Source: Donaghy to plead guilty in probe

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy planned to plead guilty in federal court today to charges alleging he wagered on games he officiated, a person familiar with the betting scandal probe told The Associated Press.

Donaghy was to turn himself at the federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league was told Donaghy would plead today but was given no further information.

Besides allegedly placing his own wagers, investigators also examined whether Donaghy provided inside information to others, including referees' schedules. The referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance, a law enforcement official said.

RICCI RETIRES Former Avalanche forward Mike Ricci is hanging up his skates.

The 16-year NHL veteran announced his retirement during a charity golf tournament in Peterborough, Ontario, according to a report in the Peterborough Examiner.

Ricci, a member of the Avalanche when it won the Stanley Cup in 1996, underwent neck surgery last year and hasn't sufficiently recovered. He missed all but seven games last season because of the injury.

Ricci totaled 243 goals, 362 assists and 974 penalty minutes in 1,099 games in the NHL with the Avalanche, Nordiques, Flyers, Sharks and Coyotes.

FLORIDA A&M COACH FIRED Florida A&M University fired men's basketball coach Mike Gillespie, less than three months after he was charged with misdemeanor stalking. Gillespie was accused of stalking a former girlfriend.

IMUS SUED Rutgers women's basketball player Kia Vaughn sued Don Imus and CBS in a Bronx, N.Y., court, claiming the radio personality's sexist and racist comments about the team damaged her reputation.

EYE POKED Chicago Sky forward Chasity Melvin was taken to a hospital after she was poked in the left eye during the first quarter of a WNBA game against the New York Liberty.

Preliminary tests showed no loss of vision.

"I really felt my eyeball coming out," Melvin said.

Jia Perkins scored 24 points to help Chicago to a 77-65 victory.

In other WNBA games:

• Alana Beard scored 18 of her 28 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Washington Mystics to a 65-64 victory against the Connecticut Sun.

• Tina Thompson had 25 points as the Houston Comets won 81-73 against the Detroit Shock.

GIBSON TRIBUTE Jackie Joyner- Kersee, Aretha Franklin, Carol Moseley Braun and other pioneering black women will come together on the U.S. Open's opening night to celebrate the legacy of late tennis star Althea Gibson.

The USTA is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Gibson's title at the U.S. National Championships.

BAN REMAINS Former world pole- vault champion Giuseppe Gibilisco failed to get his two-year doping ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

VOIGT KEEPS LEAD Spanish cyclist David Lopez Garcia won the toughest climb in the Tour of Germany and German rider Jens Voigt took a step toward winning the race for the second straight year by finishing second in the fifth stage at Soelden, Austria.

LOVE SKIPS TOURNAMENT Defending champion Davis Love III withdrew from the Wyndham Championship after his doctor recommended removing kidney stones that had been bothering him for several weeks.

BECKHAM TO PLAY David Beckham said he'll play for the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight against D.C. United in the SuperLiga soccer tournament.

"Good to at least get out on the field and have a bit of practice," he said while working out in Carson, Calif.

MEOLA SIGNS Former U.S. national goalkeeper Tony Meola has agreed to a contract with the expansion New Jersey Ironmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

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