Budget Breakthrough Clears Way for Soccer’s Gold Cup
A breakthrough in federal budget negotiations Friday appears to have saved next week’s CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament in Southern California from having to be postponed.
Chuck Blazer, general secretary of the regional confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean soccer federations, said the nine-nation championship will probably be played as scheduled Jan. 10-21 in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego.
There had been fears Thursday that the government shutdown would prevent foreign players from obtaining visas to enter the United States. But Blazer said Friday that CONCACAF is “getting good cooperation at State Department” and that the teams should arrive in Southern California in time for the tournament.
Winter Sports
Jonny Moseley of Tiburon, Calif., led a historic 1-2-3 sweep by U.S. men in a World Cup moguls ski event at Lake Placid, N.Y., while former Olympic champion Donna Weinbrecht of Killington, Vt., overcame sub-zero cold for the 37th victory of her career. Weinbrecht won the qualifying run of the Key Bank Freestyle International then collected her fifth World Cup win.
Tennis
Olympic champion Marc Rosset and 15-year-old Martina Hingis led Switzerland into the Hopman Cup final with a 3-0 victory over defending champion Germany at Perth, Australia. Rosset beat Martin Sinner, 6-2, 6-4, after Hingis defeated Anke Huber, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, and the Swiss pair won the doubles, 6-1, 6-3.
In another Group B match, Australia beat the Netherlands, 2-1, when Dutchman Richard Krajicek withdrew because of an injury to his right arm.
Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia led the advance to the semifinals of the Australian Hardcourt with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over transplanted Briton Greg Rusedski at Adelaide. . . . Sandra Cacic of Bradenton, Fla., reached the Amway Classic final with 6-3, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Florencia Labat at Auckland, New Zealand. Barbara Paulus of Austria beat Chinese qualifier Li Fang, 6-3, 6-4, in the other semifinal.
Baseball
The Dodgers are inviting 15 non-roster players to spring training, including replacement pitchers Jody Treadwell and David Pyc and replacement catcher Ron Mauer. They join third baseman Mike Busch as the only players in camp who played in spring training replacement games. The Dodgers also invited pitchers David Yocum, their first selection in the 1995 draft, Rudy Seanez, Jim Bruske, John O’Donaghue and Gary Rath; catchers Tom Prince and Noe Munoz; infielders Paul Konerko and Oreste Marrero; and outfielders Rick Parker, Reggie Williams and Billy Lott.
Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians is being sued for more than $850,000 by the guardian of a teenager accused of egging the outfielder’s home on Halloween. The 16-year-old Cleveland Heights boy contended Belle gave chase in a vehicle and bumped into him after Belle’s home was hit with eggs by trick-or-treaters. Belle was charged with reckless operation for chasing after the boys and was fined $100.
The Angels agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Dennis Springer, 30, on a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training as a non-roster player. . . . Andre Dawson, 42, decided to return to the Florida Marlins, agreeing to a minor-league contract that would pay him $500,000 if he makes the big league team. . . . Free-agent Anthony Young agreed to a minor-league contract with Houston. He would get $275,000 if he makes the Astros. . . . Pitcher Gil Heredia and the Texas Rangers agreed to a $360,000, one-year contract.
Miscellany
Oldsmobile will supply race engines for the Indy Racing League beginning in 1997. The GM division became the first manufacturer to announce an engine agreement with the IRL. . . . David Coulthard dismissed reports that he might drive for Jackie Stewart’s new Formula One Ford team when it begins racing next year. . . . Clemson Coach Frank Howard has been hospitalized for tests, less than two weeks after he went home following treatment for a mild heart attack. . . . Bill Oliver, who built swarming defenses that won three national titles at Alabama, was named defensive coordinator at Auburn. The trial of Daniel Andre Green, 21, charged with killing the father of Chicago Bulls’ star Michael Jordan, became so contentious that the jury 10 times was sent out of the courtroom in Lumberton, N.C., while attorneys debated how evidence was being presented. Green is charged with murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in the July 1993 shooting death of James Jordan, 57. . . . USA Gymnastics announced that Indianapolis has been chosen over Anaheim as the United States’ bid city for the 1999 World Gymnastics Championships.
