BRIEFLY HEALTH OF JOHNSON IS MAGICAL.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Earvin ``Magic'' Johnson's 25th appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated might be his most amazing feat.

This week's issue centers on his health and productivity a decade after contracting the AIDS virus.

He is fourth in SI covers, trailing basketball rival Michael Jordan (49), three-time heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali (38) and all-time NBA scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28).

HOCKEY: Philadelphia Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said if the New York Rangers couldn't sign Eric Lindros by today, another team was interested in trading for him.

Clarke said he was confident it was a done deal with the Rangers. But, just in case, he said another team, which he wouldn't name, was waiting to acquire the center. ESPN reported the other team was the Kings.

--The Kings have signed unrestricted free agent Rob Valicevic to a one- year contract. Terms were undisclosed. The right wing had 14 points and 26 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Nashville Predators last season.

--Petr Sykora of the New Jersey Devils was awarded one of the biggest percentage salary increases in NHL arbitration history when his pay was raised 389 percent, jumping from $675,000 to $3.3 million this season as part of the two-year contract awarded to the 24-year-old right wing.

SWIMMING: Lindsay Benko, who broke her kneecap last month at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, rallied in the last 50 meters to win the women's 200 freestyle with a time of 2:00.16 at the at the U.S. National Championships in Clovis. Benko, who swam for USC, won her seventh national title.

SOCCER: U.S. forward Brian McBride will miss two World Cup qualifiers next month because a blood clot has reformed in his upper right arm.

BOXING: Boxing returns to the Forum tonight for the first time in two years with a six-fight card. The main event features California State middleweight champion Dwain ``Tyger'' Williams (23-3, 16 KOs) defending his title against Pat Coleman (27-7, 19 KOs). First bell is at 7:30 p.m.

- Nevin Barich