Basketball

The University of Massachusetts will begin investigating whether Marcus Camby accepted gifts from sports agents.

Bob Marcum, the school’s athletic director, said the problem may stem from a “disgruntled” agent who wanted to sign the All-American center who has chosen to forego his senior season to be eligible for the NBA draft.

Marcum was responding to a story in the Hartford Courant in which Camby admitted accepting jewelry worth $5,300 from Wesley Spears, a Hartford agent.

Camby also was quoted as saying he took “a couple thousand” from Signature Sports agent John Lounsbury in the summer of 1995.

Arkansas players Kareem Reid and Marlon Towns were suspended indefinitely from the team after being arrested and cited for possession of a controlled substance last week.

Jurisprudence

A Texas judge has fined confidant-turned-informant Dennis Pedini $500 and sentenced him to 30 days in jail after ruling he violated a gag order in the drug case of Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin by giving an interview to a tabloid television show.

Chad Hildebrandt, a former high school wrestler, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a year of probation and 100 hours of community service for knocking a referee unconscious in Colville, Wash., with a head butt after losing a match.

Auto Racing

Nine days after suffering severe leg, foot and ankle injuries during a crash on the final lap of the Indianapolis 500, Alessandro Zampredi, 26, was upgraded to good condition after additional surgery, his fifth since the accident.

In the latest procedure, surgeons removed three toes as well as some tissue from the top and bottom of Zampedri’s left foot. He also underwent a muscle graft and a skin graft.

Pro Football

New York Giant safety Vencie Glenn, 31, whose five interceptions last season tied for team high, was waived in a move that will save the team almost $1 million and clear the way for a younger player.

Tom Newberry, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting left guard last season and a former Los Angeles Ram, said he’s retiring at 33 after 10 years in the NFL.

Prep Football

Horace Jones, a former Oakland Raider and Seattle Seahawk, has been fired as principal at Pensacola High after being accused of covering up an alleged locker-room sex attack to preserve the football team’s playoff hopes.

Names in the News

UC Irvine has told Doreen Irish, the women’s tennis coach at the school for 23 years, that her contract will not be renewed. . . . Steffi Graf has committed to play in the Acura Classic at Manhattan Country Club on Aug. 12-18, her first Los Angeles tournament in nine years. . . . Bob Sweazy of Texas Tech has been elected chairman of the College Football Assn. Board of Directors for the organization’s final year of operation. . . . The Ottawa Senators selected former NHL and King executive Roy Mlakar team president and chief executive officer. . . . Northeastern University Coach Ben Smith was hired to coach the U.S. women’s ice hockey team for its debut at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.