PLUS SPORTS

BASEBALL JOY IN DENVER: There was joy in the Mile High City today.Major league baseball did not strike out. A sales tax to finance amajor league baseball stadium won by a comfortable margin in four ofthe six counties at Tuesday's election, with Adams County and,ironically, Denver, balking at the issue. With all 1,499 precinctsreporting, 187,539 votes were counted for the stadium question and157,954 against. The sales tax in the six counties would be raised.1 percent to finance the stadium if Denver is granted a NationalLeague franchise. BO RIPS BIG TEN REFS: Former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler hasadded a chapter to his autobiography, throwing accusations at Big Tenofficials who he says were out to get him. In the paperback versionof his autobiography, "Bo," Schembechler implied officials madepremeditated calls in the last Rose Bowl. Schembechler also quotedGene Calhoun, former Big Ten supervisor of officials, as saying BigTen commissioner Jim Delaney called Calhoun before theMichigan-Illinois game last season. "I know the truth," Schembechlerwrote. "That phone call to Calhoun prior to the game was an attemptto prejudice the officials in a key game."

REDS PUT JACKSON ON DL: The Cincinnati Reds placed left-hander DannyJackson on the 15-day disabled list today because of recurringstiffness in his shoulder and recalled left-hander Chris Hammond fromClass AAA Nashville. NCAA PENALIZES COLORADO: The University of Colorado has beenpenalized by the NCAA for a minor recruiting violation that willreduce the school's football recruiting manpower for six weeks.Coach Bill McCartney said one of his assistants signed a player nineminutes too early last February. OSU'S COOPER SEEKS PEACE: Ohio State coach John Cooper said remarksthat certain fans were "idiots" were not directed at all Ohio Statefans. The Columbus Dispatch recently asked if Cooper was worriedabout fans being critical of his team losing five of 19 recruits toacademic deficiencies. YUGOSLAVIA WINS: Yugoslavia clinched a semifinal berth in the WorldBasketball Championships today with a 77-67 victory over Greece. TALE OF TWO JOHNSONS: Detroit is interested in securing the servicesof Boston Celtics guard Dennis Johnson, if the Pistons can't make adeal with Vinnie Johnson, GM Jack McCloskey said. Also, the Pistonsmay sign UIC guard Chris Harris. QB GEORGE GETS COLT CALL: Rookie quarterback Jeff George will gethis first NFL start Friday night when the Indianapolis Colts play atSeattle. George, the first player picked in the NFL draft lastspring, relieved veteran Jack Trudeau in the second quarter Saturdayand played the final three periods in the Colts' 16-7 loss. Hecompleted eight of 16 passes for 82 yards but was sacked three timesand was intercepted twice. NFL SIGNINGS: Ben Smith, Philadelphia's 1st-round draft choice, hasagreed to a four-year contract with the Eagles worth $2.34 million.The Raiders signed fullback Steve Smith to a multiyear contract,reportedly worth $400,000 this season. MIDLOTHIAN ROMPS: Paul Stevens hit a grand slam to lead Midlothianto a 10-0 victory over Dallas in Tuesday's third round of theNational Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. Mark Benson,Joe Perona, Dave Gavin and Joe Lorenz also homered for Midlothian.Also, Anchorage, Alaska, defeated Oak Forest 13-1. TOMORROW'S SCRATCHES: At Arlington - (5th) Brynviewer. (9th) NorthTo The Naskra, Dinner Crowd.