European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 6, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes ports january 6,1993 b Page 28 Chison sign free new York a por the Chicago White sox Pittsburgh pirates and Atlanta braves the Best Way to Start the new year was with a new free agent. Outfielder Ellis Burks who was let go last month by the Boston red sox to sign with the White sox As baseball teams opened for the new year on monday. Burks got a one year con tract for $500,000 guaranteed and the Chance to raise his pay to $2.05 million through Bonus clauses. Pittsburgh again went against its stated youth movement and signed 37-year-old outfielder Lonnie Smith to a $1 million one year contract with the Chance for another $500,000 in bonuses. While Smith was leaving the braves infielder Bill Pecota was joining them agreeing with Atlanta on a $1.25 million two year contract. Burks 28, became a free agent dec. 18 when the red sox decided not to go to salary arbitration and refused to offer a 1993 contract he hit .255 last season with eight Home runs and 30 Bis in 66 Burks games before a season ending Back injury on june 24. Smith to expected to platoon in left Field with Rookie Albert Martin As the pirates replace National league map Barry Bonds. Smith spent the last five seasons with the braves hitting .247 with six homers and 33 Bis in 1992. Pecota 32, hit .227 with two Home runs and 26 Bis for the mets last season and became a free agent when new York failed to offer a 1993 contract. Of to tip by the associated press Durham . The Duke Blue devils Are going to lose sooner or later. The no. 11 Oklahoma sooner almost made it sooner rather than later. Oklahoma took Duke into overtime monday night but the no. 1 Blue devils outscored the sooner 14-10 in the extra period to come out with an 88-84 win. The win extended Dukes winning Streak of 22 games its Home court winning Streak to 34 and its Home court win Streak is. Non Atlantic coast conference teams to 76. Oklahoma came in looking for revenge for Duke ending its 51-Gamc Home winning Streak two years ago. The sooner battled Back from a 31-11 Duke advantage in the first half and a 20-Point deficit in the second half. A a they put us in a position where there was pressure on us a Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Quot they fought like  a the sooner went almost three minutes without a Field goal in overtime allowing the Blue devils 9-0. To open an 82-76 Lead on two baskets by Grant Hill on passes from Bobby Hurley and two free throws by Thomas Hill. Four free throws by Hurley Down the stretch gave Duke a 7-Point Lead before Angelo Hamilton made a 3-Pointer at the Buzzer. Quot we hit that spot in overtime where the shots weren to necessarily that bad a Oklahoma coach Billy Tubbs said a but we just  get anything to  Grant Hill led the Blue devils with 25 Points Hurley had 23 Points and 15 assists and Thomas Hill scored 13. Hamilton tied the game on a 3-Pointer with 33 seconds left and Thomas Hills shot at the Buzzer was deflected sending the game into overtime. Elsewhere in the top 25 monday night North Carolina 98, Cornell 60 Chapel Hill . Cornell 4-4 did no to look anything like the team that knocked California from the top 25 last week with a shocking upset. The big red led 19-18 nine minutes in but no. 6 North Carolina 101 took Over and went into the locker room with a 47-28 Naif time Lead. Derrick Phelps and Donald wit College basketball Liams led the tar heels with 16 Points each. Seton Hall 72, Connecticut 69 East Rutherford . No. 7 Seton Halls defense saved it once again. Trailing by nine Points with eight minutes to play Seton Hall 12-1, 2-0 big East Nim Ted no. 19 Connecticut 6-2,1-1 to four baskets Down the stretch and rallied for its ninth straight Victory. The pirates previously used defense to come Back from second half deficits against Tennessee Urcla and Miami. Iowa 80, Drake 65. Des Moines Iowa a Drake stayed close until the final three minutes but eighth ranked Iowa used its Strong inside play and Sharp fre throwing shooting Down the stretch to win. It was the closest Call of the season for the Hawk eyes 11-0who open big ten play at no. 5 Indiana on wednesday. Iowa entered the game with an average Victory margin of 33. Acie Earl led Iowa with 22 Points nine rebounds and eight blocked shots. Arkansas 72, sum 53 Dallas a Arkansas made its first appearance against a Southwest conference team since it defected to the Southeastern conference last year and sum 5-4 helped the no. 13 Razorbacks out by missing its last 24 shots. For the game Arkansas 9-1 shot 47 percent from the Field while the Mustangs shot just 23 percent. Scotty Thurman scored 24 Points including four 3-pointers, Ana. Darrell Hawkins added 12. Cincinnati 79, Tennessee 58 Cincinnati a the no. 16 bearcats used a variety of presses and half court traps to muffle one of the country a most dangerous shooters holding Allan Houston to a season Low 16 Points 8.3 below his season average. Cincinnati 7-1 allowed Houston Only nine Points last year in a 6251 Victory at Knoxville. Curtis Bostic had 20 Points Nick Van Exel added 19and Allen Jackson 16, Bobby Hurley tries to score Over sooner so Jason vanish. Young named offensive player of year 49ers a a Steve Young by Dennis Georgatos Santa Clara Calif. Apr Steve Young is feeling at Home in the san Francisco 49ers offence and he has a landmark season to show for it. A we always have the ability to move and make plays a said Young selected monday As the associated press 1992 offensive player of the year a and despite what some people Felt last year i be always Felt this is the perfect offence for me. 1 think you re noticing now As 1 get More comfortable in it 1 done to run at  Young Shook his outsider image and became a More disciplined passer this year. In the process he led the 49ers to an if Best 14-2 record and a return to the playoffs while overseeing the leagues most productive offence he emerged from Joe Montana a Shadow to Lead the nil in passing with a 107 rating 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions completing 66.7 per cent of his passes a a it a obviously very satisfying. Yet i can to wait to go out again and play a Young said. A even though in a 31, 1 feel like in a just scratching the  Young a backup to Montana for four years received 28 of 80 votes cast by a nationwide panel of Media members. Running Back Barry Foster of Pittsburgh who tied an nil Mark with 12 100-Yard games was next with 24, and Emmitt Smith of Dallas the leagues leading rusher received 17 votes. Young who missed six games with a knee injury went 5-5 As a starter in 1991. In his absence Steve Bono went 5-1, and there was some sentiment around the league that Bono might be better suited than Young to the 49ers offence. But Youngs play and the 49ers�?T Success quieted that talk. Coach George Seifert also went out of his Way to remove the interim Label around Young naming him the teams undisputed starter before the season started. Young is the fourth 49er in the last six seasons to win the award. Jerry Rice got it in 1987, Roger Craig won in 1988 and Montana the next year. Green Bay wide receiver Sterling Sharpe who set an nil record with 108 catches finished fourth with six votes. 0 246850 s85q 00 351