Tim Kent of Elm Grove completed the first leg of the Around Alone sailing competition last week in third place.

Kent now will rest a while in England, do some repairs to his boat, called the Everest Horizontal, and get ready for the second leg, to Cape Horn, South Africa. He eventually hopes to circum-navigate the world by next spring.

He's been sending e-mail reports to The Milwaukee Sports Buzz. Here is an excerpt from a windy day at sea:

Doesn't sound like something a land lover would want to go through. Here is another excerpt from the day Kent reached England:

Oct. 4. Brixham, UK - EVEREST HORIZONTAL crossed the finish line at 5:55:04 am local time, some 17 days after leaving New York City. Sailing my own boat into a
port in England was a moving moment for me. So much has gone into this project from so many people - time, effort, funding. The level of support from my friends and family - and from people I have never met but are inspired by the journey - has been truly overpowering. I can not properly thank all of the people that have contributed to this effort, so I will do what I am doing; work hard and hit the next hurdles at speed and on pace.

Kent, who is one of two American sailors in the competition, also is sharing his experiences via email with students in Brookfield and elsewhere. See updates periodically in this column.

Toni Kukoc might not give the Bucks huge minutes or score 20-plus per game, but he learned how to play team basketball as a star in Europe and helped make it work with the champion Chicago Bulls.

"I was taught to play team basketball," Kukoc said recently. "I will take my shots, but if I see a guy who is more open I will get the ball to him. I like passing as much as shooting. My goals are team goals. I want to win."

That approach to the game is one of the reasons European teams are knocking off American teams in international competition with more frequency. Too many American players want to go 1-on-1 and emphasize playing above the rim. They don't pass well, play solid defense or work to get open shots for their teammates.

The UWM men's and women's basketball teams will kick off the 2002-2003 season with "Panther Madness" at the Klotsche Center Friday and Saturday. The activities on Friday evening will lead up to a midnight practice for the two teams on Saturday, the first day Division I college basketball teams can begin practicing.