Five Knicks Suspended

The NBA has suspended five New York Knicks and one Miami Heat player because of a brawl in Wednesday night's playoff game. Heat forward P.J. Brown was suspended for two games and fined $10,000 for body-slamming Knicks guard Charlie Ward. Ward and teammates Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson and John Starks all were suspended one game and also fined. Because teams must dress no fewer than nine players for playoff games, the Knicks will be without Ward, Ewing and Houston for Game Six Friday night. Johnson and Starks will sit for Game Seven or, if the Knicks win Friday night, for Game One against the Chicago Bulls in the conference finals. Miami won Wednesday night's game 96-81 but trail three games to two in the best-of-seven-game series.

Castillo Leads Cubs to Win

Pitcher Frank Castillo had his first good outing in nearly a month Thursday afternoon as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres, 8-2, at Wrigley Field. Castillo limited the Padres to three hits and struck out eight to pick up his first win since April 21. Castillo's last three outings were embarrassments, but he had the Padres' number Thursday as he improved his record to 2-5. The Cubs tripled three times in a four-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

Irvin Wants Out of Dallas

Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin reportedly wants to be traded. The Dallas Morning News is reporting Thursday that the five-time Pro Bowl selection has asked the Cowboys to deal him to another team. But salary cap considerations probably will dissuade the Cowboys from trading Irvin, who has three years left on a five-year contract. The NFL suspended Irvin for the first five games of last season after he pleaded no contest to drug possession charges. Despite missing those games, Irvin led the team with 64 receptions.

Saints Release QB Everett

The New Orleans Saints have released veteran quarterback Jim Everett. Everett's days in New Orleans appeared numbered when new Saints coach Mike Ditka acquired Heath Shuler from the Washington Redskins in April and drafted Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel of Florida. Ditka says he wants to go with younger players and the 34-year-old Everett did not fit in. The 11-year veteran has spent the past three seasons in New Orleans after starting his career with the Los Angeles Rams.

Seeds Upset at Italian Open

All five top seeds have now been ousted from the Italian Open. Thursday's victim was fourth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, who lost to Alberto Berasategui of Spain, 6-3, 6-2, on the clay in Rome. The highest seed left in the draw, sixth seed Goran Ivanisevic downed No. 12 Boris Becker 7-6, 6-3 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals. Top seeds Pete Sampras and Michael Chang were eliminated in the first round, and third seed Thomas Muster and fifth seed Richard Krajicek were knocked out Wednesday.

Martinez Ousted at German Open

Second seed Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic advanced, but fourth seed Conchita Martinez and fifth seed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain were upset victims Thursday in third-round action at the German Open in Berlin. Novotna stormed past Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-0, 6-2. Martinez suffered her second loss to France's Mary Pierce in five days, as the 12th seed prevailed, 6-2, 6-0. Pierce downed Martinez in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday. Sanchez Vicario continued to struggle in 1997 as she was stopped by Russian sensation Anna Kournikova, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Davenport Heads Fed Cuppers

Olympic champion Lindsay Davenport heads a list of six players available for the U.S. team to face Japan in a Fed Cup qualifying match this summer, captain Martina Navratilova said Thursday. Davenport, ranked fifth in the world, is joined by Mary Joe Fernandez, Kimberly Po, Chanda Rubin, Jennifer Capriati and Gigi Fernandez in the player pool. Four of the six will be chosen for the team, which will face Japan, July 12-13 at the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnit Hill, Mass. Choices have to be made within 10 days of the matches.

Nuggets to Interview Hawks Aide

Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Bill Hanzlik will interview for the vacant Denver Nuggets coaching job on Monday. Hanzlik, a long-time NBA player and assistant, is the third candidate interviewed by Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Allan Bristow, who expectedly fired interim coach Dick Motta and his staff on April 21. The 38-year-old Hanzlik played nine of his 11 seasons with the Nuggets and worked for five years with the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant to Bristow. He joined the Hawks this season.

NBA Star's House Burns

The $2.5 million house that Indiana Pacers basketball star Reggie Miller planned to move into was destroyed by fire Thursday. The home was undergoing renovations and was unoccupied. The cause of the early morning fire in Fishers, Ind., was not yet known. Miller, the sharp-shooting perennial NBA All-Star and a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team," was visibly shaken when he arrived and saw his house consumed by the blaze.

Silver Charm Prepares for Race

Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm galloped his usual mile and a half at Pimlico Thursday in preparation for Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. "He might run better on Saturday," said exercise rider Larry Damore. "But he couldn't train any better." Silver Charm, who drew the seventh post position Wednesday, was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite. The second choice at 2-1 is Captain Bodgit, a close runner-up to Silver Charm at the Derby. Captain Bodgit jogged and galloped a mile at a training facility in Bowie, Md.

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