Troubled Rider Gets Arrested Again

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ maddening relationship with Isaiah Rider has taken another embarrassing turn.

Rider, in trouble with the law and the team throughout his three-year career, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of an illegal cellular telephone, both misdemeanors, after he was arrested Thursday night in his hometown of Oakland.

Indications were that Rider’s situation could worsen.

Police continued their investigation of the high-scoring guard Friday. Four cellular phones found in Rider’s 1996 Mercedes are believed to be stolen. If he is charged with theft and the value is more than $400, Rider could face felony charges.

“We’re not through with the investigation,” said officer Ron Bryant of the California Highway Patrol. “So that [the misdemeanor counts] could be upgraded.”

The Timberwolves were reportedly close to trading Rider to the Portland Trail Blazers, but it is unclear what effect the incident will have on that deal.

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Dallas police, citing a gag order in Cowboy receiver Michael Irvin’s drug case, remained silent about what may have motivated Dallas police officer Johnnie Hernandez to want the football star killed.

But Hernandez, who has been subpoenaed as a witness in the ongoing trial, has been portrayed in media reports as a disgruntled and protective boyfriend.

Sources say he may have been angered at the way Irvin treated his girlfriend, Rachelle Marie Smith, a topless dancer who was friends with the women caught March 4 at a motel with Irvin, where cocaine and marijuana was present.

Smith had testified before the grand jury that indicted Irvin and is to testify at his trial. Irvin reportedly told Smith not to testify about his lifestyle “or you could be hurt,” an unidentified law enforcement official told the Dallas Morning News.

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A stripper who claims she was raped by seven Clemson football players contends police have been slow to investigate and fears her occupation might be part of the reason. Police denied the charge. Angela Washington, 28, demanded at a news conference Thursday that the players be arrested, saying she feels victimized twice.

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Mark Macon, waived by the Detroit Pistons in April, is charged in a Flint, Mich., warrant with carrying a concealed weapon in his car. Macon’s attorney, Gregory J. Reed, said Macon was surprised he was charged because he had cooperated with police and he volunteered the information about the weapon and allowed police to search his car. Police found a 9mm weapon and full clip of bullets.

Pro Basketball

The Phoenix Suns are discussing a three-way deal that would get them Denver Nugget center Dikembe Mutombo and send forward Charles Barkley to the Houston Rockets, the Arizona Republic reported. The Nuggets would get forward Robert Horry and guard Sam Cassell from the Rockets. Houston would get another member of the Suns besides Barkley. . . . Dontae’ Jones, one of the New York Knicks’ three first-round draft picks, underwent surgery to replace a broken screw in his left foot and will be sidelined three to six months.

The Boston Celtics waived center Thomas Hamilton, ending their attempt to develop the one-time high school star into a professional player. . . . The Detroit Pistons acquired Ron Riley from Seattle for for a second-round pick in 1997. Riley was drafted 47th by Seattle Wednesday. . . . Milwaukee Buck Coach Chris Ford fired assistants Frank Hamblen, Jim Eyen and Butch Carter.

Golf

Kevin Sutherland shot a five-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over D.A. Weibring halfway through the Greater Hartford Open at Cromwell, Conn. Sutherland had six birdies, including one of the final hole, to finish 36 holes at 132.

Weibring, who took the last three weeks off to regain strength sapped by the Bell’s Palsy he was diagnosed with earlier this year, had five birdies in his round of 65.

Gusty conditions frustrated many in the field, including first-round leaders Joe Daley and Greg Norman, the defending champion.

Daley shot a 70 and was third at 134. Norman, who shot a 73, was at 137 with Bob Gilder and Pat Burke.

“It was a difficult day,” said Norman, who teed off in the morning. “The golf course played good, played tough. Shooting a 69, 70, 71, 72--you should feel pretty happy with the day, or you can play poorly like I did and walk off with a 73. The golf course wasn’t giving up anything today.”

J.C. Snead matched the 1973 course record set by designer Jack Nicklaus, a nine-under 62, to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Kroger Senior Classic at Mason, Ohio. His bogey-free round matched the tournament record set last year by Graham Marsh. . . . Amy Benz, a non-winner in more than 13 years on tour, shot a tournament-record seven-under 64 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Somers Point, N.J.

Motor Sports

Jimmy Vasser bounced back from a disappointing showing last week at Portland by winning the provisional pole for the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland.

Vasser led a group of drivers who rattled off fast laps late in the 30-minute qualifying session, getting around the 2.369-mile, 10-turn circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport in 58.336 seconds, or 146.134 mph.

Names in the News

The St. Louis Blues confirmed that Wayne Gretzky, the NHL career scoring leader, will become a free agent Monday, the day after his contract expires. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, citing unidentified sources close to Gretzky, said Gretzky will leave the Blues over conflicts with Coach and General Manager Mike Keenan. . . . Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Duke to two NCAA basketball championships, has signed a seven-year renewable contract, university officials said Friday.

Mike Tyson’s plan to keep lions and tigers on his Southington, Ohio, property met with a setback. The boxer was turned down by the Southington Township Zoning Board of Appeals, denying him permission to keep a lion cub and two tiger cubs. . . . Judith Davidson, former athletic director at Central Connecticut State University, was named Friday as director of athletics at Cal State Sacramento.