Sports briefs for March 3, 2005

Thursday, March 3, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

Ex-Braves pitcher Rick Mahler dies

Rick Mahler, who won nearly 100 games during a 13-year career spent mostly with the Atlanta Braves, died Wednesday. He was 51.

Mahler died of a heart attack at home in Jupiter, Fla., while preparing for his second season as a minor league pitching coach for the New York Mets, the team said. He was set to rejoin the Mets' Class-A team in Port St. Lucie.

New York pitcher Tom Glavine telephoned the Braves to inform them of his former teammate's death shortly before Atlanta played Georgia Tech in its first exhibition game of the spring.

"He was a great guy, a great teammate," Glavine said. "I talked to him a lot about pitching when I first came up. He was a big help, especially for a young guy who was struggling."

Mahler pitched in the majors from 1979-91, going 96-111 with a 3.99 ERA.

UNLV player honored

Senior Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis earned her first career Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week honor, which was also the first for her team in 2005, the league announced Wednesday. Ortiz-Luis went a combined 4-0 in singles and doubles last weekend to help her team advance to the championship match of the Lady Rebel Classic.

Els leads in Dubai

Ernie Els began his bid for a record-extending third Dubai Desert Classic golf title today with a first- round 66 to lead Miguel Angel Jimenez and England's David Howell by one shot at the Emirates Golf Club. Els tapped in for birdie at the last after collecting strokes at the third, eighth, ninth, 13th and 17th holes. Jimenez, who added the Hong Kong Open in December to a European Tour-leading four wins last season, also had a bogey-free round to end on 5-under. Mark O'Meara of the U.S. began with a 1-over-par 73.

Hawks' Lue suspended

Atlanta Hawks guard Tyronn Lue was suspended by the NBA for one game after he punched Denver forward Eduardo Najera during a loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday night. Lue served his suspension when Atlanta visited the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.