The Yankees agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with freeagent outfielder Mark Whiten yesterday in a move that gives the clubthe flexibility to trade Paul O'Neill. New York's outfield hadappeared set with Bernie Williams in center, O'Neill in right andDarryl Strawberry and Tim Raines splitting time in left. O'Neillimped through the second half of last season because of a tornhamstring and finished with a .302 average, 19 homers and 91 RBIs.Whiten, 30, who was briefly with the Red Sox, hit .243 with 10 homersand 38 RBIs for Philadelphia and Atlanta last season, then hit .300with 12 homers and 33 RBIs for Seattle . . . Baseball isinvestigating allegations that Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schottused the names of Reds employees to falsify sales and attain quotasat her Chevrolet-Geo dealership . . . David F. D'Alessandro, who iscredited with saving the Boston Marathon and made John Hancock MutualLife Insurance Co. a worldwide Olympic sponsor, was named No. 47 onThe Sporting News' 1996 list of The 100 Most Powerful People inSports . . . Sheryl Swoopes, perhaps the biggest star of thefledgling Women's NBA, will miss most of its inaugural season becauseshe is pregnant. The 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist is due todeliver shortly before the WNBA season begins June 21, and willresume playing in August. The season ends Aug. 30 . . . MinnesotaTimberwolves rookie Stephon Marbury faces charges in Family Court inNew York that he has failed to financially support his 22-month-olddaughter . . . Hall of Famers Red Auerbach and Red Holzman,legendary coaches for the Celtics and the Knicks, will coach the 1997Rookie All-Star Game Feb. 8 in Cleveland . . . Three-timeIndianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, who survived two nights in thewilderness on the New Mexico-Colorado border, was cited for violatingthe Wilderness Act by driving a snowmobile into a wilderness area.Unser said he shouldn't be prosecuted for getting lost during ablizzard.Miscellany: Former Kings owner McNall sentenced to nearly six yearsFormer Kings owner Bruce McNall was sentenced in Los Angeles to 5years 10 months in prison and ordered to repay $5 million for hisadmitted role in a scheme to bilk banks, a securities firm and theNHL team of more than $236 million . . . Connecticut Gov. John G.Rowland said that the state will look into building a new arena forthe Hartford Whalers after he was convinced by team owner PeterKarmanos and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that even a refurbishedCivic Center won't be sufficient in the long run . . . New YorkRangers right wing Alexei Kovalev may return to the lineup thisseason despite a full tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in hisright knee. If he postpones surgery and plays with a knee brace,Kovalev could return in about six weeks. With surgery, he will beout for the rest of the season . . . Chicago Blackhawk Tony Amonte'sknee injury is not as bad as first feared and Amonte, whose 26 goalsrank fourth in the NHL, could return as early as tonight. Amonte,hurt Wednesday night, thought he hyperextended his left knee, butsubsequent tests revealed no serious damage and the injury wasdiagnosed as a bruise . . . Former Dolphins coach Don Shula leadsthe list of finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall ofFame. Also on the list are cornerback Mike Haynes, who played forthe Patriots from 1976-82, centers Dwight Stephenson and MikeWebster, defensive ends Carl Eller and Jack Youngblood, widereceivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, punter Ray Guy, safety PaulKrause, guard Tom Mack, tight end Ozzie Newsome, tackle Ron Yary,seniors nominee Jerry Kramer and Giants president Wellington Mara . .. Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf were named top seeds for theAustralian Open. Yevgeny Kafelnikov is out with a broken hand . . .Heavyweight Andrew Golota received a two-year suspended prisonsentence and a $7,000 fine for beating up a man in a May 1990 discobrawl in Warsaw.
