Sports Briefs

Wisconsin men's hoops suspensions to be upheld

MADISON (AP) - The NCAA denied Tuesday the Wisconsin Athletics Department's request to revise the suspensions of men's basketball players Travon Davis and Maurice Linton.

Earlier this month, Linton and Davis were suspended for the first eight games of the upcoming season as a result of discounts received at the Shoe Box in Black Earth, Wis.

University officials had requested that the suspensions be spread across the first 13 games of the season but the NCAA denied that request.

Men's basketball head coach Dick Bennett told the Associated Press he planned on having Linton and Davis sit out the first eight games no matter what, but said he wanted the option of playing them open in case of injuries.

In addition to Davis and Linton, women's basketball player Krista Bird was also suspended for eight games.

Driver sentenced to jail for death of Malik Sealy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The driver who killed Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Malik Sealy in a wrong-way car crash was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison.

Prosecutors asked for the four-year term for Souksangouane Phengsene, 44, who told Judge Andrew Danielson at the hearing in Hennepin County District Court that he was sorry for causing the accident. Phengsene's blood-alcohol content was almost twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Lisa Sealy, the player's widow, also asked Danielson to impose the four-year sentence. She said Sealy's death deprived her and their 3-year-old son of a husband and father.

"I implore you to give him the maximum, but four years still isn't enough," she said.

Turning to Phengsene, she said, "And I want to say to you, no matter what happens here today, God is going to give you your punishment."

Disabled athletes file suit against NYC marathon

NEW YORK (AP) - Six people sued the organizers of the New York City Marathon on Wednesday, saying the race discriminates against disabled athletes.

An organizer of the event for some disabled athletes called the claim "truly frivolous."

Bob Laufer, coordinator of the marathon's new wheelchair division, said the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan despite the race's "amazing accommodations to the disabled."

"We treat them very, very well and we end up with two lawsuits in two years,"said Laufer, who also is the general counsel for the New York Road Runners Club, the race organizer.

A year ago, a suit filed in Brooklyn federal court caused the Road Runners Club to agree to a separate wheelchair division and to award trophies to the winners at this year's Nov. 5 marathon.

The wheelchair racers will start at 10:20 a.m., a half hour before the rest of the competitors.