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, May 1 1992 Date: Fri, 1 May 92 05:15:09 EDT Message-ID: 05-01 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update May 1-3, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network SPORTING EVENTS POSTPONED: Violence in Los Angeles caused the postponement of several athletic events in the city Thursday. Among events affected: The Clippers-Utah Jazz playoff game was pushed back to Saturday; the Dodgers-Philadelphia Phillies baseball game was postponed; and Hollywood Park in Inglewood canceled Thursday's and Friday's horse races but hopes to open Saturday and simulcast the Kentucky Derby. RED WINGS WIN SERIES: The Detroit Red Wings became the ninth team in NHL history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-1 by beating the Minnesota North Stars 5-2. The Red Wings won the best-of-seven Norris Division Semifinals series 4-3. In the Smythe Division, the Vancouver Canucks stopped the Winnipeg Jets 5-0 to win their series 4-3. NHL SERIES GO THE DISTANCE: A record-setting six of the first eight NHL playoff series have gone to the seven-game limit this season. Friday's Game 7s: Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers at Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals. "We didn't want a Game 7," Washington's Dino Ciccarelli said, "But maybe it was meant to be." CAVS FINALLY WIN SERIES: The Cleveland Cavaliers broke their string of six first-round playoff losses since 1976, beating the New Jersey Nets 98-89 Thursday to win the Eastern Conference series 3-1. Cleveland hosts Boston to start the East semifinals Saturday. In the Western Conference, the Seattle Supersonics downed the Golden State Warriors 119-116 to win their series 3-1. RYAN ROUGHED UP IN LOSS: A year after throwing his record seventh no-hitter, Nolan Ryan (0-1) was shelled by the Chicago White Sox who beat the Texas Rangers 12-1 Thursday. Ryan, in his first start since coming off the disabled list, gave up seven runs in 2 1:3 innings. In other AL games: California 8, Cleveland 5; Oakland 10, Detroit 6; Milwaukee 3, Toronto 2. METS TOP ASTROS: Eddie Murray singled home the winning run in the eighth inning as the New York Mets beat the Houston Astros 4-3 Thursday. The Mets won their eighth in a row at Shea Stadium. Sid Fernandez struck out 12, but needed relief help from Jeff Innis (3-1) who got the win and John Franco, who got his fourth save. In other NL games: San Francisco 9, St. Louis 3; Montreal 9, San Diego 3. OWNERS DEMAND CHANGE IN DEAL: Baseball's ownership committee, meeting in Chicago, is demanding the Japanese-led group attempting to buy the Seattle Mariners change the structure of its proposal to increase local control. Committee chairman Fred Kuhlmann of the St. Louis Cardinals said Thursday that a delegation from his committee will meet with the Japanese-led group and with Jeff Smulyan, current Mariners owner. DERBY DAY SATURDAY: The 118th Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday in Louisville, Ky., with Arazi the 6-5 favorite in the field of 19 Thoroughbreds. Arazi jockey Pat Valenzuela said "We will win the Derby, without a doubt." Top challengers in the 1 1:4-mile race include A.P. Indy, the Japanese-owned 3-year-old, Florida Derby champion Technology and Arkansas Derby winner Pine Bluff. CONNORS, GRAF, SABATINI WIN: Jimmy Connors beat Claudio Pistolesi 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 Thursday to earn a quarterfinal berth opposite No. 1 seed Pete Sampras in the AT&T Challenge in Roswell, Ga. Sampras beat Luiz Mattar 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Also, Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini won second-round matches in a WTA tournament in Hamburg, Germany. Graf defeated Magdalena Maleeva 6-2, 6-3. Sabatini beat Barbara Rittner 6-1, 6-1. DYE TO GIVE UP A.D. JOB: Pat Dye announced Thursday he will give up his job as Auburn athletic director, remaining as the Tigers' football coach. He insisted the decision has nothing to do with allegations of rules violations by former player Eric Ramsey. Auburn expects to name a successor in a month. WALKER LEADS LPGA TOURNEY: Colleen Walker shot a career-best 8-under-par 64 Thursday and leads the LPGA Centel Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. Michelle Estill shot 66, Alice Ritzman 67. On the PGA Tour, Mike Hulbert and Ronnie Black, at 7-under-par 65, are tied for the lead in the Shell Houston Open. Davis Love III, seeking his third consecutive victory, shot 69. Masters champion Fred Couples shot 70. ITALY GAINS BERTH IN FINAL: Italy won the challenger's berth in the America's Cup final with a win against New Zealand Thursday. Dennis Conner lost to America 3 and must win Friday to stay alive in the defender final. Conner's Stars & Stripes trails America 3 in the best-of-13 defender final 6-4. 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