Nationally

2 Sanders win honors

NEW YORK - Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders, who led the NFL in rushing with 1,883 yards and had 44 receptions for 283 yards, was selected the 1994 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year.

Sanders received 53 of 98 votes from a panel of writers and broadcasters. San Francisco quarterback Steve Young was second with 41, followed by 49ers receiver Jerry Rice with three and Minnesota receiver Cris Carter with one.

San Francisco cornerback Deion Sanders, who waited until the baseball season was canceled before signing with the 49ers, was selected the Defensive Player of the Year. Sanders, who had six interceptions and three touchdowns, received 39 votes. Pittsburgh cornerback Rod Woodson, last year's winner, was second with 16 and Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd had 14.

Sharpe to miss playoffs

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bay receiver Sterling Sharpe will miss the playoffs because of a career-threatening neck abnormality.

Sharpe, who had 94 receptions for 1,119 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, sustained "stinger" nerve injuries in each of the last two games and missed practice Tuesday to be examined by a specialist in Indianapolis.

Team physician Patrick McKenzie and trainer Pepper Burris said the injuries resulted from looseness between the top two vertebrae in Sharpe's neck. McKenzie said surgery will be required to fuse the vertabrae.

Allen earns NFL honor

NEW YORK - Kansas City's Marcus Allen, who rushed for 132 yards in the Chiefs' 19-9 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders, was selected the AFC offensive player of the week.

Cleveland safety Eric Turner and San Diego kick returner Andre Coleman also were honored in the AFC. Green Bay receiver Sterling Sharpe, Minnesota defensive tackle John Randle and New Orleans punter Tommy Barnhardt were selected in the NFC.

Padres, Astros swap 12

SAN DIEGO - Baseball's biggest trade in 37 years, a 12-player deal between Houston and San Diego, also had a family angle.

Padres general manager Randy Smith sent shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, center fielder Derek Bell, left fielder Phil Plantier, left-hander Pedro Martinez, right-hander Doug Brocail and infielder Craig Shipley to Houston.

The Astros, whose president is Randy's father, Tal, sent third baseman Ken Caminiti, shortstop Andujar Cedeno, center fielder Steve Finley, right-hander Brian Williams and first baseman Roberto Petagine to San Diego. The Padres will get a minor league player to be agreed on by April 30, or $50,000.

Umpires to be locked out

NEW YORK - Baseball's second labor dispute began when owners notified umpires they will be locked out after this weekend and won't be paid.

National League president Len Coleman said the umpires received the lockout notification by overnight mail. Umpires are paid on a year-round basis and their four-year contract expires Saturday.

The union filed unfair labor practice charges last Thursday against both leagues with the National Labor Relations Board office in Philadelphia, accusing them of bargaining in bad faith.

Ripken won't break ranks

BALTIMORE - Cal Ripken's agent, Ron Shapiro, said the Baltimore shortstop will never break ranks, even if the striking players give him their blessing so he can continue his chase for Lou Gehrig's record.

According to a report in the Houston Post, Astros reliever Todd Jones said the union told Ripken it wouldn't mind if he played with strikebreakers. Ripken has played in 2,009 consecutive games and is 121 shy of Gehrig's mark.

Marines sign Franco

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TOKYO - Julio Franco formally agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines, the highest average annual value in the history of Japanese baseball.

The Marines also signed outfielder Pete Incaviglia to a $2 million, one-year deal and left-hander Eric Hillman to a $725,000, one-year contract.

Nets' Anderson is AWOL

TEANECK, N.J. - New Jersey Nets guard Kenny Anderson failed to show up for a practice without notifying anyone of his whereabouts. He was benched for the final 15:24 of Tuesday night's loss to New York.

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