Infractions Committee to Quiz Notre Dame About Booster

The NCAA Committee on Infractions will hear Notre Dame officials defend their actions today after discovering that a booster showered up to a dozen football players with thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts and trips she’d paid for with more than $1.4 million she embezzled from her employer.

At the heart of the case, which could result in the first major penalty in school history, is whether Kimberly Dunbar’s relationship with players broke the NCAA’s extra-benefits rules, which stipulate that universities and their representatives cannot provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA.

School spokesman Dennis Moore said the NCAA notified Notre Dame by letter that it was only looking into whether Dunbar’s relationship broke the extra-benefits rules, but he said the university also understands there’s a possibility that other allegations could be raised during the hearing at Indianapolis.

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Former Kentucky football coach Charlie Bradshaw, an Alabama native and Bear Bryant protege, died in Montgomery, Ala. He was 75.

Jurisprudence

Defensive lineman Shane Burton of the Miami Dolphins already has a 2-year-old drunk-driving conviction on his record, meaning he could get jail time if convicted again for a similar arrest last month.

Florida Motor Vehicle Department records show Burton was arrested for driving under the influence in North Carolina on Dec. 27, 1996. He was convicted the following April.

Under Florida law, a second DUI conviction within five years brings a mandatory jail term of 10 days to nine months. Burton, 25, also would face a fine of $500-$1,000, and up to a year’s probation.

Mateen Cleaves and Antonio Smith, key players in Michigan State’s drive to the NCAA tournament Final Four, are facing misdemeanor larceny charges.

Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday. Smith also faces a charge of malicious destruction of property.

The warrants stem from an April 14 theft at an East Lansing convenience store.

A lawsuit filed against USC in 1998 by a former employee in the Student Athlete Academic Services program has been dismissed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.

Christopher Cairney, fired for allegedly providing inappropriate assistance to an athlete on a paper after making charges of widespread abuses in the tutoring program, is living outside the country and was unable to go forward with the case. He agreed not to pursue the matter further after USC waived costs he otherwise would have owed the university.

University counsel Todd Dickey, who headed a lengthy internal investigation into charges of improprieties in the tutoring program, called the dismissal “a just result,” saying “USC certainly did nothing wrong with respect to Dr. Cairney.”

Miscellany

Former Dallas Cowboy coach Tom Landry, 74, has been released from a Dallas hospital after completing the first stage of his treatment for leukemia.

After failing to agree to a multiyear deal with the San Diego Chargers, free-agent defensive end Marco Coleman signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins worth $1 million.

Michael Johnson, the Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder in the 200 meters, has withdrawn from Sunday’s inaugural TFA Pro Championships at Uniondale, N.Y., because of the death of his grandmother.

Dave Lewis, an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings for the last 12 seasons and a former King, interviewed for the Kings’ head coaching position.

General Manager Dave Taylor, a former teammate, spent three hours with Lewis, the last of five candidates for the job.

“At this time, we have no more interviews scheduled,” Taylor said of the search for a replacement for Larry Robinson, who was fired April 19.

Dave King, an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens; Andy Murray, with the Canadian national team; John Van Boxmeer, coach of the Long Beach Ice Dogs, and Ted Nolan, former Buffalo Sabre coach, have also been interviewed. Taylor said there will be more interviews when the list is narrowed.

Goaltender Jeff Hackett signed a three-year contract extension with the Canadiens. Hackett, who turned 31 Tuesday, had one year remaining on his current contract, after which he could have become an unrestricted free agent.

A goal by Mauricio Wright in the 80th minute gave the San Jose Clash a 4-3 Major League Soccer victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids.

Figure skating coach Richard Callaghan has been asked to respond to a second complaint by a former colleague accusing him of sexual misconduct and exploitation.

The Professional Skaters Assn. has given Callaghan until June 11 to respond to the complaint by Craig Maurizi.

The Southern Section executive committee, apparently dissatisfied with the three finalists to replace Dean Crowley as Southern Section commissioner, has voted to reopen the search. The committee will also hire an executive search firm to increase the pool of qualified candidates.

Crowley, who has served as a section administrator for 23 years--the last six as commissioner--steps down in September.