European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wathan fired Essian Zimmer by the associated press ii Tyr mo., a the Kansas City royals Kansas Ity fired manager John Wathan on wednesday and replaced him on an interim basis with coach Bob Schafer Wathan who played and managed his entire career with the royals was in his fourth full season As Kansas City a manager. The royals 15-22 were last in the american league West seven games behind firs place Seattle heading into wednesday nights game with the mariners. A Wathan will remain with the team As a consultant general manager Herk Robinson said. A at the conclusion of the season we will evaluate his situation a a Robinson said. It the royals were expected to compete for the Al West championship after signing free agents Kirk Gibson and Mike Boddicker. Wathan was 287-270 As manager since aug. 27,1987. A it have always wanted what is Best for the organization a Wathan said in a statement provided by the royals. A i Hope whoever comes in to manage will be successful and turn it around. I think it is a Good club and will grow in the future and i Hope everyone will be patient with the new  taking Over cubs Chicago a the Chicago cubs have hired Jim Essian manager of their triple a Iowa team to replace the fired Don Zimmer a Chicago radio station reported wednesday. / a. Wbb am radio said team sources which it did not identify confirmed that Essian would be named manager at a late afternoon news conference at Shea stadium before the cubs meet the new York mets. Zimmer was fired tuesday after the cubs began the season with an 18-19 record despite the signing of All Star free agents George Bell Danny Jackson and Dave Smith. Chicago a Michael Jordan drives past Detroit a Bill Lamb car in the first Quarter. By Steve Springer the los Angeles times Bloomington Minn. A it was a night of survival at the met Center for the Pittsburgh penguins. Before game 4 of the Stanley cup finals Center Mario Lemieux survived the pregame warm up and the Ever Hazar Dous lacing of the skates without further Back spasms after getting off to the fastest Start in finals history with three goals in less than three minutes the penguins survived a furious Minnesota North Star rally. They escaped two Point Blank shots by Neal Broten. They withstood a five minute major penalty without giving up a shot on goal. The result was Pittsburgh a 5-3 Victory tuesday night before a sellout crowd of 15,378 to even the Best of seven series at 2-2 with game 5 Back in Pittsburgh thursday night Lemieux missed game 3 because of the spasms triggered by bending Over to Enlace his skates before the pregame warm up. His return tuesday provide Dahl finals on an to Central european Timo Minn at Pittsburgh 1 30 . Friday. An emotional wave that Pittsburgh Rode to three goals in the first 2 58 after the opening Falcoff. Kevin Stevens scored his 16th postseason goal 58 seconds into the game Ron Francis his fifth at 2 36 Ana Lemieux added his 14th at 2 58. A a Well if you were going to create a scenario of How not to Start a game that would be it Quot said Minnesota coach Bob Gainey. The record time for three opening goals was 10 03, set by the new York islanders against the North stars the last time Minnesota played in the finals a decade ago. But while that 1981 game ended 5-1, this one was just beginning. The North stars began play tuesday 20-2-2 in this building since mid january and had won eight straight Here in the playoffs so it was Safe to assume they bulls up 2-0 blazers win by the associated press Chicago the Detroit pistons Are used to frustrating other teams with their defense. Now the Chicago bulls Are doing it to them. The pistons Are used to establishing Early momentum in a playoff series. Now the bulls have the Early momentum. Chicago took another step toward reaching the championship series with a 105-97 tuesday night Victory Over do Torii at Chicago stadium. The bulls Lead the Best-of-7 series 2-0, with game 3 to be played saturday afternoon in Auburn Hills Mich. After the beating they suffered tuesday night the pistons look As if they can use three Days rest. Chicago a tenacious defense harassed the pistons into turnovers forced them to take bad shots and made most trips Dow court about As pleasant As a trip to the dentist. No Aba team has won a Best-of-7 series after falling behind 2-0 since 1977. But to avoid being dethroned As two time champions that is exactly what the pistons must do. A they took us of of our offence and dominated in every phase a said pistons coach Chuck Daly. A right now they look hungrier than we Are i was surprised the score ended up that close because they dominated a Michael Jordan 35 Points and Scottie Pippen 21 Points 10 rebounds led a balanced bulls attack Chicago held a 49-41 Lead at halftime As the pistons struggled to stay close Joe Dumars carried Detroit with a 16-Point first Quarter. The stars and stripes ports May 23.1991 b Page 24 Aba playoffs finnic Johnson came off the Bench to Lead the visitors with 29 Points. James Edwards Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer combined for a scant three Points in the first half. The bulls clearly established the Lane As their turf which kept Detroit living or dying with jump shots. For the bulls the first half was More proof that Jordan a supporting cast is ready to play a starring role. Jordan scored just eight first half Points and his initial Basket came with 2 18 left in the. First Quarter. But by that time Chicago already had a 21-15 Lead. In the other tuesday Aba semifinal blazers 109, lakers 98portland Ore. A the Portland see Aba on Page 18 stars to knot series would not go any More quietly than their raucous fans. The comeback began with Dave gag nerds 15th postseason goal near the close of the first period. After Bryan Truttier scored his third playoff goal at 9 55 of the second period to extend the Lead to 4-1, the North stars aggressive Young defense pulled the Plue on Pittsburgh a offence. Until Trottier a goal Early in the third pc Rod Minnesota out shot Pittsburgh 17-3. It was the Power play that got the North stars into the finals. They scored 32 of their 65 postseason goals on Power plays coming into this series. But of late the Power has been drained. The North stars were Labouring on a Zero-for-13 run when Brian Propp snapped that with his eighth postseason goal at 13 10 of the second period. At 18 25, Mike Modano scored also his eighth of the postseason and also on a Power play. And just like that it was 4-3 Chadine into the final period. Twice in that last 20 minutes Broten was a flick of the wrist away from tying the game. First he found himself alone with Pittsburgh goalie Tom Barrasso at the right Post Barrasso having fallen to the ice. But Broten forced to hit a backhand shot  lift it Over Barrasso. The second time seemed even More of a sure thing. With Barrasso forced out of the Center of the crease Broten took dead  at the open left Side of the net. And missed  sports Tarshia Bronner shot Putter deluxe a Page 21 Strawberry finds Range twice a Page 22 Buechele rangers Riding High a Page 22 Washington lags in no expansion a Page 23