Senator Seeks USOC Overhaul

As U.S. Olympic Committee officials prepare for a second hearing in Washington, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) on Tuesday called for a major restructuring by Congress and reiterated his stance that Chief Executive Lloyd Ward should step down.

“I am encouraged that the USOC has acknowledged that changes need to be made, most recently with the formation of an executive task force,” Campbell said in a statement. “However, I don’t think the formation of this committee will result in the needed improvements to the USOC because they had a number of years to solve their problems from within and have not been able to do so.”

Ethics charges against Ward have spiraled into a scandal that has led six USOC members to resign, rattled sponsors and drawn the attention of Congress.

Campbell applauded Marty Mankamyer’s decision to resign as USOC president Feb. 4 and said Ward should follow suit.

The USOC’s executive committee stripped Ward of a $184,400 bonus last weekend for trying to steer Olympic business to a company with ties to his brother.

The executive committee also has approved a $2.5-million contingency fund for restructuring and public relations, and to put off a decision on whether to disburse a budget surplus to athletes and programs.

“The athletes should have access to untapped revenues generated by the USOC because this is a critical time of training,” gold-medal wrestler Rulon Gardner said.

Baseball

Florida left-hander Mark Redman became the first player to win in salary arbitration this year, getting $2.15 million instead of the $1.8 million the Marlins had offered. Owners had won the first two cases.... Former 20-game winner Rick Helling signed a minor-league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.... The New York Mets agreed to a minor-league contract with infielder Jay Bell.

Tennis

Andre Agassi used the same form he demonstrated in easily winning the Australian Open, defeating Michael Chang, 6-4, 6-2, in the first round of the Siebel Open in San Jose.

Second-seeded Kim Clijsters defeated Myriam Casanova of Switzerland, 6-3, 6-2, in front of a home crowd at Antwerp, Belgium, but her sister Elke, a wild-card entry, lost to seventh-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-3, in the Diamond Games.

Third-seeded Marcelo Rios of Chile defeated countryman Adrian Garcia, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the ATP BellSouth Open at Vina del Mar, Chile.

Miscellany

Two-time skiing Olympic gold medalist Hermann Maier of Austria is expected to announce by Friday whether he will end his season early to have a titanium rod removed from his right leg, which he nearly lost in a motorcycle accident in August 2001.

Basketball referee Tony Celantano faces possible sanctions from an officials’ association for posing with prep star LeBron James after a game Saturday at Trenton, N.J.

A Jorge Paez look-alike contest will be held today beginning at noon on Olvera Street at Placita Dolores.

Paez, who will fight Jesus Chavez for the vacant World Boxing Council super-featherweight title March 22 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, is known for his outlandish costumes. He once entered the ring in a wedding dress.