Sports Briefs

Norman: Women should stick to their own events

MELBOURNE, Australia Greg Norman made it clear Tuesday that he believes women have no place in men's golf events.

The Australian star dismissed women in men's events as a marketing ploy, and said men's tours should consider changing their bylaws to prevent women from receiving sponsor's exemptions.

''I think the situation is more of a marketing ploy than anything else,'' Norman said. ''If the girls come out and think they can play against the guys and fail every time, that can't be very positive.''

Knight gets into verbal spat with chancellor

LUBBOCK, Texas Texas Tech coach Bob Knight got into a verbal spat with the university chancellor at a grocery store Monday, prompting a review by school officials.

School spokeswoman Sally Logue Post said she did not know details of the encounter between the basketball coach and Dr. David Smith. No one was injured, she said.

Smith declined to elaborate on what happened.

''This is obviously an issue that is internal to the university,'' the chancellor told The Associated Press. ''Right now the athletic director and the president's office at the university are looking into the incident. We'll wait to hear more in the next few days about their review.''

Asked whether there was any discussion of removing Knight, Smith said: ''I can't comment on any of those things right now.''

Williams, Bulls agree on contract buyout

CHICAGO Jay Williams, who played one season with the Chicago Bulls before a motorcycle accident put his NBA career in jeopardy, and the team agreed on a contract buyout Monday. Bill Duffy, Williams' agent, said the buyout was in the $3 million range. Williams had two more years worth about $7.7 million left on his original deal.

''No question it's more than fair,'' Duffy said. ''Usually when you cut a deal it hurts both parties, but this is great for both parties.''

Because riding a motorcycle violates the standard NBA contract, the Bulls could have terminated Williams' deal after the accident June 19. Instead, they put the former Duke star and No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft on injured reserve and continued to pay him. The buyout allows the Bulls to gain a roster spot and flexibility with the salary cap.

''The Bulls didn't have to do that. I think it shows a lot of class for them as an organization,'' Chicago guard Jamal Crawford said after the Bulls' loss to Seattle on Monday night. ''Hopefully, Jay will still be a part of us, whether it's community service or to come back playing.''

Williams was riding a new motorcycle June 19 when the bike got away from him and slammed into a utility pole. He was thrown onto a grassy curb, face down from the waist up, his left leg tilting grotesquely upward.

He severed a main nerve in his leg, fractured his pelvis and tore three of the four main ligaments in his left knee. He spent two weeks at a Chicago hospital before being transferred to Duke University Medical Center, where he continues to rehab, holding onto hope that he can play again

Williams 22, led Duke to a national title as a sophomore. He came to the Bulls a year later with great expectations but had his ups-and-downs as a rookie, finally losing his starting spot. He averaged 9.5 points as a rookie.