Chiefs Match the Vikings’ Offer for Carter

The Kansas City Chiefs on Friday matched a contract offer from the Minnesota Vikings to retain rights to cornerback Dale Carter, a mainstay in one of the NFL’s top defensive units.

Carter, chosen to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, had said he wanted to play for Minnesota to be with his brother, wide receiver Jake Reed, and to rid himself of “the baggage” he has acquired in Kansas City.

A first-round draft choice from Tennessee in 1992, when he was named NFL rookie of the year, Carter is serving two years’ probation for an assault conviction stemming from a 1994 hotel fight.

The Vikings’ offer was believed to be for three years, with base salaries escalating from $400,000 to $2 million to $3.5 million, and a signing bonus of $1.8 million.

*

The former police officer accused of trying to put out a contract on the Dallas Cowboys’ Michael Irvin said he welcomes his trial on a solicitation of capital murder charge.

“I’m looking forward for the truth to come out,” Johnnie Hernandez, 28, said. “I believe in the justice system, and I’m prepared to take whatever happens.”

Hernandez, who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology, said he is sorry his career as a police officer is behind him. He resigned from the Dallas police force June 27, the day of his arrest.

Hernandez’s trial opens Aug. 5.

*

The Miami Dolphins signed 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end Kerry Cash to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cash, 27, who played in 16 games for the Oakland Raiders last season, had his best season in 1992 for the Indianapolis Colts when he caught 43 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns.

*

Former NFL lineman Luis Sharpe was sentenced to one year in prison for violating his probation by using illegal drugs.

In Phoenix, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Ryan said Sharpe was a danger to the public and to himself. He also ordered Sharpe to spend 35 months under house arrest upon his release from prison and to undergo long-term treatment for drug addiction.

Ryan sentenced Sharpe, 36, to three years’ probation on May 22 after a series of arrests for drug possession and assault. Sharpe completed a drug treatment program in Minnesota but was shot in the neck June 25 in Phoenix during an alleged drug transaction and suffered a broken jaw. Tests found methamphetamine and cocaine in his system.

Sharpe, a former UCLA standout, played 13 years for the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals until a knee injury ended his career in November 1994.

Tennis

Thomas Muster moved into the semifinals of the Mercedes Cup with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Francisco Clavet of Spain in Stuttgart, Germany.

Second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov also won, beating Felix Mantilla of Spain, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.

In the other two quarterfinal matches, Alex Corretja of Spain beat Alexander Volkov of Russia, 6-4, 6-3; and sixth-seeded Alberto Berasategui of Spain defeated Marc Goellner of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.

Richey Reneberg celebrated getting a spot on the U.S. Olympic tennis team with a 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory over Lionel Roux in the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, D.C.

Motor Sports

Rain cut short the opening round of qualifying for the Miller 500 at Pocono Speedway at Long Pond, Pa. The time trials were scheduled to resume this morning.

Johnny Benson Jr., who won a pole earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, was the fastest of six drivers who completed qualifying laps before the rain began. He turned a lap of 166.741 mph in a Pontiac Grand Prix.

Lake Speed was next at 166.451, followed by Michael Waltrip at 165.386, Bobby Hamilton at 164.992 and Ernie Irvan, last Sunday’s winner at Loudon, N.H., at 164.423.

Golf

Mardi Lunn, an Australian who joined the LPGA tour in 1993, shot a three-under-par 69 for a two-round total of 136 and a one-stroke lead in the Friendly’s Classic at Agawam, Mass. Dottie Pepper also shot 69 and was at 137.

Jimmy Powell, 61, eagled the 18th hole to shoot a seven-under-par 65 and take a one-shot lead over J.C. Snead after the first round of the Burnet Senior Classic at Coon Rapids, Minn. Six others were three shots behind at 68, including defending champion Ray Floyd and Lee Trevino.

Miscellany

A British jockey died after his horse fell, rolled over and crushed him during a race.

Richard Davis, 27, died at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, after undergoing surgery for internal bleeding, according to a hospital statement.

Davis’ mount, Mr. Sox, fell at the first fence in the Fisherton Novices’ Handicap Chase at Southwell in central England.

Legally prescribed drugs caused former heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison to suffer a seizure and receive brief hospital treatment, his promoter said. Morrison, 27, was at home in Jay, Okla., and doing well despite his reaction to the medication on Wednesday.

Morrison retired in February after announcing he had contracted the AIDS virus.

The second California-Texas Shrine all-star football game will be tonight at 7 at Cal State Fullerton. The game features graduated seniors from the two states. California won last year, 6-0.