The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 19

BUSINESS ON 7S DAVID YVTTKE, executive iports editor, 515-284-8 130 ETT3 Saturday, June 23, 1990 BC28Y COX RECORD Lasf-plaoe iraves fire tton as manager on Imw I Pet. Pot 1978 Atlanta 69 93 26 6 1979 Atlanta 66 94 413 1980 Atlanta 81 80 503 4 1981 Atlanta SO 56 472 i 1982 Toronto 78 84 481 6 1983 Toronto 89 73 549 4 1984 Toronto 89 73 .549 2 1985 Toronto 99 62 61 5 1 ToUlt 421 .02 lIAQUt CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 1985 Toronto 3 4 429 RUSS NIXON RECORD Saatow Taam I Pet, Pot 1982 Cincinnati-i 27 43 .386 6 1983 Cincinnati 74 88 .457 6 1988 Atlanta-y 42 79 347 6 1989 Atlanta 63 97 .394 6 1990 Atlanta 25 40 .385 6 Total! 231 347 .400 fresh air into this club," Cox said. "I don't know if any major changes need to be made, maybe some minor ones." He said he was hoping to make a trade for a relief pitcher. Nixon was named manager of the Braves in 1988 after Chuck Tanner was fired. The club had a 42-79 record under his direction that year and a 63-97 mark in 1989, finishing in last place both times.

He also managed Cincinnati in 1982 and 1983; the Reds finished last both seasons. Kasten also said pitching coach Bruce Dal Canton would be replaced by Leo Mazzone, pitching coach with Atlanta's International League club at Richmond, Va. Dal Canton will replace Mazzone at Richmond. General manager moves into dugout ATLANTA, GA. (AP) Russ Nixon was fired Friday as manager of the last-place Atlanta Braves and replaced by the man who gave him the bad news, General Manager Bobby Cox.

"I called Russ this morning and told him it was not a good phone call. He knew what I meant," Cox said. "It's upsetting. When somebody fails below you, it's the same as if you failed." Cox said Nixon, under pressure since the Braves lost 13 of their first 15 games and 40 of their first 65, took the news calmly. jobs the rest of the year and then give up one of them.

"I'm excited and I welcome the challenge," Cox said. "But obviously it is nci a happy day for me. "I wanted Russ to succeed, but obviously it hasn't worked out. In my own mind, this was something that had to be done." Cox, in his fifth season as general manager, managed the Braves for four seasons from 1978 through 1981 and the Toronto Blue Jays for four seasons from 1982 through 1985. The strain had started to show on Nixon.

After Sunday's 9-7 loss at San Francisco, he became so angry while criticizing the team he had to be checked by a team trainer. "I hope I can breathe a breath of "He said he felt- tremendous relief that it was all over," Cox said. "He had been under a lot of pressure the last few days." Nixon denied Cox's version of the conversation. "No, it wasn't tremendous relief," Nixon said from his home in Covington, Ga. "I told him I expected it.

If that's being relieved, fine. I don't know where this is coming from. The only relief was about a charade being over." Nixon said he plans to hold a news conference today to further express his frustrations. It's Cox's second stint as manager of the National League West team in less than 10 years. Team president Stan Kasten, who announced the changes, said Cox would keep both Bobby Cox Git'es news to Nixon x-Rplacad John McNamara.

July 2 1 1 982 y-Rplacd Chuck Tanner. May 22, 1988 BILL NEIBERGALLThe Register Wrigley shines on him again Georgetown doesn't lose Thompson Coach turns down offer to join Nuggets of NBA WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) Gards pitcher extends mastery at Cubs' field Despite rain, Magrane basks in warm glow 3 A If I 1 5 I Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson made an "extremely pain ul" decision Friday to reject an offer worth at least S6 million to become general manager of the Denver Nug' gets of the National Basketball Asso ciation. Thompson agonized over an offer from the franchise, the first profes sional sports team to be owned by blacks, for five days. By RANDY PETERSON Ravlsttr StaN Wrltar CHICAGO, ILL.

Rain delay? What rain delay, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane asked. "The sun's shining every day for me now." It didn't at Wrigley Field Friday, but that didn't seem to matter for the left-hander who was the winner in the Cardinals' 7-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs. Magrane handcuffed the Cubs with a career-high 11 strikeouts. He allowed only three hits and walked three for clearly his best outing of the season despite the weather conditions that interrupted his rhythm.

The game started 25 minutes late because of rain, then there was a 43-minute rain delay with the Cardinals at bat in the fifth inning. Magrane shook off the second delay by striking out slumping Dwight Smith. It was his ninth strikeout, matching his career high, set against the Cubs June 10. fvlo Clouds "Everything's positive for me "I talked with an awful lot of people who mean an awful lot to me," Thompson said. "Then I gave myself a day of reflection.

And I have decid ed to remain at Georgetown." 1984 Championship C.V jJf I WfcDSEH I r. "tf ajk Thompson, who led Georgetown to an NCAA title in 1984, has been considered one of the best coaches in the nation for nearly two decades. He also has been the target of several offers from NBA teams. He called the Nuggets' offer "the most serious by By Tha Aitociattd Pratt CHICAGO, ILL. Joe Magrane seems to save his best for the Chicago Cubs.

He put it all together Friday. Magrane pitched a three-hitter with a career-high 11 strikeouts as St. Louis beat the Cubs, 7-0. "I haven't been consistent this year," Magrane said. "This was one of those days I had it." It was the 10th shutout of Magrane's career.

It was his third shutout in four games at Wrigley Field. His best game was a one-hitter two years ago against the Cubs. His previous best strikeout total was nine. That, too, came at Wrigley Field. "The park has nothing to do with it," Magrane said.

"When I'm pitching up to my capabilities, I have a good sinker, and they like to hit the ball in the seats." Pedro Guerrero and Todd Zeile both hit home runs for the Cardinals, who had lost 10 of their previous 13 games. It marked the first time this season that Zeile caught a game Magrane won. "I've caught him in games where he went out early, and I've caught him in some games we lost," Zeile said. Guerrero hit a home run against pitcher Steve Wilson in the first inning. Zeile led off the fourth inning with his home run.

Willie McGee had three hits and two runs-batted-in for the Cardinals. Jose Oquendo hit a double and scored on a single by McGee with two outs in the third inning. Vince Coleman hit a single and scored on a triple by McGee in the seventh inning. McGee then scored as Terry Pendleton grounded out. Pendleton drove in the final two CARDINALS Please turn to Page 3S far." "The timing was just not the best," again, said the Des Momes-born Ma Thompson said.

"I looked at the total grane. "There are no more ciouas in my sky. It was raining, but I didn't even feel it. The way I feel right now, Joe Magrane Breaks out of slump concentration or what. The fact that we didn't score a whole lot of runs behind him may have had something to do with it.

I know if I was pitching my heart out and the team didn't score, I'd be discouraged." Magrane increased his record to what Herzog says is a deceiving 4-9. In the nine setbacks, the Cardinals scored only a total of 19 runs. Magrane entered 1990 with high hopes, after accumulating 35 victories in the past three seasons. For the third straight season, he was Herzog's opening-day starter. But he plummeted quickly.

In his first six losses, Magrane pitched 37 innings, gave up 51 hits and 27 runs. He walked 10 and struck out only 15. First Victory He got his first victory on May 15, a complete-game shutout against Houston. Until Friday, that was his only complete game of the season. "I was just looking at his stats this morning," Cubs Manager Don Zim-mer said.

"I knew he was struggling and knowing him, I figured it wouldn't be long before he bounced back out of it. He picked a good team to do it against; we're not exactly a bunch of Babe Ruths up there right now." The fact that his finest performance of the season came at Wrigley Field was no coincidence. His lifetime record in Chicago is 3-0, all three of which were shutouts. nothing seems to faze me." Things weren always as clear for the 25-year-old. He answered last year 18-victory season with six straight losses to start 1990.

He says his fastball wasn popping, his curve was hooking out of the strike zone, his package and said, 'The time is not He did not elaborate. Earlier in the week. Thompson appeared to be leaning toward the Nuggets. The offer included a 4 percent interest in the team as well as a salary near $700,000 a year for five years. Thompson is paid more than $500,000 a year at Georgetown, including a salary of more than $317,000 and a shoe contract worth $200,000.

In deciding to stay, Thompson embraced the example of coaching colleague Mike Krzyzewskl, who recently spurned a similarly lucrative offer from the Boston Celtics to remain at Duke. Since taking over a team that had a 4-23 record in 1971, Thompson has slider wasn't sliding and his changeup wasn't fooling anyone. "I was a mess, he said. I couldn do anything right. Heck, I thought for a while they might have sent me back to the minors." That wasn't a possibility, said Car dinals Manager Whitey Herzog.

"Everyone goes through something like that every once in a while," Her zog said. "Joe just lost touch with his game. I don't know whether it was Multifaceted slump puts Cubs' Smith on bench By RANDY PETERSON Ragittar Staff WrHar amassed a 423-122 record at Georgetown. He has led the Hoyas to NCAA tournaments 14 times. They finished second in 1982 and 1985.

"Obviously, we were interested in John Thompson because he is a quality individual and he would have greatly improved our organization," Nuggets managing general partner Peter Bynoe said. The Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, Georgetown's president, said Thompson's decision "was great news for me to hear. Our whole university is CHICAGO, ILL.

Dwight Smith noticed a visitor from Des Moines strolling through the Chicago Cubs' clubhouse Friday morning. He tried to hide, but couldn't. "I know," he said. "You're here to take me back. Kick a guy when he's down." delighted to know that this great man Smith was referring tongue-in- pitching and figured to be an everyday player in 1990.

Smith, a left-handed hitter, opened the season as the everyday left fielder, but wasn't the left fielder Zimmer has been searching for the past two seasons. He didn't hit like he did last season and eventually returned to platoon status, playing only when a right-hander was pitching. He still couldn't hit, and finally lost his job, regardless of who was pitching. His batting average dipped to .262 Friday. He hasn't driven in a run SMITH Please turn to Page 3S will be with us for the future.

Lawyer's Advice He has even been in Manager Don Zimmer's doghouse a time or two. He was in the starting lineup Friday, but he kept true to form with an 0-for-3 effort that included two of Joe Magrane's career-high 11 strikeouts. "It's been a struggle," Smith said. "Things just aren't clicking like they did last year. I'm really down on myself right now." Things haven't been clicking anywhere for Smith.

A year ago, Smith had a .324 batting average after being promoted from Iowa on May 1. He was driving in runs. He was stealing bases when asked. He finished the season platooning in left field against right-handed cheek to the Iowa Cubs, Chicago's tri- ple-A affiliate. He also was referring Thompson said his lawyer, David Follow bouncing ball At top, Harlan catcher Rhonda Kenkel drops the ball as Stacia Madsen of Ames slides into home plate.

Kenkel then shows the ball to the home plate umpire, who called Madsen out. However, the second base umpire overruled that call. Ames won Friday's game in the Pinch Hitters Classic softball tournament, 5-0. Ames' Kristy Heiberger tossed a five-inning no-hitter. The game was stopped after five innings because of rain and hail.

In other first-round games, fifth-ranked LDF-SEMCO of Gilman defeated Southeast Polk, 3-0, and Ankeny defeated Nevada, 3-1. The tournament continues today. SPORTS FOCUS: Page 3S. to his batting, baserunning and attitude slumps. Falk, recommended he stay but denied that either he or his advisers were troubled by the Nuggets' history After finishing second to teammate of front-office turmoil.

Jerome Walton in last year's National League Rookie of the Year ballot "I had no problem whatsoever with i ing, bmith has been relegated to the ownership there," Thompson said. bench duty for the majority of 1990. Thompson earlier had spoken with great enthusiasm about the resurgent popularity of the NBA. Thompson MORNIflG REPORT was Bill Russell's backup at center Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE TRIPLE-A ALLIANCE Columbus 6 Indianapolis 2 Iowa 7 Pawtucket 6 Louisville 5 Okla City Nashville 6 Denver 5 Omaha at Syracuse ppd. Richmond 4 Buffalo 1 Tidewater at Rochester ppd Toledo 11-4 Scranton-WB 2-3 Boston 4 Baltimore 3 California 1 Detroit 0 Chicago 5 OaKland Milwaukee 9 Cleveland 7 Minnesota 3 Kansas C'ty 2 New York 8 Toronto 7 Texas 5 Seattle 2' NATIONAL LEAGUE Los Angeles 7 Cincinnati 6 Montreal 4 Pittsburgh 3 New Yorti 5 Philadelphia 1 St Louis 7 Chicago San Diego at Atlanta ppd SanFranosco 4 Houston 3 with the Celtics.

"I still have a desire to explore," Thompson said. "I hope that two years from now, I get an offer for $20 million." Thompson said he played a trick on O'Donovan. "I said, 'Father. I'm Thompson said. "And he said, 'John, you will never be gone from us.

You will always be a part of Bynoe said the search for a general manager will be put on hold until after the draft Wednesday. In the meantime, the Nuggets, who haven't had a top 10 draft choice In a decade, have been active in the trade market They traded guard Lafayette "Fat" Lever to Dallas on Thursday for the ninth pick in the draft and a first-round pick in 1991. On Friday, the Nuggets tent the No. 9 pick from Dallas and their No. 15 pick to Miami for the No.

3 pick Wednesday. TV Today 9:55 a.m. (W) Soccer 1 990 World Cup: Cameroon vs Colombia Noon U.S. Olympic Cup North America vs. Europe.

Competitions include: boning, women's gymnastics, swimming and wrestling Noon (j) Baseball St. Louis at Chicago 1 p.m. (ESjQTenfiis Pilkington Championship, women's singles final (Tape) 1:55 p.m. Qjjf) Soccer Chechoslovakia vs Costa Rica 2 p.m. Bowling Fresno Open 3 p.m.

(j) Golf Buick Classic, third round 3 p.m. (13) Saturday Sports Showcase Boxing's Greatest Rounds. A panel of boning eiperts chooses the 1 5 greatest rounds in boxing history 3:30 p.m. GO Wtde World of Sports S. Olympic Cup.

North America vs. Europe in women's gymnastics and basketball, Coup de Hoop ttiree-on-three tournament final (Tape) 6:05 p.m. QgS Baseball San Diego at Atlanta 7 p.m. (ESIpDrag Racing NHRA Spnngnationals (Tape) 8 p.m. (ESN) Auto Racing Saturday NhgM Thunder 8:50 p.m.

(TBS) U.S. Olymptc Gold Track Field Blame International (Tape) a m.lTsa 'Bowtipg Rotv-a'PPA Senior Orwi RATH PLEADS GUILTY. University of Iowa pitcher Allen Rath pleaded guilty in Johnson County Magistrate's Court on a charge of fifth-degree theft, according to court records. Rath, 22, received a fine of $54.50, said records filed in court Thursday. He was charged with shoplifting a Nintendo football cartridge from the Target Store on June 4, according to court records.

COVER-UP? A lawyer for three St. Louis Cardinals charged last month with disorderly conduct after a scuffle near Cincinnati says the instigator of the fight has been identified as an off-duty police officer. "Someone somewhere covered this thing up," said James Kidney, a lawyer from Newport, Ky. Cardinals catcher Tom Pagnozzi and pitchers Greg Mathews and Frank DiPino have said they will plead innocent to the charges. CHEATING CHARGES.

The NCAA is investigating whether Miami of Ohio basketball coach Jerry Peirson gave one of his players an A in a course even though the student failed to attend class or to perform classwork, the university announced Friday. The NCAA investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip, Miami officials said. David Berst, of the NCAA's enforcement staff, sent the university a letter May 15 officially outlining the charge. The university said it has begun an internal probe. DOAK-DAVIS HURT.

Nan Doak-Davis, who recently said she would begin running after a two-month rest, will rest a while longer. Doak-Davis, who was scheduled to defend her title July 4 in the Fifth Season 8-kilometer road race, broke her foot Friday when wrestlers accidentally rolled into her at an Iowa City camp. Her nusoana, Harry uavis, is a tormer Iowa wxe.