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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Attorney: No plea deal for one of two players

The Spokesman-Review

An attorney for one of two Duke University lacrosse players charged with raping a stripper at a team party on Wednesday strongly rejected any sort of deal with prosecutors, proclaiming again his client’s innocence.

“I don’t think there is any chance in hell that there will be a guilty plea,” attorney Bill Cotter said. “I can’t tell you about (everybody), but my client’s case is either going to be dismissed by the D.A. or go to trial.”

Cotter represents Collin Finnerty, who along with fellow sophomore Reade Seligmann was indicted Monday on charges of first-degree rape, sexual offense and kidnapping. Each posted $400,000 bond after their predawn arrests early Tuesday, and both were released within hours.

School officials have declined to say whether it plans to discipline either of the players, although they have noted the university has historically suspended students charged with a felony.

Outdoors

Csonka fined $5,000

At Anchorage, Alaska, NFL Hall of Famer Larry Csonka was fined $5,000 for filming a cable television show in a national forest without obtaining the required permit. Magistrate John Roberts also ordered Csonka to pay $3,887 in restitution.

Csonka is host of “NAPA’s North to Alaska,” a cable television show that appears weekly on the Outdoor Life Network and features fishing, hunting, history and customs from around the state.

Csonka reached an agreement in January to plead guilty to two counts of filming on national forest land without proper permits, once on Mitkoff Island and once near Cordova.

Golf

Hall of Fame picks two

Larry Nelson, overlooked as a Ryder Cup captain and often forgotten despite his remarkable journey from Vietnam War veteran to three-time major champion, finally got his due when he was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“Of all the awards, nothing can top this,” Nelson said.

Nelson was elected on the PGA Tour ballot by getting 65 percent of the vote, the minimum required.

He will be inducted Oct. 30 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., along with the late Henry Picard, selected through the veteran’s category, and Vijay Singh, who deferred his induction after being elected last year. That will bring membership in the Hall of Fame to 112.

Soccer

U.S. fourth in FIFA

The United States moved up one spot into fourth place in April’s FIFA world rankings, the Americans’ highest showing.

The U.S. ranking went up despite a 4-1 loss at Germany and a 1-1 tie at home against Jamaica last month.

Defending champion Brazil maintained the top spot, which it has held since taking over from France in July 2002.

•Bruce Arena thinks the United States is on equal footing with some of the world’s top teams as the Americans prepare for the World Cup.

“Are we ready yet to win a World Cup? I don’t think so, but I think we’re ready to compete with the best countries in the world. We’ve demonstrated that,” the U.S. coach said. “My expectations are very similar to 2002. Our goals are to advance. If we can do that, and get to the round of 16, anything can happen.”

At the World Cup in Germany, the Americans open against the Czech Republic on June 12, play Italy five days later, then finish the first round against Ghana on June 17.

College sports

Cal’s Powe declares

California star basketball forward Leon Powe declared for the NBA draft but does not plan to sign with an agent immediately, giving him the option to return to the Golden Bears.

•Felisha Legette-Jack is Indiana’s new women’s basketball coach after four seasons at Hofstra.