The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 164

P10 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18. 1 990 LOS ANGELES TIMES SPORTS THE SIDELINES FBI Investigates George Allen's Son, Reports Say Montana Named Top Pro Athlete NEW YORK Joe Montana continued to reap rewards from the 1989 NFL season today when he was named Professional Athlete of the Year. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback won by a 2-1 margin over James (Buster) Douglas, who captured the world heavyweight title by knocking out Mike Tyson last February, in voting by sportswriters and broadcasters. Montana will receive the award and a new car in New York on April 26. Bills' Jim Kelly Beats Back Suit BUFFALO, N.Y.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly today beat back a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed she suffered tooth damage when Kelly threw beer-filled balloons at her during a picnic. Marlene Edbauer's claim that she needed root-canal work after being hit in the face with a balloon boiled down to a credibility contest between her and Kelly, and she lost, Buffalo City Court Judge Michael L. Broderick said. Hill with the use of a car earlier in his senior year and gave Hill about $16,000 during his final college season. Allen denied the accusation.

Gerlardi, who said he had a falling-out with Allen, said he was a witness when Hill, two weeks before his final college game, signed with Allen's firm. According to the Constitution, two players from Arizona State's 1989 team, running back Bruce Perkins and wide receiver Lynn James, bought new Toyota Celicas with loans arranged by Sportsworld. "We ain't got nothing to tell you, man," said James. "There ain't no federal investigators. This whole thing is blown out of proportion." Perkins denied to the Republic that he received money from Allen before his eligibility expired.

Allen, a former general manager with the USFL Arizona Wranglers, became a sports agent when the league folded after the 1985 season. He also was one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA history, taking over at Occidental, an NCAA Division III school in Los Angeles, at 22. "They have not contacted me or Sportsworld," Allen said. "I think it's unbelievable how some jealous people and their false accusations are so embellished. I am not guilty of any of the charges." Owens also said he has not been contacted by an FBI representative.

The FBI investigation dealing with the possible early signing of college football players centers on Hill, Pittsburgh's third-round draft choice in 1989, according to the Atlanta newspaper. Hill signed with Allen in 1988, but changed agents before the draft. The Journal -Constitution said it has documented through four sources that Allen and Owens bought Hill a $34,000 BMW the night before his final college game. Allen denied negotiating the sale of the car. Hill, on advice of his current agent, Steve Zucker of Chicago, declined to discuss his dealings with Allen.

Joe Gerlardi, a Tucson bar owner, told the Journal-Constitution that he recruited Hill on Allen's behalf. Gerlardi said he provided deal. David Berst, the director of enforcement for the NCAA, told the Republic he is not aware of any allegations against Allen regarding illegal contact with college players. Owens, a former Arizona State assistant football coach who replaced Frank Kush on an interim basis when Kush was fired in 1978, left Allen's agency in December and is working in real estate in the Phoenix area. Allen also is the subject of a lawsuit by a former client stemming from a 1987 real estate deal, the Atlanta newspaper said.

"I think there is a lot of jealousy," Allen said by phone Tuesday from his Phoenix office. "A lot of misinformation from people who don't even know the characters. I wouldn't do anything wrong. To hear some of these things is foolish." Allen, 33, represents such NFL players as Phoenix tight end Rob Await, Cincinnati running back Ickey Woods and New Orleans running back Craig Heyward. He added that he was not aware of an FBI investigation.

From Associated Press PHOENIX Sports agent Bruce Allen, son of former NFL Coach George Allen, and an associate are being investigated by the FBI into possible fraud, including signing college football players before their eligibility expired, and real estate fraud, according to newspaper reports today. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in today's editions, quoted unidentified sources in the FBI as saying that key witnesses in their investigation include Sharon Sa-lewski, a former secretary with Allen's Phoenix-based firm, GBA Sportsworld, and wide receiver Derek Hill of the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers, who played for the University of Arizona in Tucson. Sa-lewski has declined further comment. Meanwhile, the Arizona Republic reported that the investigation was triggered by a civil suit filed by former Arizona State University player Vince Amoia in November that charges Allen, associate Bob Owens and GBA Sportsworld with fraud, racketeering and breach of contract in a real estate A review of the evidence leaves unreconciled gaps and conflicts in plaintiff's proof," Broderick said. "The proof itself was replete with conflicts, contradictions, exaggerations, distortions and confusion." Edbauer had been seeking $250,000 from Kelly, who signed a $20 million contract recently that made him the NFL's highest-paid player.

After testimony concluded last week, she reduced her claim to $25,000. Kelly was not present for the verdict. Edbauer, 40, of Clarence, said Dodging a Dodger Jim Kelly IRS Trouble Threatens Bears Owners From Associated Press CHICAGO The Halas family, owners of the Chicago Bears, could lose the football team under a federal tax assessment that might surpass $50 million, according to a report published Wednesday. The Internal Revenue Service contends that the Halas family owes about $43.5 million in gift and inheritance taxes. With penalties and interest, the tax bill could increase to more than $50 million, a sum the family could pay only by selling the team, a report in the sports daily The National said.

Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of Bears founder George Halas, and Michael McCaskey, Halas' grandson and president of the team, have filed petitions in U.S. Tax Court in Washington challenging the assessments, The National reported. The family is also asking permission to pay any taxes the court rules it owes in 10 annual installments, a request the IRS had already refused. A trial was scheduled for May 15 before U.S. Tax Court Judge Lap-sley W.

Hamblen the report said. The dispute stems from a series of moves begun in December, 1981, by George Halas aimed at passing on the franchise to his 13 grandchildren while avoiding heavy taxation, the report said. The IRS contends that a 1981 reorganization of the team placed an artificially low value on the 49.35 of the team's stock then held in the name of the senior Halas, who died Oct. 31, 1983. Associated Press Giants batter Kevin Mitchell appears to lose his head while getting out of way of pitch from Ramon Martinez during first inning Tuesday in Candlestick Park.

Los Angeles won 10-5. (Story, CI) she was hit in the face with a balloon during an Aug. 16, 1987, picnic sponsored by a now-defunct Williamsville bar. The blow caused a plastic cup to shatter against her face, damaging her front tooth so that it subsequently needed a root canal, she said. Wimbledon Purses Raised 23 WIMBLEDON, England Wimbledon will pay $6.4 million in purses this year, a 23 increase over 1989, with doubles teams and even first-round losers benefiting the most from the biggest pot on the tennis tour.

That keeps Wimbledon at the top of the tennis prize-money list, ahead of the U.S. Open, at least until the American tournament announces its 1990 purse. Wimbledon offered $5.2 million last year, while the U.S. Open offered $5.1 million. The men's singles champion will get $379,500, while the women's champion receives $341,550.

Both are 21 jumps from 1989. Men's doubles champs will split $155,480, women's doubles winners $134,492 and mixed doubles champions $66,000. The men's and women's winners have earnings increased 43, while the mixed-doubles first prize is up 29. Laudner Hints Return to Twins MINNEAPOLIS Catcher Tim Laudner plans to meet later this week with the Minnesota Twins and has hinted that he would like to return to the team, General Manager Andy MacPhail said. Laudner, 31, left the Twins' spring training camp three weeks ago for what he called personal problems, and the Twins said he had earlier discussed the possibility of retiring.

The Twins placed him on the disqualified list. "He hinted that he would like to come back," said MacPhail, who spoke with Laudner on Tuesday. "I agreed to sit down and talk with him on the next home stand. I didn't let the conversation get much further than that because I think it's better we talk when we can see the whites of each other's eyes." Falcons-Colts Talks Stalled ATLANTA Trade talks between the Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts, aimed at sending the first overall choice in Sunday's NFL draft to the Colts, have stalled, a newspaper said. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in today's editions, quoted an unidentified Colts source as saying Tuesday: "It looked like we were headed in a pretty decent direction for a while.

But then things started moving away from a deal. I'm not saying things are dead, but they're certainly on life-support systems." The Colts would use the choice to select Illinois quarterback Jeff George, an Indianapolis native. Barring a trade, the Falcons have said they will take George, but they have not yet begun contract negotiations with his agent, Leigh Steinberg. Pires Named Line Coach SYRACUSE, N.Y. Glenn Pires, Syracuse's assistant recruiting coordinator for football, has been named the Orangemen's new defensive line coach.

Pires, 31, replaces Clarence Brooks, who left for the University of Arizona just before the start of spring football practice last month. Vote Against Penn State Seen BLOOMINGTON, Ind. The Indiana University president has indicated that he will vote against admission of Penn State to the Big Ten Conference if the IU Athletics Committee does not support the proposal. Committee member Haydn Murray said he expects IU President Thomas Ehrlich to follow the committee's recommendation. Ehrlich, reached after a meeting of the Faculty Council on Tuesday, said he would "do what was in Indiana University's best interests." He said he does not want to speculate at this time what he will do if he disagrees with the committee's recommendation.

The committee chairman, Marianne Mitchell, said the group will recommend that Penn State not join the conference if an investigation shows that the university or the Big Ten would be harmed by its admission. From Titties Wire Services Eckerd Open Sees Seles Advance With Caution FenechtoTry for 4th World Title on May 26 From Associated Press SYDNEY, Australia Australian Jeff Fenech will attempt to capture his fourth world title when he meets Juan LaPorte of Puerto Rico for the vacant WBC super-featherweight title in Sydney on May 26, promoter Bill Mordey announced today. Fenech, 25, will give up the WBC featherweight title he currently holds to fight for the super -featherweight crown, which is being vacated by Azumah Nelson of Ghana. He's unbeaten in 24 professional fights with 18 knockouts and previously held the WBC super-bantamweight and IBF bantamweight titles. LaPorte, 30, is the current NABF super-featherweight champion and is ranked ninth in the division by the WBC.

He held the WBC featherweight title from 1982-84 and has a 36-9 record. He never has been stopped inside the distance. New York-based LaPorte last fought on Feb. 15, when he retained his NABF title with a split decision over Rogelio Lopez. Fenech, who said he has fully recovered from hand surgery, said he aims to become the third man in the world Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns are the othersto win world titles in five divisions.

From Associated Press LARGO, Fla. Two days after achieving a career-high No. 3 world ranking, Monica Seles is heading into the round of 16 with a determined note of caution. The 16-year-old native of Yugoslavia cemented her newest ranking Tuesday night with another big victory, quashing qualifier Sandy Collins 6-1, 6-1 without a hitch in the Eckerd Tennis Open. But Seles, who now faces Donna Faber, said after defeating Collins that she doesn't want to become overconfident.

"You can be going along full of confidence, then it can go away just as quickly," Seles said after the Tuesday match. "I feel good about my game and things are going very well. I'll just continue to try my best." Also Tuesday, sixth-seeded Helen Kelesi of Canada outlasted Mercedes Paz of Argentina 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5); while No. 8 Susan Sloane rallied to upset Shaun Stafford 6-4, 2-6, 7-5. No.

7 Sandra Cecchini of Italy downed Ann Grossman 7-5, 6-2. Tonight, Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, the tournament's No. 2 seed, is to play her first-round match against Tami Whitlinger. Kelesi said she was relieved after pulling through a three-hour test in 88-degree temperatures. "There was a point when I was down 5-4 in the third set and I was thinking I had lost the match," Kelesi said.

"I wasn't doing any- Lacrosse Team Investigated in N.Y. Rape Case From Associated Press NEW YORK Law enforcement sources say at least four members of the men's lacrosse team at St. John's University in Queens raped a woman at a fraternity house, New York Newsday reported. Jack Kaiser, the university's athletic director, confirmed that members of the lacrosse team were being investigated, according to today's editions of Newsday. Richard Piperno, spokesman for the Queens district attorney's office, and sex-crime police detectives and would not discuss the alleged gang rape.

However, one law enforcement source said the victim has identified at least four attackers, News-day said. Detectives were investigating whether other members of the team were "egging on" the alleged attackers, the source told News-day. "The St. John's community is deeply concerned by the reported incident," Martin J. Healy, a spokesman for St.

John's, said in a statement. United Press International Monica Seles of Yugoslavia thing right, and she was playing very well. I really had to fight to keep my spirits up. But if there's one thing about me, it's that I'm a fighter." It looked as if Kelesi would close out the match after breaking Paz in the 11th game to go ahead 6-5. But Paz broke back and forced a tie-break, and surged ahead 4-1 in the tie-break.

Kelesi then won the next three points. At 5-all, Paz netted a backhand, then her forehand sailed wide, giving Kelesi the match..