrage.

"What happened to her should not happen to any American citizen going to any type of game, no matter what," he said. "She loved the Red Sox. She went in to celebrate."

More than 60,000 people flooded the area around Fenway Park after the Red Sox' victory over the host Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, and were flanked by officers in riot gear. Dozens of people climbed onto billboards, fences and the park's Green Monster wall, near where Snelgrove was struck. Others tried to rip down street signs, and small fires were set.

Lewis shoots 62

J.J. Lewis shot his best opening round ever -- a 10-under 62 -- to take a two-stroke lead in the Funai Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The wedding is off

Professional stars Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt have canceled their wedding, according to her Web site.

NHL reps meeting

The NHL Players' Association will meet with their representatives from all 30 teams on Nov. 2, a day after the players will have missed their third paycheck since the start of the owners' lockout.

Pacers' O'Neal hurt

Indiana Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal is likely to miss the remainder of the preseason because of a strained ligament in his left foot.

Franchise folds

The Scottish Claymores franchise of NFL Europe folded because of falling attendance.