Rockets Expect to Decide Rice’s Status by Friday

The Houston Rockets will review the medical records of forward Glen Rice and determine his status by Friday, General Manager Carroll Dawson said Wednesday.

“All of Glen Rice’s health information was forwarded to the team physician as of late this afternoon,” Dawson said.

Rice was bothered by a foot injury last season that limited his performance with the New York Knicks.

The Rockets obtained Rice in a three-team trade Friday. The team scheduled a news conference Monday to introduce Rice but abruptly canceled it.

Veteran center Chris Dudley, acquired in the five-player trade that sent all-star point guard Jason Kidd to New Jersey, was waived by the Nets.

The NBA’s development league will begin its first season Nov. 16 with a game between two South Carolina teams. The matchup between the North Charleston Lowgators and the Greenville Groove is scheduled to be telecast on ESPN2.

Hockey

Eric Lindros’ trade remains on hold until his father agrees to a contract with the New York Rangers.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Rangers have agreed on the players who would be involved in the trade, two sources close to the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press.

But the deal won’t be finalized until the Rangers can sign Lindros, 28, to a multiyear contract. Ranger General Manager Glen Sather was believed to be negotiating a deal with Carl Lindros, Eric’s father and agent.

The trade would send forward Jan Hlavac, defenseman Kim Johnsson, forward Pavel Brendl and a middle-round draft pick to Philadelphia.

Lindros, the former most valuable player, sat out last season after rejecting an $8.5-million qualifying offer from the Flyers.

Ken King was hired as president and chief executive of the Calgary Flames to replace Ron Bremner, who resigned citing a lack of full support from Calgary ownership.

Gary Suter, 37, the San Jose Sharks’ top-scoring defenseman last season and a member of the U.S. Olympic team, signed a one-year contract with the Sharks. . . . Alexander Kharitonov, acquired from Tampa Bay in a June trade, signed a contract with the New York Islanders.

Tennis

Serena Williams defeated former French Open champion Iva Majoli of Croatia, 7-6 (2), 6-1, in the second round of the Rogers AT&T; Cup at Toronto.

Monica Seles, playing her fourth tournament in as many weeks, defeated qualifier Marissa Irvine, 6-3, 6-2.

Andre Agassi defeated Wayne Black, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington.

Agassi, a five-time champion of the event and the top-seeded player, entered the match against Black carrying a two-match losing streak, both in opening rounds. Andy Roddick also advanced, surviving a wild first set before settling down and defeating Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Third-seeded Lleyton Hewitt and fifth-seeded Patrick Rafter swept through the second round of the RCA Championships at Indianapolis. Hewitt defeated Taylor Dent, 6-2, 7-6 (3), and Rafter needed only 55 minutes to defeat Michal Tabara of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-0. Top-seeded Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was missing a racket, but he defeated Noam Okun of Israel, 6-4, 6-3.

Dent, Hugo Armando and Bob Bryan of Camarillo were among eight young U.S. players given wild-card entries to the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 27 in New York.

Miscellany

Florida Atlantic offensive lineman Joshua Blaylock collapsed during practice Wednesday, but was alert and oriented while undergoing tests, a hospital official said.

Blaylock, a 6-foot-1, 255-pound freshman from Canfield, Ohio, “passed out” during practice at the school, Boca Raton Community Hospital emergency room spokeswoman Gail Pray said Wednesday night. The school, however, would not confirm that Blaylock collapsed.

Winston-Salem State linebacker Marlon Nolen was listed in stable condition at a Winston-Salem, N.C., hospital one day after collapsing during practice.

Nolen will undergo tests to determine why he collapsed. University officials say the incident was not heat-related.

Heather Allen, 21, a West Virginia State softball player, died while being prepared for outpatient surgery at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, W.Va., to remove a cyst in a shoulder.

Athletic Director Bryce Casto said “something went wrong with her cardiovascular system.”

Two University of Minnesota football players have been suspended from the team after being charged with felony sexual assault.

Defensive end Steven M. Watson, 19, and cornerback Mackenzy Toussaint, 20, were being held in the Hennepin County jail Wednesday after being charged with raping and assaulting a 19-year-old woman.

Boxer Johnny Tapia, 34, a four-time world champion, told the Albuquerque Journal he is quitting boxing.

Jeffrey Hathaway, an associate athletic director at Connecticut, was hired as athletic director at Colorado State.

The Miami Sol of the WNBA put center Marlies Askamp on the injured list and activated center Levys Torres. Askamp ruptured her Achilles’ tendon Tuesday night in the Sol’s loss to the Charlotte Sting.

Italian runner Andrea Longo reportedly tested positive for steroids but said the drugs may have been contained in medicine she took for flu.

Swiss cyclist Fabina Jeker won the final stage of the Tour de Portugal and claimed the overall title in the two-week race.

Mike Solum was appointed director of the Los Angeles Athletic Club John R. Wooden Award.

Next year’s black tie presentation will be held April 7, a Sunday. In previous years the dinner was held on Friday.

Dario Franchitti of Scotland will drive for Team Kool Green in the CART series for at least two more years. The signing means team owner Barry Green has all of his drivers--Franchitti, Paul Tracy and Michael Andretti--under contract through at least 2002. . . . Jon Wolfe, crew chief for the Busch Series car driven by Larry Foyt, was fined $4,000 and put on probation for the rest of the season for using treated tires.