Nevada Regents Order Probe of Massimino Deal

Outraged over a secret contract that gave Nevada Las Vegas basketball Coach Rollie Massimino an extra $375,000 a year, Nevada regents on Friday ordered an investigation into the deal.

Some regents hinted they might try to rescind Massimino’s contract to coach the Rebels altogether, saying they were duped when they hired him two years ago.

“I would like the opportunity to reverse my vote,” regent Jill Derby said.

The 11-member board voted unanimously to hire outside legal counsel to help unravel the circumstances and legality of a secret contract that guaranteed Massimino $375,000 a year above the $511,000-a-year, five-year contract approved by regents in April, 1992.

The vote was taken after interim UNLV President Kenny Guinn said he needed help to unravel the case.Guinn, who took over when Robert Maxson resigned in May to take the top job at Long Beach State, told Massimino last week that terms of the secret contract would not be paid.

Auto Racing

Ernie Irvan, slowly but steadily recovering from critical injuries, has had a stream of visitors to his hospital room in Ypsilanti, Mich., this week, all of them impressed by the progress the NASCAR star appears to be making.

Irvan, who suffered life-threatening injuries to his brain and lungs in a crash last Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, remains on a ventilator and was listed as critical but stable at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Hockey

The Whalers acquired defenseman Glen Wesley from the Boston Bruins for first-round picks the next three years.

Miscellany

Sandblasting at the Kingdome in Seattle probably will be resumed Monday and within a week experts may have some idea when the stadium may reopen, interim stadium director Dick Sandaas said.