Sonics rookie Desmond Mason was selected as the top player in the Shaw's Pro Summer League yesterday.
Mason, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard-forward selected 17th in last month's NBA draft, averaged 18.2 points in the weeklong tournament at UMass-Boston to lead the Sonics to a 4-1 record.
``After watching Desmond Mason in the Shaw's Pro Summer League, it's obvious that he has a bright future,'' Boston Celtics general manager Chris Wallace said. ``Desmond is a tremendous athlete who comes to play every day. That's an explosive combination.''
Mason, a first-team Big 12 selection and an honorable mention All-American at Oklahoma State last season, is fourth on the Cowboys' all-time scoring list, fourth in rebounding and steals, and second in games played.
Joining Mason on the all-tournament team were his Seattle teammate Shammond Williams (with a league-high 20.5 points average); Milwaukee's Michael Redd; Indiana's Jeff Foster; and Philadelphia's Jumaine Jones.
Free agent forward Tim Thomas is expected to agree to a long, lucrative contract with the Chicago Bulls, according to a published report. The Chicago Sun-Times, quoting a reliable NBA source who was not identified, reported the Bulls have offered the 6-foot-10 Thomas a six-year deal for the $67.5 million maximum, which is more than any other club is offering. No free agent can sign with a team until Aug. 1.
SOCCER
U.S. falls on disputed penalty
The United States had yet another tough time in Costa Rica, losing a World Cup qualifier 2-1 at San Jose on a disputed penalty kick in the 89th minute.
The decisive play came when Gregg Berhalter was called for using his hands inside the penalty box, a ruling contested by the Americans.
Hernan Medford beat goalkeeper Kasey Keller with the penalty kick and the game ended shortly after that with the U.S. players shouting at the referee.
The United States has not won in six attempts in Costa Rica, which handed the Americans their only two losses during qualifying for the 1998 World Cup.
Two games into the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the United States is last in its four-team group. It tied Guatemala 1-1 a week ago.
Playing in a difficult venue in which fans are yards from the field, the United States fell behind in the ninth minute on a goal by Rolando Fonseca. The score came after Medford intercepted a U.S. corner kick and passed to Fonseca.
The United States came back in the second half, with Earnie Stewart scoring in the 65th minute on a pass from Ante Razov.
The win gave Costa Rica a much-needed three points. Costa Rica qualified for the 1990 World Cup but has not returned since.
Guatemala leads the regional group, with Costa Rica and Barbados sharing second and the United States fourth. Each team plays each other home and away. A team must finish first or second to advance to the final qualifying round.
After two games in Central America, the U.S. will play Barbados on Aug. 16 in Foxboro, Mass.
HORSE RACING
Captain Steve tops Swaps
Trainer Bob Baffert was facing a bad ending to a trying week until Captain Steve salvaged things with a 2 1/2-length victory over Tiznow in the $500,000 Swaps Stakes.
Baffert's week hadn't exactly gone well before he saddled Captain Steve at Hollywood Park. First, he was hit with a lawsuit for allegedly over-racing 1998 Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet, then one of his horses tested positive for morphine.
Yesterday got off to a disappointing start when his horses running in Delaware and Texas both lost, including Silverbulletday in the Delaware Handicap. Captain Steve improved Baffert's outlook with a strong kick in the stretch to take the lead.
``Thank God he's back,'' Baffert said. ``I needed this race really, really bad.''
Baffert faces a hearing with stewards at Del Mar later this week over Nautical Look's positive test. The lawsuit, filed by Highland Stud of Paris, Ky., over the handling of Real Quiet, also accuses Baffert of defrauding the farm out of $250,000.
``That other stuff, we don't worry about that. We just worry about the horses,'' he said of his troubles. ``That guy is trying to fight Mike (Pegram) in the papers.''
Ginger Welch, one of the leading jockeys at Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho, died after she was thrown in a race by her horse, which then fell on her. She was 37. Shortly after the start of a quarterhorse race Saturday night, Welch's 4-year-old gelding, Porthos, either took a bad step or clipped heels with another horse and fell.
WNBA
Liberty knocks off Houston
Crystal Robinson made two free throws with 7.7 seconds left, sealing a 69-64 victory for the New York Liberty over the three-time defending champion Houston Comets.
The Liberty (14-10) outscored the Comets 12-6 in the final four minutes, with Tari Phillips scoring five of her 17 points in that span. Phillips finished with 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals for her ninth double-double of the season.
Sheryl Swoopes, who led Houston (21-4) with 18 points, made a finger-roll layup with 9.3 seconds to bring the Comets within 67-64. Robinson then sank her two free throws.
At Inglewood, Calif., Lisa Leslie scored 20 points as Los Angeles (21-3) defeated Sacramento and moved into first place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles won for the 17th time in 18 games and jumped a half-game ahead of the Houston Comets.
At Minneapolis, Betty Lennox scored 26 points as the Minnesota Lynx snapped a franchise-long eight-game losing streak with an 80-63 victory over the Portland Fire. Marla Brumfield scored a career-high 14 points for the Lynx (11-13), who hadn't lost more than four straight before this season. Minnesota's last victory was July 2, when the Lynx beat Portland 81-75. Stacey Thomas had a career-high 14 points and seven rebounds for Portland (7-16), which has lost three in a row. Sophia Witherspoon added 12 points.
At Orlando, Fla., Natalie Williams had 23 points and 12 rebounds and hit nine of 10 free throws in the game's final 10:33 to lift the Utah Starzz past the Orlando Miracle 69-66.
