SPONSORS: Demonstrators tried to disrupt a golf tournament inOlympia, Wash., to protest what they said were unethical laborpractices overseas by Nike.
About 50 protesters gathered Sunday outside Indian Summer Golf& Country Club, site of the $200,000 Nike Olympia Open.
'We're just trying to raise consciousness,' said Pat Tassoni,a spokesman for the Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace. 'We werehoping to walk up to the clubhouse and distribute literature.'Nike, an athletic shoe and apparel manufacturer based inBeaverton, Ore., has been the object of protests by activists whocontend it pays laborers as little as $1.25 a day in overseassweatshops. . . .Reebok International has been named a founding sponsor of thewomen's American Basketball League. Reebok will be the exclusivesupplier of practice gear to four of the league's eight teams.Reebok also has signed endorsement contracts with four ABL players:Jennifer Azzi, Saudia Roundtree, Sheri Sam and Shelley Sheetz.BASKETBALL: Former NBA star Bernard King no longer wants aseat on the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, according topublished reports.Amid controversy over a 1980 sexual abuse charge, King onFriday informed Gov. Christie Whitman in a letter that he did notwish to be named a commissioner of the sports authority.Whitman nominated King to the unpaid, but highly prestigiousposition, on Sept. 19. The authority oversees the MeadowlandsRacetrack, Giants Stadium, Continental Arena and Monmouth Park.BOXING: Three-time world champion Simon Brown has withdrawnfrom Thursday night's Fight Night '96 charity card after suffering abroken nose during a sparring session. Orlando Canizales (42-3-1) ofLaredo, Tex., a former International Boxing Federation bantamweightchampion, has been added to the card at the Washington Hilton andTowers. The main event pits Reggie Green of Washington and AnthonySuggs of Alexandria for the IBC Continental Americas juniorwelterweight title.COLLEGES: Nebraska's Billie Winsett-Fletcher was named NCAAwoman of the year on Sunday for the combination of academicexcellence, community service and fine play as an outside hitter forthe 1995 Cornhuskers women's champion volleyball team.Winsett-Fletcher, a native of Boonville, Ind., who has used up herNCAA eligibility, carries a 3.833 grade point average into her finalyear toward a degree in secondary education.AUTO RACING: Ernie Irvan was released from Carolinas MedicalCenter after an overnight stay following a crash at Charlotte MotorSpeedway in which he was knocked unconscious for a brief period. Aspokesman for the Robert Yates Racing team said Irvan had no otherinjuries except a concussion, although he did continue to haveaching muscles throughout his body.
