NFL's Fixed Salaries Violated Antitrust Laws, Judge Rules

-- FOOTBALL

The National Football League violated antitrust law by fixing the salaries of players hired for "developmental squads," a federal judge ruled today in Washington, D.C.

The NFL's agreement setting a flat $1,000-a-week salary for developmental-squad players in 1989 robbed the players of their bargaining power, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled.

Lamberth said a trial must be held to determine the amount of damages the NFL will be ordered to pay the plaintiffs in the class-action suit. Last summer, he ruled that the league was open to a claim of triple damages.

-- Dallas linebacker Darrick Brownlow, a Plan B free agent, intends to sign a contract with the Buffalo Bills worth more than $725,000 over the next two years, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

-- The Philadelphia Eagles have reached a two-year contract agreement with punt returner Vai Sikahema, a Plan B free agent who played with Green Bay last season.

-- The San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, two of the most successful NFL teams of the past decade, will meet Aug. 16 in London's Wembley Stadium in the latest installment of the league's American Bowl exhibition series.

-- Raythan Smith, 19, an Arizona State redshirt linebacker from Tulsa, Okla., has been charged with attempted murder for shooting a man during a fight after a fraternity dance Saturday night, Tempe police said.

-- FIGURE SKATING

Midori Ito, Japan's Olympic women's figure-skating silver medalist, will not compete in the world championships March 24-29 in Oakland, Calif., because a cold has stopped her from training, the Japan Skating Federation said.

Satomi Yasuhara said Ito, 22, reported she still suffers from a cold she caught at the Albertville Olympics.

Yasuhara said Yuka Sato, who finished seventh in the Olympics, and Junko Yaginuma will represent Japan in the women's singles.

-- BOXING

Claims that convicted rapist Mike Tyson didn't receive a fair trial have irritated two of his jurors. Juror No. 5, who was identified only as Steve, and Juror No. 11, Michael Wettig, also said they believe the boxer lied to the jury during his trial in Indianapolis last month. The two were interviewed by WISH-TV.

"I think being in Indiana, he had a fairer trial than he would have got anyplace else," Steve said.

-- GYMNASTICS

Kristen Kenoyer tied the NCAA record in the all-around and Missy Marlowe completed the first-ever collegiate cycle of perfect 10s as No. 1-ranked Utah beat No. 8 Penn State 196.75-191.50 in Salt Lake City.

Kenoyer posted her first 10 on the balance beam and had career-bests of 9.95 on the bars and 9.9 on the vault. With 9.8 on the floor, she totaled 39.65, tying the NCAA record of Oregon State's Chari Knight.

Marlowe's 10 came in the floor exercise, the only event in which she had not had a 10 previously.

-- HOCKEY

Tickets for the first two home games of the Tacoma Rockets' WHL playoff series with the Kamloops Blazers will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday at the team's ticket office and at TicketMaster outlets. Prices are $10.50, $9 and $7.50. The games are scheduled March 24 and 25.

-- GOLF

Washington's women, paced by Anne Huizinga's 79-77-156, led runner-up Kansas by five strokes after the first two-rounds of the Utah-Dixie Classic in St. George, Utah. Washington State's Becky Fossum (75-77) and Hawaii's Lynn McCool (75-77) shared the individual lead at 152.

-- COLLEGES

Jeremy Foley, who began his career at the University of Florida as an intern in the Gators' ticket office 16 years ago, was named the school's athletic director.