USC’s Dennis Hurts Knee Again in Practice

USC running back Hershel Dennis, who sat out all of last season recovering from knee surgery, will have an MRI exam today after appearing to reinjure the same knee Tuesday in his first extended spring practice workout.

Dennis, a fifth-year senior, sat out nearly all of the first two weeks of practice because of a strained hamstring.

On Tuesday, the Trojans worked out on artificial turf at Cromwell Field because of rain. About an hour into the practice, Dennis caught a short pass during a noncontact drill and attempted to cut to his right. His left knee gave out and he fell to the ground.

Trainers attended to him for several minutes before he got up and walked to the sideline.

When Dennis emerged from the locker room, he said it was not the first time the knee had given out during his recovery from January 2005 surgery for torn ligaments.

According to a school spokesperson, trainers initially diagnosed the latest injury a sprain. Dennis said he would await MRI results.

Meanwhile, quarterback John David Booty attended meetings and part of practice for the first time since having back surgery Friday.

Booty said he would begin rehabilitation in a week or two and anticipated that he would start working out about six weeks before training camp opens in August.

-- Gary Klein

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Mississippi State Coach Sylvester Croom indefinitely suspended six players after they were charged with assaulting a police officer last weekend.

The six players have pleaded not guilty, their lawyer said.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Culpepper Is Cleared of Misdemeanor Charges

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper was cleared of misdemeanor charges stemming from a boat-party sex scandal.

A judge ruled that there wasn’t probable cause to determine a crime was committed by Culpepper, one of four Minnesota Vikings accused of misdemeanor lewd conduct during the cruise last fall on a suburban lake.

Culpepper has since been traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Washington Redskin safety Sean Taylor will not accept a plea deal that could keep him out of prison in an assault case because it would require him to admit to a felony, his attorney said.

Unless a last-minute deal is reached, his trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

Receiver Eric Moulds agreed to a contract with Houston and one of his representatives said the Texans have worked out a trade to acquire him from the Buffalo Bills.

“Yeah, it’s done,” said Greg Johnson, Moulds’ personal advisor.

The Tennessee Titans told Steve McNair they don’t want him working out at their facility until his contract is reworked, the quarterback’s agent said.

McNair was told to go home Monday when he showed up at the team’s headquarters for the start of the third week in the Titans’ off-season conditioning program. The team’s general counsel had called agent Bus Cook earlier Monday and informed him McNair would be told to leave.

Buffalo Bill owner Ralph Wilson expressed concerns about the long-term viability of his and other NFL small-market teams during a meeting with New York Gov. George Pataki.... The Detroit Lions signed receiver-turned-defensive back Mike Furrey, who played last season for the St. Louis Rams, to a one-year contract.... The Miami Dolphins re-signed left tackle Damion McIntosh to a one-year deal, about a month after releasing him in a cost-cutting move.... Former NFL quarterback Quincy Carter signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Kentucky’s Rondo Is Leaving Early

Guard Rajon Rondo is giving up his last two years at Kentucky to enter the NBA draft and will hire an agent, ending his college eligibility. Rondo led Kentucky in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He is projected to be a first-round pick.

Louisiana Tech forward Paul Millsap, the first player to lead the nation in rebounding three consecutive years, said he would forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the draft.... Ronny Thompson, an assistant at Arkansas and a son of former Georgetown coach John Thompson, was named coach at Ball State.... Brad Huse, an assistant at Montana, was named coach at Montana State.

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MISCELLANY

Lasorda to Receive Heritage Award

Tom Lasorda, former manager of the Dodgers and now special advisor to the chairman, will receive an Ellis Island Family Heritage Award on April 19 in New York. The awards celebrate the lives of Americans who trace their ancestry through the Port of New York and Ellis Island.

Tony Gunawan of Fullerton and Howard Bach of San Francisco were honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s team of the year for 2005 for their surprise triumph in doubles at the World Badminton Championships.

Triathlete Hunter Kemper was voted the USOC’s sportsman of the year, swimmer Katie Hoff was voted the sportswoman of the year and skier Laurie Stephens was voted the Paralympian of the year.

Top-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia overcame a sluggish second set to beat Katerina Bohmova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3, in the first round of the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla.

Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals, including an 88th-minute winner, to advance AC Milan to the Champions League semifinals with a 3-1 win over Lyon at Milan, Italy.

Goalkeeper Tony Meola was included in the U.S. roster for next week’s exhibition against Jamaica and will make his 100th international appearance.

Jeff Simmons, a regular for four seasons in the Indy Pro Series, will replace driver Paul Dana on Bobby Rahal’s team starting April 22 in Japan. Dana was killed during a pre-race warm-up late last month.

Mark Schweitzer, the head of marketing for Sprint-Nextel, says the company’s commitment to its 10-year, $70-million sponsorship in NASCAR remains strong despite some upcoming high-level personnel changes.