Ball State Will Pay $200,000 to Thompson

Former Ball State men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson will get $200,000 as part of his settlement with the university.

Terms of the settlement were released by Ball State yesterday. Thompson, who resigned in July amid allegations of racial harassment, also received an apology from the university last month.

In return, Thompson agreed to waive all claims he may have against the university and that nothing in the settlement constitutes an admission of liability or illegality by either party.

University spokesman Tony Proudfoot said neither side would have any further comment.

Thompson, a son of former Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr., resigned in July after alleging racial harassment and retaliation by the university for his complaints of harassment.

In the apology at the time a settlement was announced in December, Ball State said "unprofessional behavior" by an employee tainted a report to the NCAA on possible rules violations and contributed to Thompson's decision to resign.

-- BASEBALL: The New York Yankees did finish first in something last year -- spending.

While its streak of AL East titles ended at nine, New York wound up with a record payroll of $218.3 million.

The World Series champion Boston Red Sox were a distant second at $155.4 million, according to information received by clubs from the commissioner's office.

In addition to the largest payroll, the Yankees have the highest revenue in the majors. New York took in $415 million last year, giving about $100 million of it away in the sport's revenue-sharing plan.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were third last season at $125.6 million, followed by the Mets ($120.9 million), Chicago Cubs ($115.9 million) and Seattle ($114.4 million). Tampa Bay ($31.8 million), Florida ($33.1 million), Washington ($43.3 million) and Pittsburgh ($51.4 million) were at the lower end of the scale. . . .

The Red Sox are putting advertisements on their uniforms for the first time.

The team said it will wear sleeve patches with the logo "EMC" when it opens the season with a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 25 and 26.

EMC Corp. is a data-storage company based in Hopkinton, Mass. . . .

Rafael Betancourt, one of the AL's top relievers last season, signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, who avoided going to salary arbitration with the right-hander.

Financial terms were not immediately available on the deal, which includes a third-year club option.

Betancourt went 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA in 68 appearances.

-- GOLF: Steve Duplantis, a popular PGA Tour caddie known for bringing out the best in his players, was killed early yesterday when he was struck by a taxicab while crossing a street.

Duplantis was in Del Mar, Calif., when he stepped off a center median and into the path of a taxi, Sgt. Randy Webb of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. Duplantis, 35, was pronounced dead on the scene.

He was working at the Buick Invitational for Eric Axley.

-- SKIING: American Scott Macartney was released from a hospital, four days after he suffered a concussion and was placed in a medically induced coma following a crash during a World Cup downhill race in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Macartney, 30, has flown home to Salt Lake City, where he was to undergo follow-up neurological tests, the Austria Press Agency reported.

-- PRO BASKETBALL: The newest WNBA team will be called the Atlanta Dream. Atlanta unveiled the nickname along with its red and blue logo with stars and a basketball.

-- From News Services