Manning Near a Deal With Suns

Free-agent forward Danny Manning has all but signed with the Phoenix Suns.

“I am excited and looking forward to playing here in Phoenix, and winning a championship or two or three, however many we can put together,” Manning said at America West Arena. “I want to play in Phoenix, and I am excited about the possibilities.”

The Suns would have to rework their payroll to get Manning under the salary cap. The Suns signed veteran A.C. Green earlier this week to a five-year deal reportedly worth $25 million.

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Scott Williams, one of the bit players in the Chicago Bulls’ three-year run as NBA champions, signed a seven-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

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The Orlando Magic is reportedly close to trading guard Scott Skiles to the Sacramento Kings for guard Spud Webb. Skiles said he expects to be dealt to create a salary slot for the Magic to acquire free-agent forward Horace Grant of the Chicago Bulls.

Golf

Payne Stewart shot a five-under-par 66 to move into a five-way tie for the lead with Dicky Pride, Dave Barr, Fuzzy Zoeller and Ted Schulz in the $1.25-million St. Jude golf tournament at Memphis, Tenn. . . . Pat Bradley birdied the 18th hole at the LPGA Ping/Welch’s Championship for a five-under 67 and a one-shot lead over Juli Inkster and Melissa McNamara at Canton, Mass. . . . Ted Oh of Torrance advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Westfield, N.J., with a 4-and-2 victory over David Christensen of Elk River, Minn.

Tennis

No. 8-seeded Andre Agassi saved two match points in the tiebreaker and went on to a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7) victory over David Wheaton in the third round of the Player’s Ltd. International at Toronto. The upset of the round came when No. 14 MaliVai Washington beat third-seeded Michael Chang, 6-4, 6-4. . . . Defending champion Conchita Martinez waited out rain and fog before routing Karin Kschwendt of Germany, 6-2, 6-0, in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Hardcourt Championship at Stratton Mountain, Vt.

College Football

Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Assn., said he remains opposed to a playoff to determine a national champion because he thinks that it will destroy the bowl system.

With the help of NBC, the Cotton Bowl raised its bid to more than $100 million to become one of the four bowls televised during prime hours on New Year’s Day in a new format after the 1996 season.

Roller Hockey

Nick Vachon scored two goals and goaltender Max Mikhailovsky stopped 45 shots as the Blades defeated the Las Vegas Flash, 6-3, in a Roller Hockey International game at the Forum. The victory gives the Blades a 13-4 record for 26 points, tops in the league.

Hockey

The Supreme Court of Canada turned down the NHL’s request to hear an appeal of two lower-court decisions, meaning hundreds of former players will have their pensions tripled to about $30,000 a year.

Jurisprudence

Derrick Coleman, saying he is intent on clearing his name, filed a lawsuit against the woman who accused the New Jersey Net forward of rape. . . . Tim Barnett of the Kansas City Chiefs was charged with grabbing a 14-year-old maid at a hotel and sexually assaulting her. . . . Las Vegas sports agent Nate Cebrun, who was linked with the Florida State football scandal, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,000 for failing to register with the state of Florida.

Names in the News

Tommy Morrison and Ray Mercer both escaped with split-decision draws as the headline heavyweights on a card at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Morrison survived two knockdowns by Ross Puritty and Mercer drew with Marion Wilson. . . . Michael Schumacher is appealing his two-race ban and will drive in this weekend’s German Grand Prix.