Janikowski Arrested Again, This Time on Drug Charges

A week after being acquitted of trying to bribe a police officer, former Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski was arrested on charges of possessing the “date-rape drug” at Tallahassee, Fla. The Oakland Raiders’ first-round draft choice and two friends were found with GHB at a nightclub early Wednesday during a police sweep for underage drinkers, Florida State University police said.

Janikowski, a native of Poland, and the two others were charged with one count of felony possession of a controlled substance. The All-American kicker who helped the Seminoles win the national championship was released from jail after pleading not guilty and posting $2,500 bond. Janikowski, 22, was scheduled to leave this week to begin workouts with the Raiders. He has not signed with the team.

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British swimming coach Cecil Russell was among four people arrested in a crackdown on the smuggling of Ecstasy tablets into the United States, police said in Torremolinos, Spain.

Pro Football

The Miami Dolphins signed cornerback Sam Madison to a seven-year contract that president Eddie Jones called the largest in team history. Though financial terms were not disclosed, ESPN reported that Madison will receive $54 million, including an $11-million signing bonus. . . . The Denver Broncos must wait until this fall to learn if they can recoup $1.8 million of the $7.8-million signing bonus given to defensive back Dale Carter before his one-year suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. . . . Gabe Northern, a 26-year-old outside linebacker who started 32 consecutive games for the Buffalo Bills, agreed to a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. . . . Memphis, once spurned by the NFL, was granted a franchise in the XFL, the new pro football league owned by the World Wrestling Federation and NBC.

Hockey

Craig MacTavish is expected to replace Kevin Lowe as the Edmonton Oilers’ coach at a news conference today, completing a shake-up that began with the departure of general manager Glen Sather. . . . Former Philadelphia Flyer coach Roger Neilson said he is considering an offer to become Tampa Bay assistant general manager and associate head coach, but Lightning officials denied that an offer had been made. . . . Ivan Hlinka was officially named head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He replaces Herb Brooks, who stepped down.

Tennis

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport held off German qualifier Jana Kandarr, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and fourth-seeded Anna Kournikova of Russia ousted defending champion Natasha Zvereva of Belarus, 6-3, 6-1, from the Eastbourne grass-court tournament at England. In doubles, Martina Navratilova and Mariaan De Swardt of South Africa were beaten, 6-4, 7-6 (5), by Nathalie Tauziat of France and Ai Sugiyama of Japan.

Third-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia was leading Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, 6-3, 2-1, when rain halted play at the Heineken Trophy grass-court tournament at Den Bosch, Netherlands. In the women’s singles, second-seeded Sandrine Testud of France struggled past Belgian Justine Henin, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (1). . . . Mary Pierce defeated Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-3, 6-4, in the Nike Hall of Fame Challenge at Newport, R.I.

Pro Basketball

Detroit’s Claudia Maria das Neves scored a career-high 16 points and the New York Liberty committed three of its 21 turnovers in the final two minutes of its 67-63 loss to the Shock in a WNBA game at Madison Square Garden. . . . Yolanda Griffith had 16 points, 16 rebounds and four steals as the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Indiana Fever, 70-58, at Indianapolis. . . . Debbie Black’s 10-foot jump shot with one second remaining gave the Miami Sol a 57-55 victory over the Mystics at Washington.

Names in the News

Houston Fancher, 34, an assistant for the past four seasons at Appalachian State, was promoted to head coach, replacing Buzz Peterson, who left for Tulsa. . . . Former Pepperdine athletics administrator and assistant basketball coach Dan Yocum died of cancer Tuesday in Rogers, Ark. He was 74. Yocum was an assistant to Gary Colson from 1972-77 and an associate athletic director from 1978-81. . . . UCLA first baseman Garrett Atkins, a fifth-round selection of the Colorado Rockies, agreed to terms with the team. He will report to Portland, the short season A-ball affiliate of the Rockies. . . . Louis Pierce, 39, of Camden, N.J., was convicted of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier and a friend.