Briefly
The only thing that outshines the exquisite diamond on Sheryl Swoopes’ left ring finger is the glow on her face as she discusses the love of her life.
It’s a love that the WNBA superstar has kept hidden for more than seven years. On Wednesday she “quit pretending,” disclosing that she is gay and in a committed relationship.
“I feel like I’ve been living a lie,” the Houston Comets star said in an interview with the Associated Press. “I’m at a place in my life right now where I’m very happy, very content. I’m finally OK with the idea of who I love, who I want to be with.”
Swoopes said she lives with her partner, former Comets assistant coach Alisa Scott.
The story was first reported in ESPN the Magazine, which hit newsstands Wednesday. She also announced an endorsement deal with Olivia, a lesbian cruise line.
Swoopes, the only WNBA player to win three Most Valuable Player trophies, said she never had feelings for a woman before Scott and didn’t understand them when they began. But in the seven years since, she said she’s been “hurting” while hiding her relationship.
Now, Swoopes said, she finally feels free.
Swoopes is a five-time All-Star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion as a member of the Comets, whose run of four straight titles began when she was a rookie in 1997.
While piling up accolades and accomplishments, the 34-year-old Swoopes said she dreamed about the day when she could attend an awards banquet with Scott on her arm.
Swoopes is perhaps the highest profile team-sport athlete to come out.
Basketball
Krzyzewski fills USA position
Coach K’s first day on his new job wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. It was filled with questions about NBA players representing USA Basketball minding their P’s and Q’s.
Two weeks after it was widely reported, the sport’s national governing body made Mike Krzyzewski the first coach of the first men’s senior national team.
The man who has led Duke to three national championships will be in charge of the U.S. national program for the next three years, a span that includes the World Championships in Japan in 2006 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
He is the first college coach to lead a U.S. team in a major international competition since NBA players started playing in the Olympics in 1992.
•The Charlotte Bobcats acquired forward Jumaine Jones from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a future second-round pick.
•The New Orleans Hornets traded center Jamaal Magloire to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for forward Desmond Mason, an unconditional first-round pick in the 2006 draft and cash.
•Allen Iverson will not play in the Philadelphia 76ers’ preseason finale in San Antonio tonight because of soreness in his right knee.
•Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett missed the Timberwolves’ exhibition game against Chicago because of a sprained left ankle.
•All-star forward Tracy McGrady missed the Houston Rockets’ preseason game against the Utah Jazz with tendinitis in both knees.
•Chicago Bulls guard Chris Duhon was taken to the hospital after crashing to the floor under the basket in the first quarter of an exhibition game against Minnesota.
College football
Air Force reprimands DeBerry
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry met the academy’s new superintendent for the first time and found himself being reprimanded by the school’s leader, but not fired, for statements he made about black athletes and recruiting.
The 67-year-old coach, known for his folksy, disarming charm and his homespun turns of phrase, found himself in an imbroglio over political correctness for the second time in less than 12 months.
On Tuesday, in discussing last weekend’s 48-10 loss to TCU, DeBerry said it was clear TCU “had a lot more Afro-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did.”
•The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has filed a grievance against New Mexico State football coach Hal Mumme, saying he discriminated against a now-released Muslim player by repeatedly questioning him about al-Qaida.
The grievance, filed Tuesday on behalf of former Aggies running back Muammar Ali, also said the football staff required the team to recite the Lord’s Prayer at the end of each practice.
•A Youngstown State football player has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of an Akron, Ohio, man.
Anthony Norman Jr., a redshirt freshman linebacker from Akron, was charged with murder, attempted murder and carrying a concealed weapon in the July shooting death of Christopher L. Harris, Akron police said.
Baseball
Cashman agrees to stay with Yankees
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman decided to stay with the only team for which he’s worked, accepting a three-year contract worth more than $5 million.
•Cleveland pitcher Cliff Lee underwent arthroscopic surgery for a hernia and is expected to be fully recovered for the start of training camp in February.
Auto racing
New qualifying format, tire changes back
Formula One officials approved a new qualifying format for next season and authorized the reintroduction of tire changes.
Under the new format approved by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, qualifying in 2006 will be held in three phases. The five slowest cars will drop out after the first 15 minutes, and five more will depart after the next 15. The remaining cars will compete in a 20-minute session for the top spots on the grid.