SPORTS WRAP

FOOTBALL

Buccaneers close to naming Lewis coach

TAMPA, Fla. -- Unable to work out a deal for Oakland coach Jon Gruden, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are close to hiring Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, according to Web site reports.

CNNSI.com and ESPN.com, citing unidentified NFL sources, reported Wednesday night that Bucs general manager Rich McKay could offer the job to Lewis as soon as today.

"I expect to talk to Rich again in the morning, one way or another," Lewis told CNNSI.com. "I haven't been told yet that I have the job, but there are those who say I'm Rich's choice."

Lewis would replace Tony Dungy, fired three weeks ago and since hired by the Indianapolis Colts.

Also: Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Tra Thomas will replace injured Orlando Pace of the St. Louis Rams on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

Pace injured a knee in the NFC title game against the Eagles on Jan. 27, but played in Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden had surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Gadsden's availability for the Dolphins' minicamps will be determined in the spring.

Air Force junior halfback Brandon Brown has not been invited back for next season for unclosed reasons, coach Fisher DeBerry said.

Also, strong safety Sam Meinrod and defensive back Adam Hanes decided on their own not to return, DeBerry said .

NBA

Former NBA player Ellis enters guilty plea

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Former NBA All-Star Dale Ellis pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge in Bellevue District Court, 13 years after his conviction for assaulting his wife and resisting arrest.

Ellis was arrested last month after his wife, Monique, told police he had hit her during an argument at the couple's home. She had minor injuries to her face and fingers, but was not hospitalized. No weapons were involved.

The former Seattle SuperSonics player was charged with domestic-violence assault -- a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

MISCELLANEOUS

Russian pole vaulter breaks world record

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Svetlana Feofanova of Russia broke her own indoor world record in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet, 5 3/4 inches at the Globen Galan meet.

Feofanova added a quarter of an inch to the record she set Sunday in Stuttgart, Germany, which eclipsed Olympic champion Stacy Dragila's previous indoor world mark of 15-5. Dragila still holds the outdoor mark of 15-9 1/4.

Feofanova earned a $43,500 world record bonus from meet organizers.

Also: Boxer Andrew Golota was charged with impersonating a police officer during a traffic stop and was freed on bail in Joliet, Ill.

Golota, who gained notoriety for quitting in the second round of an October 2000 fight against Mike Tyson in Auburn Hills, Mich., was arrested Monday by Illinois State Police after allegedly showing an officer a badge and claiming he was a New Jersey police officer during a traffic stop.

Prosecutors said Golota, 34, received the honorary badge from the police department in Hudson County, N.J., for performing charity work.

Harold Hoyt Stilson Sr., who last year became the oldest golfer to hit a hole in one, died Saturday after complications from a viral infection in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 101.

The UNLV women's soccer team will conduct clinics Friday through Sunday and March 1-3 for girls 5-14 at the UNLV Soccer Complex.

For more information, call 895-1686.

E-mail this story to a friend:

Click here for a printable version of this story

Comment on this story.

BEST OF LAS VEGAS