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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 30, 1993                   TAG: 9303300189
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GASTINEAU GETS PROBATION IN DRUG CASE

In Phoenix, after being sentenced to three years of probation and fined $1,400 for possession of drug paraphernalia, football player-turned-boxer Mark Gastineau says he wants to return to the ring.

"I'm going to get back [to New York], get with my trainer and get back on track," Gastineau, 36, said after being sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court.

He will be allowed to return to New York under the terms of his probation. Gastineau, a former New York Jets defensive end, was arrested in April 1991 after allegedly picking up a package of 200 amphetamine pills at Sky Harbor International Airport. Under the plea agreement, Gastineau pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mickey Rourke prefers the reality of the boxing ring to the fantasy world of film making. Heavyweight contender Tommy Morrison, though an aspiring actor, says he's already living his dream.

Morrison and Rourke bring a Hollywood flavor to Kansas City, Mo., tonight as they box separately on an eight-bout card in Kemper Arena.

"There is a unique attraction to the card, it's an event you expect to see in Hollywood, not Kansas City," said Morrison (35-1, 31 knockouts). "People are second-guessing my decision to fight since it's so close to [George] Foreman. But this is what I do."

He faces "Irish" Dan Murphy (39-9, 25 knockouts) of Omaha, Neb. Rourke, 3-0-1 as a light heavyweight, will box Tom Bentley (4-4) of New York.

by CNB