Players Suspended at Tennessee

Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday he has suspended safety Jason Parker and defensive tackle Leland Taylor for the 1995 season, and 29 other scholarship athletes have been punished for their involvement in a $25,000 telephone scandal that covered 17,000 long-distance calls using the stolen charge account of an athletic department employee.

The actions of Fulmer and basketball Coach Kevin O’Neill are in addition to punishments recommended by the university, which has identified at least 56 students--including the athletes--who used the stolen access code.

Besides the suspensions of Parker and Taylor, wide receiver Andy McCullough, defensive back James Smith, linebacker Tyrone Hines and fullback Chester Ford and basketball forward Damon Johnson were suspended for the first games of their seasons and lose $850 from the value of their scholarships, plus their two complimentary tickets to each game.

Eight football players will lose $850 grants-in-aid and two complimentary game tickets, and 16 athletes will be perform 100 hours of community service and lose their complimentary tickets.

*

Raider tight end Jamie Williams, a 12-year veteran, is retiring at 35. A former St. Louis Cardinal, Houston Oiler and San Francisco 49er, Williams spent his final season with the Raiders, catching three passes for 25 yards in a reserve role.

*

The Indianapolis Colts signed first-round pick Ellis Johnson, a defensive lineman from Florida and the 15th player selected in this year’s NFL draft, and also re-signed defensive tackle Tony McCoy to a four-year contract. . . . Ralph Tamm, a free-agent offensive lineman who was released by the San Francisco 49ers May 5 after failing a physical, signed with the Denver Broncos. . . . Kicker Gary Anderson said his 13-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers has apparently ended after he rejected a contract that would have paid him at least $525,000 per year. . . . Mike Brown, president and part owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, will meet with John Moag Jr., chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority, to hear an offer designed to lure the Bengals to Baltimore.

Basketball

A Sacramento King spokesman refuted a newspaper report that guard Bobby Hurley, trying to make a comeback after a near-fatal car accident, tore ligaments in his right ankle while working out in Jersey City. Travis Stanley of the Kings said the injury is a sprain. The Newark Star-Ledger reported that Hurley is on crutches and is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

Jurisprudence

Troy Smith, 24, a former Louisville basketball player, has been granted early release from state prison from his 1994 sentence of five to 25 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kelly Dwyer, 20, whom Smith picked up, then dropped to the floor, fracturing her skull during an argument.

Miscellany

Hank Steinbrecher, secretary general of the U.S. Soccer Federation, says he is going to Spain today to offer Brazil’s World Cup coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, a four-year contract as coach the U.S. national men’s team.

Shaun Van Allen, the Mighty Ducks’ second-leading scorer last season, has agreed to terms on a three-year contract. Van Allen had 29 points, behind only Paul Kariya’s 39.

The Ducks also announced a three-year radio agreement with KEZY-FM.

A proposed 20,000-seat sports arena in downtown Washington moved a step closer to reality after MCI Communications announced it would help underwrite the project.

Promoter Bob Arum says he plans to go to court over the International Boxing Federation’s decision to order a mandatory rematch between heavyweight champion George Foreman and Germany’s Axel Schulz.

Names in the News

Funeral services for long-time local boxing figure and record-keeper Dick Mastro will be held at 10 a.m today at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Hollywood. He was 82.