Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 2

D4 The Edmonton Journal, Thursday, Fe CCDR Is Tyson on self-destructive path DAVE ANDERSON The Hem York Tirr.es A' tit "MAe's calling all the just wants to be paid. He's slowly been slipping. He losing his interest lay ton, whose contract with the champion expires early in 1992, didn't sMjnd worried about Tyson retaining the title. "Mike has been knocked down in training bv Oliver MeCall: he has bevn knocked down by Mike Williams," Cayton said. "The knockdown d-n't mean anything Many times Mike will train seriously or go through the motions.

He's alwuvs had a certain amount of problems in training. In other years he was supervised by two ultimate professionals. Kevin Kooney and Steve Lott. but liecause of the skills Cus D'Amato embedded in him. even in the hands of utmost amateurs, when the bell rings, he'll lie Mike Tyson." Cayton assessed Douglas as "having a very good straight left and a style that could bother Mike for a few rounds" Another different opfxnent.

much dif ferent. would be Hulk llogan, the theat rual wrestler. In his Hair for the farce. Don King is floating a trial balloon featuring Tyson and Hulk in a projected S'wt-million extruvagana sometime alter the champion's next scheduled title defence against Evander Holy field on June 18 in Atlantic City. Muhammad Ali, rememlier.

collected Sri million in 1976 for appearing with a Japanese wrestler. Antonio lnoki, in Tokyo. Sprawled on the canvas virtually throughout their lnoki kicked at Ali, who sullered ruptured blood vessels in his legs. "For Mike to light a wrestler." Cayton snapiHHl. "is beneath the dignity of a champion.

Ali had a different personality. All could make anything seem like fun. But while I would register an objection to Mike fighting a wrestler, the basic element is money. If it comes to that, if the public is willing to pay for it. well, mavlie." New York For nearly two years, ever since Mike Tyson began creating more headlines outside the ring than in it.

the undisputed, undefeated and undignified world heavyweight champion has emerged as his ow most dangerous of ponent. Considering his competition, the only person who can beat Tyson is Tyson himself. By not training. By not caring. By not surrounding himself with experienced are, Tyson will quickly swat James (Buster) Douglas into submission Sunday in Tokyo (Saturday night on Home Box Office cable Since shadow boxing isn't enough for even Tson to attract a multimillion-dollar guarantee in the Tokyo Dome.

Douglas, 29. has been specifically exported to Japan for the occasion by Don King, the nasal and noisy promoter. Even so, reports from Tokyo of Tyson's training are enough to question if the champion is sabotaging his own reign. While sparring with Greg Page two weeks ago, he was floored by a right hand. Over the weekend he was described as "sluggish" in another sparring session.

Halfway around the world from Tokyo his estranged manager. Bill Cayton, and his former trainer. Kevin Kooney, were quick to minimize Tyson's potential problems. Tyson, alter all, has a 37 0 record with 33 kntK'kouts. Douglas is the International Boxing Federation's No.

2-ranked challenger despite an uninspiring 29 4-1 record. His most notable triumph is a seventh-round knockout of Trevor Bcrbick in 1988, two years after the onetime World Boxing Council champion had been dethrone! by Tyson in two rounds. "I'm not really concerned by the knockdown and the sluggish workouts; by all rights Mike should take Douglas out within two rounds," Kooney said. "But it shows you Mike's got a bunch of amateurs around him." Ever since Tyson discharged Kooney. his trainers have leen Jay Bright and Y.

7 i AP Laserpnoto Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (right) spars with former heavyweight champ Greg Page in preparation for Tyson's fight against James (Buster) Douglas Aaron Snowell, both relatively inexperienced. In his two fights with Bright and Snowell in his corner, Tyson's punch prevailed: in the filth round against Frank Bruno, in the first round against Carl (The Truth) Williams. But if Tyson were to need advice in a prolonged brawl, he might miss Kooney's expertise. "Mike's tailing all the shots," Kooney said. "He doesn't respect Bright or Snowell or Don King.

He just wants to I' paid. He's slowly leen slipping. He's losing his interest." At 6-l'cel 4 iridies and an expected 225 IHiunds, Douglas is much taller than Tyson, although the 5-foot -11 champion has always chopied down taller opponents as if he were swinging an axe instead of his lists But what annoys Kooney are rcorts lh.it Tvson weighs 227. "I always wanted him at 216. 217," Kooney said "That way I knew he was using his discipline to deny himself." SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS Baseball lockout edging closer Browning breaking in blades Marty Knack The Associated Press New York Alter yet another fruitless bargaining session, negotiators for baseball players and management predicted Wednesday that owners would go ahead with their lockout decision when they meet Friday in Chicago.

Owners have said they will not start spring training as scheduled next Thursday unless players agree to an outline for revenue-sharing. But in li meetings since Nov. 28. no agreement has been reached and management's chief negotiator. Chuck O'Connor, re-H'ated Wednesday that camps would not oK-n until there is an agreement Talks are recessed until next week.

"It's fair to say players have liecn resigned to the notion that they (the owners) are going to shut the camps because that's what they said they're going to do," said Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. "If they do shut the camps down, it won't have a positive effect on any thing." O'Connor said he lielieved owners would support the lockout position, which they agreed to last July and affirmed in December. Milwaukee owner Bud Selig, chairman of the Player Relations Committee, sent a letter to clubs on Jan telling them not to open camps until further notice. "As far as I know, nothing has changed that would alter the instruction of that memorandum." O'Connor said. Asked if he saw any scenario in which owners might allow camps to open without an agreement, O'Connor said, "I do not.

No." This would be the sixth work stoppage in baseball since 1972. Players struck in 1972. 19i), 1981 and 1985 and owners locked out plavers during spring training in 1976 from Feb. 23 to March 17. "The proposals they have made are not meaningfully different.

It's the same old stuff," Fehr said. The sides talked mostly about side issues on Wednesday, coming close to agreement on termination pay for players released during spring training. Owners have proposed that players get 48 per cent of the money from ticket sales and broadcast contracts, which are 82 per cent of total revenue. In addition, they want players with less than six years in the majors to be paid in one-year contracts according to statistical scales. The plan would limit clubs with high payrolls from signing free agents.

Fehr has said the proposal is a disguised attack on free agency and also said the union would not agree to revenue-sharing unless players are allowed to participate in management decisions. I I 1 I I 1 i I I i i Sudbury His quadruple toe loop may not be ready, in part tietause of new skates. Kurt Browning is breaking in new blades and lioots at the Canadian Figure Skating Association championships, as he aims to defend his world men's title next month in Halifax. "The quad is just starting to act like it did before," he said of the jump that made him famous in Budapest, Hungary, two years ago. "I don't know if it'll be ready here, but it'll definitely be happening for Halifax." The problem the Royal Gleno-ra Club sensation is experiencing comes after hat he describes as his "three turn" in his four-revolution aerial efTort.

"I'm backwards before I reach back to pick for the quad," he said of the execution in his landing. "I'm not checked." He should be rotating 180 degrees. But he's ofT an estimated five or six degrees, so he's facing the wrong direction when it's time to complete the final revolution. Pumped up Browning is pleased because good friend and training partner Michael Slipchuk has landed the quad in practice. "Seeing Mike do it just pumps me up." said Browning.

"I feel a little bit like I helped him along. I feel very proud. "But on the other hand, it's time for me to make sure mine's clean, because someone else is doing it." Browning admitted he would be concerned if young United States star Todd Eldredge or Victor Petrenko of the Soviet Union were executing the jump. But Czechoslovakia's Peter Barna is the only other skater to have landed the jump in competition, so Browning doesn't feel threatened. Slipchuk's confidence has been boosted with the quad and by skating well for most of the season, in practices and the recent western divisionals.

"Every competition I'm getting stronger and tetter," he said as he bids to repeat his silver-medal performance from last year's nationals and join Browning in Halifax. "I feel as ready as I've ever been. That's a good sign." He used to be bothered by challenges from others but isn't this year. "If someone comes up and beats me, they're going to have to skate better than me," he said. "I'm going to go out and do what I can do." If he lands his triple Axel and most of his other six triples in Saturday's long program, he'll finish no worse than second.

Browning is hoping to start well in the compulsory figures this morning at Walden Arena. He recognizes if he traces solid figures in Halifax he can impress the judges from the start. "It might make a dilference, now that I'm world champion," he said. "If I can show them good figures, they might say 'he won last year, look at this'. I want to take advantage of that." He feels there could be two schools of thought because figures are on the agenda for the final time in Halifax.

Some could be practising them as diligently as ever, because it is the swan song. Others may not have been worried aliout them as much because they weren't included in most international competitions early in the season. "Hopefully, some of the Europeans will Ie nonchalant about them." he said. "Maybe we can catch them unawares. I want to lay down good figures, just to see what they do." Improvement evident Royal Glenora professional Michael Jiranek has seen an improvement in Browning's skating since practices on their first day here.

"He hates skating on wet ice," Jiranek said of Browning's problems initially, which were solved when the soft ice from Monday-was in much better condition for Tuesday's sessions. Jiranek expressed his regrets alxiut the abolition of figures by the International Skating Union, following Wednesday's one-two finish in the senior women's division by two Albertans. "I think the figures help (a skater) get into competitions (physically and psychologically)." Jiranek said after Margot Bion of Calgary's Glencoe Club and Lisa Sargeant from the Royal Glenora placed first and second, respectively. "It gives (a skater) the start and it's much easier to go on. White loses arbitration with Angels CP Laserphoto Charlene Wong skates to a third-place finish in figures Pairs skater improving The Canadian Press Sprint star dumps his coach The Canadian Press Montreal Track coach Daniel St-Hi-laire was fired none too gracefully Tuesday by his star sprinter.

Last month the Montreal-based coach took the Canadian Track and Field Association to court to in a spot on the Canadian team competing at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, N.Z. The case made national news when Sports Minister Jean Charest was forced to resign his cabinet post after trying to contact the judge ruling on the affair. At the news conference. Games 100-metres bronze medallist Bruny Surin asked St-Hilaire to leave the room. From the hall, St-Hilaire heard Surin announce he was being dropped.

"I don't want to involve myself in Daniel St-IIilaire's problems," said Surin. The spat between his coach and the Canadian Track and Field Association was an unneeded distraction in Auckland, he said. "I couldn't concentrate on my race." "This whole thing. the resignation of Jean Charest, it has gone too far. St-Hilaire is ruining my career," said Surin.

"I should have done it a long time ago." the back of his head. "It was a serious concussion but he's responding well and his vital signs are all fine," Kerry' Leitch, head coach of the pairs school at Kitchener, where Proos, 19, trains, said Wednesday as the championships opened. Proos and Coady were sixth in the novice division one year ago and were medal hopefuls this time. Leitch said doctors have advised him that Proos will remain in hospital for at least a week. Sudbury, Ont.

Allen Proos of Cobourg. a pairs skater who suffered a concussion in practice at the Canadian figure skating championships 24 hours earlier, was listed in serious condition Wednesday by the staff of the intensive care unit at Sudbury General Hospital. Proos and pairs partner Krista Coady of Cambridge, col Iided with another pair in practice Tuesday. Proos landed on The Associated Press New York Devon White lost his arbitration case against California on Wednesday and Milwaukee reliever Dan Plesac settled on a three-year contract for $6.5 million with the Brewers. Arbitrator Howard Block picked California's figure of $580,000 instead of White's request for $865,000.

The 27-year-old outfielder made $380,000 in 1989, when he batted .245 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs. Plesac, a left-hander who set a club record last season with 33 saves, will get a $500,000 signing bonus. $1.3 million in 1990, $2.1 million in 1991 and $2.6 million in 1992. He made $725,000 last season, when he was picked for the American League all-star team for the third straight year. Four players in arbitration agreed to one-year deals on Wednesday, reducing the players left in arbitration to 67.

Right-hander Jeff Robinson and Detroit settled at $335,000 a raise of $160,000 and righthander Eric Plunk and the New-York Yankees agreed at $450,000, a raise of $223,805. Mark Grant, a right-handed reliever for San Diego, settled at $400,000, a raise of $245,000, and outfielder John Moses and Minnesota agreed at $395,000, a raise of $215,000. Champions resting hopes on double axels MARTY KNACK Journal Staff Writer Nova Scotia, where the CFSA will have three representatives because of its outstanding depth. KMCK KNACKS Colin Epp and Kristy-Lee Sargeant of the Royal Glenora Club were third after the original program in junior pairs. Jason Turner of the Royal Glenora and Jamie Sale of Red Deer were in the same spot in novice pairs.

month. Lyndon Johnston and Cindy Landry, the defending world silver medallists, were first in the original program on five of sev en judges' score cards. Eisler and Brasseur were a comfortable second over Doug Ladret and Christine Hough. "We don't have to peak here." said Eisler, thinking again of the March 6-11 competition in programs. Eisler, 26, and Brasseur.

19, executed the axels to music from Dark Town Strutters Ball as the top three couples all managed clean performances Wednesday night at the Sudbury Arena. "When we get to Halifax and we do double axels and everybody else does double lutzes, we'll see where we are," said Eisler, looking ahead to the world championships next Sudbury, Ont. Side-by-side double axels give the defending champions confidence they can retain their titles. Lloyd Eisler and Isabelle Brasseur feel they can repeat as Canadian Figure Skating Association pairs gold medallists tonight because of the difficult jumps in their original and long.