Broken Ribs for Tyson in Motorcycle Spill

Boxer Mike Tyson suffered broken ribs Wednesday when his motorcycle skidded as he exited a highway near Hartford, Conn.

He was in stable condition and expected to be hospitalized about two days, Hartford Hospital spokesman James Battaglio said. “He’s got some fractured ribs on the right side, and any other injuries are still being evaluated,” Battaglio said.

The accident happened on Interstate 84 in Manchester, about 10 miles east of Hartford, during evening rush hour. Tyson’s motorcycle skidded when it hit some sand. He was wearing a helmet.

Battaglio said Tyson, 31, arrived at the hospital by private car about 9 p.m., four hours after the accident.

His manager, Rory Holloway, said Tyson had visited him in New Jersey earlier and was heading home to his estate in Farmington with two friends also riding motorcycles.

Tennis

Boris Becker made another farewell, his last match in Paris ending in a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3 loss to Pete Sampras in the second round of the Paris Open.

Becker, a three-time champion in the event, said he will not return next year.

Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden upset second-seeded Michael Chang, 6-3, 6-2, in the second round, the third consecutive tournament in which Chang has lost his opening match.

In other matches, U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter rallied past Cedric Pioline, 6-7 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, and Greg Rusedski beat Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-3.

Belgium’s Dominique Van Roost upset fifth-seeded Anke Huber of Germany, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Kremlin Cup at Moscow.

College Sports

The NCAA declared Cincinnati point guard Charles Williams ineligible for most of the season because of improprieties in the men’s basketball program.

Williams can play in only the final six regular-season games and postseason tournaments. He is allowed to practice.

The NCAA reinstated backup guard John Carson, who was involved in less severe violations. The case of a third player, starting forward Ruben Patterson, is still under investigation.

A university instructor bought Williams a plane ticket and took him to a Cincinnati Bengal game and a restaurant. Williams’ godmother paid $445.33 in restitution for the improper favors.

The school’s investigation also found that assistant coach John Loyer met with Williams’ instructors before he arrived in Cincinnati, set up a one-on-one math course with an instructor so Williams would be academically eligible to play and may have provided transportation for Williams.

Texas El Paso President Diana Natalicio and other university officials will meet today with NCAA officials with hopes of reducing stiff penalties handed down for “rampant” violations.

Soccer

Italy, trying to avoid missing the World Cup for the first time since 1958, gave up an own-goal in the second half and tied Russia, 1-1, in a key World Cup playoff game at Moscow.

In a game played in steady snow and sharp wind, the teams used an orange ball to contrast against the snow.

To qualify, Italy must either beat Russia in the return leg of the playoffs at Naples on Nov. 15 or play a scoreless tie.

In other European group qualifying, Yugoslavia routed Hungary, 7-1; Croatia beat visiting Ukraine, 2-0; and Ireland and Belgium tied, 1-1, in Dublin.

Diego Maradona, beset by rumors of a new positive doping test, said he has decided to retire.

“The footballer in me has come to an end,” said the former Argentina captain, who turns 37 today.

Miscellany

President Clinton has approved transfer of 11 acres of Ft. Douglas to the state of Utah, effectively reinstating the land transfer removed by line-item veto from a military spending bill earlier this month.

Olympic officials were shocked by the line-item veto, which left in limbo their plans to build Olympic and student housing on the site in time for the 2002 Olympic Games.

America’s Challenge, one of three U.S. yachts in the Whitbread Round the World Race, withdrew after the first leg in Cape Town, South Africa, because of financial problems.

Necrology

A memorial service for Clyde Johnson, a former player for the Los Angeles Rams who taught and coached at East Los Angeles College for 36 years, will be held today at noon at the college. Johnson died in September in Laguna Hills. He was 80.

Johnson, the University of Kentucky’s first All-American football player, played tackle for the Rams in 1946 and 1947.

Brian Lefley, Italy’s hockey coach, died when the Mercedes he was driving crashed into an oncoming truck in Bolzano, Italy. He was 49.