Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 23

I UPDATE D-2 UH Wahines break into top 25 Touchdown for Todd D-4 Moore-Chang team wins biathlon Couples wins World Championship D-5 Star-Bulletin Section Monday, December 23, 1991 Henning out as Chargers' coach IP Beathard said the decision to fire Henning was his, with input from owner Alex Spanos. Beathard said it was a "very, very tough, emotional decision," to fire Henning. "My relationship with Dan goes back a long ways. Sometimes, you would much rather be on the other end." But Beathard said, "I have a strong feeling a change had to be made. The bottom line is you have to win." Infante fired by Packers Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis.

Firing Lindy Infante as coach of the Green Bay Packers was the toughest decision of Ron Wolf's 29-year NFL career. "The biggest thing is the fact the team could not win the game," said Wolf, the team's new general manager. Infante was 24-40 in four years with the Packers. He was NFL coach of the year just two seasons ago. The top candidate is former New York Giants coach Bill Par-cells, now a commentator with NBC.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that Wolf plans to negotiate with Parcells in the next three or four days. Press-Gazette sources say that Parcells' salary requirement is in the $1- million-a-year range but that the Packers would meet it. tlx "-v A 7 i i Hi coaches, and they certainly are on the list I gave Mr. Spanos." Beathard said the Chargers have yet to contact Ross or Erickson, and that the list of candidates also includes some NFL assistant coaches. "The only thing I have heard, and this came from a source, is that I'm on their list and that I'm high on that list," Ross told the Associated Press in Honolulu, where the Yellow Jackets are preparing for the Aloha Bowl on Christmas day.

Henning was 6-10 in each of his first two seasons here. He has been under fire ever since the Chargers opened the season with five straight losses. After the Chargers lost their season-opener at Pittsburgh, Henning fired offensive coordinator Ted Tollner. Henning was 22-41-1 as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1983-86. His overall NFL head coaching record is 38-73-1.

Henning was an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins when they won the Super Bowl following both the 1982 and 1987 seasons. He has also coached at Houston, the New York Jets and Miami. He is fired today after San Diego has another losing season Ross tries to ignore rumors D-5 Associated Press SAN DIEGO The San Diego Chargers fired Dan Henning today, one day after he completed his third straight losing season and seventh overall as an NFL head coach, General Manager Bobby Beathard announced. Henning's entire staff also was dismissed, although Beathard said he would encourage Henning's replacement to interview the assistant coaches. Henning's staff includes defensive secondary coach Jim Mora, son of New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Mora.

Henning finished the third and final guaranteed year of a five-year contract he signed when he became the Chargers' eighth head coach in February 1989. The Chargers finished this season 4-12, giving Henning a 16-32 record here. a XT Henning's Char- Dan ger teams were the Henning kings of the close call, compiling a 6-22 record in games decided by a touchdown or less. That's how his tenure ended yesterday, with a 17-14 loss to the AFC West champion Denver Broncos. Among the leading candidates to replace Henning are Georgia Tech's Bobby Ross and Miami coach Dennis Erickson, Beathard said.

"Both are awfully attractive college Georgia Tech's defense has big challenge ahead 1U9P 4PL 1 Vw. Associated Press Los Angeles Raiders' quarterback Todd Marinovich celebrates with center Don Mosebar after throwing his first professional touchdown yesterday against the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL roundup on Page D-3. NFL playoffs open Saturday morning NEW YORK The NFL playoffs will open Saturday with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Los Angeles Raiders at 7:30 a.m. HST in an AFC wild-card game.

That will be followed by Atlanta at New Orleans at 11:30 a.m. in an NFC contest. The first game Sunday will be Dallas at either Chicago or Detroit with the New York Jets at Houston in the final game. The site of Sunday's NFC game will be decided by tonight's game in San Francisco between the Bears and 49ers. If the Bears win, they will clinch the NFC Central and get a week off, leaving Detroit as the wild-card to play next Sunday.

If the 49ers win, the Lions will win the division and get a week off, with Chicago playing Sunday. The Raiders-Chiefs game will be a repeat of Sunday's game in Los Angeles, won 27-21 by Kansas City. That gave them the home field for the wild-card game. The sites of the second round games will be Washington and either Chicago and Detroit in the NFC and Buffalo and Denver in the AFC. Spurs' Strickland ends long holdout SAN ANTONIO, Texas Rod Strickland has ended the longest holdout in San Antonio Spurs history, and owner Red McCombs hopes the criticism is history, too.

McCombs sent a letter to season ticket holders and sponsors today saying Strickland's signing should alleviate concerns by angry fans that the team was not concerned about winning an NBA championship. The Spurs didn't release terms, but Strickland is said to have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million. That ended his 80-day holdout, eight times longer than the previous team record, held by forward Frank Brickowski. Barkley arrested following fight MILWAUKEE Philadelphia 76ers forward Charles Barkley was arrested at his hotel room yesterday morning after breaking a man's nose during a fight following a game with the Milwaukee Bucks, police said. Barkley, 28, was released from Milwaukee County jail shortly after 10 a.m.

yesterday on a $500 cash bond, Milwaukee police said. He was arrested for battery and is scheduled for an appearance tomorrow morning before the district attorney. Barkley allegedly broke the nose of a 25-year-old Milwaukee man when they got into a fight in a downtown parking lot at about 2:30 a.m. Avalanche hits Olympic ski course ALBERTVILLE, France Jean-Claude Killy and other members of the Winter Olympics' Organizing Committee met today to assess the impact of a heavy weekend snowfall and rains that caused an avalanche on the new Olympic downhill course. The harsh weather in the French Alps, which in six weeks will host the Winter Games killed three people and injured three others.

Khaosai defends title, then retires BANGKOK, Thailand Thailand's Khaosai Galaxy kept his World Boxing Association title with a unanimous decision over Armando Castro of Mexico yesterday and then announced his retirement. Khaosai survived a second-round knockdown to come back and drop the third-ranked Castro in the 11th round. The judges gave Khaosai the fight 117-111, 117-109 and 117-109. Khaosai, 32, has been the WBA champion since 1984 and successfully retained it 19 times. Dartmouth picks new football coach HANOVER, N.H.

John Lyons today was named football coach at Dartmouth. Lyons, 39, a defensive coach at Dartmouth since 1988, succeeds Buddy Teevens, who left earlier this month to coach at Tulane. From Star-Bulletin news services great way for the seniors to go out, as winners in our final game together," Williams said. "We have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations. "This year I want to go out a winner against a great team, and Stanford is a great team.

They've got some big guys up front who can get the job done." The Yellow Jackets have been doing a decent job on defense all year. Despite a rather average 7-5 record, they have remained high on the nation's defensive charts. Against Duke earlier this season, the defense held the Blue Devils to 10 yards rushing. Coleman and tackle Coleman Rudolph not only stop the run, they stuff the pass as well. That tandem is responsible for 23 of the Atlantic Coast Conference-leading 45 sacks.

Georgia Tech managed seven against Penn State and five each versus Duke and North Carolina. "We're going to have to put pressure on Stanford's quarterback if we want to remain competitive," Ross said. "Bob Whitfield is probably the best offensive lineman in the country. "Our tackles go only about 265. Some teams are big, but not very good.

Stanford is big and very good. But I think our defense has proven it can play with the best. I have confidence in them." Ross also likes the fact that All-America strong safety Ken Swilling is rallying from a badly strained hamstring. The 6-3 senior from Toccoa, has 13 career interceptions, including two in Georgia Tech's last four games. He also leads all Yellow Jacket defensive backs with 267 career tackles.

Throw in Jim Thorpe finalist Willie Clay at cornerback and Stanford head coach Dennis Green can see it isn't going to be a day at the beach for the Cardinal. Clay is third in the nation in interceptions with nine. The Pittsburgh senior also has 16 career interceptions. "They have an excellent defense," Green said of the nation's eighth-best unit overall. "We aren't going to march the ball up and down the field on them.

"I respect what Coach Ross has accomplished there in five years. For us to win, we have to play smart and error free. We didn't come here to lose. I look for a great game." Yellow Jackets are a good match for beefy Stanford offensive line 60 Minutes airs Auburn topes D-5 By Paul Arnett Star-Bulletin Most teams take one look at Stanford's beefy boys standing shoulder to shoulder up front and want to know how Mount Rushmore came to life. Even Georgia Tech's sturdy defense might want to call in sick when viewing All-America Bob Whitfield, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound monster of an offensive tackle.

And if that's not enough to make your Christmas Day at the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl very scary, there's 67, 295-pound center Glen Cavanaugh. "Their offensive line is one of the best in the country," Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Ross proclaimed. "Someone mentioned that it may be the second-largest unit in all of football including the NFL." Even a big, burly back like Tommy Vardell looks small when standing among these redwoods. But Georgia Tech has a few defensive factors working in its favor. First up is All-America outside linebacker Marco Coleman, who stands 64, weighs 258 pounds, runs fast and hits harder than a Mike Tyson left hook.

He was one of three finalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's finest linebacker. The junior from Dayton, Ohio, managed 67 tackles and 10 quarterback sacks this season. Coleman has 211 tackles in his three-year career and 28 sacks. And he isn't even the leading man on the team. That accomplishment falls square on the shoulder pads of inside linebacker Jerrelle Williams.

The fifth-year senior from Orangesburg, S.C., has 107 tackles this year and a school-record 437 and counting. Both figure to be fairly busy trying to stop Vardell between the tackles and Glyn Milburn wide. "A victory in this game would be a I Associated Press Georgia Tech defender Bryan Baxter puts a big hit on Clemson's Derrick Witherspoon during their meeting earlier this year. Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl What: Stanford (8-3) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5).

When: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Where: Aloha Stadium Tickets: $20, on sole at Aloha Stadium, Sears and Sheraton-Waikiki. Information: 947-4141 JeepoEBGte fSMohaBowl Sports salaries are out of line with the real world By Art Spander San Francisco Examiner COMMENTARY NE day we read 225 players in I the major leagues are earn-1 ing at least $1 million each. The next day we read Gener QUOTE "I roam the field from guard to guard." Los Angeles Raiders nose tackle Bob Golic describes bis role.

Ted Williams, the last man who will ever hit .400, said what he wanted most was to walk down a street and have someone comment, "There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived." These days athletes don't want so much to be the greatest as to be the richest. The objection is not so much to a Bonilla finding security but in trying to find the last cent available. Even Canseco suggested that, given the tax structure, the difference between a $25 million contract and a $27 million contract when spread over five or six years is inconsequential. Except to the ego. The objection is to a Rickey Henderson signing a long-term, guaranteed contract for some $3 million a season and then, because somebody else signs a $4.5 million contract, announcing he can no longer promise to give his best.

A great many Americans who did give their best have been given the boot, while Henderson, who earns more in one year than 95 percent of his countrymen will earn in their lifetime, dwells on the negative. If baseball no longer existed, Henderson would know how much $3 million is. Or was. The day of reckoning is supposed to be nigh. The TV money will shrivel, they say, and sports will have to adjust or perish.

Don't be too certain. As long as Americans believe winning is everything, somebody will always spend too much to try to win. The shame is that we're really losing. As 74,000 General Motors employees will realize. But 225 millionaire major-leaguers will not.

major-leaguer is $105,000. Where does it end? When do athletes find themselves typing up their resumes? When do sporting franchises go belly up like Pan Am? How can the TV networks keep paying more and more for rights fees when too many of their viewers are earning less and less or nothing at all? I know all about market value. I admire the skills of Michael Jordan and Cal Ripken. I don't wish them ill. They've got it, the ability, so why not get it the money.

Dollars, yet no sense. The figures that used to mean something were 56, as in Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak, or 100, as in the number of points Wilt Chamberlain scored in an NBA game. Now figures of importance have a dollar sign in front. Now athletes compare themselves through salaries. If I were Jose Canseco, I'd choose to be known as the 4040 man, as in the only person to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same year, and not the $24 million man, as in his current contract.

But that isn't the way of the world in the 1990s. Now it's not what somebody produces, it's what somebody collects. What many Americans are collecting these days is unemployment. They spent a lifetime at some corporation only to discover they've been phased out because of mismanagement. In sports, mismanagement is usually followed by buying out the remainder of a contract.

ON THE AIR hit a home run or throw a touchdown pass? Why does it matter so much to a community for its team to win a World Series or Super Bowl? Why should people who can get a curveball over the plate earn 50 times as much as people who are trying to get our children educated? They tell us the good times are over for good, that belts must be tightened and fat must be trimmed. They tell us the gulf between the upper class and lower class is growing. What they didn't tell us was we'd have been better off in school practicing our jump shot than learning our multiplication tables. It's not the athletes' fault. The money is there, they figure, so why not get it.

And they get it. With any justification. A year ago Jack Morris told us how happy he was to be going home, to be joining the Minnesota Twins. Then the Blue Jays offer $10.8 million. To hell with home.

Other businesses are reducing employees' salaries or reducing the number of employees. The sporting business keeps growing and growing. And spending and spending. Thirty-one years ago, when I went to work, the starting salary for a journalist was maybe $4,800 a year, and the minimum salary for a major-leaguer was $7,500. Now, the starting salary for a journalist in San Francisco is around $27,000, and the minimum salary for a al Motors will lay off 74,000 people.

There's no moral here. There's only a question: When did sports disassociate itself from the real world? I'm not jealous. I'm perplexed. The more you try to find logic in the situation, the more you're confused. There's a recession going on in America.

Laborers are losing their jobs. Lawyers are losing their jobs. Reporters are losing their jobs. Athletes are earning more and more. The Dallas Times Herald folded two weeks ago, put 900 people out of work and took an alternative news source from a city.

The San Diego Tribune is merging into the San Diego Union. But the NFL is expanding. The NHL is expanding. Major league baseball is expanding. Bobby Bonilla will earn $35,300 a day for putting on a Mets uniform.

Bonilla wUl earn more in two days than I earn in a year. More than some teachers earn in a year and a half. I'm not jealous. I'm bitter. I know.

It's a free country. Bonilla can live the American dream. But what about the other dreamers who are huddled in a blanket on some street corner holding a sign saying "Will work for Why is it so important for a man to Today's TV highlights Basketball: Hawks-Nets 2:35 a.m. TBS 6:30 p.m. KITV Football: Bears-49ers Today's radio highlights 3:45 p.m.

KGU Football: Bears-49ers Basketball: Call the Coach KGU 7 p.m. Tomorrow's TV highlights 8:30 a.m. ESPN Football: Texas 5A Championship 8 30 p.m. ESPN Sailing: Women's Keelboat Prime time TV listings on Page B-2.