European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 32 the stars and stripes sports wednesday december 14,1994 wins by Piero Valsecchi a Estrere Italy apr the first slalom skiing event under the lights in world cup history was a big Success especially for three time olympic Champion Alberto Tomba. The italian skier after scoring his 35th world cup career Victory in the floodlight race on his favorite track at a Estrere said winning at night caused him a special feeling. \ �?o1 Hope that they organize More races under lights. Its Good for the skiers and for Alpine skiing a Tomba said. Mondays Triumph his second straight this season and the sixth out of nine races contested in this italian Alpine resort boosted Tombas morale and his Overall leadership. With two slalom wins and a fourth place in a giant slalom Tomba piled up an Early Lead of 250 Points 101 ahead of Swiss runner up Michael von Gruenigen. Tomba world cup defending Champion Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway lagged 117 Points behind Tomba who is off to the Best season Start since his 1987-88 Campaign when he won nine world cup races and two olympic titles at Calgary. A i am not thinking of the world cup Overall title. Others will fight Back once Speed races Are finally held. But its Good to stay in front. It gives you an extra kick a Tomba said. Speed specialists idled by the cancellation of races in Italy Switzerland and Austria due to Lack of Snow begin action in Val do Sere Friday and saturday. Olympic downhill Champion Tommy Moe and american teammate . Kitt Are expected to be among the contenders in France. At a Estrere before a partisan crowd of 5,000, Tomba clocked the fastest time on both runs for a winning combined time of 1 minute 53.61 seconds. Swedish slalom specialist Thomas Fogdog third in the opening world cup slalom won by Tomba at tines eight Days ago was the Only challenger of the italian. He finished six hundredths of a second behind Tomba. Floodlights illuminate the slalom course in a Estrere Italy monday during the Glrst world cup ski race at night third place austrian Michael Tritscher lagged nearly two seconds behind Down the icy Kandahar course that Tomba knows by heart. Aamodt said he and his teammates Are used to floodlight skiing. A we use to train under lights in Norway i believe its a Good innovation a Aamodt said. A fall skiers have the same condition of Light. I Hope there Are More opportunities for night racing a said slovenian slalom specialist Jure Kosir who placed fourth in mondays race. A Estrere organizers invested about $1 million in floodlight equipment and spent about $3,000 a hour to lighten the two run  unhappy with offer by Ronald Blum Rye Brook n Yap it baseball players found the of hers latest tax proposal unacceptable leaving the teams Likely to impose a salary Cap thursday. As the strike entered its fifth month the Union arid its economists in Washington spent Montjar studying the plan which they received sunday night although players made few Public comments they privately made their displeasure Clear. Owners and players met jointly for about three hours in the evening and according to one participant had a general discussion about the proposal and its potential effects. Talks resumed at 11 30 . Est the first formal late night session since bargaining began in january 1993. The proposal while calling for an Ini tial tax rate of 4.64 percent contained escalators that could produce marginal tax rates of 55 percent according to information that management a bargaining team gave the Union. The High rates Union officials and players said would make the plan function As a Cap after several years if teams continued to spent More than half their Revenue on players. A a it a designed to put some drag on salaries Colorado Rockies chairman Jerry Mcmorris said. Quot there a no deception to that. Its to get the level Down to a 50-50  the proposal was so Complex according to one source that the spread Sheet explaining it was More than 100 columns wide. One Union lawyer asking to remain unidentified called it a a Rube Goldberg  a this makes my head Hurt a Detroit slugger Cecil fielder said during sunday nights bargaining session according to a source. Owners have scheduled a meeting thursday in Chicago and management baseball strike negotiator John Harrington has said they will impose their june 14 salary Cap proposal unless there a a Deal by then. On nov. 28, management lawyers sent information to general managers about the Cap a package entitled a club operation under the clubs collective bargaining  management officials were aware of the unions unfavourable initial reaction but awaited a formal response. A a i think their Side will agree that we made a Large move in our tax rates a Mcmorris  nov. 17, management proposed an escalating tax which would have begun at 112 percent of the average payroll and gone As High As 77 percent using 1994 figures. For Detroit the club with the highest 1994 payroll in the owners new accounting system the marginal rate would have been 300 percent meaning adding a $1 million player would have increased the tigers tax by $3 million. A Chart Given the Union by Philadelphia Phillies co general partner David Montgomery showed the new plan could have a 55 percent marginal rate which Means a $1 million would increase a teams tax by $550,000. A at first Blush it appears their new proposal contains virtually All the elements of the salary Cap a Union head Donald Fehr said sunday night. The tax rate would increase As Long As the percentage of Money going to players was More than 50 percent. There would be three transition years. As part of an example Montgomery gave the Union if players got 62 percent of the Money this year the target for 1996 would be 59 percent so the tax rate would increase to 7.64 percent. Because the tax could keep increasing if players keep getting More than 50 percent of Revenue the Union thinks the plan would serve As a Cap. Also Union officials said the plan would Reward High Revenue clubs for remaining just under the 112 percent threshold. That a because All clubs under the threshold would receive tax Money and the tax Money could be Given to a club in proportion to its Revenue. Using 1994 figures 19 clubs would pay a tax and nine would receive Money. The receiving clubs would include the new York mets who were projected to have the sixth highest Revenue at $81.2 million but the eighth lowest payroll $34.4 million under the new method of counting. St. Louis a the St. Louis cardinals moved monday to strengthen one of the worst pitching staffs in the National league signing free agents Danny Jackson and Tom Henke. Jackson 32, agreed to a $10.8 million three year Deal that Calls for a $1.8 million signing Bonus to be paid when players and owners agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. He in get $1.5 million in 1995, $3.5 million in 1996 and $4 million in 1997. Henke 36, signed a one year contract for $1 million plus a signing Bonus to be the teams closer. In the strike shortened season the cardinals had a 5.14 Era ahead of Only Colorado. The team previously changed pitching coaches replacing Joe Coleman with Mark Riggins and Bob Gibson. �?o1 think this is a major step in the right direction for the organization Quot new general manager Walt Jocketty  was 14-6 with a 3.26 Era in 25 games with the Philadelphia Phillies last season. He led the leagues left handers in victories. Henke was hampered by Back problems last season but led the Texas rangers with 15 saves in 21 opportunities. Overall he was 3-6 with a 3.79 Era in 37 games