BRIEFLY : YANKEES CLAIM STRAW IN DEBT.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says he's delaying a decision on Darryl Strawberry's option not because of baseball or health concerns, but because the outfielder is about $4.5 million in debt.

``What he really wants to do is help Strawberry straighten out his scrambled economic situation,'' Howard Rubenstein, a spokesman for Steinbrenner, said Thursday.

The Yankees and Strawberry agreed Nov. 1 to extend the deadline for a decision on his $2.5 million option until midnight Nov. 11. Strawberry conditionally filed for free agency Thursday, meaning that if the Yankees decline the option and pay $100,000, he becomes a free agent.

Rubenstein said Strawberry owes the Internal Revenue Service $2.5 million in back taxes and penalties and the total is about $4.5 million.

NFL: An unspecified growth was found on the base of the skull of Indianapolis Colts fullback Craig Heyward, 32, who complained of blurred vision in his right eye Wednesday and underwent an MRI later that night.

The 5-foot-11, 260-pound Heyward took a battery of tests with a neurologist and ophthalmologist Thursday. Heyward is expected to be inactive for Sunday's game at Miami.

COLLEGES: Idaho State athletic director Irv Cross and coach Tom Walsh, unable to turn around the school's football fortunes, have been fired.

Cross, who spent nine seasons in the NFL before a 23-year career as a pro football commentator, took the job in March 1996. His firing is effective in June.

Walsh, 5-14 during his first two seasons, had his Bengals at 2-6 with three games remaining.

The former Raiders offensive coordinator took over a team that was 21-36 during the five previous seasons with a streak of serious disciplinary problems. Walsh leaves in January.

CSUN travels to Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference final game on Nov. 21.

GOLF: Hale Irwin opened the Senior Tour Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with a 6-under-par 66, giving him the first-round lead in practically the only Senior PGA Tour event he hasn't won.

Bob Tway, who hasn't won in more than three years, went on a late birdie binge for a 6-under-par 66 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Sarazen World Open in Braselton, Ga.

MOTORSPORTS: Dick Trickle captured the pole for the Busch Grand National race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a speed of 186.673 mph.

TENNIS: Todd Martin won a thrilling third-set tiebreaker to eliminate third-seeded Patrick Rafter 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) from the $2.55 million Paris Open. Pete Sampras beat little-known Frenchman Jerome Golmard 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 while Andre Agassi defeated Marc Rosset 6-4, 6-4.