Sports briefs 8/13/04

Baseball

Japanese professional baseball players reportedly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to authorize a strike as part of their efforts to prevent the merger of several Pacific League teams. About 98 percent of the 750 members of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association voted to authorize the players' executive committee to declare a strike, although no date was set, the Nikkan Sports newspaper reported. On Tuesday, the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes signed a basic agreement on their proposed merger, but the move must be approved at an owners' meeting Sept. 8.

Basketball

The Chicago Bulls have signed Argentina's Andres Nocioni. Nocioni has played for Spanish first division club Tau Ceramica, based in Vitoria, since 1999 and is currently at the Athens Olympics with the Argentine national side.

The New Jersey Nets signed free-agent guard Ron Mercer to a two-year contract worth just over $3 million Thursday. The seven-year veteran fills the team's hole at two guard and adds another scoring threat to go alongside Jason Kidd.

College

Former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann, his former Washington Redskins teammate Darrell Green, a defensive back from Texas A&I, former Oklahoma State tailback Barry Sanders and 19 others will be enshrined Saturday in the College Football Hall of Fame. Activities begin today with a breakfast and a golf outing. On Saturday, the 17 players and five coaches will attend a news conference, take part in a youth clinic, play in a flag football game and go to the enshrinement banquet in South Bend.Football

Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will face an uncertain 2004 season after learning his drug conspiracy trial will begin on Nov. 1. Lewis, who in 2003 had the second-best single-season rushing total in NFL history, is accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine for a childhood friend in June and July 2000. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in February. The trial date, set Thursday by a federal court, comes in the middle of the season, meaning Lewis could miss a number of games.

LaDainian Tomlinson is about to become the highest-paid running back in the NFL. Tomlinson said after Thursday's practice he has agreed in principle to a deal with the San Diego Chargers that will eclipse the eight-year, $50.5 million contract signed by the Redskins' Clinton Portis in the offseason.

Golf

Michelle Wie squandered a late lead, losing the last three holes and her second-round match to In-Bee Park at the U.S. Women's Amateur on Thursday. Wie led 2-up heading to the 16th hole at The Kahkwa Club, but was eliminated in the early round of the championship for the second straight year. The 14-year-old from Hawaii lost in the first round in 2003. All square going to the par-4 18th, Wie hit her second shot within 15 feet. Park's second shot landed about 60 feet from the hole.

Hockey

The Phoenix Coyotes signed center Mike Comrie to a two-year contract Thursday. Comrie, 24, split last season between Philadelphia and Phoenix, scoring 12 goals over 49 games. Phoenix acquired Comrie on Feb. 9 from the Flyers in exchange for goaltender Sean Burke, right wing Branko Radivojevic and the rights to unsigned draft choice Ben Eager.

Tennis

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina beat fifth-seeded Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the Idea Prokom Open. The top-seeded Myskina will next play 2003 runner-up Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic, who defeated Lubomira Kurhajcova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. The other semifinal pits ninth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy against wild card Marta Domachowska of Poland.