Injured Yim Off Olympic Team

Tabitha Yim of Irvine, who earned an invitation to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics selection camp by finishing fourth at last week’s Olympic trials, ruptured her right Achilles’ tendon while training Tuesday and will sit out the Athens Games.

Yim, 18, won a bronze medal with the U.S. team at the 2001 World Championships and finished second in the all-around competition at the 2001 and 2002 U.S. championships. She had made a strong comeback from a broken leg in 2003 and knee surgery this year to finish seventh in the U.S. championships at Nashville.

She performed at an even higher level in Anaheim at the trials, earning no score lower than 9.275. She had the fifth-highest total in the preliminaries and third-highest in the all-around finals.

Yim, who plans to enroll at Stanford this fall, was scheduled to undergo surgery today. A spokesman for USA Gymnastics said no decision had been made regarding replacing Yim at the selection camp, to be held July 13-18 at New Waverly, Texas.

Helene Elliott

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Jurisprudence

University of Miami football recruit Willie Williams admitted violating probation on a burglary conviction, but the university has told attorneys that the standout linebacker still might be admitted.

Williams could face up to a year in jail, but the prosecution is not requesting jail time.

Miami Dolphin tight end Randy McMichael was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., accused of hitting his pregnant wife.

His wife, Cawanna, also was arrested on a domestic battery charge stemming from a fight early Tuesday morning at their home. Officials said she is six months pregnant.

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Golf

Fred Couples made a 36-foot putt for a birdie on the 11th hole, followed by an eight-footer on the next hole to earn $220,000 and went on to win the Par-3 Shootout at Gaylord, Mich.

Couples, 44, made the most money in the skins format, netting $270,000, including $50,000 for being closest to the pin five times on the par-three course.

Jay Haas made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give his father-and-son team a one-stroke victory in the CVS Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.

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Soccer

Mexico’s federation has decided to eliminate club teams Queretaro and Irapuato in cutting their first division to 18 teams from 20. The next Mexican season begins Aug. 14.

Sweden striker Henrik Larsson has completed his move to FC Barcelona after passing a medical examination, the club said. Larsson, 32, agreed to a one-year contract with a one-year option.

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Miscellany

Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport are among the top players entered in the JPMorgan Chase Open, July 19-25, in Carson.

Los Angeles has been granted an ABA expansion franchise that will begin play in November. A final decision on a playing site for the Stars will be made within 10 days. The team is considering Loyola Marymount, UCLA and Cal State Los Angeles.

Loyola Marymount right-handed pitcher Stephen Kahn was added to the roster for the 2004 USA Baseball national team that will play in a series in Japan against college all-stars this week.

Nike is holding an open call for all area youths 8-18 to determine the fastest kid in Los Angeles. Participants can compete in the free event today at 6 p.m. at Ross Snyder Recreation Center, 1501 E. 41st St., Los Angeles.

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Passings

C.J. “Pappy” Hart, a drag racing pioneer who conducting races in the 1950s on unused runways at Orange County Airport, died Saturday after suffering a stroke. Obituary in Section B.