Daily Sports Capsule

*Index*
BASEBALL	FOOTBALL	BOXING
AUTO RACING	HOCKEY	UMASS DARTMOUTH

BASEBALL

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers used to have the most stable job in sports. Now, new general manager Kevin Malone is in search of the team's third field boss since June. Saying he "needed my own guy, a proven winner with experience," Malone announced yesterday that Glenn Hoffman will be a member of the coaching staff, not the manager, of the Dodgers next season. Malone mentioned former Boston Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy and former Baltimore Orioles manager Davey Johnson as possible contenders for the job. The 40-year-old Hoffman guided the Dodgers to a 47-41 record after replacing Bill Russell, who was fired along with general manager Fred Claire on June 21. ... Colorado Rockies officials should know by week's end whether they have a chance to lure Jim Leyland to Denver. Leyland expects to decide by Friday whether to stay as manager of the Florida Marlins or exercise an escape clause in his contract. Leyland is one of the leading candidates to replace Don Baylor, who was fired as Colorado manager Monday. Other candidates include Montreal manager Felipe Alou and Oakland manager Art Howe. ... Brewers manager Phil Garner and two of his coaches, Jim Lefebvre and Bill Castro, will be back next season but other members of the coaching staff won't be, the team announced yesterday. There had been speculation that the team might not bring Garner back for the final year of his contract after another dismal finish in 1998. The Brewers were 74-88, their worst record since 1995, in their seventh season with Garner at the helm. General manager Sal Bando said first-base coach Joel Youngblood, third-base coach Doug Mansolino and pitching coach Don Rowe were not offered contracts for 1999. ... Joe Torre, who managed the New York Yankees to the most wins in American League history this season, has agreed to a two-year contract extension, the New York Post reported yesterday. The newspaper, citing industry sources, said the extension begins following the 1999 season. Torre is making $1 million this season and next. ... Florida Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga and prospective buyer John Henry are closer than ever to a deal that would keep the team in South Florida. Henry, reluctant to delay his $150 million purchase of the team with many offseason decisions pending, has agreed to Huizenga's demands on the two issues blocking a sale -- improvements at Pro Player Stadium, which Huizenga owns, and a 30-year, $60 million state sales tax rebate for the stadium.

FOOTBALL

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward is getting a crash course in the Indianapolis Colts' offense to prepare for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. The 32-year-old fullback signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Colts yesterday after spending a month in limbo following his release by the St. Louis Rams. The Rams released Heyward just days before their season opener after he failed to meet the 260-pound weight limit imposed by coach Dick Vermeil. ... Detroit safety Mark Carrier, whose helmet-to-helmet hit gave Tampa Bay's Brice Hunter a concussion, was suspended for one game by the NFL yesterday. Carrier's hit, which was not penalized, came during the second period of the Lions' 27-6 victory Monday night. ... The Miami Dolphins, looking to add depth in the backfield, signed former 1,000-yard rusher Ron Moore yesterday. Moore's best season was as a rookie in 1993, when he rushed for 1,018 yards with the Arizona Cardinals. He played with Arizona and the St. Louis Rams last season, rushing for 278 yards.

BOXING

Mike Tyson's handlers want to clear a major obstacle toward regaining a license for the former heavyweight champion -- settlement with two men who accuse Tyson of assault following a traffic accident in Maryland. The Nevada Athletic Commission will rule on Tyson's effort to return to the ring when it receives reports from doctors who examined Tyson at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston last week. The attempt to settle comes after two Nevada boxing commissioners said they want to know what happened in Maryland before they vote on giving Tyson a license. Richard Hardick, 50, says Tyson kicked him in the groin after Hardick's car rear-ended a Mercedes driven by Tyson's wife Aug. 31 in a Maryland suburb. Hardick and Abmielec Saucedo, 62, who said Tyson punched him in the face, have filed criminal complaints.

AUTO RACING

Derrike Cope won the first pole of his 16-year Winston Cup career last night, but had to share the spotlight with an unusual twist in the late-season duel between Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin. Martin increased the pressure in his bid to overtake Gordon for the Winston Cup title by qualifying on the outside of the front row for Sunday's UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With just the 26th-fastest speed, Gordon is guaranteed his worst starting position since he began 29th in the season-opening Daytona 500. Cope earned his inaugural pole with a fast lap of 181.690.

HOCKEY

Martin Straka scored two goals and added an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins came from behind to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 in an exhibition game last night in Worcester. Straka scored the winning goal at 8:54 of the third period on a power play. Jeff Serowik's shot from the right point was deflected to Straka and he beat Boston goalie Rob Tallas from in close. Andre Savage and Peter Ferraro scored the Boston goals. Robert Dome had the other Pittsburgh goal.

UMASS DARTMOUTH

Freshman goalie Jennifer Nelson made six saves for the UMass Dartmouth women's soccer team yesterday in a 5-0 loss to visiting Connecticut College. The Camels broke the game open with four second-half goals. All five of their scores were unassisted. The Corsairs, who dropped to 2-4-2, did not have a shot on goal. Connecticut College improved to 5-3-0.

-- Compiled from wire reports