Gordeeva Delivers Stirring Tribute to Grinkov

With two magnificent performances and an emotional concluding speech, Ekaterina Gordeeva paid final tribute to her late husband and skating partner Sergei Grinkov Tuesday night.

“I don’t have enough words,” Gordeeva said at the end of a 2 1/2-hour show in Hartford, Conn. “But I also want to wish to every one of you, try to find happiness and at least once a day, smile to each other.”

There were smiles and tears everywhere, as the Stars On Ice troupe, bolstered by Oksana Baiul and Brian Boitano, among others, paid tribute to Grinkov, who died of heart failure while practicing with Gordeeva in November.

The highlight was Gordeeva’s solo performance. As it concluded, Gordeeva’s eyes awash in tears, she skated to the end of the arena and took her 3-year-old daughter Daria in her arms.

Pro Football

The San Diego Chargers signed middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia, an unrestricted free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles, to a three-year deal. But defensive end Marco Coleman of the Miami Dolphins left San Diego without signing an offer sheet.

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty has increased the NFL’s salary cap for 1996 by almost $2 million to $40.753 million.

Buffalo cornerback Thomas Smith, a restricted free agent, signed a four-year contract with the team worth $4.8 million.

The Chicago Bears signed kicker Carlos Huerta. . . . Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre had arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur and bone chips from his left ankle. . . . Larry Kennan, a 14-year coaching veteran, will return for his second tour of duty as the Oakland Raiders’ quarterback coach. He previously held the position from 1982 to 1987.

Miscellany

LSU tailback Kevin Faulk has been suspended for the season opener by Coach Gerry DiNardo after misdemeanor assault charges were filed against Faulk.

The Massachusetts Boxing Commission will implement mandatory testing for the virus that causes AIDS, starting with a card March 15. Commission officials unanimously approved mandatory testing Feb. 16, six days after heavyweight Tommy Morrison tested positive for HIV.

Fifth-seeded Sergi Bruguera of Spain lost to Jan Siemerink of The Netherlands, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the $814,250 Italian Indoor ATP tournament in Milan.

Dominique Moceanu and Shannon Miller, two of the United States’ top female gymnasts, will skip this weekend’s American Cup in Fort Worth, Texas, because of injuries.

Richard Wojcio, a leading harness racing driver accused of fixing a race, was suspended indefinitely for refusing to answer questions at a New Jersey Racing Commission hearing.

Ronnie Fields of Chicago, one of the nation’s top prep basketball stars, will make a full recovery from a neck fracture sustained in a car accident, his doctor said after a three-hour operation.