Turner Cancels Appearance Over Objections to ‘Braves’

Ted Turner canceled an appearance at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., after a group of students objected to the name of his Atlanta Braves.

Turner was to speak at commencement ceremonies and receive an honorary degree May 17 but backed out in a letter to the school.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a 1961 Macalester graduate, also is scheduled to speak.

“It has come to my attention that my selection has generated controversy on campus, and I do not want to detract from the recognition your institution will bestow on the Secretary-General,” Turner wrote.

*

After reading a Philadelphia Daily News report that the Veterans Stadium concessionaire sells cups of beer with two ounces less than advertised, two fans filed a class-action lawsuit charging negligence and fraud.

“My lawyer said maybe we’ll just get a free beer out of this,” said Paul Pollock, 36, who filed suit along with his cousin, Eric Jacoby, 44. “What I really want is to get what I pay for.”

The company contends it advertises its beers as large or regular--the amount of ounces are not given--and officials with Ogden Entertainment Services, who have been selling beer at Phillies’ and Eagles’ games for 13 years, said the suit is more foam than substance.

“This whole thing is absurd. We’ve served millions of cups of beer--all of them filled to the brim. In our 13 years at the Vet, we’ve never had one complaint--not one,” said Brian Hastings, Ogden’s service manager. “This is nothing more than two jokers, trying to have some fun.”

*

Philadelphia pitcher Mark Portugal, on the disabled list after surgery on his right knee, threw 80 pitches in a simulated game, and might start next Thursday against the Dodgers. . . .

Atlanta outfielder Danny Bautista, who had a slight shoulder tear, was activated from the 15-day disabled list and outfielder Damon Hollins was sent down to triple-A Richmond.