Judge Orders Equal Treatment For Women's Hockey

-- COLLEGES

In a landmark decision that could change the face of women's college sports, a federal judge in Utica, N.Y., ordered Colgate University to elevate its women's club hockey team to varsity status.

The judge ruled that Colgate violated Title IX, a provision of the Civil Rights Act that prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs, by not providing equal athletic opportunities to its women's hockey players.

"The men's ice-hockey players at Colgate are treated as princes. The women ice-hockey players are treated as chimney sweeps," U.S. Magistrate Judge David N. Hurd wrote in a 33-page decision. "Equal athletic treatment is not a luxury."

The ruling will not make automatic changes at other schools. But a lawyer for the plaintiffs said it will give other women's teams that feel discriminated against more legal precedent in their battles with colleges.

-- The NCAA placed Lock Haven, Pa., University's Division I wrestling program on two years' probation for major violations, but suspended more severe penalties because the NCAA staff didn't prepare a full report.

-- HOCKEY

Mario Lemieux says the Pittsburgh Penguins are about to make him the NHL's highest-paid player with an offer of $42 million over seven years.

"My agent, Tom Reich, has negotiated an unprecedented agreement with the Penguins, one that should be signed soon," Lemieux said in an interview on a Montreal radio station.

Lemieux's $6 million annual salary would eclipse the $3.5 million of the current leader, Eric Lindros of Philadelphia.

-- AUTO RACING

Geoff Bodine held off Rusty Wallace to earn his first victory in nearly a year, taking the rain-delayed NASCAR 500 race at Martinsville, Va., Speedway.

Bodine didn't make a pit stop during the last caution period, running the final 126 laps on the half-mile oval on the same tires.

Wallace make a pit stop on lap 471 of the 500-lap event. He exited the pits fourth and made it to second on lap 484, but couldn't catch Bodine's Ford Thunderbird, which crossed the finish line .19 of a second ahead.

Younger brother Brett Bodine held off Kyle Petty for third, with Alan Kulwicki finishing fifth. Geoff, who averaged 75.424 mph, won $60,550.

-- TENNIS

Gianluca Pozzi took advantage of a 70-minute rain delay today to compose himself after a slow start and beat American Patrick McEnroe 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 today in the Queensland Open in Brisbane, Australia.

-- SOCCER

Diego Maradona returned after an 18-month drug suspension and assisted on the winning goal in Sevilla's 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in Seville, Spain.

-- NORTHWEST NOTES

Washington (5-5) beat Texas Christian 2-0 in a women's soccer match in Moraga, Calif.

-- Western Washington University has added three individuals to its athletic hall of fame. They are field-hockey player Scarlett Kanistanaux, runner Gerry Swan and former Lynden High School football coach Rollie DeKoster.

-- Washington's men's soccer team is ranked sixth in this week's Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America coaches' poll, its highest ever. The Huskies (5-1-1) were ranked 10th last week.

-- Seattle University's women's soccer team jumped four positions to No. 3 in this week's NAIA national poll.