Schuerholz

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Tom Glavine was talking with reporters about his potential value as a free agent when Greg Maddux overheard the conversation at his adjoining locker."

A second person in the Johns Hopkins University office that handles buildings and maintenance contracts has been dismissed during an expanding investigation into possible improprieties there.Robert F. Seward, the university's manager of technical support, was required to leave his job Friday."I don't feel like I'm guilty of anything," said Seward, 63. "I never stole any money from the university. I've never taken any money."Seward and three others said his forced departure was linked to allegations of financial improprieties that led to the April 11 ouster of Robert J. Schuerholz, then Hopkins' executive director of real estate and facilities.

He was probably the first major-leaguer in history to work on the bump-and-run and the hit-and-run in the same day. And he's the only active player in baseball with as many career interceptions as homers (nine).But when Deion Sanders jumped aboard that helicopter and ran his unique little fly pattern from the Falcons to the Braves this week, he did more than just make the greatest commute in moonlighting history.He also set off a fascinating feud between Atlanta's favorite baseball and football teams.

TORONTO -- Silent since his two-sport exhibition two Sundays ago, Atlanta Braves outfielder Deion Sanders finally spoke up yesterday. Stung by criticisms leveled at him by Braves officials, particularly general manager John Schuerholz, Sanders broke his media moratorium to defend himself on the eve of Game 3 of the World Series.Sanders, saddened by the belief that his credibility has been severely damaged by Braves claims he broke a verbal agreement by playing two sports during the baseball postseason, yesterday gave his side of the well publicized, oft-criticized two-sport effort of Oct. 11. That day, he played cornerback for the Falcons in Miami in the afternoon and then hired a jet and flew to Pittsburgh for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

ATLANTA -- Only a few hours after another opportunity for a World Series title slipped away, Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz woke up yesterday morning.There were the usual feelings of disappointment.There also was, said Schuerholz, "a sense of relief that the pressure over the last month and a half had dissipated."It has been a nerve-racking six weeks for Atlanta. The sudden rise of Cincinnati in the last few weeks of the regular season, Francisco Cabrera's pennant-winning hit, the distraction of Deion Sanders and the clubhouse bickering finally ended Saturday night with one of the best World Series games ever.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- National League Cy Young Award winne Greg Maddux became the richest pitcher in baseball history last night when he signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the defending NL champion Atlanta Braves.The contract was a surprise, but only because it was for far less than had been expected and because it came from a pitching-rich team."It goes without saying that an organization like ours -- which for years has demonstrated its appreciation of great pitching -- has made an extra effort to add a pitcher of this caliber to an already formidable starting rotation," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.

The lawsuit that led to the firing of a top Johns Hopkins University administrator and triggered acontinuing internal probe at the school has been settled with a reorganization of the Finksburg company at the center of the dispute.In a request approved yesterday by Carroll County Circuit Judge Raymond E. Beck Sr., the lawsuit between two shareholders in Thermal Services Inc. was dismissed.Under a separate settlement document, which was not made public, Stewart P. Mayo gave up his interest in the heating and ventilation company for an undisclosed sum.The suit, which was filed in April by Mayo's former partner, Michael K. Maholchic, included a series of allegations that triggered the forced departure of Robert J. Schuerholz from his post as executive director of real estate and facilities at Hopkins.

ATLANTA -- They call Fred McGriff the "Crime Dog."After acquiring McGriff from the San Diego Padres Sunday without parting with any major leaguers or top minor-league talent, Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz may be deserving of his own label of larceny.The Braves sent three minor-league players to the Padres: Triple-A Richmond outfielder Melvin Nieves and pitcher Donnie Elliott and Single-A Durham outfielder Vince Moore. Schuerholz said the Braves also received an unspecified amount of money in the deal.

Reliever Rob Dibble got a swollen finger on his pitching hand yesterday by trying to knock down a hard grounder in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.Dibble reached for a ninth-inning grounder by John Kruk and wound up with an injury that forced him from the game. The Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds, 10-8.Dibble said he bruised a fingertip on his middle finger. Dibble said it wasn't serious, and the Reds' medical staff had to take his word for it -- he wouldn't let trainers examine it."

ATLANTA -- It worked for the Oakland Athletics in the early 1970s. It worked for the New York Yankees later in that same decade. Maybe a little fussin' and fightin' is just what the Atlanta Braves need to carry them to a World Series championship.Exhibit A: Controversy erupts when outfielder Deion Sanders tries to pull the athletic publicity stunt of the decade by playing in an NFL game and a National League playoff game the same day. He doesn't get into the playoff game, but he gets under the skin of general manager John Schuerholz.