Rice Signs With Broncos

Jerry Rice, the NFL’s career receiving leader, signed a one-year contract Wednesday with the Denver Broncos, where he’ll compete for a spot as a reserve in what is expected to be his final season.

It ends the search for the 42-year-old Rice for a place to play his 21st season and add to his league-record totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns.

Denver Coach Mike Shanahan was Rice’s offensive coordinator at San Francisco from 1992 to 1994. After being released by San Francisco in 2000, Rice played in Oakland and Seattle.

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The NFL complained about having no input on steroid-testing legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-Va.) before the proposed bill is looked at today by a House committee.

Based on the Olympic model, the Clean Sports Act would set drug-testing policy for the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball. It calls for a two-year ban for a first offense, a lifetime ban for a second, and mandates five tests per athlete each year.

“We’re concerned that we did not have an opportunity to comment on the legislation before tomorrow’s committee vote. We think there are aspects of this bill that will diminish our program, and other aspects of the bill, including the two-year suspension for the first offense, that are not applicable to our sport,” NFL spokesman Joe Browne said. “Unlike the Olympics, we play every year, not every four years.”

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Tampa was selected to play host to the Super Bowl for the fourth time, the Florida city beating out Atlanta, Houston and Miami for the 2009 game.

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NFL owners unanimously approved the $600-million sale of the Minnesota Vikings by Red McCombs to a group led by New Jersey shopping mall magnate Zygmunt Wilf, with the closing date expected in June.

College Tennis

Freshman Riza Zalameda of UCLA continued her run in the NCAA women’s singles tournament by defeating Helga Vieira of Texas A&M;, 6-1, 7-5, in the third round at Athens, Ga.

Zalameda will play second-seeded Julie Coin of Clemson in today’s quarterfinals. Zalameda teamed with Daniela Bercek to defeat Coin and Alix Lacerlarie, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in doubles.

USC freshman Lindsey Nelson was eliminated in singles by Marianna Yuferova of Virginia Commonwealth, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the men’s tournament at Texas A&M;, Benjamin Kohlloeffel defeated Rylan Rizza of Virginia, 7-6 (7), 6-2, one day after helping UCLA to its first team title in 21 years. Jamil Al-Agba of USC defeated Nathan Thompson of Clemson, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

Scott Doerner of Pepperdine beat Hamid Mizardeh of Florida, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, but teammate Pedro Rico lost to Jonathan Chu of Harvard, 6-3, 6-1.

College Baseball

USC junior catcher Jeff Clement is among five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, considered the most prestigious national player-of-the-year honor in college baseball.

Clement, a two-time member of the U.S. national team, leads the Trojans with a .358 batting average, 67 hits, 11 home runs and 44 runs batted in.

Pepperdine nearly swept the West Coast Conference awards. Sophomore catcher Chad Tracy was player of the year, junior left-hander Paul Coleman was pitcher of the year and pitcher Barry Enright was the top freshman. Nino Giarratano of San Francisco was coach of the year.

Miscellany

National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Assn. representatives appear to be moving closer on an important issue after a small group meeting in Chicago lasted 6 1/2 hours.

According to a league source, the two sides are close to agreeing on what revenues are for the individual teams, a flash point of contention since the NHL hired Arthur Levitt, former U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Chair, to conduct a study of league finances.

Avenger receiver-defensive back Kevin Ingram, lineman Silas Demary and kicker Remy Hamilton were selected to the All-Arena Football League first team.