Football
HALL-OF-FAMER HOWARD DIES: In Clemson, S.C., Frank Howard, a Hall of Fame football coach whose job description in Clemson's media guide was simply "Legend,' died today of congestive heart failure. He was 86.
Howard, who died at about 3 a.m. at his home, was hospitalized after a minor heart attack in late December and returned briefly about three weeks ago for tests following a fainting spell. He also was hospitalized in November because of circulation problems.
"He had suffered a great deal in recent weeks," former Clemson sports information director Bob Bradley said. "But he was a fighter right to the end."
HASKELL RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL: In Green Bay, Wis., Packers assistant coach Gil Haskell was discharged from the hospital in Dallas, where he was treated for a skull fracture sustained in a sideline accident during the NFC title game.
Haskell, 52, left the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation and was accompanied by his wife, Nancy, and Packers trainer Pepper Burruss on a charter flight to Green Bay.
RHODES IS COACH OF YEAR: Ray Rhodes, who directed the Philadelphia Eagles to a 10-6 record and a playoff victory over Detroit in his first season, was honored as the NFL's Coach of the Year.
Rhodes, who won the AP's Coach of the Year award last month, edged Green Bay's Mike Holmgren and Carolina's Dom Capers. Following season-long fan balloting, a media panel selected the three finalists and winner.
GUILTY PLEA: In Minneapolis, former Minnesota Vikings defensive end James Harris pleaded guilty to third-degree assault for beating his wife, under a plea bargain that could keep him from spending any more time in jail.
STALLIONS TO MONTREAL? The Grey Cup champion Baltimore Stallions, looking for a new home since the Cleveland Browns announced plans to move to Baltimore, are on the verge of moving to Montreal for the next CFL season.
Stallions owner Jim Speros said he was close to completing a deal with Montreal and will announce his decision Feb. 2 during a league meeting in Edmonton, Alberta.
EAGLES SIGN ANDERSON: The Philadelphia Eagles signed kicker Gary Anderson to a two-year contract Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.
Anderson, 36, who signed with the Eagles in July, made 22 of 30 field-goal attempts and 32 of 33 extra points last season.
Baseball
INTERLEAGUE PLAY CLOSER: Interleague play in 1997 moved a step closer to certainty when owners and the players' union met for the first time to talk about the issue.
Owners unanimously voted last week in favor of teams playing 15 or 16 interleague games starting in 1997. The union still must give its approval.
Union head Donald Fehr and Randy Levine, the owners' chief negotiator, talked about a one-year agreement on interleague play. Continuing the concept past 1997 will likely be linked to a new labor agreement between the sides.
POSTPONEMENT: The trial of owners on unfair labor practices was postponed for the ninth time.
The trial, which had been scheduled to start Monday, was postponed until March 4, said Daniel Silverman, the New York regional director of the National Labor Relations Board.
Until the trial is completed, owners remain under a federal injunction that forces them to maintain the rules of the collective bargaining agreement that expired in December 1993.
ARBITRATION DEALS: Chicago Cubs infielder Rey Sanchez and St. Louis reliever Tony Fossas agreed to contracts, leaving 47 players in salary arbitration.
Sanchez, who made $675,000 last season, got a one-year deal for $1.25 million. He asked for $1.3 million and the Cubs offered $1.1 million.
Golf
PHOENIX OPEN: In Scottsdale, Ariz., Woody Austin, the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year last season, shot a 4-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead during the suspended second round of the Phoenix Open.
Austin, who won last year's Buick Open, had a 10-under 132 total on the TPC of Scottsdale. Sweden's Jesper Parnevik was one back after a 66 and Steve Jones and Justin Leonard followed at 134.
Forty players, including defending champion Vijay Singh, failed to finish the round after a 11/2-hour frost delay.
JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC: In Singapore, Sweden's Olle Karlsson and Australia's Bradley Hughes shot 6-under-par 66s to take a one-stroke lead during the suspended first round of the PGA European Tour's Johnnie Walker Classic.
Hockey
KINGS TRADE TOCCHET: The struggling Los Angeles Kings acquired left wing Kevin Stevens from the Boston Bruins for right wing Rick Tocchet.
Tocchet has been sidelined with a bruised left shoulder, while Stevens has been plagued by back spasms recently, and is still bothered by a serious facial injury sustained in 1993.
Stevens, 30, who joined Boston this season afer seven-plus seasons with Pittsburgh, had 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 games for the Bruins. Tocchet, 31, had 13 goals and 23 assists in 44 games for the Kings.
Karate
KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:Mickey N. Fisher, founder of the hybird martial art system of Karate Shin-Toshi, will resurrect his "King of the Mountains" open karate championships Saturday, Jan. 27 at Salt Lake Community College (1700 S. State St.). The event, open to the martial arts community, will feature donated awards from the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys. For more information contact Mike Burke of the Utah Karate Institute at 543-2297.
Basketball
GOURDINE VOTED OUT: NBA players, still unhappy with the six-year labor agreement they approved early last fall, have ousted Simon Gourdine as executive director of the players association.
Gourdine, who turned back an attempt to decertify the union last summer, was given a two-year contract by the union's executive board last month. But some players, unhappy with the way Gourdine handled negotiations during the summer's labor strife, criticized the move and forced a vote on the contract.
Earlier this week, 18 of 20 player representatives voted to oust Gourdine, said Doug West, player rep for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Representatives from nine other teams did not participate in the vote, held during a conference call.