FOOTBALL

NFL CRACKS DOWN ON TOUCHDOWN CELEBRATIONS NFL owners voted 29-3 yesterday to limit end zone demonstrations, including those using props like sharpie markers or cell phones. Also banned: Chad Johnson’s proposal to a cheerleader on the sideline – another of his shows last year – because he got down on one knee and doffed his helmet. On the other hand, his “Riverdance” routine, one of last season’s highlight film bests, will be okay because he stayed on his feet. That kind of thing is still allowed, as is spiking, dunking or spinning the ball after a touchdown.

Among other rules changes, the owners voted to allow down by contact calls to be reviewed by replay to determine if the ball came out before the ball carrier was down, and who recovered it. In the past, those plays were not reviewable when officials ruled the whistle had ended the play. They also voted to prohibit pass rushers from hitting a passer in the knee or below unless they are blocked into him and toughened the horse-collar rule enacted last season to ban tacklers from taking down ballcarriers from the rear by tugging inside their jerseys.

BASEBALL

MLB TO INVESTIGATE PAST STEROID USE Major League Baseball will investigate alleged steroid use by Barry Bonds and other players, and plans to hire former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to lead the effort. A baseball official told the Associated Press yesterday that final plans were to be announced at a news conference today.Commissioner Bud Selig’s decision to launch the probe comes in the wake of “Game of Shadows,” a book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters detailing alleged extensive steroid use by Bonds and other baseball stars. The commissioner has said for several weeks that he was evaluating how to respond to the book.

INDIANS SIGN SIZEMORE TO UNPRECEDENTED DEAL Centerfielder Grady Sizemore signed a $23.45 million, six-year contract yesterday with the Cleveland Indians, the most guaranteed money ever in a deal for a player with less than two years of major league service. Sizemore, 23, batted .289 with 22 homers and 81 RBI last year in his only full big-league season. He also scored 111 runs, had 22 steals, and became the second Indians player to record 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers, and 20 steals in a season. He was the only player in the majors to reach those numbers last season.

KENT SIGNS ON FOR ANOTHER YEAR IN LOS ANGELES Second baseman Jeff Kent and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed yesterday to an $11.5 million, one-year contract extension through 2007. With performance bonuses and escalators, the extension could be worth $22.35 million over two years. The 38-year-old Kent, the 2000 NL MVP with San Francisco, has 331 homers in his 14-year career and is one of just four second basemen to hit 30 or more homers three times.

SOCCER

INTER MILAN DOWNS VILLARREAL IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION Inter Milan rallied to defeat visiting Villarreal 2-1 last night in the first leg of the European Champions League quarterfinals and AC Milan played a 0-0 tie at Lyon.

At San Siro stadium in Milan, Inter went ahead in the first minute when Jose Mari Romero’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, and Diego Forlan scored off the rebound. Adriano tied the score in the seventh minute off a pass from Dejan Stankovic. Obafemi Martins then scored in the 54th minute with an off-balance shot after a cross from Stankovic.

At Stade Gerland in Lyon, Milan’s Andriy Shevchenko wasted three good scoring chances and Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet made several key saves. Lyon attacked strongly in the second half, but was thwarted each time.

The second legs of the total-goals series are next Tuesday.

– Associated Press