Tagliabue Will Make Ruling on the Jets’ Hiring of Parcells

Bill Parcells is becoming a full-time job for NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

For the second time in two weeks, Tagliabue is being asked to determine Parcells’ status in light of his being hired as a consultant by the New York Jets.

Tagliabue put that move on hold Wednesday, saying he wants to scrutinize the contracts of Parcells and new Jet Coach Bill Belichick.

The Jets named Belichick as their coach Tuesday and said Parcells would take over for the 1998 season. Tagliabue had ruled Friday that the New England Patriot contract with Parcells employed him through the 1997 season, and that he could not coach or hold a “comparable position” elsewhere.

Tagliabue will be asked to rule if being a consultant is a “comparable position.”

“Until that review is completed,” a statement from the league said, “the commissioner has directed that Bill Parcells cannot perform any services for the Jets.”

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The Patriots have benefited in at least one way for the loss of Parcells, signing pass-rushing linebacker Chris Slade to a five-year, $13-million contract. Slade, upset because Parcells demoted him to a platoon player after he had started for 3 1/2 seasons, had said he might leave if Parcells stayed.

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Detroit Lion quarterback Scott Mitchell signed a four-year, $21-million contract that included an $8-million signing bonus. . . . Chris Palmer, who tutored Drew Bledsoe as quarterbacks coach of the New England Patriots, was hired as offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Boxing

Pernell Whitaker and Oscar De La Hoya will fight indoors at the Nevada Las Vegas campus arena April 12 instead of at a newly built outdoor stadium on the Las Vegas Strip because ticket demand has mandated a bigger arena.

Miscellany

Denis Pankratov of Russia set his second short-course world swimming record in a week, clocking 51.93 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke at a World Cup meet in Imperia, Italy.

In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Title IX, prohibiting gender discrimination in athletics, former tennis great Billie Jean King will receive the Flo Hyman Award by the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Cal State Chico has dropped football, citing the cost of maintaining the program and a lack of support and attendance at games.

Four players from the Long Beach Ice Dogs have been chosen to skate for the Western Conference during the 1997 International Hockey League All-Star game Feb. 18 at Grand Rapids, Mich. Defenseman Dan Lambert and center Stephane Morin were selected as starters, defenseman Victor Ignatjev and goalie Tom Draper as reserves.

K.O. Kealaluhi, who caught the winning touchdown pass in Brigham Young’s Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State, has been charged with assaulting an opponent in a city-league basketball game in Provo, Utah.

Luis Raven homered in the second inning to start Venezuela to a 7-0 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series in Hermosillo, Mexico. Jose Hernandez and Wilfredo Cordero each homered as Puerto Rico defeated defending champion Mexico, 9-8.

Winter Sports

Deborah Compagnoni headed a 1-2 Italian finish in the women’s slalom in the world championships at Sestriere, Italy, finishing ahead of teammate Lara Magoni, with third going to Karin Roten of Switzerland.

Defending World Cup giant slalom champion Martina Ertl of Germany, her injured left knee healing quicker than expected, will make a surprise comeback Sunday in the World Alpine Championships.

Franco Cavegn of Switzerland was the surprise leader over Luc Alphand of France in downhill training on a course that had been shortened because of high wind at the top and which was drawing complaints from the participants in Saturday’s race.

Cavegn was clocked in 1 minute 39.45 seconds, 0.15 seconds faster than Alphand.