Sports 2000

John Calipari agreed to become Kentucky’s basketball team Thursday. Calipari accepted a reported eight-year contract worth more than $31 million–plus incentives that could push the total value to $35 million–to leave Memphis.

Memphis reached the NCAA championship game last year and advanced to the round of 16 this season. Calipari led Massachusetts to the 1996 Final Four. However, that appearance was later vacated by the NCAA due to recruiting violations.

Calipari coached the NBA’s New Jersey Nets around the turn of the century but his 72-112 career record sent him back to the college ranks. He’s been with Memphis since 2001.

Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie last week after two lackluster seasons. Kentucky is one of the most storied programs in the nation but has only won one title in a decade.

Tiger Woods shot a final-round 67 Sunday, including a birdie on the 18th hole as darkness approached, to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke over Sean O’Hair. O’Hair shot a 73 yesterday.

O’Hair’s birdie putt on the last hole slid past the hole, enabling Woods to have a chance to putt for the win. Had a playoff been necessary, it probably would have been played Monday since play ended at nearly 8 p.m. local time. Woods got his 66th PGA Tour win and his first victory since undergoing knee surgery in June.

The U.S. soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit in the last 20 mintes to finish with a 2-2 draw at El Salvador Saturday. The U.S. leads the CONCACAF qualifying group with four points after two matches. Eight games remain. El Salvador has two points.

Also Saturday, Mexico defeated visiting Costa Rica, 2-0. Mexico and Costa Rica share second place with three points apiece. The top three teams will advance to next year’s World Cup in South Africa. The fourth-place finisher will head to a playoff against a South American side for a spot in the 32-team World Cup.

Trinidad and Tobago scored with seconds left to tie visiting Honduras, 1-1. Trinidad and Tobago has two points. Honduras is last in the group with one point.

The next matchday is Wednesday. Costa Rica plays at El Salvador. The U.S. hosts Trinidad and Tobago. Mexico visits Honduras.

Michigan State will play in next weekend’s Final Four in Detroit very close to home. MSU, from East Lansing, upset Louisville, 64-52, in the Midwest Regional Final. North Carolina claimed the last spot in the Final Four after dispatching Oklahoma, 72-60, in the South Regional final.

The NCAA Women’s Tournament begins regional final action tomorrow. Maryland squares off against Louisville in the South Region final. Stanford and Iowa State will meet in the West Region final.

In tonight’s games, Connecticut continued its unbeaten record by upending California, 77-53. Connecticut will next play against Arizona State, which upset Texas A&M, 84-69. Oklahoma defeated Pittsburgh, 70-59. Purdue, after edging Rutgers, 67-61, will battle Oklahoma.