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Sports digest

By RODNEY PAGE, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 5, 2000

Mutiny closes in on coach

Mutiny general manager Bill Manning said he is close to choosing a coach and expects an announcement by Wednesday or Thursday. Manning and Executive Vice President Ed Austin met over the weekend to discuss the final three candidates. Manning said he spoke with Major League Soccer's Chief Operating Officer Mark Abbott Monday about his decision and will then extend an offer within 48 hours.

Manning originally spoke with 11 candidates about the job, but narrowed the list to former MetroStars coach Alfonso Mondelo, under-17 national team coach John Ellinger and Rochester Rhinos coach Pat Ercoli.

"In the end it's important for us to have a coach that has head coaching experience," Manning said. "We were very open to start with to keep the fans informed, but now that we're close to a decision, out of respect to those we talked to, I'd like to keep it close to the vest."

Former Mutiny defender Frank Yallop, Mutiny assistant Perry Van Der Beck, and former Tampa Bay Rowdie Mike Connell all were eliminated as candidates. Van Der Beck will remain with the team in a front office capacity.

MORE SOCCER: The Wizards obtained all-time MLS scoring leader Roy Lassiter, a former Mutiny player, from the Fusion for midfielder Chris Henderson. The MLS champions also acquired midfielder-defender Mark Santel from Dallas by trading their first pick in the third round of the MLS Super Draft to the Burn. ... The United States has chosen Columbus, Ohio, as the site of its opener against Mexico on Feb. 28 in the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

BASEBALL: Jeff Nelson, who earned four World Series rings after he was traded from the Mariners to the Yankees five years ago, agreed Monday to a $10.65-million, three-year contract. ... Left-handed pitcher Denny Neagle made official his $51.5-million, five-year contract with the Rockies. ... The Mariners won't move in the fences at Safeco Field in an effort to re-sign shortstop Alex Rodriguez. "We like the ballpark as it is and we're not going to make decisions like that based on one player," said general manager Pat Gillick. Rodriguez brought up the issue last week on his Web site. "That's never been anything we've asked from any team, the configuration of their stadium. It's not an issue," agent Scott Boras said. "His personal belief is the Mariners would have been more effective last year if the fences had been brought it. That's his opinion, but that's not going to be determinative of his decision." ... Left-handed pitcher Trey Moore was claimed by Atlanta off waivers from Montreal. The Braves also sent utility player Steve Sisco outright to Triple-A Richmond. ... The Mets lost in their bid to obtain South Korean pitcher Dae Sung Koo when his team decided to deal him to a Japanese club. ... Former Pirates general manager Larry Doughty was hired as a scout for the Brewers. ... The Cardinals told season-ticket holders they plan to raise ticket prices an average of $4 a seat, or about 21 percent. ... Dan Evans, a former assistant general manager with the White Sox, has taken a job with the Cubs to help the team prepare for salary arbitration cases. ... Athletics outfield prospect Jason Hart was awarded the J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps 2000 minor league player of the year. ... The Barves announced their spring training schedule, including games at the Devil Rays (March 3 at Florida Power Park) and at the Yankees (March 5, Legends Field).

TENNIS: If Spain needs extra motivation to win its first Davis Cup title, Lleyton Hewitt will provide more than enough. All Alex Corretja has to do is recall Hewitt's fist pumping and chest thumping during last week's Masters Cup in Portugal when the Spaniard beat the 19-year-old Aussie. Hewitt reportedly snubbed Corretja last weekend during practice at Palau Sant Jordi, the 1992 Olympic arena where the three-day Davis Cup final opens Friday. "I'll confirm what I've said in Lisbon," said Corretja, Spain's best player and one of the ATP Tour's most popular players. "Hewitt is an unfriendly guy and he thinks he's a know-it-all when he's on the court. He doesn't have any respect for the opponent. Let's say he's not my best friend of the circuit." This will be Spain's third final, and the last two were both losses to Australia on grass (1965 and 1967 in Sydney and Brisbane). Australia has won the cup 27 times. But this time the matches are on clay, and Spain produces some of the world's best clay-court players.

OLYMPICS: The USOC elected Sandra Baldwin as chairwoman of the board, making her the first woman to hold the post, the organization said. ... Athens 2004 organizing committee managing director Petros Synadinos resigned for "personal reasons," less than six months after taking the No. 3 post in the organization, president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said. ... The Australian government is talking with the Greek government and the European Union to ensure that Australian companies can bid for contracts related to the 2004 Athens Games, trade minister Mark Vaile said.

AUTO RACING: CART named Joseph F. Heitzler its new president and chief executive, replacing interim president Bobby Rahal. ... Anthony Davidson has joined Formula One's British American Racing as a test driver.

HORSE RACING: Detectives investigating the slaying of jockey Chris Antley questioned his friends but made no arrests in the case. Antley, 34, was found dead Saturday night at his home "with severe trauma to his head," police said. "We have no one in custody," Lt. Keith Jones said. The county coroner scheduled an autopsy for today.

BOXING: A fire caused $170,000 damage to the home of ESPN analyst Al Bernstein.

ARENAS: An architectural firm in Marina Del Ray, Calif., has been hired to design a new Madison Square Garden, Sports Business Journal reported.

CYCLING: French sports ministry officials and a delegation from the sport's governing body urged Olympic organizers to say if they will approve a French-developed anti-doping test. French officials and representatives from the International Cycling Union said they hoped the process and timetable for clearing the test would be "rapidly and clearly defined," a ministry statement said.

X-GAMES: Philadelphia will be the site of next year's games from Aug. 17-23 and also will stage the event in 2002.

SOFTBALL: UCLA pitcher/outfielder Courtney Dale went to the Tampa Bay FireStix with the first selection of the 2001 draft. FSU outfielder Serita Brooks was selected by the Ohio Pride with the first pick of the third round.

SKIING: Thomas Vonn won the first Super Series super-G of the season in Beaver Creek, Colo., a day after celebrating his 25th birthday. Vonn won the one-run, high speed race in 1 minute, 24.28 seconds. He won $1,500. ... A women's World Cup giant slalom was moved from France because of lack of snow and will take place Saturday in Sestrieres, Italy.

CRICKET: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the second test in Port Elizabeth, South Africa to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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