European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Nil players strike by Ken Rappoport Toronto a a week before the Stanley cup playoffs were set to begin nil players went on strike wednesday for the first time in the leagues 75-year history. Indications Are it will not be a Brief strike. Members of the owners bargaining committee went Home wednesday night following about four hours of talks with player representatives and nil president John Ziegler said the sides were close to an  the walkout which immediately wiped out three games and threatened dozens More was aimed directly at the owners wallets. They make the biggest chunk of their income from the playoffs the players with average salaries of about $350,000, get virtually nothing. Major league baseball and the nil have had player strikes but never before has a walkout come so close to the time when a pro sport was about to decide its Champion. �?�1 think what a probably got a lot of people surprised How can these athletes who played for championships this Point and time of the season head go out at ing into playoffs a said Wayne Gretzky the leagues All time scoring Leader and hockey a Best known player. A the vote was pretty unanimous. A one year contract proposed by the owners was rejected overwhelmingly with just four of 564 players voting to accept it. Although free Agency had kept the sides apart initially the major stumbling Block to settlement appeared to be Revenue from licensing agreements including $11 million from hockey trading cards. The old contract expired last sept. 15. A there will be no games tonight a nil players association executive director Bob Goodenow said in announcing the strike which began at 3 . Est on wednesday. Three games had been scheduled wednesday a the new York islanders at Toronto Washington at new Jersey and Winnipeg at san Jose. Gretzky whose los Angeles Kings had clinched a playoff berth said he expected the strike to last either Quot two or three Days or we re going to go until november or december.�?�. Ziegler said games would continue to be cancelled on a daily basis As the strike went on. Ten members of the owners committee and four from the Union met in separate sessions at the Toronto hotel where they had broken off negotiations Over the weekend. But the first round of Post strike discussions ended after four hours an according to Ziegler members of the owners committee went Home. A we did no to get into issues a said Zieg Ler who added that he would hold Quot exploratory talks with Goodenow on thursday morning in an attempt to reopen negotiations and said wednesdays talks were merely to clarify management a position. He did no to sound hopeful that a Quick settlement was in the offing. Quot we re getting close to an impasse. I Hope we can avoid it but we Are very close a Ziegler said. �?o111 remain Here for that purpose As Long As it will be  a a there a no question we have our differences a Goodenow said. Quot we Are trying to get the momentum  Ziegler is to make a full report to the leagues Board of governors sunday in new York. Earlier Goodenow said the onus was on the owners. A if we can reach an agreement this would enable the season and the playoffs to go Forward a Goodenow said. Quot the question is Are the owners prepared to continue the negotiations and use the time constructively asked in a conference Call with the Quebec Media How Long the strike could last before the playoffs Are officially cancelled Quebec owner Marcel Aubut said Quot we re talking about 15 Days As a limit but that a not  the players  have been More decisive in their response to the balloting. A the vote results prove the players dissatisfaction with the owners final offer a the stars and stripes april 3,1992 Page 28 Goodenow said. Quot a vote to reject was a vote to strike by 3 . April 1,1992.�?� Goodenow said that the no la had made arrangements for the three teams on the Road wednesday to return to their Home cities. There Are 27 games left in the regular season. Goodenow and the players stressed the ambivalence of their position. A the general Joys of playing the game come into conflict a he said. And that a the Case today. I done to think there a anybody Happy about this. But its a step that the players collectively decided was  univ hires Massimino by leg Tim Dahlberg Las vegas apr seven years to the Day after his Villanova team shocked Georgetown to win the Mcaa championship Rollie Massimino was named to take Over the powerful but troubled univ basketball program. Massimino was introduced As coach of the running rebels during a hastily called press conference at the University wednesday where he said the Challenge of starting All Over again led him to decide in Only four Days to take the univ Job. Psi to m As excited and As energetic As was years ago 11 Virginia Santhony Oliver gets a nit Viktory lift from Ted Jeffries. Details on Page 26. A Grgetic As i Massimino said. Quot that a Why 1 came  Massimino replaces Jerry Tarkanian whose spectacular 19-year run at univ ended bitterly last month in a resignation he claimed was coerced by University administrators who wanted him out. The new coach praised univ president Robert Axson for convincing him to take the Job and vowed Rollie Massimino to continue in Lvi a winning ways in the new coaching Era. Quot in a looking for a positive image a positive situation a Massimino said. Quot what has happened before has happened. We re looking to go Forward not  Massimino 57, received a five year contract that includes a $106,000 base salary and other University aided benefits that bring his total univ package to $386,000 a year. With shoe contracts and other deals the new Job reportedly could be Worth $700,000 a year. Massimino a 1985 Villanova team pulled one of College basketball a greatest upsets by shocking big East rival Georgetown to win the Mcaa title. But in introducing him on wednesday univ athletic director Jim Weaver said Massimino a proclaimed perfect graduation record at Villanova All 62 seniors under Massimino graduated on time and his ability to run a program clean from Mcaa charges was just As important As his coaching ability. A i bring you a Man who has graduated every student athlete who has completed his program a Weaver told a crowd of Community leaders University personnel and press crowded in a Campus meeting room. Quot i bring you a Man whose program has never come under Mcaa  Massimino in the seventh year of a 10-year contract at Villanova had a career record of 357-241 in 19 years at the school. Villanova lost to Virginia 83-80 in the first round of the National invitation tournament this year dropping to 14-15, Massimino a fourth losing season in 19 years. Massimino a teams play a slowdown game quite unlike the run and shoot that Tarkanian popularized and used to get univ in four final fours and win a 1990 National championship but he said his coaching style could change at a school that brings in As much Talent As univ. Quot we run but we done to run like the rebels a he said of his Villanova teams. Quot now that in a in this place we re going to run like the  Massimino will be stepping into a program dogged by problems in recent years. The 1991-92 univ team was banned from to and postseason play As a final Resolution of a 14-year Battle Between Tarkanian and the Mcaa. Inside sports Galaxy ready for Home opener Page 24 Spring training Roundup Page 25 of Neal nearing decision on draft a Page 26 Mutombo slated for thumb surgery a Page 27