Trial Begins for Cowboys’ Irvin

Prosecutors told a jury in Michael Irvin’s cocaine possession trial Tuesday that Angela Beck was shocked when police pulled drugs from her gym bag during a raid on the motel room where she, Michael Irvin and two others were found on March 4 in Irving, Tex.

In an opening statement, Dallas Assistant District Attorney Mike Gillett said that Beck admitted to owning the drugs during the bust but later told her friend, Rachelle Smith, that she had no knowledge of the drugs in her bag.

“Beck said she almost had a heart attack when it was pulled out,” Gillett said. “Michael Irvin assured her it would be OK and he couldn’t forget what she was doing.”

Defense attorney Royce West dismissed the prosecution account, saying the defense would show a comedy of errors by Irving police.

As for Smith, West told jurors: “I suggest that she has a reason to lie.” That person, he said, is her fiance, former Dallas police officer Johnnie Hernandez, who was charged last week with trying to hire a hit man to kill Irvin.

“Take that into consideration when you weigh her credibility,” West said. He also urged jurors to question the credibility of the lifestyles and occupations of Beck and Smith, who also is an exotic dancer.

*

Boston Celtic guard Greg Minor has agreed to enter a counseling program for batterers to avoid trial on charges he assaulted his girlfriend last month in Louisville, Ky.

Minor was charged with fourth-degree assault for hitting Celestyne Rowan June 21. Had he been convicted, Minor could have been sentenced to a year in jail and fined $500.

*

Chicago Bear defensive back Donnell Woolford was found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol in Waukegan, Ill. Sentencing is set for July 17, two days before the Bears are due in training camp.

*

The criminal investigation into a $6,000 buying spree at a Foot Locker store by Florida State football players has closed with Raul Bey, an unregistered sports agent, sentenced to a year in jail in Tallahassee, Fla.

Bey financed the buying by Florida State football players in November 1993, the year Florida State won the national championship.

Three months ago, the NCAA put the Florida State football program on one year’s probation for failing to properly monitor agents on campus. The university is appealing that decision.

Pro Basketball

NBA players would receive more than $80 million in additional money over six years if the revised agreement between the NBA and the players union is ratified by the players, according to the Washington Post.

The $5 billion deal would give players an extra $50 million for pensions and profits, $28 million for the sale of the union’s logo and a share of television profits, according to a nine-page summary of the agreement obtained by the Post.

Players will vote on the agreement by Monday. Meanwhile, there is a moratorium until July 9 on all player signings and trades until the collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

The contract seemed to have been approved a year ago, but a group of dissident players managed to unseat union chief Simone Gourdine and the agreement was never signed. The players asked for revisions.

NBA Commissioner David Stern told the Post he expected the revised agreement to be ratified handily. He also said the renegotiated deal “remains a fair deal for both parties.”

Cycling

Germany’s Erik Zabel edged sprint-specialist Mario Cipollini to win the third stage of the Tour de France.

France’s Frederic Moncassin took the overall lead by earning an eight-second time bonus for his third-place finish, moving ahead of Alex Zulle at seven seconds back, and Evgeny Berzin, 10 seconds back.

“I had to stay with Cipollini in the sprint,” said Moncassin, who won the tour’s first stage Sunday. “It was the only chance to win the yellow jersey.”

Five-time defending champion Miguel Indurain is in sixth-place, 19 seconds back.

Pro Hockey

One day after the NHL released its list of free agents, the Phoenix Coyotes signed two unrestricted free agents to multi-year contracts in center Cliff Ronning from Vancouver and goaltender Darcy Wakaluk from Dallas.

Robert J. McNulty, an original owner of the Minnesota North Stars and developer of many sports arenas including the Metropolitan Sports Center, died at 74.

Soccer

A special FIFA committee met to discuss how to set up the organizing of the 2002 World Cup, which will be played in both Japan South Korea.

FIFA senior vice president Guillermo Canedo, vice president Antonio Matarrese and general secretary Sepp Blatter met for 75 minutes and began mapping out their strategy.

FIFA said each member would work on a draft checklist of organizational points before meeting for a second time in Zurich in September. The second meeting also will be attended by a three-man delegation from each of the host nations.

Miscellany

Monica Seles, Mary Joe Fernandez, Lindsay Davenport and Gigi Fernandez were selected for the U.S. Fed Cup team that will play Japan later this month.

Mike Tyson was offered $45 million to defend his World Boxing Council heavyweight title against Britain’s Lennox Lewis. The offer was faxed to Tyson’s promoter, Don King, by Lewis’ manager Frank Maloney.

Names in the News

Todd Turner, athletic director at North Carolina State since 1990, will move to a similar position at Vanderbilt University.

Andy Allanson, a former catcher with the Angels, signed with the Long Beach Riptide of the Western Baseball League.