Missouri program under cloud

Coach Quin Snyder (above) is coaching his Missouri Tigers in the midst of an increasingly ugly investigation into whether assistant coaches paid players.

Aiken drops girls varsity basketball

Aiken High School announced Friday it is dropping girls varsity basketball for the rest of the 2003-04 season, after an 0-4 start that included an 82-7 loss to Dayton Meadowdale on Thursday. Aiken, part of Cincinnati Public Schools, was 0-20 last season and had won just two league games the past two years. The school will continue to play at the reserve level, but Aiken's remaining varsity opponents have been advised to reschedule. "According to the information I received, they just don't have enough girls left," said Dave Dierker, athletic director for CPS. "Some girls left because of certain circumstances, and they just don't feel they're competitive at the varsity level. They've lost big in each game." Aiken coach John Dean could not immediately be reached for comment. "From what I'm told, they hope they can build up some enthusiasm this year and make a go of it again next year," Dierker said.

Tom Groeschen

Former GM on the 'Net

Former Reds general manager Jim Bowden participated in an online chat Friday on ESPN.com for about 30 minutes. The only Reds-related question came from Rob in Seattle: Do you think (Ken Griffey Jr.) really wants to come back to Seattle . . . and would the Mariners take him? Bowden's response: "I think Junior wants to win, and when he is healthy, I believe that he would prefer to be with a contending team and the Reds would prefer to move his contract if possible."

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