Dunigan’s 713 Passing Yards Break CFL Record

Matt Dunigan passed for a Canadian Football League-record 713 yards Thursday night in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 50-35 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos at Winnipeg, Canada.

Dunigan, who threw for five touchdowns--four to Alfred Jackson--smashed the record of 601 yards set last year by Danny Barrett of the British Columbia Lions. Dunigan, who played at Louisiana Tech, completed 33 of 52 passes and had two interceptions. Dunigan had touchdown passes of 88, 55, 33, 54 and 35 yards.

Hockey

Free-agent center Bernie Nicholls has signed a two-year contract worth $2.1 million with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team announced. Nicholls, 33, is a 13-year veteran and one of only eight players in NHL history to score 70 or more goals in a season. He scored 70 goals and had 80 assists for the Kings in 1988-89. He was drafted by the Kings in 1980 and played for the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers before going to the New Jersey Devils in 1992-93. Last season, he had 19 goals and 27 assists in 61 games.

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Defensemen Charlie Huddy, Doug Houda and Tim Watters, each of whom was offered a termination contract, will return to the Kings next season. . . . Goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick of the Florida Panthers was arrested in Islamorada, Fla., after his pregnant wife told authorities he kicked, grabbed and shoved her during an argument.

Cycling

With 10 days left in the Tour de France, the race for the title appears to be over. Spain’s Miguel Indurain has a lead of nearly five minutes and his primary rival, Switzerland’s Tony Rominger, has all but conceded.

The 175 remaining riders enjoyed their only day off in this year’s race Thursday. They were gathering their strength for today’s 12th stage of 127 miles, with two more major climbs, the famous Tourmalet (6,937 feet) and Luz Ardidan (5,625 feet).

“It’s finished for me,” Rominger told the French sports daily L’Equipe. “Of course. I am going to continue, but I can’t compete with (Indurain).”

Tennis

Pete Sampras and Jim Courier have won eight Grand Slam event titles between them. Today they will try to lead the United States closer to the Davis Cup championship. Courier will play Richard Krajicek and Sampras will face Jacco Eltingh in the quarterfinals of the best-of-five competition when the U.S. plays the Netherlands in Rotterdam.

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Ivan Lendl, returning after being sidelined since late May with back pain, beat Jim Grabb, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Pro Championships at Brookline, Mass. Patrick McEnroe defeated Mike Zimmerman, 6-2, 6-0; Brad Gilbert was upset by David Nainkin of South Africa, 6-4, 6-4, and Jimmy Arias beat Mashiska Washington, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Names in the News

Scottie Pippen, the subject of numerous trade rumors, said he would like to remain with the Chicago Bulls. . . . Anaclet Wamba of France defended his World Boxing Council cruiserweight title with a majority draw over Adolpho Washington of Lexington, Ky., at Monte Carlo. . . . Bob Samuelson, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic volleyball team that won a bronze medal, has retired from the U.S. national team program. . . . Skier Lina Cherjazova of Uzbekistan remained in critical condition a day after suffering injuries in a training accident at Lake Placid, N.Y. Cherjazova, 25, world and Olympic champion in freestyle aerials, hit the back of her head on a water jump at the Olympic ski jumping complex.