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 Thu, Mar 19 1992 Date: Thu, 19 Mar 92 05:57:39 EST Message-ID: 03-19 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update March 19, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network NFL REVERSES REPLAY RULE: There was a major replay reversal Wednesday in the NFL. Owners fell short of the needed votes to continue the controversial officiating tool after six years. "I'm sure it will be voted on next year," said Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, a proponent who promised ongoing efforts to improve the technology. Competition Committee head Jim Finks called replay's termination "stupidity." MARCH MADNESS TO TIP OFF: Campbell gets the first shot at Duke Thursday in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as the Blue Devils look to repeat as champions. Their East Region game is one of 16 tipping off the 1992 NCAA men's tournament, and one of two featuring top seeds. Ohio State takes on Mississippi Valley State in the Southeast region. The Campbell Fighting Camels are 32-point underdogs. NOTRE DAME WINS FIRST NIT GAME: Notre Dame advanced to the second round of the NIT with a 63-56 win over Western Michigan at South Bend, Ind., Wednesday. LaPhonso Ellis and Daimon Sweet each scored 15 points for the Fighting Irish. In other first-round games: Tennessee 71, Alabama-Birmingham 68; Virginia 83, Villanova 80; Kansas St. 85, Western Kentucky 74; Pittsburgh 67, Penn State 65; Washington State 72, Minnesota 70. WOMEN'S TOURNEY BEGINS: The NCAA women's basketball tournament opened Wednesday with 16 first-round games. In the Mideast region, Rutgers routed Southern Mississippi 93-63. It was coach Theresa Grentz's 400th coaching win. Among other results: Toldeo 74, Providence 64; Alabama 100, Tennessee Tech 87; George Washington 70, Vermont 69; DePaul 67, Arizona St. 65; Southern Illinois 84, Colorado 80, OT. CAPRIATI DOWNS SELES: No. 5 Jennifer Capriati ended Monica Seles' 27-match winning streak Wednesday, ousting the world No. 1 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the quarterfinals of the Lipton International Players Championships. "I was expecting her at any time to go on a roll," Capriati said. Capriati plays No. 4 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and No. 2 Steffi Graf faces No. 3 Gabriela Sabatini in Thursday's semifinals. COURIER ADVANCES: No. 1 Jim Courier struggled to defeat Italy's Diego Nargiso 6-7 (8-10), 6-2, 6-0 at the Lipton International Players Championships. Courier plays No. 5 Michael Chang in a semifinal Friday. Switzerland's Jakob Hlasek tangles with Italy's Alberto Mancini in the other semifinal. Hlasek beat Andrei Cherkasov 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-4; Mancini beat Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5. FLYERS TOP CANADIENS: Mark Freer and Rod Brind'Amour scored first-period goals as the Philadelphia Flyers downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-3. The Flyers have not lost at the Forum in Montreal since 1987, a span of six games. In other NHL games: N.Y. Islanders 1, N.Y. Rangers 1, OT; Vancouver 3, Hartford 2. QUICK SETTLEMENT EXPECTED: Deputy commissioner Tim Finchem told PGA Tour players Wednesday that he was optimistic about a quick settlement after meeting with Richard Phillips, attorney for the Professional Association of Golf Officials, the Tour's rules officials. PAGO has threatened a work stoppage next week if an agreement isn't reached. BROWN LIFTS CELTICS TO WIN: The Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-94 on Dee Brown's three-point play with 32 seconds left. The loss ends the Cavs' five-game winning streak. In other NBA games: Indiana 116, Miami 111, OT; Orlando 99, Atlanta 96; Detroit 91, Philadelphia 85; San Antonio 118, Sacramento 89; LA Clippers 117, Dallas 86; Portland 98, LA Lakers 93; Golden State 123, Minnesota 120. MAGEE BEGINS DEFENSE: Andrew Magee opens his defense of the Nestle Invitational Thursday at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla. Magee has been improving after a slow start. Magee finished 18th two weeks ago and ninth last week, closing 69-67 for a 12-under-par 276. In Phoenix, Brandie Burton, 20, who won last week in Tucson, Ariz., goes for her second LPGA victory, in the Standard Register Ping tourney. HOLYFIELD DISTRAUGHT OVER DEATH: Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was described as distraught after his older brother, Willie, 35, was shot to death in Atlanta early Wednesday in a family dispute. Willie's brother-in-law, Michael Lucas, was charged with murder. RANGERS BEAT TIGERS: The Texas Rangers downed the Detroit Tigers 8-3 in a baseball spring training game Wednesday. In other games: Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 4; Boston 5, Pittsburgh 3; Montreal 10, N.Y. Yankees 9; Houston 3, Atlanta 2; Toronto 7, Kansas City 1; Minnesota 6, White Sox 3; Mets 9, Los Angeles 8; Oakland 6, Cleveland 1; California 5, Seattle 4; Baltimore 1, Philadelphia 0. 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