NEWARK STAR-LEDGER REPORTS STEINBRENNER ASSISTS STRAWBERRY

          The Yankees last week gave Darryl Strawberry an advance
     "in excess" of $75,000 against his $850,000 salary so he
     could make an overdue IRS payment, an attorney close to
     Strawberry tells Dan Wasserman of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. 
     Strawberry "fell behind" in his scheduled payments to the
     IRS under his plea agreement to settle his '95 tax-fraud
     conviction.  Last month, Strawberry was granted an extension
     until May 16 to bring his IRS payments up to date or face "a
     possible probation revocation request by the government." 
     The salary advance from the Yankees "will be subtracted in
     equal amounts from Strawberry's paycheck for the rest of the
     season" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/22).