BASKETBALL

NBA DENOUNCES TIM HARDAWAY AFTER ANTI-GAY REMARKS

The NBA banished Tim Hard away from All-Star weekend in Las Vegas because of his anti-gay re marks.

Hardaway was already in Las Ve gas and scheduled to make a series of public appearances this week on behalf of the league.

On a Miami radio show Wednes day night, Hardaway was asked how he would interact with a gay teammate.

“First of all, I wouldn’t want him on my team,” the former Miami Heat star said. “And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don’t think that is right. I don’t think he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room.”

The player continued, “You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people,” he said. “I’m homophobic I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.”

Later that night, Hardaway apologized during a telephone interview with WSVN-TV in Miami.

But after Hardaway’s comments commissioner David Stern stepped in.

“We removed him from repre senting us because we didn’t think his comments were consistent with having anything to do with us,” Stern told reporters yesterday at the opening of a fan festival at a Las Vegas casino, part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend.

Stern said he had not spoken with Hardaway, who left Las Vegas on yesterday, but he planned to do so.

BASEBALL

BONDS FINALLY SIGNS CONTRACT

Barry Bonds finally signed his $15.8 million, one-year deal and it was approved yesterday by the commissioner’s office, ending more than two months of wran gling between the slugger and the San Francisco Giants over contract language.

With both sides satisfied, Bonds is scheduled to report Monday to spring training. He is likely to participate in the Giants’ first fullsquad workout Tuesday.

“I expect he will be ready to go,” the general manager, Brian Sabean, said.

The 42-year-old Bonds is 22 homers shy of breaking Hank Aaron’s career record of 755.

Bonds signed the contract Tuesday, and it was sent overnight mail to the Giants. The team then faxed a copy to the commissioner’s office for approval.

FOOTBALL

BILL COWHER JOINS CBS AS STUDIO ANALYST

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach, Bill Cowher, will be an analyst for CBS on the network’s “The NFL Today” studio show next season.

Cowher resigned as the Steelers’ coach last month following 15 seasons, and less than a year after winning the Super Bowl. He plans to spend more time with his family at their new home in Raleigh, N.C., but said working on the Sunday program allows him to keep his ties to the league.

“I can still be part of it but not have it consume your life,” Cowher said yesterday, speaking on a conference call.

Cowher sent mixed signals as to how long he plans to stay away from coaching.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

KNIGHT REPRIMANDED FOR COMMENT ABOUT OFFICIATING

Texas Tech coach Bob Knight was issued a public reprimand by the Big 12 Conference for his comments about officiating in a double-overtime loss at Oklahoma State.

After Saturday’s 93–91 defeat, Knight said a call on a charge was “horrendous” and “maybe as bad a call as I’ve ever seen.”