Georgia Flag Comes Down at Atlanta Stadium

Georgia’s flag will be removed from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium because its design includes the Confederate battle emblem.

The Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, which governs the facility, voted unanimously Wednesday to stop flying the state flag at the stadium, home of the Braves, where baseball will be played during the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Opponents of the flag contend it is racist because it includes the Confederate emblem--crossed blue bars with stars on a red field. Supporters say it is part of the state’s heritage.

Colleges

Baylor became the first Southwest Conference school to accept an offer to join the Big Eight in what could be the beginning of the end for the nearly 80-year-old Southwest Conference.

Three other Southwest Conference schools--Texas Tech, Texas A&M; and Texas--are also considering a move to the Big Eight.

Jurisprudence

Charles Barkley was in court at East Rutherford, N.J., to defend himself against charges that he hit a fan at the Meadowlands Arena after a game last season. Dennis McKeever, 30, of Yonkers, N.Y., testified in Municipal Court that the Phoenix star struck him in the face with the back of his hand when he tried to shake his hand after the Suns defeated the New Jersey Nets on Dec. 8, 1992.

A friend of McKeever’s, James McCaffery, testified that perhaps Barkley was angry with him because he had been yelling at the player about his bald head and also telling him to sign some autographs.

McKeever has a civil suit pending against Barkley in Superior Court.

Misdemeanor weapons charges against the Chicago Bulls’ Scottie Pippen were dropped after a judge agreed with his attorney that Chicago police had seized a .38-caliber pistol from Pippen’s car in an illegal search.

Basketball

Bryan Colangelo, the 28-year-old son of Phoenix Sun President Jerry Colangelo, was promoted to vice president and assistant general manager of the NBA team. . . . Coach Glenn McDonald of the Long Beach State women’s team, was reprimanded by the Big West Conference and the university’s athletic department for his behavior in the 49ers’ game Sunday at Hawaii. McDonald drew a technical foul for slamming his fists on the scorer’s table, then charged onto the court. After being assessed another technical and ejected from the game, he approached the official again and bumped him on his way off the court.

Coastal Carolina, last year’s Big South champion, pulled out of postseason play, citing an NCAA recruiting investigation. Athletic Director Andy Hendrick made four Coastal players ineligible after talking with the NCAA. . . . Wayne State basketball Coach Mike Brewen resigned with an overall record of 32-74 with three games remaining this season.

Football

Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos has made a $200-million offer to buy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a television station reported. Angelos could not be reached, and Buccaneers spokesman Rick Odioso said he couldn’t comment on any possible offer. But Steven Story, a member of the Buccaneers’ board of directors, said the team is not for sale and there are no ongoing negotiations.

The Detroit Lions hired former Minnesota Vikings assistant Tom Moore to be their quarterbacks coach. . . . The Lions are expected to lose their top three quarterbacks--Erik Kramer has already signed with the Chicago Bears, and Andre Ware and Rodney Peete are expected to leave as free agents--and are wooing several quarterbacks, including Scott Mitchell, the Miami Dolphins’ backup.

Others drawing the Lions’ interest include Sean Salisbury of the Vikings, Chris Miller of the Atlanta Falcons and Bernie Kosar, who was dumped by the Cleveland Browns and signed by the Dallas Cowboys as Super Bowl insurance.

Ted Williams, former Compton High coach and UCLA assistant, left Washington State to become defensive secondary coach at Arizona. . . . Wide receiver Chris Burkett, the New York Jets’ most valuable player in 1991, retired after nine seasons in the NFL.

Former UCLA wide receiver Kurt Altenberg, 50, is tentatively scheduled to be released from UCLA Medical Center today after receiving a heart transplant.

Tennis

John McEnroe lost to Magnus Gustafsson, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), and Boris Becker lost to Paul Haarhuis, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, in the first round of the Rotterdam indoor tournament.

Top-seeded Michael Stich and Goran Ivanisevic advanced to the second round. Stich beat Jacco Eltingh, 6-4, 6-4, and Ivanisevic eliminated David Prinosil, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).