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, Apr 1 1992 Date: Wed, 1 Apr 92 05:43:26 EST Message-ID: 04-01 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update April 1, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PLAYERS TO VOTE WEDNESDAY: NHL players will decide Wednesday whether the league will have its first strike. Each team's votes on the latest contract proposal by owners will be totaled during a conference call in the morning, with a walkout scheduled for 3 p.m. EST if the deal is not approved. NHL President John Ziegler and players association director Bob Goodenow met twice Tuesday without much progress. PENGUINS TOP FLYERS: Mario Lemieux scored a goal and had three assists to raise his league-leading point total to 132 as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 Tuesday. Grant Jennings had two goals for the Penguins. In other NHL games: Chicago 3, Detroit 3, OT; Boston 5, Quebec 4, OT; Minnesota 5, Buffalo 3; Calgary 5, Edmonton 2. TYSON REFUSED BAIL: A three-judge panel ruled Tuesday that Mike Tyson must remain in prison, refusing to grant the ex-heavyweight champion bail pending appeal of his rape conviction. The appeal process could take from six months to a year. Also, Tyson continued a fast to lose weight and was reprimanded by prison officials for signing autographs, a violation of prison codes. BULLS DOWN KNICKS: Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan scored Chicago's last 16 points as the Bulls beat the New York Knicks 96-90 Tuesday. Jordan had 36 points and Pippen had 27. In other NBA games: Cleveland 123, Miami 114; LA Clippers 97, Detroit 81; LA Lakers 107, Houston 101; Minnesota 121, Denver 114, OT; Phoenix 128, Portland 111; Seattle 122, Utah 103; Golden State 148, Sacramento 136, 2OT. JORDAN CLEARS NAME, APOLOGIZES: Michael Jordan cleared his name at National Basketball Association headquarters Tuesday but later apologized for "letting people down" with questionable associations with high-stakes golf and poker gamblers. "No one is perfect, not even Michael Jordan," said the Chicago Bulls star, embroiled in controversy over three checks he wrote reportedly for $165,000 in gambling debts. LAETTNER RULING QUESTIONED: Drake's Rudy Washington, head of the Black Coaches Association, said Tuesday he will seek a meeting with the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee regarding the handling of Christian Laettner's stepping on another player Saturday. Washington said he will question why Laettner, who is white, was not punished and a black player, Rod Sellers, received a suspension for another incident. JONES GOES FOR RECORD: If Virginia defeats Notre Dame Wednesday night in the National Invitational college basketball final in New York, Cavaliers coach Jeff Jones will have accomplished a first. He will be the first person to have played on a team that won the NIT and coached a team that won the tournament. He was a point guard on Virginia's 1980 team that won the title. Virginia is favored by three points. CUBS RELEASE LANCASTER: Chicago Cubs' pitcher Les Lancaster was the only millionaire released Tuesday on the final day teams could let players with non-guaranteed contracts go without paying their full 1992 salaries. Lancaster, who signed for $1.1 million this season, was the fourth millionaire cut in spring training. Kevin Seitzer, one of the four, was signed by Milwaukee Tuesday for $109,000. YANKEES DOWN METS: In the battle of New York, the Yankees beat the Mets 7-5 Tuesday in a baseball spring training game. Other scores: White Sox 11, Minnesota 2; Atlanta 12, Montreal 4; Boston 8, Philadelphia 2; St. Louis 8, Detroit 5; Cincinnati 4, Kansas City 3; Pittsburgh 9, Toronto 3; L.A. 4, Houston 2; Milwaukee 12, Seattle 7; San Diego 14, California 0; Baltimore 4, Texas 3; San Francisco 5, Oakland 2. TWO CITED FOR SCALPING TICKETS: Two University of New Mexico athletic department employees were among those cited for illegally scalping tickets to the NCAA West Regional, the school said Tuesday. Athletic director Gary Ness said football graduate assistant Erik Munson was relieved of his coaching and administrative duties. Part-time strength coach Denny Bonewitz resigned, effective immediately, Ness said. CALIFORNIA TEAM NO. 1: The Palos Verdes (Calif.) Peninsula girls basketball team, which went 33-0, finished No. 1 in the USA TODAY high school rankings. The team already has hung up its own national championship banner. "When you pick up USA TODAY and see all the great teams, it's a great honor to be national champions," said coach Wendell Yoshida. DEBERG RETURNS TO TAMPA BAY: NFL Plan B free agent Steve DeBerg returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tuesday the same way he left four years ago - as Vinny Testaverde's backup. The Bucs signed the 38-year-old quarterback to a two-year contract. Also, the Indianapolis Colts signed former Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Tom Tupa, and the Miami Dolphins are trying to trade for Bobby Humphrey of the Denver Broncos. TEAM DENNIS CONNER ON TOP: Team Dennis Conner is in sole possession of first place in the America's Cup defender series for the first time since the races began. His Stars & Stripes finished 45 seconds ahead of rival yacht America 3 in Tuesday's race off San Diego. Conner has four straight victories. TOP SEEDS IN ACTION WEDNESDAY: Top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini and No. 2 Martina Navratilova begin play Wednesday at the $550,000 Family Circle Magazine Cup at Hilton Head, S.C. Seven of the nine seeded players advanced Tuesday in first-round play. Conchita Martinez of Spain, at No. 5 the highest seeded player in action, dispatched Mary Lou Daniels 6-0, 6-2. 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