The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 102

2C IMt HALM BtACH HUbl 1 HUKSUAY, AUliUbl 1U, 2UUU WW WHO AM I was the last U.S. boxer to win an Olympic gold medal as a middleweight. (Answer below) QUOTE OF THE DAY RYAN JONES of the independent Northern League on hitting four homers and driving in eight runs Tuesday night in the Winnipeg Goldeyes' 19-1 victory against the Sioux Falls Canaries. 'I had a pretty good week last night. I don't even think I've ever hit four homers in TODAY IN HISTORY In 1900, the first Davis Cup is held with the United States beating Britain 3-0.

WATCH Whitney, Florida avoid arbitration PEOPLE IN SPORTS Bitten by the acting bug Palm Beach Post Wire Services New Jersey Devils star Scott Gomez is going to get his big break, and it's not on the ice. Panthers By Brian Biggane Palm Beach Post Staff Writer The Florida Panthers cleared their last major signing hurdle before next month's training camp when The NHL's rookie of the year is one of five NHL players who will be part of a taping of the daytime TV drama One Life to Live today. The episode will air at 2 p.m. Aug. 31.

Gomez and Phoenix Coyotes forward Jeremy Roenick have speaking parts as ticket and gate agents in a scene set in an airport. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sheldon Souray, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Therien and Tampa Bay Lightning goalie and former Florida Panther Kevin Weekes will be extras on the set-ABC spokesman Nancy w. -I: til free-agent left winger Ray Whitney was signed to a three-year contract worth more than $7 million plus incentives on Wednesday. But the news wasn't signed free agent. Murray said he was disappointed Worrell skipped an optional conditioning camp in June, but Worrell has little leverage after scoring just three goals last season.

Meanwhile, Murray expects to go into camp with Dan Boyle and Peter Ratchuk as the top offensive defenseman candidates. There were a few guys out there early on that we were interested in," he said. "We talked about (Sandis) Ozolinsh a lot, but his (salary demands) were way out of whack." Ozolinsh was traded by Colorado to Carolina where he recently signed for an average of $4 million per season. "We also tried to make a trade for another player or two, but it looks like it's not going to happen at this point" Noteworthy: The league officially announced the Panthers will host the NHL Entry Draft June 23-24 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise. brianbigganepbpost.com playing a No.

1 line of Igor Lari-onov, Pavel Bure and Whitney and said he remains interested in pairing Whitney and Bure frequently, as was the case last season. "Pavel plays more minutes than either of the other two, though, so I think there's a very good chance Terry (coach Terry Murray) will play them together in the middle of games, to give us a chance to get ahead," Murray said. Barnett said he's seen Bure a few times since last season and Bure was always adamant that Whitney be signed by the start of training camp. "He said, That's a guy we have to Barnett said. Claimed off waivers from Edmonton in 1998, Whitney has totaled 87 goals and 109 assists in three seasons.

His signing leaves left winger Peter Worrell as the only un Tim II I I Gomez before Saturday's arbitration hearing scheduled in Toronto. There was always a desire by both parties to try to avoid arbitration if at all possible," Barnett said. "You can be a winner or loser in the compensation issue, but in many, many cases, there's a loser in what the process does to the relationship." "Ray takes a lot of things personally," Murray said. A source close to negotiations said Whitney was seeking $2.7 million per year while the Panthers were offering $1.8 million. Whitney will earn a $2.4 million base salary that could grow to as much as $3 million per season over the life of the contract if he and the team achieve a number of bonus clauses.

Murray has talked about Whitney all good. General Manager Bryan Murray admitted his search for an offensive defenseman appears to be coming to an unproductive end. The Whitney deal was reached on the day his agent, Mike Barnett, was to have exchanged briefs with the Panthers 11 1 Sherman believes Souray, Therien and Weekes will simply play themselves and get asked for autographs. Group bonding The Denver Broncos held their annual golf and fishing trip Tuesday night, an event coach Mike Shanahan said gives the players a chance to see that the coach "really is almost a normal person." "It's a good time," Shanahan said. "I think the players look forward to one night of camp, and this is it.

Everything else is a lot of work." Quarterback Brian Griese planned on playing golf but was hesitant about the fishing derby, which traditionally was targeted by former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe. "Shannon cheated," Griese said. "He went to the grocery store and bought fish." One great baby Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet, had their fourth child. Tristan Wayne Gretzky was born in Los Angeles on Aug. 2, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, said the office of Michael Bamett, the hockey great's agent.

TODAY'S ANSWER: Michael Spinks in 1976. Sol end season with overtime thriller By Dave Andrews Palm Beach Post Staff Writer MIAMI The Miami Sol might not be going to the post-season, but they didn't disappoint in their last game of the year. Miami beat the playoff-bound Orlando Miracle 68-64 in double overtime Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena in front of 8,917 On the air On television fans. "It was a great way to go out," coach Ron Rothstein said. "Our fans were great.

Our girls don't want to let them down." tteW-r Unfa, SOL 68 MIRACLE 64 percent from the field) and stellar defense (15 steals). Orlando (16-16) turned the ball over 19 times. Sam began the second overtime with three-pointer. Kristen Rasmussen hit two free throws with 20.6 remaining to put the Sol up 67-64. Sam hit one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left to seal the victory.

The Sol appeared to have won the game in the first overtime when Askamp went to the foul line with 18.9 seconds remaining and with a 56-53 lead. But Askamp missed both free throws, and Orlando power forward Taj McWilliams nailed an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer. The Sol rallied behind their full-court trap late in the second half. Miami forced four turnovers over the final three minutes of regulation. "That was a turning point when we got after them and forced some turnovers," Rothstein said.

"It accomplished what I wanted to do at the time because they kept pounding the ball inside and I wanted to change the pace. It worked." daveandrewspbpost.com Rockers 60, Mystics 48: Nikki McCray scored 20 as host Washington beat Cleveland to clinch the last Eastern Conference playoff berth. Shock 66, Liberty 63: Astou Ndiaye-Diatta scored 19 as host Detroit ended its season with a win over New York. Fever 67, Sting 51: Alicia Thompson scored 15 and host Indiana held Charlotte scoreless for eight minutes in late in the second half in the win. Comets 77, Lynx 64: Tina Thompson scored 25, making 14-of-16 free throws, as host Houston beat Minnesota.

Starzz 89, Sparks 77: Natalie Williams scored 26 as host Utah handed Los Angeles its first road loss since June 13 in Seattle. Mercury 68, Fire 60: Brandy Reed had 18 points as Phoenix won in Portland. Monarchs 79, Storm 46: Ruthie Bolton-Holifield scored 17 as host Sacramento routed Seattle. fl The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sheri Sam scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Marlies Askamp had 20 points and 15 boards and Katrina Colleton had 14 points as the Sol won a fast-paced game that saw 15 scoring ties and three buzzer-beating shots.

These are the types of games you dream about as an athlete," said Sam, who played 46 minutes. "It was tiring, but a great way to go out" Miami (13-19) played its last game of the season in typical fashion: horrific shooting (34 Arena Football II 8 p.m. Arena Cup: Tennessee Valley at Quad City TNN Baseball Noon Twins at Devil Rays Fox Sports Net 7:30 p.m. Padres at Phillies Fox Sports Net Golf 10 a.m. British Masters Golf Channel 1 p.m.

Buy.com Ozarks Open Golf Channel 3 p.m. U.S. Women's Amateur Championship ESPN 4 p.m. Buick Open Fox Sports Net, Golf Channel 5 p.m. LPGA: du Maurier Classic (taped) ESPN2 NFL 9 p.m.

Exhibition: Bucs at Dolphins (tape delay) WTVX-34 Midnight Exhibition: Bucs at Dolphins (taped) Fox Sports Net Tennis 1 p.m. Tennis Masters Series ESPN 8 p.m. Tennis Masters Series (taped) ESPN2 Check your cable listings to determine whether stations are available in your area. On radio NFL 6:30 p.m. Dolphins pre-game WQAM-560AM, WQBA-1140AM, WJN0-1290AM, WJNX-1330AM, WSWN-900AM 7 p.m.

Exhibition: Bucs at Dolphins WQAM-560AM, WQBA-1140AM, WJN0-1290AM, WJNX-1330AM, WSWN-900AM On the Internet Tell us what you think about the Marlins, Dolphins, Heat, m-r, Panthers, UF, FSU and Miami as you read the latest stories atwww.GoPBI.comsports. V'4tVi On the field Area events FSL 7 p.m. Vero Beach at St. Lucie 871-2115 7:05 p.m. Daytona at Jupiter 775-1818 NFL 7 p.m.

Exhibition: Bucs at Dolphins (954) 452-7000 Dog racing 7:30 p.m. Palm Beach Kennel Club 683-2222 Jaialai Noon Miami Jai-Alai (305)633-6400 7:15 p.m. Dania Jai-Alai (954) 927-2841 Fusion top United in double OT Palm Beach Post Staff and Wire Reports WASHINGTON Miami's Jim Rooney scored on an assist by Diego Serna in the 112th minute to give the Miami Fusion a 3-2 double-overtime win over D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

I i 'I 1 A If i--' The Fusion next play the New Telephones YorkNew Jersey MetroStars, who I For questions about the sports section, please call: Sports department 820-4440 Fax number 820-4481 defeated Colum bus in a nenaltv FUSION 3 kick shootout, in 1 I D.C. UNITED the semifinals. Serena tops Tanasugarn; bad back sidelines Agassi Miami took an early lead after D.C.'s Eddie Pope scored an own goal in the fifth minute. Serna scored on an assist by Rooney in the 43rd minute before Jaime Moreno tied it at 2 in In brief the 66th minute. ill 1 VHUmU The win was the third this season over D.C.

for Miami. The Fusion and MetroStars meet Aug. 23 at a site to be de termined. MetroStars 7, Columbus 6: After two scoreless overtimes, New YorkNew Jersey defeated host Columbus on penalty kicks with Mike Petke netting the game-winner. Fire 5, Bum 1: Striker Josh -fr-r Wilt i Wolff set a club record with four i ''iff uM 1 'P-filp Mi' Vmv Palm Beach Post Wire Services Defending champion Serena Williams of Palm Beach Gardens advanced to the quarterfinals of the estyle.com Classic in Manhattan Beach, with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Tamarine Tanasugarn on Wednesday.

Williams, seeded fifth, needed 63 minutes to close out Tanasugarn after routing Romania's Ruxandra Dragomir in 38 minutes in the first round. Fourth-seeded Conchita Martinez beat Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 7-6 (2). Eighth-seeded Sandrine Testud defeated Dominque Van Roost 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. (Results, 9C) More tennis: Top-seeded Andre Agassi retired from his second-round match of the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati because of back problems that have hampered him since a minor car accident last month. Agassi, playing Fernando Vicente of Spain, won the first set 6-3 but lost the second 3-6.

During the crossover after the first game of the third set, Agassi asked for a trainer and then retired. Second-seeded Pete Sampras despite 11 double faults. No. 3 seed Magnus Norman of Sweden was upset by Slava Dosedal of the Czech Republic 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3. (Results, 9C) Pro hockey: The assault trial of Boston Bruins enforcer Marty McSorley will begin Sept.

25 in Vancouver, British Columbia. McSorley was charged with assault with a weapon in February after Vancouver forward Donald Brashear was clubbed on the side of the head, crashed to the ice and lay unconscious for a few moments. College basketball: Florida State will meet Ohio State on Nov. 23 in the opening round of the eight-team Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage. The second game will be DePaul against Syracuse.

The tournament opens Nov. 22, with Rhode Island playing Missouri and Valparaiso facing Alaska-Anchorage. Obituaries: NASCAR pioneer Herb Thomas died of a heart attack at his home in Sanford, N.C. He was 77. Mr.

Thomas won the Grand National Racing (now Winston Cup) championship in 1951 and 1953. Aurele "AT Couture, the former welterweight fighter who holds the record for the fastest knockout in boxing history died in Glastonbury, Conn. He was 77. On Sept. 24, 1946, Mr.

Couture knocked Ralph Walton unconscious and was declared the winner lOVi seconds after the bout started. fl In the courts: Sports agent William "Tank" Black was brought to Michigan from South Carolina to face drug and money laundering charges. In Gainesville, Black has been free on $1 million bond on charges that he swindled about a dozen NFL players out of more than $5 million. goals and finished the night with nine points as host Chicago defeated Dallas. Chicago meets the Galaxy in the semifinals.

Galaxy 2, Earthquakes 0: Seth Mauricio and George Cienfuegos scored four minutes apart to lift host Los Angeles over San Jose. Roster changes for U.S.: Needing a win to get out of last place in its World Cup qualifying group, the United States will bring back Joe-Max Moore and Brian McBride, who missed the first two qualifiers last month because of injuries, for a game against Barbados at Foxboro, on Aug. 16. Goalie Brad Friedel probably will start in place of Kasey Keller. Noteworthy: Jim Gabarra will coach the Washington team in the new women's professional soccer league.

Nine Croatian soccer fans were arrested and accused of pelting bystanders and police with bottles and chairs before a European Champions League game in Milan, Italy. Another 60 were held for questioning. A riXdl 12-pack mum Got The Pact at COQh itffl The rlin l' 1 Wlth the Purchase of PEPSI 2ta- 2-iter I or multi-pack (6, 12. 20 or 24ct). Pick up coupon at any ECKERD and participating MOBIL locations.

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