Paris Mayor Calls British Unethical in Olympic Bid

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said Monday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair and London bid leader Sebastian Coe had “crossed the line” by criticizing other cities that were vying for the 2012 Olympics.

However, Jean-Claude Killy, former Olympic skiing champion and French International Olympic Committee member, said the Paris bid was weakened from the inside and that he was “sickened” by the complaints.

Last week, London was awarded the 2012 Games over Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow.

“They crossed the yellow line with respect to the IOC rules,” Delanoe told France-Info radio after a meeting of the Paris city council. He didn’t offer specifics.

After reviewing the remarks, Paris officials decided not to complain to the IOC ethics commission.

Paris bidders reportedly were angry that Blair had met with IOC members in his hotel room in Singapore. “There’s nothing wrong with having a conversation with a major politician from a bid city,” IOC President Jacques Rogge said.

Killy pointed to the last-minute loss of Foreign Minister Michel Barnier -- who had long worked with the Olympics but was replaced after a government change in June. And he made a veiled suggestion that remarks in 2003 by President Jacques Chirac, who’d criticized Eastern European nations over their support of the United States in its war in Iraq, cost Paris votes.

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Pro Basketball

Larry Brown and Joe Dumars, the Detroit Pistons’ president for basketball operations, plan to meet Wednesday about the coach’s future, a source told Associated Press.

Brown’s agent, Joe Glass, and Dumars have spoken at least twice since Brown checked out of a hospital earlier this month. Brown was hospitalized for two days to address a problem that developed from complications after hip surgery in November.

Free-agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, getting a five-year deal that could be worth up to $60 million, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on its website.

Dijon Thompson, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard who averaged 18.4 points last season at UCLA, signed with the Phoenix Suns.

Utah signed draft picks Deron Williams, a 6-3 point guard from Illinois, and C.J. Miles, a 6-6 shooting guard from Skyline High in Dallas. Minnesota signed Rashad McCants, a 6-4 shooting guard from North Carolina, and Seattle signed 7-foot French center Johan Petro.

Veteran forward Ron Artest arrived at Indiana’s rookie free-agent camp in Indianapolis, pledging to be a smarter player focused on helping the Pacers win an NBA title. Artest spoke to Indianapolis media representatives for the first time since a fight in Detroit on Nov. 19 resulted in his nearly season-long suspension.

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Golf

Michelle Wie, 15, faded down the stretch and a shot six-over-par 76 on the first day of stroke play in the Men’s Amateur Public Links tournament at Lebanon, Ohio. Wie tied for 84th in the 156-player field. The low 64 scorers over 36 holes of medal play -- the second 18 will be played today -- will reach match play Wednesday.

Angela Park, 16, of Torrance shot a five-under 66 for the top score in the first day of stroke play in the Women’s Amateur Public Links tournament at Kansas City, Mo.

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Tennis

Steffi Graf, who won 22 singles titles in Grand Slam events before retiring in 1999, is playing tonight with Houston of the World Tennis Pro League. The Wranglers are playing host to the Sacramento Capitals. It will be the only match with the team for Graf, 36.

Track and Field

Americans Bernard Williams and Monzavious Edwards tied for first place in the men’s 100 meters at the Zagreb Grand Prix meet in Croatia, each finishing in 10.30 seconds.

Dwight Phillips of the U.S. won the men’s long jump with a leap of 26-8 1/2 and Manuela Montebrun of France won her fifth of six competitions in the women’s hammer throw this year, with a throw of 244-11. Anjanette Kirkland was timed in 12.67 in the 100 hurdles to lead a 1-2 U.S. finish with Danielle Carruthers.

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Jurisprudence

Miami Dolphin tight end Randy McMichael, 26, is facing charges for the second time in 13 months for allegedly hitting his wife. McMichael was arrested early Saturday in Columbia County, Ga., after witnesses told police he had given wife Cawanna, 22, a bloody nose. McMichael was charged with simple battery and criminal trespass.

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Miscellany

Gene Stephenson decided to remain at Wichita State just hours after he was introduced as the new baseball coach at Oklahoma. In a statement posted on the Wichita State website, the coach cited “unresolvable” scholarship issues as the reason for his about-face, stating he “would be too limited” in his ability to take the program where he wanted it to go.

Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said in a statement: “As is the case with any incoming staff member, we disclosed issues we anticipated before the job was accepted. ... This is unfortunate, but we’ll move forward.”

Dodger Vice Chairman Jamie McCourt joined the board of directors of the Los Angeles Sports Council. Others to join: Greg Ashlock, regional vice president for Clear Channel Radio; George Haines, general manager of the Los Angeles Turf Club; Peter Maneri, vice president of Computer Sciences Corporation; and Rick Rosas, tax partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Quarterback Michael Herrick of Valencia has committed to Mississippi, whose first-year coach is former USC assistant Ed Orgeron. Herrick passed for 4,069 yards as a junior.