BRIEFLY : SHERWOOD CC HIRES SAMPRAS AS CLUB PRO.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

Pete Sampras, who won his sixth Wimbledon singles championship earlier this month, has been hired as Sherwood Country Club's touring tennis professional.

Sampras, 27, will play in an exhibition on July 25 for members of the Thousand Oaks club and compete in the Mercedes-Benz Cup at the L.A. Tennis Center at UCLA, which begins the following day.

Sampras is the only player in history to have won at least one Grand Slam title in seven straight years.

Marlene Weingartner of Germany upset top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Polish Open in Sopot.

HOCKEY: The Tampa Bay Lightning fired coach Jacques Demers and replaced him with former NHL player Steve Ludzik, the coach of the IHL's Detroit Vipers.

Mario Lemieux was granted an additional 10 days to complete his proposal to buy the bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins and work out details with investors on the $50 million plan.

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn has added the general manager's job to his duties, replacing team president Ken Dryden.

The St. Louis Blues signed center Pierre Turgeon to a two-year deal.

Gene Hart, the smooth-talking voice of the Philadelphia Flyers for 27 years, died in Camden, Pa. He was 68.

FOOTBALL: Lawrence Phillips, the troubled running back who revived his career in Europe, was told by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue in a one-hour meeting that he will be fined for past misdeeds if he signs with a team.

BASKETBALL: Tom Gugliotta broke his nose and Richard Hamilton sprained his ankle as the U.S. Olympic qualifying team held its final practice in preparation for the Tournament of the Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Both players are expected to be available today when the U.S. plays Uruguay.

The Atlanta Hawks signed their two first-round draft choices - Arizona guard Jason Terry and forward-center Cal Bowdler of Old Dominion.

Former Michigan basketball stars Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock are telling federal officials everything they know about former team booster and reputed gambler Ed Martin, their lawyer said.

Barring a last-minute breakdown in negotiations or change of heart, University of Virginia athletic director Terry Holland will be named head basketball coach at Minnesota as early as today.

SOCCER: Amoroso and Rivaldo scored goals and Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 in a semifinal game in the Copa America soccer tournament in Paraguay. Brazil will play Uruguay in Sunday's final.