In brief: USA’s Johnson wins world gymnastics title
Shawn Johnson, America’s new queen of gymnastics, also proclaimed herself best in the world Friday at Stuttgart, Germany, winning the all-around title with her bright smile and sky-high jumps and setting herself up as the woman to beat next year at the Beijing Olympics.
The 15-year-old Iowa girl scored 61.875 points to defeat Steliana Nistor of Romania by 1.25.
Brazil’s Jade Barbosa and defending champion Vanessa Ferrari of Italy tied for third. American Nastia Liukin, who fell off the beam, finished fifth.
BASKETBALL
Jackson, Williams head hall of fame class
Phil Jackson, who learned to coach from Red Holzman and practiced the craft on superstars like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Joining him were North Carolina coach Roy Williams; the 1966 NCAA champion Texas Western team; four-time WNBA championship coach Van Chancellor, the longtime women’s coach at Mississippi recently hired by LSU; former NBA referee Mendy Rudolph; and international coaches Pedro Ferrandiz of Spain and Mirko Novosel of Yugoslavia.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Former MSU player will plead guilty
Former Montana State player Richard Gatewood, whose arrest on federal drug charges was the final straw in the firing of coach Mike Kramer, intends to plead guilty, court records show.
Gatewood will plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to a motion filed Thursday in Helena. The plea agreement will be filed in U.S. District Court in Missoula next week.
“Purdue receiver Selwyn Lymon faces team discipline after being charged with two other players in connection with a nightclub fight in which he was stabbed in the chest.
Purdue coach Joe Tiller did not specify the punishment and there was no word whether he would play today against Eastern Illinois.
“New Hampshire player Henri “Hank” Hendricks, charged with murder in California, is expected to turn himself in by Monday, authorities in San Diego said.
Hendricks will face charges that he was part of a gang that fatally beat a man in May.
MISCELLANY
Witter retains championship
Junior Witter retained his WBC light-welterweight belt by stopping Vivian Harris in the seventh round of a bout in Doncaster, England.
Witter (36-1-2) never looked troubled and ended the bout with a powerful left hook to the head that sent Harris straight to the mat.
“Jared Cranston pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, striking out 10, and Sean VanElderen hit a grand slam as Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 10-0 at Pasco to square the best-of-5 Northwest League baseball playoffs at one game apiece.