European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 04, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I r Page 26 the stars and stripes 4t monday february 4,1991 ready to sign on the dotted line Roger Clemens signs autographs saturday at the annual University of Texas alumni baseball game in Austin. But the red sox Ace according to the new York times is on the verge of granting a far weightier signature this one at the Bot Tom a five year $25-27 million contract that would be baseball a richest Topping Jose Canseco a $23,5 million Deal. Esp s Axthelm 47, Dies Pittsburgh a Pete Axthelm a commentator on Espnes National football league coverage and a newspaper and broadcast reporter on football arts horse racing died saturday at a Pittsburgh Hospital of liver failure. He was 47. Axthelm entered presbyterian univer sity Hospital on Jan. 27 and was in the hospitals intensive care unit awaiting a liver transplant Hospital spokesman Frank Raczkiewicz said. Axthelm who joined esp in 1987, provided commentary and picks on nil games on the networks a a nil game Day and a a nil  he also covered horse racing. A he was part of no cd a nil coverage team from 1980 until 1985. Axthelm a 1965 graduate of Yale University joined the new York Herald Tribune As a horse racing writer and sports columnist. He worked at Newsweek Magazine from 1968 until 1988 and at people Magazine from 1988 until 1989. No la a Watson Dies in sleep Vancouver British Columbia apr Phil Watson a former player with the new York rangers and former coach of the rangers and Boston Bruins died Friday. He was 78. His family said he suffered a heart attack in his sleep. Pete a thelmage might punch Leonard s time clock by Piil Berger a a the new York times it has come to this he is 34 years old and the opponent this time around wears an earring. Need we further reminders that the clock is ticking Down on the career of Ray Charles Leonarte conjure up the sugar Ray Leonard whose .100-kilowatt smile and whirring fists won him a Gold medal and worldwide acclaim at the 1976 olympics in Montreal that was nearly 15 years ago. Fifteen years think about it. Ray jr., who was Syz years old when he appeared with his famous father in those appealing soft drink commercials is now 17, a senior at Churchill High school in Potomac my. College recruiters Are scouting him As a running Back and High hurdler. Time flies and in its flight if keeps agitating Leonard to rub up against danger in seeming Defiance of the deadening effects Middle age routinely has on prize fighters. The other . Gold medallists from those �?T76 olympic games Michael and Leon Spinks Howard Davis Leo Randolph a have All retired but Leon Ard who turned pro in february 1977, is still at it. On saturday he goes Back into the ring once More this Jame to fight Terry Norris for Norris world boxing Council super welterweight title. Quot the 23-year-old Norris who fights without the earring is Quick and Strong and has a reputation of being a big puncher particularly in the Early rounds. He won his super welterweight title 154-Pound limit by knocking out John the beast Mugabi in one round last March and in his Only title defense a decision Over Rene Jacquot last july he had Jacquot on the Canvas three times in the 1st, 2d and 12th rounds. Leonard whose opponents have lately been mostly Over 30 a the a so called seniors tour a welcomes the test against a Youngblood like Norris believing it will clarify just How Well his skills have or Haven to held up. A my Palms sweat a he said underlining his eagerness for this combat. A everything holds More significance for me because in a touching the end of my career a he said. A so value each and every time i step out there. And i can Tell you this i still want to train and be in shape and look Good. I done to want of just show  if Leonard seems reluctant these Days to acknowledge being any less the fighter he was in earlier years a a a in a just As Quick a a he said a the longer that self analysis proceeds the More it echoes a Boxer keenly aware of inexorable change. Quot i m More economical now and far More analytical a he said in assessing the fighter he has become. A i Fry to break my opponents Down mentally even More than  As Ever though a fight is a test of wills the outcome often depending on that innate spark that a Boxer either has or Hasni to. When Leonard says a a in a still As Gutsy As i Ever was j still go for it when the fight is tight a he sounds like a Man not about to yield Center stage Middle Uge or not without a furious struggle. A Norris is a Young fresh Champion with physical attributes like mine the Speed and mobility a Leonard said. A a he a got the ability to push me to the limit. But As far As in a concerned i can contend with any Guys in this  As for Norris 26-3, 15 knockout she said that when he was a youngster Leonard was his hero but he professes to be undaunted by the Prospect of having to thrash him now. Leonard 36-1-1, 25 knockouts who has won world titles in weight classes ranging from welterweight 147-Pound limit to Light heavyweight 175-Pound limit has not fought in More than a year. The  on dec. 7, 1989, when he outfoxed Roberto Duran to win a lopsided 12-round decision. After boxing conservatively Early he tried to mix with Duran in the final rounds. The assault backfired. While trading punches he suffered cuts Over his right brow and on his left eyelid a wounds which were the latest of the Small calamities Leonard has known in recent bouts. In november 1988, when he fought Donny Lalonde for the wac super mid dle weight and Light heavyweight titles Lalonde knocked him Down in the fourth round and rocked him in the ninth. In june 1989, Thomas Hearns scored two knockdowns in a disputed draw a decision that Leonard now says should have gone to  in the cumulative impression these Sticky moments could be viewed As a portent of things to come saturday. To Leonard though they Are merely the vagaries of a hard Trade and by no Means a signal of his imminent demise. Sugar Ray Leonard i. A my Palms sweat he is the Man after All who shrugged off a detached Retina and came but of retire ment twice to make comebacks that included a stunning upset of the seemingly invincible middleweight. Marvelous mar