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, May 29 1992 Date: Fri, 29 May 92 05:20:41 EDT Message-ID: 05-29 0000 DECISIONLINE: Sports USA TODAY Update May 29-31, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PORTLAND ADVANCES TO FINALS: The Portland Trail Blazers advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons, defeating the Utah Jazz 105-97 Thursday in the Western Conference final. Portland, which never led in the first half, built a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter. Clyde Drexler scored 18 points for Portland, which meets the winner of the Chicago-Cleveland Eastern Conference final series. NETS NAME DALY COACH: The New Jersey Nets Thursday named former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly as their new coach. The 61-year-old Daly led the Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles in 1988-89 and 1989-90. "I'm sorry we weren't able to get this done sooner," said general manager Willis Reed. "When you're trying to catch the big fish, you have to be patient." PENGUINS TAKE 2-0 LEAD: Mario Lemieux scored two goals to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup final. The defending champion Penguins have a nine-game playoff winning streak - they haven't lost since Game 3 of the Patrick Division final. The series moves to Chicago for Games 3 and 4 Saturday and Monday. SELES, SABATINI ADVANCE: Top seed Monica Seles moved closer to her third straight French Open title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Karin Kschwendt in a second-round match Thursday. In other women's play, No. 3 Gabriela Sabatini beat Sandra Cecchini 6-0, 6-1, and No. 5 Jennifer Capriati beat Sandrine Testud 6-4, 6-4. "If I would have slacked off a little bit, I could have been in trouble," Capriati said. COURIER DOWNS MUSTER: Defending champion Jim Courier beat Thomas Muster 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in men's play at the French Open Thursday and faces Alberto Mancini in the third round. Also advancing: No. 3 Pete Sampras, No. 4 Michael Stich and No. 11 Andre Agassi. No. 2 Stefan Edberg, No. 5 Michael Chang and No. 10 Ivan Lendl had matches put on hold overnight because of rain. RANGERS WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT: The Texas Rangers won their sixth straight game, beating the Chicago White Sox 4-2 Thursday. Bobby Witt (5-4) outpitched Jack McDowell (7-3), who lost his third consecutive game. The Rangers moved a half game ahead of the Oakland A's atop the AL West. In other AL games: Kansas City 5, Detroit 1; Boston 2, California 1. CUBS TOP GIANTS: The Chicago Cubs downed The San Francisco Giants 5-0 Thursday behind the pitching of Mike Morgan (5-2) in the only National League game. Morgan won his fifth consecutive decision in May and had an RBI single. Ryne Sandberg hit his seventh home run of the season for the Cubs. Mark Grace also homered, his fourth. Dave Burba (2-6) took the loss. WHITE TELLS OF RACISM: Outgoing National League president Bill White says he is "bitter" and "mad" that racism is still so prevalent in Major League Baseball. The game's highest ranking black executive Thursday told the Black Coaches Association he has not been able to make an impact with minority hiring in the league. White says he has asked Hank Aaron, a Braves exec, to seek the NL presidency. FAMILIAR NAMES IN DRAFT: Some children of former big-league players are expected to be top picks in baseball's 28th annual June draft, starting Monday. Two likely first-rounders: Outfielder Preston Wilson, stepson (and nephew) of former major-leaguer Mookie Wilson; and catcher Ryan Luzinski, son of former slugger Greg Luzinski. The draft's most likely first pick: Phil Nevin, Cal State-Fullerton's third baseman. TOP TEAMS MEET THIS WEEKEND: The St. Louis Cardinals will try to hold onto first place in the National League East, and the San Diego Padres will try to overtake San Francisco for the NL West lead when the two teams meet in St. Louis this weekend. Also, the Baltimore Orioles, leaders in the AL East, travel to Oakland to take on the A's, who trail the Texas Rangers by a half game in the AL West. DICKINSON, TOMS LEAD TOURNEYS: Four consecutive birdies led Judy Dickinson to a 6-under-par 66 and the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA's $500,000 Oldsmobile Classic at East Lansing, Mich. Lauri Merten and Carolyn Hill trail by two strokes. Also, David Toms shot 8-under-par 63 to tie Ted Schulz's course record set last year in the PGA Kemper Open in Potomac, Md. Jay Don Blake is one stroke back. FIRST U.S. CUP THIS WEEKEND: The U.S. National soccer team, preparing for the 1994 World Cup, joins Ireland, Italy and Portugal in the inaugural U.S. Cup that begins Saturday in Washington, D.C. The tournament runs through June 7 with games also being played in New Haven, Conn., Chicago and Foxboro, Mass. REYNOLDS CAN COMPETE: Butch Reynolds, world record-holder in the 400 meters and banned until August because of a drug suspension, was granted a temporary restraining order Thursday in order to compete in Saturday's Bruce Jenner:Symantec Classic in San Jose, Calif. Reynolds was exonerated by the U.S. track federation (TAC) but recently lost in arbitration with the international federation (IAAF). 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. 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