SIDELINES : Maple Leafs’ Ballard Dies at 86

Harold Ballard, the irascible owner of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, died today at age 86.

Ballard, who had been seriously ill since early this year, died shortly before 3 p.m. EDT, a Wellesley Hospital spokesman said. He had spent much of the last two years in and out of hospitals because of diabetes-related heart problems. In July, 1988, he underwent heart bypass surgery at Toronto General Hospital after being hospitalized twice in two months.

Ballard, who also owned Maple Leafs Gardens, was known for his outspoken views on subjects ranging from his complaint that players were too highly paid and insufficiently motiviated to his opposition to detente with the Soviet Union, especially its hockey teams. At one point, he threatened to bar a Soviet team from the Gardens for an exhibition match.