Enquirer wire services

WACO, Texas - Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was indicted Wednesday in the murder of his former teammate and roommate Patrick Dennehy.

The McLennan County grand jury heard evidence for about 90 minutes before handing up an indictment against Dotson, who has been jailed in his home state of Maryland since his July 21 arrest.

The indictment, which contained a single murder count, alleges that Dotson shot Dennehy on or about June 12. Dennehy's body was found in a field near a rock quarry southeast of town July 25.

He had been shot twice in head, according to an autopsy report.

District Attorney John Segrest and law enforcement officers have refused to discuss motive, which is not mentioned in the one-page indictment. The maximum penalty for a murder conviction is life in prison.

NCAA: The Supreme Court refused to get involved Wednesday in a dispute over eligibility rules for preseason college basketball tournaments.

Justice John Paul Stevens did not comment in rejecting an emergency request from several sports promoters challenging the NCAA rule that prohibits Division I teams from playing in more than two exempt tournaments in a four-year period. Stevens is the justice responsible for appeals from Ohio, where the NCAA won the latest round in lower federal courts.

MISSOURI: Former basketball player Ricky Clemons enrolled again at the school as a general agriculture major after being freed from jail.

The point guard was kicked off the team in July and his athletic scholarship was revoked after a judge said he violated conditions that allowed him to live in a halfway house.

Clemons pleaded guilty in April to charges of domestic assault and false imprisonment.

Auto racing

IRL: Driver Tom Wood was upgraded to good condition Wednesday, a day after his third operation for injuries he suffered in a crash during the Kentucky 100 at Kentucky Speedway Aug. 16.

Wood had surgery Tuesday on his broken left ankle and right heel and is scheduled to begin rehabilitation later this week, orthopedic surgeon Kevin Scheid said.

He also had surgery Aug. 17 on fractures of his right leg, right knee, right ankle and right foot, and Aug. 19 on his broken back.

Basketball

OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: Venezuela shocked Argentina 97-92 and Canada beat the Dominican Republic 78-75 at the Tournament of the Americas on Thursday.

In late games, Puerto Rico locked up a semifinal berth by defeating Brazil 72-70, and the U.S. team played the nightcap against Mexico.

Hockey

STARS: Center Mike Modano signed a one-year contract extension Wednesday that prevents him from becoming a free agent until the summer of 2005. Modano, the team's career leader in nearly every significant category, will earn $9 million this season.

Track and field

WORLDS: Hicham El Guerrouj played air guitar and did a little shuffle after winning his fourth straight world title in the 1,500 meters. Then he made the proclamation.

"I am still the king of 1,500," the Moroccan said Wednesday. "I've protected my kingdom."

With the victory, El Guerrouj confirmed himself as arguably the greatest middle-distance runner of all time, surpassing Algeria's Noureddine Morceli, who won three golds from 1991-95.