Robinson To Give Back Award

Eugene Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, honored at the Super Bowl for high moral character a few hours before being arrested and charged with solicitation of sex, said he plans to return the award.

Robinson made the announcement Thursday in Honolulu, where he will play in the Pro Bowl.

The Falcon free safety received the Bart Starr Award on Saturday morning, the day before Atlanta’s 34-19 Super Bowl loss to the Denver Broncos. The award was presented for leadership in home, on the field and in the community.

Dave Bratton of Athletes in Action, the Ohio-based group that gives the award, said the organization supported Robinson’s decision.

“We are encouraged by the remorse he has shown,” Bratton said in a statement. “We continue to express our concern and unconditional love for Eugene and are standing with him during these difficult days.”

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New England Patriot running back Robert Edwards had surgery after injuring his left knee during a flag football game for NFL rookies on the beach in Honolulu. . . . The Cleveland Browns selected John Hufnagel quarterback coach and former NFL tight end Ken Whisenhunt as their special teams coach. . . . The Chicago Bears named Carolina assistant John Shoop quarterback coach. . . . The Detroit Lions signed former Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus.

Track and Field

Inger Miller joined her father, Lennox, as a Millrose Games winner in a unique match race and Maurice Greene solidified his position as the world’s No. 1 sprinter at New York.

Meet officials found little room to separate Miller and Sevatheda Fynes of the Bahamas in the women’s 60-meter dash. Miller was caught in 7.194 seconds, Fynes in 7.198.

Greene recovered from a slow start and won the men’s 60 for the second consecutive year in 6.51.

Tennis

Martina Hingis of Switzerland regained the world’s top singles ranking today by defeating Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo.

Lindsay Davenport, who had been No. 1, was beaten, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, by 15th-ranked Amanda Coetzer of South Africa.

In the final Sunday, Hingis meets the winner of the match between Monica Seles and Coetzer.

France’s Arnaud Clement reached the semifinals of a pro tournament for the first time, beating world junior champion Roger Federer of Switzerland, 6-3, 6-3, at the $514,000 Marseille Open in France. Clement will face another Frenchman, third-seeded Cedric Pioline, in today’s semifinals. Pioline beat countryman Nicolas Escude, seeded sixth, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5).

Petr Korda, who tested positive for a steroid at Wimbledon, was banned by the Czech Tennis Assn. from playing in his home country for a year.

Baseball

Hank Aaron will have his name on an award presented annually to the best hitter in each league. In 1999, the award will go to the hitter with the most hits, home runs and runs batted in, Commissioner Bud Selig said. In future years, it will be selected by a panel.

The New York Mets avoided arbitration with infielder Edgardo Alfonzo by agreeing to an $18.4-million, four-year contract. . . . Pitcher Frank Castillo and outfielder Pete Incaviglia are among 16 nonroster players invited to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ spring training. . . . Right-handed reliever Carlos Reyes, traded from San Diego to Boston in June, has signed with the Padres.

Jurisprudence

Former Northwestern running back Dennis Lundy admitted that he intentionally fumbled near the goal line in a 1994 game to protect a bet he made against his team.

Lundy pleaded guilty to one count of perjury.

A doctor defending himself against a malpractice suit in the death of Boston Celtic star Reggie Lewis said Lewis told him he had used cocaine, according to court records in Boston.

Dr. Gilbert Mudge said 16 days before Lewis collapsed from a heart attack in 1993, he acknowledged having used cocaine, but said he had stopped.

Miscellany

Auburn chose to pay Florida State $500,000 rather than face the football team coached by the father of ousted Auburn coach Terry Bowden in the 1999 opener. . . . Dean Trboyevich, a minor league defenseman accused of using his stick as a deadly weapon, was suspended for the rest of the West Coast Hockey League regular season and fined an undisclosed sum. . . . Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg won the women’s combined title with a blistering second run of the slalom in the World Alpine Ski Championships at Vail, Colo. . . . Venezuela’s Antonio Cermeno retained his World Boxing Assn. featherweight title with a second-round knockout over Eddie Saenz at Miami. . . . Adam Naeve had 27 kills to lead the No. 4 UCLA men’s volleyball team to a 13-15, 15-12, 15-3, 15-9 victory over UC Irvine at Irvine. No. 11 USC swept No. 14 Pacific, 15-6, 15-8, 15-6, in USC’s North Gym. . . . Paul Cayard, 39, of San Francisco, and Betsy Alison, 38, of Newport, R.I., were honored as the 1998 Rolex yachtsman and yachtswoman of the year.