U.S. Begins World Cup Effort Nov. 3
The United States will open qualifying play for the 1998 World Cup at Washington’s RFK Stadium on Nov. 3 against Guatemala and will play Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 10 at Foxboro, Mass., the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Thursday.
The site of the third home game will be announced next week. It will be Dec. 14 or 15 against Costa Rica, probably on the West Coast.
The U.S. team will play at Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 24, at Costa Rica on Dec. 1 and at Guatemala on Dec. 21.
Hockey
Free agent center Bernie Nicholls, who has said he wants to play for the Mighty Ducks, is scheduled to meet representatives of the San Jose Sharks today to discuss a tentative offer. He has had offers from St. Louis and Dallas but said he will give the Ducks a chance to match any offer he gets.
Duck goaltender Guy Hebert was named to the roster of Team USA for the World Cup tournament. He replaced John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers, who will undergo shoulder surgery. Vanbiesbrouck, who led Florida to the Stanley Cup finals, is expected to be ready for training camp in October.
The Sharks signed Todd Ewen, who had been with the Ducks, and Tim Hunter, who had been with the Vancouver Canucks. . . . The New York Islanders signed forwards Craig Fisher, Dave McLlwain, Mike Donnelly and Brent Hughes.
Pro Basketball
Guard Derek Harper is expected to return to the Dallas Mavericks, according to published reports. Harper has been with the New York Knicks since being traded in January of 1994 by the Mavericks. He averaged 14.0 points and 4.3 assists last season.
College Basketball
The NCAA placed Texas Pan American on four years’ probation for recruiting and ethics violations in the men’s basketball program.
Tennis
Thomas Muster routed Argentina’s Mariano Zabaleta, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Generali Open at Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Golf
Hugh Royer III and John Cook each shot six-under-par 65 to join Bruce Fleisher in the lead after one round of the CVS Charity Classic on the PGA Tour at Sutton, Mass.
Danielle Ammaccapane shot a five-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead over Penny Hammel in the first round of the LPGA Heartland Classic at Forest Hills Country Club in St. Louis.
Ammaccapane, who hasn’t won an LPGA event since 1992, finished with six birdies, including a 15-footer on the seventh hole to take the lead.
Horse Racing
Harness racer Don McIlmurray died two days after he was thrown from his sulky in a training accident at Hazel Park Harness Raceway in Detroit. He was 65.
McIlmurray was working a 2-year-old on the track when they made contact with another horse and driver. The other driver was not hurt.
Ernie Paragallo, owner of Unbridled’s Song, dismissed trainer Jim Ryerson and replaced him with Nick Zito. Unbridled’s Song was fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
Jurisprudence
A special tribunal in Boston cleared the way for a malpractice suit brought by Donna Harris-Lewis, the widow of former Boston Celtic star Reggie Lewis, against a cardiologist who treated Lewis before he died.
Lewis collapsed during an April 29, 1993, playoff game at the Boston Garden. He died three months later, on July 27, 1993, after passing out while shooting baskets with friends at a Brandeis University gym.
West Virginia University starting safety Vann Washington was charged with domestic battery after a scuffle with his girlfriend.
Seattle Seahawk owner Ken Behring asked a court in Martinez, Calif., to seal court records in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former employee.
