Another Former Hoosier Levels Charges at Knight

More charges that Bob Knight abused players have surfaced, this time from former Indiana player Chris Lawson.

The Tennessean of Nashville reported that Lawson, who played for the Hoosiers from 1989-91 before transferring to Vanderbilt, saw Knight punch another player in the head at halftime of a game.

Knight also pelted Lawson with basketballs from close range, berated assistant coaches and was verbally abusive to players, Lawson said.

Lawson, 29, a pharmaceutical salesman in Salina, Kan., said he was not contacted during the investigation into Knight’s behavior and didn’t come forward because he feared being made a pariah.

Olympics

Friendship won out as Olympic taekwondo hopeful Esther Kim forfeited a match to her injured friend, Kay Poe, at the U.S. Olympic trials over the weekend at Colorado Springs, Colo.

Poe, ranked No. 1 in the flyweight division, suffered a knee injury in the semifinals and was unable to compete in the final against Kim, a huge underdog. “She came up to me and said, ‘I know you won’t want me to, but I really want to [forfeit] to you,’ ” Poe said. “I just started crying, because this was her chance just as much as it was mine. Really, it was the most heartfelt moment of my life.”

Poe will go on to the Olympics, Kim will stay home.

A special police unit in Sydney, Australia, dealing with threats to the Summer Olympics has arrested a man and charged him with possessing a cache of explosive substances, a police spokesman said today.

The Olympic investigation strike force also seized what it said were racist documents after arresting the 28-year-old man in Sydney last Tuesday, the spokesman said. The man, who has changed his name to Martin Bormann, appeared in court last Wednesday and was remanded in custody. Bormann was the name of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s secretary.

Tennis

Defending champion Australia benefited from a back injury to Albert Costa and beat Spain, 2-1, at the World Team Cup at Duesseldorf, Germany. Lleyton Hewitt was leading Costa, 4-1, when Costa had to quit. Slovakia completed its victory over the United States, winning, 2-1; Russia beat Chile, 3-0, and Germany stopped Sweden, 2-1.

Jurisprudence

A jury of nine black women, one white woman, one black man and one white woman was chosen in the Atlanta murder trial of Baltimore Raven linebacker Ray Lewis, who along with two other defendants could be sentenced to life in prison.

Auburn football Coach Tommy Tuberville suspended two players arrested last week on charges of firing a gun on campus during a fraternity event attended by about 300. Tuberville said freshman wide receiver Deandre Green and sophomore defensive back Brandon Reed will remain off the team until authorities resolve the misdemeanor charges.

Miscellany

The Miami Fusion said it will keep Ray Hudson as its coach for the rest of the Major League Soccer season. Hudson, who was the team’s TV commentator, replaced Ivo Wortmann on May 8. Miami has since won three consecutive games. . . . D.C. United signed forward Pete Marino, who was waived by Tampa Bay in March.

The Oakland Raiders signed defensive back Marquez Pope, an eight-year NFL veteran who played with the Cleveland Browns last season. . . . The San Diego Chargers re-signed fullback Fred McCrary to a four-year contract. . . . The Miami Dolphins waived quarterback Scott Zolak, who played in only one game last season.

Bill Bell, 77, became the oldest competitor to finish an Ironman triathlon when he completed the Isuzu Ironman California triathlon at Camp Pendleton last Saturday in 16 hours 57 minutes 14 seconds. The cutoff time was 17 hours.