The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 40

The Indianapolis Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1991 Sports Classified ads begin on Page 8 Obituaries 8 Judge throws out NFL's exemption again advance the ultimate termination of this litigation." The NFL used that sentence to suggest thai the 8th Circuit might again rule In Its favor. "We disagree with the district court's preliminary determination that the NFLPA has abandoned its rights and obligations as a union," said a league statement Issued by Joe Browne, the vice president for communications. "However, the district court took the unique step to Invite an Immediate appeal and we plan to do so. We believe that the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will recognize that these Issues are collective bargaining matters and again overturn the lower court's ruling." the union alter the (appeals) decision," Gene Upshaw. the NFLPA's executive director, said.

"As we've always said, the NFL can run, but It can't hide." Doly's ruling held that because the union Is no longer handling grievances for the players and regulates agents, it has abandoned Its collective bargaining relationship with the league. It was that relationship which the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals had cited In overturning Doly and continuing the NFL's antitrust exemption. Doly also held that the players "paid a price" for their lack of representation when the NFL went to a 17-week schedule last season, giving each team a week off In the 16-game season. more than a year ago seeking unlimited free agency. Indianapolis Colls general manager Jim lrsay and Colts player representative Jack Trudeau were both unavailable for comment.

Under the current free agency rules, which took effect In 1978, a team signing a free agent must compensate his former team with draft choices. Only two players have changed teams since that took effect. Norm Thompson went from the then-St. Louis Cardinals to the then-naltimore Colts In 1978 and Wll-ber Marshall went in 1988 from Chicago to Washington. "This proves the players made the right decision when they voted to end "Because 'no ongoing collective bargaining relationship' exists, the court determines that the nonstatutory labor exemption has ended," Doty wrote.

The suit, filed by Freeman McNeil of the New York Jets and seven other players, stems directly from the 8th Circuit ruling, which effectively ended the union's antitrust suit against the league. That suit was filed following the strike, which ended without a collective bargaining agreement. As a result of that appeals decision, the union announced It would decertify. The league, however, insisted that the decertification wasn't real and continued to seek continued negotiations. In his final sentence, Doty wrote: "An Immediate appeal will materially FROM STAFF AND WIRE SERVICES A federal Judge In Minneapolis cleared the way Tuesday for NFL players to sue for free agency by throwing out the league's labor antitrust exemption.

The league said It would appeal Immediately, something the Judge urged In his opinion. The ruling, which recognizes the players' union decertification, is the latest In a scries of decisions by U.S. District Judge David Doty stemming from the union's 24-day strike In 1987. It came In response to a motion by a group of players who sued the league Blazers rebound to extend series against Lakers 4V 1 A I VJr ill Mil I Mario denies creating yellow FROM STAFF AND WIRE SERVICES Mario Andrettl denies Intentionally stalling his car to force a yellow caution flag and give his son Michael a final chance to catch Indianapolis 500-Mile Race winner Rick Mears. "All I did was warn Michael.

I didn't create anything," Mario Andrettl said Tuesday after reports quoted him as telling his pit crew he could create a yellow flag If his son needed one. "I didn't do anything that was In my control. All I did was warn the team that It was going to happen." The controversy developed late In Sunday's Indy 500 when Mears took the lead from the younger Andrettl on the 188th lap. Mears began to pull away before Mario stopped on the track near the entrance to the pits, forcing a yellow caution. Under the yellow, Mears kept the lead, but Michael was able to close the gap.

When the track was cleared and the green flag displayed three laps later. Mears stayed In front and beat Michael by 3. 1 seconds. Several spectators and news photographers who were monitoring scanner radios claimed to have heard Mario ask his crew whether they needed a yellow, supposedly to give his teammate-son a better chance to catch the leader. The Cleveland 1'luin Dealer reported that a staff member and several members of the press monitoring a scanner heard Andrettl say to his crew: "Does Michael need a yellow? I can create one." See MARIO Page 4 leagues, the 1988 National League Cy Young Award winner will be facing the llght-hiltlng Houston Astros, who had scored an NL-low 144 runs before Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers.

Ilershlser's next victory will be his 100th in the majors. Hershiser said he probably will be limited to 100 pitches. In preparing for his return, he See HERSHISER Page 2 ASSOCIATED PRESS Laker James Worthy (right) finds his path to the basket defended by Blazer Jerome Kersey. By BOB BAUM ASSOCIATED PRESS Portland. Ore.

Buck Williams knew his season wouldn't be over Tuesday night. "I had my bags packed already," he said. "I knew we were going back to the Forum." Williams said he was as ready to play as he'd ever been after his team's embarrassing blowouts over the weekend. "I was Just so disappointed In myself and disappointed in our team," he said. "We're a much better team than we've exhibited.

We had to get back to playing Trail Blazer basketball." Williams responded by pulling down 16 rebounds to lead a dominating Portland performance on the boards, and the Trail Blazers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 95-84 to stay alive In the Western Conference finals. "Buck was unbelievable," Portland coach Rick Adelman said. "He was everywhere." "Buck is an inspiration to this team," Jerome Kersey said. "You know he's always going to be around the ball. I Just hope he saved some energy for Thursday In Los Angeles." The Blazers had a 52-33 rebound advantage, 26-9 on the offensive boards, and Los Angeles committed 17 turnovers as Portland cut the Lakers' lead In the best-of-seven series to 3-2.

Los Angeles still can wrap up Its eighth Western Conference title In 10 years and advance to an NBA final showdown against Chicago with a victory Thursday night at the Forum In Inglcwood, Calif. But they may have to do It without James Worthy, who sprained his left ankle In the first quarter. He tried to return Morton, Red Sox trip Tribe By DAVE GARLICK STAR STAFF WRITER Kevin Morton showed one very good quality for a left-handed pitcher who hopes someday to pitch In Fenway Park the ability to battle through trouble. The 22-year-old New Engender lasted 8'A Innings without his best stuff as the Paw-tucket Red Sox beat the Indianapolis Indians 6-3 In Bush Stadium Tuesday night. Boston's third choice and the 23rd player taken overall In the 1989 supplemental draft allowed nine hits and three runs, but still picked up his fourth win In six decisions.

He fanned seven and walked two. "I thought he had pretty good stuff," said Pawtucket manager Butch llobson. "He Just missed In the strike zone with some of his drop-down sliders and side-arm pitches he usually gets left-handed hitters out with. "But he's a battler. He doesn't like to come out of games, he wanted to finish tonight." It didn't hurt Morton at all that he had a 4-0 lead when he took the mound for the second Inning.

I Pawtucket tojjjt a 1-0 lead when Rick Lancelotti led off the NBA PLAYOFFS to the game but finally sat down for good with 9:34 to play. Worthy said his ankle Is tender, but won't keep him out of Game 6. However, team doctor Stephen Lombardo said the severity of the Injury won't be clear until today. Kersey led five Blazers in double figures with 20 points and nine rebounds. Clyde Drexler added 19 points and Terry Porter 17, Including 12 In the second half.

Williams and reserve Cliff Robinson scored 13 apiece. Magic Johnson scored 29 points and hit four three-pointers, but he was only 3-for-14 from the field after making his first five shots. Vlade Dlvac added 14 points. Worthy, defended by Williams most of the time he was on the court, finished with 12 points, as did Sam Perkins. "It's not one person.

Everybody got a bad grade," Johnson said of his team's performance. "We can't be looking at one another wondering whose man It was." Portland, the defending conference champion and owner of the NBA's best regular-season record at 63-19. Is attempting to become the fifth team In league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit. Adelman went with a switching defense for the first time In the series. "We Just wanted to give them a different look." he said.

"They had been so comfortable against us." With the Blazers using different matchups and with Worthy See BLAZERS Page 3 Tribesman Todd Haney steals second with his third homer of the year, then the Red Sox had two on and two outs when Tom Barrett singled to left to make It 2-0 off Indianapolis starter BUI Long (1-4). Mike Twardoikl singled to center for a 3-0 count and with runners at the corners, Hobson called for the double steal. Twardoskl broke for second, and when Tribe catcher Jerry Goff gunned the ball to Todd Haney, Barrett broke for the plate and scored without a play to give Morton all the runs he would need. Bui yiie lefty had some problems In the fourth when Marlln Hershiser to pitch for Dodgers tonight .1 MJ i 1 mii iiii i ii ml 4 STAR STAFF PHOTO ROB GOEBEL third base without drawing a throw in the first inning. ASSOCIATED PRESS Los Angeles Orel Hershiser will pilch for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight for the first time in more than 13 months, and while he's grateful for another opportunity, he's not sure about what to expect.

"I Just thank God that this has all worked out and I'm going .4. Hershiser to have another chance," he said. "You work as long and as hard as we have for 13 months and you go through a lot of ups and clowns, but the one constant has been that God has been looking over us. "I don't know if that's going to end up turning Into wins, but something positive is going to come out of this rehab a long and lengthy career or a one-time statement that you can come back from something this bad. We'll find out." Something this bad was a right shoulder which required major reconstructive surgery.

Hershiser hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since April 25. 1990 two days before undergoing his operation. 1 In his return lo the major SCORES NBA Portland 95 LA Lakers 84 AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston 6 New York 2 Baltimore 5 Cleveland 2 Oakland 8 Toronto 4 Chicago 6 California 5 Minnesota 3 Texas 0 Milwaukee 15 Detroit 2 Kansas City 6 Seattle 5 NATIONAL LEAGUE Philadelphia 12 Montreal 0 New York 9 Chicago 8 Pittsburgh 9 St. Louis 8 Atlanta 8 San Diego 6 San Francisco 8 Cincinnati 2 Los Angeles 8 Houston 2 AAA ALLUNCE Pawtucket 6 Indians 3 McPhall singled and Wll Cordero doubled to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Still, he battled out of that Inning with just one run scoring as Razor Shines got the run In with an infield out around a Goff strikeout and a popout by Quinn Mack.

It became 4-2 In the sixth when John Vanderwal led off with his sixth homer on a 2-2 pitch thai he pushed over the wall to to the opposite field In left. The Indians had a chance to get more when Cordero doubled and Oiflff walked, but a deep fly by Shines and Mack's fly to right got Morton off the hook again. "I made some bad pilches and they capitalized on them," said Morton, who pitched In college at Scion Hall. "This is still my first year In Triple I'm still learning. Tonight was actually the first night 1 had a good change, so at least that's a start." He hadn't needed the chan-geup much before Tuesday.

Morton came in with a 2.1 1 earned run average, second-best In the International League, and he was coming off a shutout of Nashville. "But in the big See TRIBE Page 2.