Knicks to Make Houston Franchise’s Richest Player

The New York Knicks apparently will make Allan Houston the highest-paid player in franchise history.

The New York Daily News reported Saturday that the Knicks and Houston have agreed in principle on a contract that would pay the all-star guard $99.25 million over six years.

A Knick spokesman said the team had no comment on the report. Players can’t sign new contracts until July 18 but can agree in principle.

Houston became a free agent earlier this week, opting out of the final two years of a contract that would have paid him $21 million.

Houston, 30, would become the highest-paid player in Knick history, easily eclipsing the four-year, $68-million deal signed by Patrick Ewing in 1997.

Houston was an Eastern Conference all-star for the second consecutive season, averaging 18.7 points and shooting 44.9%.

Boxing

Hector Camacho Jr. remained unbeaten when he won a controversial technical decision over Jesse James Leija early today in New York.

Camacho won after it was announced that a ringside physician ruled that Camacho could not continue after the fifth round because of a cut over his right eye.

Camacho suffered the cut from a clash of heads in the fifth round.

At first, it was understood that doctor Robert Polofsky said Camacho could continue, but Camacho said he couldn’t. Minutes later, it was announced that the doctor ruled Camacho could not go on.

Under the rules, the scorecards were then totaled up. Two judges had Camacho ahead, 49-46, after five rounds, and the third had him leading, 48-47.

Camacho is 33-0; Leija is 46-6-2.

Yachting

Jim Warmington of Balboa and his 75-foot Pedrick design, Shanakee II, reached the Diamond Head finish line first in the 41st Transpacific Yacht Race.

Shanakee II, an Aloha A entry, started June 25 from Los Angeles and needed 11 days 15 hours 51 minutes 38 seconds to travel 2,225 nautical miles, but is unlikely to be the Barn Door winner for fastest elapsed time, and probably won’t even finish first in the division for corrected time.

Wendy Siegal’s Willow Wind of Sunset Beach has a 69-hour handicap advantage, and should be the division winner if it finishes Monday afternoon, as expected.

The fastest Division I boats remained locked in a tight battle and are likely to reach Hawaii Tuesday.

Philippe Kahn’s Pegasus, taking a more southerly route, and Roy E. Disney’s Pyewacket were within one mile of each other during Saturday roll call, 739 miles from Honolulu. Bob McNulty’s Chance remained in third, 10 miles back.

Miscellany

Quarterback Michael Vick, the top pick in the NFL draft, might move up on the Atlanta Falcons’ depth chart quicker than expected.

Eric Zeier, acquired in a March trade with Tampa Bay, sprained his right ankle Saturday, the last day of minicamp. Though Zeier believes he’ll be ready when training camp begins July 19, his injury further clouded the battle for the No. 2 job behind starter Chris Chandler.

Michigan State suspended ticket sales for the Oct. 6 outdoor hockey game with Michigan after 61,000 tickets were sold. Sales have topped the record for international hockey attendance. A crowd of 55,000 attended the 1957 game at the world championships in Moscow between the Soviet Union and Sweden.

The New York Islanders signed free-agent forward Shawn Bates to a two-year contract, the team said. Bates, 26, had two goals and three assists in 46 games with the Boston Bruins last season.

Soccer has created an international tribunal to arbitrate disputes among players, teams and national governing bodies. FIFA said the Arbitration Tribunal for Football will “settle any disputes involving FIFA, the confederations, national associations, leagues, clubs, players, officials and licensed agents” above $5,500.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told the six-hour meeting that FIFA will place the 2010 World Cup in Africa, beginning a rotation system for the sport’s top tournament. The site is not scheduled to be selected until 2004, but South Africa is the favorite.

Chivas of the Mexican League will take on Atlas in a Copa Coors Light tournament match at 1 p.m. today at the Coliseum.

Passings

Viktor Yakushev, a champion hockey player of the former Soviet Union who played in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, died from injuries after a beating on a Moscow street, news reports said Saturday. He was 64.

Yakushev was on his way home from a party earlier in the week when he was attacked by a gang of youths, the Kommersant newspaper reported. He died Thursday from the injuries, the report said.

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T.J. Simers is on vacation.