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 25 1992 Date: Wed, 25 Mar 92 05:43:34 EST Message-ID: 03-25 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update March 25, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network RANGERS CLINCH DIVISION: The New York Rangers clinched first place in the Patrick Division Tuesday with a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Also, Mario Lemieux became the 36th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points in Pittsburgh's 4-3 loss to Detroit. In other games: New Jersey 4, San Jose 3; Quebec 5, N.Y. Islanders 2; Hartford 8, Washington 2; Vancouver 4, Minnesota 2; Edmonton 4, Calgary 4, OT. NHL TALKS CONTINUE: NHL players and owners met for four hours Tuesday in Toronto and ironed out some of their problems. They return to the bargaining table Wednesday in the hope of reaching an agreement that will avert a strike set for noon Monday. "We had our best discussion by far, but we have a long way to go," Washington goaltender Mike Liut said. CAVS DOWN PACERS: The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 128-113 Tuesday as Brad Daugherty had his third career triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The loss snapped the Pacers' four-game winning streak. In other NBA games: New York 126, Orlando 117; Chicago 116, Denver 103; Portland 109, Dallas 83; Seattle 128, Houston 106; Sacramento 113, Milwaukee 102. RHODE ISLAND WINS NIT GAME: Rhode Island advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT Tuesday by beating Boston College 81-80 in two overtimes. Jason Alexander hit a three-pointer with 34 seconds left in the second OT to win the game for the Rams (22-9) at Newton, Mass. In the other second-round game Tuesday, Utah beat Arizona St. 60-58. TICKETS HARD TO FIND: New Mexico State sold its allotment of 686 NCAA basketball tournament tickets in a half hour Monday, leaving an estimated 1,000 people in line empty-handed. The Aggies meet UCLA in the West Regional semifinal Thursday in Albuquerque. Kansas fans, on the other hand, have tickets they don't need for the Midwest Regional since the Jayhawks were upset last weekend by UTEP. CALL FOR PROBE REJECTED: Nevada Regents, by a 5-4 vote Tuesday, rejected a call for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding Jerry Tarkanian's ouster as coach at Nevada-Las Vegas. Tarkanian has begun removing some belongings from his office at Thomas & Mack Center. But his attorney, Chuck Thompson, says it's not a sign he has given up his fight with school officials. PGA OFFICIALS VOTE TO STRIKE: After rejecting the PGA Tour's final offer, the Professional Association of Golf Officials voted 19-0 Tuesday to strike at midnight Wednesday. Even if there is a strike, Tour deputy commissioner Tim Finchem says the Players Championship will start Thursday at the Tournament Players Club in Ponte Vedra, Fla. PAGO attorney Richard Phillips said the Tour is "stonewalling." DIBBLE HAS TENDINITIS: Cincinnati Reds relief pitch Rob Dibble was diagnosed as having tendinitis in his right shoulder after a magnetic resonance imaging test Tuesday and will be out for at least two weeks. No serious injury was detected by the test. Reds team physician Richard Jolson said the pitcher will be placed on a supervised rehabilitation and strengthening program during the next 10 days to two weeks. YANKEES BEAT BRAVES: The New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 Tuesday in a baseball spring training game. In other games: Cincinnati 4, Philadelphia 1; Kansas City 4, Detroit 3; Texas 3, St. Louis 1; Houston 1, Boston 0; Toronto 6, Baltimore 5; San Diego 4, Chicago Cubs 3; Cleveland 5, Seattle 4; Oakland 12, Milwaukee 9; San Francisco 9, California 6; N.Y. Mets 3, Los Angeles 1. DR. SAYS HE PRESCRIBED STEROIDS: A doctor says he prescribed anabolic steroids for some Dutch speedskaters who used them before the Winter Olympics, the Dutch newspaper Het Parool reported Tuesday. It quoted Michiel Karsten as saying he prescribed the banned muscle-building drugs to several skaters during the last two years, including Dutch Olympic team members. Dutch skaters won four medals in the Olympics last month. TYSON SHOULDN'T BE FREE: Mike Tyson shouldn't remain free during his appeal if sentenced to prison Thursday for raping a beauty pageant contestant, prosecutor Greg Garrison said Tuesday. "There's no excuse to have him out where he could do that again," Garrison said. Tyson was convicted Feb. 10 of raping Desiree Washington. He will be sentenced Thursday. CRICKET WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY: Pakistan plays England Wednesday in Melbourne, Australia, to decide cricket's World Cup. The match will be played before a crowd of 95,000 and a potential worldwide television audience of one billion. 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