Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.sports From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: sports Wed, Mar 18 1992 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 92 05:44:27 EST Message-ID: 03-18 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update March 18, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PIRATES TRADE SMILEY TO TWINS: The Pittsburgh Pirates traded pitcher John Smiley, who was 20-8 last season, for two young players. The Twins sent pitcher Denny Neagle, 23, and outfielder Midre Cummings, 20, to Pittsburgh for Smiley. Neagle was a candidate for the Twins rotation and Cummings won the Class A Midwest League batting title last year. Smiley, 27, is eligible for free agency after 1992. METS ROUT ROYALS: The N.Y. Mets downed the Kansas City Royals 21-7 in a spring training game Tuesday. Other games: St. Louis 1, Toronto 0; Houston 9, Pittsburgh 5; Detroit 2, Cincinnati 1; Minnesota 7, Boston 4; Baltimore 8, Montreal 3; Philadelphia 8, Texas 3; White Sox 10, Yankees 9; Atlanta 3, L.A. 1; San Diego 7, Cubs 5; California 6, Oakland 3; S.F. 7, Milwaukee 4; Cleveland 2, Seattle 0. ELLIS TO MEET WITH KULHMANN: John W. Ellis, president of The Baseball Club of Seattle, which is attempting to buy the Mariners for $100 million, will meet Wednesday with Fred Kulhmann, chairman of baseball's ownership committee. Ellis' group is expected to accept or reject Kulhmann's proposal, which stipulates involvement by Japanese investor Nintendo Co. Ltd. be reduced below 50%. WOMEN'S TOURNEY SET TO BEGIN: The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament begins Wednesday night with 16-first-round games. Among Wednesday's games: No. 23 Vermont (29-0) - the only undefeated team in the USA - at No. 16 George Washington (24-6); No. 24 Creighton (27-3), with a 26-game home winning streak, hosts Long Beach State (21-9); and North Carolina (21-8) hosts Old Dominion (20-10). PENGUINS DOWN OILERS: The Pittsburgh Penguins came back to beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 Tuesday on goals by Kevin Stevens and Ron Francis late in the third period. Stevens had two goals as the Penguins improved to 7-2 in their last nine games. In other NHL games: Toronto 4, Quebec 3, OT; Washington 6, St. Louis 4; Minnesota 3, Buffalo 1; Detroit 5, San Jose 4; Los Angeles 5, Winnipeg 4. CAPRIATI TO MEET SELES: No. 5 seed Jennifer Capriati outlasted No. 9 Zina Garrison 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 Tuesday at the Lipton International Players Championships in Key Biscayne, Fla. Next up for Capriati Wednesday is No. 1 Monica Seles, who is riding a 27-match winning streak. No. 2 Steffi Graf and No. 3 Gabriela Sabatini were extended to three sets before winning their matches to also advance to the quarterfinals. MCENROE, BECKER LOSE: In men's play at the Lipton International Players Championships Tuesday, John McEnroe and Boris Becker both were upset. No. 3 Boris Becker lost to Alberto Mancini 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and McEnroe was beaten by Richard Krajicek 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. No. 1 Jim Courier advanced in straight sets; Pete Sampras and Michael Chang won in three. JORDAN LEADS BULLS TO WIN: Michael Jordan scored 11 of his game-high 40 points in the 4th quarter Tuesday as the Chicago Bulls downed the New Jersey Nets 90-79. In other NBA games: New York 99, Orlando 86; Milwaukee 127, Boston 106; Houston 100, LA Clippers 92; Denver 118, Sacramento 100; Phoenix 92, Dallas 81; Portland 111, Minnesota 91; Golden State 119, Seattle 107. EXAPNSION LIST CUT TO SEVEN: The National Football League cut its list of cities vying for two expansion franchises to seven from 11 Tuesday. Out of the running: Honolulu, Nashville, San Antonio and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. In: Baltimore, Memphis, Oakland, St. Louis, Sacramento, Charlotte, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla. But Commissioner Paul Tagliabue labeled "the labor situation" the big roadblock. TURF BLAMED FOR INJURY: The Pontiac Silverdome's artificial turf caused the injury that left Mike Utley paralyzed from the chest down, said Kenneth Silver, a lawyer for the former Detroit Lions offensive lineman. Utley suffered spinal injuries when he fell headfirst on the turf during a game Nov. 17. Michael Abington, executive director of the Silverdome, declined to comment. NORMAN WITHDRAWS FROM TOURNEY: Greg Norman, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Feb. 24, withdrew from the PGA's Nestle Invitational at Orlando Tuesday. Also, deputy commissioner Tim Finchem met Tuesday with Richard Phillips, attorney for PGA Tour officials, seeking a collective bargaining agreement with the union. KNIGHT COMMISSION ISSUES REPORT: The Knight Commission said Tuesday that college presidents should be allowed to continue their work to clean up intercollegiate athletics. The blue-ribbon panel, urging reform in college sports, called on federal and state legislators to "stand aside." Fourteen of the commission's 22 members are current or former college presidents or chancellors. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Sports Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Sports Editor: Jason P. Smith. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM