Sunday FanFare 6/22/03

Briefly

Basketball

Julius Erving will resign his position as a senior vice president with the Magic, according to a story Saturday in The Orlando Sentinel. The newspaper story stated that Dr. J will leave the team at the end of the month to pursue other business opportunities. Erving was hired on June 4, 1997 by Orlando.

Bulls guard Jay Williams may need more surgeries after crashing his motorcycle on Thursday, raising speculation about his future in the NBA. The Duke product, who just finished his first season in the NBA, is still hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Williams had surgery at Illinois Masonic Medical Center to repair nerve damage in his pelvic area after the accident, but the Chicago Tribune, citing a team source, is reporting that Williams could require several more surgeries, including a reconstructive procedure on his left knee.

New Toronto Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill let go assistants Craig Neal, Walker D. Russell and Jay Triano Friday. The move was expected as O'Neill, at his introductory news conference Wednesday, said he wanted to hire his own staff. O'Neill, who replaced Lenny Wilkens, has not hired any replacements yet.

Boxing

Mike Tyson was arrested after a brawl with two men outside a Brooklyn hotel and was charged with assault and disorderly conduct. The former heavyweight champion was treated for minor cuts to his hands after the two men apparently retrieved some type of pole from the hotel lobby and used it against him, police said.

College

Tulsa starting quarterback Tyler Gooch will transfer to Oklahoma to pursue a baseball career. Gooch informed football coach Steve Kragthorpe of the decision Saturday. Tulsa lost the first nine games of the 2002 season to stretch the nation's longest losing streak to 19. The Golden Hurricane finished 1-11

Hawaii coach June Jones received a new five-year contract worth more than $4 million Friday, making him the highest paid state employee. The deal was approved by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Jones' original five-year contract was to expire after this season.

Horse racing

Hear No Evil beat Whos Crying Now by three lengths to win the $100,000 Unbridled Stakes for 3-year-olds at Calder Race Course.

Obituary

Roger Neilson, a Hall of Famer who coached more than a quarter century in the NHL, died Saturday. He was 69. He had been battling skin and bone cancer, and his death was announced by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman 90 minutes into the NHL draft.

Soccer

Maybe last year's World Cup success for the United States really was a bit of a fluke. World Cup champion Brazil dominated the Americans, winning 1-0 and ending the U.S. team's chance to advance in the Confederations Cup.

Tennis

American Chanda Rubin defended her title at Eastbourne on Saturday, beating Spain's Conchita Martinez 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a final delayed more than two hours because of a security threat. More than 3,000 people were evacuated after tourney officials received a threatening phone call. They would not discuss the nature of the threat. Play started about 2 1/2 hours later.

Verbatim

Buck O'Neil, former Negro League star, when asked by the Denver Post how much money he could be making as a player now: "I wouldn't make too much because I'm 91 years old."

Jim Hodges of the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press, on Lennox Lewis going six weeks without sex as part of his training for Saturday's fight against Vitali Klitschko: "If Mike Tyson took that kind of vow of abstinence, he'd probably knock the other guy out during the weigh-in."

On the airArena football playoffs

Arena Bowl, Arizona at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m., WPSDBowling

Greater Cincinnati Open, noon, ESPNCollege world series

Stanford vs. Rice, 1:30 p.m., ESPN

Golf

The Diageo Championship, 8 a.m., TGC

Lake Erie Charity Classic, 12:30 p.m., TGC

Rochester LPGA, 1 p.m., ESPN2

Buick Classic, 2 p.m., WSIL

PGA Club Pro Championship, 3:30 p.m., TGC

Farmers Charity Classic, 5 p.m., CNBC (same-day tape)MLB

Baltimore at Atlanta, noon, TBS

Kansas City at St. Louis, 1 p.m., WDKA, KZIM-960, KBXB-97.9

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 1:10 p.m., WGN

N.Y. Yankees at N.Y. Mets, 7 p.m., ESPNMotorsports

FIM World Superbike, 11 a.m., SPEED (same-day tape)

The Champ Car Portland 200, 2:30 p.m., KFVS

Dodge/Save Mart 350, 2:30 p.m., KBSI

World Rally, Cyprus Rally, 8 p.m., SPEED (same-day tape)

FIA, Rally of Cyprus, 8 p.m., SPEED (same-day tape)Track and field

U.S. Outdoor Championships, 3 p.m., ESPN2

Area events

Baseball

Cape Sr. Legion at Calvert City (Ky.) (2), 1 p.m.

Cape Jr. Legion vs. Sikeston, at Central Jr. High, 4:30 p.m.

Ballard County (Ky.) at Jackson Sr. Legion (2), 1 p.m.

St. Louis Golden Spikes at Cape Capahas (2), 1:30 p.m.

Cape Sr. Babe Ruth A's at Oran (2), 3:30 p.m.