Kennebec Journal from Augusta, Maine • 11

'V 4 4 i I i B8 IIRsIdH if i "'Ifc NBA Class final at Hoch Field- Boston 116 Minnesota 99 Philadelphia 108 San Antonio 101 Chariotte 99 Golden State 98 Cleveland 131 Atlanta 125 OT Detroit 106 Milwaukee 79 Pallas 122 LA CRppers 105 PAGE B-3 INOVW 8-1 9W 989 SECTION 2 KENNEBEC JOURNAL AUGUSTAIMAINE1 PAGE B-1 CELTIC ON THE DRIVE Esasky signs with Atlantal ATLANTA (AP) Nick Esgsky became first big-name free wnen he signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves a team that had beentwanting the first baseman for yearr going to be a great addition to our ball club and our rise to the' vice president and general manager Bobby Cox said at a news conference announcing the signing Was a decision that was long said Esasky a Florida native who lives with his wife and three children in Marietta Ga a 1 suburb north of Atlanta know there was talk for many years of me coming Esasky said never seemed to work otit totally excited about coming here and 11 Esasky became one of the top prizes among this free agent crop after batting 277 with 30 home i Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Nick Esasky signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves Friday A Gorman can now balance the books Aaaociatad Ptm Kevin Gamble of the Boston Celtics drives for the hoop past Minnesota's Tyrone Corbin in NBA action at the Boston Garden Friday night NBA roundup on page B2 -i runs and 108 RBIs for the Boston Red Sox last season Terms of the contract were not disclosed but if was believed to be a package worth $57 million over the three years a $11 million signing bonus and salaries of $800000 next season $18 million in 1991 and $2 million in 1992 i Esasky ranked third in the Ameri- can- League in RBIs and fifth in home runs 'c-'lY' He was fourth in slugging percentage at 500 sixth in extra-base hits with 6i and seventh in total bases with 282 in his first ALseason could be any lumpier than Braves manager Russ Nixon said and I go back quite a Esasky made his major debut with Cincinnati in 1983 wh Nixon was managing the Reds first mgjor league manager was Russ and 'he gave me a great opportunity to play when I first came Esasky said Esasky sees a good future for the Braves who have been mired in the NL- West cellar for the last three years know the team is on the way building he said have a lot of good young players and some other players that are a little older but are playing well excited to be part of a team on the way up been one of my dreams to come back and play at He said he had only two choices to make when he decided on free agency whether to stay in Boston or sign with the Braves He said family stability played a role with the opportunity to put his three children in' school and leave than there all year rather than changing from Marietta to Boston during the baseball season During-his six seasons with Cincinnati Esasky had a 375 batti: average with 14 home runs and RBIs at Atlanta- Stadium He declined to say what kind of production he- expected with the opportunity of playing half the season in the stadium never try to put numbers tip before a he said just again Manley would come it said no decision would be- Manley would come later it said BOSTON (AP) The loss of free agent Nick Esasky to the Atlanta Braves leaves Boston General Manager Lou Gorman without his slugging first baseman hut without having to offer other Red Sox players similar lucrative contracts Esasky who led Boston with 30 homers and 108 RBIs and batted 277 inhis only year with the team signed a three-year contract Friday with the Atlanta Braves Although terms were not dis--closed the contract reportedly is worth $57 million a $11 million signing bonus and salaries of $800000 next season $18 million in 1991i4hd $2 million in 1992 Braves overwhelmed him with their offer said Gorman who refused to reveal his own can sign afiybOdy in this world if I give them what they If the Red Sox paid Esasky nearly $2 million a season do you justify that to the rest of your balidub? What if (Mike) Greenwell or (Ellis) Burks has a great year? Do you have to give them $3 million? salary impacts the rest of your Boston already has the' third highest payroll in the major leagues Gorman said although the release of designated hitter Jim Rice and relief pitcher Bob Stanley after last season eliminated two big salaries you begin to overpay for players this franchise will go bank rupt in five Gorman said If the Red Sox had matched or exceeded offer and Esasky stayed with them player sitting back will see exactly what we jgive Gorman added sit back and hope that I gave him $8 million We made an offer that I think eminently fair that was a very lucrative He said Esasky had One good year in his career played six or seven in the big leagues If Atlanta chose to overpay for him their Although other teams wanted him Esasky made it dear he would deal only with Atlanta and Boston which obtained him and reliever Rob Murphy for first baseman Todd Benzinger and pitcher Jeff Sellers last Dec 13 Gorman said Esasky may have signed with Atlanta' even if oner was better may be that just having us in the bidding got him more Gorman said hurt' Esasky was third in the American League RBls and fifth in home runs last season He was fourth in slugging percentage sixth in extra- base hits and seventh in total bases ga some of that from whoever takes his place Gorman said to say that Esasky will do that again next WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley faces possible lifetime banishment from the NFLundcr its drug abuse policy his lawyer said Fridayjrfter the player met for Vi hours with Commissioner Paul Tagliabue After the meeting the NFL confirmed that the gubstancefabuse policy was discussed A Source close to the Redskins speaking only if assured that he remain unidentified said the meeting involved discussions of a third violation of that policy which draws an automatic ban lawyer Bob Woolf said the meeting an investigation It was an Asked if Manley faced the automatic ban however he said: is a league said a decision on than Later made on Friday night Although NFL rules say a third violation results in permanent banishment an offender can apply for readmission after a year Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke said he speculate on guilt or innocence I am absolutely devastated by the Coach Joe -Gibbs also said the problem was abuse but added the Redskins have one- of the best records in the league concerning substance abuse violations hoped it happen to us but it he said Gibbs said Markus Koch would move into position qoupt on-Markus We feeLgood about Gibbs saidV Manley 32 leads the Redskins in sacks with nine and has been a fixture on the defensive line since his rookie season in 1981 While he has built a reputation as one of the finest linemen he has also made headlines for some of his off-the-field problems possibility Although Mi lanley Woolf and Tagliabue refused to confirm it the Washington Post reported in its Friday editions that Manley tested Minnesota to positive for cocaine after the 37-24 loss to the 'tested positive for cocaine in July 1988 and received a Los Angeles Raiders on Oct 29 30-day suspension from then-commissioner Pete park has been my brightest spot In a statement released Friday in New York the Rozcllc 'when I was-in the National League A 'w' 'X to mover fail! sports awards banquet DALLAS (AP) Police whether Dallas Mavericks 'YYibe one of the most competitive with several area runners expected to do well will be a super close she AUGUSTA Approximately 700 run- said of the best runners in the nets in five age groups will compete nt The i state in that age group are Region I Junior Ohmpfc i -The Lakers Ttack Club has several Cross Country flimiftwniiip Sunday at- runners expected to do well includ-the University of Maine at Augpsta pectea ing Brian Strout and Seth Thornton forward Roy Tarpky was drunk or what when they arrested him three days ago an officer sard I Friday Mice of Maranacook both national veterans and Dave Greely Kennebec Journal 111 1-lt sports wrtnr SIDE USES "'A have the results of Ti blood-alcohol test but Sgt: Jim said: evidence in a crinOnal investigation' Let me assure you that not being given special treatment a violation of our policy to give out the results 1 all for second chances and innocent until proven guilty but Tjfrpley a two-time offender of the drug policy is just about out of "chances Tarpley has already been found guilty on one charge The-charge that a moronl ATLANTA (AP) Nick Esasky became first big-name free agent of 1989 to change'teams Friday when he signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves a team that had been Nathan Clark of of Lincoln Acad- of Gardiner Coastal Striders as Wiscassa who is o' different than state high school laid It will will not traverse tendency to not challenging considerably las hills and the see smart tactical are strong -on NFL under its drug abuse policy hislawyer said Friday after the player met few lki hqurs with Commissipher Tagliabue -V Evidently Manley tested positive for coCaine foUowing the Redskins Oct 29 loss Welcome to the police blotter ah sports page A quick rundown of some of top 1 GAINESVILLE Fla (AP) Six men accused of operating a large-scale crack cocaine ring in Gainesville that included past sales to University of Florida athletes wav found guilty Friday of conspiracy charges I' Turns out a couple of guys named and some of biggest problem to San Antonio Spurs guafd Veraon Maxwell while he was diligently pursuing 'hit undergraduate degree at Gainseville's finest academic institution with the Gator as its mascot I Max well was granted immunity to testify against the scum My only question is AoW did the guy pick up the nickname NORMAN Okla (AP) Former Oklahoma football player Glen Beil was found innocent of first-degree rape Friday I hours after the same jury convicted fiis teammates Nigel Clay and Bernard Hall of raping a woman in an athletic dormitory Where would females less likely be harrassed on a midnight stroll through Central Park or in the OU football dormr- -'I WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley faces possible lifetime banishment from the The top 20 individual runners and 'top team in each age group win advance to the National Junior Olympic Ckoss Country Championship at Purdue University in West Lafayette Ind on Dec 9 The "age groups for boys and fcirls are 10-and-under 11-1213-14 15-16 and 17-18The 10nd- under girls 'race begins at 10 am followed by the boys of that age group at 10:30 -The Tea of the age groups will follow in the same starting time format Region I -includes Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts cut Rhode Island New York and northern New Jersey: There are 14 regions in the United States each of which will send the same number of runners to the nationals The runners qualified for the Region I hiili dcuna well championships Byfinishing in the top 25 in their state or association mea win be some outstanding runners mea co-director Marty Thornton of the TAC executive committee said lot of the age groups could be real See: TAC Thornton expects the 15-16 boys nee to 1 Pay B2 Jamie' Frost from Jay Wiscassa Ethan Nadeau emy and Jason Lawrence should fare well for the will Tom' Abello of running unattached r' '--The course will be the me used for the i Thornton more steep hills and the Iowa field which has a drain well win be is more she said will be time baween the I think runners and those who The bottom two Age run a three-kilometer group1 win run 4k and age groups 5k Raiders to the Los F- 171 Myguess is (hat those good people1 who are trying to do something about our illiteracy problem are going It be -miffed at their poster- latest foul FAyEtTEVILLE Ark l(AP) -Some University of Arkansas athletes have tee upended from competition because they bets with bookies on college games the UA said Friday It was- also announced 7by UA that 1 former Cincinnati Reds Manager Pete Rose would give the keynote address at the group will trail the 13-14 the top -tam wanting the first baseman for years 1 Esasky had one good year in ms career played six or sevo Red Sox General Mi Goman said Atlanta chose to for him their privilege" Wait minute you say This doesn't belong in the police blotter 'i Sure it does What Gorman js doing to the Red Sox is a crime -V- i a.