Missouri Orders Probe

University of Missouri President Dr. Elson Floyd ordered an independent investigation Monday into the resignation of men’s basketball coach Quin Snyder.

Conducting the probe will be Jean Paul Bradshaw, the former U.S. Attorney for the western district of Missouri, and Dalton Wright, publisher of the Lebanon (Mo.) Daily Record.

In a letter to the two, Floyd requested that they determine what was conveyed to Snyder and by whom before the embattled coach resigned on Feb. 10. He also made clear they were authorized to take their investigation in any direction they felt appropriate.

Snyder announced he was resigning one day after saying he would stick it out for the rest of the season. He had two years left on his contract. Four days later, he agreed to a buyout of more than $500,000.

But the school has been embroiled in turmoil since, especially after it was reported that Athletic Director Mike Alden sent assistant Gary Link to tell Snyder he could either resign or be fired at the end of the season -- something Alden at first flatly denied.

Snyder has said he was told he could either leave then or at the end of the season, that he would not be renewed. He said he asked if there was anything he could do to save his job and was told there wasn’t.

Michigan State starting forward Matt Trannon broke his jaw late in Saturday’s game against Michigan and will be sidelined indefinitely.

TENNIS

First Round Is Unkind to Robredo Once Again

Paul Capdeville rallied to upset third-seeded Tommy Robredo, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships at Memphis, Tenn.

It was the second straight week that Robredo, ranked 14th in the world, has lost in the first round of an ATP Tour event.

In women’s play, fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur was upset by Ashley Harkleroad, 6-4, 6-3, and No. 4 Laura Granville beat Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-3, 6-4.

Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina overcame trouble with her serve to beat Zheng Jie, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1, in the first round of the Dubai Women’s Open in the United Arab Emirates.

In the second round, Myskina will face either Martina Hingis or Sania Mirza.

In another match, Elena Likhovtseva defeated 2005 runner-up Jelena Jankovic, 7-5, 7-5. She will next face second-seeded Lindsay Davenport.

Nikolay Davydenko overcame an injury to his left foot to defeat Jan Hernych, 6-3, 6-3, in the opening round of the ABN Amro at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Davydenko will next play Greg Rusedski, who defeated Robin Vik, 6-3, 7-5.

Elsewhere, eighth-seeded Tomas Berdych lost, 6-4, 7-5, to Taylor Dent.

Jiri Vanek beat Albert Montanes, 7-6 (6), 6-1, in the first round of the $380,000 Brazil Open at Rio de Janeiro.... Unseeded Agnes Szavay upset No. 7 Antonella Serra Zanetti, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, in the Copa Colsanitas at Bogota, Colombia.

SOCCER

Ronaldo Says He Might Leave Real Madrid

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo says he doesn’t feel loved by the club’s fans and will decide at the end of the season whether to leave.

Spectators at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium whistled and booed the Brazil international when he was substituted in the 58th minute in Saturday’s league match against Alaves.

“I have never felt at home in the Bernabeu,” radio station Ser quoted Ronaldo as saying. “The whistling may influence my decision [whether to leave].”

Italian star Francesco Totti says he’ll play in the World Cup only if he’s fully recovered from a leg injury.

The AS Roma captain fractured his fibula and strained ligaments in his left ankle after being tackled from behind during Sunday’s game with Empoli.

“Health comes first, and I don’t want to risk health,” Totti told Italian news agency ANSA. “I strongly want [to play in] the World Cup

MISCELLANY

Indy Motor Speedway to Wait on F-1 Decision

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will wait until after this year’s U.S. Grand Prix to decide whether Formula One will continue racing at the track or move to Las Vegas.

The Speedway’s contract ends after the July 2 race, and F-1 boss Bernie Ecclestone recently told an Italian magazine that if the series does not renew the contract, he would prefer to stage the race in Nevada.

Steve Baker, who has headed the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly nine years, stepped down. Jim Carr, the NAIA’s chief operating officer and general counsel, was named interim president and chief executive.