Sports briefs for June 15, 2005

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

Ex-Baylor player sentenced to prison

Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison today, a week after he unexpectedly pleaded guilty to murdering his teammate two years ago.

Dotson, 23, faced from five years to life in prison for killing Patrick Dennehy, 21, who was missing for six weeks before his body was found in field a few miles from campus in July 2003. On June 8, five days before his murder trial was to start, Dotson pleaded guilty without a sentencing deal with prosecutors.

Instead of hearing from witnesses this morning, state District Judge Ralph Strother made his decision based on documents filed by prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Wie qualifies for men's event

Michelle Wie became the first female player to qualify for an adult male U.S. Golf Association championship Tuesday, tying for first place in a 36-hole U.S. Amateur Public Links sectional qualifying tournament at Belle Vernon, Pa.

The 15-year-old star from Hawaii, second Sunday in the LPGA Championship, matched Artie Fink Jr. of Altoona at 1-over 145 on the Cedarbrook Golf Course. Wie opened with an 1-under 71 and shot a 74 in the rain-delayed second round.

"The first couple of holes I was very tired and I can barely walk right now," Wie said. "But then the adrenaline kicked in and it was very fun."

Wie and Fink earned the only two spots available in the 85-player qualifier for the July 11-16 tournament at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. The Public Links winner has traditionally received a spot in the Masters.

Vikings sale finalized

The Minnesota Vikings are officially under new ownership.

A group headed by New Jersey real estate developer Zygi Wilf closed late Monday on the $600 million purchase from Texas businessman Red McCombs.

BCS looks for voters

The Bowl Championship Series has a plan for a new college football poll, and hired a company to find voters.

The new poll, which would be added to the BCS weekly rankings, would consist of former players, coaches, administrators and members of the media, the BCS said in a statement.

Harris Interactive, a marketing research and polling firm that operates The Harris Poll, "is in the process of contacting a random sample of individuals nominated by the conferences and Notre Dame to determine interest in participating in the poll," BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said in the statement.

Women pass men for top prize

The women's winner of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6 will run off with a check for $130,000, the biggest in the history of marathon competition and $30,000 more than the reward for the men's winner.

The announcement was made by Mary Wittenberg, president and chief executive of the New York Road Runners and the director of the marathon.

The additional $30,000 will be provided by ING, the title sponsor, through its Run for Something Better program to benefit community and youth running organizations.

-- Sun wire services

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