Ron Harper

Quote: "It was the most excited I've ever been on the baseball field." -- Mike Lieberthal after his pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night capped a seven-run rally and lifted the Phillies to an 8-7 win over the Pirates.It's a fact: The Brewers have hit at least one home run in their last 14 games.Who's hot: The Phillies' Doug Glanville went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.Who's not: The Padres' Kevin Brown gave up two homers in a span of seven pitches in the ninth inning of the Padres' win over the Dodgers Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA - Ron Harper knew. When the Los Angeles Lakers came through Philadelphia in February, Harper, a 15-year NBA veteran, told a security guard at the First Union Center that the Lakers would be back in June and would win a second straight championship - Harper's fifth overall - when they returned. Given the Lakers' dissension and injuries at that point, Harper's words must have seemed to the security guard like so much bluster. But Harper had an inkling that, sooner or later, the Lakers would resolve their differences and their talent would win out. "Even though we weren't playing as a basketball team, I told the guy on the sideline, `We are going to be back.

BaseballBlue Jays: Signed OF Darrell Whitmore to minor-league contract.Orioles: Triple-A Rochester signed P Steve Schrenk and 2B P. J. Forbes.Reds: Signed OF-1B Brian Hunter to minor-league contract.Royals: Named Bob Hegman minor-league coordinator of instruction. Named Jimmy Johnson minor-league coordinator of instruction.BasketballBulls: Activated C Luc Longley after seven-week recovery from shoulder separation. Placed G Ron Harper (strained back) on injured list.Celtics: Placed F Dino Radja on injured list with bone defect in left knee.

LOS ANGELES - In his previous life, Ron Harper was a scorer. In college, at Miami of Ohio, Harper was the guy who took the big shots, including a dunk that nearly beat Maryland in the 1985 NCAA tournament during his junior year. In his first eight seasons in the NBA, split between Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers, Harper helped keep his teams competitive. Heck, the Clippers even made the playoffs twice with Harper. It seems so long ago. It was so long ago. But in the past two games of the NBA's Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, Harper has stepped back in time.

LOS ANGELES - In his previous life, Ron Harper was a scorer. In college, at Miami of Ohio, Harper was the guy who took the big shots, including a dunk that nearly beat Maryland in the 1985 NCAA tournament during his junior year. In his first eight seasons in the NBA, split between Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers, Harper helped keep his teams competitive. Heck, the Clippers even made the playoffs twice with Harper. It seems so long ago. It was so long ago. But in the past two games of the NBA's Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, Harper has stepped back in time.

When Earl Weaver's Orioles were winning or contending fo championships, he would credit his success to the "deep depth" on his roster.Cleveland coach Lenny Wilkens, who sends his Cavaliers against the Washington Bullets at the Baltimore Arena tonight, never has enjoyed that luxury until this season. In past years, if he found himself minus one or more starters, there was genuine cause for concern.Tonight, All-Star point guard Mark Price (sprained thumb) will be on the bench and small forward Mike Sanders, recovering from knee surgery, remains on the injured list.

BaseballCubs: Returned P Andrew Lorraine to minor-league camp.Devil Rays: Placed P Corey Lidle on 60-day DL.Mariners: Released IF Randy Jorgensen, P Rafael Batista, P Albert Derenches, P Jose Gonzalez, P Orin Kawahara, P Dallas Mahan, P Matt Massimi, P Kristofer Totten, OF Anton French, IF Davide Dallospedale, IF Chris Dean, IF Cip Garcia, IF Domingo Pacheco and IF Felix Rosario. Announced retirement of OF Steve Wright, C Karl Thompson and IF Hubert Parker.Marlins: Optioned P Rafael Medina and P Armando Almanza to Triple-A Calgary.

Scottie Pippen wants out of Chicago. Badly. The Bulls, according to reports out of Chicago, seem ready to move him. And the Washington Bullets, as they did in the off-season when Pippen was shopped, have an interest.But Bullets general manager John Nash -- while saying he has talked with the Bulls -- said fans shouldn't expect a mega-deal that would put Pippen in a Washington uniform."We would love to have Scottie Pippen," Nash said. "But the reality is it would take probably more than we have."

LANDOVER -- The return of John Williams to the Capital Centre after more than a year's absence served as a useful distraction for Washington Bullets fans last night, permitting them to momentarily forget the home team was quickly coming apart at the seams.While the smallest crowd of the season -- 5,834 -- vented its frustration on Williams, the recalcitrant forward who missed all of last season with a weight problem, his new Los Angeles Clippers teammates busied themselves with routing the injury-depleted Bullets, 117-98.

LANDOVER -- The schedule-makers proved to be kind to the Washington Bullets, who were looking to win three straight games for the first time this season.How else could you explain having the Los Angeles Clippers -- losers of seven of eight games going into last night -- served up last night in the Bullets' quest for three straight. It wasn't easy -- and certainly not a game of beauty -- but Washington accomplished the bottom line in a 118-109 win before 15,330 at USAir Arena.Not only was it the first time the Bullets had won three straight, but it also was the first time that has happened since November 1992.

BaseballCubs: Returned P Andrew Lorraine to minor-league camp.Devil Rays: Placed P Corey Lidle on 60-day DL.Mariners: Released IF Randy Jorgensen, P Rafael Batista, P Albert Derenches, P Jose Gonzalez, P Orin Kawahara, P Dallas Mahan, P Matt Massimi, P Kristofer Totten, OF Anton French, IF Davide Dallospedale, IF Chris Dean, IF Cip Garcia, IF Domingo Pacheco and IF Felix Rosario. Announced retirement of OF Steve Wright, C Karl Thompson and IF Hubert Parker.Marlins: Optioned P Rafael Medina and P Armando Almanza to Triple-A Calgary.

Quote: "It was the most excited I've ever been on the baseball field." -- Mike Lieberthal after his pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night capped a seven-run rally and lifted the Phillies to an 8-7 win over the Pirates.It's a fact: The Brewers have hit at least one home run in their last 14 games.Who's hot: The Phillies' Doug Glanville went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.Who's not: The Padres' Kevin Brown gave up two homers in a span of seven pitches in the ninth inning of the Padres' win over the Dodgers Tuesday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In one sharpshooting flurry, Reggie Miller's heroics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals gave the Indiana Pacers life against the Chicago Bulls. But going into Indiana's biggest game of the season this afternoon, there's some question of whether Miller will be healthy enough to even play.While his teammates practiced yesterday in preparation forGame 4, Miller received treatment on his right ankle that was sprained when he stepped on Michael Jordan's foot in the third quarter of Saturday's 107-105 Indiana victory.

BaseballBlue Jays: Signed OF Darrell Whitmore to minor-league contract.Orioles: Triple-A Rochester signed P Steve Schrenk and 2B P. J. Forbes.Reds: Signed OF-1B Brian Hunter to minor-league contract.Royals: Named Bob Hegman minor-league coordinator of instruction. Named Jimmy Johnson minor-league coordinator of instruction.BasketballBulls: Activated C Luc Longley after seven-week recovery from shoulder separation. Placed G Ron Harper (strained back) on injured list.Celtics: Placed F Dino Radja on injured list with bone defect in left knee.

SHOOTING GUARD - Michael Jordan vs. Hersey HawkinsSeattle coach George Karl has said that he will have Hawkins defend Jordan at the start of games, with Gary Payton getting the assignment at the end of the games. Hawkins, at 6-3, finds himself at a tremendous disadvantage against the 6-6 Jordan. The same will be the case with Payton, even though he was the NBA's defensive player of the year. Look for Jordan, already averaging 32.3 points in the playoffs, to increase on his scoring average.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When the Chicago Bulls won three straight NBA titles, Michael Jordan often labeled his teammates as his "supporting cast." And yet it has become clear since Jordan's return this season that it will be necessary for those players to step into starring roles.If the Bulls are to advance in what has been reduced to a best-of-three series with the Orlando Magic, it's becoming clearer that players such as Toni Kukoc, B. J. Armstrong and Will Perdue may have to step up.On Sunday, Jordan allowed them to share the spotlight.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When the Chicago Bulls won three straight NBA titles, Michael Jordan often labeled his teammates as his "supporting cast." And yet it has become clear since Jordan's return this season that it will be necessary for those players to step into starring roles.If the Bulls are to advance in what has been reduced to a best-of-three series with the Orlando Magic, it's becoming clearer that players such as Toni Kukoc, B. J. Armstrong and Will Perdue may have to step up.On Sunday, Jordan allowed them to share the spotlight.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In one sharpshooting flurry, Reggie Miller's heroics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals gave the Indiana Pacers life against the Chicago Bulls. But going into Indiana's biggest game of the season this afternoon, there's some question of whether Miller will be healthy enough to even play.While his teammates practiced yesterday in preparation forGame 4, Miller received treatment on his right ankle that was sprained when he stepped on Michael Jordan's foot in the third quarter of Saturday's 107-105 Indiana victory.

Scottie Pippen wants out of Chicago. Badly. The Bulls, according to reports out of Chicago, seem ready to move him. And the Washington Bullets, as they did in the off-season when Pippen was shopped, have an interest.But Bullets general manager John Nash -- while saying he has talked with the Bulls -- said fans shouldn't expect a mega-deal that would put Pippen in a Washington uniform."We would love to have Scottie Pippen," Nash said. "But the reality is it would take probably more than we have."

LANDOVER -- The schedule-makers proved to be kind to the Washington Bullets, who were looking to win three straight games for the first time this season.How else could you explain having the Los Angeles Clippers -- losers of seven of eight games going into last night -- served up last night in the Bullets' quest for three straight. It wasn't easy -- and certainly not a game of beauty -- but Washington accomplished the bottom line in a 118-109 win before 15,330 at USAir Arena.Not only was it the first time the Bullets had won three straight, but it also was the first time that has happened since November 1992.