Becker, Chang Are Ousted in Paris Open

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

Becker is playing only selected events as he winds down his career and says he has retired from Grand Slam tournament play. He is a three-time champion in Paris but his ranking was not enough for him to be seeded this year.

He said he will not return to the Paris tournament next year.

Sampras remembers the first time they played, in 1990.

“The first time I played Boris it was something special because I was very young,” Sampras said. “It’s always been tough matches. It’s always been important matches especially here because the French crowd has always been behind him.”

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

Chang has not won an ATP Tour match in October.

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

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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’s 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.

The university admitted that all violated NCAA rules.

Loyer remains on paid leave while the NCAA looks into the case. A student manager who sat in on classes for Williams and took notes has been fired.

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.

The El Paso Times reported Wednesday that much of the school’s defense of the allegations involves blaming the problems in the athletic department on employees who no longer work there. Gary Bogue, the department’s former director of student and academic services, is given most of the blame.

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.

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. Nobody’s sadder than me,” the former Argentina captain said.

Maradona, who turns 37 today, played Sunday in Boca Juniors’s 2-1 victory at River Plate.

Miscellany

The White House 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.

“I am very pleased that, with the plan I am announcing today, the state of Utah and the University of Utah can proceed, on schedule, with plans for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Village,” President Clinton said.

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.

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