Review Criticizes Olympic Ticket Program

An independent review criticized the controversial ticket program for next year’s Summer Olympics, leading to calls Monday for the resignation of Michael Knight, Sydney Olympics minister and president of the organizing board SOCOG.

SOCOG was criticized when it was revealed that it kept about 500,000 tickets out of a public pool to offer to corporate clients at up to three times face value. The vast majority of tickets have since been returned for normal sale following public outrage.

“Now that the report has found serious flaws in the way SOCOG mishandled the ticketing process, Michael Knight must do the right thing and step down from his post in order to restore public confidence in the preparations of the Games,” New South Wales state opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski said in a statement.

Knight ruled out resigning but admitted serious errors were made.

“This is not about finding scapegoats, this is not about finding people to sack, it’s about fixing our procedures,” Knight said at a Sydney news conference.

SOCOG management was criticized for failing to control its ticket inventory and for being careless about the accuracy of information given to the public, which was told that 3.5 million tickets would be available. The actual figure was 420,000 lower.

Golf

Gary Nicklaus, the 30-year-old son of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, shot a seven-under-par 63 in the final round of qualifying school at Doral Golf Resort in Miami and earned his PGA Tour card for the first time in nine attempts. Among those who failed to earn their cards were former PGA Tour winners Chip Beck, Ken Green, Mike Hulbert, Bob Gilder, Jim McGovern and Grant Waite.

Nissan North America Inc. has extended its sponsorship of the Nissan Open PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club through 2002. The 144-man field in next year’s tournament, which begins Feb. 17, will be competing for a $3.1-million purse with a $558,000 top prize.

Jurisprudence

Afederal judge in Austin, Texas, has approved a plea agreement between former University of Texas and New Orleans Saint kicker Russell Erxleben and federal prosecutors. Erxleben, who made a formal guilty plea to federal conspiracy and fraud charges, could spend seven years in prison and be ordered to pay $17 million restitution. The plea does not end the investigation of Erxleben’s foreign currency trading operation, a state official has said. Erxleben has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

An appeals court in Bologna, Italy, upheld the acquittals of Williams technical director Patrick Head and former team designer Adrian Newey in the 1994 death of Formula One race-car driver Ayrton Senna.

Anthony Fabri, a member of the U.S. World Cup rugby team, was arrested after a drunken brawl at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Miscellany

In a battle of familiar foes, the Westmont women’s soccer team defeated Azusa Pacific, 2-1, and advanced to the final of the NAIA women’s soccer tournament at Miami. The second-ranked Warriors (20-2) will play sixth-ranked Transylvania of Kentucky (22-0) today in the championship match. Against the Cougars, the Warriors got goals from seniors Katie Gardinier and Stephanie Herivel and nine saves from goalkeeper Kritsen St. Clair.

The U.S. men’s volleyball team upset three-time world champion Italy, 25-23, 25-19, 25-22, to remain undefeated, along with Cuba and Russia, in the World Cup at Tokyo.

South Alabama freshman David Kimani and Wisconsin sophomore Erica Palmer won individual titles in the NCAA Division I cross-country championships at Bloomington, Ind., while the Arkansas men and Brigham Young women took team titles.

The sixth-ranked UCLA women’s volleyball team (25-2) plays at No. 10 Pepperdine (23-3) tonight at 7 in the final match of the season for both teams before the NCAA tournament begins Dec. 2.

Southern Section officials will meet today with administrators from Loyola and Fontana high schools to review the events that sparked a brawl during the postgame handshake after Loyola’s 28-7 first-round football playoff victory Friday night at Pierce College.

The Arena Football League expanded its television contracts by signing deals with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the Nashville Network worth about $25 million over three years.

Names in the News

Halil Mutlu of Turkey set three world records and swept all three gold medals in the men’s 123-pound class at the world weightlifting championships at Piraeus, Greece. China’s Chen Yanqing broke two women’s records and North Korea’s Ri Song Hui set one.

NASCAR driver Mark Martin, 40, underwent lumbar fusion surgery, intended to relieve most of the back pain he has dealt with for years.

Tim Beverly, owner of the Tyler Jet Motorsports team in NASCAR’s Winston Cup series, announced Johnny Benson, the 1996 rookie of the year, has agreed to drive for him next season.

Serge Lang, the Frenchman who created skiing’s World Cup circuit and helped revolutionize the sport, died of a heart attack in Sternerberg, France. He was 79.