Names in the game for August 24, 2005

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

Diego Maradona

Speaking on his local television talk show Monday night, Diego Maradona called one of soccer's most controversial goals "something that just came out of me. It was a bit of mischief."

Maradona acknowledged that he struck the ball with his hand in the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.

Maradona appeared to punch the ball into the net, and officials allowed the goal to stand despite protests by the English team. Argentina went on to win the 1986 quarterfinal match 2-1 and then win the World Cup.

Bob Huggins

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball coach Bob Huggins, who won more games than anyone else in school history, has been shown the door by an academically minded school president who doesn't like Huggins' history or philosophy.

The university sent Huggins an ultimatum Tuesday, ordering him to resign as coach or be fired at 11 a.m. today.

School president Nancy Zimpher pointed to the history of poor graduation rates and player arrests during Huggins' 16-year stay at Cincinnati. Also, Huggins was convicted of drunken driving last year.

"We expect to recruit very strong students, both on the court and in the classroom," Zimpher said emphatically. "We expect our coaches to be role models, and we expect our students to be role models. I will not apologize for setting high standards."

Correll Buckhalter

Philadelphia Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter will miss the season after having his third season-ending knee surgery in four seasons.

Buckhalter, who missed nearly all of training camp, underwent surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee Tuesday.

Last year, he had season-ending surgery on the same tendon after he injured it in a preseason game.

Buckhalter has been an asset when healthy but will miss his third full season because of injury. He missed all of the 2002 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee in minicamp.

The injury leaves the Eagles thin and small at running back, with Brian Westbrook, rookie Ryan Moats and third-year pro Reno Mahe as the Eagles' top three runners.

-- Sun wire services