Troubled Tarpley a Maverick Again

The Dallas Mavericks gave Roy Tarpley yet another chance Thursday night, signing the recently reinstated seven-footer to a six-year contract worth about $2.5 million per year.

Nearly three years to the day since his banishment from the NBA for substance abuse, Tarpley was thankful for a chance to return.

“It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I feel like I was just drafted all over again,” said Tarpley, 29. “I’m going to be what I should have been before--a professional on and off the court. I’m ready for the challenge. It’s most definitely going to be a challenge.”

*

Eleven years after trading him, the New Jersey Nets signed free-agent guard Eric (Sleepy) Floyd. . . . The Denver Nuggets signed forward Cliff Levingston to a one-year deal worth $650,000.

Golf

Fred Couples and Curtis Strange won their matches at wind-swept St. Andrews in Scotland, giving the United States a 2-1 victory over Japan to begin its defense of the $1.5-million Dunhill Cup.

The wind, gusting to more than 50 m.p.h., was a major factor all day. Australia’s Greg Norman, Ireland’s Darren Clarke and New Zealander Greg Turner were the only players to match par 72.

At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., PGA veterans Rick Fehr and Bob Lohr each shot nine-under-par 63 to share the first-round lead in the $1.1-million Disney Classic. . . . Allen Doyle’s three-under-par 68 led the United States to a two-stroke lead in the opening round of the World Amateur Team Championship at La Boulie, France. Tiger Woods and John Harris each shot 70 as the U.S. squad finished five under at 208. Sweden was second at 210 and Australia third at 212.

Soccer

Timo Liekoski, 52, an assistant coach for the U.S. national team for the last 1 1/2 years, was named coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Andres Cantor, who punctuated World Cup broadcasts with his trademark “Goooooooooooooooal” calls for Univision, was named 1994 sports personality of the year by the American Sportscasters Assn.

Tennis

Martina Hingis, the 14-year-old prodigy from Switzerland playing in only her second match as a professional, was beaten by Mary Pierce of France in the second round of the $750,000 European Indoors in Zurich, 6-4, 6-0.

Qualifier Shaun Stafford defeated fourth-seeded Zina Garrison, 6-4, 6-4, and Miriam Oremans, a qualifier from the Netherlands, beat No. 7 Iva Majoli of Croatia, 7-5, 6-1.

Jurisprudence

Trauma from an incident involving L.A. police left Al Joyner with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a psychologist who testified on the second day of Joyner’s civil case against five LAPD officers who conducted a traffic stop on the Olympian on May 8, 1992.

Joyner’s former agent also took the stand, testifying that Joyner’s failure to make the 1992 U.S. Olympic team--which he contends was the result of the police incident--might have cost him as much as $1 million in endorsements and income. Joyner won the gold medal in the triple jump at the 1984 Olympic games.

Judge Terry Hatter Jr. has already ruled that the traffic stop, during which officers held Joyner at gunpoint after mistakenly identifying his car, violated Joyner’s civil rights. The current phase of the trial is to affix monetary damages to the officers’ conduct.

Miscellany

Race driver Page Jones remains unconscious but is responding to commands in a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, according to a family spokesman. Doctors viewed that as an encouraging sign. Jones was injured in a sprint car crash Sept. 24.

Jim Bush, former USC track and field coach, has sued the university for breach of contract, claiming it wrongly withheld state and federal taxes from his $72,000 settlement. USC has offered to repay what was withheld.

The United States defeated South Korea, 15-2, 15-4, 16-14, and advanced to the semifinals of the 13th Men’s Volleyball World Championship in Athens.

Names in the News

Radek Bonk, the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft, has rejected a deal with Ottawa and plans to spend a second season with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League. . . . The St. Louis Blues acquired center Adam Creighton from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Tom Tilley.

Darryl Strawberry told the Contra Costa Times that he wants to return to the San Francisco Giants and would like to play first base for the team. . . . The Giants asked outright waivers on pitcher Bud Black, outfielders Willie McGee and Dave Martinez and first baseman Todd Benzinger. . . . The Dodgers hired former catcher Mike Scioscia as the organization’s catching instructor.