NFL Denies Lewis’ Appeal of Record $250,000 Fine

Ray Lewis’ appeal of the $250,000 fine handed him by the NFL reportedly has been denied by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The New York Times, quoting an unidentified league source, reported in Wednesday’s editions that Tagliabue upheld the fine, which was levied because Lewis lied to police in a murder investigation.

The Baltimore Raven linebacker was arrested along with two friends and charged by Atlanta police in the stabbing deaths of two men after the January 2000 Super Bowl. Murder charges were dropped five months later and Lewis pleaded guilty to obstructing law enforcement officers and interfering with an investigation.

The fine was the largest not involving a suspension ever levied by the NFL. Lewis has paid half of it while awaiting a ruling on his appeal.

Miami Dolphin cornerback Patrick Surtain has agreed to plead no contest to a charge of reckless driving, his attorney said.

Surtain will donate $25,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, perform community service and attend an alcohol-awareness school.

Stacey Mack, a backup running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was arrested on charges of propositioning an undercover police officer for oral sex at Jacksonville, Fla.

Former Oregon State receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and San Jose State tight end Sean Brewer agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals. . . . The Cleveland Browns agreed to terms on a three-year contract with rookie wide receiver Andre King and signed free-agent offensive lineman Damon Nivens to a one-year deal. . . . Defensive end Joe Tafoya, a seventh-round draft pick from Arizona, signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . Zeke Moreno, the former USC linebacker selected in the fifth round of the draft, signed a three-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Tennis

Defending champion Franco Squillari of Argentina beat qualifier Rogier Wassen of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-1, to reach the third round of the Mercedes Cup at Stuttgart, Germany.

Second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov advanced when his opponent, Andrea Gaudenzi, quit during a second-set tiebreaker.

Second-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain advanced to the third round of the Energis Open at Amsterdam by defeating France’s Olivier Mutis, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. . . . Second-seeded Albert Portas lost to unseeded Adrian Voinea of Romania, 7-6 (1), 0-6, 6-4, in the second round of the $400,000 Croatian Open at Umag. . . . Maria Marrero of Spain defeated Denisa Chladkova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-3 at the Sanex Trophy tournament at Knokke-Heist, Belgium, in the only match played because of rain.

Hockey

Having re-signed captain Mats Sundin for six years at $52.5 million, the Toronto Maple Leafs will turn their attention to goalie Curtis Joseph.

“We’ve identified Mats and Curtis as cornerstone guys,” General Manager-Coach Pat Quinn said.

Sundin’s deal, which includes a no-trade clause, was announced Wednesday. He will get $7.5 million for 2001-02, the same as last season, and $9 million in each of the following five years.

Joseph, one of the league’s best goaltenders, is under contract for $6.5 million for the final year of his existing contract.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed free-agent right wing Steve Thomas, a decade after his first tenure with the team. Thomas had eight goals, 26 assists and 46 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed right wing Jason MacDonald. . . . The St. Louis Blues re-signed left wing Cory Stillman to a one-year contract.

Miscellany

Federal prosecutors appear to have quietly dropped one of their Olympic fraud allegations that Salt Lake’s bid leaders profited from their dealings.

In a grand jury indictment, the government accused Tom Welch and Dave Johnson of demanding cash contributions from an Olympic sponsor so they could divert the money “for their own personal purposes.”

It was the only accusation in the 34-page indictment that Welch, who worked for a decade without compensation, and Johnson might have taken advantage of their positions in the Salt Lake bid committee.

Reserve defensive back Clarence Young was suspended from Indiana’s football team after being jailed on a rape charge. Young was released from Monroe County Jail on Wednesday after posting a $20,000 bond.

Peru stunned Mexico, 1-0, at Cali, Colombia, to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the Copa America soccer tournament. Denilson scored a goal and set up the other two as Brazil defeated Paraguay, 3-1, to reach the quarterfinals.

Prosecutors in Denver dropped charges against the wife of Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski in a prescription drug case. Julie Romanowski faced eight counts of illegally obtaining the diet drug phentermine for her husband and one count of conspiracy. Bill Romanowski was acquitted on related charges last month.

Paul Tracy and rookie Tora Takagi have been penalized two championship points and put on probation because of rough driving during Sunday’s CART race in Toronto.