Pan American Games

The A-Bomb -- UP -- Albert Belle waited 98 games before going off on the Anaheim Angels for three home runs on his no-trade clause on certain beat writers. Belle reminded everyone at a news conference he'll be here for 4 1/2 more years. But that's a bet he doesn't want to make.Matt Riley -- UP -- Forget the Pan American Games. The Orioles' organizational prize will be appearing at Camden Yards this season. The only question is whether the left-hander makes an August or September debut. Double-A has been child's play.

FAIR HILL - The U.S. equestrian team took the early lead in the Pan American Eventing Championship at the Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. The four-rider U.S. team scored 170.0 in dressage to stand first ahead of Canada (186.2) and Brazil (196.2). Individually, U.S. rider Darren Chiacchia (43.60) of Springville, N.Y., leads on Windfall 2. He is followed by Tim Collins (44.40) of Bermuda, on Delton Magna, and by Nathalie Bouckaert (47.0) of Chatsworth, Ga., on West Farthing.

FAIR HILL - The U.S. equestrian team won the team and individual gold medals in the Pan American Eventing Championship yesterday at the 2003 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. The United States finished the three phases of dressage, cross country and show jumping with a score of 190.0 penalties to successfully defend the team gold it won at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada finished second with 325.0 penalties, and Brazil took the bronze with a score of 1,394.

It should have come as no surprise yesterday when Dante Washington of Columbia was among the 20 players named to the 1992 U.S. Olympic soccer team.After all, Washington was a member of the U.S. gold-medal winning team at the 1991 Pan American Games, and played a vital role in helping the Americans compile a 5-1 record in regional qualifying for the Olympics.But after months of rehabilitation from a groin injury, after weekof doubt about his ability to play, Washington said he was "relieved" to learn he earned a place at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

NEW YORK - Lloyd Ward, the embattled chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee, escaped an effort last night to oust him during a 90-minute conference call held by the organization's executive committee. According to a person involved in the session, a motion to dismiss Ward was raised by Herb Perez, a member of the executive committee, but was quashed because the call was not deemed an official meeting. Nonetheless, the person said, Ward's grip on his position appeared tenuous. Perez said that Ward, who was found in January to have broken the USOC's ethics code, has "outlasted his usefulness," the person involved in the call said.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Placed OF Richard Hidalgo on 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday, with right hip strain. Recalled OF Jason Lane from Triple-A New Orleans. BRAVES: Activated P Mike Remlinger. Optioned P Kevin Gryboski to Triple-A Richmond. BREWERS: Purchased contract of P Shane Nance from Triple-A Indianapolis. CARDINALS: Placed P Matt Morris on 15-day DL with strained left hamstring. Placed P Mike Matthews on 15-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday, with strained right hip flexor. Purchased contracts of P Rick White and former Orioles P Nerio Rodriguez from Triple-A Memphis.

BaseballBraves: Promoted Dick Balderson to director of player development.Tigers: Activated C Raul Casanova from 60-day DL; he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.White Sox: Recalled OF Brian Simmons from Triple-A Charlotte. Optioned OF Jeff Liefer to Charlotte.New Jersey (Independent): Activated P Mark Lemke from DL.Team USA: Named Mariners minor-league P David Holdridge to squad for Pan American Games, replacing Baysox P Matt Riley, who withdrew.BasketballHawks: Signed G Jason Terry and F-C Cal Bowdler.

LAS VEGAS -- Riddick Bowe and unbeaten Jorge Gonzalez, who are scheduled to fight for Bowe's World Boxing Organization title at the MGM Grand on June 17, staged a lively preview when a near brawl occurred during a news conference in a hotel restaurant.The animosity between the two fighters dates to the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, when Gonzalez, representing Cuba, outpointed Bowe, 3-2.When Gonzalez saw Bowe enter the room for a television interview yesterday, he charged the Maryland-based fighter, shoving Bowe aide Bernard Brooks out of the way. When Bowe came to his defense, Gonzalez hurled ice from a glass into Bowe's face.

Harold Chopping, who hopes to represent Canada at the Olympics in Barcelona next year, beat out the American woman rider D.D. Alexander yesterday and won the Columbia Classic Grand Prix.Chopping and his mount, the 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion, Aerobic, turned in the only faultless performance in the 30-horse field at the $25,000 show jumping event, held on the campus of Howard Community College in Columbia.Alexander, fresh from a bronze medal with the U.S. Equestrian Team at the Pan-American Games in Havana, raced against the clock to try to beat Chopping in the timed jump-off.

Leo Totten is having a dream season as coach of the undefeated Francis Scott Key volleyball team.Next summer at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he'll have a chance to live another dream.The U.S. Weightlifting Federation has nominated Totten to be the team leader of the U.S. Weightlifting Team. Approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee's Games Preparation Committee, which will meet next month, is the final stage."As team leader, there are a lot of different responsibilities. I'll be part coach, part manager and part administrator," Totten said.