Don King Sues KABC Over Remarks

Boxing promoter Don King filed suit against ABC and KABC-TV Los Angeles on Tuesday over remarks sportscaster Rick Lozano made two days after the June 28 Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield fight in Las Vegas.

King, who alleges libel in his complaint filed in federal court in New York, seeks compensatory damages in excess of $1 million and punitive damages of $5 million.

No one from KABC could be reached for comment regarding the lawsuit, which essentially contends the station’s retraction and apology in the aftermath of the remarks Rick Lozano made were inadequate.

King took issue with the initial on-air remarks attributed to Lozano. He alleges that the reporter said:

“OK, now promoter Don King had some surprisingly stinging words, saying that [Mike Tyson] does not belong in a sport . . . not even as one as violent as boxing. And he went on to say, ‘Shame on me if I ever again contribute to one of his paydays.’ ”

King said he would never make such a statement, and that the reporter misunderstood a newspaper column and attributed words to the boxing promoter that actually were from the writer.

The station apologized on the air, but King said that was not satisfactory.

Pro Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent kicker Chris Jacke, 31, to replace Norm Johnson, who refused to take a cut in his $650,000 salary and was waived. Terms of Jacke’s deal were not released.

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Baltimore Raven defensive tackle Larry Webster is back with the team after being reinstated by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Webster was suspended for a year for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Webster tested positive for the third time during his five-year career last summer and was suspended by the league Aug. 20.

Jurisprudence

Prosecutors plan to use DNA evidence against NBC sportscaster Marv Albert when they try him on charges of forcible sodomy and assault and battery in September.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Arthur L. Knapp of Arlington, Va., has filed notice with the Arlington County Circuit Court that the results of DNA analysis would be offered as evidence at trial. Albert has provided hair, saliva and blood samples in compliance with a court order on June 5.

Albert, 53, was indicted in May on charges that he repeatedly bit a woman acquaintance and forced her to perform oral sex in his hotel room shortly after midnight Feb. 13.

Baylor quarterback Jeff Watson has been sentenced to 90 days’ probation after pleading no contest to charges he was drunk and disorderly at a downtown restaurant last week.

Former Washington State linebacker James Darling will spend 35 days in jail under a plea agreement that will allow him to report to the Philadelphia Eagle training camp.

The Eagles’ second-round pick in April’s NFL draft was booked into Whitman County Jail in Colfax, Wash., to begin serving three days of the sentence. He is to serve the remaining 32 days in January, after the NFL season.

Darling was originally charged with first-degree felony burglary and three misdemeanors stemming from a dispute during a fraternity house party in May.

Pro Basketball

Bryant Reeves signed a six-year contract extension for a reported $65 million with the Vancouver Grizzlies.

The Phoenix Suns signed free agents Rex Chapman and John “Hot Rod” Williams and Horacio Llamas to one-year contracts. . . . The Sacramento Kings signed top draft pick Olivier St. Jean of San Jose State to a three-year deal. . . . Phil Hubbard was hired as an assistant coach by the Atlanta Hawks.

Tennis

Steffi Graf, recovering from knee surgery June 10, will try to resume playing in the late fall and hopes to compete in an exhibition tournament in Frankfurt in early December. . . . Marc Rosset of Switzerland upset top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Swiss Open at Gstaad. . . . Unseeded Marcus Sarstrand of Sweden upset top-seeded countryman Thomas Johansson, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, in the Swedish Open at Bastad.

Hockey

The Phoenix Coyotes signed free agent forward Rick Tocchet to a three-year contract. No salary details were released, but the four-time all-star played for $2.18 million last season and decided against an option year with the Washington Capitals.

. . .Goalie Glenn Healy, 34, who spent the last four seasons with the New York Rangers, signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Healy, 34, reported signed a three-years deal worth at $1.3 million a season.

Yachting

Strong winds abated slightly, but six of the 31 boats remaining in the 39th Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii were on a pace to break the 20-year-old record.

For the third consecutive day, a boat was dismasted. Bob Hanel’s catamaran Double Bullet II from San Pedro had its mast crumple and fall Monday night.

Names in the News

Cuban hurdler Jose Perez has requested asylum in the United States, 10 days after leaving his team during a meet in Puerto Rico. . . . British golfer Laura Davies cut her left index finger while slicing bread at her hotel and was unable to take her glove off during practice for the U.S. Women’s Open, which begins tomorrow in Cornelius, Ore. . . . Justin Rose is the youngest player ever selected for golf’s Walker Cup after being named to the Britain-Ireland team. Rose will be 10 days past his 17th birthday when the match is played. . . . Ernie Irvan has been told his contract with car owner Robert Yates will not be renewed after this season.