Navratilova Starts Strong, Then Falters in Return

Martina Navratilova lost in her first singles appearance in the United States in more than 10 years, falling to Milagros Sequera, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, Tuesday at the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla.

Navratilova, 47, impressive in the first set, lost the last four games of the second, and lost her serve twice to fall behind, 3-0, in the third. She rallied to 3-2 down, but was broken again in the seventh game.

“I lost it mentally,” Navratilova said. “I was in and out the last two sets.”

Afterward, she received a standing ovation.

“It was sweet,” Navratilova said.

Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne battled past a stubborn Dinara Safina, 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Australian Open officials said that despite interest in moving the Grand Slam event to March, it will continue to be held in January.

Officials did announce the 2007 event will be held one week later than normal in an effort to create a longer off-season for players.

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College Football

USC quarterback Matt Leinart, defensive lineman Shaun Cody and punter Tom Malone were selected to the Playboy preseason All-America team.

Leinart is the first Trojan quarterback to earn the honor.

It is the fifth time USC has had three players chosen, the first time since 1980, when defensive backs Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith and offensive lineman Keith Van Horne were selected.

Former USC tight end Charles Young was among 14 players and coaches selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Other players selected: Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell; Southern Mississippi punter Ray Guy; Ohio State defensive back Jack Tatum; Army running back Bob P. Anderson; Oklahoma nose guard Tony Casillas; Tennessee linebacker Frank Emanuel; Arkansas guard-linebacker Wayne Harris; California quarterback Joe Kapp; Michigan tight end James Mandich; Houston quarterback Andre Ware; and Auburn defensive tackle Tracy Rocker.

Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards and Navy and Virginia Coach George Welsh also will be enshrined. Ceremonies will be held in August 2005 in South Bend, Ind.

Boulder, Colo., Police Chief Mark Beckner and University of Colorado campus Chief Jim Fadenrecht told a commission investigating the university’s recruiting scandal that athletes play softball and go on ride-alongs with police as part of long-standing efforts to improve relationships between the parties and that athletes are not given preferential treatment.

The commission, appointed by the Board of Regents, is investigating whether the football program used sex and alcohol to lure recruits to the Boulder campus.

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Pro Football

New York Jet cornerback Jamie Henderson remained in critical condition for the fourth day after losing control of his motorcycle in a weekend accident. Henderson crashed Saturday as he and another cyclist were driving in Carrollton, Ga., 40 miles west of Atlanta, police Capt. Michael Mansour said.

The New York Giants signed offensive tackle Ed Ellis, an eight-year veteran. Ellis has played 54 games with seven starts. He has played for New England, Washington and San Diego.... Offensive lineman Victor Leyva, a backup who has played guard and tackle, re-signed with Cincinnati.

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Motor Sports

Newman/Haas Racing, one of the stalwarts of the former CART series, has entered two cars in the Indianapolis 500.

The race would be the team’s 14th at Indianapolis but the first since 1995. The best finish for Newman/Haas at Indianapolis was second by Mario Andretti in 1985.

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Track and Field

Marion Jones has added the long jump to her competitive itinerary for the Mt. San Antonio Relays on April 18. Jones, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s 100 and 200 meters, was already entered in the 400.

Deena Kastor, the U.S. record holder in the women’s marathon, has entered the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7 even though the race will be held only 11 weeks after she runs in the Olympic Games in Athens. Kastor, who set the U.S. record of 2 hours 21 minutes 16 seconds in the London Marathon last year, finished second behind Colleen De Reuck in the U.S. Olympic trials race.

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Passings

Lawrence McGrew, a former USC linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, has died. McGrew, 46, collapsed at his home in Lancaster and died at a hospital. A cause of death has not been determined.

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Sound & Vision columnist Mike Penner is on assignment.