Sports People

Former NBA star Alex English was appointed interim executive director of the NBA Players Association while the union continues its search for a new leader. The union dismissed Simon Gourdine as executive director last month and conducted interviews for his successor during the All-Star break in San Antonio. Three candidates - Charles Bennett, former financial adviser to the union; William Hunter, former U.S. attorney for the northern district of California; and Bill Strickland, a Washington sports attorney - remain in the running for the job.

Duane Simpkins, a Maryland senior point guard, was suspended for three games for accepting loans from a former coach to pay personal debts. Simpkins accepted the loans from a former AAU coach to pay personal obligations.

Seattle neurosurgeon Cliff Roberson won the 500-mile “Race to the Sky” sled-dog race in Gold Creek, Mont., by a handy margin, although he had to wheedle his dogs into running the final 75 miles. The nine balky dogs hauled Roberson’s sled across the finish line at 3:46 a.m., 10 hours and 45 minutes after leaving the final checkpoint at Fawn Creek.