12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 17, 1996 Owners meet in L.A. to discuss interleague play LOS ANGELES (AP)-Interleague play, perhaps the most revolutionary change in baseball since the lively ball, appeared to be gaining support yester- day as owners started arriving for the winter meetings. The Philadelphia Phillies' Bill Giles had proposed a schedule in which teams would each play 15-16 interleague games that count in the standings start- ing in 1997. "It's building up momentum," At- lanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "It's a subject that's been talked about now for many years. It's sort of filtered its way up to the top of the agenda." Under Giles' plan, each team from the AL East would play three games against each team from the NL East, each team from the AL Central would play three games against each team from the NL Central, and each team from the AL West would play four games against each team from the NL West. Teams in the East and Central would play their four division rivals 12 times each and the other teams in their league I 1 times each. Teams in the West would play their three division rivals 13 times each and the other teams in their league 10 times each. "If I had to vote right now, without hearing anybody else sneak, I'd vote in favor of it," Chicago White Sox chair- man Jerry Reinsdorf said. "But I'd like to know what other people say." Interleague play will be discussed during tomorrow's final session. It re- quires the approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association, making a final vote unlikely this week. Owners I's building up momentum. I's a subject that's been talked about for many years - John SChuerholz Atlanta Braves general manager r KRI SIN SCHAEFEF Mihigan freshman Steve Basmajan wrestles at the Eastern Michigan Invitational this past November Wrsl3 e in Vr e W resilerS Wln, lose 3 -m Virginia remember that when they voted in Sep- tember 1993 to expand the playoffs the following the year, they union de- manded - and received - 80 percent of the ticket money from the first three games of each new series. In addition, interleague play would necessitate a decision about the desig- nated hitter. NL owners still oppose it and AL owners are split. Eliminating it would require the approval of the union, which is unlikely to give up a high- salaried position. "These are issues that have been dis- cussed at the bargaining table and I assume will continue to be discussed," Lauren Rich, the union's No. 3 official, said in New York. Owners think interleague play will spark more interest in the game, which experienced a 20 percent attendance drop last season following the 232-day strike. "The game is still recovering in a lot of cities," Cleveland Indians general manager John Hart said, "This could be a strong factor in growing." Hart also said the idea was hard for him to accept. "You might have your World Series clubs play ... during the season," he said. "You might get away a little from the mystique of the World Series." on interleague play Teams in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco stand to ben- efit the most. "I think it will appeal to a lot of team - particularly teams in two-team mar- kets," New York Yankees owner Georg( Steinbrenner said. Schedule formats will have to change in 1998 when Arizona and Tampa Bay start play. Owners still haven't decided which leagues to place the new teams in. If one is added to each league, creat- ing two 15-team circuits, interleague play would be a must in order to keep teams from having off-days on week* ends. There was just one minor deal on the first day of the three-day session. San Francisco traded infielder Chris, Wimmer to St. Louis, completing the Dec. 14 deal that sent pitchers Allen; Watson, Rich Lucia and Doug Creek tor San Francisco for shortstop Royce: Clayton. As for signings, reliever Bob: Patterson agreed to a one-year contrac with the Chicago Cubs worth about" $500,000, infielder Juan Samuel agreed to a minor-league deal with Toronto: that would pay him about $325,000 if, he makes the major league team, and pitcher Scott Radinsky agreed to a mi- nor-league contract with Los Angeles.: Fom Staff Reports The No. 13 Michigan wrestling team split six matches at the presti- gous 1996 Virginia Duals last week, fiishing in sixth place. The Wolver- i~es entered the tournament seeded Ofth. Senior Jesse Rawls and sophomore Jeff Catrabone each were perfect in the tournament, going unbeaten in six diatches. Sophomore heavyweight Airron Richardson won five of his six matches. Rawls became the third Wolverine with 20 wins (20-3),joining Catrabone (28-4) and Richardson (26-6). Michigan opened the tournament Friday with a36-9 win over Edinboro, then lost to Big Ten rival Illinois (19- 16). The Michigan squad started Satur- day with two victories, defeating Pennsylvania (26-9) and Rider (22- 12). The second half of the day, how- ever, brought two losses for the Wol- verines. Lock Haven handed Michigan a23- 18 loss, then Oklahoma upended the Wolverines, 21-15, in the fifth-place match. Michigan (0-1, 4-4) opens its home season with a Jan. 19 match against Central Michigan at Cliff Keen Arena. I I A West-fail: Phoenix is now 100-percent Cotton PHOENIX (AP)- Hailed as a hero for guiding the Phoenix Suns to the INBA Finals three years ago but la- 1 eled a loser when his team of walk- ing wounded fell below .500, coach Paul Westphal was fired yesterday. Westphal, dismissed by Suns presi- dent and owner Jerry Colangelo, may be the only NBA coach in history to replace, and be replaced by, the same man - Cotton Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons, a senior executive vice president and color analyst for the Suns, was glad to return to the bench. "Jerry took my sign off my desk," laid the peppery, talkative fitzsimmons, who will be the team's coach for the third time. "It said, 'Vice President of Nothing,' and he very politely removed that sign." Fitzsimmons warned reporters not to ask him about alleged bad coaching by Westphal, saying each coach had his own style. "If any of you want to ask me any negative questions about Paul and his coaching ... don't do it with me," he said. Colangelo said he could wait no longer to make a move, coming on the heels of the Suns' fifth straight loss at home, an 89-74 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The team, playing without injured stars Charles Barkley, Danny Man- ning, John Williams and Kevin Johnson, shot 38 percent, matched the franchise one-game low of28 field goals set in 1990 and scored the few- est points since the record low of 68 at Kansas City in March 1981. Meanwhile, Dan Majerle, the player traded to Cleveland for Williams dur- ing training camp, got a three-minute standing ovation from Phoenix fans before the game and scored 20 points. The Suns are 14-19 and have lost seven of their last 10 games. Colangelo told Westphal a month ago he was unhappy with the team's play, and said yesterday he had been considering a move since the Suns took a 2-0 lead in Houston in the second round of the 1994 playoffs, then allowed the Rockets to eliminate them in seven games. The Rockets also ousted the Suns in seven games in the same round last year. "I've been concerned about the path we were taking the last couple of years, and I was just biding my time, hopeful that things would take a turn for the better. It didn't happen that way," Colangelo said. Ironically, Fitzsimmons groomed Westphal as an assistant for four years before turning over the reins on July 1, 1992 - only to take the reins back yesterday. When the Suns acquired Charles Barkley in June 1992, it set the tone for the team to reach the NBA Finals before losing in six to the Chicago Bulls. Along the way, Barkley earned the league MVP award and the Suns set a franchise record with 62 victo- ries. They won 56 games the next season and 59 games and the Pacific Divi- sion title in 1994-95, but Barkley was hurt each time the Suns met the Rock- ets. He has missed five games this season, is shooting a career-low 46.7 percent, and has been rumored to be trade bait. Colangelo said Barkley asked him where he stood, and he told Barkley he wouldn't trade him except for an- other superstar. "That flat-out isn't going to hap- pen," Colangelo said. "The calls you get from teams are from those that are looking to steal a talent because they think we are looking to get rid of Charles Barkley. "That is the furthest thing from the truth. It makes a lot of these teams U Cotton Fitzsimmons (left) is introduced as the Phoenix Suns' coach by owner Jerry Colangelo. 747-9400 1220 S. University Above McDonalds, Kinko's TANNING SPECIALS - - ~K SUPER.YANS 'UNLIMITED TANNINGI MONTH UNLIMITED 1ALL I TANNING ESEMESTERRERE FEES$ +'1 Per session cj L EXP 1/24/96 coo look good when they say they are trying to get Charles Barkley." Fitzsimmons, 65, was 97-67 with the Suns from 1970-72 and 217-111 from 1988-1992, successes which helped him to an 805-745 record in a 19-year coaching career with the At- lanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, Kansas City Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Suns. Colangelo acknowledged Fitzsimmons' reputation as a pepperpot who coaxes maximum ef- fort from his players. The poor defen- sive record of Westphal's team has been attributed to his laid-back style and lack of emotion. "I am not promising anything," Fitzsimmons said. "I don't ever say that we are going to win. I would say that we will play hard, we'll play together, and we'll outhustle our op- ponents." He said he has no problem with the roster, which has been down to the league-minimum of eight players in uniform for the last four games. The Suns host Orlando Wednesday and then play nine of their next 10 games on the road. Colangelo said Barkley, Johnson, Wiliams and Man- ning, who tore up his left knee last Feb. 6, should be available by early February. Other injured players are rookies Mario Bennett, John Coker and Stefano Rusconi. Center Joe Kleine told The Phoenix Gazette before the first practice under Fitzsimmons:"Paul's aguy who gave a lot of responsibility to the players.' So, we have to take some responsibil; ity for what has happened to him. But something had to be done." The Suns have one of the league's biggest payrolls. Barkley gets $11.5 million over three seasons, Manning $40 million the next six, Johnson $l million for two and A.C. Green $20. million over four seasons. Westphal, 45, was given a; two- year, $3 million contract extension last spring, and Colangelo said he will still be paid. A four-time All-Star, Westphal played six of his 12 seasons in Phoe- nix, where his No. 44 was retired irt 1989. He has never had a losing season in his coaching career, on the cplleg@ level (82-27 at Grand Canyon) or in the NBA (19r1-88 in 3 1/2 seasons,25 19 in the playoffs). FALL, 1995 STUDENT CAMPAIGN ends January 22 Saint Mary Student Parish The Roman Catholic Community at the University of Michigan Thank you to the 242 students who pledged $9,290 toward our goal of 300 students and $10,000! Contributions for the Fall, 1995 Student Campaign will be accepted through January 22. All gifts support the new elevator which allows access for the physically challenged. If you attend St. Mary's, please consider a gift to help us reach our goal. Thank you! 1995-1996 Student Campaign Committee Hop On the Band Wagon! dot& 4* 4* PS - g l. 'b '' - ~ ..