European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 21, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 23 Spring training giants drop ban to release Leach. By the associated press to Jackson Isnit the Only name on the waiver wire. There a also Rick Leach whose suspension was lifted so he could be released. Leach 33, was placed on waivers tuesday by the san Francisco giants. He had been on the disqualified list since aug. 6, when he was Given a 60-Day suspension for testing positive for drugs. A that obviously entered my mind but this was strictly a baseball decision a giants general manager a1 Rosen said. A we Felt Mark Leonard surpassed Rick this Spring and is ready to play in the big leagues. Leonard can do More things than  Leach a former University of Michigan quarterback was hitting 5 for 17 this Spring. At the time of the suspension last season he was batting .293, his 174 at bats including two homers and 16 Bis. A the giants know me on a personal basis and if i had a solid year people would know everything was All right a Leach said. A things Are a Little fuzzy right now. Other teams done to know me like this club. The giants told me to sit tight a couple of Days and they would try to put me in touch with other  while he was with Toronto Leach disappeared in Seattle from aug. 25 to aug. 27, 1987, after having an argument with his wife Angie. On May 8, 1989, Leach left the rangers while the club was in new York. When he did no to Contact the team police searched his hotel room and found less than an ounce of marijuana. On the to front no team filed an immediate claim on the outfielder. Jackson and his $2,375,000 contract will remain available to any team for a bargain basement Price of $1 until Friday afternoon. If he Isnit claimed by then Kansas City must give him 30 Days termination pay a $391,483�? and he becomes a free agent Able to sign with any team. On the rehabilitation front Orel Hershiser who has had a tender right shoulder since pitching five innings in a Camp game last Friday said he was much improved. A things Are definitely better today a said Hershiser who underwent reconstructive surgery on the shoulder last april 27. Hershiser had said monday that he could be Back on the Mound in two or three Days a for it could take a week to 10  from wire reports Auburn Hills Mich. A Isiah Thomas had his cast removed and the guard could be Back in the Detroit pistons lineup by the end of april. \ Thomas was examined tuesday by hand specialist or. Kirk Watson in Hartford. Conn., where three pins and the cast were removed from the team captains right  said a rays showed the wrist healed Well. Thomas will Wear a removable splint for a few weeks and could be cleared to practice with the pistons by april 5 and play in games by the end of april. Thomas spent nearly two months in the cast after having three Bones fused during wrist surgery. On monday Thomas took part in full court drills with the team at the Palace. At one Point Thomas stole a pass with his left hand and drove for an uncontested Layup also with his left. Later he used the Good hand to Block a Gerald Henderson shot. Phelps on quitting not True South Bend ind. A notre Dame coach Digger Phelps says a report that he s quitting is unfounded. A a it a not True at All a Phelps told Wondu to in the Wake of Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan a report on esp that Xavier coach Pete Gillen would take his place. A a a a a. A. A. A a a a. A. A. A a a Gillen says he Hasni to been approached about the Job and does no to believe Phelps would quit or be  grounds Blazer plane Hillsboro Ore. A the Portland Trail blazers had a scary experience tuesday when their plane aborted its Takeoff after smoke poured from one of its  plans knee recovery Vienna Austria a austrian Davis cup Tennis Star Thomas Muster who was scheduled to have a cartilage operation on his left knee wednesday is planning to be Back in action before the end of next  shooters on target Chino Calif. A the soviet Union dominated the opening Day of shooting in the world cup Usa olympic qualifying Competition winning the Gold and Silver medals in both of the events contested tuesday. Alexsander Bliz Rivchenko won the menus free pistol event by filing a score of 562 of a possible 600 in the regular match one of three 562s shot. In the 10-shot final round he shot a 91 to capture sports Wireback the Gold medal with a combined total of 653.big 8 slaps coaches Kansas City to. A one head coach was suspended and four others were reprimanded for comments they made about officiating during this years big eight basketball tournament. Big eight commissioner Carl James suspended Iowa state coach Johnny Orr for the first game of the 199192 season. The action  response to Orris comments about officiating in the Iowa state Missouri game March 8 at the big eight tournament in Kansas City. A a a a a  a a a the coaches receiving reprimands were Kansas coach Roy Williams Missouri coach Norm Stewart Colorado coach Joe Harrington and Nebraska coach Danny Nee. Barnett reportedly asked to go Tulsa  Tulsa basketball coach . Barnett has been asked by athletic department officials to step Down according to broadcast  wins As pc tourney opens Hutchinson Kan. A William Paige and Markle James scored 17 Points each tuesday night and Mott Mich., Defeated Southeastern Burlington Iowa 78-68 in the first round of the National Junior College athletic association basketball tournament in other opening round games it was Alvin Texas Over Champlain vt., 86-64 Aquinas tcnn., Over Polk fla., 68-62 Mississippi Gulf coast Over North Greenville s.c., 69-66 and Kankakee ill Over Allegany md.,71-62.norman pulls out of tourney new Orleans Greg Norman who lost last years us amp a classic on a 72nd-Hole Birdie from a Bunker by David Frost last year withdrew from this years event on tuesday. / tournament officials said normans agent called to inform them that the australian Star was ill and would be unable to compete in the event which begins thursday. Former Lions pm Thomas Dies Detroit a Russ Thomas a former Detroit Lions general manager known for fiercely guarding the teams Treasury on behalf of owner William Clay lord died at his Home in naples., fla., on monday in govt the team announced. He was 66.lakers Nab Lead Kings set Mark by the associated press the los Angeles lakers replaced Portland atop the a bad a Pacific division tuesday night defeating the los Angeles clippers 119-105 As the Trail blazers were losing 136-126 at Golden state. The blazers eighth loss in 11 games Eridell their season Long domination of the divison As Sacramento at the other end of the standings was setting a record for losing. The Kings set an Aba single season record with their 29th consecutive Road loss falling at san Antonio 104-101. A i done to want to talk about the. Record a Kings coach Dick Motta said. A you All. Perpetuate this thing. In be already talked about the record  san Antonio which clinched a playoff spot pulled within 100-99 on Rory sparrows three Pointer with 20.8 seconds left. The spurs then converted four free throws in the final 17.3 seconds with Robinson who finished with 30 Points and 15 rebounds making the last two with 1.6 seconds to go. The Kings Mark of futility topped the record they shared with the new Orleans jazz of 1974-75 and the new Jersey nets of last season. The All time record for consecutive Road losses is 34 set by new Jersey which lost its final 28 outings of last season and its first six of this one. A i never thought about the record a Antoine Carr of the Kings said a those Aba Are types of things for Guys to use in some trivia game. There will be other teams to come in after us and break it. It May be a Long time but it will  in the other games lakers 119, clippers 105 Inglewood Calif James worthy scored 26 Points As the lakers swept the four game season series from the clippers and extended their Home court winning Streak against their Crosstown rivals to 27 games. Magic Johnson added 18 Points and 11 assists and did no to even play the fourth Quarter. The lakers won. Their fifth straight and 29th in the last 36 games. The lakers trailed Portland by 8v2 games on Jan. 8, but the following night began a 16-game win Streak the second longest in club history. Byrod Scott also scored 18 Points for the lakers who led 51-40 at halftime and extended it to 76-56 with a 13-2 third Quarter run capped by Johnson s Layup with 3 53 left. Warriors 136, Trail blazers 126 Oakland Calif. Mitch Richmond made his first 13 shots and finished with 40 Points for Golden state which won for the fifth time in seven games. The warriors shot 71 percent in the first half 32 of 45 in leading by As Many As 29 it. A Points and took an 82-59 margin into the dressing room. Tim Hardaway scored 29 Points and added 12 assists for Golden state which went 2-3 against Portland this year. Chris Mullin scored 26 Points. Jerome Kersey scored 35 Points for the blazers and Trexler added 30. Rockets 98, Timber wolves 85 Minneapolis a Houston got 25 Points and eight blocked shots from Hakeem Olajuwon and tied a franchise record with its ninth consecutive Victory. The rockets matched the record of the 1976-77 Houston team which went 9-0 to begin March of that season. Olajuwon scored the teams first seven Points a he had 13 in the first period a and the rockets never trailed. Minneapolis stayed in the game on the strength of 19 first half Points by Tony Campbell who finished with 32 a two Short of his season High. Sam Mitchell contributed 26 Points and 13 rebounds for the Timber wolves. Olajuwon made 11 of 15 shots and had 14 rebounds. Kenny Smith added 20 Points for Houston. Knocks 97, hornets 79 Charlotte . A Patrick Ewing overcame Early foul trouble and scored 25 if his 41 Points in the second half As new York won for the 10th time in 12 games. Ewing who had three fouls in the first half dominated inside in the second. He scored 12 Points in the third Quarter and 13 in the fourth. He made 18 of 25 shots and was 5 for 5 from the free throw line. He also led the kicks with eight rebounds. Ewing did not commit a foul in the second half. Rex Chapman led Charlotte which shot Only 34.1 percent with 22 Points. Hawks 104, celtics 92 Atlanta a Spud Webb scored six Points and Glenn Rivers five in a 19-6 fourth Quarter burst that created an 18-Point Lead for the Hawks. The Victory snapped a three game Hom court losing Streak for Atlanta which had won a franchise record 22 in a Row 111 the Omni before the recent skid. Webb finished with 26 Points Domin Itsue Wilkins 21 and Kevin Willis 20. Kevin Gamble scored 24 Points and Reggie Lewis 21 for the celtics who lost for Only the second time in nine games. Bucks 101, heat 88 Milwaukee Dale Ellis scored 17 of his 29 Points in the first half As Milwaukee swept the four game season series and sent the 1 Leal to their fifth consecutive loss Ellis scored six Points in an 8-0 run at the Start of the second Quarter As the Bucks took control. They led 48-43 at halftime Willie Burton had 24 Points and Glen Rice 19 for Miami which lost its fourth consecutive Road game. Rony Seikaly had 17 rebounds and 14 Points for the heat