NBA Fires Kantner; One Female Ref Is Left

Dee Kantner, one of the NBA’s two female referees, has been fired, the NBA said Monday.

“Dee has been terminated,” NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said. “There are times in a referee’s development that we find that a referee is not making sufficient progress in her own development and sometimes a change is needed. In this case, we felt that her termination was warranted.”

Kantner and Violet Palmer joined the NBA’s officiating staff in 1997. It was the first time in major U.S. professional sports that women officiated regular-season games in an all-male league. Both worked through the 2001-02 season.

Before she was hired by the NBA, Kantner was the supervisor of officials for the WNBA.

NBA officials are evaluated by Jackson, the league’s supervisor of officials, staff observers and coaches and general managers.

Jurisprudence

While a friend disposed of his clothes, former NBA star Jayson Williams jumped into the pool at his home after fatally shooting a limousine driver, according to an article in GQ.

The article, to be published in the magazine’s August edition, cites unnamed sources in recounting the night driver Costas Christofi died.

Williams, 34, is charged with first-degree manslaughter. He and two other men also face a series of charges for allegedly trying to conceal or destroy evidence, encouraging witnesses to lie and replacing Williams’ fingerprints on the shotgun with Christofi’s.

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Stains found in Allen Iverson’s car, initially believed by investigators to be smeared blood, turned out not to be bloodstains, a Philadelphia police official said.

“His kids ride in the car. We think that the stains probably came from the kids,” the official said.

“It’s definitely not blood.”

Iverson is supposed to turn himself in today to face charges of trespassing, assault, making threats, unlawful restraint and carrying a gun without a license.

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Ted Williams’ children are close to announcing an agreement over whether the body of one of baseball’s greatest hitters will remain frozen, an attorney said.

Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell and her half siblings, John Henry Williams and Claudia Williams, met for hours at a lawyer’s office in Inverness, Fla.

Richard Fitzpatrick, one of Ferrell’s attorneys, said he is hopeful the feud can be resolved today.

Football

Bruce Matthews, the most durable offensive lineman in NFL history, retired from the Tennessee Titans after 296 games over 19 years spent entirely with the franchise, including the first 14 when it was the Houston Oilers.

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The Oakland Raiders signed quarterback Rich Gannon to a six-year, $54-million extension, a football source said.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the 36-year-old Gannon will get $8 million a year over next three seasons.

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Wide receiver Antwaun Smith, who signed a letter of intent in February, will not be joining the UCLA football program in August because he did not meet initial eligibility requirements.... Penn State and Notre Dame will renew their football rivalry with games in 2006 and 2007.

Miscellany

Kentucky hired Oregon State’s Mitch Barnhart as athletic director. The position was vacant since March 5, when Larry Ivy resigned.

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Hunter Mahan tied the course record with a six-under-par 66 and held a one-shot lead after the first round of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington Township, Mich.

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Ricky Rudd’s options for his NASCAR future were shortened when his car owner indicated it was unlikely the veteran racer would be back in the No. 28 Ford.

While the team tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, car owner Robert Yates said chances were “slim” that Rudd would be back in the car next season.

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Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian was upset, 6-4, 6-3, by David Ferrer in the first round of the Croatia Open at Umag.... Andre Sa knocked off eighth-seeded Olivier Rochus, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the second round of the Energis Open at Amersfoort, Netherlands.... Andrei Pavel defeated Dominik Hrbaty, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, in the first round of the $500,000 Mercedes Cup clay-court tournament at Stuttgart, Germany.