Padres Try to Block New Vote on Ballpark Proposal

The San Diego Padres and the city council filed lawsuits Tuesday to block a citizens’ group from forcing another public vote on a downtown ballpark proposal that was approved by voters a year ago.

The suits allege that the group’s proposed ballot measure is illegal because it is too late, would require a series of additional public votes, and contains factual misstatements.

Voters in November 1998 approved a proposal for a $411-million, 41,000-seat ballpark in the run-down eastern portion of downtown, with the city paying 70%.

Since that vote, the cost of the project has increased, an environmental report has warned about traffic and noise, and public opinion polls have shown support declining.

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Right-hander Carlton Loewer, scheduled to be the Padres’ third or fourth starter, fell from a tree blind while hunting near his home in Eunice, La., and suffered a broken left leg. Loewer could be sidelined until the all-star break, General Manager Kevin Towers said.

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Joe West, an umpire who supports Richie Phillips, testified in New York that an insurgent ump told him months ago the new union had nearly completed a new labor contract with owners. Phillips’ Major League Umpires Assn. is trying to overturn the election it lost to the insurgents in November, and two of his backers, West and Ken Kaiser, testified on the first day of the appeal before a National Labor Relations Board hearing officer.

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The Dodgers have hired Jack Clark as hitting instructor at Class-A San Bernardino, the team announced. Clark, 44, who hit a home run off Tom Niedenfuer in Game 6 of the 1985 National League championship series, effectively eliminating the Dodgers from the playoffs, retired as a player in 1992.

Tennis

Organizers of the Australian women’s hardcourt championship at Surfers Paradise were reviewing their security arrangements after a fan allegedly stole a jacket belonging to Russian player Anna Kournikova.

The jacket was taken from Kournikova’s courtside bag while she was signing autographs after her second-round victory over Jana Kandaar of Germany.

Martina Hingis of Switzerland told the South China Morning Post that the top women players could boycott Grand Slam events if the prize money is not equal for men and women. The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam event that offers equal prize money.

Defending champion Byron Black of Zimbabwe was upset by qualifier Jamie Delgado of Britain, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), in the opening round of the Gold Flake Open at Madras, India.

Miscellany

Former Carolina Panther receiver Rae Carruth and three others were indicted on murder and conspiracy charges in the slaying of Carruth’s pregnant girlfriend. The grand jury in Charlotte also invoked an anti-abortion law in indicting the four on a charge of trying to kill the unborn child of Cherica Adams.

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, 39, was hospitalized in intensive care in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, because of high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. Maradona has a history of drug problems, but a spokesman would not say what prompted his hospitalization.

Undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis probably will defend his title for the first time against Michael Grant in Madison Square Garden in April, a spokesman for Lewis’ U.S. promoter said.

Two women who claimed Dennis Rodman had sexually assaulted them reached out-of-court settlements in Los Angeles, and a man who filed an assault action against the former basketball player also agreed to a deal.

Texas quarterback Major Applewhite will have surgery Jan. 14 to repair ligament damage in his left knee and could need six months of rehabilitation. . . . Linebacker Na’il Diggs, Ohio State’s leading tackler last season, said that he will give up his final year of eligibility to make himself available for the NFL draft. Michigan State junior receiver Plaxico Burress also will pass up his final year of eligibility.

Michelle Kwan won her third Honda Odyssey Cup figure skating title, skating a clean, conservative program to beat her Russian rival, world champion Maria Butyrskaya, at Tokyo.

American Chad Carvin won the men’s 400-meter freestyle in 3:45.47 at the FINA World Cup swim meet at Shanghai, China.