Stanford’s Lopez twins declare for NBA draft
Stanford sophomore Robin Lopez is joining his 7-foot brother Brook in entering the NBA draft.
The brothers made their announcement to the Associated Press on Monday through their mother, Deborah Ledford.
It was expected that Brook would declare himself eligible for the NBA, but Robin was not so certain. They were prep stars in Fresno, Calif., and came to Stanford together. Now they will depart as a tandem, too.
“This has been a very difficult decision for me because I really enjoyed my two years at Stanford,” Robin Lopez said in a statement released to the AP. “I have always hoped I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA and I feel now is the right time to make that dream a reality.”
•Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn is leaving for South Carolina after the Hilltoppers’ best finish in the NCAA tournament in 15 years.
Horn will replace Dave Odom, who retired at the end of the season.
Tennis
Williams, Henin set
Serena Williams always seems to rise to the challenge at the Sony Ericsson Open, where she has won four titles and is back in the quarterfinals. She beat Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3 in Key Biscayne, Fla., and will next play top-ranked Justine Henin, renewing one of the best rivalries in tennis.
The No. 8-seeded Williams looked sloppy in a third-round victory, committing 60 unforced errors, but she pared that total to 24 against Kanepi.
Lindsay Davenport lost to Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-4.
Davenport totaled 34 unforced errors, including six double faults.
No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 6 Andy Roddick reached the fourth round on the men’s side.
Soccer
Mexico fires coach
Hugo Sanchez was fired as coach of Mexico’s men’s team two weeks after El Tri’s under-23 team was eliminated from Olympic qualifying.
The Mexican soccer federation fired Sanchez after 16 months on the job, having failed to deliver on promises of regional titles and an Olympic medal.
Jesus Ramirez was installed as the interim manager.
Miscellany
USOC staying put
The U.S. Olympic Committee will keep its headquarters and training center in Colorado Springs. Colo., for the next 25 years.
The city and the governing body agreed to a $53 million deal. The USOC had been considering options to relocate because of aging facilities.
•The veterinarian treating Iditarod champion Lance Mackey’s sled dog Zorro says he will make a full recovery from injuries suffered when he was hit by a snowmobile.
However, Kobi Johnson, an Iditarod trail veterinarian in Tacoma, believes Zorro’s racing days are probably over.
•Georgie Boy is off the Kentucky Derby trail after pulling a muscle in his back. Trainer Kathy Walsh said the colt won’t require surgery.