FanFare 9/6/02

Baseball

Owners approved their new labor contract quickly and overwhelmingly, voting 29-1 Thursday to ratify the deal their negotiators struck last week to avert a strike.

The Yankees, the team that stands to lose the most, voted against the deal, which ensures labor peace until December 2006. Approval by the executive board of the union is considered certain.

Still, two obstacles remain: a possible lawsuit by the Yankees and the uncertain status of the Expos, who could try to move to Washington or another city by next season. Expos president Tony Tavares said he wants to know within 10 days whether the team will stay or explore a move.

The Phillies purchased the contract of right-hander Jose Santiago. Right-hander Robert Person was moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Basketball

The Bulls hired Mike Wilhelm as an assistant coach and advance scout. Wilhelm, 35, scouted last season for the Nuggets.

The Magic, taking a gamble to shore up their thin front line, signed troubled power forward Shawn Kemp to a free-agent contract.

Boxing

Lennox Lewis will give up one of his heavyweight titles rather than fight mandatory contender Chris Byrd, claiming that Byrd offers him no great challenge and that no one wants to see the fight anyway. Lewis' decision to give up the IBF version of the title means the heavyweight championship will likely be further fractured, though the public generally recognizes him as the legitimate champion.

Colleges

The University of Georgia has filed a federal lawsuit against Tulane, seeking almost $1 million for the cancellation of three football games.

Golf

New Zealand's Grant Waite followed two years of bad timing and bad luck in the Canadian Open by opening with an 8-under 64 to build a two-stroke lead at Markham, Ontario. Waite made five birdie putts inside 15 feet on the back nine at Angus Glen to break away from a four-player group at 66 that included 1998 champion Billy Andrade.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland. English star Nick Faldo, Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg opened with 66s, and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez topped a five-player group at 67.

Hockey

Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore became the highest-paid player in franchise history, signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract.

-- From wire reports