For Connors and Seles, a purse of some worth...Philly's favored son an odd one...teachin' TJ

Lost
His first NASCAR race in his last seven starts, Harry Gant, who finished 1.5 seconds behind winner Dale Earnhardt in a Winston Cup event at the North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. Although Gant led for most of the 400 laps, his Oldsmobile Cutlass suffered a broken brake line near the end of the race, giving Earnhardt an opening. The 51-year-old Gant's recent success has made him so popular that 3,000 people from his hometown of Taylorsville, N.C., went to North Wilkesboro just to watch him practice last Saturday.

Offered
By promoter David Krieff, $1 million to the winner of a challenge match between Jimmy Connors and Monica Seles. The match, which would be played next March at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and be carried on pay-per-view television, would limit the 39-year-old Connors to one serve and would allow the 17-year-old Seles to use Connors's doubles alleys.

Named
As winner of the 1991 Wanamaker Award, which recognizes the athlete who has done the most to bestow civic spirit upon Philadelphia, 76er forward Charles Barkley. Sir Charles was a curious selection considering the difficulty he has had embodying the city's Brotherly Love credo. Over the past few seasons he has spat on an eight-year-old fan, was found in possession of a handgun and has amassed more than $80,000 in fines. After receiving the award, Barkley took a few moments to rip U.S. Olympic basketball team wannabes Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer, the media and the Sixers' new uniforms, of which he said, "They look like my daughter got ahold of some crayons and designed them."

Birdied
Eight consecutive holes in the final round of an LPGA tournament in Buena Park, Calif., Pat Bradley, to shoot an 11-under-par 277 for the event and defeat Michelle Estill by one stroke. The victory was Bradley's second in as many weeks and the 30th of her career, thereby making her only the 12th player to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Hired
As baseball coach at Westminster Academy high school in Fort Lauderdale, former major league pitcher Tommy John, whose previous coaching experience consisted of a five-month stint at the University of North Carolina in 1986. John, who has three children who currently attend Westminster, accepted the position without pay. He earns his living as a consultant for a proposed Florida-based developmental winter baseball league, which, if formed, would name John commissioner.

Recovering
At Houston's Hermann Hospital after triple-bypass surgery, Lou Duva, 69, trainer of Evander Holyfield and a stable of other boxers. Duva, who suffered a heart attack in 1979 and regularly took nitroglycerin pills while clinging to the ropes during his boxers' bouts, tried to put off the surgery so he could work two upcoming fights. Duva is expected to be back on his feet in time to handle Holyfield's corner when he fights Mike Tyson on Nov. 8.

PHOTO

GEORGE TIEDEMANN

After six straight wins Gant finally can't.