Texas’ Aldridge to Be Available for NBA Draft

Texas sophomore forward LaMarcus Aldridge said Monday night he intends to make himself eligible for the NBA draft, where he’s expected to be among the top picks.

Aldridge is 6 feet 10 and averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Longhorns (30-7), who won the regular-season Big 12 title and got within one game of the Final Four before losing in the Atlanta Regional final. He had considered entering the draft out of high school in 2004.

Fran Dunphy was introduced as Temple’s new men’s basketball coach at a news conference in Philadelphia. He inherits a program that went 17-15 this season under retiring John Chaney.

Stanford assistant Eric Reveno, 40, was hired as Portland men’s basketball coach.... Tennessee women’s Coach Pat Summitt had successful arthroscopic surgery on her right shoulder, the school said.

PRO FOOTBALL

Players’ Union Files Grievance for McNair

The NFL Players Assn. has filed a grievance against the Titans on behalf of Steve McNair, accusing the team of breaching the quarterback’s contract when it barred him from working out at its facility.

McNair was told last Monday that he couldn’t work out at the Titans’ training facility for fear he could injure himself. McNair is due $9 million in 2006 with a salary cap number that eats up nearly a quarter of the Titans’ space under the cap.

Ricky Williams and his lawyer met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash, seeking to have the league overturn a positive drug test that could cost him the 2006 season. If the positive test is upheld, it would be Williams’ fourth violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, meaning at least a one-year suspension.

Receiver Peerless Price signed a four-year contract worth more than $10 million with the Buffalo Bills.... Running back Kenny Watson agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

TENNIS

Ginepri Out Early at Clay Championships

Third-seeded Robby Ginepri played erratically and lost, 6-4, 6-4, to Albert Montanes of Spain in the first round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. Fifth-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany started fast and beat Spain’s Oscar Hernandez, 6-1, 6-4.

Second-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina and former champion Fernando Verdasco of Spain won in straight sets to reach the second round of the Valencia Open in Spain.

Fourteenth-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic advanced to the second round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., beating Australia’s Samantha Stosur, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

SOCCER

Former Brazil Coach’s Condition Worsens

Former Brazil national team coach Tele Santana developed another lung infection and his health has deteriorated after appearing to improve over the weekend, said officials at Felicio Rocho Hospital. Santana, 74, who coached Brazil at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, has been hospitalized since March 25.

The Mexican national team will play its final tuneup before the World Cup against Venezuela at the Rose Bowl on May 5.

Sixteen people were injured, three seriously, in Argentina during a brawl that included gunshots between rival soccer fans of Boca Juniors and Rosario Central, police said.

MISCELLANY

Paralympic Athlete Gets Two-Year Suspension

Paralympic basketball player Jermell Pennie of Texas has accepted a two-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, the United States Anti-Doping Agency said.

The substance was identified as formestane, which prevents production of the female hormone oestrogen, USADA said.

UCLA is planning an aquatic center that will have a 52-meter-by-25-yard pool and a diving well.

Construction is scheduled to begin next summer and be completed by fall 2008, and the $10-million facility will be named for former Bruin swimmer Tod Spieker, and his wife, Catherine, who made the second-largest donation in UCLA athletic history, according to the school.

Final-round ratings for CBS’ coverage of Phil Mickelson’s second Masters victory Sunday were down 13% from last year. The overnight rating was 9.0 with a 19 share, compared with last year’s 10.3 and 21 share.

Baseball agent Casey Close has joined Creative Artists Agency, the Beverly Hills firm that last week brought in NFL player agent Tom Condon. Close’s clients include New York Yankee Derek Jeter and Dodger Kenny Lofton.

-- Greg Johnson

Camille Hewko, a senior who had a team-high 60 goals and 30 assists in leading Corona del Mar to its fifth consecutive Southern Section championship, has been named The Times’ girls’ water polo player of the year.

The Long Beach Ice Dogs begin the East Coast Hockey League playoffs on the road against the Bakersfield Condors tonight at 7.