Sports briefs for September 9, 2004

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

Syracuse tuition hike will subsidize athletics

Syracuse University is raising tuition to help pay a $2.5 million subsidy to its once financially self-sufficient athletic department, a first for the 134-year-old school.

The university is raising tuition 6.4 percent for its roughly 10,000 undergrads, instead of 6 percent as initially planned, to contribute $450,000 toward intercollegiate sports. That extra increase works out to about $100 per student.

The decision -- sparked by the defections of football powerhouses Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East Conference -- has some parents, faculty and one of the school's most recognized athletes questioning whether the administration values balls more than books.

"Raising tuition? That's crazy," said Carmelo Anthony, who led Syracuse to its first men's basketball championship in 2003 and now plays for the Denver Nuggets. "People are struggling out there, so it's not right."

The departures of five-time national champion Miami and Virginia Tech will cost the conference at least $5 million a year in television money.

Payton faces DUI

The California Highway Patrol confirmed that Gary Payton was stopped Aug. 28 on the San Diego Freeway and that he then failed a sobriety test.

Canada in semifinals

Jarome Iginla had two goals and an assist to lead Canada to a 5-0 victory against Slovakia at Toronto in a World Cup quarterfinals. The Canadians will play the Czech Republic in Toronto on Saturday in a semifinal. The United States plays Finland in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday in the other semifinal.

Ex-champ wins return

Former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine knocked out Sean Sullivan in the 10th round at Sydney, Australia, in Mundine's first bout since losing the title to Manny Siaca in May.

AFL team folds

Estimating his losses at "several million dollars" since buying the team in 2002, Indiana Firebirds owner Dave Lageschutle said his Arena Football League franchise was shutting down.

Fed Cup semis set

Russia was matched against Austria and defending champion France against Spain in a draw today for the Federation Cup semifinals the week of Nov. 22 in Moscow.