71.   A person close to Cook says the Astros have offered a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

72.   A person close to Cooper said that Cooper had been persuasive in steering Daly toward entering serious negotiations with the Knicks.

73.   A person close to Diamond denied he was responsible for the turmoil and said he offered to resign before the bonus payments.

74.   A person close to Diamond said he was being made the scapegoat.

75.   A person close to Lucent said it had made provisions for the possibility that it will not get paid by Winstar.

76.   A person close to Motorola said that the tactics were legal and routine and that the suit had not been pursued.

77.   A person close to Nelson said the former Knick coach knew he was in trouble when management failed to back him during the Starks episode.

78.   A person close to Sprint said the company was hoping to cooperate with the five Bell local telephone companies rather than attack them head-on.

79.   A person close to Steinberg who requested anonymity said Steinberg had been optimistic about his chances for parole, particularly because his prison record has been good.

80.   A person close to SunAmerica acknowledged that the company was interested in the Kemper life insurance businesses but would not comment further.