Maddox Is Out at Fresno State

Tito Maddox, the Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year last season, was dismissed from the Fresno State basketball team Tuesday for violating NCAA rules.

Fresno State interim Athletic Director Scott Johnson said Maddox violated rules governing receipt of benefits from a sports agent.

The school said it had worked over the last several weeks with the NCAA to investigate claims that Maddox had received additional benefits last spring when he was considering whether to enter the NBA draft.

Maddox entered, then withdrew from the draft.

“It’s regrettable that this action had to be taken, but this is the second time there has been a problem related to receiving benefits from sports agents,” Johnson said.

Maddox led the WAC in assists last season and was fourth nationally at 8.0 a game. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in his first season.

Hockey

Mario Lemieux, already working out for what will be his first full NHL season in five years, plans to sit out nearly a quarter of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ games to stay fit for the playoffs.

Lemieux, owner of the Penguins, missed only a few games after ending a 44-month retirement in January, but said Tuesday he expects to skip road games when the team is playing for the second consecutive night, or if a road game is played the night before a home game.

The schedule is compressed because of the two-week Olympic shutdown in February, giving the Penguins games on consecutive nights 17 times.

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The Detroit Red Wings are among three teams bidding for free agent Brett Hull. The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens also are reportedly talking with the 37-year-old right wing .... The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed right wing Shane Doan to a three-year, $7.2-million contract .... The St. Louis Blues signed free agent defenseman Christian LaFlamme, who played with the Canadiens last season .... The New Jersey Devils signed free agent center Ted Drury.

Basketball

Michael Jordan, 38, is prepared to skip a return to the NBA if his comeback preparations don’t progress as quickly as he would like.

“I don’t want to make a fool of myself,” Jordan was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s Chicago Sun-Times. “If I don’t think it can be done, I’ll have no problem saying it. I’m not going to be pushed into this.”

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Rookie forward Zach Randolph signed a three-year, $2.693-million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

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University of Tennessee forward Marcus Haislip will be ineligible to play in the fall semester because of academic problems, Coach Buzz Peterson said.

Tennis

Venus Williams stopped her match with Sandrine Testud for a three-minute medical timeout, then served two aces en route to a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory in the Pilot Pen Classic at New Haven, Conn.

Williams’ injury was not immediately known.

Jurisprudence

Indiana University attorneys are asking the state appeals court to intervene in a lawsuit by basketball fans charging that school officials improperly fired coach Bob Knight.

Miscellany

A back injury to Mike Tyson has forced postponement of his Sept. 8 fight against Brian Nielsen of Denmark at Copenhagen. The fight will be held Oct. 13 in Copenhagen, a source close to the match said .... Four-time world figure skating champion Michelle Kwan is among 11 finalists for the Women’s Sports Foundation 2001 Sportswoman of the Year Award .... Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Tiffeny Milbrett are among 19 WUSA players selected to the U.S. team that will play in the 2002 U.S. Women’s Cup that starts Sept. 9.... Three-time Tour de France cycling champion Lance Armstrong moved up to 78th place--6 minutes 11 seconds behind the leader--after the second stage of the Tour of Burgos, Spain.