Taft High Star Will Be a Bruin

Jordan Farmar, a junior point guard at Woodland Hills Taft High who is considered one of the top guards on the West Coast, announced Wednesday he has committed to UCLA.

He’s the second big-name Southern California junior guard to commit to new Bruin Coach Ben Howland. Arron Afflalo from Compton Centennial earlier announced he would sign with UCLA. Farmar averaged 29 points last season and was named most valuable player at a spring tournament in Chapel Hill, N.C., last weekend.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Nine U.S. senators from the home states of the other Big East schools wrote to the leaders of Miami, Boston College and Syracuse in an effort to stop them from bolting to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The senators from West Virginia, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania said the defection would devastate the Big East, erode the progress its schools have made in women’s sports and “send a troubling message to student-athletes across America.”

“The Big East has instilled core values of integrity, responsibility, loyalty and leadership in each and every student-athlete,” the lawmakers said in the letter sent to Miami President Donna Shalala, Boston College President Rev. William P. Leahy and Syracuse Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw.

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A former academic advisor for the Fresno State basketball team allegedly participated in the cheating scandal that has prompted an NCAA investigation, according to documents obtained by the Fresno Bee.

The newspaper reported in February that former team statistician Stephen Mintz said he wrote 17 pieces of schoolwork in correspondence courses for three former players in 2000 and that Katie Felten, an academic advisor to then-coach Jerry Tarkanian’s team, organized some of the cheating.

Felten has denied involvement in any academic fraud. But in a story published Wednesday, the Bee cited documents -- including a letter from Fresno State President John Welty to Mintz -- that indicate the NCAA and the school believe Felten was involved.

Pro Football

The San Francisco 49ers signed Heisman Trophy-winning running back Rashaan Salaam, who hasn’t played in the NFL in four years.

Jerome McDougle, Philadelphia’s first-round draft pick, pleaded not guilty at Coral Gables, Fla., to resisting arrest without violence. A trial date was not set.

Pro Hockey

As expected, Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy announced his retirement Wednesday.

“I feel great about my decision,” Roy said. “I really feel like I emptied the tank and I’m ready to move on.”

The Buffalo Sabres signed Coach Lindy Ruff to a three-year deal. His contract was to expire at the end of June.

Horse Racing

In his first workout since winning the Preakness on May 17, Funny Cide covered five furlongs on a muddy track at Belmont Park in :59 2/5, fastest time among 11 horses who worked that distance. Funny Cide will have one more workout, probably Tuesday, before he shoots for a Triple Crown sweep in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

Miscellany

UCLA, with a 598 total, has a one-shot lead over Oklahoma State after two rounds of the NCAA men’s golf championships at Stillwater, Okla.

Defending champion Chanda Rubin, former champions Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles, and Belgian star Kim Clijsters have committed to play in the JPMorgan Chase Open, to be played Aug. 4-10 at the new Home Depot Center in Carson.

Individual tickets for the World Gymnastics Championships, to be held Aug. 16-24 at the Arrowhead Pond, go on sale Sunday. Ticket prices are $22-$75 for the event, which is the qualifying meet for the 2004 Olympics. Details: Ticketmaster at (714) 470-2000 or the Pond box office.