Palmer In, but Nicklaus Out of Open

The U.S. Senior Open golf tournament went one for two with its big names Tuesday at West Des Moines, Iowa. Arnold Palmer made it. Jack Nicklaus did not.

Nicklaus withdrew to continue resting his aching left hip.

Palmer, who has been bothered by a pulled rib muscle, arrived Tuesday morning.

Miller Barber, winner of the Senior Open in 1982, 1984 and 1985, also withdrew because of family problems.

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Juli Inkster, the U.S. Women’s Open and LPGA Championship winner, beat Gail Graham, 3 and 2, as the United States swept the singles matches in defeating Canada, 8-1, in the inaugural Nations’ Cup at Stouffville, Canada.

Tennis

Wimbledon is considering a move to the first two weeks of July to avoid rain and give players more time to adjust to grass courts, the Guardian newspaper reported.

Although a change cannot be made in the next two years because of scheduling conflicts, the newspaper said it could happen by 2002.

Top-seeded Wayne Ferreira advanced by defeating Italy’s Mose Navarra, 6-3, 6-3, but second-seeded Jason Stoltenberg was a first-round victim of Jonathan Stark, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, R.I. . . . Defending champion Alex Corretja withdrew from the Swiss Open at Gstaad after quitting in the first set against Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapanetti because of an injury. . . . Jeff Tarango defeated top-seeded Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 6-1, 6-2, in the opening round of the $325,000 Swedish Open at Bastad.

Basketball

Gregg Popovich signed a four-year contract extension, 11 days after coaching the San Antonio Spurs to their first NBA title.

Popovich had a year remaining on a three-year deal. The new contract keeps him as both coach and general manager.

Minnesota Timberwolf assistant Randy Wittman will be hired as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, two Twin Cities TV stations reported. . . . Houston Rocket Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who will miss the Olympic qualifying tournament while he recovers from exhaustion, still plans to coach the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2000 Sydney Games. . . . New York Knick guard Charlie Ward had knee surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp.

Olympics

The chief organizer for the 2004 Summer Olympics quit after accusations that Athens was not aggressively preparing for the games.

Stratis Stratigis, a 65-year-old lawyer and professor, spent 18 months on the job. There have been rumors of friction between the government and Olympic organizers.

A reform panel has suggested changes in the way the IOC chooses members, including democratic elections, terms of office and a lower age limit.

A working group of the IOC 2000 commission, established in the wake of the Salt Lake City scandal, also proposed full membership for 10 athletes elected by their peers.

Miscellany

Frank Stronach bought another racetrack, acquiring Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., for $95 million.

The purchase, scheduled to close by September, comes on the heels of Stronach’s $126-million takeover of Santa Anita in December.

Jim Brown, a Hall of Fame football player and actor, will plead not guilty Friday to two misdemeanor charges of allegedly threatening to kill his wife and breaking her car windows with a shovel, according to his lawyer.

Brown, 63, faces one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of vandalism. He, his lawyer and 25-year-old wife Monique were in court Tuesday and told reporters afterward the case had been overblown.

The New York Rangers dipped into the NHL free-agent market by signing left wing Valeri Kamensky and defenseman Stephane Quintal. Kamensky scored 14 goals and had 30 assists for the Colorado Avalanche and Quintal had 27 points for the Montreal Canadiens. . . . The Detroit Red Wings re-signed left wing Kirk Maltby to a four-year contract. . . . Boston Bruin Vice President Tom Johnson, a Hall of Famer who won six Stanley Cups as a player and one as a coach, retired after 52 years in the NHL. . . . Arizona Cardinal tight end Chris Gedney will sit out the 1999 season while recovering from intestinal surgery. . . . The Washington Redskins signed free agent fullback Larry Centers, a two-time Pro Bowl player. . . . The Washington Times reported Tuesday that the Redskins’ new owner, Daniel Snyder, intends to replace General Manager Charley Casserly upon taking control of the club next week. . . . Fullback Demetrius Smith’s football scholarship has been revoked by Michigan, his parents said. He is accused of being part of a six-person embezzlement ring.