Gant Says ’94 Season Last on Track

Harry Gant, saying it’s time to work on his farm and play with his grandchildren, announced he will retire after the 1994 NASCAR season.

Gant has spent 14 years on the Winston Cup circuit and won 18 races. He made his announcement at a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway before qualifying for Sunday’s Mello Yello 500.

The oldest driver to win a NASCAR race, he was first at Darlington in 1991 at 51. He won his first race in 1982 and five races in one season as recently as 1991.

“I’ll be 54 in January and I’m ready to work on my farm, ride my motorcycle, play with my grandchildren and eat supper in my own house every night,” Gant said.

Rookie Jeff Gordon turned in a lap of 177.684 m.p.h. to win the pole for Sunday’s race.

Basketball

Chris Webber, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, underwent a routine appendectomy in Detroit. Ray Chung, the trauma and emergency surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital, performed the 30-minute operation and said Webber can resume playing full time within a month.

Webber, a former Michigan All-American, has not signed to play for the Golden State Warriors.

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The Denver Nuggets signed first-round draft pick Rodney Rogers, the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft. The Denver Post reported earlier that Rogers was to receive a six-year, $12-million package.

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The New Jersey Nets retained the rights to 7-foot-2 center Dwayne Schintzius by matching the Milwaukee Bucks’ offer sheet. The Nets said that besides incentives Schintzius will earn $825,000 this season, $1.2 million next season and $1.6 million the following year.

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The Indiana Pacers signed three players, including Mitchell Anderson, a second-round NBA draft pick in 1982 who played most of the last decade in Europe. Indiana also signed rookies Jean Prioleau and Jackie Robinson, who played on the Pacers’ summer league team.

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Magic Johnson and several other former NBA stars and coaches have agreed to participate in a five-game competition tour against Continental Basketball Association teams this winter.

The names of players and coaches who will join Johnson will be released at a later date.

Hockey

Left wing Troy Loney, who won two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been selected the first captain of the Mighty Ducks, said Coach Ron Wilson. Loney, 30, will be assisted by defenseman Randy Ladouceur, left wing Stu Grimson and right wing Todd Ewen.

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Kelly Kisio, the leading scorer for the Calgary Flames during their exhibition season, will be sidelined about three weeks because of a cracked kneecap believed to be suffered in last Friday’s final exhibition game against the Edmonton Oilers.

Miscellany

Ostracized from soccer for three decades, South Africa returned to the field and lost, 4-0, to Mexico in the Coliseum before 12,578. It was the first time South Africa has played outside its continent since a ban was lifted in 1992.

David Patino and Ignacio Ambriz gave Mexico a 2-0 lead, and two goals by Benjamin Galindo ended the scoring. Mexico goalie Jorge Campos was never threatened.

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Damon T. Green, 17, is serving a 10-month sentence as an adult for pointing a loaded gun at a man during a fight. State law entitles him to leave jail for school.

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International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch promised to help China win the right to stage the 2004 Summer Olympics. China lost by two votes to Sydney in the final vote to play host to the 2000 Summer Games, and indicated it will bid again to become host in 2004.