NATION

NATION

Texas A&M coach goes
out a winner

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Dennis Franchione resigned as Texas A&M’s coach on Friday, ending a rocky five-year tenure less than an hour after the Aggies beat archrival Texas 38-30 at Kyle Field.

Franchione finished 32-28 at A&M, far short of the expectations when he replaced R.C. Slocum in December 2002. A&M was 19-21 in Big 12 games under Franchione and, worst of all, lost 12 of 15 games against main rivals Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas.

Dressed in a gray suit, Franchione stepped to the podium an hour after the victory, probably his biggest at A&M.

“We appreciate the opportunity we have had at this great institution, to work with this administration,” he said. “We have made many lasting friendships.”

Last year, Franchione likely earned himself one more season by beating Texas 12-7 in Austin. As sweet as it is to beat the hated ’Horns again, it didn’t earn him another season in College Station.

The Aggies (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) still finished the regular season with four losses in six games.

Boxers friendly at
press conference

LOS ANGELES — Unlike recent press conferences featuring Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, the gathering Friday to preview the bout between Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. was friendly, courteous and respectful.

“I don’t have bad blood with nobody,” said Jones, who came out first and addressed the media at a downtown hotel before Trinidad or either entourage appeared. “I am revved up for fighting Tito. How can you not get revved up?”

When Trinidad arrived, Jones invited him over for a hug and for a photographic pose. Then, it was the Trinidad camp’s turn to gush about his opponent. In separate turns at the dais, Trinidad and his father, Felix Sr., called Jones a “great champion” through interpreters.

Yet, both have reasons for wanting this fight, to be staged Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York. It could have happened in 2001 during the Don King-backed Middleweight World Championship Series, but Jones moved up to the heavyweight division.

Things have changed since that time. Trinidad (42-2, 35 knockouts) fought just three more times — none since losing a decision to Winky Wright on May 14, 2005.

For Jones (51-4, 38 knockouts), it was getting his edge back. After becoming the first former middleweight champion to capture the heavyweight title since 1897 (he beat John Ruiz for the WBA crown in March 2003), he turned down a fight with Evander Holyfield to drop to 175 pounds and take the WBC light heavyweight title from Antonio Tarver some nine months later.

The rematch with Tarver, on May 15, 2004, resulted in Jones being knocked out in the 10th round. A third fight, on Oct. 1, 2005, ended with Jones losing a unanimous decision.

The two agreed to meet at a maximum weight of 170 pounds.

Earnings record falls

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Helped by a trio of stakes wins across the country, trainer Todd Pletcher broke his own North American earnings record when The Leopard won the $111,800 Generous Stakes by 21⁄4 lengths at Hollywood Park on Friday.

Pletcher had five victories on the day worth $585,612, pushing his season total to $26,850,873, which topped his 2006 mark by $30,000.

The trainer’s other stakes victories Friday were by A.P. Arrow in the $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill, and by Mini Sermon in the $150,000 Top Flight at New York’s Aqueduct.

WORLD

Tour de France
will start in Monaco

PARIS — The wealthy principality of Monaco will host the start of the Tour de France in 2009.

Organizers made the announcement Thursday and said they will give details of the 2009 start at a presentation in Monaco on Dec. 14. Prince Albert II will attend.

London hosted the start of this year’s race, and the Tour will get going in the French region of Brittany in 2008.

FIFA president
wants foreigner limits

DURBAN, South Africa — Sepp Blatter wants European soccer leagues to understand the consequences of an influx of foreign players, pointing to England and its failure to reach the European Championship.

The large foreign influence has been cited as one of the causes of a shortage of homegrown talent in England, whose national team lost 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday to miss out on Euro 2008.

Vindicator staff/wire reports