HOWE'S COACHING CAREER ON HOLD

WHITEFISH, Mont. -- Steve Howe, who was suspended seven times for drug
and alcohol violations during his career as a major-league pitcher,
has been suspended as a volunteer coach for the Whitefish girls
softball team.

Howe was told he could no longer help the team on which his daughter,
Chelsi, is a second baseman, pending the outcome of a background check
by the Whitefish administration.

School superintendent Dave Peters said: "We're trying to determine
what is in the best interest of the district. It's a very difficult
issue for us."

Howe, 41, also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to
buy cocaine in Kalispell, Mont., in 1992.

"Hopefully reasonable people can come to a reasonable solution," Howe
said Wednesday night. "I'm kind of dumbfounded by the whole thing."