Sooners’ starting QB kicked off team

Oklahoma starting quarterback Rhett Bomar was kicked off the football team Wednesday after an investigation revealed he broke NCAA rules through his employment at a local business, according to a television report.

Oklahoma confirmed that two players had been dismissed by the team but did not identify them. The school said in a statement that the players violated NCAA rules by working at a private business and taking “payment over an extended period of time in excess of time actually worked.”

Oklahoma City television station KWTV reported that Bomar, who set an Oklahoma freshman record with 2,018 yards passing after taking over as the starter in the second game last season, was one of the two players who have been permanently dismissed. Oklahoma City television station KOCO reported that Bomar’s roommate, offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, was the second player.

•Southern California defensive back Brandon Ting, whose father reportedly testified in the Barry Bonds case, tested positive for steroids before his surprise decision to leave the team last week, the Los Angeles Times said. The newspaper, citing unidentified sources, said Trojans coach Pete Carroll declined to comment.

Ting’s father, Arthur Ting, is an orthopedic surgeon in the San Francisco area who has operated on several professional athletes, including Bonds. The San Francisco Chronicle reported last month that Ting testified in the perjury investigation of Bonds – who had denied knowingly taking steroids – and turned over his medical records on the player.

•Even though former basketball coach Jim O’Brien broke NCAA rules by giving money to a recruit, a judge ruled that Ohio State must pay O’Brien $2.2 million plus interest because it failed to follow the terms of his contract. O’Brien was fired in June 2004.

Miscellany

Drivers penalized

Champ Car placed Paul Tracy on probation for three races, fined him an undisclosed amount of money and stripped him of seven championship points for causing a crash that led to a fight with fellow driver Alex Tagliani at the San Jose Grand Prix last week. Tagliani was fined.

•Michael Phelps was a double winner in the U.S. Summer National swimming championships in Irvine, Calif., and threatened his world record in the 200-meter butterfly before falling off the pace. He also won the 200 freestyle.

•Germany’s Britta Steffen set a world record in the women’s 100 freestyle at the European Swimming Championships in Hungary, finishing in 53.30 seconds.

•Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr., a former owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers died at 82. Dixon is perhaps best known for bringing Julius Erving to town in 1976 by paying the basketball star about $6.6 million – a few months after buying the team for $8 million.