Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.sports From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: sports Fri, Aug 7 1992 Date: Fri, 7 Aug 92 04:31:46 EDT Message-ID: 08-07 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update Aug. 7-9, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network USA HAS BEST DAY: With a spectacular day in track and field Thursday, the USA stormed back into the overall medals race as the Summer Olympics head into the final weekend. The U.S. team enjoyed its best day Thursday - six gold and 12 medals overall - to pull within one medal of the Unified Team, 87-86. Still to come: 16 events for the track team, which won nine medals Thursday. U.S. TRACK TEAM CLEANS UP: Kevin Young set a world record Thursday in the 400-meter hurdles, breaking the tape in 46.78 seconds. U.S. hurdler Edwin Moses set the former record of 47.02 in 1983. Carl Lewis won his third consecutive gold medal in the long jump with a leap of 28 feet, 5 1:2 inches. Mike Powell (28-4 1:4) took the silver and Joe Greene (27-4 1:2) the bronze in the USA's sweep of the event. DREAM TEAM FACES CROATIA AGAIN: The U.S. men's basketball team goes for the gold Saturday. The USA defeated Lithuania 127-76 and Croatia downed the Unified Team 75-74 in Thursday's semifinals. The USA defeated Croatia in group play 103-70. It could be the last game for Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the team's co-captains. Johnson is undecided about a comeback and Bird, plagued by back ailments for two seasons, might retire. SHAQ TO BECOME TOP-PAID ROOKIE: Top draft pick Shaquille O'Neal is expected to sign a contract with the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic Friday that will make him the highest-paid rookie in league history. Florida TODAY reports in Friday's editions that the 7-1 center from Louisiana State will be paid $3.5 million next season as part of a deal to be announced at a Friday news conference. CONTRACT TO TOTAL $40M: Shaquille O'Neal's contract - expected to total $40 million over seven years - includes a clause that lets him become a restricted free agent after four seasons. To find room for O'Neal under the NBA's $14 million salary cap for 1992-93, the Magic restructured the contracts of Terry Catledge, Jerry Reynolds, Scott Skiles, Greg Kite and newly acquired Lester Conner. BRAVES MOVE UP ON REDS: The Atlanta Braves Thursday increased their lead in the National League West to 3 1:2 games with a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. In other National League games: Montreal 7, Philadelphia 4; Chicago 5, New York 2; Pittsburgh 3, St. Louis 2 (13 innings); San Diego 7, Houston 5. CARTER LEADS TORONTO TO WIN: Joe Carter drove in four runs, three with a fifth-inning homer, and scored three runs Thursday as the Toronto Blue Jays outslugged the slumping Detroit Tigers 15-11. In other American League games: Boston 3, New York 1; Chicago 5, Minnesota 3; Milwaukee 4, Seattle 2; Kansas City 7, California 6; Oakland 2, Texas 0. ROCKIES REORGANIZE: The Colorado Rockies' current partners will buy controlling interest of the National League expansion team, filling the void left with the resignation of Mickey Monus. John Antonucci will remain as chairman, the team said Thursday. Critics called for Antonucci's ouster because of his investment ties with Monus. MOCHRIE, STEINHAUER IN LEAD: Dottie Mochrie, a winner three times this year, and Sherri Steinhauer, third last week, share the lead starting Friday's second round of the McCall's LPGA Classic. Mochrie, who won the Welch's Classic last week, and Steinhauer shot 3-under-par 68. Deedee Lasker is a shot back at 69 with 13 players at 70, including Betsy King. CEREMONY TO HONOR SARAJEVO: A torch lighting and candlelight ceremony in support of the citizens of strife-torn Sarajevo will be held Friday night in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the site of the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Donations to aid the children of Sarajevo can be sent to: Sarajevo Relief Fund, P.O. Box 469, Lake Placid, N.Y. 12946. PATRIOTS ADJUST AFTER DEATHS: The New England Patriots' 10th-round pick, center Steve Gordon, left camp Thursday after his mother, who had multiple sclerosis, died in California. No. 1 pick offensive tackle Eugene Chung is to rejoin the team in Indianapolis before Saturday's game but isn't scheduled to play. His father died last weekend. REDSKINS SET AUG. 17 DEADLINE: Washington Redskins' general manager Charley Casserly sent letters Thursday to unsigned quarterback Mark Rypien, tackle Jim Lachey and cornerback Darrell Green informing them Aug. 17 is the deadline for contract negotiations. That's their first practice after returning from London, and when coach Joe Gibbs wants the players in camp, The Redskins opener is Sept. 7 at Dallas. BREWERS RETIRE FINGERS' NUMBER: The Milwaukee Brewers will retire their second uniform Sunday - No. 34 - for mustachioed reliever Rollie Fingers who won Cy Young:MVP honors in 1981. The Brewers retired Hank Aaron's No. 44 in 1976. Fingers ended his 17-year career in 1985 after five years with the Brewers. Fingers' retired number will be baseball's 93rd, 322nd in major professional sports. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Sports Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Sports Editor: Kate Coughlin. (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