European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 a a the stars and stripes wednesday february 13,1991baseball v returning Vincent says Little except about Steinbrenner by Ronald Blum a sports writer new York Fay Vincent  talk about Pete Rose. He  talk much about expansion. For George Steinbrenner though he had lots to say. A i can to think of anyone other than Saddam Hussein id rather have making these complaints a Vincent said monday As he returned to his office after a 2 a month absence. The baseball commissioner was referring to constant carping of the new York Yankees owner who keeps attacking the investigation and agreement that removed Steinbrenner from the teams operations. Vincent who has been recovering from surgery to remove an infected spleen said eight to 10 of baseball a 26 teams lost Money last season. He added that Security was under review because of the persian Gulf War and the threat of terrorism. He also said he was concerned about the escalation of player salaries and the effect on Small Market teams. He looked rested after a 10-Day vacation in Jamaica. He was clearly More relaxed than last february when he was attempting to make a Deal with the major league baseball players association. ,. The commissioner had not been in his office since nov. 21. The following Day he became ill with what at first was diagnosed As pneumonia and later As an accessed spleen caused by a bacterial infection. New York gossip columns said last week that Vincent a health was worse than had been stated by his office. A George and his people want to a a a Lay that game a Vincent said a a but f think most people see it for what it  mondays session with 20 reporters was partly to shoot Down the rumours. A reports of my demise Are extremely premature a Vincent began echoing Mark Twain a famous line. A secondly in be Given up cigars. Other than that its business As  Steinbrenner later renewed his criticism of Vincent. A i am truly sorry that Fay Vincent would make such a statement As it Only underscores the questions that Many people have about Nis ability to serve As commissioner and to act rationally a Steinbrenner said in a statement issued by spokesman Steve Mangione. The 52-year-old commissioner who weighed 250 pounds before his illness has lost 25 pounds in recent months. While he was out dozens of multimillion Dollar multiyear contracts have been agreed to culminating with Roger Clemens record four year $21.5 million Deal. A no rational person can View what a going on in baseball and not have concerns a Vincent said. The commissioner said he believed that salaries Given to top players were causing teams to balance rosters with More rookies who have Low salaries. A some players who would Likely find jobs in baseball will not find jobs because the payrolls Are so Toff heavy a Vincent said Vincent addressed a wide variety of topics in the 90-minute meeting. But he  give his opinion on the Hall of Fame a decision to exclude Rose from its ballot. Because of that Rose can be elected to Cooperstown Only if he is reinstated. A if a request to be reinstated comes in front of me then ill Deal with it a Vincent said. He said the Impact of the War on baseball concerned him ref esp fall Wuh the Start of Spring of failing late next week. / a a anyone responsible for bringing Large groups Foll people together has to worry Vincen said. The commissioner had Little to Addon expansion. A this is a Vry important expansion for baseball because i doubt that there will be Noper okie for a very Long time a he Setfa. A a the Afi onal league intends to announce two expansion cities by september and the new franchises which begin play in 1993, will pay $95 million each. The commissioner said he would become involved if the leagues can to decide How to split the Money. A if they can to agree then i will resolve it a Vincent said. Commissioner Fay Vincent re com Job following surgery Long Vincent a Short term concerns is a new agreement with umpires. The old contract expired at the end of the 1990 season. A i think there will be an agreement a Vincent said. A i can to Tell you when. I assume later rather than  because Many of the reporters were from the new York area questions about Steinbrenner took up much of the time. Vincent whose term runs to april 1994, denied reports that have quoted Anonymous owners As saying he would quit perhaps within a year. A a in a not going to resign a he said. A unless somebody has a technique in a not aware of the decision is mine. I done to mean to sound arrogant about it but that a the Way it  a a a. A a a a a a a a a a r. A a a. Buss Barger fears monster salaries Pittsburgh Quot a Kirby Puckett gets $3 million. Jose Canseco gets a $4.7 million Roger Clemens gets $5 million. A. A a a a a. A a How High can salaries go can baseball a first $6 million Man be far behind a bionic or not How soon until the first $10 million player Pittsburgh pirates president Carl Barger faced with the possible loss of some of baseball a biggest names is afraid to guess. Barger acknowledged monday that the pirates Are resigned to losing some of their marquee players a Bobby Bonilla Barry Bonds or Doug Drabek a in the next two years because of baseball a skyrocketing salaries. A we can to afford to keep Mem All a Barger said. Bonilla $3,475 million and Bonds $3.25 million Are asking for More in combined 1991 salary than the pirates entire 1986 payroll of $6.5 million. Bonilla the National leagues map runner ii can become a free agent after this season. The pirates also could lose map Bonds and by Young award Winner Drabek after 1992. Bonilla has rejected the pirates four year $15.5 million offer or nearly $4 million a year. He a asking for nearly $20 million. He has threatened to play elsewhere if the pirates done to sign him to a Long term Deal before his arbitration hearing thursday. \ a a we be been told in the past that if he goes to arbitration he a gone after a year a Barger said. A if the dollars Are right in a sure head talk at any time but i done to know if there a much room to move off our offer. We really Felt we made a competitive Market offer. A a but if we done to work out a Deal. Our chances Are very much lessened. The big Money clubs will jump in with All  Bobby Bonilla has rejected Pittsburgh a offer of $15.5 million for4ycars. A Hahn coasts Lindsey crashes in Safe openers by Meridith Winder . Bureau Raf Chicksands England the Hahn lady Hawks taking a Page from the. Desert storm playbook opened the 1991 Safe women a basketball tournament with a bang. Paced Quot by Shilia Lumar 21 Points and Netta Burbridge 19hahn raced by Ben Waters 75-53 to go 1-0 in the round Robin event which concludes saturday. Kim Sutton led All scorers with 26�?T Points for Ben Waters. Jennifer Turnipseed added 15. The tourneys other Germany based entry did no to fare As Well. Upper Heyford handed Lindsey a loss bouncing by the flyers 64-51. Sherry Joyner led the Way sinking 23 Points and pulling Down 14 rebounds. Renee Dawkins added 22 Points. For Lindsey Michelle Bradshaw netted 21 a Points and 11 rebounds. But the Surprise of the Day was Chicksands. Relying on a tenacious defense and the Home court advantage Chicksands rolled Over Mildenhall 77-60.the Chicks used full court pressure throughout the game to Force numerous Mara Derette turnovers. Chicksands capitalized on these mistakes and jumped to a 32-18 Lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. Chicksands which entered the tournament after a most in was forced to the final game of opening Day sor0p p pressure and surged Mildenhall blowing by Ben Waters 10-5 a a j u Escor it. Littlejohn led All scorers with 21 poin lne second half proved no different As and banged the boards Jor 12 rebound Chicksands which placed fourth in the . Conference filled the lanes denying easy baskets for the marauders. Four players were in double figures of Chicksands. Helen Johnson had 16 Chachi Jackson and Julie Pettyp Leci scored 14 each and Renata Mills Sank 10 Mills also grabbed 11 rebounds