European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 38 the stars and stripes sports wednesday september 28,1994 o s make Gates d manager Johnny Gates reacts to one of the o s losses that led to his firing tuesday. Cavaliers7 Nance by Chuck Melvi Cleveland a Larry Nance one of the Aba s Best defensive forwards for the past 13 years re tired tuesday because his ailing right knee would not let him continue , 35, played in three All Star games and ranked eighth in career blocked shots first among Al forwards. He averaged 17.1 Points and eight rebounds since coming to the Aba with the Phoenix suns in 1981."onc.of the positive things about this is. That i know i can  at All on my knee. So there won t be any re Grets said Nance who missed 49 games last year be cause of  owner Gordon Gund said Nance s uniform number 22 would be retired in a ceremony some by David Ginsburg Baltimore a when if the orioles open the 1995 baseball season there will be a new manager in the dugout. Johnny Gates was. Fired monday Browner Peter Angelos becoming the third manager to lose his Job since the baseball strike began. Engates who led the orioles to a 63-49 record this season failed to produce the results Angelos expected from a lineup bolstered in 1994 by the addition of half dozen High priced free agents. Angelos openly questioned several of Oates decisions last year and questioned his ability to Lead the team. Rumours of Gates dismissal began in May arid intensified in Early August when the orioles fell 10 games behind the first place new York Yankees in the Al East. When the strike began the orioles trailed the Cleveland indians for the wild card spot. That s when anglos All but decided that Oates was t coming Back. _ team sources said Angelos is looking for a High profile manager who would get the most of one of baseball s highest paid lineups. The orioles have been denied permission to talk with Oakland athletics manager Tony la Russa whose contract expires in october the Baltimore Sun reported sunday. That Story Angelos said triggered the move. We could t let things continue like this. It was not fair to Johnny Angelo said in a Telephone interview. We would have probably ended up making the same decision but that newspaper Story forced us to act quicker than  sources said Angelos has considered the possibility of pursuing Cincinnati reds manager Dave Johnson. Davey Lopes and Rick Dempsey Are the top candidates within the Oriole Organiza Tion although they Are Longsh dts. The announcement of Oates firing was made by general manager Roland Hemond on orders from Angelos. Team sources said Hemond will soon be move to another front office Job and be re placed by Frank Robinson. On the Field the orioles will be looking to add a starting Pitcher a Middle reliever and perhaps an outfielder. They will be unload ing third baseman Chris Sabo and outfielder Mike  or no strike you never Stop try ing to improve your team Angelos said. Baltimore was 291-270 .519 in Gates nearly four years As manager. Gates 48,took Over for Robinson on May 23,1991, his first managerial Job in the majors. Gates joins Hal Mcrae of Kansas City and Butch Hobson of Boston As managers who have lost their jobs since the strike began aug. 11. Two general managers to Grieve of Texas and dal maxvill of St. Louis also have been dismissed. Gates made a statement through the team. I want to thank the Baltimore orioles organization for giving me the Opportunity to manage at the major league level. I leave the o s with my head held High pates  but not least i would like to thank All the wonderful orioles fans for their support and  in an interview with the Washington Post Angelos once said of Gates the Guy s a problem. He s obstinate. An Inse cure Man. Not a very Good manager. I Don t think he s a Good  Angelos subsequently wrote a letter of apology to Gates but misspelled the manager s first name beginning the let Ter dear Johnnie Angelos led a group of investors that bought the team for a record $173 million last August and inherited Gates. The orioles made a run in 1993, and Angelos subsequently rewarded him with a two year  ended up serving Only a few months and now has the option for looking for work or living off the rest of the contract. 13-year career time this  gained National recognition in 1984 when he won then a s first slam Dunk championship during All Star festivities in Denver. He set an Aba record for most blocked shots by a for Ward in one season with 243 in 1991-92.he blocked a team record 11 shots in a game against the Newyork kicks on Jan 27,1989. Nance came to the Cavaliers from Phoenix in february 1988,in a Trade that helped shape the Nance starting lineups of two playoff contenders. The Cavaliers seeking a Veteran to stabilize a team that had been rebuilt on the strength of a draft that brought them Brad Daugherty and Mark Price in 1986, acquired Nance and Mike Sanders from the suns in Exchange for Kevin Johnson Mark West and Tyrone Corban. The Deal also included draft picks one of which gave Dan Majerle to Pheonix in 1988. V we gave up quite a bit to acquire a basketball player who had distinguished himself with Phoenix for Many years said cars general manager Wayne Embry. When we talk about the history of the Cleveland Cava Liers i think we have to say the decision to bring Larry Nance to Cleveland was the right one no matter what the Cost. He s a player who in my opinion is one of the great est forwards to Ever play in the Aba Embry said. Suns eyeing Sampson to for backup Center role Phoenix a the Phoenix suns with no backup Center behind Joe Kleine Are considering bringing Ralph Sampson and minute Bol to training Camp. Sampson who has t played in the Aba since 1991, worked out with the team monday Bol was expected to join in this week s informal workouts. Sampson 34, played for Houston Golden state Sacramento and washing ton before knee problems forced him out of the game. He was an assistant coach at James Madison University last season. It gets miserable sometimes but i kept my Fajth and i kept believing Sampson said. I Don t have anything to prove to anyone. When i played before i was  Sampson has also worked out with the Chicago bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. He said he was looking for teams with title potential. Asked about trying out with the suns who reached the finals in 1993, he said when i stepped on the court today twas the stage to win a  Sampson says he is in Good health Buthis Knees Aren t at full strength. He had three operations in three years before the rockets traded him to Golden state for Jim Petersen in 1989. By then the future of the no. 1 draft Choice in 1983, a Center who moved like Small Forward,.was in a shambles. Sampson averaged 21 Points and 11.1 rebounds his first season with the Rock ets 22.1 Points and 10.4 rebounds the next and 18.9 Points and 10.7 rebounds the third. Then his totals fell As his Knees deteriorated. For his career he has averaged 15.6 Points and 8.1 rebounds. Although the suns open training Campot. 6, team president Jerry Colangelo said the team was t under pressure to pick a Center. We re going to take it one step at time he said