Westfield QB Glennon Commits to N.C. State

A week after attending football camp at North Carolina State, Westfield quarterback Mike Glennon yesterday made an oral commitment to the ACC school.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Glennon, a rising senior, chose the Wolfpack over Virginia and Michigan, his other two finalists from among about two dozen offers.

Glennon, whose brother Sean is the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech, said he likes the pro-style offense favored by first-year N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien.

"Their offense is very similar to what we run at Westfield, so I think it will be an easier transition for me to step in and learn the offense," Glennon said. "Their coaching style is similar to [Westfield Coach Tom Verbanic's] -- very honest, very strict."

As a junior at Westfield, Glennon completed 123 of 205 passes for 1,662 yards, with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Glennon said Virginia Tech was "one of the favorites" -- in addition to his brother, a sister, Katie, also goes there -- but that he wanted to "get out of the shadow a little bit and go and do my own thing."

· SOCCER: David Beckham will be officially introduced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 13 at the team's stadium in Carson, Calif. The 32-year-old midfielder is expected to make his playing debut in an exhibition against England's Chelsea on July 21 at Home Depot Center.

· PRO FOOTBALL: Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Fred Evans, arrested over the weekend for refusing to leave a taxi on South Beach and for fighting with officers, was released by the team. He played in one game as a rookie last season.

· AUTO RACING: Team owner Rick Hendrick won't appeal the penalties NASCAR handed Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, and their crew chiefs will immediately begin their six-race suspensions.

Chad Knaus and Steve Letarte were suspended and fined $100,000 each because the cars for Gordon and Johnson failed inspections last week. Gordon and Johnson both were docked 100 points.

Knaus and Letarte will resume track duties for the Aug. 19 race at Michigan International Speedway.

· SWIMMING: Hayley Peirsol, the 21-year-old sister of Olympic backstroke champion Aaron Peirsol, won the 1,500-meter freestyle in 16 minutes 12.08 seconds on opening night of the Santa Clara (Calif.) Grand Prix meet. Olympians Michael Phelps, Brendan Hansen, Ryan Lochte and Natalie Coughlin are competing in the four-day meet.

· HOCKEY: Forward Paul Kariya, who led the Nashville Predators in scoring the last two seasons, plans to enter free agency. General Manager David Poile said Kariya decided to become a free agent because the Predators are up for sale and the team's future is uncertain.

· WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Tina Thompson scored 20 points, and the host Houston Comets made six free throws in the final 40 seconds for an 81-76 WNBA victory over the Seattle Storm.

· BOXING: Lightweight Marquis Moore of Fort Washington took an 18-1 decision over Omar Douglas of Wilmington, Del., in the quarterfinals of the Junior Olympics in Marquette, Mich. Nicholas Kisner of Glen Burnie notched a 12-1 decision over Justin Novaria of Ohio.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports