Sprinter pleads guilty

Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery, once considered the fastest man in the world until his 100-meter world record was erased in the BALCO steroid scandal, pleaded guilty Monday in New York to conspiracy in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and money-laundering scheme.

Defense attorneys said Montgomery could be sentenced to 37 to 46 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Montgomery, 32, was charged last year along with his ex-coach, Steve Riddick, and 11 others in an alleged conspiracy to deposit $5 million in stolen, altered or counterfeit checks at several banks over three years.

Montgomery, a 2000 Olympic relay gold medalist, retired in 2005 after being banned from track and field for two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for doping linked to the investigation of BALCO, the lab at the center of a steroid scandal in sports.

Florida Panthers goalie Ed Belfour, 41, was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence over an early Monday scuffle at a Miami Beach bar.... Retired Minnesota Vikings lineman Jim Marshall, 70, had a felony conviction on a cocaine possession charge scrubbed from his record by the Minnesota Board of Pardons.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Arkansas hires Pelphrey

South Alabama’s John Pelphrey was hired as coach at Arkansas, a week after Creighton’s Dana Altman took the job and backed out.... Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon is expected to be introduced today as Texas A&M;’s coach, a source said.

After saying he would return for his junior season, Kansas forward Julian Wright has decided to make himself available for the NBA draft.... California junior center DeVon Hardin also made himself available for the draft but hasn’t signed an agent.

OLYMPICS

L.A. bid earns state support

California lawmakers approved legislation that would authorize up to $250 million to underwrite the 2016 Olympics if Los Angeles is selected as the host city.

The bill, introduced by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) was approved, 30-2, by the Senate. It passed the Assembly, 65-0, March 29.

PRO FOOTBALL

Shanahan gets extension

Denver Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan, 54, signed a three-year contract extension through 2011.

Released by Miami after last season, quarterback Joey Harrington, 28, signed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

MISCELLANY

Wasserman signs deals

Wasserman Media Group signed agreements to represent the governing boards of USA track, swimming and gymnastics, the company said. The Los Angeles-based firm will represent the athletics organizations in sports marketing deals and the growing business of creating and distributing sports-related programming.

WMG won’t represent individual swimmers, gymnasts and track and field athletes.

-- Greg Johnson

*

A $58,000 donation by California horse owner Michael Bello will keep the struggling fund for permanently disabled jockeys solvent for another month. Bello also is giving $250,000 to the struggling Jockeys’ Guild, said Dwight Manley, head of the guild.

Top-seeded Andy Roddick withdrew from the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston because of a hamstring injury that he aggravated in Davis Cup play last week.

The Kings assigned forwards Patrick O’Sullivan, Lauri Tukonen and John Zeiler to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. The Kings also signed center Marc-Andre Cliche to a three-year entry level contract.

Canada defeated Finland, 5-0, and will meet the United States in the final of the women’s world hockey championships tonight at Winnipeg, Canada.

On a busy sports Sunday, the final round of the Masters won the TV ratings game in Los Angeles, getting a 7.1 rating with an 18 share and 544,000 viewers. The Lakers’ home game against Phoenix on ABC got a 5.3/14 with 463,000 viewers, and the Angels and Oakland Athletics on Channel 13 got a 1.7/14 with 151,000 viewers. The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants were on cable’s FSN Prime Ticket and had a 1.4/4 with 96,000 viewers.

-- Larry Stewart