NEWSWIRE
Flight attendant Sandra Komine filed a lawsuit against the Dodgers, alleging that former pitcher Carlos Perez became enraged when she asked him to turn off his cell phone during a chartered flight last July, grabbing her by the hair and threatening her with a gun he said he was carrying.
The suit also alleges that Komine suffered serious injuries when an unidentified player who ignored her instructions to buckle his safety belt was ejected upon landing, his 200-pound frame crushing hers. Komine required spinal surgery and must wear a neck brace, the suit said.
Dodger senior vice president Derrick Hall said the team regrets any injuries Komine suffered but added that it would be “inappropriate” to respond further to the allegations.
Attorneys for Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski, charged with illegally obtaining prescription diet pills, suggested in court in Castle Rock, Colo., that the lead investigator in the case was overzealous and intimidating.
Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Grimwood acknowledged during Romanowski’s trial that he slapped high-fives with another investigator after Romanowski acknowledged in a taped telephone conversation that he took the appetite suppressant phentermine. Grimwood said the gesture was simply an outburst of emotion.
Former Kansas City Chief running back Bam Morris was sentenced in Kansas City, Mo., to two years and six months in federal prison for his role in conspiracies to sell marijuana and launder drug money.
Hockey
Defensemen Antti-Jussi Niemi of the Mighty Ducks and Jere Karalahti of the Kings were added to the Finnish Olympic hockey team’s roster for the Salt Lake City Winter Games. That brings the roster to 41, 18 above the limit for the Olympic tournament. Also on the roster is former King Aki Berg.
King winger Adam Deadmarsh underwent surgery on his left wrist to remove scar tissue and a bone chip. He is expected to wear a cast for three weeks and be ready for training camp in September. . . . The Kings re-signed right wing Scott Thomas for one year and goaltender Travis Scott for two. Both were restricted free agents.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have given Jaromir Jagr’s agent permission to talk to the New York Rangers and at least one other team about a contract extension. . . . The Phoenix Coyotes have given permission to three teams--the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings--to negotiate a contract with Jeremy Roenick before the six-time NHL all-star center becomes a free agent Sunday. . . . The Vancouver Canucks have agreed to a contract extension with captain Markus Naslund that will keep him with the team through 2004-05.
Miscellany
In the WNBA: Kara Wolters scored 18 points as the Sacramento Monarchs ended Houston’s nine-game winning streak with a 64-54 victory before 6,820 at Sacramento. It was the first game for Monarch Coach Maura McHugh, who replaced Sonny Allen. . . . Katie Smith scored 26 points and the Minnesota Lynx capitalized on the absence of Seattle’s Lauren Jackson, beating the Storm, 68-59, before 7,505 at Minneapolis. Jackson, the first pick in April’s draft and the Storm’s leading scorer with a 15.6 average, sustained a mild concussion in the Storm’s morning shoot-around when she collided with a teammate.
Lindsay Davenport has committed to play in the esytle.com Classic tennis tournament, Aug. 5-12 at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach, joining Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Anna Kournikova.
A cordial tone returned to efforts to keep the New Orleans Saints in the city, as Gov. Mike Foster and owner Tom Benson agreed to resume negotiations July 9. . . . Quarterback Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans signed a six-year, $47-million contract extension.
The Czech Republic and Paraguay advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Youth Championships with 2-1 soccer victories, over Costa Rica and Ukraine, in Argentina.
Driver Ralph Chandler Bruning Jr. was killed in a crash during a qualifying run for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at Colorado Springs, Colo. He was 31. . . . Brendon Grant, an 18-year-old baseball player, died from injuries caused when he collided with a teammate. Grant was playing left field when he ran into the center fielder during a game Wednesday in Belmont, Mass.
