Family Quarrel Might Lead to Sale of 49ers

A family quarrel that divides San Francisco 49er owners Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, is “likely” to lead to the team’s sale, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Citing unnamed sources close to both the NFL and the 49ers, the newspaper said DeBartolo is not interested in selling the team. But DeBartolo York, who took over the team amid reports that her brother faces a possible indictment in Louisiana amid charges of gambling corruption, apparently is.

The timing of a possible sale is unclear, the Mercury News reported.

Observers reportedly believe the future of the 49ers--and the team’s proposed stadium and shopping mall--will not be settled without resolution of DeBartolo’s legal situation or the intervention of NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

If the team is sold, it will not be moved and a group of Bay Area investors would take over, the newspaper reported.

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The Chicago Bears re-signed quarterback Erik Kramer to a three-year, $9-million contract and also signed former Green Bay running back Edgar Bennett to a four-year, $6.2-million deal.

Bennett, an unrestricted free agent, did not receive an offer from the Packers but didn’t expect one after the Packers put their franchise tag on running back Dorsey Levens, who replaced him after he tore an Achilles’ tendon in the first exhibition game.

The Bears also re-signed linebacker Barry Minter to a five-year, $12.5-million contract.

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Rod Woodson signed a multiyear contract with the Baltimore Ravens, who hope the cornerback can strengthen what has been a weak position. Terms were not disclosed. Woodson played with San Francisco last season.

Wide receiver Antonio Freeman will pass on a long-term deal with Green Bay, his agent said, and will play next season for the one-year, $1.153-million offer the Packers made him as a restricted free agent. With the prospect of the salary cap taking another big jump next year, Freeman decided to wait for the prospect of a bigger pay day next February.

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A Dallas jury sided with former Cowboy coach Barry Switzer and declined to award damages in a civil suit over an alleged assault. Randy Mayes and Stephen Bolton had accused Switzer of roughing them up and insulting them with racial epithets during a 1994 incident at the Melrose Hotel. Both plaintiffs are black. Switzer denied the allegations. . . . Police in Mount Pleasant, S.C., dropped a marijuana possession charge against Green Bay running back Travis Jervey after tests showed the drug was not among evidence seized from his car. . . . Cincinnati Bengal defensive end John Copeland signed a five-year contract believed to be worth about $15 million. The Bengals also signed defensive end Michael Bankston to a reported three-year, $6-million contract, pending a decision by Arizona whether to match the offer.

Golf

As expected, Tiger Woods and Fred Couples committed to play the Nissan Open at Valencia Country Club, Thursday-March 1. The field at the $2.1-million tournament also includes defending champion Nick Faldo, Justin Leonard, Scott Hoch and John Daly.

Tennis

Karol Kucera dashed Pete Sampras’ hopes in the Australian Open. On Friday, another victory for the Slovak made sure Sampras keeps his No. 1 world ranking.

Kucera upset top-seeded Petr Korda in the quarterfinals of the $1-million European Community Championship at Antwerp, Belgium.

Korda, the Australian Open winner last month and undefeated in 14 matches this season, would have unseated Sampras at the top of the ATP rankings if he had won the ECC.

Instead, he fell, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, to Kucera, who also is enjoying a great start to the season, including the surprise victory over Sampras in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Top-seeded Jana Novotna beat Lisa Raymond, 6-1, 7-5, and advanced to the semifinals of the Faber Grand Prix at Hanover, Germany.

In other quarterfinals, Anna Kournikova beat Anke Huber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and unseeded Patty Schnyder beat Nathalie Tauziat, 6-4, 6-3. Novotna plays Kournikova in today’s semifinals and Schnyder plays Sabine Appelmans.

Gustavo Kuerten dropped the first set to doubles specialist Mark Woodforde, but rebounded for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the quarterfinals of the St. Jude Indoor tournament at Memphis, Tenn. The third-seeded Kuerten today will play No. 2-seeded Michael Chang, a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Richard Fromberg.

Fourth-seeded Mark Philippoussis used his powerful serve to beat fifth-seeded Thomas Enqvist, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). He will meet top-seeded Marcelo Rios, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over unseeded Grant Stafford.

Soccer

The Galaxy will leave Monday for a four-game preseason tour of Central America, where it will play club teams Aguila and Luis Angel Firpo in El Salvador and Coban and Communicaciones in Guatemala.

Meanwhile, the Major League Soccer team, which opens its third season March 21, announced that first-round draft pick Clint Mathis had declined to sign an MLS contract and instead will pursue a career with Feyenoord in the Dutch first division.

Auto Racing

Rick Mast drove to the fifth pole of his Winston Cup career, leading the first round of time trials for the Goodwrench 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. Mast drove his Butch Mock Ford around the 1.017-mile speedway at 156.361 mph.

Rain forced postponement of Friday’s qualifying for the 14th ATSCO Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix.

Miscellany

The father of Philadelphia 76er star Allen Iverson was sentenced by a judge in Hartford, Conn., to nine years in prison for stabbing his ex-girlfriend.

Allen Broughton, 38, was convicted of first-degree assault in the April 27, 1996, attack on Chrystal Owens, 32. Broughton and Owens had a 10-year relationship.

A drug-related suspension of former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker was lifted by the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Commission in Mashantucket, Conn., clearing a possible obstacle for a bout against WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey on April 25 at Las Vegas.

Winger Darryl Williams had two goals and an assist to lead the Long Beach Ice Dogs past the San Antonio Dragons, 5-2, at San Antonio. The Ice Dogs remain in first place in the Southwest Division.