The Enquirer and wire reports

Cincinnati Hockey Hall of Famer Rick Dudley built the roster that helped turn Tampa Bay from perennial also-ran to Stanley Cup finalist. He won't get the chance to finish transforming the Florida Panthers.

Dudley, who starred at right wing for the old AHL Cincinnati Swords and WHA Cincinnati Stingers, was fired as the Panthers' general manager Monday, after holding the job for two years in which the team failed to make the playoffs.

"Sometimes your senses tell you things," Dudley said. "Sometimes you get the feeling that you're not as appreciated as you once were. I had that feeling."

Club officials, including Dudley, met with former Ottawa coach Jacques Martin about becoming the team's fifth coach in three years.

Golf

U.S. OPEN QUALIFIER: Lloyd Faulkner shot a 6-under-par 66 to take medalist honors in the U.S. Open local qualifier Monday at Maketewah Country Club.

Advancing to the sectional June 7 and 8 with Faulkner were Jeremy Langley (70), Andrew Stephens (71), Brad Rollinson (71), Brian Unk (71), Kevin Jones (72), Chris Straley (72), Danny Mijovic (72), Scott Porter (72) and Rob Davidge (72). Alternates Kyle Voska, Brian Macho, David Bahr also shot 72 but lost out in a playoff.

College basketball

STANFORD: Stanford will hire Nevada's Trent Johnson as the school's new men's coach, a Pac-10 source told the Associated Press. Johnson, a former assistant at Stanford under Mike Montgomery, met with school officials for six hours Sunday.

Track and field

MARION JONES CASE: Marion Jones was presented with evidence of her possible steroid use by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, but none of it was compelling enough to ban the star sprinter from the Olympics, her lawyer said.

Horse racing

HALL OF FAME: The class of 2004 inductees into the shrine at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will be announced today. The finalists:

• Jockey: Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, Jose Santos.

• Trainer: Shug McGaughey, John Veitch, Nick Zito.

• Contemporary Male Horse: Lure, Manila, Skip Away.

• Contemporary Female Horse: Flawlessly, Mom's Command, Sky Beauty.

CHURCHILL DOWNS: Jockey Mike Morgan remained hospitalized with back pain from a four-horse spill.

College football

UK TICKET PROBE: An investigation into a claim that complimentary tickets to Kentucky games were used as payment to a Lexington contractor could be wrapped up in a matter of days, university President Lee Todd said.

"We'll deal with it fairly; we'll deal with it ethically," Todd said, following a meeting of the University of Kentucky Athletic Association board of directors. "I would hope in another week or so, we'd be able to make a decision" on whether the allegation has merit. "We'll try to do it as quickly as we can."

George Laferte, the contractor, told the Lexington Herald-Leader that he received six football tickets from Melissa Hudson, wife of offensive coordinator Ron Hudson, for installing shelves and other work at their home over a two-week period last summer. Laferte was supposed to get some money, too, but never did.

Laferte said the work at the Hudson home was worth about $4,500. He said six tickets weren't adequate reimbursement for the work.

UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart said the investigation will look not only at the allegation against Hudson but also into whether anyone else has bartered free tickets for personal gain.

UK-U OF L GAME: ESPN will televise the Kentucky-Louisville game on Sept. 5. Kickoff for the annual opener is set for 3:30 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

UC declines television offer

Because they don't want to conflict with the high school football schedule being played that night, University of Cincinnati officials declined an ESPN invitation Monday to move their Saturday, Oct. 30 home game against Texas Christian to Friday night, Oct. 29.

The decision was made jointly by UC athletic director Bob Goin and football coach Mark Dantonio.

Redhawks to play Minnesota 3 times

Miami University announced that it has agreed to a three-game football contract with the University of Minnesota, including a home game in Oxford in 2009.

The contract begins in 2007 with a meeting in Minneapolis on Sept. 8, and continues in 2009 with the Golden Gophers visiting Yager Stadium on Sept. 12. The contract concludes in 2011 as Miami makes a return visit to the Twin Cities.

Bengals

Lewis to hold coaching clinic

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis will lead a two-day teaching clinic for area youth football coaches June 18-19 at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Marvin Lewis NFL/NFF (National Football Foundation) Coaching Academy will feature the Bengals' coaching staff instructing youth, middle school and high school football coaches.

Enrollment is $50 and limited to 300. To download an application, visit www.marvinlewis.org or call 772-4900.