Steelers Fire Offensive Coordinator Erhardt

Ron Erhardt’s offensive game plan was good enough to get the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl. But it wasn’t good enough to get him a new contract.

Erhardt, Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach Pat Hodgson were told Wednesday their contracts would not be renewed.

The decisions apparently had nothing to do with the offense’s inefficiency and Neil O’Donnell’s three interceptions in the Steelers’ 27-17 loss to Dallas in the Super Bowl last Sunday. Instead it was Erhardt’s differences with Coach Bill Cowher over offense philosophy.

Erhardt, who turns 65 this month, had told people that he wanted to return for one more season. Instead, Erhardt will probably rejoin Coach Bill Parcells’ staff in New England if he doesn’t retire. Erhardt was Parcells’ offensive coordinator for the New York Giants’ two Super Bowl teams.

Erhardt’s departure means receivers coach Chan Gailey likely will be promoted to offensive coordinator. Gailey, formerly the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, designed many of the wrinkles featuring wide receiver/quarterback Kordell Stewart.

Baseball

The Angels signed three players and agreed to terms with four others Thursday. Outfielder Marquis Riley and pitchers Jeff Schmidt signed contracts and outfielder Orlando Palmeiro and pitchers Ryan Hancock, David Holdridge and Ben VanRyn agreed to terms.

The Angels also sent infielder Rod Correia to St. Louis, completing last year’s trade for John Habyan. Correia, the player to be determined in the deal, was sent to triple-A Louisville. Correia batted .238 in 14 games with the Angels and hit .303 in 73 games for triple-A Vancouver last season. He played parts of three seasons with the Angels, compiling a .259 career average.

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Free-agent pitcher Tim Belcher and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a one-year, $975,000 contract that gives him the chance to earn an additional $425,000 in bonuses if he makes 30 starts. Kansas City left-hander Chris Haney, who had filed for salary arbitration, settled by agreeing to a one-year, $500,000 deal, a raise of $280,000. . . . Left-hander Rheal Cormier and the Montreal Expos agreed on a one-year, $950,000 contract. . . . The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent outfielder Luis Polonia to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training as a non-roster player.

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Mitch Webster, who retired after last season as a Dodger outfielder, was hired as hitting instructor for the Dodgers’ Class A team in Yakima, Wash. Dodger scout Tom Thomas, 33, will become the hitting coach for the Dodgers’ Rookie League team in Great Falls, Mont.

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The Texas Rangers announced they will retire pitcher Nolan Ryan’s No. 34 in September, making him the first player in team history to receive that distinction. Ryan wore No. 30 when he was with the Angels and they subsequently retired that number. He will now become the fifth player in major-league history to have his number retired by two teams. The Rangers also announced plans to unveil a life-size statue of Ryan outside their stadium in September.

Boxing

Promoter Don King has reserved a June 22 date with the Nevada Athletic Commission for heavyweight Mike Tyson. Tyson is expected to fight that day at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas against either World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon or whoever holds the disputed IBF crown at the time. Tyson must first beat World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Frank Bruno in their scheduled March 16 fight at the MGM Grand.

Tennis

Top-seeded Monica Seles, in obvious distress because of an aching shoulder, defeated Irina Spirlea of Romania, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Eighth-seeded Lindsay Davenport also advanced by beating fellow American Lisa Raymond, 6-1, 6-3.

Top-seeded Jeff Tarango moved into the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Open with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Danny Sapsford of Britain.

Top-seeded and local favorite Goran Ivanisevic advanced to the quarterfinals of the Croatia Indoors tournament in Zagreb by defeating Martin Sinner of Germany, 6-4, 6-4.

The U.S. Open Tennis Championships will offer a record $10.89 million in prize money this year, an increase of 10.46%.

Names in the News

Billie Jean King and Pam Shriver led about 250 female athletes who braved frigid temperatures in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 10th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The group marched to show support for women’s sports and to lobby Congress to enforce Title IX. . . . Whittier College has hired Bob Owens to be its new football coach. Owens was formerly offensive assistant coach at Nevada. . . . Soccer player Roger Stanislaus drew a one-year suspension from the English Football Assn’s disciplinary committee after being found guilty of taking cocaine as a performance-enhancing drug. His suspension is the longest handed down by the FA since three players were banned for life in 1965 for taking bribes. . . . Didier Theys won the pole position for the Rolex 24-hour sports car endurance race at Daytona Beach, Fla., with a record-setting speed of 126.61 mph. . . . Wes Shaw has been made acting baseball coach at Pomona-Pitzer College.