Barinas, Venezuela – Four days after being routed by a superior Argentina squad in their Copa America opener, the Americans were humbled even further Monday night in a 3-1 loss to Paraguay that put them on the brink of elimination in the soccer tournament.
Ricardo Clark’s goal in the 40th minute tied the score 10 minutes after Edgar Barreto put Paraguay ahead. But defender Jimmy Conrad all but conceded Oscar Cardozo’s goal in the 56th minute, which gave Paraguay a 2-1 lead. Salvador Cabanas scored his third goal of the tournament in injury time after the Americans blew chance after chance offensively.
Clark’s first international goal in nine appearances was little consolation for the Americans, who lost their second straight after going 10-0-1 to start the year. It also was their first loss to Paraguay in five games and all but eliminated the U.S. team from South America’s championship. The 13th-ranked United States (0-2) would have to rout No. 31 Colombia in the final group stage game and get lots of help from other teams.
NBA
Fisher leaves Jazz to tend to daughter
Utah Jazz guard Derek Fisher was released from his contract to care for his 11-month-old daughter, who has cancer. Fisher and his wife, Candace, said they needed time to search for the best treatment for their daughter, Tatum.
Fisher said he wants to live in one of the six or seven cities being considered for Tatum’s care. He didn’t rule out playing for another NBA team but emphasized that his daughter’s health is his No. 1 priority.
“Life for me outweighs the game of basketball,” Fisher said. “When it comes to decisions related to (my family), I do what’s best.”
Tatum was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancerous tumor in her left eye. The danger is that it could spread to her brain or the rest of her body. Tatum’s twin, Drew, has no signs of the condition.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed No. 1 pick Greg Oden. According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the center’s deal will be for two years, with team options for the third and fourth seasons. Oden will make $3.885 million as a rookie and $4.176 million in his second season. If they pick up the option in the third year, his salary will be $4.476 million.
The Trail Blazers also signed second-round picks Josh McRoberts, a forward from Duke, and Florida guard Taurean Green.
OLYMPICS
USOC moves forward against doping
The U.S. Olympic Committee has reached an agreement with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct anti-doping testing and adjudication on behalf of the USOC and its governing bodies through 2010.
The agreement goes into effect immediately and includes several important advancements from the original agreement into which the two organizations entered in 2000. Among the changes:
Testing will be conducted in a more effective manner by increasing the percentage of no-advance-notice testing in sports with a higher risk of doping.
For those same high-risk sports, there will be an increase in the number of blood tests conducted annually.
The percentage of no-advance-notice tests conducted annually will be increased to no less than 55 percent, with a goal of reaching 65 percent annually.
Alvin Henry, a former Olympic sprinter on the Trinidad and Tobago 400-meter relay team at the 2000 Games, confessed that he raped four women and a teenage girl during a four-year period after stalking them in New York City’s parks, authorities said. Henry, 30, was arrested Sunday on charges of rape, sexual misconduct and sexual abuse, police said.
FOOTNOTES
Salazar improving after heart attack
Alberto Salazar, the former champion marathoner who collapsed this past weekend, had his condition upgraded from serious to fair. A cardiologist at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Ore., said tests indicate Salazar had a heart attack while coaching distance runners Saturday at the Nike campus outside Portland, said Lisa Helderop, a hospital spokeswoman. Salazar is alert and talking with his family, Helderop said.
Cliff Ellis was hired as Coastal Carolina’s basketball coach, succeeding Buzz Peterson at a school that finished 15-15 last year. Ellis, a former Auburn and Clemson coach, signed a five-year contract.
Western Michigan basketball coach Steve Hawkins was hospitalized for three days and released after having a seizure at his office. Hawkins, 44, was resting at home and expected to make a full recovery.
