2B
Quick Looks
Wednesday April 26, 2000
HOROSCOPES
Today's Birthday (April 26). At first, a dream seems impossible, but don't give up. Later, a surprising development leads to success. Harsh reality puts a damper on your plans in May. Luckily, you're tough enough to try again, and again, and again, through April. New information is encouraging in July. Let romance distract you in September, then back to work in October. A setback stalls you in November, but a lucky break sparkles your December. By February, you'll have proven your strength, so relax in March. Let a feisty woman coach you all year long.
To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries: Today is a 6.
Taurus: Today is a 4.
Expect some sort of conflict regarding money. You want to launch into a new endeavor, but take care. Don't go with the first option you're offered. It'll be way too expensive. To be successful, start by being practical.
You may worry that you won't be able to achieve your dreams. Then, you're sure you can. Then, it looks impossible again. Well, maybe all the cards aren't on the table yet. A surprising development could make all the difference.
Gemini: Today is a 6.
You're eager to try something new, but it's not happening yet. This is not a permanent condition; you'll see. Talk your plans over with a friend, and you'll solve some of your problems. Others seem to be simply a matter of time.
Cancer: Today is a 5.
Leo: Today is a 7.
Other people's money plays an important part in your life today. That includes your investments and savings. Bet on your hard work. You'll make more from that than any gamble you might take. Look for a service you can provide.
People are fixed in their ways now, and they won't want to compromise. If anybody can talk them into it, you can. Be cheerful and upbeat, and your attitude could be catching — eventually. In the meantime, practice being patient.
Virao: Today is a 7.
Scorpio: Today is a 5.
You're not the only one who's having difficulties. Many people are having a worse time than you are, actually. Your work keeps getting in the way of your play. It's not a good day to travel anyway, so shelve those plans until later.
Sagittarius: Today is a 6.
You could have a fabulous conversation with a person you find attractive. That's something nice, to which you can look forward. Meanwhile, avoid hasles by sticking to your schedule. Don't get off track, or you could mess up a good deal.
Expect a busy workday. The challenge is to keep everything under control. That may not be possible today, as you're learning a new skill. Watch out; you could trip over something that you didn't know was there.
You could run into arguments every step of the way. A partner or expert may be pushing you around. Unfortunately, he or she may be right. Instead of feeling boxed in, look for another source of income. That cloud you're under has a silver lining.
Capricorn: Today is a 6.
Aquarius: Today is a 5.
A hassle could arise today, so watch out for it. What you want and what you can do appear to be two different things. This doesn't have to bum you out; it could inspire you to learn new skills. You're good at that, remember?
Doves a loved one want something that's too expensive? If so, don't feel guilty as you just say "no." That can be the most loving thing you can do, sometimes. The next most loving thing is to steer that person toward a good job.
Pisces: Today is a 6.
Your hopes, dreams and fantasies appear to be out of reach. You may feel awkward and even stupid, but actually, that's not true. You're in an intense learning phase. Part of learning is not knowing. It's natural. Stick with your studies.
BOXING
NEWARK, N.J. — The longtime chairman of the IBF ratings committee yesterday described a system that helped or penalized boxers based on payoffs from promoters and managers.
Court investigates boxers' rating system
The chairman, C. Douglas Beavers,
testified that his panel was a sham
because only he and IBF founder Robert
W. Lee did the rankings, and that Lee
had the final say and often ignored the
sanctioning body's written criteria.
Beavers, Virginia's top boxing official for 19 years, also told the jury in Lee's racteeting case that the sport's biggest promoters, including Don King, regularly received special consideration from Lee.
note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and should be read for entertainment purposes only.
The International Boxing Federation derives about 90 percent of its revenues from sanctioning fees paid by promoters of boxers in IBF title fights. Beavers said during his first full day on the witness stand.
Beavers, who cooperated with investigators and is testifying with immunity, said he split bribes with Lee and two other IBF officials since shortly after the IBF was formed in 1983 so he could stay at the helm of the rankings committee.
He described how the IBF rankings were corrupted to favor certain boxers, including heavyweights Francois Botha and Joe Hipp.
They are among about two dozen fighters that prosecutors say benefited from Lee's manipulations. No boxers have been charged, and Beavers said he never got a payoff from a fighter. Lee and other IBF officials are accused of taking $338,000 in bribes to rig rankings, which play a big role in determining whom a boxer fights and how much he earns.
"He is doing very well," said Thomas McMinn, a cardiologist at the Heart Hospital of Austin. "He is walking the halls and getting stronger."
AUSTIN — Baseball great Nolan Ryan is progressing ahead of schedule following his double heart bypass operation, and physicians said he should leave the hospital within a week and make a full recovery.
Ryan's heart surgery progress successful
Ryan walked into a hospital in suburban Round Rock Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pains. He was moved to the Austin hospital, where he was rushed into surgery after diagnosis showed a near-total blockage in a main artery to his heart.
Physician Mark Felger performed the surgery, taking a vein from below Ryan's breastbone and a vein from below his left knee to replace the damaged left coronary artery.
Physicians said Ryan had severe blockage in his left coronary artery, which supplies 75 percent of the blood to the heart. The blockage ranged from 50 percent to 90 percent because of spasms in the artery.
Complete blockages of other arteries are survivable, physicians said. But had Ryan not headed to the hospital immediately Sunday, he might not have had a second chance, they said.
Astacio stays in U.S. to avoid deportation
MLB
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies organization is not taking any chances with pitcher Pedro Astacio's legal problems, although he temporarily has avoided deportation.
He was supposed to start Monday in a rained out game against St. Louis, but he was instructed rather than join
"It's a risk taking him out of the country," said Rockies assistant general manager Josh Bymes. "The immigration attorney recommended with where (Astacio's) case is, travel outside the country is almost forbidden."
Astacio was accused of hitting his estranged wife last August. Under a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to a charge of third-degree assault.
But the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service then said Astacio's guilty plea was grounds to look into the possibility of deporting him to his native Dominican Republic.
Claiming he was unaware of the extreme consequences when he pleaded guilty, Astacio successfully changed his plea to innocent March 7 in Arapahoe County District Court. His court case is scheduled for July 5.
his team in Canada for yesterday's game against Montreal.
to return to Denver rather than join
If he is found guilty,he still could face deportation.
Cardinals refuse offer for relocation, stadium
The St. Charles County town, about 30 miles west of St. Louis, offered 25 to 30 acres of free land if the St. Louis Cardinals wanted to build a new
ST. PETERS, Mo. — The St. Peters Cardinals? It looks like that won't happen.
stadium there. Mayor Tom Brown directed city officials to draft a letter asking the organization's president Mark Lamping to consider St. Peters, the area's third-largest city behind St. Louis and St. Charles.
But Lamping said thanks but no thanks, re-emphasizing his commitment to downtown. The Cardinals are pursuing plans to build a new $370 million downtown stadium that would be financed mostly by tax
money generated by the stadium. Lamping also has received inquiries from East St. Louis, Ill., Mayor Debra Powell about land for the Cardinals.
money generated by the stadium.
NCAA SOCCER
Indiana's defender punished for head butt
The Division I men's soccer committee ordered Indiana to forfeit Garcia's transportation and per-diem reimbursement for the game.
NCAA representative Laronica Conway said Indiana could appeal the decision. She said she did not know the name of the Santa Clara player nor the amount Indiana must return to the NCAA.
INDIANAPOLIS — An NCAA panel yesterday reprimanded star Indiana defender Nick Garcia for head-butting a Santa Clara player in the national championship game won 1-0 by Hoosiers.
Jay Jameson, an Indiana soccer spokesman, said there was no question Garcia delivered the head butt. Garcia was not ejected from the game, played Dec. 12 in Charlotte, N.C., presumably because officials didn't see the foul.
Garcia, honored as the Final Four's outstanding defender, passed up his final year of eligibility and was the second overall pick in February's Major League Soccer draft by the Kansas City Wizards.
Jameson said he did not know whether Indiana would appeal the reprimand or financial penalty.
Associated Press
Sports Calendar
Softball vs. Wichita State at 3 and 5 p.m. at Jayhawk Field
Women's and Men's Tennis in Big 12 championships Track at Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, all day and at the UMKC Open in Kansas City, Mo.
Baseball vs.Baylor at 7 p.m. in Waco, Texas Women's and Men's Tennis in Big 12 championships Track at Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, all day and at the UMKC Open in Kansas City, Mo.
Baseball vs.Baylor at 7 p.m. in Waco, Texas Softball vs. Oklahoma at 2 p.m. in Norman, Okla Roving vs. USC and Stanford in Redwood, Calif.
Women's and Men's Tennis in Big 1.2 championships Track at UMKC Open all day in Kansas City, Mo.
Elway's losing group entered bid for teams too late, he says
The Associated Press
BROOMFIELD, Colo. — John Elway isn't used to losing. When he did this week, he looked to his own team for answers.
The former Denver Broncos quarterback, Broncs' owner Pat Bowlen and New Jersey Devils' owner John McMullen lost their bid this week to buy two professional franchises and a sports arena from Liberty Media Group.
Elway said the bid for the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets and the Pepsi Center might have been lost to real estate developer Stan Kroenke in part because his own team was too slow to move on the deal.
"We started too late," Elway said yesterday, a day after the sale to Kroenke was announced. "They've been working on it for a long time. We were definitely behind."
"It's obviously disappointing that we did not get it, but I totally understand where Liberty (Media Group) is coming from," he said.
Liberty Media Group announced Monday that it had reached an agreement to sell the sports assets to Kroenke for $450 million, though reports in Denver newspapers cited varying figures.
A Liberty spokeswoman could
not be reached yesterday.
Elway said he did not know the exact value of his group's last offer, but he said he felt it was a competitive bid that was appropriate for the value of the assets.
McMullen, his would-be partner, agreed.
"There's no question it was a competitive offer.
M c M u l e n s
said. "I thought
it was too bad.
In my brilliant
nature,
I
thought
I picked out two
great Denver
buyers but it
didn't help me."
The agreement with Kroenke must still be approved by
Elway: Lost his bid to buy two Denver sports teams
the NHL, the NBA, Liberty Media Group shareholders and the city of Denver, but no problems were anticipated. The sale is scheduled to close June 30.
Elway, who appeared yesterday at a news conference to promote his upcoming celebrity golf tournament, said he thought the deal with Kroenke would be approved according to plan.
"I think they found a good buyer." Elway said, adding that Kroenke had a lot of experience in the sports world.
The fact that Kroenke, who owns 40 percent of the St. Louis Rams, is a single buyer with no partners to complicate the purchase helped him win the deal.
"We weren't depending on a bank group to provide a loan," said Gary Howard, chief operating officer of Liberty.
Liberty Media will retain a 6.5 percent interest in the teams. The NBA would not have allowed Liberty Media to retain full ownership of its nuggets because of its shares in other teams.
The agreement ends a year of indecision for the two teams during which two offers fell through, three lawsuits were filed and a chief executive officer resigned under pressure.
Elway said it is still possible that he'll someday own a sports team, though he doesn't pursue such opportunities.
"These things kind of come to me," he said.
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