Vancouver to Join NBA as Expansion Team

The NBA has opened a western front in its Canadian campaign.

The league’s owners unanimously approved a Vancouver franchise Wednesday, six months after admitting Toronto. Both teams will begin play in the 1995-96 season.

The addition of Toronto and Vancouver will give the NBA 29 teams. The franchises must pay an entry fee of $125 million, nearly four times the $32.5 million paid by the four expansion teams in the late 1980s.

The team will play in a 20,000-seat arena that is under construction.

Boxing

One day after Evander Holyfield retired from boxing because of a cardiac condition, doctors discovered another problem with the former heavyweight champion’s heart.

A test at an Atlanta hospital revealed a “tiny” hole in the boxer’s heart, said a spokeswoman. She said the hole between the two chambers of the heart is not life threatening but will be monitored closely.

“This is something he was born with,” said Holyfield’s personal physician, Ronald Stephens.

Holyfield, 31, announced his retirement after being diagnosed with a non-compliant left ventricle or “stiff heart,” which prevents sufficient oxygen from being pumped to muscles and tissues.

Bradley Stone, who collapsed hours after being stopped in the 10th round of a bout for the British super-bantamweight title at London’s York Hall, was placed on a life-support machine and given little chance of recovery after a blood clot was removed from his brain.

Stone, 23, was checked by a doctor after the fight before being allowed to go home, where he complained of an increasingly severe headache, nausea and vomiting before he went into a coma.

Tennis

Steffi Graf ran her winning streak to 34 matches with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Linda Ferrando of Italy to reach the quarterfinals of the Citizen Cup at Hamburg, Germany.

This was the tournament in which Monica Seles was stabbed last year. This year, players have been given bodyguards and undercover police have been deployed at the Rothenbaum club.

Pro Football

Former USC quarterback Sean Salisbury, a part-time starter for the Minnesota Vikings the past two seasons, today will sign with the Houston Oilers.

Salisbury, who will get a $400,000 signing bonus, will earn $700,000 next season. If Salisbury becomes the team’s starter, the Oilers will have an option of picking up his contract for $2.5 million for the 1995 season. Otherwise, he will become a free agent.

Washington defensive lineman D’Marco Farr, Notre Dame quarterback Kevin McDougal, New Mexico wide receiver Turhon O’Bannon, Miami defensive lineman Kevin Patrick and Purdue wide receiver Jermaine Ross are among 10 rookie free agents expected to sign with the Rams today, said Jay Zygmunt, senior vice president.

Linebacker Joe Kelly, whom the Raiders cut last week, worked out Wednesday for the Rams.

Two UCLA players who were not drafted have signed free agent contracts. Defensive tackle Matt Werner, a three-year Bruin starter, has signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Donovan Gallatin, a reserve defensive back, has signed with the Raiders.

Soccer

Jean-Jacques Eydlie of Olympique Marseille and Jorge Burruchaga and Christophe Robert of Valenciennes were banned from soccer until July 1, 1996, for their role in a game-fixing scandal.

Marcel Desailly, Demetrio Albertini and Daniele Massaro scored as AC Milan defeated AS Monaco, 3-0, at Milan, Italy, to advance to its second consecutive European Champions Cup final.

AC Milan, the European champion in 1989 and 1990, will play Barcelona, the 1992 champion, on May 18 at Athens.

Golf

Jennifer Biehn of USC won the women’s Pacific 10 championship on the second hole of a playoff with Wendy Ward of Arizona State and Leta Lindley of Arizona. The three were tied at 224 after 54 holes. Arizona State won the team title with a three-day total of 920. USC was second at 924 and UCLA third at 928.

Names in the News

Ronnie Grandison, a 6-6 forward for the Rochester (Minn.) Renegades, was named the most valuable player of the Continental Basketball Assn. The former star for St. Bernard High in Playa del Rey led the CBA in rebounding.

Danielle Jorgenson has been named women’s basketball coach at Azusa Pacific, replacing Sue Hebel, who retired. Jorgenson, who played for Azusa Pacific, was an assistant under Hebel last season.