Golota Survives Crash That Kills His Passenger

Boxer Andrew Golota was bruised and shaken after a car crash Monday at Davenport, Iowa, in which his passenger was killed.

The 31-year-old heavyweight was driving a car that veered into the path of a semitrailer truck.

Golota was treated and released from a Davenport hospital.

“He’s more shook up than anything,” said Donald Tremblay, a spokesman for promoter Main Events of Totowa, N.J. “He’s more upset about what has happened to his friend.”

Tadeusz Godlewski, 49, of Roselle, Ill., was killed. The driver of the trailer was not injured, police said.

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Former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer said his grandfather trained him for a successful amateur career but testified in Pittsburgh that Henry Smith had little impact on him professionally and is owed no money under a 1988 contract. Moorer testified in U.S. District Court to counter claims by Smith, 79, that he is owed a bigger cut of his grandson’s winnings.

Baseball

The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent second baseman Mark McLemore and outfielder Stan Javier to one-year contracts. McLemore, 35, hit .274 with six home runs and 45 RBIs in 144 games for Texas last season. Javier, 35, hit .285 with three home runs and 34 RBIs while splitting last season between San Francisco and Houston.

Pitcher Kerry Wood, the hard-throwing 1998 National League rookie of the year who sat out all of last season after elbow surgery, agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs on a one-year contract. He was 13-6 with 233 strikeouts as a rookie. The team also signed shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, who was with the Houston Astros in 1999, to a two-year contract. The Cubs also said they will not offer a contract to pitcher Scott Sanders, allowing him to become a free agent.

Among players not offered contracts before the Monday deadline were Angel utility man Andy Sheets, Oakland Athletic second baseman Scott Spiezio, Cleveland Indian catcher Tyler Houston, New York Met right-hander Billy Taylor, Tampa Bay Devil Ray infielder Herbert Perry and San Francisco Giant infielder F.P. Santangelo.

Several players eligible for arbitration agreed to one-year contracts: Minnesota Twin outfielder Matt Lawton ($2 million) and Pittsburgh Pirate pitchers Rich Loiselle ($400,000) and Chris Peters ($550,000).

The Montreal Expos agreed to a $9-million, three-year contract with left-handed set-up man Graeme Lloyd, who was with the Toronto Blue Jays last season. . . . The New York Yankees re-signed backup catcher and infielder Jim Leyritz, 36, to a $1.25 million, one-year contract.

The St. Louis Cardinals completed a deal sending right-hander Juan Acevedo and two minor leaguers to be named to the Milwaukee Brewers for second baseman Fernando Vina. . . . Owners unanimously approved the $815-million, six-year television contract with ESPN that the league agreed to this month. . . . The National Labor Relations Board rescheduled today’s hearing on the contested umpires’ union election for Jan. 4.

Fearful of tampering charges, New York Met General Manager Steve Phillips warned his players not to contact Ken Griffey Jr. in attempts to persuade him to accept a trade to the Mets. . . . The Angels announced the hiring of Daron Sutton to join Mario Impemba on radio broadcasts. Sutton, 30, is the son of Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton.

Miscellany

NASCAR President Bill France Jr., 66, has been diagnosed with cancer, though his family wouldn’t reveal what type. A spokesman said the malignancy was treatable. . . . Former tennis champion Don Budge, 84, remained in critical condition at a hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in the wake of a car accident last week in the Pocono Mountains. . . . Former college and NBA star Ralph Sampson hired himself as coach of the Richmond Rhythm in the International Basketball League. Sampson is also the team’s executive vice president and general manager.

The International Ski Federation said a men’s World Cup giant slalom race scheduled for Saalbach, Austria, today would go ahead as planned after it learned the competition would indeed be televised in Austria. . . . Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Rivaldo has been voted European soccer player of the year by France Football, ahead of David Beckham of Manchester United, 219-154. . . . Mayors of Dutch cities staging games during next summer’s European soccer championship are considering a drug and alcohol ban during the games to avoid what Netherlands’ chief public prosecutor Joan de Wijkerslooth called “uncontrollable violence.”

Prize money for the Sanex WTA Tour will be increased by more than $3 million to more than $47 million for the 2000 season, organizers announced. . . . Martin Spanhel scored two goals as the Czech Republic defeated Canada, 8-2, in the Baltika Cup hockey tournament at Moscow. . . . Jennifer Rodriguez won the 5,000-meter race at the U.S. Allround Speedskating Championship at West Allis, Wis., completing a sweep of four races. . . . A woman from Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Ganzi, sued the U.S. Olympic Committee, claiming the Washington group she headed in a bid for the 2012 Summer Games was misled by business leaders who wanted Washington and Baltimore to combine for a regional bid.

An NCAA report revealed that student participation in women’s sports in 1997-98 rose 3.5% over the previous season, while participation in men’s sports rose only 0.24%.

Randy Harvey is on vacation.