Fast Break

College Basketball

Olson shakes up staff at Arizona

Arizona coach Lute Olson named Kevin O’Neill on Tuesday to replace longtime aide Jim Rosborough, who has rejected an offer to move elsewhere in the athletic department.

The staff shakeup comes after one of the more disappointing seasons in Olson’s 24-year tenure at Arizona. The Wildcats won 12 of their first 13 games and climbed to a No. 7 ranking before collapsing in Pac-10 play. They lost to Purdue in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Many of Arizona’s problems stemmed from an inability – or refusal – to play defense. O’Neill stressed defense as the head coach at Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.

O’Neill dismissed speculation that he has been pegged as the eventual successor to the 72-year-old Olson, who has said he has no plans to retire.

Baseball

Flashlight trick costly to fan

Frank Martinez has watched his last New York Mets game in Shea Stadium.

The 40-year-old fan was banned from Mets home games for three years after pleading guilty to shining a high-powered flashlight at a pair of Atlanta Braves players during an April 20 game. The Bronx man also must spend 15 days in jail as part of his sentence for interfering with a professional sporting event.

By the time Martinez can return, the Mets will be playing in a new stadium under construction behind Shea. Martinez cannot watch the Mets in person at a home game until 2010.

Auto Racing

Actor Dempsey will pace Indy 500

Actor Patrick Dempsey, a star of the TV medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” will drive the Chevrolet Corvette pace car for the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.

Dempsey, co-owner of the Vision Racing team, will lead the field of 33 drivers to the green flag at the start of the race. Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood said Dempsey has developed a bond with racing and the track.

“So he truly understands and appreciates the pageantry, prestige and tradition of the month of May and the Indianapolis 500,” he said.