Ravens Staying With Banks

The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Tony Banks to a four-year, incentive-laden deal Thursday that could be worth as much as $18.6 million.

The five-year veteran started the 1999 season as the third-string quarterback behind Scott Mitchell and Stoney Case. But after the sixth game of the season, Coach Brian Billick turned to Banks, who compiled a 6-4 record as a starter.

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The Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams have raised ticket prices for the 2000 season by an average of 24%, from $33.99 to $42.15. . . . A Sacramento judge ruled that the Oakland Raiders can go to trial against Oakland authorities to pursue team owner Al Davis’ claims that local officials bilked the Raiders out of millions of dollars in revenues.

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Former Buffalo Bill running back Thurman Thomas, the NFL’s ninth all-time leading rusher with nearly 12,000 yards, will visit the Miami Dolphins next week. . . . Offensive tackle Leon Searcy of the Jacksonville Jaguars has agreed to a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $50 million. . . . The New Orleans Saints have signed former Minnesota Viking tight end Andrew Glover and expect to wrap up a deal with linebacker Charlie Clemons, recently of the Rams. . . . Defensive tackle Tom Barndt, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a five-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. . . . Safety Percy Ellsworth, who led the New York Giants in interceptions last season, agreed to contract terms with the Cleveland Browns. . . . Former Bill free safety Kurt Schulz has come to terms with the Detroit Lions, filling the hole created by Mark Carrier’s move to the Washington Redskins. . . . Free agent Chris Sullivan, a defensive lineman with New England last season, signed a three-year, $5.2-million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Boston Globe reported.

Tennis

Michael Chang blew a 4-0 lead in the first set, and Byron Black of Zimbabwe took advantage to beat him, 7-5, 6-2, in the quarterfinals of the St. Jude tournament at Memphis, Tenn. Black will play defending champion Tommy Haas of Germany, who defeated seventh-seeded Wayne Ferreira of South Africa, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. . . . Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia defeated Greg Rusedski of Britain, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, to reach the semifinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands. He’ll face another Briton, fifth-seeded Tim Henman, who rolled to a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory over Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia. In the other quarterfinal matches, unseeded Jerome Golmard of France upset third-seeded Magnus Norman of Sweden, 6-4, 6-3, and Cedric Pioline of France eliminated fourth-ranked Nicolas Kiefer, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Top-seeded Serena Williams reached the semifinals of the Faber Grand Prix without dropping a set, routing Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 6-1, 6-4, in the quarterfinals at Hanover, Germany. She’ll face third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Anna Smashnova of Israel.

Miscellany

Rae Carruth’s lawyer wants a court to block an overseer from liquidating the football player’s assets to support the baby of his late girlfriend, whose slaying Carruth is accused of masterminding.

The former NFL player’s attorney filed papers in North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County Superior Court, asking that it eliminate its earlier order naming Charlotte lawyer Elizabeth Hodges to audit Carruth’s assets. She also has permission to sell Carruth’s Charlotte home to provide child-support money for the baby, Chancellor Lee Adams. Hodges is due to report to the court Wednesday.

Carruth, a former Carolina Panther wide receiver, and three co-defendants are charged with first-degree murder for the drive-by shooting of Cherica Adams, 24, on Nov. 16 in Charlotte. Soon after the shooting, she gave birth to Chancellor, who was 10 weeks premature. Adams died Dec. 14. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against the four.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis reported to Maryland correctional officials and signed off on the conditions of his release from jail in Atlanta, where he is charged with murder.

The All-Pro linebacker agreed to a number of conditions, including a curfew, travel restrictions, random home visits and drug testing. He also agreed to submit a daily itinerary to corrections officials.

In Atlanta, defense lawyers requested a speedy trial, forcing prosecutors to prepare for a trial that would start by June.

Sonja Nef of Switzerland won a World Cup night giant slalom at Are, Sweden, by 1.01 seconds over Austrian veteran Anita Wachter. . . . Richard Richardsson of Sweden beat Elmar Messner of Italy to win his first parallel giant slalom of the season in World Cup snowboarding at Sapporo, Japan. In the women’s event, Ursula Fingerlos of Austria beat favorite Carmen Ranigler of Italy for her second victory of the season.

Bruce Johnson, defensive coordinator of Wofford College’s football team, died after collapsing while watching a conditioning drill at the university track in Spartanburg, S.C. He was 52. . . . A memorial service for longtime Dodger Stadium official George Schoenman will held today at Fairfax High at 3:30 p.m. Schoenman, who taught at Fairfax for more than 30 years, died Feb. 8 of leukemia. He was 67.