BRIEFLY : NEW HALL OF FAMER PREACHES TO OWNERS.

Pitcher-turned-politician Jim Bunning used his Hall-of-Fame podium in Cooperstown, N.Y., to campaign for baseball to hire a commissioner, saying Sunday that the sport must solve its problems ``before the Congress of the United States gives up on you and intervenes.''

The Kentucky Republican asserted that ``for over four years, baseball has been rudderless. Get a rudder.''

Earl Weaver playfully jibed fellow Hall member Jim Palmer, who stood when his former Baltimore manager was introduced. Weaver, whose ``acerbic wit'' was noted on his plaque, made sure, however, to include Palmer on the list of the game's greatest pitchers.

Ned Hanlon, a turn-of-the-century manager who also prospered in Baltimore was remembered by his grandson, Edward, one of 118 Hanlon family members on hand for the occasion.

Also honored: the late Bill Foster, a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s and 1930s; Minnesota Twins announcer Herb Carneal, who won the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, and New York Times writer Joe Durso, who won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for print journalism.

Stan Musial, Yogi Berra and Tom Seaver were among the 33 Hall members on stage, taking in the 2-1/2-hour festivities on a sunny afternoon. The crowd was only about half the total that came on an open field about one mile from the Hall last year to see Philadelphia favorites Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidt be inducted.

Like Schmidt, who used part of his speech to endorse Pete Rose for the Hall - once again, there were a few shouts of ``We Want Pete! from the crowd - Bunning had a point to make.

After thanking his family, teammates, coaches and others who helped him be successful, Bunning turned his attention to the trouble that has plagued baseball for a few years.

``Get your house in order,'' he told owners, his voice rising. ``Find a way to share revenue without asking players to foot the bill.''

He also called on players to act responsibly off the field, and urged the sides to sign a 10-year labor deal and mutually to ``pick a commissioner, a real commissioner.''

Later, in a press conference, Bunning said he had absolutely no interest in being that commissioner.

``It has no power. It's been gutted,'' he said.

It's not likely that owners would ever accept him, either.

Bunning was an original sponsor of a bill in Congress to get rid of baseball's anti-trust exemption. Before that, he served as a player agent and helped form the players' pension program.

BASKETBALL

Juwan Howard, his contract with the Miami Heat rejected by the NBA, is negotiating with the Washington Bullets in an attempt to rejoin his former team, the Washington Post reported.

TENNIS

Francisco Clavet of Spain, easing the sting of not playing in the Atlanta Olympics, defeated Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 to win the Grolsch Open in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Top-seeded Pete Sampras leads the field for the ATP Championship in Mason, Ohio, but he will have plenty of competition for the $320,000 winner's share of the tournament's $2.2 million purse. The tournament has nine of the world's current top-10 players entered. The exception is Boris Becker, forced to withdraw Friday because a wrist injury from Wimbledon has not healed.

HOCKEY

The Hartford Whalers signed right wing Nelson Emerson, their third-leading goal scorer last season, to a three-year contract.

MOTOR SPORTS

Brazilian Helio de Castro Neves led every lap enroute to his victory in the inaugural running of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship at the historic Grand Prix Player's de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec.

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Photo

PHOTO Ex-pitcher Jim Bunning, left, and ex-manager Earl Wea ver display their Baseball Hall of Fame plaques following induction ceremonies.

Associated Press