White Sox, Continuing Overhaul, Get Tartabull

The Chicago White Sox, hoping to add more power and protection in their lineup for Frank Thomas, acquired outfielder Danny Tartabull from the Oakland A’s for two minor leaguers Monday. Chicago sent left-handed pitcher Andrew Lorraine and outfielder Charles Poe to Oakland.

“I get the opportunity to be in a lineup with a force in the game like Frank Thomas,” Tartabull said. “You can only benefit from being around a guy like that.”

Lance Johnson, who led the American League in hits last season, is now with the New York Mets, and the White Sox traded veteran Tim Raines. They recently signed Tony Phillips and earlier acquired outfielder Darren Lewis and veteran designated hitter Harold Baines.

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Hideo Nomo, the Dodgers’ fourth consecutive National League rookie of the year winner, said he foresees no stumbling blocks in contract negotiations with the Dodgers. The Dodgers are discussing a one-year deal for about $500,000 and a multiyear contract. The highest-paid second-year player in Dodger history is catcher Mike Piazza, who received $600,000 in the first year of a three-year contract.

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The Boston Red Sox signed free-agent outfielder Alex Cole to a one-year contract that clears the way for them to acquire ace reliever Heathcliff Slocumb from Philadelphia. . . . The Mets acquired outfielder Bernard Gilkey from the St. Louis Cardinals for three minor leaguers, right-handed pitchers Eric Ludwick and Erik Hiljus, and outfielder Yudith Ozorio . . . St. Louis’ Ray Lankford, Philadelphia’s Mickey Morandini and Houston’s Sean Berry avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to contracts. Lankford, who made $2.8 million last season, received a $12.5-million, three-year deal.

College Football

Overall attendance at NCAA college games declined in 1995, but increased for the largest programs. Attendance was 35.6 million for all 565 NCAA teams, down about 2% from a record 36.5 million in 1994. Division I-A, however, showed an increase, drawing 25.8 million fans.

The NCAA has granted All-Big West running back Abu Wilson of Utah State a hardship year of eligibility. Wilson missed the 1993 season because of a knee injury after having already used his redshirt year.

Boxing

Super middleweight boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. is trying to fulfill his dream of becoming a two-sport athlete by signing with the Florida Beachdogs of the Continental Basketball Assn. as a player-conditioning coach.

Jones will not be activated as a player, however, unless a spot opens on the 10-man roster. He said basketball would not affect his boxing career.

Jose Vida Ramos, a native of the Dominican Republic who lives in New York, knocked out Mexico City’s Aaron Zarate 57 seconds into the fourth round of their scheduled 12-round fight at the Forum to retain his North American Boxing Organization junior lightweight title.

In a semi-main event, Cecilio Espino of Monterey Park knocked out Francisco Carrasco of Sonora, Mexico, in the fifth round.

Soccer

North Korea has sought advice from soccer’s governing body on how to possibly co-host the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, its longstanding enemy. The request came in a recent fax to FIFA.

North Korea wanted to stage the World Cup alone, but that is not feasible since the application deadline has passed.

National team forward Eric Wynalda has been allocated to play for Major League Soccer’s San Jose Clash.

Miscellany

Jockey Pat Valenzuela has been barred from Florida’s Gulfstream Park until he takes another drug test and explains what it was he submitted in place of a urine sample.

Officials are puzzled at what Valenzuela, 33, submitted Friday in place of a sample of his urine, said track steward Charles Camac.

The Mighty Ducks signed free-agent right wing Frank Banham, who has played for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League the last four seasons. Banham, 20, will report to the Ducks’ 1996 training camp.

World Cup ski leader Lasse Kjus of Norway was declared fit, less than two weeks after suffering a concussion and facial, body and neck injuries in a high-speed crash during a downhill practice run.

David Hearn, 36, of Bethesda, Md., a world-class white-water canoe racer was among seven people arrested in recent days for taking kayaks or canoes onto the storm-swollen Potomac River despite warnings to stay away, the U.S. Park Police said. Hearn was charged with resisting arrest after police said he refused to bring his kayak ashore.

Michael Johnson, the world 200-meter and 400-meter track champion last year, has been voted winner of the 1996 Jesse Owens International Trophy.