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Sports Briefs: Stewart going pro
By The Associated Press
Saturday, January 12, 2008 | No comments posted.
EUGENE — Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart plans to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Stewart, a junior, rushed for a school-record 1,722 yards this season, an average of 132.5 yards a game. He ran for 11 touchdowns and caught a pair of passes for scores.
He rushed for 253 yards in Oregon’s 56-21 victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
The Ducks finished 9-4 and ranked No. 23 in the final Associated Press poll.
“To be honest with you, it came down to my faith,” Stewart said about his decision. “Going to the NFL draft, you’re going to have to go ... it’s a crapshoot, nothing is set in stone. I based my decision on things that are like prediction and had to lean on something like faith to make my decision. That’s where I went.”
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti believes Stewart will go in the first round of the draft, which will take place April 26-27.
“I know this wasn’t an easy decision for him but he feels in his heart that this is what he wants,” Bellotti said. “I assured him that we would support whatever conclusion he came to.”
Stewart said he made his decision on Thursday night.
“Up until the beginning of this week, that’s the only time I’ve really been able to sit down and actually think about what I wanted to do,” he said.
Steward added he’d “found peace with my decision.”
VOLLEYBALL
Americans reach Olympics
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico — The U.S. volleyball team qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Friday night, beating Puerto Rico 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 in the final of the NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The Americans finished the tournament 5-0 and didn’t drop a set.
In the third-place match, Cuba beat Canada 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 25-23.
BASEBALL
MLB adds investigation wing
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball launched a department of investigations Friday, a permanent branch of the commissioner’s office responsible for looking into drug use in the sport.
In his report last month on drug use in baseball, George Mitchell had recommended the formation of the unit. Adopting another of Mitchell’s recommendations, MLB is establishing a tip line for team employees to make the commissioner’s office aware of violations of drug, betting and other rules.
MLB said the unit “will have broad authority to conduct investigations.” The limits of the unit were not immediately clear. Will it place moles in clubhouses? Will it secretly tail players away from ballparks?
“The department of investigations will have critically important responsibilities in protecting the integrity of our sport,” commissioner Bud Selig said.
GOLF
HONOLULU — A different week, a different island and a much different view for K.J. Choi.
Seven days ago, Choi was bringing up the rear in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, last among 31 winners at Kapalua going into the weekend. On Friday, he closed with three straight birdies for a 5-under 65 and a two-shot lead in the Sony Open.
Choi was at 11-under 129. Kevin Na was the only player in the afternoon to make a move, making seven birdies in a round of 64.
Stephen Marino was atop the leaderboard for most of the morning until his momentum stalled with a bogey on the easiest hole, although he recovered for a 67 and was three shots behind.
Tadd Fujikawa played his ninth tournament as a pro without cashing a check.
Fujikawa, who turned 17 this week, last year became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour when he shot 66 in the second round at the Sony Open and wound up in a tie for 20th. His encore didn’t go as he had hoped.
Needing a 66 to make the cut, his hopes ended with a double bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole. He shot 70 for a 4-over 144, missing the cut no matter how it was decided.
Stewart, a junior, rushed for a school-record 1,722 yards this season, an average of 132.5 yards a game. He ran for 11 touchdowns and caught a pair of passes for scores.
He rushed for 253 yards in Oregon’s 56-21 victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
The Ducks finished 9-4 and ranked No. 23 in the final Associated Press poll.
“To be honest with you, it came down to my faith,” Stewart said about his decision. “Going to the NFL draft, you’re going to have to go ... it’s a crapshoot, nothing is set in stone. I based my decision on things that are like prediction and had to lean on something like faith to make my decision. That’s where I went.”
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti believes Stewart will go in the first round of the draft, which will take place April 26-27.
“I know this wasn’t an easy decision for him but he feels in his heart that this is what he wants,” Bellotti said. “I assured him that we would support whatever conclusion he came to.”
Stewart said he made his decision on Thursday night.
“Up until the beginning of this week, that’s the only time I’ve really been able to sit down and actually think about what I wanted to do,” he said.
Steward added he’d “found peace with my decision.”
VOLLEYBALL
Americans reach Olympics
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico — The U.S. volleyball team qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Friday night, beating Puerto Rico 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 in the final of the NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The Americans finished the tournament 5-0 and didn’t drop a set.
In the third-place match, Cuba beat Canada 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 25-23.
BASEBALL
MLB adds investigation wing
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball launched a department of investigations Friday, a permanent branch of the commissioner’s office responsible for looking into drug use in the sport.
In his report last month on drug use in baseball, George Mitchell had recommended the formation of the unit. Adopting another of Mitchell’s recommendations, MLB is establishing a tip line for team employees to make the commissioner’s office aware of violations of drug, betting and other rules.
MLB said the unit “will have broad authority to conduct investigations.” The limits of the unit were not immediately clear. Will it place moles in clubhouses? Will it secretly tail players away from ballparks?
“The department of investigations will have critically important responsibilities in protecting the integrity of our sport,” commissioner Bud Selig said.
GOLF
HONOLULU — A different week, a different island and a much different view for K.J. Choi.
Seven days ago, Choi was bringing up the rear in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, last among 31 winners at Kapalua going into the weekend. On Friday, he closed with three straight birdies for a 5-under 65 and a two-shot lead in the Sony Open.
Choi was at 11-under 129. Kevin Na was the only player in the afternoon to make a move, making seven birdies in a round of 64.
Stephen Marino was atop the leaderboard for most of the morning until his momentum stalled with a bogey on the easiest hole, although he recovered for a 67 and was three shots behind.
Tadd Fujikawa played his ninth tournament as a pro without cashing a check.
Fujikawa, who turned 17 this week, last year became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour when he shot 66 in the second round at the Sony Open and wound up in a tie for 20th. His encore didn’t go as he had hoped.
Needing a 66 to make the cut, his hopes ended with a double bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole. He shot 70 for a 4-over 144, missing the cut no matter how it was decided.
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