European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 05, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 1993 sports the stars and stapes a Page 29 . Coach to Aid Italy basketball Milan Italy a the italian basketball league has turned to an american to help revive the Quality and popularity of the sport in Italy. Dan Peterson who coached in Italy for 1.4 years be fore turning to television commentary was hired wednesday As a consultant to league president Gimilio Malgarat. Malgarat said he hoped Peterson could help Lead the league out of a deep crisis marked by financial prob lems flagging attendance and declining Quality of play. Peterson who won five league titles As a coach i Italy said he wanted to bring Italy s rules More in line with those of the Aba to make it More exciting. For example the game should be divided into four12-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves and the shot clock should be reduced from 30 seconds to 24 seconds he said. Peterson said he hoped the league would attract More High profile players from the United states. There has been a drop off in big name stars in Italy indecent years with Spain and other countries drawing off some of the Talent a Jhson Cal sets is Toronto a Cal commissioner Larry Smith met Wilt Nick Milti in Akron Ohio in a last ditch attempt to find a i0th team for the 1993season, the Canadian press reported. Smith and that he discussed the possibility of the former sports franchise owner Fielding a team to re place the now suspended san Antonio texans Dur ing tuesday s meeting. Toledo Ohio is High on the list of potential Sites for Milti but other cities arc also under consideration. There Are a lot of big hurdles to be cleared by this gentleman in time for 1993," Smith said after to Toronto. We re examining the situation very  Milti could be in position to Field a team this summer. He s a Guy who acts real Quick and he s Bee really interested in the Cal since his association with the . Lions Milti s son Jim said from his Cleveland Home. Mileti former owner of baseball s Cleveland Indi ans the Aba s Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland s nil and wha franchises had an agreement with for Mer Lions owner Murray Pezim to Purchase 49 percent of the team two years ago but the Deal fell through. Gone. It  also reported the 61-year-old Milti was interested in purchasing the Hamilton Tiger cats last month. The commissioner was joined at tuesday s meeting by Al Howell a Niagara Falls Ontario based Busi Nessman. Howell first came to Cal prominence Las summer when he tried to broker a Deal for the Ham Ilton franchise. Howell who works on a Short term contract basis with the Cal also was tied to the ill fated attempt by los Angeles entrepreneur Jerry Buss to buy the Tiger cats. The commissioner has been trying to replace Sanantonio since owner Larry Benson dropped his expansion bid at league meetings last week. With the Sacramento Gold miners As the Lone 1993expansion team the league faces the prospects of an unbalanced nine team 18-Gamc schedule. We know a nine team schedule we be had a lot of Success with it Hamilton president John Michaluk said. We had our hearts set on 10 this year until begot left at the altar. We would go to 10 with substantial banking but we Don t want to move too quickly just to make it 10." must wac title Bowe says Scotrun a. A Riddic Bowe wants to fight Lennox Lewis but Only on his terms. The main term is that Lewis renounce the world boxing Council championship recognition bestowed on the briton after owe signed to fight Michael Dokes on saturday night in Madison Square Garden. Let him throw the Belt in the Gar Bage said Bowe who won the title by out pointing Evandor Holyfield on nov. 13,and who remains Champion in the eyes of the International boxing federation an the world boxing association. Bowe and Holyfield had agreed to make wac mandatory defense against the win Ner of the oct. 21 Lewis razor Ruddock fight which Lewis won in the second round. Lewis and his manager Frank a Loncy have accused Bowe of ducking Lewis but Rock Newman Bowe s manager maintains that Bowe lived up to the let Ter of the agreement and that it is Lewis who backed away. The wac moved to strip Riddick eve though we made an offer to make a first de sense against Lewis Newman said. Lewis was offered $3 million to fight owe in bowl s first defense or Given the option of fighting an opponent of his Choice for $2.5 million and then fighting Bowe for $9 million according to Newman. Lewis is scheduled to make a wac title defense against Tony Tucker on april 24. Asked if Tucker would get a shot at Bow should he upset Lewis Newman said whoever has the wac Belt will never  Mercer Bowe bout certain Augusta a. A Ray Mercer insists a May 21 heavyweight championship fight with Riddick Bowe is a done Deal. This fight is set Mercer said in an interview published in wednesday s the Augusta chronicle. Nothing will Stop this from coming  something could. Mercer first must get by Jesse Ferguson and Bowe must get by Michael Dokes at Madison Square Garden in new York on saturday night. Bowe is putting his Aba and if heavyweight titles on the line. A press conference is scheduled for monday in new York to officially announce the bowl Mercer bout Mercer said from his training Camp near Pensacola Fla. Mercer will receive $50,000 to fight Fer Guson and $1,5 million to Challenge Bowe said Hank Johnson Mercer s Trainer. Bowels guaranteed $15 million for the May de sense. If i did t know i could beat Bowe then d be like everybody else and just try to get As much Money As i can Mercer  i know the title will be mine and there will be a lot More Money Down the Road. I know i can Knock him  British boxers form Union eat drink and be merry a relaxed Michael Dokes holds Forth at a new York City restaurant tuesday exp Ainan Why he skipped Bat Day s workout in preparation for saturday s heavyweight title bout against Riddick Bowe at Madison Square Carden. I was stale said toe forme Champion who is making his third comeback from drug abuse As Bowe ii first title Chal Lenger. One of these Days i la probably be Gold to the gym to see where i m at Lyndon a Britain s top fight ers including world heavyweight Champi on Lennox Lewis have formed a boxing Union designed to protect boxers against unscrupulous managers and promoters. The professional boxers association which has a potential membership of 1,000 Active pros in Britain had its firs meeting wednesday attended by world champions past and present. Former world boxing association featherweight Champion Barry Mcguigan was elected president Mcguigan stressed the association was aimed at helping fighters Deal with difficult problems concerning contracts pen Sions taxation and insurance. It did not set out to wage War with managers an promoters but would protect its Rem users he said. ,