Sports briefs for May 10, 2005

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 | 10:51 a.m.

Indiana judge rules Knight firing was OK

Judge Cecile Blau ruled today in Bloomington, Ind., that Indiana University trustees did not break the law when they met to hear plans to fire coach Bobby Knight.

No more than four of the nine trustees -- not a quorum -- met at any one time with then-university president Myles Brand, the judge said in a four-page ruling Monday. She said Brand's conversations with less than a quorum did not fall within the definition of a meeting in the state's open door law.

Even if the meetings did break the law, Blau wrote that she could not set aside Knight's September 2000 dismissal because Brand, not the trustees, had the authority to fire the coach.

Forty-six basketball fans in 2000 filed the lawsuit challenging the firing. Knight, now coach at Texas Tech, was dismissed for what Brand called "uncivil, defiant and unacceptable" conduct.

The school is facing another lawsuit filed by the Indianapolis Star, which is demanding documents related to Knight's firing, with a trial set for August.

UNLV gets top seed

The second-ranked UNLV men's golf team has been awarded the top seed at the NCAA West Region men's championship tournament, which will begin May 19 at Stanford, Calif.

Three regional tournaments, encompassing the current nine regions, will be played May 19-21. A total of 27 teams and six individuals not on selected teams were assigned to each regional site.

Ten teams and two individuals not on advancing teams will move on from each region to the championship tournament June 1-4 at at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.

USA ties Ukraine

Ukraine's unexpected 1-1 tie against the United States in the world hockey championships resulted in more intrigue than impact.

The tie didn't hurt the Americans in the standings because they probably were headed toward a quarterfinal against the Czech Republic with a win or a tie.

But after the game there was plenty of buzz about why U.S. coach Peter Laviolette chose highly regarded prospect Zach Parise to take a penalty shot with 1:25 remaining. He is 20 and hasn't played an NHL game.

Goaltender Kostyantyn Simchuk didn't bite on Parise's fake and made one of his 38 saves in the game.

UConn players charged

Five Connecticut football players were charged in a case in which the window of a vehicle was shot out as two cars passed in a parking lot.

The driver's side window of one car was shot, although it was not immediately clear which car was hit. The suspects fled in a sport utility vehicle and were located a few minutes later, police added.

Tyvon Branch, Daniel Davis, Daniel Lansanah and Marvin Taylor were charged with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and released after posting $750 bond.

Donta Moore was charged with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was released after posting $1,000 bail.

Bonds ball on the block

Barry Bonds' 700th home run ball is up for sale again, in an auction of high-ticket sports memorabilia by Sotheby's and SportsCards Plus that will be open for bidding on Thursday.

The ball, which was grabbed by a fan named Steve Williams after Bonds hit it at SBC Park in a game last Sept. 17, originally was sold to an unidentified bidder in October for more than $804,000.

There has been speculation that the ball, which is being offered by an anonymous consignor, may bring considerably less money this time, because of allegations against Bonds. -- Sun wire services