Hurricane Georges KO's Games

Hurricane Georges forced the postponement of tonight's game between the Florida Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies and the cancellation of Saturday's college football showdown between Miami and No. 3 UCLA.

With a hurricane warning in effect in South Florida, the Marlins announced the postponement this morning, nine hours before game time. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4:05 p.m. EDT.

"We feel it is in the best interest to postpone tonight's game in advance to prepare the stadium and allow our fans, employees and their families time to make preparations for the storm," Marlins president Don Smiley said. "Our plan is to play our remaining four games of the season, but with the safety of our fans and employees in mind."

If Friday's game is postponed, the Marlins and Phillies would try to play back-to-back doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday to end the season.

"That's the last thing we need," Marlins left fielder Cliff Floyd moaned. "We're not going to get anybody out to the games anyway. If the hurricane hits the way they say it's going to hit, who's going to come to a baseball game?"

Saturday's nationally televised UCLA-Miami game was canceled this afternoon by agreement between the schools. It will not be rescheduled; the only available date would have been after the season. The game was to be shown on CBS.

"While it is extremely disappointing that we will be unable to play this game, the importance of responding to the conditions raised by Hurricane Georges were primary in our decision," Miami athletic directoPaul Dee said.

The risk of playing the game, school president Tad Foote said, "would be a mistake."

The latest forecast had Georges slicing through the Florida Keys by early Friday.

The Miami Fusion's final regular-season game Sunday against Tampa Bay remained on the docket; the Miami Dolphins have this weekend off.

Calder Race Course planned a full schedule of nine live races today, but with no simulcasts, and Friday's program was canceled. Many high school events were also postponed.

The Marlins and Phillies have long been eliminated from the pennant race, and several Florida players said they didn't mind the idea of canceling the final four games.

"For our season, it doesn't really matter," first baseman Derrek Lee said. "It would be a wild finish to a crazy season."

The Fusion's game at home Sunday would have no impact on the Major League Soccer standings, with Miami already clinching a berth in the playoffs and the Mutiny eliminated.

"Our management is keeping a close eye on the storm," Fusion spokesman Gabe Gabor said. "In conjunction with MLS, we'll make a decision once a complete picture is available."

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