Bullets May Still Have Shot to Retain Howard

Juwan Howard, his contract with the Miami Heat rejected by the NBA, is negotiating with the Washington Bullets in an attempt to rejoin his former team, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper, siting an unidentified source, also said the NBA likely will allow the Bullets to exceed the league’s salary cap to re-sign Howard.

Howard became a free agent last month and signed a seven-year, $100.8 million contract with the Heat. But the NBA blocked the contract last week, saying the team exceeded the league’s salary cap by agreeing to pay Howard $9 million this season.

If the Bullets are allowed to re-sign Howard, they probably would have to waive forward Tracy Murray as part of a negotiated resolution. Washington signed Murray to a seven-year, $17 million contract July 15.

The NBA and the Heat will meet in arbitration later this month to resolve Howard’s signing.

Boxing

Mark Johnson, winner of 28 consecutive fights after losing his pro debut, defends his International Boxing Federation flyweight title for the first time tonight against Raul Juarez at the Forum.

Johnson, from Washington, D.C., has knocked out 22 opponents, including the last 11.

Juarez, 22, from Mexico City, will be making his U.S. debut. He is 20-2, with 12 knockouts.

Auto Racing

Brazilian Helio de Castro Neves led every lap en route to his victory in the inaugural running of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship at the historic Grand Prix Player’s de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec.

Neves, who won his first career Indy Lights pole Saturday, added his first Indy Lights title when he defeated Brazilian countryman and teammate Tony Kanaan by 5.332 seconds.

Alex Padilla of San Jose, was third, with championship leader David Empringham of Toronto finishing fourth. Empringham’s teammate, Bertrand Godin, finished fifth.

The final two rounds of the NHRA Northwest Nationals will start at 10 a.m. today because of three rain delays during eliminations at Seattle International Raceway. The No. 1 qualifiers in all three pro categories, Bob Vandergriff Jr., Richard Hartman and Jim Yates, advanced to the semifinals.

College Football

USC begins full practice today when 38 lettermen, including 10 starters from last season’s 9-2-1 Rose Bowl championship team, join the Trojan freshmen class, which began practice last week.

The Trojans begin with three-a-day practices at Howard Jones Field through Wednesday. Two-a-days begin Thursday.

USC’s opener is the Aug. 25 Kickoff Classic against Penn State at the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Pro Hockey

The Hartford Whalers signed right wing Nelson Emerson, their third-leading goal scorer last season, to a three-year contract.

Pro Football

The Dallas Cowboys will play the Kansas City Chiefs before 45,218 in the 27th installment of the American Bowl, an international exhibition game tonight at Monterrey, Mexico.