Brown, Tar Heels to Talk

Larry Brown and Notre Dame Coach Matt Doherty emerged as candidates for the coaching vacancy at North Carolina on Friday, a day after Kansas Coach Roy Williams turned down the job.

Both Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ coach, and Doherty are Tar Heel alums and both have been given permission to speak with the school.

The coaching position at North Carolina became open last week when Bill Guthridge retired. Williams declined the job Thursday, saying he would stay at Kansas.

South Carolina Coach Eddie Fogler has withdrawn his name from consideration for the North Carolina job.

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Senior Brandon Smith and sophomore Leland Anderson are leaving the Michigan basketball team. Smith is leaving for unspecified personal reasons; Anderson will attend another school, although he has not told the university which one. . . . High school basketball star Zach Randolph won an appeal that will allow him to play at Michigan State next season despite low scores on an entrance exam.

College Football

Missouri is canceling a series with UCLA that was scheduled for 2001 and 2002. Missouri opened talks with UCLA in December in an attempt to alter the series, which was agreed to in 1987. Missouri decided that the 2001 season--which includes games against Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado and Kansas State--was loaded enough.

Miscellany

It has been confirmed that the body found in a car submerged in a pond near Sanford, Fla., was that of Cory Erving, the 19-year-old son of Julius Erving. The car was at the bottom of the pond, located less than a mile from Cory Erving’s home, since May 28, when a search began. Investigators said foul play was not suspected and Cory Erving, who was known to drive fast, might have died in an accident. Toxicology tests, which usually take weeks to complete, could determine whether Erving--with a history of drug trouble--was on drugs at the time.

Jorge Rodas scored on an 85th-minute penalty kick as Guatemala defeated El Salvador, 1-0, in an exhibition soccer match at the Coliseum before a crowd announced at 18,152.

With most of the Women’s World Cup veterans on a break, the U.S. defeated Italy, 4-1, in a soccer exhibition at Central Islip, N.Y.

A black bear suspected of killing Canadian biathlon competitor Mary Beth Miller has been captured and killed, military and wildlife officials said. The bear was captured in a cage set up near where Miller’s body was found last weekend in a wooded area on a military base near Quebec City.

Names in the News

Vin Scully was voted the No. 1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Assn. Others honored, in order, were Howard Cosell, Mel Allen, Red Barber, Bob Costas, Jim McKay, Al Michaels, Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, Jack Buck and Harry Caray.

Karl Sweetan, who went from an 18th-round draft choice to starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions in one year, died last weekend of complications from vascular surgery. He was 57.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed UCLA receiver Danny Farmer, their fourth-round pick in April’s draft. Terms of Farmer’s contract were not disclosed.

Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Shannon Miller has a hairline crack in her right shin bone that will keep her out of this weekend’s U.S. Classic at Tulsa, Okla., a qualifier for the national championships. Miller had an MRI and must rest for 10 days.

Shawn Walsh, who built Maine into a college hockey power and coached the Black Bears to two national championships, underwent surgery at a Boston hospital for removal of a cancerous kidney, according to a family friend.

Denny Price, the father of former NBA star Mark Price and the Vancouver Grizzlies’ Brent Price, died in Enid, Okla., of a heart attack after becoming ill during a pickup game with his sons at a YMCA. Price, 62, was co-coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the U.S. Basketball League.