Sanders Reportedly Gets Record Contract

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. Sanders, 29, had reportedly been close to signing a contract that would pay him on average between $5.3 million and $5.5 million a season, making him the league’s highest-paid running back.

“This was obviously a complicated deal, and we’re glad we could iron out the final details,” said Chuck Schmidt, the Lions’ executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Barry has been an important player for this team for the past eight seasons. And with this deal, we’re delighted that Lions fans will have the opportunity to watch Barry for years to come.”

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

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

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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.

Farrior signed well ahead of last year’s No. 1 overall pick Keyshawn Johnson, who didn’t report to the Jets until Aug. 10.

But he may already be too late to beat out Marvin Jones for the starting weak-side linebacker job.

“He’s a little behind, but we’ll catch him up,” New York Coach Bill Parcells said. “It’s not a crisis.”

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.

“This is a confidence booster to me,” Chang said. “The past couple of months I’ve been struggling a little. It’s good to get off to a great start for the summer.”

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.

“There’s still some legal work to be done, but it’s true,” Ruff said in published reports. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

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.

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.

Miscellany

Hernan Crespo and Pablo Paz scored goals as Argentina moved into first place in South American qualifying for the 1998 World Cup, defeating Venezuela, 2-0, at Buenos Aires.. . . Trevor Murray ran 24 minutes, 27 seconds to win the New York Road Runners Club five-mile championship at Central Park in New York . . . The Charlotte Sting released guard Debra Williams and promoted forward Susie Hopson Shelton from the developmental squad.