Shoemaker Gets $1 Million From Ford For Accident

-- LEGAL MATTERS

Bill Shoemaker and his family will receive $1 million from Ford Motor Co. as the result of a 1991 accident that paralyzed the former jockey, according to settlement papers made available yesterday.

Shoemaker was driving a Ford Bronco II near San Dimas, Calif., when he veered off the highway and tumbled down an embankment. He questioned the safety of the vehicle in the action.

The winningest jockey in Thoroughbred racing history, is now a quadriplegic. He resumed his career as a trainer after lengthy rehabilitation.

Under the settlement, Shoemaker will receive $900,000; his wife, Cynthia, will get $75,000; and his daughter, Amanda, $25,000.

Ford had asked for the settlement to be sealed, but a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied the motion.

Shoemaker has also sued the State of California, Glendora Community Hospital and several doctors who treated him in the emergency room after the accident.

Ford agreed to give Shoemaker an additional $500,000 if he refuses to settle with the state, instead taking the matter to trial.

-- Colorado State University was ordered by a federal judge to reinstate its softball program after the school was found to have discriminated against women's athletic programs. A U.S. District judge determined that Colorado State had violated Title IX of federal law, which requires schools receiving federal assistance to provide equal athletic opportunity for both sexes.

-- FOOTBALL

Rodney Holman, Cincinnati's all-time receptions leader among tight ends, won't be in a Bengals uniform in 1993 after the club declined to exercise an option year on the 11-year veteran's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. Holman, who will be 33 next season, was selected for the Pro Bowl after the 1988, '89 and '90 seasons.

-- Georgia running back Garrison Hearst will be examined at a clinic in Columbus, Ga., next week before deciding whether to undergo surgery for a knee injury. Georgia's team orthopedist confirmed the finding of NFL doctors that Hearst has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury may threaten Hearst's status as a top NFL draft pick.

-- HOCKEY

An American Hockey League game in St. John's, Newfoundland, was postponed after striking city workers rocked a team bus, smashing its windows and preventing players from exiting.

Frustrated by lack of movement during their five-week labor dispute, the striking workers confronted the St. John's Maple Leafs as they arrived in the bus for their warmups before a game against the Cape Breton Oilers.

-- Mike Prendergast scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as Boston University upset top-ranked Maine 7-6 to snap the Black Bears' 50-game unbeaten streak at home.

-- BOWLING

Cheryl Daniels held a 72-pin lead over Tacoma's Jeanne Naccarato at the end of the fourth round of the Santa Maria (Calif.) Classic. Daniels has a 4-4 match-play record and 5,950 total pins; Naccarato has a 5-3 record and 5,878 pins.

-- Jeff Morin won five of eight games to take the leading qualifier spot at the PBA's Cleveland Open in Parma Heights, Ohio. Morin needs to win one game in today's finals for his first PBA title. Tacoma's Len Blakey lost a one-game rolloff for the last berth.

-- LUGE

American Wendel Suckow set luge history, capturing the gold medal in the 1993 world championships at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. Suckow, 25, from Marquette, Mich., used a strong second run to overtake two-time world champion Georg Hackl of Germany to capture the first world championship luge medal of any kind for the United States.

-- CYCLING

Clark Sheehan, a former U.S. junior cycling champion, will need 10 to 12 weeks to recover from cracked vertebrae suffered when a pickup track slammed into a group of Road Mexico racers. At least 10 racers were hospitalized after the accident, which police blamed on a man they said had been drinking and ignored their orders to get off the road.

-- BOXING

World heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe toured the township of Soweto in South Africa and proclaimed his support for the African National Congress.

Bowe, who plans to conduct several boxing workshops during his visit to South Africa, also plans to travel to Somalia to help distribute food relief supplies.