Sports briefs for September 17, 2004

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 10:17 a.m.

Seminoles open gates for storm evacuees

Football fans chased from their homes by Hurricane Ivan are invited to attend No. 8 Florida State's home opener against Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday free of charge.

Schools officials said Thursday evacuees would be admitted on a first-come basis.

"We believe that we can accommodate everyone and also offer the entertainment value of a college football game as a possible diversion from the hardship evacuees are dealing with," Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said.

Additionally, evacuees unable to find a hotel room can find shelter and food at Tully Gym and other campus locations if necessary.

"We will work with hotels and motels to accommodate every evacuee who wants a room," said Mike Bristol, president of the Tallahassee Convention and Visitors Bureau. "There will be plenty of shelters for anyone who can't afford a room."

The school said many seats and hotel rooms became available when out-of-town ticket-holders canceled reservations, most likely over the uncertainty caused by Ivan.

Japanese on strike

Japanese baseball players elected to stage the first strike in the history of the sport in Japan today after extended negotiations with team officials failed to reach an agreement. Japan's professional players had threatened to strike this weekend unless a one-year freeze was placed on the merger of the Pacific League's Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave. The strike will wipe out all games this weekend and possibly all weekend games between now and the end of the season. Weekday games will be played as scheduled.

Smarty kin tops sales

A half brother to 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones brought a top price of $850,000 during the fourth session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale at Lexington, Ky. Buzz Chace, as agent, bought the bay colt by Elusive Quality out of First Glimmer, by Glitterman, from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Elusive Quality is the sire of Smarty Jones.

Wranglers re-up

The Calgary Flames of the NHL renewed their working agreement with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. The one-year agreement was announced the same day the Wranglers announced the signings of defenseman Regan Darby and right winger Cam McCaffrey for the 2004-05 season.

Kim stays in jail

A judge today in Seoul, South Korea, upheld a prison term for former IOC Vice President Kim Un-yong on embezzlement and bribery charges, but reduced the sentence from 2 1/2 years to 2 years because of Kim's age and his contributions to Korean sports.

Ex-champ cleared

Kidnapping and robbery charges against former World Boxing Association champion Antonio Cermeno were dropped in Caracas, Venezuela, when the alleged victim failed to appear in court.

No fifth year

The National Association of Basketball Coaches dropped a proposal that would have allowed men's college basketball players five seasons of NCAA eligibility.