NEWSWIRE

Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe should receive a reduced sentence because he was brain-damaged when he pleaded guilty to abducting his wife and five children, attorney Johnnie Cochran told a judge in Charlotte, N.C.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Bell objected to Cochran’s request, saying it was tantamount to breaking the plea agreement that Bowe had signed.

In June 1998, Bowe pleaded guilty to a federal interstate domestic violence charge for which he could face 18 to 24 months in prison.

At Monday’s hearing, Cochran told U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen that Bowe, 32, suffers from a mental disorder caused by blows to the head during his years of fighting. He said Bowe and his defense lawyers were unaware of his mental problems when he agreed to plead guilty.

Tennis

British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd has been fired and replaced by Roger Taylor. Lloyd had harshly criticized some British players at the Australian Open in January and after the Davis Cup loss to the Czech Republic earlier this month, claimed they were not fit enough to compete at the international level. . . . Australia’s Andrew Ilie knocked Michael Chang out in the first round of the Citrix Championships at Delray Beach, Fla., with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory. . . . In the first round of the Copenhagen Open, fifth-seeded Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia defeated Germany’s David Prinosil, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0. . . . Jennifer Capriati took another step toward becoming one of tennis’ elite again when she dominated Alexandra Stevenson, 6-3, 6-0, in the first round of the State Farm Women’s Classic at Scottsdale, Ariz. Amy Frazier, another player returning to top form, beat Anke Huber, 7-6 (1), 6-2.

Pro Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their search for a veteran quarterback to compete with Kordell Stewart, reaching terms with former New York Giant starter Kent Graham on a $5.1-million, three-year deal.

The Steelers also firmed up a $3.24-million, three-year contract with former Jacksonville Jaguar offensive lineman Rich Tylski.

The U.S. government opened its criminal fraud case against sports agent William “Tank” Black in Gainesville, Fla. The government accused Black and four employees of defrauding several of his former NFL clients, among them former University of Florida stars Fred Taylor, Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. Last month, Taylor accused Black of cheating him out of nearly $3 million.

Gregory Burns, a former personal assistant to Kansas City Chief kick returner Tamarick Vanover, was one of four men indicted by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on charges involving an alleged cocaine distribution ring.

An appeal by a Madison (Wis.) sports clothing company which had filed suit against the St. Louis Rams, claiming it owned the rights to the name St. Louis Rams, was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. The company said it created the name in February 1995, before the Rams moved to St. Louis.

Free-agent running back Thurman Thomas appears close to a deal with the Miami Dolphins. He has canceled visits to other teams. . . . Fullback Robert Chancey, who played with the San Diego Chargers as a rookie in 1997 before moving on to the Chicago Bears and then the Dallas Cowboys, has been re-signed by the Chargers. San Diego also signed defensive end Darren Mickell, who has played in parts of seven seasons with Kansas City and New Orleans.

Kicker Cary Blanchard, third in the NFC in field-goal accuracy last season, signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Blanchard was 18 for 21 (85.7%) last season with the New York Giants. . . . The Oakland Raiders signed free agent defensive end Regan Upshaw to a one-year contract. Upshaw was with Jacksonville last season.

Olympics

Sydney Olympic executive David Richmond said that U.S. and international television networks that do not hold rights to the 2000 Games will be banned. He said only local Australian stations will be given access.

IOC executive Marc Hodler is trying to stage a bridge tournament as a demonstration sport during the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City.

“I’m a believer that the human brain is at least as important as muscles,” Hodler said. He was president of the Swiss Bridge Federation for 30 years.

Miscellany

The University of Miami, which has produced 15 Olympic divers, among them four-time gold medalist Greg Louganis, is dropping men’s swimming and diving and crew after this season to comply with Title IX gender-equity laws.

Race 4 of the America’s Cup was postponed because of lack of wind on the Hauraki Gulf off New Zealand. It has been rescheduled for Thursday. New Zealand leads Italy, 3-0, in the best-of-nine finals.

Dallas Burn President Billy Hicks, is joining the World Wrestling Federation’s bid to start a pro football league. Hicks title will be vice president of administration. . . . Golfer Notah Begay III reported to jail in Albuquerque to begin serving a seven-day sentence for drunken driving. Begay was arrested Jan. 20.