European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Black coaches delay College hoop Nymat Yancey Washington a Black basketball coaches agreed Friday to Post Pone a threatened Boycott of College basketball games this weekend after the Justice department offered to mediate their dispute with the Mcaa. However the Mcaa indicated it has no interest in allowing government Law yers into the dispute even those with no enforcement or investigative Powers. If the House Energy and Commerce committee and the ways and Means committee Are willing to let the Justice department mediate health care Reform Well think about using their services on these issues Francis Canavan an Mcaa spokesman said. Canavan said later he had not in tended to suggest that continued Dia Logue called for by the coaches and the caucus is not the Way to  we have to keep talking and that Svery positive said Canavan who worked 10 years for the ways and Means com Mittee before going into athletic administration. My comment was to suggest that an Arm of the Justice department might not be a Good fit for the parties involved to reach consensus on these  in any Case a Boycott and other threat ened Job actions such As coaches walking off the floor and leaving their teams to assistants won t occur this weekend. We have agreed to delay the Boycott and i emphasize the word delay Drake coach Rudy Washington executive director of the Black coaches association said after meeting with key lawmakers. Rep. Weisi Mfume chairman of the40-member congressional Black caucus said he had phoned the White House shortly after noon Friday and asked the Clinton administration to provide an in cornered is Jim of Rhim Gic Ssan s Sabrina Williams looks for a Safe Haven saturday during the Griffins 36-24 High school basketball Victory Over bad Kreuz Nach in Gissen Germany. Providing the tight defense for the a carats Are Sametra Mcmillan 35 and lakes a Johnson rear. See pages 34-35 for the weekend High school sports wrap up. Dependent third party to arbitrate the differences that currently  within two hours Mfume d-md., said he received a Call from the Justice depart ment offering its Community relation service to mediate the dispute Over reduced scholarships in division i men s basketball and High academic Entrance requirements for scholarship athletes. Myron Martin a spokesman for the department said the Community relations service which has no enforcement authority had already offered itself As a mediator but had not heard yet from either the Blac coaches or the Mcaa. Washington cited interest frown the White House As a reason for putting off the Boycott but he Mfume and George town coach John Thompson said they weren t willing to delay forever. However they also said they had no timetable. The White House said it had no role in the stars and stripes january 16,1994 Page 36 the dispute other than Fielding Mfume Scall. And officials said rep. Cardis col Lins d-ill., had earlier made the request on her own to the Justice department to offer its services. Collins who chairs both the House Energy and Commerce subcommittees that claim oversight of the Mcaa and the Lack caucus task Force on intercollegiate athletics had earlier asked the Lack coaches to delay the Boycott. I want to strongly urge you and you members to postpone making a decision of such critical importance. In Hopes of avoiding the disruption of the season she said in a letter earlier this week. Orioles sign Sabo Hibbard joins m s new York a Chris Sabo decided to sign with the Baltimore orioles instead of the new York mets on Friday and Greg Hibbard agreed to a $6.75 Mil lion three year contract with the Seattle mariners. Eighty nine players filed for salary arbitration on Friday the last Day to file. It was the fewest since 80 filed in 1984. Four arbitration eligible players agree to new contracts. Sabo a three time All Star and ?.1988 National league Rookie of the year was let go by Cincinnati As a Cost cutting move. He made $3.1 million Las season when he hit .259 with 21 homers and82rbis. He spurned an offer from the met that could have been Worth up to $7 Mil lion Over two years according to his agent Jim Bronner instead he accepted a $2 million one year Deal that would get him $400,000 More if he plays in Iso games or has 525plate appearances. He also can become a free agent again after the 1994 world series. Hibbard a 29-year-old left hander Wasa career Best 15-11 with a 3.96 Era for the cubs last season but became a free agent last month when Chicago Cut him Loose to save Money. Hibbard who made$1,425,000 in 1993, gets a $750,000 sign baseball sign inns ing Bonus $1 million in 1994, $2.4 million in 1995 and $2.6 million in 1996. The four players eligible for arbitration who settled were California Pitcher Joe Grahe Cleveland infielder Alvaro Espi Noza new York met Pitcher Pete Smith and san Franciso shortstop Mike Benja min. Smith obtained from Atlanta on nov.24 for outfielder Dave Gallagher was 4-8 with a 4.37 Era last season and made$1,025,000. He gets a $75,000 raise to $1.1 million. Grahe 4-1 last season with 11 save Sand a 2.86 Era got a four fold increase to $925,000 from $230,000. Benjamin who hit .199 in 63 games forthe giants last year got a $525,000, two year Deal that Calls for $225,000 this sea son and $300,000 in 1995. He made $142,500 last season. Espinoza who hit .278 last season wit four homers and 27 Bis agreed at $450,000, a $50,000 Cut. Among the players filing for arbitration were Baltimore outfielder Mike Devereaux Chicago White sox Pitcher Jack Mcdowell Atlanta outfielder Ron Gant. Players and clubs will Exchange figure son tuesday. Hearings will be scheduled for feb. 1-18. Astrodome May lose oilers Houston a the Houston Oil ers might take their game elsewhere when their lease with the Astrodome expires in 1997, owner Bud Adams said Fri Day. Adams said he will consider alternative playing Sites including a proposed new downtown domed stadium. I feel the baseball realignment an expanded playoffs will sound the death Knell for All multipurpose football base Ball stadiums Adams said in a statement. The oilers and astros have played inthe Astrodome since it opened in 1965 and occasionally have clashed on sched uling. That led Adams recently to join movement to build a new stadium near the downtown Brown convention Cente that would House both the oilers and the Aba Houston rockets. Scheduling conflicts necessitated by the proposed major league baseball realignment and the addition of Best-of-5 divisional playoffs Are totally unacceptable to the Houston oilers Adams said. Oiler vice president Mike Mcclure said a new stadium was needed to give the City a Chance to attract major sporting events such As the super bowl. 0 246850ii00050411