Congress to Study USOC’s Turmoil

Apparently prodded by two recent Senate hearings, the House of Representatives announced Wednesday that it will inquire into the leadership turmoil that has enveloped the U.S. Olympic Committee.

With two panels already studying reform of the USOC, and revision of the 1978 Amateur Sports Act under consideration, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection scheduled the hearing for next Wednesday. The witness list is not finalized.

Referring to the USOC, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), who has been active behind the scenes in urging the House to hold a hearing, said through a spokeswoman, “This is a system that is crying out for reform and for structural changes,” adding, “I am an advocate of these changes, to do all that I can to defend the Olympic spirit.”

A Senate-appointed panel studying USOC operations and structure is due to report June 30. A USOC in-house panel is planning to report by April.

-- Alan Abrahamson

Pro Football

NFL minority coaches and executives have formed a group designed to ensure blacks receive equal consideration for all league job openings.

The group was organized at a meeting of 125 people at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last month.

The group will be led by Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow and former Cleveland Brown guard John Wooten, and will be named the Fritz Pollard Alliance after the first black coach in the NFL.

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Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, released by San Francisco last month in a salary-cap move, signed with the Oakland Raiders.... The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with two of the more attractive free agents left -- Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson and veteran quarterback Jeff Blake, who played with Baltimore last season.... The New England Patriots signed Pro Bowl safety and former San Diego Charger Rodney Harrison, their second significant move to bolster their defense in less than 24 hours. The deal was made Tuesday night, not long after the team signed linebacker Rosevelt Colvin.... The Jacksonville Jaguars are finalizing negotiations to sign Indianapolis Colt free-agent linebacker Mike Peterson to a six-year contract, averaging $3.5 million a year, sources said.... Wide receiver Laveranues Coles signed an offer sheet from the Washington Redskins worth $35 million over seven years, including a $13-million signing bonus.... The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a four-year contract with former Denver cornerback Denard Walker.... Former St. Louis Ram guard Tom Nutten signed with the New York Jets, giving the team a replacement for Randy Thomas.... Former Philadelphia Eagle offensive lineman Doug Brzezinski signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.... The Chicago Bears have prevented kicker Paul Edinger from defecting to division rival Minnesota, matching a $7-million, five-year offer sheet from the Vikings.

Skiing

France’s Antoine Deneriaz won a World Cup downhill for the second time this season, beating overall leader Stephan Eberharter and Dahron Rahlves at Kvitfjell, Norway.

Austria’s Michaela Dorfmeister clinched the women’s downhill title by finishing sixth in a race won by compatriot Renate Goetschl. Kirsten Clark of the United States was third.

Goetschl won on Lillehammer’s Olympic hill in 1:35.32, missing the downhill title by four points. Dorfmeister also defeated Goetschl for the overall title last year.

Miscellany

A cyclist who once finished fourth in the Tour de France died of head injuries Wednesday, a day after he removed his helmet during the Paris-Nice race and tumbled from his bike. Andrei Kivilev of Kazakhstan fractured his skull and went into a coma after his fall.

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Rollie Dykstra, the University of La Verne quarterback who suffered a serious head injury in a game nearly five months ago, has been transferred from Loma Linda University Medical Center to the Centre for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield.

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University of Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli was charged with assault after being accused of punching an opponent during an intramural basketball game. He was released Monday on his recognizance and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing March 19.

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The Indy Racing League has added the Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. The 100-mile, 40-lap race will be held May 17, one day before the final day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.

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Norway’s Robert Sorlie fought off a challenge from musher Ramy Brooks, retaking the lead at the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint in the final stages of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.