McCombs Bids $250 Million to Become Vikings’ Owner

Red McCombs, the former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, was chosen as the Minnesota Vikings’ new owner Thursday and will keep the NFL franchise in Minnesota.

With a bid that blew away local favorite Glen Taylor, several other bidders and the 10 current owners, McCombs agreed to buy the Vikings for about $250 million. That was $50 million more than Tom Clancy’s failed bid earlier this year, and about $30 million more than the offer turned in by Taylor.

Team attorney John Mooty said he expects the NFL to approve the sale quickly. However, the approval process can often drag because of the amount of background data the NFL assembles on prospective new owners.

*

Running back Leeland McElroy, a second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals two years ago, was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . Offensive tackle Victor Riley became the fifth first-round draft pick to sign, agreeing to a five-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

*

Former San Francisco 49er coach Bill Walsh was punched in the mouth by another casino patron while playing blackjack at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe at Stateline, Nev., according to sheriff’s reports. Kurt Allen Lewis, 30, of Bakersfield was cited for misdemeanor battery for hitting Walsh, 66, early Wednesday.

*

Former Chicago Bear Alonzo Spellman’s string of troubles continued when he was evicted from his suburban Chicago home. Spellman was released in June after a disappointing season and erratic off-field behavior that led to psychiatric treatment.

College Football

Quarterback Dan Kendra, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in an April 4 spring game, said he will not play for Florida State this fall. Although Kendra, 22, has already used a redshirt season, the school will seek a sixth year of eligibility for him.

University of Illinois safety Steve Willis committed suicide at Urbana, Ill., authorities said. A preliminary investigation indicated that Willis’ death Wednesday night was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

College Basketball

The NCAA issued a public reprimand to Stanford guard Arthur Lee for making a “choke” sign as Tyson Wheeler of Rhode Island missed three consecutive free throws in the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional final.

The John R. Wooden Award announced that coaches Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, Denny Crum, Clem Haskins, Rick Majerus, Mike Montgomery, Gene Keady, Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Tubby Smith and Roy Williams will serve on its Board of Governors.

Israel Sheinfeld, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center from Israel, has signed a letter of intent to play for Wright State in Ohio.

Miscellany

Jaime Moreno scored twice and Roy Lassiter added a goal as D.C. United dominated the Miami Fusion, 3-1, in a Major League Soccer game before 13,030 at Washington.

D.C. outshot the Fusion, 28-7.

Midfielder Chad Deering, a member of the U.S. World Cup team, signed with the Dallas Burn of MLS.

Steffi Graf has entered the U.S. Open, according to the U.S. Tennis Assn. It will be Graf’s first appearance in the tournament since she defeated Monica Seles in the 1996 final for her fifth U.S. Open singles title. Graf sat out last year’s Open while recovering from knee surgery. The tournament will be played Aug. 31-Sept. 13.

The jury in the insurance fraud trial of boxing promoter Don King received the case after four days of closing arguments at New York. If convicted, King could face up to 45 years in prison.

Atlanta Hawk free-agent center Greg Anderson insists he will be exonerated from federal drug charges filed against him in Mississippi last week. A partially sealed indictment was handed down against him for two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of money-laundering.

Jamie Koven of the United States defeated Paul Thomas of Marlow, England, in the Diamond Sculls class of the Henley Royal Regatta at Henley on Thames, England.

Two members of Cuba’s national women’s swimming team who disappeared from a San Juan, Puerto Rico, training camp appeared on television, saying they planned to defect to the United States. Nubis Rosales and Daimara Munoz disappeared Tuesday night from camp in Vega Baja, about 20 miles west of San Juan.