Sanders Reportedly Highest-Paid in NFL

Barry Sanders agreed to a five-year contract with the Detroit Lions and will report to training camp today.

The Lions did not disclose the financial terms of the contract, but said it includes an option for a sixth year. The Detroit News reported today that the contract is worth more than $34 million, which would make him the NFL’s highest-paid player per season.

Sanders, 29, won the NFL rushing title last season with 1,553 yards, becoming the first player in league history to rush for 1,500 yards or better in three consecutive seasons.

Sanders also was the first to rush for more than 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons. His 1,553-yard total was the second-best of Sanders’ career. He ran for 1,883 yards in 1994.

*

James Farrior, a linebacker from Virginia and the eighth pick overall in this year’s NFL draft, signed a five-year, $8.8-million contract with the New York Jets.

Defensive tackle Steve Emtman, released by the Miami Dolphins in a cost-cutting move in February, signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Emtman was the first player selected in the 1992 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Tennis

Top-seeded Michael Chang successfully defended his Legg Mason Classic title, defeating second-seeded Petr Korda of the Czech Republic, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, in Washington.

Chang, No. 2 in the world, has won five tournaments this season to raise his career total to 31. He leads the ATP Tour with a 41-10 record this year, and is 28-3 on hardcourt surfaces.

Korda, ranked No. 21, will break back into the top 20 today for the first time since Feb. 6, 1995.

Chang won $90,000 to increase his season total to $955,920.

Joanette Kruger of South Africa defeated Marion Maruska of Austria in two quick sets to win the Czech Open women’s clay court tournament in Prague.

After a five-hour rain delay, Kruger needed 59 minutes to defeat Maruska, 6-1, 6-1. She earned $26,000.

Both players had moved to the finals earlier in the day by winning semifinal matches that had been postponed Saturday because of rain.

Kruger outplayed Veronika Martinek of Germany, 7-5, 6-1, and Maruska defeated Romania’s Catalina Cristea, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinals.

Playing in her first tour final, second-seeded Sandrine Testud of France defeated Elena Makarova of Russia, 7-5, 6-3, to win the $163,000 WTA women’s tournament at Palermo, Sicily.

Testud, 20th in the WTA world rankings, won $40,000.

Fourth-seeded Chanda Rubin defeated second-seeded Anna Kournikova, 6-7 (7-2), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), at Mahwah, N.J. for her second A&P; Tennis Classic title in three years.

Pro Hockey

Former Buffalo Sabre captain Lindy Ruff is expected to be named the team’s new coach, replacing Ted Nolan, who resigned.

Ruff’s appointment is expected to be officially announced at a news conference today.

Ruff, 37, was an assistant coach with Florida and helped lead the Panthers to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago.

Nolan, who led the team to their first Northeast Division title in 16 years, rejected a one-year contract late last month.

Boxing

Bernard Hopkins retained his International Boxing Federation middleweight title, stopping No. 1 challenger Glen Johnson at 1:23 of the 11th round at Indio.

Prince Naseem Hamed must defend his IBF title in his next fight, delaying his chance to unify the four featherweight belts.

Hamed has been ordered by the IBF to fight its leading contender, Hector Lizarraga of Mexico, by Aug. 8. Hamed successfully defended his World Boxing Organization and IBF titles against Juan Cabrera of Argentina Saturday, improving his record to 27-0.

Soccer

Argentina moved into first place in South American qualifying for the 1998 World Cup, defeating Venezuela, 2-0, at Buenos Aires on goals by Hernan Crespo and Pablo Paz.

Argentina increased its points total to 25, moving two ahead of Paraguay, which dropped a 2-1 decision to Chile at Santiago.

Colombia stopped a five-game winless streak in qualifying play with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador at Barranquilla. Bolivia defeated Uruguay, 1-0, at La Paz.

Basketball

Three Purdue players--guard Chad Austin, forward Brian Cardinal and center Brad Miller--were among the 12 players named to the U.S. team that will play in the Men’s 22 and Under World Championships Aug 1-10 in Melbourne, Australia.

Also named to the team were centers Mike Doleac of Utah and Evan Eschmeyer of Northwestern, forwards Pat Garrity of Notre Dame, Sam Jacobson of Minnesota and Andrae Patterson of Indiana, and guards Corey Brewer of Oklahoma, Cory Carr of Texas Tech, Mike Jones of Texas Christian and Tyronn Lue of Nebraska.

The team is coached by Utah’s Rick Majerus.

Pro Beach Volleyball

Olympic gold medalist Kent Steffes claimed his 100th career victory, combining with Jose Loiola to defeat Bill Boullianne and Troy Tanner, 10-8, at the $125,000 Miller Lite Open at Milwaukee.

Former Pepperdine All-American Duane Cameron had 11 kills to lead Team Inglenook to a 15-9 victory over Team Discus Athletic, 15-9, to win the Bud Lite Pro Beach Volleyball event at Detroit.

Kim Oden had 10 kills as Team Discus Athletic defeated Team Norelco, 15-5, in the women’s final.