Sports briefs for September 16, 2005

Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 | 10:28 a.m.

Toms hospitalized; Micheel leads

At Farmington, Pa., one of Shaun Micheel's best rounds since he won the 2003 PGA championship suddenly became secondary in importance. He kept on playing, and mostly playing well at the 84 Lumber Classic, but his mind was on a stricken David Toms.

Toms, the 2001 PGA champion and No. 4 on the PGA Tour money list, became white-faced, dropped to his knee in discomfort and was rushed to a hospital with a heart problem during Thursday's first round.

Toms was initially listed in critical condition upon admission to Pittsburgh's UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, but was upgraded to good later in the evening, according to hospital administrator Dolores Stairs. Adam Young, the director of Toms' foundation, said Toms was alert and speaking with his family, and Toms issued a statement late Thursday night saying he had a treatable heart problem.

Ex-Brave Rick Camp sentenced to prison

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp was sentenced to federal prison for just more than three years for conspiring to steal more than $2 million from a mental health agency.

Camp, who pitched for the Braves from 1976-78 and 1980-85, was a former lobbyist and was sentenced Thursday in Augusta, Ga., along with four others. Among them was former state Rep. Robin Williams, who was sentenced to 10 years.

The five were convicted this year of conspiring to siphon the money from the former Community Mental Health Center. Prosecutors said C. Michael Brockman and Williams received kickbacks for setting up friends with jobs and lucrative, unearned contracts.

Camp, 52, spent all nine of his years in the majors with Atlanta. The right-hander was 56-49 with a 3.37 ERA. His most wins in one season came in 1982 when he went 11-13.

Connecticut evens series with Monarchs

At Uncasville, Conn., Taj McWilliams-Franklin grabbed five boards in overtime and hit the go-ahead jumper, helping the Sun beat the Sacramento Monarchs 77-70 Thursday night to tie the WNBA Finals at 1-all. She finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds.

McWilliams-Franklin's wide-open jumper with 4:18 left in the extra period was all the Sun needed as they held Sacramento scoreless in overtime.

Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Sunday in Sacramento.

-- Sun wire services