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 Fri, Apr 3 1992 Date: Fri, 3 Apr 92 05:43:48 EST Message-ID: 04-03 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update April 3-5, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FINAL FOUR THIS WEEKEND: Minneapolis will heat up this weekend as the men's Final Four hits the hardwood with the national championship in sight. The young Michigan Wolverines battle the unknown Cincinnati Bearcats in the first semifinal Saturday. (CBS 5:40 p.m. EST). In the second game, the defending NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils take on the hot Indiana Hoosiers (8:10 p.m.) with the winners meeting Monday. NO PROGRESS IN NHL STRIKE: The NHL players' strike moved into its second day Thursday with no end in sight. NHL President John Ziegler met with players association director Bob Goodenow and Washington Capitals goaltender Mike Liut, but talks were limited. Opinions Thursday on sports talks shows were mixed. "Rangers fans are kind of numb and down," radio producer Dov Kramer said from New York. BASEBALL GOES ON THE ROAD: Baseball spring training raps up this weekend with life set to begin on opening day Monday. "I think everyone is real anxious to get (the season) started," said Chicago Cubs manager Jim Lefebvre. Some major league teams take their show on the road to such places as Columbus, Ohio; Little Rock. Ark.; Greenville, S.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Las Vegas; Oklahoma City; Washington, D.C.; and Denver. CAVS TOP CLIPPERS: The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 115-98, reaching the 50-win mark for only the second time in franchise history. Larry Nance scored 19 points and Mark Price and Brad Daugherty each had 18 for Cleveland. In other NBA games: New York 117, Charlotte 96; Houston 137, Denver 114; Phoenix 109, Golden State 105; Portland 118, Utah 86; Seattle 111, Sacramento 103. MORE NFL PLAYERS SIGN: A total of 166 NFL players changed teams during the just-completed Plan B free-agent signing period, up from 139 last season. The Cleveland Browns lead the pack, signing 11 players. The San Diego Chargers lost an NFL-high 11. Charley Winner, Miami's director of player personnel, on the high bonuses paid: "Plan B is not the answer to a recession, I'll tell you that." TYSON COOPERATIVE: Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson began his second week in prison on rape charges Thursday by volunteering for work assignments and cooperating with an education assessment. "He's adjusting to incarceration very well," said Kevin Moore, Indiana Department of Correction spokesman. Tyson's lawyers continued their efforts to seek his release from prison pending an appeal. JUDGES RULE ITALY WINS: Thursday was an exciting day at the 1992 America's Cup challenger and defender trials of San Diego. New Zealand edged Italy by one second, but judges ruled Italy the winner. France crashed, and Dennis Conner was bumped from first place. SABATINI LEADING MATCH: Top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina led her third-round match against Amanda Coetzer of South Africa 7-5, 5-3, when play was suspended because of darkness Thursday in the $550,000 Family Circle Magazine Cup tennis tournament at Hilton Head Island, S.C. Martina Navratilova, the No. 2 seed, was ousted 6-4, 6-2 by Natalia Zvereva of Belarus, seeded No. 10. LENDL ADVANCES: Top seed Ivan Lendl advanced to the quarterfinals of the Estoril (Portugal) Open Thursday, with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Javier Molina of Spain. No. 3 seed Karel Novacek was upset by Horacio de la Pena of Argentina 7-6 (7-3) 6-2; No. 7 seed Jordi Arrese of Spain beat Germany's Udo Riglewski 7-5, 6-2; and Spaniard, Carlos Costa, upset Ecuador's Andres Gomez 6-2, 6-4. HOCKEY FINAL SATURDAY: Lake Superior State's Paul Constantin scored two goals Thursday to lead the Lakers past Michigan State 4-2 and into the NCAA Hockey Tournament final at Albany, N.Y., Saturday night against Wisconsin, a 4-2 winner against Michigan. ELLIOTT GOES FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT: Bill Elliott takes a four-race winning streak into Sunday's NASCAR Food City 500 in Bristol, Tenn. The last drivers to win five in a row were Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, 21 years ago. Also Sunday: The IndyCar season makes its 1992 U.S. debut with the Valvoline 200 at Phoenix; Britain's Nigel Mansell goes for his third consecutive Formula One win in the Brazilian Grand Prix. NICKLAUS LEADS TRADITION: Jack Nicklaus shot a 7-under-par 65 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead at The Tradition PGA Senior tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. The tournament is being played at Desert Mountain's Cochise Course, which he designed. Also, Jay Haas eagled the 18th hole to tie Seve Ballesteros, Chip Beck and Brad Bryan at 5-under-par 67 in New Orleans' Freeport McMoRan Classic. GELBAUGH BURNS UP LEAGUE: Quarterback Stan Gelbaugh, MVP last season for leading London to the World League title, is hot again, giving the Monarchs the league's top offense. The former University of Maryland quarterback has thrown for a WL-high 672 yards in two games (46-for-91 and five touchdowns). The Monarchs (1-1) visit Barcelona (1-1) Saturday in a '91 World Bowl rematch. 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