Falcons Hire Jones; Cardinals Fire Bugel

June Jones was hired Monday to coach the Atlanta Falcons and Joe Bugel was fired as coach of the Phoenix Cardinals.

Jones, who succeeded Jerry Glanville, was the Falcons’ assistant head coach for offense, and once spent four seasons as the club’s backup quarterback.

Falcon President Taylor Smith said he’d known Jones, 40, a long time and “we felt June’s the guy we’d like to run our football team.”

The only other coach considered seriously was former Redskin coach Joe Gibbs. But, Smith said, the Redskins refused to allow the Falcons to talk to Gibbs.

Bugel, who received an ultimatum before the season to produce a winning team, was fired after a 7-9 finish.

He is the fourth NFL coach to be fired since the end of the regular season, joining Bruce Coslet (New York Jets), Richie Petitbon (Washington) and Glanville.

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Falcon quarterback Bobby Hebert will undergo surgery to repair a damaged tendon in his right arm. . . . Defensive line coach Mike DuBose, whose career includes moves from Alabama to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and back to the Crimson Tide, is headed to the NFL again for a second stint with the Buccaneers.

Canyon High offensive lineman David Pratchard has made an oral commitment to attend USC. Pratchard, 6-foot-5, 263 pounds, had narrowed his choice to the Trojans and San Diego State. “I felt like USC had a lot more to offer,” he said. “It has more of a tradition in the football area. I feel it can help me reach my goals in trying to get to the pro level and academically become successful.”

Bob Aubrey, a defensive back at St. Francis, has made an oral commitment to play at USC. Aubrey, 6-3, 210 pounds, said he was told he will play outside linebacker for the Trojans. He chose USC over Stanford and California.

“My parents went there,” Aubrey said. “There was a lot of sentiment for me to go there. It’s kind of been a boyhood dream of mine.”

Mike Tetzlaff of Westlake has orally committed to Arizona. A defensive end/linebacker, Tetzlaff (6-3, 220 pounds) was selected Ventura County defensive lineman of the year by county coaches. Arizona State and California also were among the teams that recruited Tetzlaff.

“Arizona’s defense is really tough and I want to be a part of that,” Tetzlaff said. “Watching their defense gave me a rush. I can’t wait.”

Figure Skating

Tonya Harding basked in the applause of shoppers while skating at a mall in Portland, Ore., amid reports that authorities have enough evidence to arrest her in the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan.

Authorities refused to comment on the Oregonian newspaper’s report that investigators have enough evidence to charge Harding in the plot, but don’t want to act until they feel more sure of getting a conviction.

After skating, Harding drove to the cabin in the rural community of Beavercreek she once shared with ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and packed up her things with the help of a girlfriend.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Harding and Gilloly are trying to implicate the other. “They’re finger pointing at each other,” said an unnamed investigator. “It’s all finger pointing back and forth.”

Another source said: “Gilloly has told investigators that he would serve her up on a silver platter.”

Baseball

Chicago Cub outfielder Sammy Sosa received a nearly four-fold salary increase when he agreed to a $2.95-million, one-year contract.

Reliever Rob Dibble and the Cincinnati Reds agreed a $2.45-million, one-year contract, a cut of $50,000.

Jerry Walker was fired as general manager of the Detroit Tigers by owner Mike Ilitch and replaced on an interim basis by scouting director Joe Klein.

Basketball

Cal State Northridge’s Feb. 5 home basketball doubleheader has been rescheduled, Athletic Director Bob Hiegert said Monday. The school’s women’s team will travel to Cal Poly Pomona instead of playing host to the Broncos. The Northridge men’s team has switched the sites of its home-and-home series against Cal State Sacramento. The Matadors will play at Sacramento on Feb. 5 and play host to the Hornets on Feb. 19.