Remark About the Disabled Gets England’s Hoddle Fired
Under mounting criticism after an alleged remark about disabled people, Glenn Hoddle was fired as England’s soccer coach Tuesday.
The Football Assn. dismissed him three days after the Times of London quoted Hoddle as saying the disabled were “paying for the sins of an earlier life.”
Hoddle said, “I accept that I made a serious error of judgment in an interview which has caused misunderstanding and pain to a number of people. This was never my intention and for this I apologize.”
Hoddle is threatening to sue the newspaper. He has denied making the remarks and maintained what he told the paper had been “misconstrued.”
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Former U.S. captain John Harkes, on loan to Nottingham Forest in England’s Premier League, was traded from D.C. United to the New England Revolution for two draft picks next year. When Harkes will report to the Revolution is unclear.
Nottingham Forest expects Harkes to stay in England through the end of the season in May, but the Revolution expects him to report by March 15, about two weeks before the opening of the Major League Soccer season.
Skiing
Hermann Maier of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norway made skiing history by tying for first in the men’s super-giant slalom in the opening race of the World Alpine Ski Championships at Beaver Creek, Colo.
Third-place finisher Hans Knauss of Austria was within a hundredth of a second of making it a three-way tie. It was the closest race in the history of Olympic and world championship skiing.
First-place ties have occurred seven times in World Cup ski racing, but never in the world championships.
France’s Regine Cavagnoud, coming off her first World Cup downhill victory of the season, tore a knee ligament during a training run at the world championships, and officials later said she also might have injured her kneecap.
Pro football
Darrien Gordon, who had two interceptions in Denver’s Super Bowl win over Atlanta, was left unprotected by the Broncos and added to a list of players eligible to be taken by the Cleveland Browns in next Tuesday’s expansion draft.
Gordon was joined on Denver’s list by wide receivers Justin Armour and Willie Green, defensive tackle Mike Lodish and defensive end Neil Smith.
Defensive back Chris Bayne, running back Harold Green, tight end Ed Smith, linebacker Ben Talley and guard Dave Widell were left unprotected by the Falcons.
Jeff Danish, who filed a $650,000 lawsuit against the New Orleans Saints after he was injured in a training camp hazing incident, has agreed to an out-of-court settlement, his attorney said. Danish, a defensive lineman, needed 13 stitches in his left arm after being cut during the Aug. 20 incident.
Jurisprudence
Howard McNeil, a basketball star at Seton Hall who was drafted by the Lakers in 1982, faces up to 70 years in prison after being convicted in the stabbing death of a woman believed to be a prostitute. A jury in Norristown, Pa., found McNeil guilty of third-degree murder in the death of Frances Brennan, an alleged drug dealer. Police said Brennan’s skull was cracked when she was pushed into a wall before being stabbed to death. McNeil also stole a safe filled with drugs from her house, prosecutors said.
In 1976, while a student at Abington (Pa.) High, McNeil shot a friend in the head with a handgun at a Valentine’s Day party. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and avoided jail. McNeil never played for the Lakers, opting instead to play in Greece, Argentina and Portugal.
Tennis
Top-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain was beaten by Roger Federer of Switzerland, last year’s No. 1 junior player, 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-3, during the first round of the Marseille Open in France. Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden, seeded No. 5, was beaten by Guillaume Raoux of France, 6-3, 6-4.
Miscellany
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, House legislative leaders and football and baseball owners reached an accord that could lead to $320 million for stadium construction in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The teams would not have to repay the money, although they would have to collect an equal amount in state taxes during the next 30 years.
Philips Electronics NV and Turner Broadcasting Corp. announced a $100-million, 20-year marketing deal giving Philips naming rights to a new Atlanta sports arena scheduled to open later this year.
Names in the News
Norm Zauchin, best known for driving in 10 runs in five innings of a game in 1955 while with the Boston Red Sox, died Sunday in Birmingham, Ala., after a long illness. He was 69.
Mike Scioscia, the former Dodger catcher who will manage at triple-A Albuquerque this season, and former umpire John Kibler won an undisclosed settlement from Hallmark for unauthorized use of their likenesses on a card.
Beach volleyball star Kent Steffes, suspended two months ago for conduct perceived to be not in the best interest of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals, was reinstated by the organization.
