Blotter

Ordered
?By arbitrator Alan Symonette, the reinstatement of nine of the 22 big league umps who lost their jobs following a July 1999 mass resignation. In a case-by-case analysis, Symonette ruled that Drew Coble, Gary Darling, Bill Hohn. Greg Kosc, Larry Poncino, Frank Pulli, Terry Tata, Larry Vanover and Joe West should get their jobs back, but he let stand the dismissal of 13 others, including Richie Garcia and Eric Gregg.

Disallowed
?By a State of Washington ethics board, a proposed endorsement deal between Huskies football coach Rick Neuheisel and Nike that would have paid Neuheisel as much as $150,000 per season. The board said such an arrangement would violate a law banning state employees from being compensated by others for doing state business.

Elected
? Silvio Berlusconi, as Italy's prime minister. In 1993 the media mogul founded Forza Italia, the conservative party that draws its name from the rallying cry of fans of Italy's national soccer team. Among the holdings in Berlusconi's $12 billion corporate empire is perennial soccer power AC Milan.

Broken Up
? Dennis Rodman's 40th birthday bash, by Newport Beach, Calif., police. Rodman arrived at the party in a helicopter that circled his house several times before landing on a public beach. Cops received dozens of calls from neighbors complaining about noise from the party. Rodman shifted the festivities to a nearby restaurant.

Sued
?CART, by Texas Motor Speedway, over the cancellation of the April 29 Firestone Firehawk 600, which drivers refused to take part in after they experienced excessive G-forces in practice. The speedway seeks the return of $2.1 million it paid CART and as much as $6 million for expenses, lost profits and damages. CART calls the suit meritless.