Judge Rules Allison’s Death Preventable, Throws Out Suit

Davey Allison would have survived a helicopter crash at Talladega SuperSpeedway on July 12, 1993, if he had been wearing his shoulder harness, U.S. District Court Judge J. Foy Guin in Birmingham, Ala., ruled as he threw out a $25-million lawsuit against manufacturer McDonnell Douglas Helicopter.

Allison, piloting the helicopter, died the next day from head injuries. His passenger, racing veteran Red Farmer, was injured in the crash.

The judge did not rule on what caused the crash, but in a five-page opinion he wrote: “Allison would not have suffered the head injuries he ultimately died from had he been wearing the shoulder harness originally provided in the helicopter.”

College Basketball

The NCAA is investigating California’s recruitment of Georgia basketball star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the Oakland Tribune reported.

A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29, although Athletic Director John Kasser was confident the NCAA would find no wrongdoing.

At issue is the involvement of Cal graduate student Hashim Ali Alauddeen. He introduced Abdur-Rahim to Denver Nugget guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who later paid for Abdur-Rahim’s recruiting visit to the Berkeley campus last fall.

It would be a violation of NCAA rules if Alauddeen was working as a representative of the university or if Abdul-Rauf offered financial help because of Abdur-Rahim’s athletic ability.

Former Kentucky forward Rodrick Rhodes confirmed that he plans to finish his college career at USC. Rhodes will have to sit out the 1995-96 season.

Tennis

Defending champion Carlos Costa of Spain, seeded fifth, was upset by Argentina’s Gaston Etlis, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the first round of the San Marino Open.

Third-seeded Gilbert Schaller of Austria easily handled Germany’s Carl Uwe Steeb, 6-3, 6-3.

Sandon Stolle, ranked 199th in the world, upset 16th-ranked Stefan Edberg, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round of the $1.8 million ATP Championship at Mason, Ohio.

Miscellany

Colorado’s new NHL team, formerly the Quebec Nordiques, signed free agent forward Troy Murray. The team is expected to announce its new name today.

Italy’s three-yacht team moved into a commanding 32-point lead over the United States in the Admiral’s Cup yacht race off Cowes, Isle of Wight.

More than $75 million worth of coins commemorating the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta have been sold worldwide since sales began last December, the U.S. Mint’s director said.

Ron Capps won the top fuel title in the rain-delayed wrapup of the NHRA Northwest Nationals drag races at Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Wash. Capps, a rookie from Cupertino, Calif., beat Cory McClenathan in the final with an elapsed time of 4.930 seconds and a speed of 295.76 m.p.h. McClenathan lost traction at the starting line and faded.

Al Hofmann won in funny car and Warren Johnson took the pro stock title.

Names in the News

Mickey Mantle, battling anemia brought on by chemotherapy to counter lung cancer, received his third transfusion of blood in five days at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. A hospital spokeswoman said Mantle, 63, is in stable condition.

John Seixas, 84, an end on the Howard Jones-coached 1932 national championship USC football team that went 10-0, died at his home in Temple City Tuesday from colon cancer. Seixas, who also played on the 1933 USC team that went 10-1-1, coached football and basketball at Mark Keppel, Alhambra and San Gabriel high schools over a 40-year period and the gym at San Gabriel is named after him. Services are pending.