NBA Commissioner David Stern has voided the trade that sent guard Jim Paxson from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Keith Lee because Lee flunked his physical with Portland. Stern said he agreed with Portland`s contention that a trade is made subject to a player passing his physical. Dr. Robert Cook, Portland`s team physician, had flunked Lee on his physical, expressing concern over leg problems that might make it impossible for the former Memphis State star to play. Cleveland argued that since Lee had played with the same problems in college and in two NBA seasons, the deal should be upheld. Cavaliers General Manager Wayne Embry said Lee will remain a member of the Cavaliers. Blazers President Harry Glickman said negotiations would be resumed to trade Paxson, who asked at the end of last season to be traded.
A charge of terroristic threatening against Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird has been dismissed. Jefferson District Judge Charles Anderson said he dismissed the charges against Bird, his brother, Mark Bird, and his sister, Linda Campbell, because the prosecuting witness, Benjamin Campbell, had advised the county attorney`s office he wanted to drop the case. The Campbells were in the process of obtaining a divorce when the warrants were issued earlier this month in Louisville. Campbell had alleged the three made threats against him by telephone.
Billy Cunningham has agreed to sever his ties with the new Miami Heat NBA franchise to become the top analyst for CBS` NBA telecasts, but only after being allowed to stay with the expansion team through its formative stages. CBS had asked Cunningham to immediately end his association with the Heat, but he said he convinced the network to accept a compromise that will let him offer the Heat his counsel for about one more year.
Former Alabama basketball star Bobby Lee Hurt was arrested in Huntsville, Ala., for allegedly failing to pay child support. Hurt, who played at Alabama in 1982-85, had recently signed to play for a professional team in Turkey.
Auburn senior quarterback Jeff Burger, declared ineligible for the 1987 season by the school because assistant coach Pat Sullivan bailed him out of jail after an incident in a restaurant parking lot, was restored to active playing status by the NCAA. In the past, NCAA officials have said it is not considered a major violation if a coach acts as a parent in helping a player in trouble. Oklahoma has the United Press International Board of Coaches` preseason No. 1 ranking for the third straight year. The Sooners, losers of just two games the last two seasons, received 743 of a possible 750 points and 44 of 50 first-place votes. Fellow Big Eight member Nebraska finished second with 556 points. Ohio State was ranked third, UCLA fourth. No. 5 was Auburn, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Penn State, No. 8 Arizona State and No. 9 Miami, with Texas A& M and Louisiana State tied at No. 10. Notre Dame is ranked 16th and Iowa 18th.
Here`s the update on injured Illinois running back Keith Jones, who suffered a stress fracture in his right foot Saturday: Doctors say Jones, released from the hospital Monday, just might be ready in time for the Big 10 opener Oct. 3 against Ohio State. But, they add, that`s very iffy. Jones, a 6-foot-2-inch, 209-pound junior from Webster Groves, Mo., was the Illini`s MVP last year, averaging 4 yards per carry and 26.5 yards per kickoff return. . . . The Southeastern Conference has made preliminary inquiries into whether Alabama junior tailback Bobby Humphrey has had dealings with a professional sports agent, a Tuscaloosa newspaper reported Monday. . . . TCU running back Tony Jeffrey has been cleared by the school of any wrongdoing in his association with Atlanta-based sports agent Gary Wilson.
Prosecutors in Miami dropped charges of kidnaping and sexual battery against Aaron Pryor, with the former junior-welterweight champion pleading no contest to two counts of aggravated assault as part of a plea bargain.
The NCAA said it had reprimanded Southern Cal tennis coach Dick each and his son, player Rick Leach, for verbally abusing and threatening spectators during the Division I tennis championships.
Charlotte West was named interim athletic director of Southern Illinois University, succeeding Jim Livengood who is resigning to become AD at Washington State.
