S. Carolina May Lose Events

All NCAA-sponsored sports events in South Carolina, including the 2002 men’s basketball regional in Greenville, will be canceled unless the Confederate flag is removed from the Statehouse dome by Aug. 11.

The governing body of college sports said Friday they would not hold NCAA tournaments for any sport in South Carolina if the flag remains. The decision would not affect individual school schedules or conference tournaments.

“There is no question that to a significant number of our constituents, the flag is a symbol of oppression,” Charles Wethington, NCAA executive committee chairman, said.

The committee meets again Aug. 11 and a cancellation by the NCAA would be the most prominent move since the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People announced last summer a tourism boycott.

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The Mountain West Conference will be granted automatic qualification status to NCAA championships in each sport starting in the 2000-2001 season.

College Football

UCLA concludes spring practice today with an abbreviated scrimmage open to the public at Drake Stadium. Gates open at noon and the workout begins at 1 p.m., with the scrimmage to take place after drills. Officials are encouraging fans to leave extra time for parking because the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is also on campus.

Coach Bob Toledo expects the scrimmage to last 40-50 plays, a shorter session than normal because of numerous injuries. Today’s practice has been moved to Drake Stadium because it has a much larger seating capacity than Spaulding Field, the usual site.

Michigan State Coach Bobby Williams signed a five-year contract worth $485,000 a season. Williams made his debut Jan. 1 in the Florida Citrus Bowl, leading the Spartans to a 37-34 victory over Florida. . . . Washington State backup quarterback Kjell Nesen, a redshirt freshman from Westlake Village, will transfer to another school, Coach Mike Price said.

Pro Football

Cincinnati Bengal receiver Carl Pickens was excused from attending a minicamp that starts today. “We are working to make an arrangement that will separate Carl from the Bengals,” Jim Lippincott, the team’s director of pro and college personnel, said. With Pickens on the way out, first-round draft pick Peter Warrick is in line to get a starting job. . . . The Dallas Cowboys re-signed Pro Bowl outside linebacker Dexter Coakley, a restricted free agent, to a one-year tender offer worth $1.027 million. . . . George Koonce, a starting linebacker for the Green Bay Packers since 1992, was not invited to the team’s weekend minicamp and will soon be released. . . . Guard Kevin Donnalley and receiver Oronde Gadsden did not attend the Miami Dolphins’ first day of minicamp. Team officials told Donnalley not to report because the Dolphins will either trade or release him. Gadsden will not be in camp because of a contract holdout. . . . Dan Marino’s No. 13 jersey will be retired by the Dolphins during halftime of their home game Sept. 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. . . . San Diego Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf will undergo two weeks of extensive shoulder rehabilitation in Birmingham, Ala., at specialist Dr. James Andrews’ office in hopes of resurrecting his NFL career. . . . Indianapolis Colt offensive line coach Howard Mudd has a broken wrist and possibly a broken ankle after a motorcycle accident.

Miscellany

Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya advanced to the semifinals of the Barcelona Open with victories that guaranteed at least one homegrown product will play for the championship Sunday. Ferrero beat Marcelo Rios of Chile, 6-3, 6-4, and will face Moya, who defeated Tommy Haas of Germany, 6-4, 6-4. Russian Marat Safin beat Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, 7-6 (3), 7-5, in another quarterfinal.

Spain, France and the Czech Republic put themselves in strong position to reach the Fed Cup semifinals with victories Friday that ran their records to 2-0 with one match to go in the round-robin competition. The defending champion United States has a bye into the semifinals.

Kerry Ryman was awakened from a sound sleep by his barber calling to tell him the famed Wilt Chamberlain basketball Ryman ran off with 38 years ago had been sold at auction for $551,844. Leland’s auction house refused to say who bought the ball used by Chamberlain when he scored an NBA record 100 points.

At 312.93 mph, Kenny Bernstein was quickest in opening top-fuel qualifying at the Moto1.net NHRA Nationals at Dinwiddie, Va. The second session was canceled because of persistent rain.

Australian athletes who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs will be forced to repay all public funding received for training leading to the Sydney Olympics.

The Sparks have invited about 40 undrafted players to try out for the team today and Sunday at Loyola Marymount. . . . Former USC and Los Angeles Ram quarterback Pat Haden will be honored May 11 by the Friends of Child Advocates at the Wilshire Grand Hotel.