Tarpley Reinstated After Three-Year Ban

Roy Tarpley, banned for life from the NBA three years ago, was reinstated by the league Friday as the Dallas Mavericks moved closer to re-signing their former star.

“He is working hard, he recognizes the extraordinary opportunity that he now has, and he understands what is at stake if he is unable to remain drug free,” Commissioner David Stern said in a written statement.

Tarpley, 29, averaged 12.6 points and 10.5 rebounds in five seasons for the Mavericks. But the seven-foot forward-center drew what was termed a lifetime suspension on Oct. 16, 1991, after he refused to take a drug test, his third violation of the NBA’s drug policy.

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A Sacramento jury began deliberations in the trial of a motorist involved in a near-fatal collision with King guard Bobby Hurley. The seven women and five men retired for the weekend and are scheduled to convene again on Monday.

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The Phoenix Suns signed free-agent center Danny Schayes, who finished last season with the Lakers, to a one-year contract. . . . The Mavericks signed forward Popeye Jones to a three-year contract extension.

Baseball

Bo Jackson, who contemplated retirement this year, said he has decided to return for at least one season. The Angels plan to offer Jackson, who is eligible for free agency, a one-year contract and use him in a pinch-hitting role.

San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds was ordered to pay $30,000 a month to support his estranged wife and their two children.

Before the ruling, Sun Bonds was receiving $15,000 a month in temporary child and family support, and $14,000 for insurance and mortgage payments related to the couple’s home. She had asked for $90,000 a month.

The Colorado Rockies exercised a $1-million option for next season on relief pitcher Bruce Ruffin.

Auto Racing

Winston Cup driver Ernie Irvan was released from a Charlotte, N.C., hospital five weeks after he almost died after a wreck at Michigan International Speedway.

Irvan, 35, suffered brain and lung injuries Aug. 20 in a crash during practice for the Goodwrench Dealer 400. He recuperated in a Michigan hospital before he was moved in mid-September to Charlotte. He left Friday morning for his home in Concord, about 20 miles northeast of Charlotte.

Pole sitter Jimmy Spencer and Bill Elliott gave team owner Junior Johnson a front-row sweep in qualifying for Sunday’s Tyson-Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Boxing

Lamar Parks’ promising boxing career ended because he contracted the virus that causes AIDS, the family of the fighter’s fiance said in a published report.

Samantha Clark died on Aug. 27 of complications because of the disease. In an interview with the (Columbia, S.C.) State nine days before her death, Clark said that Parks gave her the disease. Parks, through his family in Greenville, would not comment on the report.

Tennis

Cristiano Caratti, ranked 165th in the world, upset defending champion and top-seeded Michael Stich, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5), in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors at Basel.

Emilio Sanchez upset Gilbert Scaller to advance to a semifinal matchup with fellow Spaniard Alex Corretja in the Sicilian Open at Palermo. . . . Second-seeded Jana Novotna defeated Sandra Cecchini, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the semifinals of the $400,000 Volkswagen Grand Prix at Leipzig, Germany.

Miscellany

Duke freshman Heather Sue Mercer has been granted a tryout next week as a kicker for the Blue Devils and is probably the first woman to try out for an ACC football team. Coach Fred Goldsmith and Mercer want to avoid media glare during the tryout and won’t say when it will occur.

The Los Angeles Salsa lost to the Montreal Impact, 2-1, in an American Pro Soccer League semifinal playoff opener at Montreal. The teams will play Game 2 in Fullerton on Sunday.

The United States defeated Argentina, 15-13, 16-14, 15-6, in a Group B match at the men’s world volleyball championship at Athens.