IN BRIEF

FOOTBALL

Not guilty plea entered in death of Broncos CB

A judge entered a not guilty plea Friday for the man accused of killing Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams in a drive-by shooting.

District Judge Christina M. Habas entered the plea on behalf of 25-year-old Willie D. Clark, who is charged with first-degree murder and 38 other counts in the New Year's Day 2007 slaying. Habas scheduled the trial to begin July 6.

Williams and Clark were at a Denver club with separate groups that exchanged taunts before Williams and his friends left in a rented limousine, according to an October indictment. A witness told investigators that Clark was driving an SUV when he caught up with the limo and fired into it.

Also: Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after police say he broke a towel dispenser Feb. 14 at a convenience store in New Alexandria, a borough about 35 miles east of Pittsburgh. He was fined $543.50.

Offensive tackle Vernon Carey signed a multiyear extension with the Miami Dolphins and won't become an unrestricted free agent next week.

Cornerback Joselio Hanson agreed to terms on a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The New York Jets released veteran tight end Chris Baker, who was due $9 million in guarantees over the next three seasons if he remained on the roster until March 5.

Linebacker Marcus Washington was released by the Washington Redskins, saving the team about $4 million.

Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson met with congressional aides in Washington, lobbying for changes to the Bowl Championship Series. In the debate over how to best decide college football's national champion, Thompson said he plans to present a proposal to BCS coordinator John Swofford.

Football coach Ken Dalton is retiring after racking up 11 regional titles and six state titles in 27 years at McQueen High School in Reno. He recorded 308 victories in a 40-year career that began in California.

Dalton, 61, will teach at McQueen for two more years. He is recommending defensive coordinator Jim Snelling as his successor. The Lancers beat Palo Verde 13-12 in the Class 4A state title game in the fall.

GOLF

McCarron leads by two at Northern Trust Open

Scott McCarron birdied the 18th hole to cap a 3-under-par 68 that gave him a 132 total and a two-shot lead over Steve Stricker (66) and Tommy Armour III (67) in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera in Los Angeles.

Phil Mickelson shot 72 and was in a group three back.

Also: Vicente Fernandez and Don Pooley shot 4-under 68s to share the first-round lead in The ACE Group Classic, and Jay Haas finished a stroke back after a two-stroke penalty for hitting a piece of pine straw in a hazard.

Wayne Levi matched Haas with a 69 on the new TPC Treviso Bay in Naples, Fla.

The No. 21 UNLV men's golf team shot a 1-over 289 and finished 12th, with a total of 864, at the 17-team John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Texas A&M shot 272 to win the team title at 28-under 836, three shots better than runner-up New Mexico. The Lobos' James Erkenbeck won the individual title by a shot over Arizona's Tarquin Macmanus (72), firing a 7-under 65 to finish at 11-under 205.

The Rebels' top finisher, junior Eddie Olson, tied for 16th at 5 under after a 73.

TENNIS

WTA fines Dubai event for barring Israeli Peer

The WTA has fined Dubai Tennis Championships organizers a record $300,000 after Israeli player Shahar Peer was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates.

Andy Roddick later said he won't defend his title next week in Dubai because he doesn't agree with the decision to bar Peer.

Also: Venus Williams beat younger sister Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (3) to reach the final of the Dubai Tennis Championship. Venus will face Virginie Razzano of France in today's final.

Former Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison is suing the U.S. Tennis Association, saying she was discriminated against because she is black.

The lawsuit claims Garrison was treated unfairly because she was paid a lower salary than Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe and was subjected to higher performance standards than he was.

The 49th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team (5-2) did not lose a set in scoring 7-0 victories over Illinois State and Utah State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

MISCELLANEOUS

Players' reported links troubling to Canadiens

The French-language daily La Presse reported that Canadiens players Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn and Roman Hamrlik had social ties with Pasquale Mangiola, who was arrested on drug charges Feb. 12.

"We're very concerned because we know that this person who became involved with these players, he's not the only person who wants to find a place to enter the inner area of the hockey team," Montreal general manager Bob Gainey said.

La Presse said none of the three players is suspected of criminal activity. Mangiola faces charges including conspiracy and possessing and trafficking cocaine.

Also: Matt McKnight, Ryan MacGregor and Mark Bomersback each scored as the Idaho Steelheads (29-16-3) beat the Las Vegas Wranglers (26-21-6) 3-1 in an ECHL game in Boise, Idaho.

Levi Leipheimer won the individual time trial in Solvang and added to his lead in the Tour of California.

Leipheimer finished the 15-mile course in 30 minutes, 40 seconds. David Zabriskie, second by eight seconds in the stage, trails Leipheimer by 36 seconds. Lance Armstrong fell from fourth to sixth overall.

Jeff Urlaub gave up two runs on four hits, and relievers Glenn DeWeese and Marc Baca combined for four scoreless innings as the UNLV baseball team beat Maine 4-2 in the Rebels' season opener at Wilson Stadium.

The UNLV softball team (6-5) lost to Nebraska 9-1 in five innings at the Cathedral City (Calif.) Classic but bounced back to end a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Georgia Tech.

Freshman left-hander Tyler Anderson, a Spring Valley High School product, pitched Oregon to a 5-3 win over Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., ushering in the return of the Ducks baseball program after 28 years.

The U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships begin their 154-day run today at Cashman Center. More than 85,000 bowlers will compete in the $7 million tournament, which runs through July 24.