Fixing grade costs Peirson Miami job

Miami University of Ohio fired men's basketball coach JerryPeirson Friday for giving one of his players a false grade.

Miami president Paul Pearson said the university, based inOxford, had dismissed Peirson for giving Karlton Clayborne an "A" inthe "Basketball Theory" course even though the player never attendedclass nor did any coursework.

Pearson said Miami athletic director R.C. Johnson hadrecommended Peirson be suspended without pay for four months, removedfrom further teaching duties and placed on permanent probation.

Pearson said he decided to terminate the coach because thereputations of Miami University's athletic and academic programsrequire him to "maintain a broader view and to consider coachPeirson's action . . . as it reflects upon the university as awhole."

Peirson, 46, said in June he admitted Clayborne to his coursehalfway through the fall 1988 semester, then gave Clayborne an "A"even though he never attended class nor did classwork. Denver acquired forward Orlando Woolridge from the Los AngelesLakers in exchange for the Nuggets' No. 2 draft choices in the 1993and 1995 NBA drafts. The NCAA refused to lift or reduce sanctions it imposed on theUniversity of Maryland's basketball program for rules violations.

The NCAA Council, after completing a three-day, closed-doormeeting in Monterey, Calif., said the Division I Steering Committeedenied Maryland's appeal. Nevada-Las Vegas has filed a formal appeal seeking to overturn anNCAA ban that would prevent the Runnin' Rebels from defending theirnational championship.

The appeal was prepared over the last two weeks after the NCAAruled July 20 that UNLV could not compete in postseason play nextyear. The penalty was an outgrowth of a case involving UNLV coachJerry Tarkanian and the NCAA dating to 1977.

Missouri chancellor Haskell Monroe said that he had not made uphis mind about basketball coach Norm Stewart and would not until theschool appears before the NCAA Infractions Committee. Center Ben Gillery had 20 points and nine rebounds and B.J.Armstrong scored 22 points to lead the Bulls past Golden State123-108 in the Summer Pro League in Los Angeles Thursday night. TheBulls enjoyed a 54-40 rebounding edge with support from Doug Lee (19points), Jeff Sanders (16 points, nine rebounds) and Stacey King (15points). Tom Tolbert led Golden State with 23 points.

AUTO RACING: Three of Emerson Fittipaldi's crewmen were burnedbut escaped serious injury in a pit fire in Brooklyn, Mich. TheBrazilian driver's car burst into flames when crewmen overfilled thefuel tank in a fuel stop during a late practice session.

Fittipaldi, who had won the pole position for tomorrow'sMarlboro 500 only minutes earlier, wriggled out of the cockpit withthe help of crew chief Rick Rinaman.

Fueler Vince Cremer, 33, had first- and second-degree burns tothe face, right ear and right hand; vent man Steve Tredup, 32, hadfirst-degree facial burns, and David Kiefer, the fuel tank valveoperator, 23, had first-degree facial burns.

Fittipaldi, the defending CART-PPG Indy-car series champion,made a lap on the two-mile Michigan International Speedway oval at222.593 m.p.h. in a Chevrolet-powered Penske racer.

Bobby Rahal's Lola-Chevrolet was next at 221.859 m.p.h.,breaking up a possible all-Penske Racing front row.

FOOTBALL: Once the Southeastern Conference completes itsexpansion and splits into divisions, the football championship couldbe decided in the Peach Bowl, the Mobile Register said.

SWIMMING: Olympic silver medalist Beth Barr, who nearly lost herright arm in a horseback riding accident last year, completed amiraculous comback with a victory in the 200-meter backstroke at theU.S. National Swimming Championships in Austin, Texas.

HIGH SCHOOLS: Lake Forest Academy has notified the Illinois HighSchool Association it no longer will be a participating member instate tournament competition. Officials at the private boardingschool (enrollment: 250), a member of the Prairie League which becamean IHSA member in 1988, said several conflicts led to the decision.Many of its students are enrolled in five-year programs and springsports confict with final exams.

OLYMPICS: The International Olympic Committee expressed shock atthe death during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait of the Kuwaiti emir'sbrother, Sheikh Fahd al-Ahmed al-Sabah, who was active in the Olympicmovement.