Collins Named Astro Manager

Terry Collins, who paid his dues in the minor leagues and spent the last two years as bullpen coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday beat out several prominent names to become manager of the Houston Astros.

Collins, 44, replaces the fired Art Howe. He survived a selection process in which at least three former major league managers were in contention for the job.

General Manager Bob Watson and Astro owner Drayton McLane conducted a six-week search in which 11 prospects were interviewed.

Howe was fired Oct. 5 after leading the Astros to an 85-77 record and third-place finish in the National League West. However, Howe’s deliberate style did not suit the new owner.

Collins managed in the minor leagues for the Pirates and Dodgers.

Also considered were former catcher Bob Boone, Astro coach Matt Galante, former New York Met manager Jeff Torborg, former Texas Ranger manager Bobby Valentine, Baltimore Oriole coach Davey Lopes and Philadelphia Phillie coach Larry Bowa, a former San Diego manager.

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Brian Hunter, a first baseman who hit a two-run homer against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 of the 1991 National League playoffs, was traded to the Pirates from the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named.

The Braves planned to send Hunter, 25, to the Montreal Expos in the Dennis Martinez trade last August, but Martinez vetoed the deal.

Auto Racing

Nigel Mansell, who took American racing by storm by winning five races and the IndyCar PPG Cup championship a year after taking the Formula One crown, has won the 1993 driver of the year award.

Rusty Wallace, whose late-season charge nearly kept Dale Earnhardt from winning his sixth NASCAR Winston Cup title, was a close second in the balloting conducted this week by a national panel of motor sports writers and broadcasters.

Hockey

Team USA gave up two shorthanded goals and lost to Russia, 7-3, in the Telehockey Cup pre-Olympic tournament at Lillehammer, Norway.

The Americans came to Norway with a 14-game unbeaten streak, including three victories against NHL teams, but they lost Tuesday to Canada, 5-2.

Brian Rolston, a college player from Lake Superior State, scored two goals for Team USA.

Boxing

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson says he will resume his boxing career when he leaves prison because, “All I know how to do is fight.”

Tyson, who could be released as early as the spring of 1995 from the Indiana prison in which he is serving a six-year term on a rape conviction, believes he could defeat “what’s out there,” including champion Evander Holyfield.

Al Cole stopped Vincent Boulware in the fifth round at Atlantic City, N.J., to retain his International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title.

Miscellany

Golfer Heather Farr’s condition has worsened as treatment for a brain hemorrhage continued, a hospital spokeswoman said. Pegge Ackerman of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Memorial Hospital-North said Farr’s condition was downgraded Tuesday night to critical from fair but refused to say why, citing hospital confidentiality policy. Farr, 28, remained in critical condition Wednesday.

The Antelope Valley High football team had to forfeit three games for using an ineligible player earlier this season. As a result, the Antelopes’ record dropped from 8-2 to 5-5, and they were dropped from the Southern Section Division I playoffs. They will be replaced by Golden League rival Ridgecrest Burroughs. . . . Larry Martin Demery, one of the men accused of killing Michael Jordan’s father, denies involvement in the slaying, but told the High Point (N.C.) Enterprise that he helped dispose of the body. . . . Macao’s Loe Rosario was killed when his Yamaha motorcycle crashed through a roadside barrier during the first day of practice for the weekend Macao Grand Prix, Government Hospital said.