Basketball program hopes recruit can win appeal of partial qualifier status

After being classified as a partial qualifier, freshman men's basketball player Chris Rodgers hopes to follow the path of women's basketball freshman Shawntinice Polk and gain full eligibility.

Rodgers has appealed his status, citing a learning disability. If he loses his appeal and has to sit out his freshman year he can regain his fourth year of eligibility only if he graduates in four years like former Wildcat football player and partial qualifier Joe Salave'a, currently a Tennessee Titan, who was one of the first to regain his lost year shortly after the NCAA passed it in 1997. [Read article]

Mackovic will not suspend players arrested for fighting over summer break

UA wide receiver Bobby Wade can breathe a sign of relief after talking with UA head coach John Mackovic on Sunday about his status for the upcoming season.

Mackovic said yesterday he will not suspend Wade or Andre Torrey and Javier Martinez who were all arrested over the summer but they will be made to volunteer to help build a home for the Habitat for Humanity on Sept. 11. [Read article]

Them.

That's what they were when I got here. They were the other students. The ones that were good at a sport and got their education partially ÷ if not entirely ÷ for free. The topic of dumb jokes, the object of jealousy and the reason I am currently employed here.

My brother was one of them. And my cousin is. I saw the way everyone walked around looking at my brother and my cousin, chattering and glancing as they walked around campus at George Washington University. I see it now, when Jason Gardner and Luke Walton roll from class to class. [Read article]

It is said that youth is wasted on the young, but for the Arizona women's soccer team, youth is what will carry the team throughout this season and many more to come.

During the Wildcat's media day Thursday the common theme among the players was about improving on last year's 5-12-1 record.

A total of 18 freshmen and sophomores are locked and loaded for what will be their first time in Arizona jerseys. With so much youth, however, leadership and experience are not lacking. Four juniors and seniors will provide the guidance for the underclassmen. [Read article]

Owners and players take a break from public posturing to meet for last-minute talks.

NEW YORK ÷ Just four days before baseball players were scheduled to strike, the sides stopped their public posturing and instead devoted yesterday to a series of meetings that went on late into the night.

Owners made small steps to the union in their latest offer Sunday, and it appeared the next move was up to the players' association, which didn't immediately respond to the new proposal. [Read article]