Falcons’ Martin Faces Criminal Charges

Eight days after playing in the Super Bowl, Atlanta Falcon receiver Tony Martin was charged in a Miami federal court Monday with money laundering and conspiracy, those charges stemming from his longtime friendship with a drug dealer.

Martin, the Falcons’ leading receiver, was brought to court in manacles and released on $250,000 bond. He will be arraigned Feb. 16.

Rickey Brownlee, a convicted drug dealer, and Martin met 15 years ago while Martin, now 33, was a student at Miami Northwestern High School.

Martin is not accused of involvement in Brownlee’s drug business. Prosecutors said he wrote checks to lease luxury cars and pay legal fees for his friend because Brownlee’s attorneys wouldn’t take cash.

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The Cincinnati Bengals designated wide receiver Carl Pickens as the franchise player to protect against losing him to unrestricted free agency. . . . Defensive lineman Chris Mims signed a two-year contract to stay with the San Diego Chargers. . . . Linebacker Corey Miller, who missed all of last season because of a neck injury, was released by the New York Giants after failing a physical.

Olympics

Authorities in Stockholm will investigate possible bribery in the Swedish Olympic Committee’s use of money from the city’s Olympic bid committee to fund an agreement with six African countries. The probe was announced a day after the newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that the $220,000 for the agreement, under which African athletes would train in Sweden, was provided by the group that was pushing Stockholm’s candidacy for the 2004 games.

An independent Ethics Committee was scheduled to release a report today on how Salt Lake City Olympic organizers operated a cash-for-votes scheme that rocked the Olympic movement worldwide.

Meanwhile, U.S. congressional auditors said they will investigate the use of federal funds for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City amid allegations of corruption by organizers.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) of the House Commerce Committee asked Congress’ general accounting office to look at how taxpayer funds would be used by Salt Lake City for road, mass transit and other projects tied to the games.

Auditors were also asked to study federal funding for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.

Boxing

Heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson could be back in training within 60 days--while serving his jail sentence in Maryland--and could even ask a judge for permission to leave town temporarily for a prizefight while incarcerated, a jail official told the Washington Post.

The possibility that Tyson could continue his fighting career--and perhaps stave off being returned to prison in Indiana at the same time--might have been the reason he has not appealed his one-year jail sentence, said lawyers familiar with his case.

Although it was widely anticipated that Tyson would file an appeal and a request for bond as soon as the courthouse opened, neither was filed. He has 30 days to appeal.

If Tyson stays in jail in Maryland, he could be transferred to the Pre-Release Center after 60 days. There, like any inmate at the center, Tyson would be required to work during the day in his chosen profession, said Russ Hamill, acting director of the Montgomery County Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Tyson’s workplace, Hamill said, could be a gym.

Surviving a second-round knockdown, Javier Jauregui (41-8-1, 30 KOs) won a split-decision over Jose Badillo (22-3, 15 KOs) to win a junior lightweight tournament at the Great Western Forum in front of a crowd of 3,363.

Jauregui not only wins the tournament, but also $10,000 and a new car.

Unbeaten welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya will wed actress Shanna Moakley next summer, promoter Bob Arum confirmed.

Arum also confirmed that Moakley is pregnant, and that the child is expected in about four months.

Baseball

Cecil Fielder, who broke into the majors with Toronto in 1985, agreed to a minor league contract with the Blue Jays.

The 35-year-old first baseman and designated hitter, will get a $500,000, one-year contract if he makes the team and the chance to earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

Outfielder Quinton McCracken avoided arbitration when he agreed to a $1.85-million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. . . . Pitcher Aaron Sele avoided arbitration with the Texas Rangers, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $5,525,000.

Tennis

Martina Hingis regained the women’s No. 1 ranking 17 weeks after losing it to Lindsay Davenport. Hingis earned the top spot after winning the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday. In rankings released by the WTA on Monday, Hingis had 5,722 points. Davenport was No. 2 with 5,547.

Second-seeded Andre Agassi, who won the Sybase Open last year, opened this year’s tournament at San Jose with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Todd Woodbridge.

Greg Rusedski beat Sjeng Schalken, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round of the Dubai Open at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Miscellany

Misdemeanor charges against defensive tackle Aaron Williams of USC’s football team were dismissed by the Orange County district attorney’s office after witness statements supported his claim that he was searching for a friend’s house in Costa Mesa when he was arrested for prowling in December.

Bruno Kernen of Switzerland took a slim lead over Norwegians Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus in the downhill portion of the men’s combined in the World Alpine Ski Championships at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Vin Scully was a double winner at the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Assn.’s eighth awards luncheon at Lakeside Golf Club, voted best play-by-play announcer in both television and radio. Dr. Frank Jobe won the “Good Guy” award and The Times’ Mal Florence received the “High Five” award.

Argentina’s first division soccer players decided they would go on strike indefinitely unless a suspension of lower division games was lifted, leaving several tournaments in jeopardy.

The NFL agreed to buy an option in the Arena Football League that can be exercised during the next three years. The NFL can buy up to 49.9% of the Arena league and have a voice in its operation.

Dave Marcis was the fastest second-round Daytona 500 qualifier at Daytona Beach, Fla. With a lap of 192.794 mph, Marcis increased his chances of making the field in the event he does not finish high enough in qualifying Thursday.