Sports briefs for July 1, 2005

Friday, July 1, 2005 | 10 a.m.

Moroccans missing at Mediterranean Games

Police in Almeria, Spain, today were searching for four members of the Moroccan team who were missing at the Mediterranean Games.

Moroccan team officials reported the disappearance of four members of their karate squad Thursday, police said. One was found by police in Barcelona while trying to catch a train to Italy. Earlier in the week, another Moroccan athlete went missing, police said.

Thousands of Moroccans, seeking work, try to get to Spain and other countries in Europe illegally every year.

The Mediterranean Games, contested mostly by young athletes, are held every four years and were first staged in 1951. This year, more than 4,000 athletes from 21 countries bordering the Mediterranean are participating.

Comeback for Hearns

Former world champion Thomas Hearns, 46, is planning to a return to the ring for the first time in five years. His opponent for the July 30 bout in downtown Detroit was scheduled to be announced today. Hearns (59-5-1, 46 knockouts) will fight on the same card as his son, Ronald Hearns, a 26-year-old middleweight who is 6-0.

Magliarditi returns

Goalie Marc Magliarditi, the ECHL's all-time leader in shutouts, re-signed with the Wranglers for the 2005-06 season.

Teen rider dies

Anthony Covington, 16, Nespelem, Wash., died over the weekend from injuries received when he was bucked off a bull at a rodeo in Newport, Wash. After he fell, Covington was stomped on his chest by the bull. Covington was wearing a Kevlar vest but no helmet.

Florida A&M drops

Florida A&M University in Tallahassee eliminated its golf, tennis, swimming and diving programs because of budget concerns. The school's board of trustees voted to eliminate the sports after it was determined it would save Florida A&M approximately $639,000 a year.

Opener on ESPN

ESPN will broadcast a high school game on Aug. 27, the first non-playoff game at that level ESPN has shown since 1988. The game will match St. Petersburg (Fla.) Nease against host Hoover (Ala.).

Home for Eclipse

The Eclipse Award ceremonies will be presented for the next three years at the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Kansas loses guard

Junior guard J.R. Giddens is leaving the University of Kansas program, a month after he was stabbed in a bar fight. He would have been the Jayhawks' top returning scorer next season.