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■ FOOTBALL
Paper says Bledsoe to quit
Drew Bledsoe is walking away from the National Football League, according to a newspaper report. The Dallas Morning News reported on Wednesday that Bledsoe announced his retirement after a 14-year career in football. Bledsoe, the top pick by New England in the 1993 draft out of Washington State, threw for 44,611 yards -- the seventh most in history. Bledsoe led the Patriots to two Super Bowls, losing to the Packers in the 1996 season and winning as a backup to Tom Brady five years later against the St. Louis Rams.

■ ATHLETICS
Czech defector dies
Ladislav Pataki, a standout track-and-field thrower and sports scientist who defected from the Soviet Union in 1985 to Silicon Valley, has died. He was 60. Pataki died on April 5 of brain cancer, according to his daughter, Noemi Marozick. The native Czechoslovakian defected to the US with the help of Olympian Ed Burke of Los Gatos. Upon arriving in Silicon Valley, Pataki found himself in a thriving community of world-class shot putters and discus and hammer throwers. Pataki used his knowledge of nutrition, physiology and biology to coach and nurture athletes, some of whom went on to hold world records.

■ SOCCER
Ex-chairman owns up
The former chairman of English Championship strugglers Luton on Wednesday admitted making irregular payments to agents on three separate occasions. But Bill Tomlins, who has resigned from the club which is expecting imminent major investment, insisted in an interview with the BBC that he made no personal gain from the transactions. And he said he had contacted the Football Association to make them aware of the situation. The FA are now holding an inquiry into the matter. Concerning his resignation he said: "There has been too much disruption surrounding the club in recent months. I feel it is appropriate for me to stand down at this time."

■ SOCCER
Persik beat Sydney FC
Indonesia's Persik Kediri rallied to defeat Sydney FC of Australia 2-1 yesterday in their postponed Group E match of the Asian Champions League. Midfielder Steve Corica led the Australian team to an early lead just eight minutes into the game, firing home a short pass from the left. Persik's defender Aris Budi Prasetya leveled the score in the 25th minute, heading home a long pass. Substitute Budi Sudarsono scored the winning goal for the host team in the 70th minute. The match was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to a heavily waterlogged pitch.

■ RUGBY UNION
All Black admits assault
All Black rugby winger Sitiveni Sivivatu escaped a conviction yesterday which could have ended his World Cup dreams after admitting in court to a charge of assaulting his wife. Judge Phillip Connell said publicity surrounding the case was sufficient penalty and discharged Sivivatu without conviction, saying the assault was at the lower end of the scale of offending. Earlier, the court was told the star winger would be unable to play in this year's World Cup in France if convicted and would be unable to travel to some countries. But the judge refused a request by Sivivatu and his wife for his name to continue to be suppressed. "I'm really sorry about what I did, I totally regret it," Sivivatu told reporters.


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