Deck the Hall

Back in the early '90s, the Yankees dumped outfielder Mel Hall, because they didn't like the way he was constantly harassing a young Bernie Williams. That was just the tip of the iceberg.

Hall was convicted in a Texas court room yesterday of sexually assaulting a 12-yr old girl he coached on an elite basketball team a decade ago.

A jury took about 90 minutes to convict Hall, 48, on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. He will go through the sentencing phase today and faces up to life in prison.

Hall's accuser, now 23, testified Monday that he engaged in sex acts with her in various places, including her home and his apartment. Hall, who played for the Cubs from 1981 to 1984 as part of a 13-year career, was arrested in 2007 by police investigating allegations of sexual abuse.

The woman testified Hall first exposed himself to her and her younger brother in their home, when their parents were away. His interaction with her progressed to inappropriate touching and to him showing her how to perform oral sex, she testified. She said he also showed her pornographic movies at an apartment he shared with his girlfriend and their infant son.

''I trusted him,'' the woman testified. ''I looked up to him.''

Sentencing is set for today. Hall could be facing life in prison.