April 2001

Australian Sport:

**$161 million boost to Australian sport** The announcement of the national sports plan by the Prime Minister and Minister for Sport represents the most substantial sport funding arrangements ever for Australian sport.

Tennis:

Jennifer Capriati showed her Australian Open win was no fluke, ending Martina Hingis' Family Circle Cup match winning streak with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 victory in Charleston, S.C. The 25-year-old Capriati, at one time the focal point of all that can go wrong in teen tennis, has gained her highest career ranking at No. 4 in the world after defeating Hingis in the Family Circle Cup final.

Martina Hingis has ended her coaching relationship with her mother, Melanie Molitor.

Wimbledon announced a 6.5 percent increase in women's prize money, to $5.1 million, but stuck to its policy of paying more to the men. Total prize money for the men will be $6 million and the men's champion will receive $715,000, while the women's winner will get $661,375. "We continue to be concerned about the slow pace of progress toward equal prize money," said Bart McGuire, CEO of the WTA Tour. "We believe that the competition and entertainment levels of women's tennis amply justify equal prize money at all of the Grand Slams." The U.S. Open and Australian Open offer equal prize money, while Wimbledon and the French Open still give more to the men.

Basketball: "Jackson has the potential to blow everyone out of the water...She could be the Michael Jordan that women's basketball hasn't had yet." - Phoenix Mercury's Michele Timms on fellow Aussie and No. 1 WNBA draft pick Lauren Jackson.

Boxing: Australian boxer Patricia Devellerez regained consciousness from an induced coma after sustaining head injuries in an amateur bout in Christchurch, New Zealand. Devellerez was knocked to her knees and suffered a delayed concussion against Agnes Tuitama.

"This latest incident shows that boxing in all its guises - amateur or professional, male or female - is dangerous and should be banned." - Australian Medical Association Vice-President Trevor Mudge, speaking about the serious head injuries suffered by Australian boxer Patricia Devellerez in an amateur bout in New Zealand (The Age, Melbourne)

Track & Field: Marion Jones, competing for the first time this year after winning three gold medals in the Sydney Olympics, breezed to victory Sunday in the 300-meters at the Mount San Antonio Relays in Walnut, Calif. Jones finished in 35.68 seconds, but failed in her attempt to break the world record.

Marketing News:

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova inked a multi-year endorsement deal with racquet manufacturer Prince...Gatorade signed a two-year deal to become the official sports drink of the WUSA...Misty Hyman, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 200-meter butterfly, has signed with PMG Sports of Raleigh, N.C., to represent her in seeking endorsement deals.

Web Site Updates:

I've added a new rant in the Soapbox - Women's Golf and the Australian Media.