Baseball
LEAGUE ASSIGNMENTS HIT SNAG: The plan to put Arizona in the National League and Tampa Bay in the AL hit a bump when AL owners failed to approve it.
Owners split 7-7 during the AL meeting, one owner said on the condition he not be identified. However baseball officials still expected the proposal to be approved during today's major league meeting.
Under the proposal advocated by the ruling executive council, one expansion team would be assigned to each league in 1998, creating two 15-team circuits. However, the AL's first preference would be to get both teams and its second preference would be to get Arizona rather than Tampa Bay.
BRAVES RE-SIGN WOHLERS: Atlanta Braves reliever Mark Wohlers agreed to a three-year, $13.125 million contract. The club has an option for a fourth year at $5.5 million with an $800,000 buyout clause.
Football
ATLANTA EYES REEVES: Dan Reeves appears to be the choice for the Atlanta Falcons coaching job, with only contract details remaining to be negotiated, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Reeves was fired by the New York Giants in December, while Atlanta fired June Jones following a 3-13 season.
NO-SHOW ACCUSER: Nina Shahravan, the woman who falsely accused Dallas Cowboys stars Michael Irvin and Erik Williams, failed to turn herself into police, but county authorities said they wouldn't immediately arrest her.
If convicted of the misdemeanor, Shahravan could face six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. She filed a police report Dec. 30 accusing Irvin of holding a gun to her head while Williams and a third man raped her.
Meanwhile, Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith underwent surgery in New York to remove bone spurs from his right ankle. Cornerback Deion Sanders was scheduled for surgery today to repair his right orbital bone.
Basketball
NEW Y. WOMEN'S ASSISTANT: BYU women's basketball assistant coach Maryln Harmer has accepted an offer to coach a men's team in Taipei, Taiwan. Hired to replace her is former BYU men's basketball star Tom Gneiting as an interim assistant coach.
Gneiting brings a wealth of playing experience to the Cougar bench. In addition to his three years as a starter for BYU, he spent eight years playing professional basketball in Spain, Turkey and the CBA, as well as spending two months with the NBA Seattle Supersonics. During his playing days at BYU, he earned All-WAC and Academic All-WAC honors.
UCONN INVESTIGATION: Connecticut said it believes its men's program violated NCAA regulations, and that an investigation is under way.
Athletic director Lew Perkins said the university is working with the NCAA and the Big East Conference on the suspected violation. He deflected questions about the nature of the suspected violation.
LAWSUIT PLANNED: Former Wright State coach Ralph Underhill, fired after being accused of shoplifting, planned to file a $1.7 million lawsuit today against the school over breach of contract.
B.C. EXTENSION: Boston College coach Jim O'Brien, who reportedly threatened to quit earlier in the season, has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension. O'Brien is in his 11th year at Boston College.
Hockey
ALL-STAR ADDITIONS: Phoenix forward Keith Tkachuk and Anaheim goalie Guy Hebert were added to the NHL's Western Conference All-Star team as injury replacements for Dallas forward Mike Modano and Detroit goalie Chris Osgood.
New York Islanders defenseman Scott Lachance also was added to the Eastern Conference team as a replacement for injured teammate Zigmund Palffy. The All-Star game is Saturday at San Jose.
Golf
PALMER UNDERGOES SURGERY: Arnold Palmer underwent surgery for prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic. He was resting comfortably and was expected to remain hospitalized for several days as he recovers.
Palmer, 67, who learned he had the cancer Friday, has withdrawn from the Senior Skins Game in Hawaii on Jan. 25-26. Lee Trevino will take Palmer's place in the event with Jack Nicklaus, Ray Floyd and Hale Irwin.