NEWSWIRE

The proposal is a long way from happening, but a group studying NCAA basketball is considering a drastic step: making male freshmen players ineligible.

The study is prompted by concerns over poor graduation rates, a freshman’s ability to adapt to college and the greater willingness of underclassmen to jump to the NBA.

A 27-member committee is expected to make its recommendations in late July. The NCAA board of directors might not rule until October 2001.

World Sports

Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, may have violated federal law when he took a handgun given to him by Salt Lake Olympic bidders out of the country, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

As part of the government’s investigation of the bid for the 2002 Winter Games, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is examining a series of transactions between the Salt Lake bid committee, the IOC and Browning Arms Co., the newspaper said.

Browning sold or delivered 10 weapons to the bid committee. At least three of those guns were given to Samaranch.

The Czech Republic, runner-up four years ago to Germany, became the first team to qualify for the Euro 2000 soccer championship.

The Czechs rallied to beat Scotland, 3-2, on a header by Jan Koller in the 87th minute.

The International Skating Union suspended two judges but said it will not change the results of a controversial competition.

ISU General Secretary Fredi Schmid said it could not be determined whether the judges’ collusion had affected the results of the World Championships pairs competition at Helsinki in March.

Russia’s Yelena Berzhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the gold medal over China’s Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo in a decision that elicited boos from the crowd.

Russian judge Sviatoslav Babenko received a three-year ban and Alfred Korytek of Ukraine was banned for two years. They will not be allowed to officiate at any championship or international event under ISU jurisdiction.

Four false starts and a lack of competition kept world champion Maurice Greene far off the world record but didn’t stop him from winning the 100 meters at a track and field meet in Milan, Italy.

Greene clocked 10.16 seconds, beating Nigeria’s Innocent Asonze, runner-up at 10.27.

Miscellany

The governing body for the off-road racing desert series that featured the 30th Tecate Baja 500 is expected to impose sanctions today against Jason Baldwin, which could include disqualification, suspension, both or neither.

Baldwin, 29, of Laguna Beach, was the driver who crashed his Trophy Truck into a crowd of spectators on Saturday at a popular viewing point 2.1 miles into the 447.6-mile race in Baja California.

According to Dominick Clark, a spokesman for SCORE International, the governing body, Baldwin was charged by Mexican Federal Police with reckless driving and using excessive speed in the accident that killed Luis Alberto Valdez. Baldwin has an upcoming court date in Mexico.

The International Football Federation, an off-season professional league, will begin play in February with 12 teams, including franchises in Los Angeles and Orange County, its founder said.

Fullerton businessman Dennis Murphy, who co-founded the American Basketball Assn. and the World Hockey Assn., among other professional sports leagues, is expected to unveil plans for a league with Eastern, Central and Western conferences Friday in New York.

The L.A. entry is expected to play at either the Coliseum or the Rose Bowl, according to Murphy, who also said he hopes to negotiate a deal to have the Orange County team play at Edison Field. More likely, he said, Cal State Fullerton would be the site.

Texas A&M; quarterbacks coach Ray Dorr, a former USC assistant, has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” . . . Chris Beard, a former Louisiana State player and now a defensive back in the Indoor Professional Football League, is paralyzed and on a respirator after being injured in a game. Beard suffered a neck injury Saturday while making a tackle for the Bayou Beast against Texas and underwent surgery Monday. . . . The St. Louis Rams released strong safety Toby Wright, who played in only three games last season because of a knee injury. . . . Richard Burns of Britain drove a Subaru Impreza WRC 99 to victory in the Acropolis Rally at Megara, Greece.

Nick Macarchuk, basketball coach at Fordham for 12 years, has resigned to coach at Stony Brook, sources told the Associated Press. . . . The Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission received the 1999 MVP Award from the Public Communicators of Los Angeles. . . . Bonelli Park in San Dimas is the site of the Xterra America Tour June 19-20, an outdoor festival wrapped around an off-road triathlon.