Two Neo-Nazis Are Sentenced for Beating Luger

Two neo-Nazis were convicted and sentenced to jail Monday for leading a beating attack on a U.S. luge racer after insulting his black teammate.

The Oct. 29 attack on Duncan Kennedy in the nearby winter resort of Oberhof embarrassed Germany and outraged Americans. It was the first against an American in a wave of neo-Nazi violence that has swept Germany since unification in 1990.

Tino Voelkel, 16, and Silvio Eschrich, 21, were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm after a one-day trial at Suhl, Germany. Eschrich also was convicted of beating an Oberhof man an hour after the attack on Kennedy.

The three-judge court sentenced Eschrich to two years and eight months in jail and Voelkel to one year. They could have received up to five years.

Skiing

Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden and Slovenian teen-ager Alenka Dovzan won their first World super-giant slaloms at Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, skiing to a tie for first place in a race rescheduled from Altenmarkt, Austria earlier this month.

With her third victory of the season, and eighth of her career, Wiberg extended her World Cup overall lead over Austrian Anita Wachter, who was fifth in Monday’s race.

Hilary Lindh, of Juneau, Alaska, was the best American finisher in 15th place.

Her teammate, Picabo Street, of Sun Valley, Idaho, suffered a spectacular spill at mid-course, but race officials said she escaped unhurt.

Baseball

Major league baseball was still without a commissioner Monday night because officials failed to recommend a candidate after a seven-hour meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Northwestern University president Arnold Weber and U.S. Olympic Committee executive director Harvey Schiller were widely believed to be the two finalists. Talks will resume today.

Toronto Blue Jay pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, who had been eligible for salary arbitration, agreed on a one-year contract for $2,325,000, the same amount he made last season. Stottlemyre was 11-12 with 4.84 earned-run average in 28 starts and two relief appearances last season.

Utility player Randy Velarde and the New York Yankees avoided salary arbitration when they agreed on a one-year contract for $1,125,000. Velarde, who got a raise of $75,000, batted .301 with seven home runs and 24 runs batted in last season.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed starting pitcher Jaime Navarro to a one-year contract worth $2.4 million, a raise of $300,000. Navarro was 11-12 with a 5.33 ERA last season.

College Basketball

Iowa State’s Johnny Orr said he hopes the nation’s basketball coaches will remain unified in their battle with the NCAA over scholarships and other matters.

The Black Coaches Assn. has led the attack on the NCAA and last weekend threatened to boycott games, an action that was called off when the Justice Department offered to help mediate the dispute.

Although some white coaches have voiced support for the BCA, the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches hasn’t become as directly involved as the black group.

Depression, lack of self-esteem and difficulty dealing with stress led to Danny Hurley’s decision to take a leave of absence from Seton Hall’s basketball team, the junior guard said in a published interview.

Hurley, the younger brother of injured Sacramento King guard Bobby Hurley, said he also had trouble living up to the family name, adding that the more he struggled in college, the more depressed he became.

He said he is currently seeking counseling.

Indiana Coach Bob Knight has signed a five-year contract for the Hoosiers to wear the Converse basketball shoes.

The Hoosiers began wearing the Converse shoes on Jan. 8.

Earlier this month, Adidas canceled its shoe contract with Knight after he entered another agreement with Starter to supply his trademark red sweater.

Miscellany

The British Athletic Federation will look into allegations against the country’s most powerful track and field official after the suspected suicide of a leading journalist, newspapers reported.

Cliff Temple, who worked for 25 years as track writer for the Sunday Times, was found dead Jan. 8 along a railway line in Kent. His death is being treated as a suicide.

The Sunday Times reported Sunday that Temple, 46, was distressed by false allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by Andy Norman, the BAF’s promotions officer.

The European yacht Intrum Justitia closed to within 14 nautical miles of leader Winston as the fleet entered the Tasman Sea on the third leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race.

Intrum Justitia, captained by Lawrie Smith of Britain, gained 106 miles on the American yacht in a 48-hour period as the Whitbread 60s sailed between Tasmania and the Australian mainland over the weekend.

Texas A&M; says it will not appeal NCAA sanctions that will keep the Aggies off television and out of a bowl next season.

Texas A&M;, which also will be on probation for five seasons, was penalized Jan. 5 because several players were paid by an alumnus for work they did not do.

The Boston Bruins acquired goaltender Vincent Riendeau from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional pick in the 1995 amateur draft.