McInnis Leaves Clippers, Signs With Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers signed free-agent guard Jeff McInnis to a three-year contract on Monday.

McInnis, who played the last three seasons with the Clippers, will join a backcourt that includes Antonio Daniels and Damon Stoudamire.

McInnis, 6 feet 4 and 180 pounds, averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists last season for the Clippers.

“Jeff and Antonio give us two big bodies in our backcourt that make us that much tougher in this area,” Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks said.

McInnis, 27, played three seasons for Trail Blazer assistant Dan Panaggio in the Continental Basketball Assn. He is a friend and former college teammate of Trail Blazer forward Rasheed Wallace.

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Tennis

Anna Kournikova easily advanced to the second round of the Rogers AT&T; Cup at Montreal, defeating Japan’s Saori Obata, 6-3, 6-1. Ninth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia defeated Adriana Serra Zanetti of Italy, 6-3, 6-4. American Alexandra Stevenson beat Anna Smashnova of Israel, 6-2, 7-6 (4).... Andrei Pavel, seeded 11th, defeated Jeff Morrison, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the RCA Championships at Indianapolis. Greg Rusedski of Britain opened with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Albert Montanes.... Jerome Golmard of France overcame a shoulder injury to beat 11th-seeded Jan-Michael Gambill, 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-4, in the first round of the Legg Mason Classic at Washington. Michael Chang won his first-round match over Martin Lee, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

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Golf

Defending champion Meredith Duncan shot a three-under-par 68 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Scarborough, N.Y., to put herself in position to easily advance to match play.

Duncan, a 22-year-old from Shreveport, La., was a stroke behind Curtis Cup teammate Courtney Swaim after the first of two rounds of stroke-play qualifying.

Maru Martinez of Venezuela and Danielle Downey of Spencerport, N.Y., opened with 69s, and 16-year-old South Korean star Aree Wongluekiet shot a 70 to top a group that includes Hana Kim of Los Angeles. Yvonne Choe of Temple City shot a 71.

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Swimming

Michael Phelps shattered the American record in the 200-meter individual medley on the opening day of the U.S. National Swimming Championships at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Phelps, of Baltimore, finished in 1 minute 58.68 seconds, to break the U.S. mark of 1:59.77 set by Tom Dolan at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Natalie Coughlin of Concord, Calif., edged Jenny Thompson of Dover, N.H., to win the 100 butterfly in 58.49 seconds.

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Miscellany

Auto racing promoter Ralph Sanchez has been awarded a $20.5 million judgment against the Aruban government for scuttling his plans to develop a Formula One track on the island.

U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King decided the Arubans bargained in bad faith and committed misconduct in the final stage of track negotiations.

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Former American League most valuable player Jose Canseco and his twin brother, Ozzie, considered a plea deal to avoid trial over a Halloween scuffle at a Miami nightclub.

Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office, said the deal would require the brothers to plead guilty, but the charges would not go on their criminal records.

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Edmonton Oiler defenseman Jason Smith was awarded a one-year, $2.3-million contract in arbitration, raising his salary nearly $800,000 over last season.... The Buffalo Sabres have signed forwards Jason Botterill and Francois Methot....Backup goalie Johan Holmqvist, who has appeared in three games for the New York Rangers during the last two years, re-signed with the club.