Originally created 03/26/03

Overtime

By From Wire Reports

Football

Jurevicius' son dies after 10 weeks

The infant son of Tampa Bay receiver Joe Jurevicius has died nearly 10 weeks after being born prematurely during the Buccaneers' run to the Super Bowl.

Michael William Jurevicius, born Jan. 14, died Monday night at a hospital in St. Louis. The receiver's wife, Meagan, gave birth gave birth to the couple's first child five days before the NFC Championship Game.

Jurevicius missed three days of practice following the baby's birth, then flew to Philadelphia to help the Bucs defeat the Eagles, 27-10.

"Michael was very courageous and he enriched our lives for the short time that he was with us. We want to thank all of the doctors and nurses ... for their help and care, and all our fans for their support," Joe Jurevicius said. "Now we just need time to grieve."

Silver Bluff offensive tackle Ryan Allen has signed a letter-of-intent with Appalachian State.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder helped lead the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record, the Region 5-AA title and a second-round appearance in the South Carolina Class AA playoffs this season.

Auto Racing

Trucks crew chief out two months

NASCAR suspended Trucks Series crew chief John Monsam for two months and fined him $1,500 Tuesday for using an illegal spring at Mesa Marin Raceway.

NASCAR also fined Raymond Newman $250 for using unapproved jacking bolts on Ken Weaver's truck team. Monsam, crew chief for Jon Wood, will miss two races because the Truck Series does not run every weekend.

He was penalized after inspectors found the right-front spring on the No. 50 Ford was illegal following Wood's second-place finish Sunday.

Golf

Civil rights activist on Burk campaign

In her continuing campaign against Augusta National Golf Club, Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, has teamed up with a New York City civil rights activist in hopes of persuading CBS to discontinue its coverage of the annual Masters Tournament.

Burk and Dr. Cary Goodman will hold a morning news conference from the steps of New York's City Hall this morning. They are scheduled to release a list of possible actions that will "persuade CBS to cancel its affiliation with Augusta" until the golf club admits a woman.

Goodman was "instrumental" in getting CBS to drop its coverage of South African boxers during apartheid, Burk said, which is why she enlisted his support for the fight against the Augusta National.

Burk has argued that CBS, by refusing to cancel its coverage, is condoning discrimination. CBS is scheduled to broadcast this year's tournament without sponsors.

Ernie Els withdrew from The Players Championship after injuring his right wrist two weeks ago while working out with a punching bag at his home in London.

Els, the No. 2 player in the world, already has won four times this year. His announcement came a day after third-ranked Phil Mickelson withdrew because his wife recently gave birth to their third child.

Tennis

Ginepri charges on with Nasdaq win

Now 20, Robby Ginepri is still the kid on the court. Doing his part for the backward-cap crowd, the quiet Georgian gave the resurgence in U.S. men's tennis another nudge Tuesday by defeating Hyung-Taik Lee 6-3, 6-2 at the Nasdaq-100 Open.

Top-seeded defending champion Serena Williams became the first women's semifinalist. She lost her serve three times but still beat French qualifier Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-2. Serena's hopes for an all-Williams final were dashed when Venus lost to Meghann Shaughnessy on Monday night.