El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 10

El Paso Times Section IS1 2C Printout 2C Golf 3C Baseball 3C Classified Tucsdoy May 23, 1989 Sports editor: Ray Hagar, 546-6170 mi TV Gccrc: it's U.S. Open qualifying time again agic reigns in NBA9s domaiii Texas League baseball Diablos 4, Arkansas 2 Major League Baseball American League Minnesota 6, Toronto 2 Cleveland 7, Detroit 3 Baltimore 5, Chicago 1 Texas 4, Kansas City 1 National League St. Louis at Cincinnati, ppd. Chicago 5, Houston 3 I .1.1 .1.. I II.

t. Hot dog wins 10th in a row Legal Opinion, a 3-year-old greyhound, won his 10th consecutive race Sunday at Juarez Racetrack. Trained by Alberto Gonzale9 for the Helen Gauvin kennel, Legal Opinion is only onf victory short of the all-time winning streak of .11 straight set in the early years at Juarez Racetrack. L.H. Julie now has the record.

Legal Opinion will attempt to win his 11th-straight race Saturday night. "He just might be the best greyhound in North America," Ed Gauvin, a kennel operator said after watching Sunday's race. Associated Press his second MVP award in the NBA Monday. MVP facts Closest vote in 8 years: Magic Johnson got Vi first-place votes and 664 Vb points, compared to 27 Vb first-place votes and 598.8 points for Michael Jordan. Second for Magic: Johnson won his first MVP in the 1986-87 season.

He averaged 23.9 points, 12.2 assists and shot 52.2-percent from the field. This time: Johnson had 17 triple-doubles (double figures in points, rebounds and assists in a game); averaged 22.5 points, 12.8 assists and shot 91.1-percent from the free-throw line. Lakers' Johnson beats out Jordan for MVP By Sam McManls Los Angeles Times INGLEWOOD, Calif. -Hoisting the most valuable player trophy during Monday afternoon's press conference at the Forum, Commissioner David Stern of the National Basketball Association temporarily lost his grip. But Magic Johnson, more than just an interested bystander, took hold of the hardware and did not let go- "I guess we've seen why you're a commissioner and not a ballplayer," Johnson said, jokingly.

Thus, another assist and another award were given to the versatile Los Angeles Lakers' guard, who edged out guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls for the second time in the last three seasons in a media vote for MVP honors. In the closest balloting in eight seasons, Johnson received 42 first-place votes and 664.5 points. That was 65.7 points ahead of Jordan, who had 27 first-place votes. Some in Chicago may think the MVP voting was about as fair as the recent Panamanian elections, especially given Jordan's impressive playoff escapades. But the voting is conducted before the playoffs begin and, even though Jordan once again won the league scoring title, Johnson led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.

He also won two games and sent another to overtime with last-second baskets, and he has led the Lakers to eight consecutive playoff victories going into Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Phoenix Suns tonight at the Forum. But even Johnson conceded that, if playoff performance had been included, Jordan would have won. "I think Michael would win it, if it was now, because of the playoffs he's had," Johnson said. "What (Jordan) has done is outstanding. He does incredible things that you only wish, hope and pray you could do.

"He plays in the air. I play on the floor. We're two different type of players, but we mean the same thing to our teams." Coach Pat Riley, Johnson's teammates and apparently even those reporters voting on the award concluded that the Lakers would not have ad- FSiWv Mm0li.MEBiMly:.'M i Vi-. J1 iZ Game 2: The Lakers and Suns resume their Western Conference playoff series tonight 3C Akron assistant coach hits jackpot AKRON, Ohio Mike Woodford, an assistant on football coach Gerry Faust's staff at the University of Akron, won the $15 million jackpot from Saturday's "Super Lotto" game in the Ohio Lottery. Woodford, 29, will share the money with wife, mother and a lottery spokeswoman said Monday.

Woodford intends to continue working at Akron, where he coaches the defensive secondary. O.J. doesn't contest wife-beating charge LOS ANGELES Actor and former pro football star O.J. Simpson pleaded no contest Monday to beating his wife, Nicole, at their Brentwood, home New Year's Day. Simpson, 41, entered the plea to one count of spousal battery through his attorney, Howard Weitzman, in West Los Angeles Municipal Court, said city attorney's spokesman Mike Quails.

Sentencing was set for Wednesday. Flyers' goalie gets El Paso Times El Paso's Steve Haskins, son of UTEP basketball Coach Don Haskins, qualified vanced this far in their quest for a third consecutive championship without the type of season Johnson has had. Riley said that the league should have presented two awards the most valuable to Johnson and the most outstanding to Jordan. "The one who deserved it more, for all he did in the regular season, was Earvin," Riley said. "I swear, if there was ever a person who walked out of an alien spaceship, it's Michael Jordan.

The guy is the most outstanding in pro basketball. "But that doesn't always mean that the most outstanding is the most valuable. I think Earvin deserves this one." for the U.S. Open golf tournament last year at Brookline, played the first two rounds but didn't make the cut. Haskins will try to make this year's U.S.

Open, which will be held June 15-18 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. Twenty-one golfers shoot for 2 spots in Open qualifying today El Paso's Haskins Giamatti grants Rose's trying to make it 2 years in a row By Bill Knight El Paso Times request for 30-day delay Commissioner will meet with Reds' would go to court claim-i that A field of 21 golfers, includ How to make the U.S. Open Qualifications: Any professional or amateur with a handicap not exceeding two can enter. Fifty-five players including last year's winner Curtis Strange and selected other former Open, Masters', PGA and British Open champions are exempt from both local and sectional qualifying. To advance: The top 10 percent at each of 73 regionals which will be held May 15-23 will advance to sectional qualifying.

In El Paso, two players out of 21 will advance to one of 12 sectional qualifying sites June 5-6. A player can choose to play in the sectional of his choice. To make the U.S. Open: At the various sectional sites, some 600 players are expected to compete for the remaining 101 spots in the U.S. Open championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., June 15-18.

Today: At El Paso Country Club, golfers tee off at 1 to 2 p.m. No admission. lJ Rose's right ing El Paso's Steve Haskins, will go after two spots in the United States Open local manager June 26 Associated Press qualifying tournament today at 1 p.m. et El Paso Country Club. to aue process was being denied.

In Cincinnati, Rose de-c 1 i to onoalr wif ri NEW YORK Pete Rose's Two of the 21 golfers will advance from local qualifying request that baseball postpone its hearing on his alleged gambling for 30 days was granted Monday by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti. to the sectional qualifying tournament of their choice. The U.S. Open will be held June 15-18 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.

Giamatti, in a terse, one- DaracraDh statement, did not A year ago, Haskins quali fied here, then qualified in the explain his reasons for granting the delay, which was asked for last Friday. The hearing, required by baseball's procedural rules, had been scheduled for Cincinnati, Ohio, sectionals to play in the U.S. Open at Brookline, Mass. He played dooi Tor games PHILADELPHIA The National Hockey League suspended Philadelphia goalie Ron Hextall for 12 games without pay next season for his attack on Montreal defenseman Chris Chelios during a Stanley Cup semifinal game. Flyers president Jay Snider said the club considered the penalty excessive and would appeal it to the NHL's Board of Governors, although he thought the appeal would have little effect.

NHL executive vice president Brian O'Neill ordered the suspension after meeting with Hextall and Flyers -general manager Bob Clarke last week. Snider said of 50 or 60 suspensions in NHL history, the 12-game penalty was the third longest. Sparky will not make quick return DETROIT The Detroit Tigers' initial feeling that Manager Sparky Anderson will be gone weeks instead of days was reaffirmed Monday when Dr. Clarence Li-vingood spoke with the absent manager for the first time since Anderson flew home to Thousand Oaks, Calif. "He still sounded tired," Livingood said.

"He still is tired despite the rest he's gotten since he returned home. But he's Thursday in New York. the first two rounds of the Open last year, but failed to make the cut. I have today granted the This is the first year the Giamatti reporters about the commissioner's action and closed the door of his clubhouse office to prohibit entry prior to Monday night's game against St. Louis.

On the Reds' radio pregame show, Rose said: "We think it's fair. I'm glad the commissioner gave us another month to get our act together, so to speak." John M. Dowd, the commissioner's special counsel, delivered a 225-page report on the allegations to Giammati on May 9 along with seven volumes of evidence. Two days later, Giamatti set the hearing date and had a copy of the report delivered to Rose's attorneys. Reuven J.

Katz, a Rose lawyer, said Friday that baseball had given him 60 more transcripts and interviews. Additional time was required to evaluate the evidence and prepare for the hearing, Katz said. local Oren aualifvinir has Haskins said. "I feel like I'm as good as I've ever been. Of course, at this point like any pro if your putting is solid, you'll have a pretty good tournament." Haskins is very comfortable on the El Paso Country Club course.

He shares the course record of 64 with three other golfers, including Todd. Todd is less pleased with his game at the moment, but is definitely dangerous on this course. He shot a practice round of 66 Saturday. "I've played in five USGT tournaments," said Todd, from Toronto, Canada. "I made the cut in three.

I haven't really played that well, but I haven't played that Please see Qualifying 2C 30-day extension requested by Mr. Rose's Giamatti said. "As a result of their request, I have reset the hearing date. The hearing date will be on June 26, 1989, at 9 a Tuning up: The University of Arizona team will play in the U.S. Open qualifying tournament today, then in the NCAA West regionals starting Thursday 2C Larry Webb, former PGA tour veteran Willie Wood and the entire University of Arizona team.

Both Haskins and Todd have been playing on the United States Golf Tour, for-merly known as the Pro Golf Tour. Haskins, who played at Coronado High and New Mexico State, won three events last year and has won another this year. He has won just more than $28,000 on the tour this spring. "I feel like my game is coming wound this year," been only 18 holes. In past years it was 36 holes and most of the goliers preier the old format.

a.m. in my office." "Anybody can get hot for 18 Spokesman Rich Levin said Haskins said, the postponement was granted in the spirit of fairness. Rose's lawyers did not return Haskins will be trying telephone calls left at their again this year, along with former UTEP All-American offices in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. They have been Rick Todd, former national club professional champion 3uoted as saying that if the elay was not granted, they Ashley extends hitting streak to 14, leads Diablos over Travs accepting what has happened. He knows he needs a complete rest before he returns." Anderson will undergo tests this week to make sure there aren't other causes of his fatigue, but the results and even the name of the doctor will be confidential.

Times wire and staff reports Times staff reports LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Shon Ashley hit safely in his 14th straight game Monday, with a home run in the fifth inning, to lead the El Paso Diablos to 4-2 Texas League victory over the Arkansas Travelers. The home run was Ashley's third in four games of the series David tripled off the right field wall with one out and scored on a single to right by Jesus Alfaro. The Diablos then put the game away with two unearned runs in the eighth. The Travelers put three hits together for their first run in the sixth inning against Diablos' starter Randy Veres, with Arkansas and sixth of the season.

He now is tied for the club lead with Tim Mcintosh. "I've just been getting good pitches to hit," Ashley said. "I got a few hits and started to not force things, just let it happen. That's when I hit best, when I don't force it or press." The Diablos added another run in the sixth, when Andre 2-3. The victory for Veres was his first since May 1.

He left the game in the eighth, and Ed Puig came in to earn his league-leading ninth save. "I stayed ahead of them and got a few breaks," Veres said. It has been an in-between kind of season, sort of up and down again." Monday, Ashley was named the Texas League's Batter of the Week for the period of May 14-20. In six games, he had 10 hits in 18 at-bats for a .556 average. Today, right-hander Mike Costello will make his first start in a Diablo uniform, while right-hander Frank Potest io will pitch for Arkansas..