
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 28, 1990                   TAG: 9003280135
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: New York Times
DATELINE: SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.                                LENGTH: Short

BASEBALL PROBING CASE

John Dowd, the Washington lawyer who conducted baseball's six-month investigation of Pete Rose last year, is now investigating the George Steinbrenner-Howard Spira case for commissioner Fay Vincent.

The commissioner and Dowd declined Tuesday to discuss or acknowledge Dowd's involvement, but Roland Thau, Spira's lawyer, said that he had spoken with Dowd on Monday, then met with him in New York.

Spira, a Bronx resident, was arrested Friday on charges of threatening Steinbrenner and Dave Winfield, the Yankee outfielder, and with trying to extort money from the Yankees' owner.

A federal grand jury handed up an eight-count indictment, and Spira is scheduled for arraignment April 5 before U.S. Magistrate Paul Game Jr. in Tampa.

The commissioner's interest in the case stems from a $40,000 payment Steinbrenner has acknowledged making to Spira last January. Steinbrenner has offered different versions of why he gave Spira the money but has denied that he did it for the reason Spira has stated.

"George wanted to pull down and discredit Dave," Spira said in an interview last week. Spira said he had given Steinbrenner information about Winfield and Winfield's foundation for children.

by CNB