Fast Break

Men’s basketball

NIC’s Parker on NJCAA first team

North Idaho College’s Renado Parker was selected as a National Junior College Athletic Association first-team All-American.

Parker was one of four freshmen named to the NJCAA first team.

The forward from Seattle’s Kentwood High School averaged 14.7 points per game, 6.5 rebounds and 1.26 steals and had a 59.5 field-goal percentage.

The Cardinals compiled a 27-4 record, winning the Scenic West Athletic Conference title.

Soccer

Obama lobbies for World Cup

U.S. President Barack Obama has written a letter to FIFA president Sepp Blatter supporting the U.S. bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

In excerpts released Tuesday by the U.S. Soccer Federation, Obama writes of the “spirit of unity” from soccer he has seen as a child and as a father.

FIFA’s executive committee will decide the hosts for both tournaments in December 2010.

The United States hosted the World Cup for the first time in 1994, and the 52 games drew records for total attendance (3.59 million) and average (68,991).

England and Spain’s joint bid with Portugal are considered the favorites to host in 2018, with the U.S. seen as a favorite for 2022.

Marathon

Rodgers back at Boston race

Four-time champion Bill Rodgers will run the Boston Marathon again this year.

Rodgers was given a bib showing his last name and the official number of 79 to honor the 30th anniversary of his 1979 victory. The 61-year-old last completed the race in 1996 in just more than 2 hours, 53 minutes.

It will be the 17th Boston Marathon for Rodgers, who underwent treatment for prostate cancer last year.

Rodgers won the race in 1975, ’78, ’79 and ’80, twice setting the course record.