French Judge Drops Her Appeal for Reinstatement

French skating judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne is dropping an appeal of her three-year suspension in the Winter Olympics pairs’ scandal, saying she can’t afford it.

Le Gougne and French federation chief Didier Gailhaguet were suspended in April by the International Skating Union until 2005 for their role in the judging controversy at the Salt Lake City Games. They also were barred from the 2006 Winter Games.

The ISU Council said it had ample evidence that Le Gougne was pressured by Gailhaguet into voting for the Russians over the Canadians in the pairs event. Both couples wound up with gold medals.

Le Gougne filed a 46-page appeal with the ISU’s appeals commission on June 25, claiming the council had denied her due process and had failed to produce evidence against her.

Gailhaguet announced on July 5 that he would not appeal, citing a desire to mend ties with the ISU.

Le Gougne’s lawyer, Erik Christiansen, said Thursday the French federation decided June 29 that it did not have the money to fund her appeal.

Golf

Mike Heinen, trying to regain full PGA Tour membership, shot an eight-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Fred Funk in the John Deere Classic at Silvis, Ill.

Defending champion David Gossett was two strokes back along with Tripp Isenhour and Robert Gamez. Spike McRoy, the B.C. Open winner last week, was another stroke back at 66 in a group that included Duffy Waldorf, Peter Jacobsen and Nolan Henke.

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Scotland’s Kathryn Marshall and South Korea’s Minny Yeo shot three-under 68s to share the first-round lead in the Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

Pro Football

Five-time all-pro wide receiver Jimmy Smith, who said he feels he’s underpaid, was a holdout when the Jacksonville Jaguars reported for camp.

Smith, scheduled to make $2.75 million this season, has more catches (479) and receiving yards (6,728) than any receiver in the league over the last five seasons.

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University of Miami cornerback Phillip Buchanon, the Oakland Raiders’ top draft pick, agreed to a five-year contract worth about $7 million.... First-round pick Kendall Simmons, an offensive lineman from Auburn, reached terms on a $7.1-million, six-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.... Denver Bronco kicker Jason Elam agreed to a one-year, $1.5-million contract and the team also signed its top two draft picks, wide receiver Ashley Lelie of Hawaii and running back Clinton Portis of Miami.... Seven-time all-pro offensive tackle Lomas Brown agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jurisprudence

Jeremy Bloom, an Olympic moguls skier who wants to play football for the University of Colorado, has sued the NCAA, saying it unfairly restricted his ability to continue skiing professionally.

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The rape trial of former Notre Dame football player Donald Dykes has been delayed until Nov. 12 because his attorney needs more time to prepare.... Carolina Panther offensive lineman Chris Terry appeared in court on a charge of assaulting his wife and was freed on $2,500 bond.... Thoroughbred owner Kelly Winter was convicted in Miami of helping falsify documents to enter a horse under another horse’s name in a maiden race at Calder Race Course. He faces 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and interstate transportation of a counterfeit foal certificate.

Tennis

Anna Kournikova advanced past the second round of a tournament for the first time since mid-May, defeating unseeded Wynne Prakusya of Indonesia, 7-5, 6-4, in the Bank of West Classic at Stanford. In the quarterfinals, Kournikova will play Venus Williams, the top-seeded player who defeated Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-4, 6-1.

In another second-round match, Lisa Raymond advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Marissa Irvin, 6-1, 6-4.

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French Open champion Albert Costa beat Michael Kohlmann, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the $1-million Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Pro Basketball

Janeth Arcain scored 22 points as the Houston Comets beat the Miami Sol, 69-60, in front of 12,002 at Houston to move within a game of the Sparks in the WNBA’s Western Conference. Tina Thompson added 18 points for the Comets (19-6).... Merlakia Jones scored 23 points, and Chasity Melvin had 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Cleveland Rockers ended a three-game losing streak with an 83-73 victory over the Charlotte Sting in front of 9,453 at Charlotte, N.C.... Simone Edwards made a 15-foot shot with 32.9 seconds left, lifting the Seattle Storm to a 79-76 victory over the Orlando Miracle in front of 6,449 at Orlando, Fla.

Swin Cash had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Detroit Shock beat the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Mystics, 64-58, before 5,122 at Auburn Hills, Mich....Yolanda Griffith had 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Sacramento Monarchs scored all of their points on free throws in the second overtime in an 81-80 victory over Portland before 7,398 in Sacramento.

Miscellany

Julius Jones, Notre Dame’s leading rusher the last two seasons, will not play for the Irish this fall, offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick said.... The Galaxy has waived 23-year-old midfielder Winston Griffiths of Jamaica. Griffiths, a member of the Jamaican national team, had one goal in six games this season.... Aaron Martens of Castaic is in second place after the first day of the Bass Masters Classic at Lay Lake in Birmingham, Ala. Jay Yelas of Tyler, Texas, has a four-pound lead.

Passings

Cliff Lewis, the first quarterback of the Cleveland Browns and later a New York Yankee executive, died at 79. Lewis died at his home after a lengthy illness.