honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, June 1, 2009

Chun seeks repeat of World wrestling title


Associated Press and Advertiser News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Clarissa Chun

spacer spacer

Hawai'i wrestler Clarissa Chun swept Alyssa Lampe in the women's freestyle finals of the U.S. World Team Trials last night and qualified for the World Championships in Herning, Denmark on Sept. 21-27.

Chun, the 2008 World women's freestyle champion, threw and pinned Lampe just 17 seconds into the second bout of their best-of-three final of the 48 kg/105.5-pound division at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

"I didn't want it to go another match. I just wanted to get it done," said Chun, a Roosevelt alum, who finished fifth in the 2008 Olympics.

"I'm still hungry. I'm definitely stoked to want to repeat as World champion. I know it's hard, but I'm ready for the challenge."

Chun beat Lampe by decision, 4-0 and 1-1, in the first match. Chun was one of 10 champions crowned in the two-day event.

NFL

EX-PLAYERS LASH OUT AT UNION

Retired football players angry with the NFL Players Association over disability and pension benefits say the executive director of the union may be ahead of himself in seeking their support during upcoming contract talks with the league.

An informal group of football players lashed out yesterday at comments made by NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, who said Saturday that if there is a lockout by owners in 2011, retired player benefits would be reduced by 80 percent while it lasts.

Several players meeting in Las Vegas about their clashes with the union said their benefits are protected by law — lockout or not.

Retired player Marvin Cobb says Smith must work through problems with retired players before they will support him and the union.

NHL

NIEUWENDYK IN AS STARS GM

Brett Hull and Les Jackson are out as co-general managers of the Dallas Stars, and in their place is another former star player, Joe Nieuwendyk.

The surprising change was announced yesterday. Nieuwendyk had been the special assistant to the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1999, he won the Conn Smythe Award when Dallas won its first and only Stanley Cup title, the series-winning goal coming from Hull.

Hull and Jackson spent the past 1 1/2 seasons in their unique joint venture running the front office. Besides the strange arrangement, their tenure will be best remembered for the ill-fated signing of Sean Avery.

The duo are remaining on the payroll. Hull will serve as executive vice president and alternate governor, while Jackson will return to his longtime role as director of scouting and player development.

BASEBALL

WILLIAMS MEMORABILIA STOLEN

Ted Williams' fishing license and personal notes on local fishing holes have been swiped during an auction preview in New Hampshire.

Auctioneer John Pappas told the New Hampshire Sunday News the stolen items had drawn strong interest and could have fetched $1,000 or more at Saturday's auction. The 1970 license for "Theodore Williams" was in a small holder attached to a fishing cap, and the notes were tucked inside. The items were taken from the Knotty Pine Auction Service last week.

Saturday's auction was the second time the auction service has sold items for Williams' third wife, Dolores Wettach Williams. The model and actress was married to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer from 1967 to 1973. The items come from their Vermont home.

CYCLING

ARMSTRONG FINISHES 12TH IN ROME

Lance Armstrong concluded a relatively quiet Giro d'Italia in 12th place overall yesterday in Rome, then jetted home to await the birth of his fourth child.

The seven-time Tour de France winner eased off in the race's final stage, an individual time trial run through the ancient streets of Rome on uneven cobblestones made even more slippery by rain.

Armstrong finished 53rd in the race against the clock, 1 minute, 19 seconds behind stage winner Ignatas Konovalovas of Lithuania, and ended 15:59 behind overall race winner Denis Menchov of Russia.