Enquirer staff and wire reports

Sports Illustrated is turning 50. This week's issue comes exactly 50 years after the magazine's first issue Aug. 16, 1954.

The inaugural cover pictured Milwaukee Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews swinging away in front of a packed County Stadium.

Three years later came the first case of the notorious SI cover jinx. The University of Oklahoma football team's record 47-game winning streak was broken a week after its cover shot.

Notre Dame holds the record for most covers by a college team - 32. That number, however, doesn't come close to Michael Jordan's overall record of 49 appearances.

Report says Roenick paid a firm for betting tips

Flyers star Jeremy Roenick paid more than $100,000 to a Florida firm that made millions selling betting tips to gamblers, law enforcement officials told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Roenick was never the target of an investigation and was not involved in any illegal activity, said Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff's Capt. Mike Johnston, who worked with the FBI on an investigation of the firm. Investigators said they found no evidence that Roenick bet on hockey.

In an interview with the newspaper for Sunday's editions, Roenick said he was a client of National Sports Consultants and had bet on sports for years. But Roenick said he had paid the Fort Myers firm much less for tips, with total bets between $50,000 and $100,000.

Tennis

HSU WINS TITLES: Connie Hsu of Beechmont Racquet Club won the girls' 12-under National Hardcourt Championship at the University of Kentucky. She defeated Brooke Bolender of West Lake, Ohio, 6-3, 6-2.

Hsu, of Anderson Township, also won 12-under doubles with Alexandra Bush. They defeated Alexandra Anghelescu and Julie Savacinski 6-4, 6-0.

Amateur golf

U.S. WOMEN'S AM: Jane Park, 17, clinched her first U.S. Golf Association title 2 up when Amanda McCurdy bogeyed the 36th and final hole in Erie, Pa. Park was a runner-up last year.

Amateur baseball

AMERICAN LEGION: J.B. Yeager Post 199 plays Paducah, Ky., or Wilmette, Ill., for the Great Lakes Regional championship at the University of Cincinnati tonight. Paducah and Wilmette play at 1 p.m., and the winner faces J.B. Yeager at 7 p.m.

Horse racing

OUZTS WINS 5 AT RD: Perry Ouzts, 50, rode five winners Sunday at River Downs, including the $40,000 Buckeye Native Stakes with front-running Hank's Rib.

• Also: Runway Model ran away with the $25,000 Pepsi Bassinet Prep by 91/4 lengths under Jeff Johnston.

Harness racing

ADIOS PACE: Timesareachanging set a world record in 1:49 3/5 in winning the $500,500 event for 3-year-old pacers at the Meadows in Meadow Lands, Pa.

College football

MIAMI REDHAWKS: Highlights from Saturday's scrimmage at Yager Stadium:

• Junior Derek Rehage (East Central), who replaces four-year starter Terrell Jones at middle linebacker, made a leaping interception of starter Josh Betts' pass and returned it inside the offense's 20-yard line.

• Redshirt freshman Brandon Murphy, fourth on the depth chart at tailback, ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the second-string offense's first play. He finished with 108 yards rushing on just six carries.

• Sophomore wideout Ryne Robinson, who returned three punts for touchdowns in 2003, returned a punt 72 yards for a TD.

Miami opens Aug. 28 at home against Indiana State.

Jurisprudence

BRYANT CASE: With Kobe Bryant's sexual assault trial scheduled to begin in less than two weeks, speculation is mounting that prosecutors are looking for a way to dismiss the charge after a series of setbacks.

The NBA star is due in court today in Eagle, Colo., his final court appearance before jury selection begins Aug. 27. But events of the past two weeks suggest prosecutors might be seeking an avenue to dismiss the charge with minimal embarrassment, legal experts said.