Michigan Players Were Paid by Booster, Newspaper Says

Former Michigan players Chris Webber and Maurice Taylor each accepted more than $100,000 from an athletic booster while they played for the Wolverines, the Detroit Free Press reported in today’s edition.

Citing sources closely linked to the situation, the Free Press reported that the two athletes received the money from Ed Martin, the booster at the center of an NCAA investigation into the program.

Webber, who played at Michigan from 1991-93, plays for the Washington Wizards. Taylor has one more year of eligibility left at Michigan but announced in April that he would forego that year and enter the NBA draft.

The sources also told the newspaper that Webber repaid the money, with interest, after turning pro. Martin was banned by the university in March from further contact with its sports programs after an investigation showed he was involved in two violations of NCAA rules.

Webber’s lawyer, L. Fallasha Erwin, denied the allegations. Taylor’s lawyer, Jerome Pesick, said Friday that he could not comment because he had been unable to fully review the reports with the family.

Martin, 63, a retired electrician for Ford Motor Co., would not comment, but previously has denied allegations that he paid players.

Motor Sports

Although he has yet to achieve the status of Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte beat Gordon in qualifying at Dover Downs (Del.) International Speedway, turning a fast mile in his Pontiac at 152.788 mph. Gordon, looking to make history by winning his fourth consecutive race at the Monster Mile, will start his Chevrolet second in Sunday’s Winston Cup Miller 500 after a lap of 151.841.

Dick Trickle, back at the site of his only Winston Cup pole, spoiled an otherwise perfect day for Labonte by qualifying first for today’s Busch Grand National GM Goodwrench 200 at Dover Downs with a lap of 148.926 mph. Labonte will start second after a lap of 148.908.

Ferrari driver Andrea Montermini set an Exxon World SportsCar Championship track record at Watkins Glen International in New York en route to winning the pole position for Sunday’s First Union Six Hours of the Glen.

Montermini, of Monte Carlo, lapped at 124.17 mph around the 3.4-mile circuit in a Ferrari 333SP.

Miscellany

The Babe Ruth Baseball League told Melissa Raglin, a 12-year-old catcher, that she does not have to wear a protective cup in her league at Boca Raton, Fla. “I do feel like I won,” Melissa told WSVN-TV in Miami. “The rule changed and I’m happy about that.”

An umpire last week enforced a league rule barring anyone--male or female--from catching without wearing a cup.

Jim Fox resigned as broadcast marketing chief of the U.S. Olympic Committee after a Colorado prosecutor ended a probe of his involvement in the misuse of millions of dollars in amateur boxing grants. No charges will be brought against Fox, who was executive director of USA Boxing during most of the period in which an audit found millions of dollars in grants from the USOC were misspent, according to sources familiar with the case.

The Arena Football League will return to the Sports Arena tonight when the Arizona Rattlers play the Florida Bobcats at 7. Next season, the Los Angeles Hot Rods will join the AFL and play in the Sports Arena, which also was home for the Los Angeles Cobras in 1987.

Names in the News

Wide receiver and kickoff returner Qadry Ismail signed a one-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the deal was worth $650,000 plus incentives. . . . Tony Berti, who is expected to move to left tackle this season, signed a three-year, $3-million contract with the San Diego Chargers. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Berti started 13 games at right tackle last year and one at left guard. . . . Offensive lineman Joe Wolf, who has spent his eight NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, signed a one-year contract with the team.

Former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps has withdrawn his name from consideration as DePaul’s coach, saying he had decided not to return to college coaching.

Canadian tennis player Helen Kelesi will have surgery next week to remove another brain tumor. Kelesi returned to the pro circuit this year after a 2 1/2-year absence following two operations she had to remove benign brain tumor.

Tryouts for Ladies League Baseball, a professional league for women, will be held today starting at 10 a.m. at Loyola Marymount.