Florida State Settles Suit

A judge at Tallahassee, Fla., approved a $2-million settlement between Florida State and the family of Devaughn Darling, a linebacker who died during an off-season workout in 2001.

Darling collapsed and died Feb. 26, 2001, of an apparent “cardiac arrhythmia.” He was 18.

The suit claimed Darling was deprived of water and other fluids during conditioning drills.

It also claimed the school failed to provide sufficient rest periods during the workouts, did not have adequate medical personnel or equipment available, and failed to recognize that the athlete was in distress.

Motor Racing

Darrell Russell, killed Sunday in a drag race outside St. Louis when his top-fuel dragster crashed at more than 300 mph, apparently died of a head injury.

Russell, the 2001 NHRA rookie of the year and a six-time winner in the series, was unconscious but breathing on his own when he was airlifted to St. Louis University Medical Center. He was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Although the St. Louis City Medical Examiner had not yet released an autopsy report Monday, Russell’s best friend and roommate on the road, Rob Geiger, a senior editor for NHRA.com, was told by a hospital physician that the 35-year-old racer from Texas had suffered head trauma.

Geiger said a doctor told him something went through Russell’s helmet and deep into his head.

Basketball

Billy Hunter, director of the NBA players’ union, said the league could be heading toward a work stoppage at the end of the 2004-05 season.

Hunter addressed several dozen players in Las Vegas at the union’s annual meeting during a session devoted mainly to labor issues.

Union members said the league had asked for numerous concessions in an initial proposal presented during two preliminary bargaining sessions held after the All-Star break. Owners are seeking a four-year maximum length for any contract, higher luxury tax rates for the clubs with the largest payrolls and lower thresholds to trigger the luxury and escrow taxes.

The league had the first work stoppage in its history six years ago, a lockout that began in July 1998, lasted 191 days and cost both sides hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Former NBA player Mario Elie was hired by the Golden State Warriors as an assistant to new Coach Mike Montgomery.

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The Lakers’ summer league team opens play against San Antonio on July 10 at 5:15 p.m. at the Pyramid in Long Beach, where all games will be played.

Hockey

The Mighty Ducks agreed to terms on a two-year contract with center Andy McDonald.

McDonald had nine goals and 21 assists last season. Terms were not disclosed.

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Columbus claimed veteran forward Geoff Sanderson off waivers and exercised next season’s option on goaltender Karl Goehring.

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Dallas re-signed center Niko Kapanen to a one-year contract.

Boxing

Former World Boxing Assn. flyweight champion Eric Morel, 28, and two of his relatives were charged in Madison, Wis., with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2002.

Morel, his older brother, Samuel A. Morel, and his half brother, Frederick O. Santos Perez, each were charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child.

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Pakistan’s best hope for an Olympic medal, boxer Nauman Karim, who won a bronze medal at the world championships last year, was barred from the Athens Games for using a prohibited weight-loss drug.

Miscellany

An arrest warrant was issued in Atlanta for former NFL receiver Andre Rison, who owes $184,787 in overdue child support payments for three sons, attorney’s fees and interest.

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Colin Montgomerie survived a 12-man playoff at Sunningdale, England, to earn a trip to the British Open.

It was the first time the British Open had qualifying around the world in an effort to give more players a chance to play golf’s oldest championship.

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Two-time major champion David Graham, 58, remained hospitalized in Concord, Mass., after he became ill during the final round of a Champions Tour tournament.

Graham was playing in the Bank of America Championship on Sunday when he became ill and was taken from the course in an ambulance.

His wife, Maureen, said Graham declined to give details of his illness.

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The Chicago Bears signed second-round draft pick, defensive end Tank Johnson, to a five-year contract.

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Cal State Fullerton’s NCAA champion baseball team will be honored today with a victory parade on Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton that will begin at 1:30 p.m. That will be followed by ceremonies at 3 p.m. on campus at Goodwin Field.