Albert’s Trial Is Set for Sept. 22

Sportscaster Marv Albert, who was indicted last week on charges of biting a woman repeatedly and forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room in February, was released on his own recognizance after Judge Benjamin Kendrick set a Sept. 22 trial date.

Albert, who arranged his surrender through his lawyer, said nothing in the Arlington, Va, courtroom as he, fiancee Heather Faulkiner and his four adult children pushed past a group of reporters.

Gerard Treanor, Albert’s attorney, did ask the judge during the five-minute hearing to acknowledge that his client intends to plead innocent to the assault and forcible sodomy charges.

“We look forward to that trial and we look forward to his vindication,” Treanor said after the hearing.

Neither Treanor nor prosecutor Richard Trodden would elaborate on the evidence or say whether tests of Albert’s teeth will be performed.

Albert’s accuser--a 41-year-old woman who said she has been a friend of his for 10 years--faces criminal charges herself. She is accused of threatening to kill a former boyfriend in March. A female co-worker at the Washington Hilton hotel also filed a discrimination complaint accusing the woman of harassing her.

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Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson withdrew his bid before IAAF council later this week to lift a lifetime ban while he awaits his day in a Canadian court.

Johnson filed suit in an Ontario court earlier this month to win the right to race again but the court will not hear the case until July 21, postponing any comeback for at least another two months.

“There is disappointment, but. . . I have to be patient and hopefully everything will work in my favor,” said Johnson, who was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal and his world record in the 100 meters stricken from the books after he tested positive for anabolic steroids.

In 1993, Johnson was banned for life after a test found high levels of testosterone in his system. He has denied using an illegal substance and his lawyers argued that the IAAF, which rules international athletics, did not give their client a fair hearing.

The suit alleges that Johnson’s ban violated his ability to earn a living.

Pro Football

After being criticized because some players were left out of a May 20 White House ceremony, the Green Bay Packers announced that all members of their Super Bowl champion team would be invited to a ring ceremony, including players no longer with the team in receivers Desmond Howard and Andre Rison and kicker Chris Jacke.

The Packers are also backing off from a proposed vote this week on the sale of additional stock in the publicly owned team.

The vote had been scheduled at the annual shareholders meeting today but team legal counsel Lance Lopes said that it will be delayed.

Water Polo

Chris Humbert and Wolf Wigo scored three goals each as the United States upset Olympic champion Spain, 10-7, in the opening round of the men’s World Cup at Athens, Greece.

Names in the News

Jay Hebert, winner of the 1960 PGA Championship, died Sunday at the age of 74 in a Houston hospital.

John Loughran has been named Aquatics Director at Loyola Marymount University where he will oversee the school’s men’s and women’s water polo teams and the women’s swimming team.

Rod Baker, former UC Irvine basketball coach, is a finalist for an assistant coaching position at Rhode Island, a school official said. Former UCLA Coach Jim Harrick was recently named Rhode Island’s head coach.