Internationally
Tomba wins 4th slalom
ALTA BADIA, Italy - Alberto Tomba won his fourth consecutive World Cup slalom Wednesday, continuing the fastest start he's had since the golden year of 1987-88 when he won nine races and two Olympic titles.
Tomba added his first World Cup giant slalom in nearly three years Wednesday on one of his favorite tracks.
Els earns PGA honor
VIRGINIA WATER, England - U.S. Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa was selected PGA European Tour player of the year. Els, 25, won five tournaments and a record $2.9 million in international earnings in 1994.
Nationally
Baseball hopes dwindle
WASHINGTON - Hope dwindled for an agreement before the latest salary cap deadline. Players and owners didn't even meet and the guarded optimism of the previous day all but vanished.
Mediator W.J. Usery shuttled between players and owners, who were stuck on the central issues of a payroll tax and revenue sharing.
Owners, who say they will impose the cap if there isn't a deal by 12:01 a.m. Friday, said they were waiting for players to make a new proposal on a secondary tax.
Moores purchases Padres
SAN DIEGO - Tom Werner's reign as San Diego Padres majority owner ended when the sale of the team to John Moores was completed.
Moores purchased 80 percent of the team and eventually will acquire the remainder for a total of $80 million.
Buhner stays in Seattle
SEATTLE - Jay Buhner, a free agent outfielder sought by Baltimore, re-signed with Seattle for $15.5 million over three years. Buhner, 30, hit .279 last season with 21 homers and 68 RBIs.
Phils resign Hollins
PHILADELPHIA - Dave Hollins agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia for $2 million. Hollins, 28, hit .222 with four homers and 26 RBIs last season.
Morris heads to NL
CINCINNATI - Jack Morris, a former five-time American League All-Star given his unconditional release by Cleveland in August, today became a National Leaguer for the first time time by signing with the Cincinnati Reds.
Players stand strong
TORONTO - Locked-out NHL players took an even stronger stand against the owners' proposed payroll tax following a lecture from MIT economics professor Jerry Hausman.
Hausman told 240 members of the NHL Players Association that the tax, the primary sticking point in attempts to end the lockout, would work much like a rigid cap in stifling salaries.
The Canadian Press, citing unidentified sources, reported the NHL has offered to take the tax off the table. The offer included other terms costly to the players, but it could be used as a starting point for negotiations to resume.
NFL honors Sanders
NEW YORK - Detroit's Barry Sanders, who rushed for 110 yards in the Lions' 41-19 victory over Minnesota to move within 169 yards of 2,000 for the season, was selected the NFC offensive player of the week.
Detroit kick returner Mel Gray and Dallas linebacker Darrin Smith also were honored in the NFC. San Diego quarterback Stan Humphries, Kansas City defensive end Neil Smith and New England punter Pat O'Neill were selected in the AFC.
Tampa Bay unveils plan
TAMPA, Fla. - Civic leaders, saying they don't want Tampa Bay to repeat mistakes Baltimore and St. Louis made before losing NFL teams, unveiled a plan to guarantee attendance of 55,000 per game for the Bucs' new owners.
'Cane plays earned cash
MIAMI - Several former University of Miami players say they were told by an assistant coach in 1991 they could be rewarded with cash for big plays.
The players told The Miami Herald that linebackers coach Randy Shannon, then a graduate assistant coach, explained in players-only meetings how they could earn money for plays that changed the momentum of games against highly ranked teams. The funds were bankrolled by former Hurricanes - at times including Seattle star Cortez Kennedy, the Herald reported.