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.”

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Ron Capps won the top fuel title in the rain-delayed wrap-up of the NHRA Northwest Nationals drag races at Kent, Wash. Capps, a rookie from Cupertino, Calif., defeated Cory McClenathan in the final with an elapsed time of 4.930 seconds and a speed of 295.76 m.p.h. Al Hofmann won in funny car and Warren Johnson took the pro stock title.

College Basketball

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

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.

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.

Miscellany

Four University of South Carolina athletes apparently were given passing grades on astronomy tests they actually failed.

Vancouver’s Ryan Harrison scored in overtime to give the VooDoo an 8-7 Roller Hockey International victory over the Blades at the Forum.

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.

Names in the News

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. Pete Sampras defeated Petr Korda, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

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 Tuesday at his home in Temple City 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.

Colorado’s new NHL team, formerly the Quebec Nordiques, signed free agent forward Troy Murray.