PETER GRAF, the father of STEFFI GRAF, is expected to break
his silence and make a statement to German authorities about tax
evasion charges he faces (USA TODAY, 11/28).... BURTON HAWKINS,
former Public Relations Dir for the Texas Rangers and also a
baseball writer for the Washington Star, died yesterday at his
home in Arlington, TX. He was 81 (WASHINGTON POST,
11/28)....One-time heavyweight boxing champ JAMES "BONECRUSHER"
SMITH was appointed chair of the NC Boxing Commission (N.Y.
TIMES, 11/28)....A Philadelphia jury awarded $128,000 in damages
for the PHILLIE PHANATIC's "overzealous antics" at a '91 church
carnival. The jury awarded the money to Carl Seidel and his
wife, Arlene, who alleged the mascot knocked Mr. Seidel down
causing a back injury (PHILA. INQUIRER,
11/28)....Suns/DiamondBacks Owner JERRY COLANGELO won the 1995
Phoenix Downtown revitalization award presented by the Downtown
Phoenix Partnership (ARIZONA BUSINESS GAZETTE, 11/16
issue)....NBC News reported on a survey which asked adults who or
what organizations provide the best and worst examples as role
models. Sports figures were not mentioned. Best: youth
organizations, teachers, clergy and doctors. Worst: movies, TV,
politicians, music industry (NBC, 11/28)....ILIE NASTASE has
become a leading member of Romania's ruling party by becoming
elected to the party's national council ("Sports View," CNBC,
11/27)....The latest stop on Microsoft's BILL GATES' book tour
was the "Late Show" with David Letterman (CBS, 11/27)....The
Manhattan U.S. Attorney will file today to retry DON KING on wire
fraud charges ("SportsCenter," 11/27).
