Jury in Williams Trial Hears Emergency Call

The jury in the manslaughter trial of former New Jersey Net player Jayson Williams on Tuesday heard his brother’s emergency call to police the night that chauffeur Costas “Gus” Christofi was killed, telling the dispatcher that the victim shot himself.

Victor Williams also was heard speaking to his brother during the call, passing along instructions from the dispatcher to put pressure on Christofi’s chest wound to stop the bleeding.

Jayson Williams, 35, is accused of recklessly handling a shotgun that killed Christofi two years ago at the former player’s home, and telling witnesses to lie about what happened. His attorneys say the shooting was an accident.

When the dispatcher asked Victor Williams to describe the person who shot Christofi, he said the driver shot himself.

The jury in New Jersey Superior Court in Somerville also saw a videotape of the Williams estate. It included Christofi’s body.

State police Det. John Garkowski also said that he found no fingerprints on the 12-gauge, double-barrel shotgun or one spent shell. In his opening statement last week, prosecutor Steve Lember accused Williams of wiping the gun clean of fingerprints and trying to transfer Christofi’s prints to the shotgun.

*

Cleveland Indian outfielder Milton Bradley had a three-day jail sentence for obstructing official business that was to begin Tuesday delayed by an appeal in Ohio.

Pro Football

Kordell Stewart’s stay with the Chicago Bears could end after one year, with General Manager Jerry Angelo confirming that the quarterback could be released with one year left on his contract.

Stewart, 31, signed a two-year deal as a free agent last year. He struggled and lost the starting job twice.

Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair underwent surgery in Nashville to remove a cracked bone spur from his left ankle.

McNair is expected to take 10 to 12 weeks to recover.

Meanwhile, Titan Coach Jeff Fisher issued a statement saying the team was gathering information on the arrest of third-string quarterback Jason Gesser on suspicion of drunk driving Sunday in Honolulu.

Cleveland Brown quarterback Kelly Holcomb had surgery on his throwing shoulder and faces four to six months of rehabilitation, the team said.

Kicker John Kasay, 34, signed a five-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He is the team’s only original member.

Louisiana officials hoping to keep Doug Williams as coach at Grambling State were turned down by Tampa Bay Buccaneer General Manager Bruce Allen.

Williams resigned at Grambling last week to take an executive personnel job with Tampa Bay. Williams had not indicated he wanted to change his mind but did not oppose the group’s meeting with the team.

Tennis

Top-ranked doubles player Bob Bryan lost to seventh-seeded Wayne Ferreira, 7-6 (8), 6-3, in a singles match at the Kroger St. Jude tournament at Memphis, Tenn.

In other action, Jurgen Melzer outlasted Brian Vahaly, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4).

In women’s play, seventh-seed Kristina Brandi beat Carly Gullickson, 6-0, 6-0.

Fifth-seeded Tim Henman beat Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 6-2, in the first round of the ABN Amro in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Earlier, Nikolay Davydenko upset fourth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan, 6-4, 6-3.

Croatian teen Karolina Sprem upset seventh-seeded Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, 6-1, 7-5, in the first round of the Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Miscellany

The Daytona 500 drew its second-highest TV rating since live broadcasts of the race began in 1979.

NBC’s broadcast of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory Sunday received a 10.6 national rating and was seen by 33.5 million viewers.

Only the 2002 Daytona 500 did better, with a 10.9 rating and 35 million viewers. NBC aired that race during the middle Sunday of its Salt Lake City Olympic coverage.

Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, 55, agreed to a tentative $20-million deal to return for a fight celebrating the 30th anniversary of his epic Zaire bout with Muhammad Ali, promoter Don King said in Miami.

King said no opponent, date or location had been set, although Foreman said last week he’d like any fight to be in his hometown of Houston. Foreman last fought in 1997.

Defensive lineman Thomas Patton was dismissed from UCLA for academic reasons, although he could apply for reinstatement and regain his eligibility before the season.

Patton was a redshirt freshman last season and played mostly on special teams. Nearly all the experienced defensive linemen were seniors, and Patton was expected to compete for a starting position this fall.

Former NBA player Michael Adams was hired to coach the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Adams, the team’s seventh coach in seven seasons, replaced Marianne Stanley, who resigned after finishing 26-40 in two seasons.

Adams coached the International Basketball League’s Richmond Rhythm in 1999 before becoming an assistant coach for the NBA’s Grizzlies from 2000-02.

Five-time U.S. ice dancing champions Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev ended their partnership.

Passings

Former San Francisco Giant manager Charlie Fox died Monday at 82 in San Francisco. Lawrence S. Ritter, who wrote the baseball classic “The Glory of Their Times,” died Sunday in New York. He was 81. Shirley Strickland de la Hunty, who won an Australian-record seven Olympic medals, died Tuesday at her home in Perth. She was 78. See stories in Section B.

Sound & Vision columnist Mike Penner is on assignment.