$635 Million Buys Johnson Control of Jets

The New York Jets finally have a new owner. That doesn’t mean their other major problem--the vacant coaching position--will be settled soon.

At least now Bill Parcells knows whom to talk to: philanthropist Robert Wood Johnson IV, an heir to the family fortune of the Johnson & Johnson health care conglomerate.

Pending NFL approval, which could come as early as next week, Johnson purchased the team Tuesday from the estate of the late Leon Hess for $635 million--the highest price for an established team with no stadium.

Although he is not allowed to conduct any team business before the approval, Johnson may consult with chief of football operations Parcells about the unusual coaching situation.

“I am looking forward to meeting Mr. Johnson,” was all that Parcells would say in a statement.

After the Hess estate recommended Johnson’s offer, the NFL’s eight-man finance committee unanimously approved the bid. The owners will meet in New York next Tuesday, with the sale on the agenda. If it is not approved then by three-fourths of the 31 owners, it would be delayed until Super Bowl week.

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A hearing on the Detroit Lions’ demand that retired running back Barry Sanders repay $5.5 million of an $11 million signing bonus opened in San Francisco with six hours of testimony before an arbitrator.

Sanders declined to say what he told arbitrator Sam Kagel. But his agent said he believes Sanders said he would be willing to play again.

Boxing

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was told by British immigration authorities that he might be refused entry to the country for his Jan. 29 fight against Julius Francis because of his 1992 rape conviction.

British immigration rules state that anyone convicted of a crime that carries a jail term of at least a year would not be allowed in the country. Tyson served half of his six-year sentence.

“Hopefully, everything will be fine and we’re planning on leaving for London on Sunday,” said Shelly Finkel, Tyson’s boxing advisor.

Tennis

Alexandra Stevenson, a surprising semifinalist at Wimbledon last summer, earned her first victory over a player ranked in the world’s top 10 by defeating fourth-seeded Barbara Schett of Austria, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round at the Adidas International in Sydney, Australia.

In the men’s singles, Alex Corretja of Spain upset No. 4 Cedric Pioline of France, 6-4, 6-4.

American qualifier Michael Sell upset fourth-seeded Nicolas Escude of France, 0-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, and defending champion Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands beat Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in the first round of the Auckland Open in New Zealand.

Amy Frazier struggled to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory over fellow American Holly Parkinson to reach the third round of the Tasmanian International in Hobart, Australia.

Former tennis great Don Budge, injured in a car accident in the Pocono Mountains last month, was transferred from a New York hospital to a nursing home in Scranton, Pa. The 84-year-old Budge’s stay there is expected to be permanent.

Miscellany

Overnight ratings for Sunday’s final round of the Mercedes Championships, in which Tiger Woods won his fifth consecutive golf tournament, were up 43% over last year and set a record for golf programming on ESPN. The telecast had a 3.5 rating and was seen in 2.7 million households.

Construction of a new ballpark for the Cincinnati Reds will cost the team 14,000 outfield seats at Cinergy Field, reducing the seating capacity from 53,000 to 39,000 until the new park is ready in 2003.

Authorities trying to curb China’s drug problem in sports carried out 3,503 urine tests in 1999, of which 19 were positive, a top sports official said in Beijing.

A U.S. District Court lawsuit in Lexington, Ky., accuses Southwest Recreational Industries Inc., the maker of AstroTurf, of infringing on rival turf-maker FieldTurf, Inc.’s patent and engaging in anti-competitive practices.

Dalton, Ga.-based FieldTurf owns a patent on a synthetic playing surface designed to be more grass-like than AstroTurf, which has been described by some players as feeling more like concrete than grass.

For the record: Martin Schmitt of Germany won two 120-meter World Cup ski jumping competitions in Engelberg, Switzerland, on Saturday and Sunday. The size of the jump was incorrect Sunday and Monday in Newswire.