Michigan Criticized by Fisher

Fired Michigan basketball coach Steve Fisher broke his silence Monday, criticizing the university for not letting him see an outside study critical of him before it was made public.

The investigation cited three NCAA violations the university termed minor. The university-sanctioned study was made public Thursday and Fisher was fired Friday.

Fisher said he made the mistake of not being more assertive in defending himself to school officials.

The report questioned Fisher’s role in arranging complimentary tickets for booster Eddie Martin.

Martin, a retired auto worker from Detroit, has been at the center of the investigation. Published reports said he provided cash and gifts to several Michigan players.

Martin has denied the allegations and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Fisher said Martin received complimentary tickets in a way that conformed to then-applicable NCAA rules.

“I said a long time ago, call me a lot of things, but don’t call me dishonest,” Fisher said.

Michigan Athletic Director Tom Goss said Cal Coach Ben Braun was a candidate for the job.

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Bob Stull, winningest basketball coach in in Cal Poly Pomona history, died Sunday at 80. Stull was 324-304 from 1947 to 1971.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier. A memorial service will follow, at 3 p.m., at United Methodist Church, Covina.

Tennis

Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark won a battle of tie-breakers in defeating Alex O’Brien of the United States, 7-6 (10-8), 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (11-9) in the ATP Czech Indoor tournament.

Second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia needed just over a hour to beat New Zealand’s Brett Stevens, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the $750,000 Lyon Grand Prix tournament.

In another quick match, Tommy Haas of Germany defeated Albert Portas of Spain, 6-1, 6-3, in 58 minutes.

Venus Williams defeated Romania’s Ruxandra Dragomir 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of the European Indoors at Zurich.

Sixth-seed Anke Huber of Germany avenged her first-round loss last week to Mary Joe Fernandez, defeating her 7-5, 6-0.

Swimming

Chen Yan broke the women’s 400-meter individual medley world record when she clocked 4:34.79 at China’s National Games.

Chen, 16, from the province of Liaoning, bettered the mark of 4:36.10 set by Petra Schneider of the former East Germany in 1982.

In the 400 individual medley at the 1996 Olympics, Chen failed to reach the finals, swimming 4:53.97. Monday’s result was the first world record for China in a 50-meter pool since seven Chinese swimmers failed drug tests at the 1994 Asian Games.

Auto Racing

Jacques Villeneuve will find out next week if he is still in the running for the Formula One title. The International Automobile Federation said the appeal of his disqualification at the Japanese Grand Prix will be heard Oct. 21.

Soccer

At least 30 soccer fans were injured, none seriously, and police detained 134 people as street celebrations of Chile’s 4-0 victory over Peru in a World Cup qualifying match turned violent.

General Manager Tim Latta of Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards resigned.