Basketball
WOMAN SUING KNICKS' JOHNSON: A woman who says she is pregnant with the child of New York Knicks forward Larry Johnson is suing him for $7.2 million, claiming he tried to get a former teammate to intimidate her into having an abortion.Laura Tate alleges sexual battery, assault and emotional distress in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Friday in Superior Court. She is seeking $7.2 million in general and unspecified punitive damages.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Stacey Augmon - a former teammate of Johnson's at UNLV - is also named as a defendant in the suit.
Augmon could not immediately be reached for comment.
The suit accuses Augmon of assault, harassment, conspiracy to commit emotional distress and intent to commit bodily harm. In addition to those charges, Johnson is accused of sexual battery and paternity.
Auto racing
DAYTONA LIGHTS: Daytona International Speedway is expanding and also exploring the prospect of adding lights for night racing at the 38-year-old track.
The Daytona Beach New-Journal reported in Friday editions that the addition of 18,000 backstretch seats and 24 elevated "superstretch suites" will boost seating capacity to more than 140,000.
Speedway president John Graham also told the newspaper that officials have discussed the possibility of adding lights.
"We've not decided at this time. . . . We are discussing it, but there are no contracts," Graham said. "This isn't the first time the subject has come up. It comes up periodically."
General
NCAA'S DECISION: Indianapolis or Kansas City?
While an overwhelming percentage of NCAA staffers keep their fingers crossed for Kansas City, the ruling body of college sports will decide Saturday whose pot of gold in cash and freebies to grab.
Will the NCAA headquarters keep its job base and national prestige in the Kansas City area, where it's been since Walter Byers opened a two-person office in 1952?
Or will it move to Indianapolis, whose aggressive bid is thought to contain more money but perhaps be less solid?
On Saturday, the winner in a year-long bidding process among almost a dozen cities will be known. The search committee, including NCAA executive director Cedric Dempsey, will announce its decision at 2:30 p.m. EDT in Chicago.
Baseball
FATHER'S DAY CAMP: Nate Colbert, a former Major League all-star for the San Diego Padres from 1971-1973 and resident of Utah, will be host a father's day baseball camp in Mesquite, NV., June 13-15.
The three-day event costs $100 for both the father and son and will be held at Pioneer Park. The camp runs from 3:30-5:30 on Friday, and 9:30-2:00 on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a golf tournament for the dads Saturday, and prize drawings throughout the weekend.
For reservations call 702-598-2517.
IRABU'S DEBUT: George Steinbrenner admits he's never seen Hideki Irabu throw a single pitch, in person or otherwise. Starting in a few days, the New York Yankees owner will get his chance.
Irabu, already baseball's most celebrated rookie since Michael Jordan, will make his American pro debut next Friday night for Class A Tampa and could be pitching for the Yankees before the All-Star break.
"I don't know how I'll do. I'll just do my best to try to contribute," Irabu said through a translator Friday at Yankee Stadium.
LEYLAND STICKING WITH NEN: Florida Marlins fans may boo the decision, but manager Jim Leyland plans to stick with slumping right-hander Robb Nen as the team's closer.
Nen has blown three of his past five save opportunities. He gave up three runs in the ninth inning Thursday, allowing the Colorado Rockies to rally for a 6-5 victory. Leyland gave Nen a day off Friday to work on his mechanics. But the hard-throwing right-hander won't be replaced in the closer's role.
Business
MOST VALUABLE FRANCHISE: The Cowboys didn't win the Super Bowl last year, but the team remains on top of the sports world as America's most valuable franchise.
In its annual ranking of teams in football, baseball, basketball and hockey, "Financial World" magazine estimated the Cowboys' worth at $320 million for 1996, up almost 18 percent from last year's $272 million. Jerry Jones' team has stood atop the "Financial World" list for five straight years.
Jones takes it as a compliment. "It's flattering," the Cowboys' owner said Thursday. "I believe it's a reflection of a lot of people that work for the Dallas Cowboys and at Texas Stadium.