Buccaneer Owner Culverhouse, 75, Dies

Hugh Culverhouse, a millionaire tax attorney who ran the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a frugality that made for sound business but frustrating football, died Thursday after a 20-month battle with lung cancer.

Culverhouse, 75, died in New Orleans, where he had been undergoing treatment since last week.

Culverhouse paid $16 million for one of two expansion teams that began play in 1976. He was the only owner in club history and resisted the temptation to move the franchise when attendance dipped or sell to parties wanting to relocate the team.

The one-time tax attorney for Richard Nixon and Bebe Rebozo was the head of the NFL’s financial committee through the strikes of 1982 and 1987.

Culverhouse is a native of Birmingham, Ala. The funeral will be Tuesday in Tampa, Fla.

Pro Basketball

A team physician has recommended that Damon Bailey, the Indiana Pacers’ second-round draft pick, have surgery on both knees that could sideline him for the entire season. Bailey, who has complained of playing in pain, has not made a decision.

Hockey

The Edmonton Oilers matched the Kings’ offer sheet to rugged free-agent forward Scott Thornton. Thornton, 23, received a three-year deal worth $425,000 the first season, $450,000 the second and $500,000 in the final year.

Said Glen Sather, the Oilers’ president and general manager: “We could not allow other teams to make economic raids on the Oilers.”

The 6-2, 200-pound Thornton scored four goals and 11 points in 61 games and had 104 penalty minutes last season.

Tennis

Pete Sampras, who has not played in more than a month because of an inflamed ankle, will open defense of his U.S. Open title against a qualifier and will face other easy opponents in the early rounds next week, according to Thursday’s draw.

Defending women’s champion Steffi Graf will open against novice Anne Hall of Mesa, but could have to face Zina Garrison Jackson in the third round.