Lawrence Taylor admits to paying for sex at hotel

Former football star Lawrence Taylor admitted paying for sex at a suburban Holiday Inn where police say he raped a 16-year-old runaway, federal prosecutors said Friday in a criminal complaint against the girl’s alleged pimp.

The papers filed in federal court in Manhattan refer to Taylor only as “Client-1.”

In the paperwork, authorities claim the Pro Football Hall of Famer told police following his arrest on Thursday that he had taken a car service from Newark (N.J.) International Airport to the hotel north of New York City to meet “Victim-1.”

Taylor told investigators that after “engaging in sex acts” with the victim, he paid her $300 in cash, the complaint says. The man charged in the complaint, Rasheed Davis, had told the New York Giants legend that the girl was 19, the court papers say.

Taylor, 51, was charged Thursday in Suffern, N.Y., with third-degree rape and patronizing a prostitute. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, has denied the charges.

FOOTBALL

Texans’ Cushing is suspended

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Cushing, who played for USC, will serve his suspension over the first four games of the upcoming season and will be eligible to return during the week of Oct. 4.

He can participate in all preseason practices and games.

Cushing, the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft, won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie cornerback Kevin Thomas injured his knee during practice last weekend, and the third-round draft pick from USC could sit out the entire 2010 season.

The Colts issued a release saying Thomas was hurt during Sunday’s final practice, which was closed to the media. The team did not provide details of the injury but did say Thomas has been scheduled for surgery.

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UCLA tackle Nik Abele is retiring because of continuing problems with his neck.

Abele, who was a redshirt as a freshman last fall, sat out most of spring practice because of numbness in his neck, traced to a nerve problem. He had similar problems while at Irvine High School.

The loss of Abele leaves the Bruins particularly light at tackle. The Bruins have only four tackles on scholarship until freshmen arrive in the summer: Mike Harris, Micah Kia, Sean Sheller and Brett Downey.

Abele will remain on scholarship. It will not count against UCLA’s team limit, as he is out because of medical reasons.

— Chris Foster

ETC.

Mexico, Ecuador draw, 0-0

Mexico and Ecuador played to a 0-0 draw in the first professional sporting event at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

At the first of three warmup games in the United States for the Mexican national team, a sellout crowd of 77,507 saw few threats on goal. The Mexicans weren’t particularly sharp against a non-qualifier for the World Cup, which opens on June 11 with Mexico facing host South Africa.

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In front of a record hockey crowd of 77,803, the United States lost to Germany, 2-1, in the opening game of the world championships at Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Felix Schutz scored the winning goal 21 seconds into overtime at Veltins Arena, ordinarily the home of the Schalke soccer team. The attendance broke the record of 74,544 set in 2001 when Michigan State hosted Michigan at Spartan Stadium.

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Matt Carlino, a guard from Bloomington (Ind.) South High, signed his letter of intent to play basketball for UCLA. Carlino, who is graduating from high school a year early, announced last week that he would attend UCLA.

— Chris Foster

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Denny Hamlin raced to his third consecutive Nationwide Series victory at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Kyle Busch was second. Jamie McMurray, the pole winner earlier Friday for Saturday’s Sprint Cup Southern 500, finished third.

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Jelena Jankovic beat tennis’ famous sisters on consecutive days and reached the Italian Open final with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Serena Williams.

Jankovic will play for the title Saturday against Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.