• Asashoryu regains sole lead • Sonics hire Weiss • Hall of Fame Parker dies Asashoryu regains sole lead TOKYO — Grand champion Asashoryu beat Wakanosato in a crucial match Monday to regain his sole lead at 8-1 at the
• Asashoryu regains sole lead
• Sonics hire Weiss
• Hall of Fame Parker dies
Asashoryu regains sole lead
TOKYO — Grand champion Asashoryu beat Wakanosato in a crucial match Monday to regain his sole lead at 8-1 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
The Mongolian yokozuna had to struggle to reach Wakanosato’s belt in a locked position. But once he got hold of it, Asashoryu didn’t waste any time in shoving his opponent out of the ring.
Wakanosato, a No. 2 maegashira, slipped to 7-2 in a four-way tie with three other wrestlers — ozeki Kaio, komusubi Kotooshu and lower-ranked Takamisakari.
Kotooshu grabbed the back of top maegashira Kakizoe’s belt and threw him face down into the dirt. Kakizoe fell to 2-7.
The Bulgarian komusubi on Sunday toppled Asashoryu, ending the yokozuna’s winning streak at 24.
Sonics hire Weiss
SEATTLE — The SuperSonics hired Bob Weiss as coach Monday, promoting the 11-year assistant who worked under former coaches George Karl, Paul Westphal and Nate McMillan.
This will be the fourth NBA head coaching job for the 63-year-old Weiss, who agreed to a three-year deal.
He coached the San Antonio Spurs from 1986-88 (going 59-105), the Atlanta Hawks from 1990-93 (124-122) and the Los Angeles Clippers in 1993-94 (27-55).
Hall of Fame Parker dies
BALTIMORE — Jim Parker, a Hall of Fame lineman with the Baltimore Colts who made a career out of masterfully blocking for Johnny Unitas and Lenny Moore, died Monday. He was 71.
Parker, the Colts’ first pick in the 1957 draft, helped Baltimore win two NFL championships before retiring in 1967. He earned All-Pro honors in eight straight seasons, was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and in 1973 became the first full-time offensive lineman to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Parker spent half his career at left tackle and the other half at left guard, manning both positions with equal effectiveness.
Parker died after a lengthy bout with diabetes, according to Moore, who was at his longtime friend’s bedside Monday when he passed away.
The 6-foot-3, 273-pound Parker came to the Colts after a stellar career at Ohio State during which he won the Outland Trophy and was twice named to the first-team All-America squad.
