NBA Announces Ticket Refund Policy if Games Canceled

The NBA sent out a signal Monday that the lockout could last for months, announcing that season-ticket payments will be refunded with interest if the dispute forces the cancellation of games.

“Regrettably, after last week’s negotiating session there seems to be a greater likelihood that the season may not start on time,” Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said in a news release announcing the refund policy.

Season-ticket holders, most of whom already have paid for their seats for the 1998-99 season, will receive 6% interest on their money if regular-season games, which are due to begin Nov. 3, are canceled because of the lockout.

Also Monday, the league gave the National Labor Relations Board its official response to the complaint filed last month by the players’ union, alleging that the NBA committed an unfair labor practice by imposing the lockout before reaching an impasse in negotiations.

In Atlanta, union director Billy Hunter held a briefing for some of the locked out players, and attendees included Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Pro Hockey

Jack Ferreira, fired last week as general manager of the Mighty Ducks, agreed to accept the newly created position of vice president of hockey operations. Ferreira will scout the NHL and Europe and serve as the primary hockey advisor to Pierre Gauthier, the man who fired him.

The Ducks also signed right wing Peter LeBoutillier, 23, to a two-year contract and left wing Eric Lecompte, 23, to a one-year contract.

Mark Recchi of the Montreal Canadiens received the highest arbitration award in NHL history, getting a one-year deal worth $4.5 million. . . . Advised by his doctor to stop playing hockey after he had suffered a sixth concussion, Pat LaFontaine of the New York Rangers will announce his retirement today at Madison Square Garden.

Tennis

Marcelo Rios took over the No. 1 ranking on the ATP tour from Pete Sampras for the second time this year. Rios regained the top spot when Sampras lost to Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals at the du Maurier Open last week. . . . After losing a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) first-round match to 40th-ranked Tommy Haas of Germany, former world No. 1 Jim Courier refused to appear at a post-match news conference and left the ATP Championship site at Mason, Ohio. Alex Corretja defeated Alex O’Brien, 6-3, 6-7 (7-3), 7-6 (9-7). . . . Ecuador’s Luis A. Morejon, ranked 214th in the world, defeated Italy’s Omar Camporese, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round at the $300,000 San Marino International tournament.

Boxing

Mauricio Martinez of Brooklyn, New York, stopped Marcos Badillo of Mexico City in the 10th round of a 12-round fight to win the vacant NABO bantam weight title at Anaheim. Martinez was the harder puncher and floored Badillo in the fourth and ninth rounds with left hands.

Miscellany

The all-star team from the Cypress Federal Little League will represent Southern California at the Western Region Tournament beginning today in San Bernardino. Cypress plays a team from Juneau, Alaska, in a first-round game at 8 p.m. at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino.

Max Draughon, a high school football player, died a day after he collapsed while running sprints during practice at Erwin, N.C. Draughon, 17, of Autryville died Sunday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, where he was being treated for severe heat exhaustion.

Jackie Tobian-Steinmann, the only women’s golf coach UCLA has ever had, will retire effective June 30, 1999, it was announced.

In the last 18 years, the Bruins have won an NCAA championship (1991), four conference titles and finished among the top 10 in the country 11 times.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an airplane crash that killed the father of NASCAR driver Mark Martin and two others Saturday at White Pine, Nev.

Jockey Jacinto Vasquez, winner of 5,231 races, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with trainers William Mott and Ansel Williamson as well as thoroughbreds Riva Ridge, Bayakoa and Fort Marcy.