Webber Faces Indictment by U.S. Attorney’s Office

The U.S. attorney’s office is expected to seek an indictment of Sacramento King player Chris Webber on charges he lied to a federal grand jury about his dealings with a University of Michigan basketball booster, sources told The Detroit News.

A grand jury could be asked to indict Webber as early as Wednesday on charges of making a false declaration before a grand jury on Aug. 2, 2000, sources familiar with the investigation told the newspaper. If convicted, the former Michigan and Detroit Country Day standout could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In May, former Michigan booster Ed Martin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Martin, 68, admitted he took gambling money, co-mingled it with earned income and money given to him from another person, then loaned it to at least four players, including $280,000 to Webber.

Webber, 29, played two seasons at Michigan (1991-93) and was the first pick in the ’93 NBA draft.

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Portland and San Antonio made a five-player trade, with the Blazers acquiring Antonio Daniels, Charles Smith and Amal McCaskill in exchange for Erick Barkley, Steve Kerr and a 2003 second-round draft pick.... Jason Kidd was dropped from the U.S. roster for the World Basketball Championship because of an injured groin, and was replaced by New Orleans Hornet and former UCLA guard Baron Davis.... Prosecutors in Philadelphia won’t refile charges against NBA star Allen Iverson for allegedly threatening two men with a gun.

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Tennis

Andre Agassi was pushed to three sets in the first round of the Masters Series Cincinnati at Akron, Ohio, beating Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in 90-degree heat.

Fifth-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov and 10th-seeded Roger Federer were eliminated. Germany’s Rainer Schuettler beat Kafelnikov, 6-3, 6-2, and Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic edged Federer 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

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Her left ankle healing faster than expected after surgery, Martina Hingis asked for wild-card entry into the U.S. Open, where she’s been seeded No. 1 every year since 1997. The USTA will announce its wild-card entries after an Aug. 13 meeting.

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Motor Sports

NASCAR chairman Bill France wonders whether Tony Stewart might have been provoked into hitting a photographer after a 12th-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

Stewart punched Gary Mook, a freelance photographer for the Indianapolis Star, after the race Sunday.

France did not condone Stewart’s actions but wanted to know whether the photographer was too aggressive in doing his job, a point the photographer denies.

Max Papis, who last raced on June 9 in Monterey, will replace injured driver Adrian Fernandez in Sunday’s CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

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Miscellany

Former UCLA forward JaRon Rush pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to probation. Under the plea agreement, Rush received a suspended imposition of sentence and must serve two years probation.

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Former Verbum Dei High guard Marlon Parmer has transferred from New Mexico to Division II Kentucky Wesleyan for his senior season.

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An MRI examination on all-pro defensive end John Abraham’s left knee revealed a second-degree sprain and the New York Jets estimated he will be out four to six weeks.... Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick hurt his left shoulder during a passing drill, but he doesn’t think the injury will keep him out of the first exhibition game.

Billy Dicken threw seven touchdown passes as the Chicago Rush beat the Dallas Desperados, 60-47, at Rosemont, Ill., to advance to the Arena Football League semifinals.

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San Diego State announced several self-imposed penalties for violating NCAA rules by holding summer football workouts at a local beach. The school said it will eliminate 21 practice days through the 2004 season, cut six scholarships through 2005, and suspend assistant coach Damon Baldwin for six practice days.

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Former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding drove drunk and has a problem with alcohol, she admitted in Vancouver, Wash., as part of a deal that lets her avoid a conviction if she stays out of trouble for five years.