WEDNESDAY,JULY9.2003
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 21
4
BASEBALL
Royals, Relaford keep building despite lack of All-Star picks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Among American League division leaders, the Kansas City Royals are alone in having only two players on the All-Star team.
Is anybody surprised?
This band of walking wounded and overachievers surprisingly hold a 3 1/2 game lead in the AL Central. They willingly admit they do not exactly bristle with proven talent.
"We don't have two or three big bopper guys who are going to hit 70 home runs, or a guy with a 1.60 ERA," said utility infielder Desi Relaford. "It's a combined effort on a daily schedule. We've used our entire 25-man roster."
Relaford, signed as a minor league free agent in January, has been about as valuable as anyone in the 47-39 surge that has the Royals in first place one week away from the All-Star break. He's played several infield positions and is hitting .291 with six home runs and 36 RBIs.
TENNIS
S. Williams wins Wimbledon; ranked No.1 for full year
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams' second straight Wimbledon championship helped her mark a full year at No. 1, while Roger Federer's first Grand Slam title lifted him to a career-high No. 3 in the ATP Tour rankings Monday.
Williams made her debut atop the WTA Tour rankings on July 8,2002,the Monday following the end of Wimbledon.She beat older sister Venus in each of the past two finals at the All England Club.
Only five women have stayed at No.1 for more consecutive weeks than Williams' current stand.
No.2 Kim Clijsters had a chance to overtake Williams by finishing better than her at Wimbledon but lost to Venus in the semifinals.
CYCLING
Armstrong finishes stage safely after crash Monday
SEDAN, France (AP) — Lance Armstrong finished in a pack behind winner Baden Cooke of Australia in the second stage of the Tour de France on Monday.
Armstrong, trying to win a record-tying fifth straight Tour, achieved his goal for the stage by staying out of trouble. The 31-year-old Texan finished 54th and was in 10th place, 11 seconds behind Bradley McGee. The Australian retained overall leader's yellow jersey with a 52nd-place finish.
Armstrong's finish came one day after 35 riders crashed toward the finish of the first full stage on Sunday. Armstrong was not seriously injured.
Cooke won the stage in a fierce final sprint after a long trek across the French countryside.
BASKETBALL
Collison signs $4 million deal with Seattle SuperSonics
SEATTLE (AP] — The Seattle SuperSonics have signed their No. 1 draft pick, Nick Collison, to a three-year contract reported to be worth more than $4 million.
Terms were not disclosed by the club Monday, the same day the 6-foot-9 power forward from Kansas participated in a summer league scrimmage.
The Seattle Times reported yesterday that Collison, 22, the 12th overall selection in the NBA draft, signed a three-year agreement paying $4.2 million with a club option for a fourth year, a standard package in the NBA's sliding scale for first-round rookie contracts.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that Collison's deal was believed to be worth more than $5 million. Under the league's slotted salary range,the most the three-year deal could be worth is $5.09 million, the Post-Intelligencer added.
Like all first-round draft picks, Collison has a slotted salary range for a three-year rookie contract that includes a team option to add a fourth year to the deal. As the No.12 pick,the most Collison's three-year contract could be worth is $5.09 million, although exact terms weren't released.
Prosecutors to discuss charges against Lakers star
VAIL, Colo. (AP) — Prosecutors met with sheriff's officials Monday to discuss whether to file charges against Kobe Bryant, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel near Vail.
In a brief statement, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said only that the talks were intended to figure out the next move. He declined further comment.
The 24-year-old Los Angeles Lakers' star turned himself in to authorities Friday and was released after posting a $25,000 bond, officials at the Eagle County sheriff's office said. Bryant's lawyer said her client was innocent.
An arrest warrant was issued for Bryant after a woman accused him of sexual misconduct on June 30 in a hotel in the Edwards area, outside Vail, authorities said. The woman was not identified.
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