BRIEFLY : MARTIN OF U.S. TELLS MUSTER WHERE TO GET OFF - ON CLAY.

Todd Martin stood up to Thomas Muster off the court. He'll get his chance on the court today. Martin, the only American to reach the third round of the Italian Open in Rome, confronted Muster over his accusations that top U.S. players show contempt for the European clay-court circuit.

``It's unfounded to say they don't care about these tournaments,'' Martin said after beating Spanish clay-court specialist Alberto Berasategui 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday. ``It's not necessary to talk that way about your peers.''

Muster, the defending champion, reached the third round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Petr Korda.Jim Courier, a former two-time champion in Rome, was the day's biggest upset victim. He played an error-filled match and lost 6-4, 6-4 to little-known Argentinian player Hernan Gumy, ranked No. 61 in the world.

Steffi Graf will have to wait antoher time to avenge her loss to Swiss teenager Martina Hingis last week in the Italian Open. Graf won her match in the German Open in Hamburg, beating Yayuk Basuki of IIndonesia 6-2,6-1 and led the way into the quarterfinals.

But Hingis' bid ended when she became the first major upset victim. Karina Habsudova of Slovakia, No. 54 in the computer rankjings, ousted Hingis 6-3, 7-5. The loss came just one week after Hingis, 15, beat Graf.

Sandon Stolle upset defending champion Todd Woodbridge 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to move into the third round at America's Red Clay Tennis Championship in Coral Springs, Fla.

FOOTBALL

Nashville officials are prepared to swallow a $25 million NFL relocation fee even though the city won't get the Houston Oilers for another two years. Nashville lawyer Byron Trauger, who helped negotiate the $292 million package to bring the team to town, said no legal action is expected to try to reduce the fee.

Lorenzo White, a former All-Pro running back who played with the Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns, signed a one-year contract with no option with the New Orleans Saints. In nine NFL seasons, White, 30, has rushed 1,062 times for 4,242 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also has caught 192 passes for 1,738 yards and six touchdowns.

A team trainer will continue a medical leave of absence begun after Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning mooned a teammate while she was in the training room. Sources told The Associated Press that Jamie Whited was expected back at her job as associate trainer soon, and indications were an announcement was planned for today. But Whited's doctors have advised her to continue the leave, UT athletics director Doug Dickey said.

When Northwestern won the conference title last season many spectators complained that students who stood throughout the game at Dyche Stadium were blocking their view. The university decided to move the students back, but students said it was unfair and held a one-week campus protest.

On Wednesday, the school changed its mind, saying that students will get to keep the 5,000 seats they have traditionally held at Wildcats football games.

BASKETBALL

Two Phoenix Suns, Danny Manning and Wayman Tisdale, underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat injuries. Manning's left knee, which was reconstructed after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in February 1995, was cleaned up by Dr. Stephen Lombardo, who did the reconstructive surgery. Tisdale had work done on the acromioclavicular joint and rotator cuff in his right shoulder, and will need eight to 12 weeks for recovery.

Senior guard Mack Tuck was kicked off the Colorado men's basketball team following his arrest for allegedly threatening a pregnant teen-ager who refused to have sex with him. Colorado coach Ricardo Pattono announced the dismissal a day after Tuck was released from jail after being charged with menacing and harassment.

Rick Pitino ruled out taking an NBA job and insists he will ``definitely'' be coaching Kentucky when the NCAA champions open next season. ``I just can't see myself leaving,'' Pitino said in New York before receiving the first Chase Winged Foot Award, to be given annually to the coach of the NCAA basketball champion.

Sheryl Swoopes and Ruthie Bolton each scored 20 points as the United States women's basketball team won its 46th consecutive game, 87-78 over Australia in the final of a round-robin tournament in Adelaide, Australia. Lisa Leslie added 18 points for the Americans, who are favored to win the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics this summer.

SOCCER

Steve Rammel scored three goals to lead D.C. United to a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. The crowd of 7,422 was the lowest this season at RFK Stadium.

Juergen Klinsman set a European scoring record as Bayern Munich won the UEFA Cup by beating Bordeaux 3-1 in Bordeaux, France. Bayern Munich had a 5-1 aggregate after a 2-0 win from the first leg and took its first international title in 20 years.

ETC. The New York Yankees have signed Japanese pitcher Katsuhiro Maeda to a minor-league contract, The Tampa Tribune reported. The 24-year-old right-hander also was being pursued by the Angels and other teams. The Yankees paid more than $350,000 to the Seibu Lions for the rights to Maeda, the paper said. Maeda, who has orange-dyed hair, arrived in Tampa on Monday . . .

Jackie Lowe of Englewood, Colo., took the WIBC Queens tournaments lead after 10 games of competition at Thruway Lanes in Buffalo, N.Y. Lowe bowled high games of 237, 227 and 226 and had a 2,210 10-game total pinfall record. . .

Bryon Smith averaged 232 and took a three-pin lead after two rounds of the IOF Foresters Open in Mississagua, Ontario, the first stop on the PBA's summer tour. Smith, of Sutherlin, Ore., has a 2,787 pinfall after 12 games. He is followed by Jess Stayrook of Tempe, Ariz., who is also averaging 232.

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Photo

Photo: DANNY MANNING

His left knee had to be operated on ag ain. Teammate Wayman Tisdale also had surgery.