Northwestern Hands Out Punishments for Hazing

Northwestern University has punished its men’s swim team and students who perform as the school’s mascot for hazing, a school spokesman said Wednesday, only days after the school suspended its women’s soccer team amid similar allegations.

The swim team’s hazing occurred in September and involved underage drinking, swimming in Lake Michigan when the beaches were closed and “additional inappropriate behavior,” said Mike Wolf, Northwestern’s assistant athletic director for media services.

On Monday, Northwestern announced it had suspended its women’s soccer team from all athletic activities after pictures of alleged hazing incidents ended up on the Internet.

All members of the men’s swim team were put on disciplinary probation, required to perform a community service project and attend educational sessions on hazing after the Division of Student Affairs investigated and determined there had been a violation of Northwestern’s anti-hazing policy.

The athletic department also canceled the team’s training trip to Hawaii and several team members were prohibited from swimming in one or more meets, Wolf said.

In October, students who perform as “Willie the Wildcat,” the school’s mascot, staged a fake kidnapping of new students who were candidates to fill the role, Wolf said. Northwestern fired the students who had been performing as the Wildcat and put them on disciplinary probation after an investigation.

None of the players has been suspended from school.

TENNIS

Blake Advances in Hamburg Masters

James Blake defeated Andy Murray, 6-3, 6-3, Wednesday in the second round of the Hamburg Masters in Germany.

Third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, who became the top-seeded player when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal withdrew, was upset by Jose Acasuso, 6-2, 6-0. Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Andreas Seppi, 6-1, 6-2 in 63 minutes.

Second-seeded Kim Clijsters rallied past qualifier Akiki Mirigami, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome. Fifth-seeded Elena Dementieva had a walkover when Peng Shuai withdrew because of illness.

Sixth-seeded Ashley Harkleroad was upset by Melinda Czink, 6-1, 6-4, in the first round of the Grand Prix SAR in Rabat, Morocco. Czink will next meet Meghann Shaughnessy, who beat Sandra Kloesel, 7-5, 0-6, 6-3.

PRO FOOTBALL

Holmgren Agrees to Contract Extension

Seattle Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren agreed to a contract extension through the 2008 season. Terms were not disclosed. Holmgren, 58, was entering the final season of the $35-million, eight-year contract he signed upon arriving from Green Bay in 1999.

The New Orleans Saints set a club record for season-ticket sales, four months before making their post-Hurricane Katrina return to the Superdome by selling 54,969 tickets, surpassing the previous record of 53,728 set in August 2003.

JURISPRUDENCE

Trial Dates Set for Two Vikings

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot and tackle Bryant McKinnie will go on trial in Minneapolis on charges stemming from an Oct. 6 boat-party sex scandal.

Smoot’s trial is scheduled to begin May 30 and McKinnie’s is scheduled for July 7. Each player is charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, indecent conduct, and lewd and lascivious behavior.

As expected, a court hearing for USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was postponed pending the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office review of the case and a decision about whether to file charges. Sanchez, 19, was arrested April 26 on suspicion of sexual assault. He is free on $200,000 bail.

MISCELLANY

U.S. Can’t Overcome Hannula, Sweden

Mika Hannula’s hat trick helped Olympic champion Sweden beat the United States, 6-0, in the quarterfinals of the World Ice Hockey Championship in Riga, Latvia. The U.S. finished 4-3. The Swedes will face Canada, which beat Slovakia, 4-1.

With 31 drivers trying to make up for nearly a week of rained-out practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sam Hornish Jr. was fastest again with a 224.381-mph lap.

Helio Castroneves was a close second behind his teammate at 223.392 mph, followed by Scott Sharp at 223.293.

Los Angeles Fremont decided to accept the recommendation of the City Section rules committee to suspend boys’ basketball Coach Sam Sullivan for one season as part of its punishment for the team using six ineligible players last season, district administrator Scott Braxton said.

PASSINGS

Former Bengal Ross Collapses, Dies at 49

Dan Ross, who set the record for most Super Bowl receptions with 11 for 104 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1982, collapsed and died shortly after an evening jog in Atkinson, N.H. He was 49.

Jim Lemon, a former All-Star outfielder and major league manager who once received personal congratulations from President Eisenhower after a slugging show, died Sunday of cancer. He was 78.

On Aug. 31, 1956, Lemon hit three straight home runs against Whitey Ford in Washington’s loss to the New York Yankees. Eisenhower summoned Lemon afterward to shake his hand.