National sports
Bol seriously injured in highway car accident
Former NBA center Manute Bol was seriously injured in a car accident, Colchester, Conn., police said. Bol was riding in a cab Wednesday night when it hit a guardrail and swerved across both lanes before hitting a rock ledge and rolling over, killing the driver and throwing the 7-foot-7-inch Bol from the car. Bol sustained a head injury and was taken by helicopter to Hartford Hospital, state police spokesman J. Paul Vance said. Bol’s condition wasn’t released Thursday. “The doctor said, for his age, he’s in extremely good shape and would probably be dead if he wasn’t an athlete,” longtime friend Andrew Kearns said. “It’s going to be a long recovery, unfortunately.” The accident happened about 30 miles southeast of Bol’s home in West Hartford. He spent 11 seasons in the NBA with four teams, blocking more shots per minute than anyone in league history. He retired in 1995, averaging 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 points during his career.
Courts
Ex-NBA star Murphy indicted
NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy was indicted on six counts of sexually abusing five of his daughters more than 10 years ago.
The former Houston Rockets star, who is on leave from his job as an analyst on Rockets telecasts, also was arraigned on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child, Assistant District Attorney Lance Long said.
Murphy initially was charged March 29 after five daughters accused him of sexually abusing them between 1988-1991, when they ranged in age from 6 to 13. Murphy, 55, has contended the allegations stem from a family battle over money, an explanation Long has dismissed.
He remains free on $20,000 bail. If convicted, Murphy could receive five years to life in prison for the aggravated offenses and two to 20 years for the indecency violations. He also could be eligible for probation because he does not have a criminal history.
Murphy, a guard for the Rockets from 1970-83, has 14 children by nine women.
FOOTBALL
NFL investigating Bettis
NFL officials will talk with Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to determine whether he has violated league rules by being involved in a proposed real estate development that could include slot machines.
Bettis, the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history, was in Harrisburg this week to speak with lawmakers about minority interests in proposed gambling legislation.
The 32-year-old running back appeared with C.J. Betters, a developer who has proposed a $500 million facility that could include a horse track, hotel, townhouses, retail stores and slot machines, if the state passes legislation legalizing slots.
The NFL policy on gambling prohibits players from advertising or promoting activities “that can reasonably be perceived as constituting affiliation with or endorsement of gambling.”
“Linebacker Keyaron Fox, a third-round draft selection, agreed to a four-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Olympics
Greeks step up security
Security teams began a full-scale tightening of surveillance and patrols in preparation for next month’s Olympics.
But the inability to seal off the main stadium complex could raise concerns that the round-the-clock construction may compromise the most elaborate and costly security network in Olympic history.
“For us, the Olympic Games start today,” Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said. “They start today for the Greek police, the armed forces and the coast guard.”
Voulgarakis said officials will try to get the stadium fully secured before Aug. 10 — three days before the opening ceremony. Nearly all other Olympic facilities will be fully “locked down” within the next few weeks, officials said.
“By the middle of July we will have 100 percent implementation of the measures,” Voulgarakis said.
“Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Andy Roddick head the list of 27 of the leading 30 men’s players who will compete in tennis at the Athens Olympics.
Justine Henin-Hardenne leads the women’s entry list, which features seven of the top 10 in the rankings, including Venus and Serena Williams.
“Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and five other gold medalists from the U.S. Olympic team in 1996 were selected to the women’s soccer squad that will head to the Athens Olympics next month.
Others making their third Olympics are Briana Scurry, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Cindy Parlow.
Cycling
World champ investigated
World time trial champion David Millar, already barred from the Tour de France, told a judge Thursday he used a performance-enhancing drug.
He was then placed under investigation as part of a probe into the alleged use of banned substances by the British rider’s Cofidis team, his lawyer said.
Judge Richard Pallain placed Millar under investigation — a step short of being charged — for “acquiring and holding poisonous substances,” lawyer Paul-Albert Iweins said. He was allowed to remain free.
“He said that he took three EPO cures of one-week each in 2001 and 2003,” Iweins told The Associated Press. EPO works by boosting oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
“He spoke of his own doping and did not point a finger at any other person implicated in the case,” the lawyer said.
Police raided Millar’s home in Biarritz last week and said they found two used syringes labeled Eprex 4000, a form of EPO.
Rowing
Navy wins at Henley Regatta
Navy won its second straight race at the Henley Royal Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, England, defeating Nottingham University.
The student eights from the U.S. Naval Academy took an early lead in the second-round Temple Cup race and won by 1 1/4 lengths.
Harvard also reached the quarterfinals in the event, defeating Rhode Island by two lengths. Georgetown was beaten by a team from the Netherlands by three-quarters of a length.
Sports people
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela rode two winners at Hollywood Park in his return to racing after serving a month-long suspension for missing a mandatory drug test… . John Savage was hired as baseball coach at UCLA to succeed Gary Adams, who retired following this past season after 30 years as the Bruins’ coach. Savage spent four seasons at UC Irvine, going 88-84-1 while rebuilding the program. He was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern California from 1996-2000… . Auburn point guard Lewis Monroe received a release from his scholarship and plans to transfer, the third player to leave since Jeff Lebo replaced Cliff Ellis as head coach.