Baseball

The National Labor Relations Board issued a seven-page complaint accusing baseball owners of unfair labor practices and set a March 14 hearing in New York before an administrative law judge.

The NLRB, which last week announced its intention to file the complaint, issued what was tantamount to an indictment, accusing owners of illegally failing to make a $7.8-million contribution on Aug. 1 to the players’ health and benefit plan. Four days before the payment was due, players set an Aug. 12 strike date.

The complaint said owners failed to make the payment “because the union announced its intention to strike.”

Miscellany

Idaho formally accepted a bid to play in the Big West Conference, beginning July 1, 1996. Boise State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and North Texas had already been offered and accepted bids. Nevada Las Vegas and San Jose State are scheduled to leave the Big West for the Western Athletic Conference in 1996.

A judge in Wales sentenced rugby union player Howard Collins to six months in jail for stomping on an opponent’s head during a game. A jury decided Collins deliberately kicked Christian Evans twice during a game between Pencoed and Cardiff Institute. Evans, needed 10 stitches in a head wound and also plastic surgery.