BRIEFLY : WHITE: LET MEN DRESS IN PRIVATE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Reggie White has a new issue: He's against allowing reporters of the opposite sex into the locker rooms of professional athletes.

``I can't see any legitimate reason for forcing male athletes to walk around naked in front of women who aren't their wives,'' the retired defensive end and ordained minister wrote in an opinion piece published in Thursday's editions of The Wall Street Journal. He added: ``women athletes also shouldn't be forced to deal with male reporters while they're changing.''

White's article, adapted from his book, ``Fighting the Good Fight,'' urges players and spouses to stop open locker-room policies.

Suspended San Francisco 49ers co-owner Eddie DeBartolo was sued by his own corporation and the football team, accused of owing the company $94 million and hurting prospects for a new stadium.

Alvin Harper, a former wide receiver with the Washington Redskins, the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was charged with two counts of auto theft.

Robert Baker, the former Auburn wide receiver who spent 10 months in jail for drug trafficking, is back in school and has asked about playing football again, the Huntsville Times reported. New football coach Tommy Tuberville said it was unlikely Baker would be allowed to return but did not rule it out.

Charles Tharp, who led Hawaii in rushing the past two seasons, has quit the team. Tharp, suspended from the team for 30 days last month for violating an undisclosed athletic department rule, declined to comment.

NFL prospect Cecil Collins avoided prison by pleading guilty to charges he fondled two women in their apartments. The running back who dazzled football fans during a brief career at Louisiana State will be on probation for four years - but will probably also play in the NFL during that time.

BASKETBALL: Sophomore guard Baron Davis received the John Wooden Award as UCLA's Most Valuable Player at the postseason banquet Thursday night.

Other winners included sophomore guard Earl Watson (outstanding defensive player), junior forward Sean Farnham (most improved), and freshman guard Ray Young (academic achievement). Freshmen JaRon Rush and Dan Gadzuric shared the most valuable freshman award. Rush was due back from Kansas City on Thursday evening, according to his grandmother, Jeanette Jacobs.

Although the spring academic quarter began Monday, freshman forward Matt Barnes has not returned to campus from his home in Citrus Heights, Calif., where he spent spring break. The Bruins said Barnes has scarlet fever and expects to report for classes next week. When contacted earlier this week, Barnes said he has no plans to transfer.

- Jon Wilner

Adam Harrington, the team's leading scorer, and freshman reserve Keith Bean will not return to the North Carolina State basketball team next season, the school announced.

TENNIS: Carlos Moya moved within two victories of regaining the top spot in the ATP Tour rankings, beating Zimbabwe's Wayne Black 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in the Gold Flake Open at Madras, India.

Ninth-seeded Anna Kournikova defeated No. 1 seed Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-1 at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Fla.

Three-time champion Michael Chang, the crowd favorite and eighth seed, was upset in the second round of the Salem Open in Hong Kong by Hendrik Dreekman of Germany 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

ETC.: Eugenia Williams, the boxing judge criticized for her scoring in the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis heavyweight title fight, told a federal grand jury in Newark, N.J., that no one attempted to sway her decision, her lawyer said. . . . The Mighty Ducks have recalled goaltender Patrick Lalime from Kansas City of the IHL. . . . The Chicago Blackhawks named Lorne Molleken their permanent coach, rewarding him for the team's winning record since he got the job on an interim basis in February.

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Photo: REGGIE WHITE

``I've seen a lot of female reporters and camerawomen ogling guys in the locker room,'' the retired defensive end says.