Tom Mees, one of ESPN's original sports anchors, drowned yesterday in a swimming accident in a neighbor's pool in Southington, Conn., police said. He was 46.
Police said their earlier reports of Mees rescuing his 4-year-old daughter from the pool could not be confirmed. ``We believe at this point there was no rescue attempt,'' said Southington police Capt. Domenic Lombardo.
Capt. Lombardo said last night the only people present during the accident were Mees and his two daughters, Gabrielle and Lauren, 8. Police said they have not yet extensively interviewed the children.
Mees' wife, Michelle, found her husband at the bottom of the pool after Lauren ran to their home next door to get her, police said. The younger child was out of the pool.
His wife then began screaming for help. A lawn maintenance man pulled Mees from the water, police and fire officials said. His wife told police that Mees did not know how to swim.
Mees was the anchor of ESPN's nightly highlights show `SportsCenter' from the network's inception on Sept. 7, 1979, until 1993.
Since then, he worked as the play-by-play NHL commentator on sister network ESPN2, generally calling two games a week. Over the past two years, he also broadcast college football and basketball and hosted the NHL draft.
In a tribute to Mees after a `SportsCenter' segment, anchor Keith Olbermann said: ``Nothing and no one here will ever be the same without him.''
Mees is survived by his wife and two daughters.
PRO BASKETBALL
Majerle does about-face on Heat deal
Dan Majerle, flying to Miami to sign with the Heat, apparently had a change of heart during an airport layover in Dallas and returned to Phoenix. On Tuesday, coach Pat Riley said he was on the verge of signing a free agent and promised a big announcement. He did not mention Majerle by name, although clearly he was referring to the veteran guard.
Majerle, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers by Phoenix a year ago, wants to return to the Suns. He still owns a popular downtown bar and restaurant bearing his name in Phoenix.
-- Roy Rogers, one of Vancouver's two first-round draft picks, signed a three-year contract with the Grizzlies. Terms weren't disclosed, but the 6-foot-10 Rogers is believed to have signed for the maximum allowable under the NBA rookie wage scale - $2.29 million over three years.
-- Anthony Bowie, 32 ((age)), who played for the Orlando Magic last season, has signed a one-year contract with Italian league champion Stefanel Milan.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Oklahoma Heisman winner named AD
Steve Owens, who since winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 1969 has been one of the program's most passionate and influential supporters, became the school's new athletic director.
Owens accepted the job in an emotional ceremony where he almost immediately broke down in tears.
``When I left here, I made a commitment that if I could ever come back and do anything for this university I would do it, because of the great debt that I always felt like I owed this university,'' he said.
-- Rushing leader George Jones and two other star players were declared ineligible for San Diego State's season opener for violating NCAA rules related to extra benefits, the school said. The other players are junior wide receiver Will Blackwell, the Western Athletic Conference receiving leader, and senior cornerback Ricky Parker, who led the Aztecs with six interceptions.
-- Virginia Tech tailback Marcus Parker was suspended for shoplifting, a crime he kept secret from the team for a month because of the program's off-the-field problems, coaches said. Parker tried to steal a 12-pack of condoms and a small jar of garlic salt from a market, Blacksburg Police Lt. Bruce Bradberry said.
ELSEWHERE
Keller headed to Premier League
U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller of Lacey is negotiating to sign with Leicester City of England's Premier League.
Keller, 27 ((age)), has spent five seasons with Millwall, which was relegated to the second division of the English League this season. The Foxes have agreed on a transfer fee about $1.6 million.
Keller and Brad Friedel of the Columbus Crew are competing for the No. 1 spot on the U.S. national team, which starts World Cup qualifying Nov. 3.
-- Southern Utah, a former member of the now defunct American West Conference, will join the Mid-Continent Conference next year.
-- Jari Kurri, one of the highest scorers in NHL history, will join the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Kurri's one-year contract with the Ducks, with a one-year option, is virtually signed, he said. Kurri has 583 goals and 758 assists in 1,099 NHL regular-season games with Edmonton, Los Angeles and the New York Rangers.
-- Former middleweight champion Michael Nunn faces several charges as a result of his arrest yesterday following a high-speed chase in Davenport, Iowa. Nunn was charged with reckless driving, attempting to elude police, interference with official acts and failure to have a driver's license.
-- The San Jose team in the new women's American Basketball League will be called the Lasers, the team announced. The league will begin play in October.
