Sports briefs 5/2/05

College

Longtime Oklahoma baseball coach Larry Cochell resigned Sunday, five days after using a racial slur during off-camera interviews with ESPN.

Cochell submitted a letter of resignation to school president David Boren, who had met hours earlier with athletic director Joe Castiglione and members of the university's black community.

"A good and caring man has made a terrible mistake for which he must assume responsibility," Boren said in a statement.

ESPN said Friday that Cochell, who is white, used a slur after praising a freshman outfielder, who is black, during two pre-broadcast interviews Tuesday.

Assistant coach Sunny Golloway was named interim coach.

Cochell, who had been head coach since 1991 and led the Sooners to the College World Series title in 1994, apologized Friday and in his resignation letter.

* Randy Boone threw eight innings, giving up just one run on four hits to lead Texas past Missouri 6-1 on Sunday.

Boone (5-3), who struck out six and walked two, had pitched a shutout until Trevor Helms' RBI single in the eighth gave Missouri (31-13, 11-7 Big 12) its only run.

Chance Wheeless hit a solo home run for Texas (37-9, 13-7).

* Oklahoma State won its first Big 12 Conference title since 2000 on Sunday with a nine-stroke victory over Oklahoma at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas. Missouri finished in third place.

Oklahoma's Anthony Kim took medalist honors with a six-shot victory over Oklahoma State's Alex Noren.

The Cowboys, who have won four Big 12 titles and 49 conference titles overall, led every round of the tournament and finished with a 4-over-par 868. Oklahoma shot 13 over and Missouri was 21 over.

Football

* Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has rejoined the Cleveland Browns' front office in a wide-ranging role to help develop players and dig the franchise out of its rut.

Brown was a team consultant from 1993-95, before former owner Art Modell moved his franchise to Baltimore. Current owner Randy Lerner flew to Los Angeles last summer and met privately with Brown, to discuss his role with the team.

"We're going to do some things in player development, and also do some things in radio and TV," Brown said during a weekend rookie minicamp.

Brown addressed the rookies Saturday night at the invitation of first-year coach Romeo Crennel.

Tennis

* Gaston Gaudio captured the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal, on Sunday, beating Spanish wild card Tommy Robredo 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 for his third clay-court title this season.

Qualifier Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic took the women's title in the first final of her career with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Na Li of China. It was the first time a qualifier won this tournament.