Chang’s Slump Moves From Hong Kong to Tokyo

Michael Chang’s Asian struggles continued when he lost to Germany’s Hendrik Dreekman, ranked 113th in the world, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, in the third round of the Japan Open at Tokyo.

Chang, troubled since March by an aching knee, lost in the opening round of the Salem Open in Hong Kong earlier this month--a tournament he had dominated in recent years.

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Alex Corretja, seeded No. 2, and defending champion Albert Costa were defeated, eliminating the two Spaniards from the $135,000 Conde de Godo Open at Barcelona. . . . The American quest to avenge last year’s first-round Fed Cup loss to the Netherlands became a little easier with the news that big-serving Brenda Schultz-McCarthy will be unable to play for the Dutch squad. Schultz-McCarthy is suffering from a disk problem in her back, leaving the Dutch team without its biggest weapon. . . . Anke Huber of Germany had surgery on her Achilles’ tendon and probably will sit out next month’s French Open, her agent said.

Jurisprudence

Two new criminal counts were filed in Fresno against Avondre Jones, who was thrown off the Fresno State basketball team when he was charged with using a gun and samurai swords to threaten, assault and rob a man.

An amended complaint accused Jones of threatening to kill or injure a woman named Alycia Norberke in October 1996.

The other new count alleges that when Jones was arrested last month, he was illegally in possession of a firearm because of a previous felony firearms possession conviction in Los Angeles.

Jones pleaded not guilty to the new counts and all charges in the original complaint. Recruit Kenny Brunner also pleaded not guilty to the original complaint stemming from their arrests March 17.

Former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly successfully defended himself against a libel suit brought by his former agent.

A federal jury at Concord, N.H., found the former Buffalo Bill star did not make false statements in his autobiography when he said agent A.J. Faigin mismanaged his money and he fired him in 1988.

Wisconsin quarterback Mike Samuel will not be kicked off the team despite pleading no contest to charges of driving with a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit, the school announced.

Miscellany

Italy’s hopes for a sweep of the three European team soccer tournaments ended when Chelsea beat Vicenza in the semifinals of the Cup Winners Cup and advanced to a final against VfB Stuttgart.

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Paul Caligiuri will sit out Saturday’s game at Kansas City because of a left ankle sprain.

Seeking to strengthen the financially ailing AVP tour, players and board members of the 15-year-old league agreed to cut the total prize money at each of the remaining 20 beach volleyball events on the tour to $50,000, the league announced.

Mike Tyson, who was recently invited to the a royal gala ball by the prince of Monaco, requested permission from Marion County Judge Patricia Gifford to travel to Monaco.

As part of Tyson’s probation for a 1992 rape conviction, he must get Gifford’s approval before traveling outside the country.

Texas Tech improperly paid 66 current athletes’ fees to take the Texas Academic Skills Program test and has reported the violation to the NCAA, which was already considering whether to punish the school, an official said.

Pittsburgh Penguin holdout Petr Nedved won’t be skating for the Las Vegas Thunder in the International Hockey League playoffs.

An arbitrator ruled against Nedved, who was involved with Sparta Praha of the Czech elite league, and the Thunder because of a clause prohibiting IHL teams from signing players from non-North American teams after Feb. 2.

Junior guard Rob Turner has decided to return to Indiana for his senior season after meeting with Coach Bob Knight. . . . Rashard Lewis, a 6-foot-10 standout from Elsik High School in Houston, declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, becoming the latest prep school star to bypass college for the lure of the pros. . . . Sam Weaver, an associate basketball coach at Iowa State last season, was named coach of Northern Iowa. . . . Wake Forest center Loren Woods said that he will transfer to another school. Woods has visited Seton Hall and will visit Arizona in the next two weeks.

The Long Beach StingRays lost guard Dana Wilkerson to Chicago in the ABL expansion draft, then traded point guard Niesa Johnson to Seattle for the third pick in the ABL draft on May 5.

Students at UC Riverside, an NCAA Division II school, passed a referendum that will enable the Highlanders to move up to Division I if they can find a conference to accept them.

Kicker Ryan Longwell, who made the Green Bay roster as a longshot last summer, has signed a three-year contract.

Travis Romagnoli became the first Illinois gymnast to win the NCAA all-around title with a score of 58.225 at State College, Pa.