NEW KENT, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession, shortly after he was suspended from the university for the 2004 season.

The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Hokies’ star Michael Vick was fined $300 and his driver’s license was suspended for 60 days for reckless driving. As part of a plea agreement, he was placed in a first offender program on the marijuana charge.

Vick refused to answer reporters’ questions outside the courthouse, but his lawyers distributed a written statement from his client. Vick apologized and said he intends to return to Virginia Tech.

“I have learned a great deal from the mistakes I have made,” the statement said. “I will work hard to earn respect as an athlete and a person. I understand that I had a responsibility to conduct myself appropriately at all times and will work to do that. I am asking that Virginia Tech, and the other people who support me, not give up on me.”

The first offender program will require Vick to perform 24 hours of community service, undergo drug counseling and random drug tests, and give up his driver’s license for an additional six months.

The judge ordered Vick to return to court on Aug. 9, 2005, to determine whether he has met all the requirements.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said in a statement the team will support Vick.

“Marcus Vick is a young man with a good heart who has made some poor decisions but still has an opportunity to have a bright future,” Beamer said.

The 20-year-old has had a series of run-ins with the law this offseason.

In May, he was convicted on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he and two teammates gave alcohol to 14- and 15-year-old girls at the players’ apartment. He was acquitted of a charge of having sex with one of the girls and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250 for the other charges.

The reckless driving and marijuana possession charges were filed against Vick last month after an early morning traffic stop on Interstate 64 in New Kent Kent County. He was clocked on radar at 86 mph, 21 mph above the speed limit, state police said. The traffic stop led to the marijuana possession charge.

Re-admittance to the university is contingent on Vick’s successful completion of a drug education and counseling program.

Athletic director Jim Weaver said he told Vick any further criminal, athletic or university violations will result in Vick’s permanent dismissal from Virginia Tech sports.

The suspension “is a stiff penalty,” Virginia Tech president Charles Steger said. “Vick won’t play this year and loses that year of eligibility. If there is any more trouble, his Virginia Tech career is effectively ended.”

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) � The U.S. men’s Olympic team did more than merely lose. It was embarrassed and exposed like never before in international competition.

Losing an exhibition game for the first time when using NBA players, the Americans were completely outclassed by lightly regarded Italy, never even making it close in the fourth quarter of a 95-78 upset Tuesday.

“This is a wakeup call for us,” Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson said. “I think we need something like this to understand it’s not going to be easy.”

The Americans were sloppy with the ball and couldn’t handle Italy’s zone defenses and 3-point shooting. Italy not only made 15 from behind the arc but also showed superior ball movement and poise in handing the Americans their most lopsided defeat since pros began competing in 1992.

“They’re going to be in for a lot of lessons for the next few weeks,” U.S. coach Larry Brown said. “It’s a young team, and it’s a different game internationally.”

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 17 points, and two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan added 15.

Italy, whose roster is filled entirely by players from that country’s league, was led by Giacomo Galanda’s 28 points and Gianluca Basile’s 25.

While the Italians were fifth at the Sydney Olympics, the United States is unbeaten at the Summer Games and in Olympic qualifying since NBA players were allowed in 1992, taking four straight gold medals. It will seek a fifth in a row at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Olympics.

But the United States is sending its youngest team to the Olympics � the average age is 23.50 � since the door opened for NBAers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mike Tyson was knocked out in the fourth round Friday night in a shocking end to the latest comeback of the fighter who once was the most feared heavyweight of his era.

Unheralded British heavyweight Danny Williams landed a flurry of punches that sent Tyson sprawling into the ropes, perhaps ending his career with the same kind of fury that Tyson once unleashed on other fighters.

Williams, a heavy underdog, improved to 32-3 with 27 knockouts. Tyson, who was hoping to fight often and improbably regain his former glories to get out of millions in debt, fell to 50-5-2 with 44 KOs. The loss was Tyson’s first in 41 non-title fights.

Williams immediately proposed to his longtime fianc�e, Zoe, the mother of his two daughters, who accepted, and not because the Englishman made a $350,000 purse tonight with a lot more to come.

“Williams was laying on him,” said Tyson’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “I think it wore him out. He had a great amount of firepower. Mike moved his head well, threw a lot of good combinations, but Williams has a lot of heart. He took a lot of hard punches.”

The fighter once called the baddest man on the planet went down from a final right hand, then laid helplessly along the ropes, blood streaming down his face. Tyson tried to get up to beat the count, then fell down again and the fight was waved to a stunning close at 2:51 of the fourth round.

Damn, that may be all she wrote for Tyson, buddy been on a real loosing streak…

USC is beginning the 2004 season where many felt it should have ended the 2003 campaign — atop the Coaches’ poll.

The Trojans went 12-1 last season and routed Michigan in the Rose Bowl but earned just a split of the national championship. All but three of the 63 coaches — obligated to vote for the winner of the BCS title game — cast their first-place ballots for Louisiana State, which defeated Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

USC, which returns numerous stars from last year’s squad, earned 44 of the 61 first-place votes and 1,500 points.

The Sooners (12-2), who finished third in last year’s final poll, received 12 first-place votes and are second with 1,426 points. LSU (13-1) garnered the other five first-place votes and is third with 1,387 points.

Georgia (11-3), which finished sixth last year, is fourth, followed by Miami (11-2), which is joining the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

Florida State (10-3) is sixth, followed by Michigan (10-3), Texas (10-3), Ohio State (11-2) and Florida (8-5).

West Virginia (8-5), which is expected to highlight a depleted Big East Conference, begins the season 11th, followed by Iowa (10-3), Kansas State (11-4), Tennessee (10-3) and California (8-6) – the only team to beat USC last season.

Clemson (9-4) is 16th, while Missouri (8-5), Auburn (8-5), Virginia (8-5), Maryland (10-3), Utah (10-2), Wisconsin (7-6), Minnesota (10-3), Purdue (9-4) and Oregon (8-5) complete the poll.

Nebraska (10-3), which is under first-year coach Bill Callahan, leads the group of others receiving votes.

Complete Coaches Poll Here – CLICK HERE