Briefs | Longtime Blackhawks owner dies

NHL

William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, dead at 77: William Wirtz, the longtime owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, died Wednesday at age 77.

In an announcement on the team Web site, the Blackhawks said Wirtz died at Evanston Hospital after battling cancer.

The family, led by Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Chicago Blackhawks in 1954. In 1966, William Wirtz became team president.

Wirtz was chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Hockey League for 18 years and helped negotiate the merger of the NHL and the World Hockey Association in the late 1970s.

"Bill Wirtz was a giant presence in a giant city, his beloved Chicago, and an even greater presence in the National Hockey League," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

College athletics

Florida State cheating scandal: Two athletic-department academic-assistance employees have resigned and 23 Florida State University athletes were implicated in cheating on tests given over the Internet, school officials said.

The athletes represent nine sports and 17 of the students are or have been on scholarship. Officials could not identify the students and could not say which sports are involved because of federal confidentiality restrictions.

University president T.K. Wetherell reported the findings in a letter to the NCAA. He indicated inquiries are continuing although an internal investigation failed to find conclusive evidence of a more widespread pattern of cheating.

The students could face punishment from the university and NCAA, including loss of eligibility. The NCAA also could sanction the university.

International basketball

U.S. downs Cuba: Candace Parker scored 21 points and Katie Smith added two late three-pointers to help the United States hold off Cuba 85-79 in its opening game at the FIBA Americas tournament in Valdivia, Chile. The Storm's Sue Bird had nine assists and four steals.

After finishing third at the World Championships, the United States was forced to play in the FIBA Americas tournament. Only the tournament winner earns an automatic bid to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The United States will face Jamaica today. Jamaica lost to Canada 68-47 in its opener.

Rugby

U.S. loses 25-21 to Samoa: Samoa ended a five-match losing streak at the Rugby World Cup by beating United States 25-21 in its final Group A match in Saint-Etienne, France.

Samoa finished with five points in Group A. The United States has one and will almost certainly end up last with its final match against group winner South Africa on Sunday in Montpellier.

Horse racing

Street Sense is Kentucky Cup favorite: Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby and Travers winner trained by Carl Nafzger, is the odds-on favorite in a short field for Saturday's $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park, an easy drive up Interstate 71 from his home barn at Churchill Downs.

The 3-year-old colt will start from the middle of a field of five that were entered. Hard Spun, runner-up in the Derby, will start from the inside post. Others entered for the 1-1/8 mile Grade 2 Classic over Polytrack are Stream Cat, trained by Patrick Biancone; Cat Shaker, trained by Craig Callis; and Muqbil, trained by Duane Knipe.

Cycling

Alejandro Valverde wins case: The world cycling federation lost its case to exclude Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde from the world championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

The UCI had attempted to ban Valverde from competing in Sunday's road race because of his alleged links to the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal in Spain.

Seattle Times news services