The Virginia baseball team continued its surprising run through the ACC tournament with a 5-4 win over Clemson in Jacksonville, Fla., advancing to today's final against top-seeded Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers (41-17) were seventh in the ACC during the regular season, but have now won nine straight, including three in the postseason. It will be Virginia's third appearance in an ACC final, and first since 1996.
Elsewhere, George Washington fell to Rhode Island, 9-7, in the Atlantic 10 Conference final in Dayton, Ohio, finishing with 41 wins for the second straight year. Last season, the Colonials were the only Division I team with more than 40 wins not to receive a berth in the NCAA tournament.
· HOCKEY: ESPN will not pick up a $60 million option to retain NHL broadcasting rights for next season, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.
The Times, citing an unidentified source familiar with the situation, said ESPN would make an announcement Tuesday -- a day before the option deadline -- and that the league was aware of the cable network's decision.
While ESPN will not pick up the option on the deal it agreed to in May 2004, the Times said the network might try to retain the rights for less money.
· BASKETBALL : USA Basketball named nine current and former basketball executives Thursday to a panel that will advise the men's senior national program on matters including coaches and players selection.
Those chosen are Tom Jernstedt , past USA Basketball president and current executive vice president of the NCAA; Russ Granik , former USA Basketball president and current deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the NBA; Dave Gavitt , 1980 U.S. Olympic head coach and former USA Basketball president; Wayne Embry , former NBA player, general manager and president; Bryan Colangelo , president and general manager of the Phoenix Suns; Ernie Grunfeld , president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards; Billy King , president and general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers; Rod Thorn , president of the New Jersey Nets; and Jerry West , president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo , who was selected last month as the managing director of the USA Basketball senior men's national program for 2005-2008, is responsible for selecting the senior men's team coaching staff and players through 2008 and overseeing training and exhibition games.
· BASEBALL: Calling the World Baseball Classic a no-risk proposition for Japan, a representative of MLB rejected claims by Japanese baseball officials that revenue distribution for the proposed tournament would be unfair.
MLB and its players' association have already approved the 16-nation World Baseball Classic, which would be played in March 2006.
But officials of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball have argued that MLB and its players would get most of the profits, the first World Cup-style event that would feature the world's top professional baseball players.
"That's just not the case," said Paul Archey , senior vice president of MLB International. "Every participating federation will potentially receive more money from this than every major league club."
-- From News Services and Staff Reports
