PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pitt women’s basketball team is losing its sophomore class.

Former New Pittsburgh Courier All-City Player of the Year Shawnice “Pepper” Wilson, Sarah Ogoke and Kate Popovec are leaving the Panthers, who were 16-15 overall and 5-11 in the Big East this season.

‘PEPPER’ WILSON

The 6-6 Wilson started 27 games at center, averaging 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. She also played in 33 games, 32 of which she started, during her freshman year, when she was named to the All-Big East freshmen team. The 6-3 Popovec averaged 2.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. Ogoke, a 5-9 guard, averaged 1 point and 1.4 rebounds in 28 games.

by Jim Litke
AP Sports Columnist

(AP)—They mocked him mercilessly for four solid months and delighted in every sordid detail of his fall from grace.

Now it’s Tiger Woods’ turn.

“After a long and necessary time away from the game,” Woods said in a statement March 16, “I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta.”

READY TO END LAYOFF—In this April 8, 2009, file photo, Tiger Woods smiles during his practice round for the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

OTAs otherwise known as organized team activities. NFL teams have these let’s get acquainted events to start the competitive engines in low gear.

During the last several days the Steelers have been holding OTAs over at the south side. One of the purposes, if not the prime purpose of the get-together is to work out the body, the mind and to rekindle the “fireplace” of competition. The “field general” of the Steelers, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, will not be in attendance, at least at this current session of organized team activities. Okay, so these activities are voluntary and he doesn’t have to be there. But make no mistake, his being there in the war room, making the rounds, shaking the hands of his soldiers and giving them a pre-minicamp, pre-training camp, preseason pat on the back, could be nothing but a positive for the team.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)—Former IBF lightweight champion Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora stopped Italy’s Ivan Fiorletta in the eighth round March 12. Spadafora (44-0-1, 18 KOs) started the eighth with a series of solid combinations to the head. Although the punches didn’t floor Fiorletta, referee Frank Gentile felt he had absorbed sufficient damage and stopped the bout at 40 seconds of the round.

“This is a very satisfying win,” Spadafora said. “I was able to land my combinations at will.”

PAUL SPADAFORA