Favorite for Padre Announcing Job Reportedly Headed for White Sox

Gary Thorne, the New York broadcaster widely considered to be the favorite to fill the Padres’ vacant No. 2 radio and television announcing position, is close to accepting a job broadcasting Chicago White Sox games, sources said.

Dave Pearlman, vice president and general manager of White Sox flagship station WMAQ, said he could not confirm Thorne would be hired. “We’re close to a resolution, but in this business, until everything is signed and sealed, you can never say anything,” he said.

Pearlman said the field was narrowed to “four or five” candidates Tuesday and that a decision was “imminent.”

Thorne’s contract with the New York Mets recently was not renewed because of his desire to continue as a cable television announcer for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, which the Mets consider a conflict of interest.

He was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Losing Thorne would be a blow to Jim Winters, the Padre broadcasting director who has supported Thorne throughout an exhaustive search to replace Dave Campbell, whose contract was not renewed after the 1988 season.

“No, I’m not surprised,” Winters said of the reports. “Gary Thorne is a fine talent, and people notice fine talents.”

Winters said it would not affect his search, “He was just one of several finalists, this will not keep us from getting the man we want,” he said.

Winters said he hopes to announce a decision soon after Jan. 1. In the meantime, the leading candidate becomes the only other man to fly to San Diego and interview for the job, Chicago Cub announcer Dewayne Staats.

The Padres have announced a new addition to the club’s board of directors--Dick Starmann, McDonald’s senior vice president of communications from Oak Brook, Ill. In completing a 6-member board, Starmann joins owner Joan Kroc, Beth Benes, Mel Etter, Ballard Smith and Tony Zulfer, and perhaps becomes a candidate for the vacant job of Padres’ president.

Starmann, who has been with McDonald’s since 1972, is also director of the International Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald House, and has been on the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities since its inception in 1984.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Paula Mascari scored 18 points, hitting 7 of 9 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line to lead the University of San Diego to a 69-64 victory over UC Irvine.

USD’s Cathy Perkins scored 13 points and Candida Echeverria added 10. Echeverria, a junior, has 552 career points, placing her 11th on the all-time Torera scoring list.

USD (3-3) led 40-28 at halftime in its home opener. Irvine is 2-5.