ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
MEMO: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
Former world champion cyclist Lance Armstrong is out of the hospital after undergoing brain surgery and chemotherapy to treat cancer.
In a statement released by Armstrong's agent, Dr.Craig R. Nichols said the Oct.24 surgery went ``smoothly with no post-operative complications.''
``Lance has completed his second round of chemotherapy with excellent tolerance of side effects,'' Nichols said, adding the cancer is regressing rapidly.
Physicians have given Armstrong, 25, a 65 to 85 percent chance for full recovery.
Armstrong, who has won the past two Tour DuPonts, had surgery for testicular cancer early in October at University Hospital in Indianapolis. Shortly after undergoing the first of his 12-week chemotherapy sessions for the cancer, which also had spread to his abdomen and lungs, Armstrong resumed abbreviated training sessions.
But about two weeks later, it was announced he had two cancerous brain lesions requiring additional surgery Oct.24.
Armstrong will spend two weeks recovering in Austin, Texas, then will return to his Indianapolis home Nov.18 to continue his chemotherapy treatments.
BASEBALL
* Houston Astros manager Larry Dierker completed his coaching staff by hiring former Virginia standout Mike Cubbage as third-base coach. Cubbage was on the New York Mets' coaching staff the past seven years, six as third-base coach. He also spent eight seasons as a manager in the Mets' minor-league system.
BASKETBALL Carril among Hall nominees
Pete Carril, whose Princeton teams were everyone's favorite NCAA Tournament underdogs, and John Thompson, who transformed Georgetown into one of college basketball's top teams, have been nominated for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The two old friends were among the largest group of nominees - seven coaches, seven players and one contributor - to go to the Honors Committee for a vote.
Former Denver Nuggets star Alex English, the NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980s with 19,682 points, was one of three players being considered by the Honors Committee for the first time.
Also proposed for the first time were Sidney Moncrief, a star for Arkansas and the Milwaukee Bucks, and forward Bobby Jones, who played for North Carolina and then with the Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
ETC. Cigar sold to group in Ireland
Cigar is going Irish.
Allen Paulson, the owner of the superstar horse, has sold his 75 percent interest in Cigar to Ireland's Coolmore Farms.
The 6-year-old bay will stand at stud at Ashford Stud, Coolmore's American division that borders Paulson's Brookside Farm in Versailles, Ky.
Paulson said the horse would be valued at $25 million in the deal and he would retain a share in the horse.
Cigar was retired last week with career winnings of $9.98 million.
* The United States-based PPG Indy Car World Series, already with races in Canada, Australia and Brazil, will add a spring event in Japan beginning in 1998.
The Japanese race, on a date to be determined, will take place at Honda's new Twin Ring Motegi track about 80 miles north of Tokyo. The facility's 1.5-mile low-banked oval can seat 132,000 spectators.
* David Kenin, president of CBS Sports for the past 2 1/2 years, has been dismissed from his job and apparently will be replaced by Sean McManus of IMG.
Published reports said McManus, negotiator for International Marketing Group and a former NBC vice president, is the likely successor. A source close to McManus said only paperwork remained in the way of his appointment.
``It's a done deal,'' the source said.
The move comes three years after CBS lost the NFL package to Fox and 2 1/2 years after Kenin replaced Neal Pilson as head of the network's sports division. Kenin, 55, came to CBS from USA Network.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB