Daily Sports Capsule

*Index*
FOOTBALL	HOCKEY	GOLF	BASEBALL
MISCELLANY

FOOTBALL

Lawrence Taylor, who has battled drug addiction for more than a decade, was charged yesterday with possession of crack cocaine after making a purchase from an undercover police officer. Members of the St. Pete Beach (Fla.) Special Response Team entered Taylor's hotel room shortly after 2 a.m. and arrested the former NFL star and a 41-year-old woman who was identified as an employee of L.T. Enterprises. Police said the 39-year-old Taylor purchased $50 worth of crack cocaine from the undercover officer. Taylor, who was in town for a celebrity golf tournament, said he was set up by an officer who badgered him all day until he finally bought the drugs. He was released after posting $15,500 bond. ... Tampa Bay linebacker Hardy Nickerson apologized yesterday for spitting on Carolina fullback William Floyd for the second straight year. "What happened is not what I'm all about," said Nickerson, who was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when he sprayed Floyd during a heated verbal exchange in the third quarter of the Buccaneers' 16-13 victory Sunday. Nickerson said he intends to send a letter to Floyd, who also was spit on by the Bucs team captain while Floyd was playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 1997. ... A small lump removed from the chest of New York Giants quarterback Danny Kanell is probably a benign growth, his doctor said yesterday. Kanell might miss a few days of practice, but the 24-year-old quarterback should be ready for the Giants' next game against Washington on Nov. 1. The team will not be in action this Sunday because of the bye week. The surgery came less than 24 hours after Kanell enjoyed his best day as a pro, hitting 22 of 36 for 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. ... Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau surrendered to authorities yesterday to face charges of violating a court order to stay away from a woman he is accused of hitting. The 41-year-old Gastineau turned himself in at the 19th Precinct in Manhattan and was charged with criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

HOCKEY

The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed center Doug Weight to a two-year contract, the team announced yesterday. The 27-year-old Weight who was a free agent, joined the Oilers in New York last night. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound center led Edmonton in scoring for the fifth consecutive season in 1997-98 with 70 points on 26 goals and 44 assists. He moved to the Oilers in March 1993 from the Rangers in exchange for Esa Tikkanen. Weight has compiled 128 goals and 320 assists in 504 career games, including 105 goals and 273 assists with Edmonton. ... Montreal Canadiens right wing Turner Stevenson was suspended for two games and fined $1,000 by the NHL yesterday for throwing an elbow to the face of Buffalo forward Dixon Ward. The incident happened late in the second period of Saturday night's game and no penalty was assessed on the play. Stevenson missed last night's game against Chicago and will miss Wednesday night's game against Ottawa. ... The NHL's participation in the 2002 Winter Olympics will depend on how negotiations go with broadcast rights holder NBC, says league commissioner Gary Bettman. "The schedule has got to be put together so there is considerable prime-time (TV) exposure for the U.S. and Canadian teams because if we're not going to get substantial exposure for our players it doesn't make sense for us to go," Bettman said yesterday. In Nagano, Japan, CBS relegated hockey to the late-night show. ... Los Angeles Kings goaltenders Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr, who suffered groin injuries in a 5-5 tie with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night, will each miss at least one game. Goalies Manny Legace and Alexey Volkov have been recalled on an emergency basis and will be in uniform tonight when the Kings face the Florida Panthers in the opener of a five-game road trip.

GOLF

The PGA of America yesterday awarded the 2003 Ryder Cup to Oakland Hills Country Club, the Donald Ross layout in suburban Detroit that the late Ben Hogan referred to as a "monster" when he won the U.S. Open there in 1951. The Ryder Cup, biennial matches between the United States and Europe, has grown into one of golf's showcase events, particularly since Europe has either won or retained the cup five of the past seven matches. Next year's Ryder Cup will be at The Country Club in Brookline, followed by The Belfry in England in 2001.

BASEBALL

The Anaheim Angels have exercised the team's option for the year 2000 on reliever Troy Percival, and an additional option for the 2002 season was agreed upon. The 29-year-old Percival was 2-7 with 42 saves and a 3.65 ERA in 67 games last season. He ranked second in the AL in saves, behind Texas' John Wetteland, and third in the league with 60 games finished.

MISCELLANY

Four U.S. swimmers from two decades ago may be getting Olympic gold medals that authorities believe were lost to drug use by East German athletes. U.S. Olympic Committee president Bill Hybl said yesterday that he was preparing to ask the International Olympic Committee to give "appropriate medal recognition" to the 1976 American women's 400-meter medley relay team, which finished second to East Germany at the Summer Games in Montreal. Hybl said that a German court case investigating athlete doping in the old East German sports system offered "conclusive proof" that the gold-medal team had an unfair edge. The East Germans won the race in 4 minutes, 7.95 seconds, taking 5½ seconds off the world record and beating the U.S. team of Linda Jezek, Lauri Siering, Camile Wright and Shirley Babeshoff by 6.6 seconds. ... Cynthia Cooper is eyeing a third WNBA title next summer. Michelle Kwan is dreaming of an Olympic gold medal in 2002. Both those goals will take time. But yesterday, the basketball player and the figure skater were honored as Sportswomen of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation.

-- COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS