IN BRIEF

COLLEGES

Penn State's Paterno OK with contract status

Joe Paterno said he doesn't think Penn State's recruiting will be negatively affected by his uncertain contract status.

When the subject comes up with a high school prospect, the 81-year-old Paterno said Saturday he "tells them exactly what I think. I hope I'm going to coach here while you're here, I may not ... who knows what's going to happen?

"I think we had a heck of a year recruiting," Paterno said before the Blue-White spring scrimmage.

It was his first meeting with reporters since university president Graham Spanier said the school and Paterno agreed that a new contract beyond this year isn't necessary for a man entering his 43rd season on the sideline with the Nittany Lions. They plan to meet at the end of the season, as usual, to discuss the future.

Also: Georgia Tech's athletic director said there was no sign of drug use by pitcher Michael Hutts, even though a police report indicated the junior might have taken heroin before his death.

Hutts' roommate and baseball teammate, Ryan Tinkoff, told police Hutts and friends had been drinking before Hutts was visited by another friend who "was known to use heroin, possibly with Mr. Hutts."

The police report was obtained by Atlanta's WSB-TV.

Athletic director Dan Radakovich, who also has seen the report, said "we really can't tell" if drugs are believed to be the cause of Hutts' April 11 death. Toxicology tests are still pending.

Radakovich said there had been no hint of drug use based on Hutts' behavior or random drug tests given to Georgia Tech athletes.

Oklahoma freshman Stephen Legendre won individual titles on floor exercise and vault as the Sooners added three event victories to their team title in the NCAA men's gymnastics championships at Stanford, Calif.

MISCELLANEOUS

Germans worry about high-tech swimsuit

German swimmers are concerned about a disastrous performance at the Beijing Olympics because they will be wearing the wrong swimsuits.

The country's Olympic Trials have been overshadowed by the swimmers' demands to be allowed to compete in the Speedo LZR Racer. Twenty-two world records have been shattered in the high-tech suit since its February introduction.

The Germans say their medal chances are bleak at the Aug. 8-24 games unless they can wear Speedo instead of Adidas.

"The German swim federation has to seriously consider it, otherwise we will sink completely into mediocrity," Thomas Rupprath, one of Germany's top swimmers, said.

Rupprath lost his 50-meter backstroke world record two weeks ago to Liam Tancock, who swam in a Speedo.

Also: Matt Reed and Julie Swail Ertel secured spots on the U.S. Olympic men's and women's triathlon teams with wins at Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the second of three trials.

Ertel will be seeking an Olympic medal in her second sport after winning silver in water polo eight years ago. Reed, who switched his affiliation from New Zealand to the United States in 2004, will compete in his first Olympics against his brother, Shane, who made the New Zealand team last week.

Rohanee Cox scored 16 points to help Australia beat the United States women's basketball team 74-60 in an opening preliminary-round game in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament at Beijing.

Lisa Leslie led the United States with 17 points, and Katie Smith added 14.

D. Brown threw four touchdown passes to lead the Kansas City Brigade to its first victory of the season, a 55-53 decision over the Colorado Crush in the Arena Football League at Kansas City, Mo.

In other action, the Orlando Predators edged the Georgia Force 65-62 at Duluth, Ga.