Federal mediators have scheduled the first direct...

Federal mediators have scheduled the first direct talks between the NCAA and black basketball coaches who had threatened a boycott over scholarships and academic requirements. The talks will be held by telephone conference call today.

Pro Football

Free-agent quarterback Scott Mitchell, who played for Miami last season, had dinner with Ram officials Monday night and will tour Rams Park today. Mitchell reportedly is seeking a contract worth about $3.5 million a year.

Mitchell, 26, has already visited the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, and will travel to New Orleans on Wednesday.

The Rams also made a pitch for Houston quarterback Warren Moon, 37, but the Oilers appear unwilling to deal.

Other possible signings include Phoenix punt and kickoff returner Johnny Bailey, defensive lineman Jimmie Jones of Dallas, quarterback Chris Miller of Atlanta, offensive tackle Doug Riesenberg of the New York Giants and wide receiver Brett Perriman of Detroit. . . . The Rams are expected to announce the hiring of Washington special teams coach Wayne Sevier on Wednesday.

Howard Ballard, the Buffalo Bills two-time Pro Bowl tackle, signed a four-year, $10.5-million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. . . . New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms will undergo diagnostic arthroscopic surgery on his sore right shoulder. . . . Atlanta Falcon guard Chris Hinton, selected eight times to the Pro Bowl, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings.

Miscellany

The New York Rangers have signed center Todd Marchant, a member of the U.S. Olympic hockey team, to a pro contract and assigned three other Olympians already under contract. Goaltender Corey Hirsch will report to New York, while defenseman Barry Richter and forward Jean-Yves Roy will report to Binghamton. Richter played for Team USA, Hirsch and Roy for Canada.

GTE will end its title sponsorship of the senior tour stop in Ojai this weekend. The 54-hole event will be played Friday through Sunday at the Ojai Valley Inn course.

Names in the News

Hall of Famer Ted Williams, 75, was released from a hospital in Gainesville, Fla., more than a week after suffering a stroke and will begin a rehabilitation program. The stroke has left Williams with some disability on his left side and poor eyesight.

Jamie Nicolson, 22, one of Australia’s most talented young boxers, was one of two people killed in a car accident. . . . Gail Devers has withdrawn from Saturday’s USA-Mobil Indoor Championships at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta because of a leg injury suffered in Japan.