Cameraman dies while taping golf match involving Couples

A television cameraman died yesterday in a forklift accident while taping a "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" exhibition match between Seattle native Fred Couples and Mark Calcavecchia in Carmel, Calif.

Brian Blodgett, a cameraman for all 42 of the "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" matches since they were revived in 1994, died while being taken to Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula. The cause of death was pending an autopsy.

Blodgett, from Jacksonville, Fla., was 37. He is survived by his wife, Kelly.

Couples and Calcavecchia were playing the second hole at Santa Lucia Preserve when the forklift toppled, said Ann Victor, a spokeswoman for Gaylord Event Television.

Taping of the Couples-Calcavecchia match was rescheduled.

"Today, we have lost such a good friend and our hearts are too heavy for us to possibly go on," series host Jack Whitaker said.

Figure skating

Nancy Kerrigan and other champions have offered their talents for a fund-raiser to generate scholarship money and honor Jonathan Ielpi, a firefighter who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

The Sept. 20 event at Madison Square Garden in New York will be called "Stars, Stripes & Skates."

Horse racing

Street Cry, a 4-year-old colt who was No. 1 in the Classic division of the World Thoroughbred rankings, was retired because of an ankle injury. Owned by Dubai-based Godolphin Racing, he will go to stud at Jonabell Farm, near Lexington, Ky.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings re-signed defenseman Jiri Fischer, 22, to a two-year contract.

College basketball

Two Georgia players charged in a rape were cleared a week after a football player at the school was acquitted in the case.

Charges against Steve Thomas and Tony Cole were dropped Friday in Athens, Ga., by Superior Court Judge Steve Jones after a request by District Attorney Ken Mauldin.

The inability to convict football player Brandon Williams led to the decision to dismiss the charges against Thomas and Cole.

Thomas was charged with the rape of a 19-year-old female student in a Georgia dormitory in January. Cole faced a felony charge of aggravated assault with intent to commit rape. Both men are 21.

Thomas and Cole, who have been suspended from the team since their indictment, can apply for reinstatement.

Auto racing

Greg Ray, the 1999 Indy Racing League champion, was hired to drive in the last two races of the IRL season for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

Ray will replace injured Richie Hearn.

Soccer

Carlos Ruiz scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy's 4-1 victory over the Dallas Burn in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals in Fullerton, Calif.

The Galaxy will play either the Columbus Crew or the Kansas City Wizards for the championship in October.

• Manchester United captain Roy Keane underwent hip surgery and won't play for about six weeks, during which time he will serve a suspension. He was suspended for elbowing Sunderland's Jason McAteer on Saturday.

• Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty kick in the 27th minute.

• Midfielder Tab Ramos of the New York-New Jersey MetroStars was activated from the injured-reserve list after missing nearly two months with a torn left hamstring.

— Times news services