Robert Nederlander

Bill White, National League president, gained the support he wanted from owners here Wednesday concerning an incident with umpire Joe West. "Bill has the full support on his stance in this matter," said Bill Giles, Phillies' president. "Bill seemed satisfied everybody was behind him. I hope he gained some power in the West case." White met with West after the veteran umpire threw Philadelphia pitcher Dennis Cook to the ground during a Phillies-Dodgers brawl Aug.

Considering what's in front of him, Steve Farr looked fairly relaxed at Tuesday's news conference for the Yankees' four "new" pitchers. The Beast -- as he is called by friends for his wild minor-league reputation and notorious temper -- was calm in his first New York performance. It's a trait that would serve him well in his new role. New York, meet the new Dave Righetti. The Yankees hope as much, anyway.

Robert Nederlander, president of the Nederlander Organization of theatrical producers, was named today to succeed George Steinbrenner as general partner of the New York Yankees. The limited partners met this morning with Steinbrenner, who must resign by Monday under his agreement with Commissioner Fay Vincent. "I have great confidence in Robert," Steinbrenner said. "As far as I'm concerned, I couldn't have got a better man."

Bill King, one of the Raiders' last links to their days in Oakland, might not be returning as the team's play-by-play announcer. Nederlander Sports Marketing, which recently acquired the Raiders' radio rights, offered King, who has been with the team since 1966, a salary of about $50,000, which, a source said, is less than half of what he made last season. King rejected the offer. "I really don't want to say much about it," King said Thursday night. "I'd sure like to come back.

The Walt Disney Co. could be days away from announcing an agreement to sell the Angels, for little more than half the original asking price. Phoenix businessman Arturo Moreno is expected to buy the Angels for $165 million to $180 million. If Moreno completes the purchase, he will become the first Latino to own a major league team. The other finalists -- real estate developer Frank McCourt and theater operators James and Robert Nederlander -- have not been told their bids were unsuccessful.

New York Yankees executive Leonard Kleinman has been cleared by baseball of any wrongdoing in George Steinbrenner's payment to Howard Spira, but he intends to continue his $22-million lawsuit against Commissioner Fay Vincent. In a nine-page decision signed Nov. 15, Vincent said, "I have resolved all questions of knowledge, motive and credibility in this matter in favor of Mr. Kleinman."

Former Drug Enforcement Administration head Jack Lawn was chosen today to run the New York Yankees until Robert E. Nederlander is approved as the new general partner. At the same time, the team's part owners squabbled over a lawsuit filed by two limited partners, and U.S. District Judge Alice M. Batchelder postponed until Monday a hearing on the request for a temporary restraining order that would continue George Steinbrenner's 17-year reign.

HBO may have presented too much of a good thing in its recent cablecast of the Evander Holyfield-Bert Cooper bout. When it added Gil Clancy as a substitute for George Foreman, who was off training for Saturday night's fight with Jimmy Ellis, it put together as good a team of boxing broadcasters as has been heard on the air in some time. Clancy, Mr. Everyman, jibed nicely with Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant.

Arrivederci, Coop, and thanks for the thrills you gave us that made a sixth man No. 1 in our hearts . . . With every European signing, the NBA comes closer to international expansion. . . . The Lakers reportedly would like to trade Byron Scott and A.C. Green to the Indiana Pacers for Reggie Miller. . . . Best credential new Yankee general partner Robert Nederlander brings to the job is a last name that isn't Steinbrenner. . . .

Do you hear what I hear? It's from the remake "Baseballbusters." You know the symbol, the interlocked NY with the slash through it. And the observant, "Listen. Do you smell something?" Yeah. It's the Yankees. But who? It's like the story my friend Steve Lekowski tells about how his father tossed Limburger cheese into the classroom light, and when it got warm, everybody was driven out by the smell. And everybody had to stay after school while they searched for the culprit.