Report: Umpire Froemming Suspended

Longtime umpire Bruce Froemming has been suspended for 10 days and has lost his opening-day assignment in Tokyo because he referred to a major league baseball administrator in a derogatory way, sources told Associated Press on Thursday night.

USA Today first reported that Froemming had been pulled from the Japan trip and was expected to be suspended for using a slur to describe umpiring administrator Cathy Davis.

At 63, Froemming is baseball’s senior umpire. He was to start his 33rd major league season by working the two-game, opening series between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in Tokyo on March 25-26.

Davis also is a longtime baseball employee, having worked many years for the National League with umpires before taking over her present job.

“Bruce did not ask for union assistance regarding this matter,� Larry Gibson, a lawyer for the World Umpires Association. “Therefore, we are not involved in it.�

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Boston first baseman David Ortiz, San Francisco shortstop Neifi Perez and Cincinnati outfielder Jose Guillen were subpoenaed to testify about a brawl that left a fan injured in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The three players, all Dominican, are to testify in Santiago. Prosecutor Jesus Mendez said Ortiz and Perez will be allowed to testify after they return from the Caribbean Series, which starts Sunday in Puerto Rico.

Cycling

Cyclist Lance Armstrong, the four-time winner of the Tour de France, says he is concerned about his safety should the United States go to war against Iraq.

“We Americans do not enjoy much sympathy abroad at the moment. If I have to do the Tour with a war under way it would be very difficult for me,� Armstrong said in an interview with the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

“In cycling you ride in the open -- there is no fencing or protection nets. But I will be there just the same, it won’t be the war that stops me.�

Asked if he would pull out if direct threats are made against him, Armstrong said he would not be intimidated. “Even if I am advised to pull out for security reasons I will still go,� he said.

Tennis

Czech tennis player Bohdan Ulihrach tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during an ATP Tour event in Moscow in October.

Ulihrach would be subject to a two-year ban if a second sample turns up positive.

Second-seeded Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia shook off a slow start to defeat Indonesia’s Angelique Widjaja, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in the second round of the $1.3-million Toray Pan Pacific tournament at Tokyo. In other matches, Lindsay Davenport, seeded third, cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Iva Majoli of Croatia, and Lisa Raymond defeated fifth-seeded Magdalena Maleeva, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.

Miscellany

Two more charges were filed against former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson for his role in a November check scam at an auto accessories company.

McPherson was initially arrested on a felony and misdemeanor charge of taking a blank check from the Tallahassee company. The check was later made out for $3,500 and cashed.

Prosecutors contend handwriting analysis shows McPherson wrote the check. They added the felony charges of making out the check and then cashing the forged document.

Ohio high school officials are reviewing a report that high school basketball star LeBron James received complimentary clothing.

Last Saturday, James, the nation’s top high school player, was apparently given two free “throwback� jerseys worth $845 at a local clothing store. The story was first reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

England’s Paul Casey shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in the Heineken Classic, and Ernie Els fell five strokes back at Melbourne, Australia. Els had a 70. He won the first two PGA Tour events of the year in Hawaii and was second in the Singapore Masters.

The Sparks, two-time defending WNBA champions, open their seventh season May 22 against the new Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sun used to be the Orlando Miracle. The Sparks play their first home game June 5 against the Sacramento Monarchs. (Complete Sparks’ schedule in Day in Sports.)

Wladimir Klitschko will defend his World Boxing Organization heavyweight title March 8 against Corrie Sanders in Hanover, Germany.