Sports Briefs: Bickerstaff off Nuggets’ bench

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Bernie Bickerstaff resigned today as coach of the Denver Nuggets, three days after his team scored a franchise-low 65 points in a loss to Portland.

He remained with the team as president and was replaced as coach by assistant Dick Motta. Motta, a longtime NBA coach who last season was with the Dallas Mavericks, was to coach the Nuggets tonight against Phoenix.

The resignation ended a tumultuous tenure for Bickerstaff, who compiled a 59-68 record in parts of three seasons.

"I feel good about this decision," he said at a news conference.

After Saturday's 106-65 loss, Denver was 4-9 this season, eight games behind Houston in the Midwest Division.

Bickerstaff was the third coach for the Nuggets since the 1992-93 season. He took over in February 1995 after interim coach Gene Littles led the Nuggets to a 3-13 record in the 16 games following Dan Issel's Jan. 15, 1995, resignation.

NFL sues LV bars

Seven Las Vegas restaurant/bars are being sued by the National Football League for allegedly showing a satellite-delivered package of Sunday games without paying the proper fees. In a suit filed Monday in New York City, the NFL maintains the Chicago Inn, Club Diamond, the Fast Break Lounge, the Lakes Lounge, Michael's Pub, the 7-11 Bar and the Windy City Pub showed NFL Sunday Ticket games without approval. The NFL suit did not specify what, if any, damages were being sought but the league maintains it has won every similar case and has, in previous cases, been awarded damages up to $40,000 against individual establishments. Last year, the NFL reached an out-of-court settlement with the Las Vegas Club after filing a similar suit.

Nebraska boots linebacker

On the same day that authorities charged Terrell Farley with seven misdemeanors stemming from his alleged drunken driving, Tom Osborne confirmed that the linebacker's career at Nebraska was over. Farley, already on probation for a previous drunken driving conviction, allegedly fled from police on foot last Wednesday after his speeding automobile hit two parked cars. He was captured minutes later. Osborne said Monday that the case ended Farley's career. Farley, 21, was charged with second-offense drunken driving, refusal to submit to a chemical test, driving under a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, speeding, resisting arrest and refusing to obey an order from a police officer.

Baseball deal near?

Proponents of baseball's labor deal were hopeful it would be approved today during an owners meeting in Chicago, but most management officials weren't even sure if there would be another vote. Ratification of the five-year contract would mean the start of revenue sharing; a luxury tax on high-payroll teams in the next three seasons; and free agency for Alex Fernandez, Moises Alou, Jimmy Key and up to 11 others. It was unclear if acting commissioner Bud Selig would ask owners to ratify the proposal, which fell 11 votes short of approval three weeks ago. A three-quarters majority is required to approve the deal that management negotiator Randy Levine and union head Donald Fehr completed Oct. 24.

In other baseball news:

* The Tampa Bay Devil Rays agreed to the largest contract ever for an amateur player, giving pitcher Matt White of Waynesboro (Pa.) High School a $10.2 million bonus.

* The Atlanta Braves took the first step toward reducing their burgeoning payroll, trading Greg McMichael to the New York Mets for Paul Byrd in an exchange of relievers.

Senior bowling tourney begins

The Senior Thanksgiving Classic, touted as the largest amateur senior bowling event, begins at the Showboat Hotel today and runs through Sunday. The total purse of the tournament, which is promoted by High Roller, is expected to pay out $500,000 to more than 500 entries. The fourth annual event is for players age 50 and over, and is sponsored by Brunswick Equipment. The defending champion is Cliff Park of Spring, Texas, who claimed $30,000 a year ago.

In other bowling news:

* Sam's Town will host the final professional stop of the 1996 season, the $200,000 Merit Mixed Doubles Championship Dec. 13-15. The top 24 point-list leaders from both the men's and women's pro tours will be paired off in a doubles competition to compete for a first-place prize of $40,000. Following the pro-am on Dec. 13, Henderson's Wendy Macpherson will take on Walter Ray Williams head-to-head with a winner-takes-all award of $30,000.

LaFontaine out 3 more months

For Pat LaFontaine, the headaches, visual and coordination problems don't seem to be stopping fast enough. Doctors said the symptoms of the Buffalo Sabres captain's fifth career concussion have not gone away since he took a hit to the head Oct. 17. LaFontaine will have to sit out another three months to recuperate. Doctors who examined LaFontaine last week at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said he is suffering "serious post trauma effects" from the concussion.

Quickies

New York Jets quarterback Neil O'Donnell gained medical clearance Monday to play Sunday against Houston. He has missed six games since separating his right shoulder against Oakland on Oct. 6. ... Paul Justin, a seventh-round 1991 draft pick of Chicago who played his first NFL game last season, is expected to start Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts entertain Buffalo. ... Alex Smith, the second-leading rusher in Indiana University football history, announced that he intends to enter the 1997 NFL draft. ... The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett, suspended for four games last season, has been suspended for a year and is appealing.