LOSING SIDE

Oshman's Sporting Goods, Inc.(OSH:AMEX) reported a third quarter loss of $3.6 million on sales of $65.1 million compared to a loss of $2 million on sales of $64.3 million the same period last year.

The Houston-based Company reported a loss of $5.1 million on sales of $212.8 million for the nine months compared to income of $281,000 on sales of $215 million the same period a year ago.

The '98 income, however, included a $3.5 million gain from a sale of real estate and a $686,000 benefit related to refunds of prior years' federal income taxes. During the first nine months of this year, Oshman's has closed six stores and opened two SuperSports USA stores. The company operates 59 sporting goods specialty stores, including 43 SuperSports USA stores and 16 traditional stores. At this time last year, Oshman's operated 67stores.