The sporting news 01 01 1996

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R e c o r d s A n d 39 Po l e P o s it io n s , H e a d s U p H ig h .

If you think our 1995 racing totals or our trophies are impressive, just wait. Because if you really want to be <

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impressed by a season in which we won 16 racing championships, consider this: Even- time we take another checkered flag, we use our race-winning technology as inspiration for the Ford you can drive. Now there s a concept that carries some weight. W

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. Y O U W IN .

voices* 8 9

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Stere Btsheff: There’s-no better gift than giving life to someone who needs a helping hand.

Frank Lnksa: Surrendering isn’t his style. Barry Switzer can go where he's wanted or leave where he's Most Wanted.

U tters

FOOTBALL .

1K 14 15 18 19 20 50

Sdpet fo re ca st Paul Attner tefls you why he's pick * ing the Sheeters and 49ers to get to the Super Bowl.

Bob Clauber The best and brightest of the free agents for *96.

NFL Insider RFI Summaries .»

N R Statistics N R Notes hran H ates!: One coach jolts, another bolts, in the Big Eight.

THE TSN IOO 5-1 Power — from Rupert to the Lord of th a m e s.

S-11 • Bare Kindred: A Year in Review in words, pictures.

BASKETBALL 28 The Bocks Stop HerK Theres a necessity to win in 30 31 32

Milwaukee — and the Bucks' new veterans aie doing it Shaun I dwell: Toronto has the right idea about how­ to build an expansion team — Y'ancouver does not NBA Insider Memphis Sounds: A new tearn-firsf attitude has the Tigers growling.

Mike DeCoorqr- Arizona is head-and-shoulders above anyone else in recruiting.

College Insider

many people was quizzical But as it stirred more talk, the 33 . ' people on the list showed more interest It didn’t take 34 long for us to realize this was Snore than a one-shot idea; HOCKEY in d eed , many in d u stry 37 Connections, Then and Now: Successful lines lead Ruperi Murdoch or Dick Ebersol? insiders told us, this list to the bottom line In the. standings. ' Dick Ebersol or Rupert Murdoch? should be compiled and 39 NHL insider Who ranks higher je r i* Jones or updated every year.

Paul Tagiiabue? Does Cal Ripken fit* So, bere we are for the sixth 40 Larry Wlgge: Hell be no ordinary Joe for the Stars, Who is Ronald Zarefla? And No. IOO? . time and Senior Writer te ste r BASEBALL As Fly frequently says to me, Shaddup!

Michael Kinsley's fourth time In this issue, we present our annual 41 Bob Nightengale: Financial constraint* It just went "It is a little easier now,’ Kinsley says, list of the IOOmost powerful people in firing out the window. ‘ simply because I’m more organized. Its sports. It is the most challenging — and harder in that the list itself is growing in 42 Baseball kotos A enjoyable — issue we publish each year importance, and we understand more DEPARTMENTS for me, ranking only' Wight]? ahead of how power is exercised. our selection of the Sportsman of the ' "This was the hardest year Tve had 6 • Openers in determining who is No. I. We had 47 The Sports Marketplace “ I Year. When we introduced the list in 1991,-it created more than just a ripple six to eight names for whom you could 5J The Closer Buzz. Buzz. The best of The Fly from *95. ^ among the deaknakers in the sports make a very strong, legitimate case.

Cotter photo of Rupert Murdoch by Albert D ic k s o n /T S S 1 world. At first glance, (he reaction of Finally we decided on Murdoch over

THE SPORTING NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY 121? N LsndberQh tHve P 0 Sax S6 • Si louis Mo 631®

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FROM THE EDITOR

Ebersol because, after all Ebersol is still spending someone elses money."* Names — some familiar. many not — continue to come and go on the list The culling process is endless and wffl start for the *97 list before you finish reading this editor's note. T h e jockeying for position is really * interesting.’ Knisley says \ with a hollow chuckle. T has crossed my mind that you feel a little recruited when you start receiving promotional video tapes." The tapes remain unwatched, even while"their subjects are not

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T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S (IS S N 0038-805X) January : 1996 Vol 220. No ’ is published weekly, except semi-weekfy Pupng a week in January. Marc*! April. A u ­ gust and two w eeks rn September. Novem ber and Decem ber for a total of 62 issu e s per year by T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S P U B L IS H IN G C O M P A N Y . * 2t 2 Norm u n d bergh Blvd.. St Louis. M O 63132 Second d o s s postage caid al St Louis. M O and additional mailing offices For subscription service write to TH E S P O R T IN G N E W S . P.O B o * 107S5, D e s Moines. LA 60340-0755 Subscription once is $60 OO tor 60 issu e s Subscribers in C an ada and other countries add S46 8 0 per 6 0 is­ su e s Air Mail rates available on request Allow si* weeks tor change o ‘ address Postm aster Sen d add ress changes to TH E S P O R T IN G N E W S . p O Box "0 7 6 b D e s M oines. LA 50340-0755 T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S u ssu m e s no lesponsibiHty for the return of unsolicited m anuscripts, color negatives or transparencies C O P Y R IG H T © 1996 T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S P R IN T E D IN U.S.A C A N A D A G S T R E G IS T R A T IO N N U M B E R R -124853730 T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S :9 a federally reg­ istered trademark of T H E S P O R T IN G N E W S P U B L IS H IN G C O M P A N Y . A LL R IG H T S R E S E R V E D R E P R O D U C T IO N IN W H O L E O R IN P A R T W IT H O U T P E R ­ M IS S IO N IS P R O H IB IT E D y •.

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Presence big and small for offseason’s greetings Fly’s definition of a happy n^w year one with a 162-game season and a World Series.

■ Hey-vo. all you’ve gotta do as look at this offseason’s wheelin' and dealin’ and see why PTM* to Be Yet Bod Sellg’s wringin' hands. The Indians and €*s!re signin' free agents hand-over-Bltofete A taar, while the smafi-market/revenue teams’re are playin’ scrubeenies/wasbed-ups on parade. . ■ Speaking of A.L. superpowers, try this offseason Rumorama coulda/shoulda/woujda scenario on for size Ohio. pay those shivers (and if yer an A.L fan outside of Ohio, up and down W spine no mind): With money to torch, the Indians were*bot-n-beavy not-n-h after JDollar If he’d come on board at the Jake, tortes taerga woulda moved to third.

T h e Indians then woulda shifted Jim Them to first, givin’ them the best infield this side of Garvey, Ups*. R ow 11 and toy. One problem; Baerga told G.M. Jcba Hart he didn’t want Sandy's bro on the club. End-o-dream infield to go ^with dream rotation.

■Bryan Cols threatenin' to come home to St. Loo (Iis that a threat to the Fish or the scRams?). but one coach sees great things for Cox in Miami (.. if/when he learns to control his emotions. How would Mean Joe Green know? Says Greene to the Spies: Cox is the spittin’ image of a young Mean Joe. , ■W hen Big/Bad Apple fans were savin’, ‘Greeding$, Pat* to Bites last week. Fly was more interested in seem’ how Knacks players were gonna re a d Tell Fly if this speaks vol­ umes: Jefes (Riley's Son) S tilts and te a k f&eeya hi feUaniJlext Year) to p e r jogged over for hugs; Ewieg exchanged a

handshake that melted into a hug. Aattaay ■asea and Claries Oakley? Not even a guMance Riles’ way.

■Hey-yo. when Pacific's football program went belly up last week. Fly guarantees two things happened: I) A*A. Stef* rolled over in his grave, and 2) the'Uhiversity of Minnesota’s phone began ringin’ off the hook as A.D.S staged trollin' for a guaranteed W to SI the;sudden hole on u pee min' schedules.’ ' ■ Fly's Top 5 or “Sooner Nation? No, No. No. You Misunderstood. I Said, T Might Have &Sooner Notion to Blow Outtahere After One Miserable Season’ I. Jota B late 2. Bab Baria; 3, t o D aunt; 4. Hack Brava; 5. ta u t* Joan.

■W ho’s the winner in this deal? Flip Sanders .takes over for BOI Blair as T-woof$ coach {first prize: two seasons at the helm; second prize: more than two seasons at the helm).

■ T he Spies say if s time for to v to put up or shaddup. t a Fraratta’s been the Fly m ourner’s grand plan to make glass-fragile t a l k S to w a star in this here league, and now Frerotte tells Fly that maybe D.C. ain’t where he oughta be.

“I want to go somewhere where I can start and be the guy people depend on, year after year."

■Yo, K.U. football fans (say. 30,000 of ya who did the Rock Chalk Jayhawk walk. bailin’ out when yer team fell behind big a! home to Nebraska), think G in UM8B didn't notice that things weren’t gonna get any more football crazy

in Pfeog’s former home? The Spies say you'd better hope Bob Frederick knows enough about the game with the funny shaped bell to hire D coordinator m ea t a k v f t t as the new head man. . BFly hears some of those players who had a Blue, Blue. Bhie-Gray Christmas were • surprised that there was more than just the game on the field. Akih-bama was crawlin’ with NFL types who were given 460-question tests to any thick-neck with a dream of playin' instills here league. Sample true-false question: Jury i n n is good for the league. Oust kiddin’. T aft) ■ Fly sees where the Halos’ve resigned • ex-closer Bryn to n y . Hey-Yo, just another case of re-signin’ the horse after he's gotten outta the bam, saved 45 games in *93 and then sat out mosts *94 and ’SS with bad elbow problems. ; ' ■You-n-Fly thought die switch from Art S M to Mike tffctod turn die Pride-n-Poyz in the TIood to AFC champs" (shaddupD. If only FV d known this team’s motto under White, who ain’t exactly a m aster motivator T h e r e s no I in T-E-A-M, but there is in Q-U-l-T, which is what well do the nanosecond somethin’ goes wrong.’ .

■Finally, Continuing ed., FTy-in-training (yer tax dollar at work). Here’s the straight line, you supply the punch line: Linebacker Manti J o in played in IO games and was voted the Jest MYP.

OPENERS • 7

January 1,1996

Dear Gentle Football Player: When it comes to football etiquette, even Miss Man* ners would have a hard time determining the do’s and don’ts of blowouts. The De­ cember 16 game between the Lons and Jaguars proved that In the Lons’ 44-0 victo­ ry. the game became so lop­ sided that with 4:48 remain­ ing and the Loos facing a fourth and 14 at the jaguars’ 22rbackup quarterback Don Majkowski simply knelt down. After all, scoring, or even a first down. would have been the ultimate in­ sult right? Not according to Jaguars guard Shawn Bouwens, who took offense at the Lons' mercy-killing play.

T hat’s embarrassing."

Bouwens said. That is just saying that they could get some more first downs and some more points, but they felt sony for us. Thats worse than scoring the points."

Hooey man: The high school is waitingQfl Rice.

Give and go For T he Sporting N ew s* July 31 cover story on jerry Rice, w^ter Terry Frei visited the 49ers receiver in his na­ tive Mississippi- Idee talked about being raised in Craw­ ford, a small town about 20 miles from Starkville, and also about playing football at B .L Moor High School Rice also said that on his visits back to the school he had been appalled at the horrible and deteriorating, athletic facilities, He told Frei: ‘'What I want to do now is give them a nice locker room, give them nice, nice surroundings that they don’t mind coming to work out in and also prac­ tice. W e'll have someone go in there and redo the locker room. The problem is I keep hearing that they’ve been trying to close down B .L Moor for so many years now. So right now, we’re checking into that’ Frei also visited the high school himself and was giv­ en a tour by Athletic Direc­ tor Ed Dukes, who along with Principal milan Thomas emphasized that they would be grateful for any help Rice could give to his alma mater, which like so many rural schools in the South, has serious money .problems. They and other area officials assured Frei that while a consolidation of school districts, which might tum-Moor into a mid­ dle school or even lead to its dosing, had been intermit­ tently discussed, such a move was neither imminent nor certain.

Nearly six months latth the folks at B .L Moor still haven’t heard from Rice or his representatives. W e ’re just sitting and waiting," Dukes sdid last week. Tou can’t pressure a man and I assume hell either do it, or he won’t ifyqu know what I mean."

Not that Rice is obligated to do anything for his alma mater, but it would be a nice story if he did.

Watch your step

"^December 25

They are shoes with ooze.

Sneaks with leaks. They are the worst nightmare of exec­ utives at Converse. Inc.. which lately had a lot of its own blood — or. in this case, gel — spiDed in the sneaker wars.

Two Top IO teams, Mem­ phis and Kentucky, were among the college basket­ ball pro­ grams verse tfitted this year in its new .

RAW model shoes: RAW Power and RAW Energy The sneakers feature pods on , the soles that k Shoe contin gel to 3 °° cushion a play­ a s eris bounce. The pods leaked, stopping practices and games from the higfi-school ranks to the NBA. - • On December 8. Converse announced it had discovered a manufacturer’s defect in ^ the RAW gel pods and of­ fered to replace the sneakers with other basketball shoes.

The Tigers were shipped Converse’s Voltage model, and Coach Larry Finch merely was gfed to be out of the shoe biz. T hey didn’t have any of that gel stuff in them, and that's important to me."

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Openers compiled by Mike DeCryrstm Terry Frei. Leslie Gibson McCarthy and Mark Sblmabukum.

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8 • VOICES

The Sporting News 4

There’s no Than giving life to someone who needs a helping hand

Steve BISHEFF It is so easy for most of us to gel caught *• ■up in the* spirit and excitem enfof tho holiday season. to rush around amid the traffic and the crowded stores, to spend our money and attend our parties.

Giving grifts to our loved ones is one of our more cherished traditions, a.wonderful cus­ tom none of us would want to forgo.

But what if. just once, you could give something even greater5 What if. at this per­ i fect time of year, you could pause amid af! the holiday craziness and. with very little ef­ fort. provide something so warm and won­ derful it could only be described as price­ less?

What if you could save som eone's life5 What if you could be a legitimate l\ero5 Well. this is to let you know you can. This is to implore vmi to make the effort. This is to challenge you to prove, after all these years of m erely espousing th? cliche, that it is. indeed, better to give than receive.

This is tp gsk you to becom e a pote-ntia! bone-marrow donor.

Those of us who deal in the business of sports have become more aware of this need in recent months because of Milos Holan.

I the’ Mighty’ D ucks hockey player, and Michelle Carew, the 18-year-old daughter of A ngefrbatting coach and Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Both have been stricken with forms of leukemia, and both are in need of'bone-; marrow transplants.

But they are not alone. Each year, thou­ sands of Americans are diagnosed not only with leukemia, but aplastic anemia, lym­ phomas and other life-threatening diseases. as well. b u s e d to be they had-littJe. if any. chance, unless a relative proved lo be a match.

Now unrelated early bon^m arrow trans­ plants have become a definitive treatment for many patients. Patients such as Jason H en. a 14-vear-old from’Aberdeen. S.D.. whose life was saved one day because a Los .Angeles County fireman who used to live in La Mira­ da decided to say yes to a persistent nurse.

Mark Kyilingstad. who Jives in Sanger.

Calif., still rem em bers how it happened. Bet­ ter yet. he still rem em bers the phone call he received on Christm as Day 1990. > “It was Jason and his tin ily on the tele­ phone. telling me that I was the reason Jason had been cured of leukemia."’Kyilingstad says. “It was the best Christm as present I could ever hope to receive" : Kyilingstad is a Vietnam veteran who u s H to be a regular whole-blood donor, going back to his days during the war.

“I was in the Navy, and wh£n the Vampire Wagon, as we used to call the blood-donor

A defenseless feeftog: Rod C am e leans on his daughter. Stephanie, awaiting word on a potenhoi bone-marrow transplant donor for hts other daughter. Michelle (above).

E a c h y e a r , t h o u s a n d s of A m e r i c a n s a r e d i a g n o s e d n o t o n l y w i t h l e u k e m i a , but a p l a s t i c a n e m i a , l y m p h o m a s a n d o t h e r l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g d i s e a s e s , a s w e l l . It u s e d to be t h e y h a d little. if a n y , c h a n c e , u n l e s s a r e l a t i v e p r o v e d to b e a m a t c h . N o w unrelated early b b n e -m a r r o w transplants h ave b e c o m e a d e f i n i t i v e t r e a t m e n t fo r m a n y p a t i e n t s .

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vehicle, pulled up. ‘ always gave blood, hop­ ing it might help o-ie of my buddies out there." Kyllingstaj says.

-u When the war was ov* r, he continued to donate at the Orange Cc tnty Blood Center.

T h e y told me I had si ch nice veins. I was a natural," he says.

Then one day. while he was donating b'ood and watching television, a nurse hap­ pened by.

“She caught me." KyDingstad says, trying to sound modest about it “She asked if I would like to be a bone-marrow donor. I didn’t know much about i t but after listening and then talk­ ing it over with my famjjy. I decided to d o it I

never thought Td get called."

Four m onths later, he was. He was told that he had come up a match for someone, and asked if he was still interested.

“It wasn't a hard decision." Kyilingstad says. “I just thought that i f som ething were^ wrong with my lads, I would hope someone would step forward for them."

So Kyilingstad did. One hundred days lat­ er. he received the phone caB from a teen­ ager who would now have the opportunity to live a full life.

“I can’t describe the feeling." Kyilingstad says. T o give somebody a second chance at life was so gratifying. T here is no way to put

it into words."

Donating blood marrow to become a pos­ sible match merely dem ands a small sample of biped taken fgyn your'arm. similar to when you have-arull physical'at the doctors office^ . If eventually identified as a match, mean­ ing all six antigens in your blood coincide ' with a patient’s, you then undergo what Donor Program officials describe as "a sim­ ple surgical procedure Tat a National Mar­ row Donor Program-approved collection ter. ^ -‘‘Would you go through it again?"

Kyilingstad is asked.

“In half a h eartb eat" he says. “Sign me up, tell me w here I have to be. and HI be there."

Tami Brown, the general m anager of the National Marrow Donor Program in Covina.

Calif., is quick to explain that not everyone can be a match.

T h e chances of a person m atching is I in IOO to I in a million, because of the genetic uniqueness of all of us," Brown says. But if you happen to be ane of the lucky ones who can help, the rewards can be unforgettable.

“People say this is certainly easier than running into a burning building to save someone." Brown says.

According to National Marrow Donor Pro­ gram figures. 3.712 unrelated marrow trans­ plants have been facilitated throughout the world as of Septem ber of-1995. The NMf)P Registry currently contains 1.795.823 volun­ teers willing to donate.

But it needs more. Many more. . lf you are interested, you can get you start­ ed on the road to becoming a true hero by calling l-SOO-Marrcrw-2 (the 24-hour National Blood Marrow Donor Program hotline).

D o n ’t hesitate. Do it now. Do it for Michelle Carew and Milos Holan and all the other needy people who are spending their holiday season waiting and hoping.

Waiting for the.phone to ring. Hoping to hear that there is som eone out there willing to take the time and make th e effort to give not just any gift But the ultimate gift The gift of life. + Steve B isheff is a colum nistj o t the Orange County Register. .

The Sporting News

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V O I C E S

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VOICE OF THE FAN Purple reign

‘What Gary Barnett has done at Northwestern will never tye matched again.’ ../

Jordan rules

pened during his victory' lap. As he was jog­ ging on the warning track, a hat came flying onto the field. Cal saw this, went-back and tried to return the hat. Hmmm. caring about the people who ultimately pay his salary?

What a novel concept for todays overpaid, whining professional athlete.

Cory J: Crawford Eugene. Ore.

A stand for Dan As a big *Phms fan and admirer of Dan Marino. Pagree with Paul Attner (TSN. D e comber ll) that Marino’s feats are equal to those of Cal Ripken, and I am frustrated by the lack of recognition for Marino.

To think that people question his passion and greatness because he does not wear a Super Bowl ring makes me sick. I’m sorry. * but the reason for that is lack of a supporting ■ cast Marina is the greatest player to set foot i on a football field, and kudos to Attner for recognizing this.

Corey Coffin Portland, Me. V

Spirit*of the season From 2-9 to 3-7*1 to 10-1 and a Rose Bowl berth is unheard of incollegeffootball (TSN. December ID ' Disney had better get ready, because this story belongs'in a movie. ; Dorm N. Hastier Cedar Falls. la ., Dave Kindred's column. “From purple daze to purple haze^" (TSN. December 4). iruly showed tile kind of prejudice that is prevalent in today’s society: Smart kids-can’t be good athletes. His assertion that Gary Barnett will certainly depart Northwestern for an "actual football job at an actual football school4*shows his disdain for a pro­ gram such as Northwestern’s.

How about letting those of us who en­ dured the 34-game losing streak enjoy the present a little? After alDpredicting that Northwestern won't remain a; the lop of the Big Ten is pretty safe, especially when one considers that this prediction would ring true for any Big Ten team. {When was the last time Ohio State went lo the Rose BowP) Sorry. Dave. we’re enjoying this, despite those who keep using-the Word “fluke" in any sentence that also contains the name of the 1995 Big Ten champions.'

• W.J. Schulz

Midland. Mich.

Tito Baca College Park. Md. abl35@ vmail.umd.edu : ’»

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D ie thing that epitom izes Cal Ripken hap-

Chad Gandenberger - Uncoln, IU.

Holy Toledo WeD. the socalled "Alliance" got its wish when Ohio State lost but the reporting was not quite accurate. Numerous articles pro­ claimed that Nebraska and Florida were the only undefeated teams. What about 11-0*1 Toledo?

Peerless Marino may be lackingfinger jewelry,

Robert Daykin Dubuque. la.

but he's clearly a ringing success. were in the “pre-trey days."

Bradley also makes reference to the 1983 N.C. State-Houston final being one of the most stirring college games. I agree, but I wonder if Bradley realizes that N.C. State probably wouldn’t have made the NCAA Tournament if the ACC hadn't used the 3point shot in conference games for the first # time that season. N.C. State featured Dereck Whittenburg. Sidney Lowe and Terry Gan­ non — three potent long-range shooters — and finished tied for third in the ACC.

Brew rue Has there ever been a more telling exam­ ple of why Major League Baseball is in its current state than the following: Paul Molitor tests'the free-agent m arket One of the teams he is considering'is fife Brewers, for whom he once played. Our esteemed "acting" com­ missioner and smaiknarket owner (Who can say “conflict of interest"?) Bud Selig an­ nounces that he will personally take an active role in negotiations with Molitor.

Paul Molitor signs with the Minnesota Twins. ^ Bob Oettinger

I have to dlsagree-yvith Bernie Linricome’s opinion (TSN. December ll) that college, football “just gives over December to the pros, committing unforgivable interest interruptas." There is college football in Decem­ ber — the playoffs Divisions I-AA. II ang­ ili. Though these team s may not have the talent of their big brothers of i-A. the playoff Rick Bridges games hayeevery bit of the drama, heart and Newport News. Va. pageantry dial makes college football great And every game helps determine a national championship. . ‘ _ Ride check Look hard enough. Bernie, and you ll be With all the talk of Brett Favre for MVP able to watch great football from regular sea­ (TSN, December 25). Jerry Rice has put up son to bowl season. numbers that should giake him the frontGregory A. Hindman runner for the award. H a v i n g catch balls Seneca, S. C. from a guy named “Etvis*.for the time Steve Young was out makes Rice's season even more impressive.

Threespree Kudos to David Moore for giving proper credit to -the maverick ABA for today’s highly popular 3-point shot (TSN. December ll) .

Speaking of the ABA. the Basketball Hall of Fame has ■finally deemed Roger Brown worthy of nomination. The nomination is not enough, however, for the best small forward in the game during the late ’60s and early 70s.

Hopefully, enough pressure can be ap­ plied tojte t Roger in and thus open the door for MefDanielsand Louie Dampier.

Patrick Cosgrove Demarest,-N.J.

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High-Cal product, As excited as I was to hear that Thf S p o r h n v N e w s had named Cal Ripken its Sportsman of the Year. J was so disap­ pointed to see The Closer on’Calls night writ­ ten by a Rangers fan (TSN. December 18). I wanted to hear from an O s fanror player or someone close to home who-could identify* * with the emotions “we" were feeling.

Then. I read the account.of her day and was ashamed. To think that only baseball fans around these parts could appreciate the magnitude of that game is silly and selfish How refreshing to see how' Cal has touched so many near and far and how wonderful to read rnv own account in someone elses ink 'Die eyes are a little misty, but I think 111 go watch “The T ape"

Shaun Powell gave up on Michael Jordan way too early (TSN- November 27). Ifs in­ sane to say that Penny Hardaway had taken over the league because he outplayed Jordan in one regular-season game. Penny will no doubt be a great player, but Michael still rules the NEA. I have no doubt Jordan was thinking of this article when he outscored Hardaway by IO in their rematch.

I couldn’t disagree more with Michael Bradley’s article on^he evils of the 3-point shot in college basketball. I wonder if Bradley would rather watch dominant big men, such as Ralph Sampson and Patrick Ewing, getting triple-teamed all day as they

Switz minA Jerry Jones has to admit his mistake and hire a real professional coach, rd rather have any of the people who will probably be fired after this year than Switzer. But because of Jones’Stein bren ner-sized ego. it will never happen.

This team could have been a dynasty, or as close to a dynasty as you can really get in the era of free agency. Instead, it has become a sad joke.

Andy U n Downey, Calif.

A U n 1986@aol. com

A dissenting voice

David Cohen New York cheese9@ix netcom. com

I am appalled at TSN’s All-America selec* * dons (TSN. December 18). 'Die SEC is ar­ guably the toughest conference in the na­ tion. Yet you have 13 first- or second-team selections from the*Bi&S^ and three from the SEC. Also. Tommie Frazier. TSN’s Player of the Year/competed in an unusually weak Big Eight while Danny Wuerffel prospered in big-time games against Auburn, Tennessee.

Florida State and Arkansas. Dislike Steve Spurrier if you m ust but don’t hold it against his players.

Got a comment? would love to hear from you. Write Voice of the Fan. 1212 N. Undbergh Blvd.. S t Louis, Mo. 63132, fax your message to us at 314-993-7723, or send us electronic mail at ■ tsnmail@aoicom. Be sure to include your name and city with your e-mail THE S p o r t in g N e w s reserves the right to edit letters for brevity and content T h e S p o r tin g N e w s

Marc Rosato Winter Haven, Fla. ■v*

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In my youth, there were always “Sea Hunt" T-shirts, flashlights, coloring books. etc., on sale at the 5 & IO that capitalized on Lloyd Bridges’ popular ocean-adventure show.

Thafs why it was so rewarding to see the New York Islanders bring back a line of “Sea Hunt" collectibles. The cream of the crop, of course, is the “Sea Hunt" pajamas* To pro­ mote them. the Islanders are actually wear­ ing them as game uniforms this season. j Harvey Cevine

Bronx. N. Y.

Thousand Oaks. Calif.

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Upon further review: published the Rat­ ings Percentage Index m the March 20.

1995. and November 27.1995, issues without properly: crediting the source. The Collegiate Basketball News compiles and distributes the information and was the source for the rankings cited in both instances. Th$ index has been used by the NCAA for about 15 years to help select at-large teams and seed ' all teams for the NCAA Tournament. TSN re­ grets the oversight *• * » ■ T h e S p o r t in g N e w s

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January. 1,1996

Hey, NBC, save all the playoff prep work.

You can book the Steelers and Niners right now for a prime-time winner.

By PAUL AHNER Dick Ebersol President, NBC Sports New York, N. Y. I

Dear Dick: Even though you didn't asjy I want to help your network pre­ pare for its Super Bowl telecast this january from lovely Arizona.

So book it right now, Dick, even before the playoffs begin. This is your Super Bowl pairing: San Francisco against Pittsburgh.

With all the money you just sp^nt tying up rights to future Olympics, I figure you'd want to conserve resources wherever you could.

So that's why I am recommending you con­ centrate your efforts.on preparing the sport­ ing world for the 49ers and Steelers. [ mean. why go through the motions of gathering loads of information on teams that will never survive until Tempe?

I even have a theme for you: 'Hie Matchup We All Wanted — A Year Later. Remember last season and how the Steelers' defense, with all of its intricate blitzes.and boid attacks, mesmerized ah of us? Here, we thought, was a unit that could hold up against those NFC offensive powers. Maybe the Steelers weren't ~ good enough to win the Super Bowl. but at least they might have made it competitive.

That was before they forgot to take care of one small matter — defeating San Diego in the AFC title game at Three Rivers Stadium.

It was a terrible blunder, beclose it left us with the Chargers as fodder for the 49ers in the Super BowL .

So let’s try this again. And this time, well get it right • Forget what happened the last week of the 'season. The 49ers should be a gimme to win the NFC. Hard to believe anyone would disagree with that. Where the disagreement will come involves Pittsburgh. Others are going

Ann and haulier: The supremely versatile Stewart (left) has helped re-energize die Steelers. Put it’s the improved O'Donnell who .gives them an edge over the Chiefs. '■ t

to tell you. Dick, that this is not a particularly wise choice. But your Olympic decisions show von are a man of vision. So see bevond Vthose who are pushing Kansas City or even Buffalo, for heavens sake. Think Steelers.

Dick. Steelers.

Ill admit that in September. I was not ex* actly a believer when it came to Pittsburgh.

•For one. how could the Steelers have lost to San Diego at home, a game away from the Su­ per Bow]?'For another/they no longer had Barry Foster and Eric Green, two fosses that seemingly would weaken an already conser­ vative offense led by a quarterback who was­ n’t particularly impressive. But I forgot one of those sports cliches that actually has a base in reality: addition by subtraction. Foster and Green were always complaining about something, usually their contracts. That grows tire­ some and disruptive, and by deciding to go on without them, the Steelers r$ade their locker room a lot more friendly. Maybe their replacements aren't as talented, but they are

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Surrendering isn’t his style Switzer can go where he's wanted or leave where he’s Most Wanted

Frank LUKSA The job is pre-dawn to post-dark, the workload too heavy for a man his age, its stage is smaller, he would lose $550,000 in annual salary, and to accept would play to the role of fleeing fox to baying hounds. < Those aren't the only reasons Barry ' Switzer repeated a vow last week to upset. • football fans in Norman and Dallas. That be­ ing. he won’t return to coach the University of Oklahoma, where Switzer remains wildly popular. Which means he will remain coach of the Cowboys, where he is not Occupational flattery' has revisited Switzer at 58. He did not own a football job two years ago. Now he has one coaching.in Dallas for an owner who has pledged him long-term se­ curity regardless of 1995 finish. And if not formally offered the head-man job with the Sooners, he is the known pick of the litter by O.U. President David Boren.

Have job. won’t travel. So went Switzer’s response to the vacancy created by Howard Schnellenberger’s sudden withdrawal as O.U. coach. Schnellenberger resigned for motives unspecified beyond the deep im­ pression of palm prints behind each shoul­ der blade. Hence, renewed interest in Switzer.

Yet given the diminished lure of coaching Oklahoma when compared with the Cow­ boys. the Sooners offer intangible gifts Switzer does not know in the NFL Respect and admiration ieap to mind. He would walk rose petal-covered streets in Norman. If Switzer walked some Dallas avenues, he’d have to cover his head.

Such is the curious persona of a Cowboys coach who went 124 as a rookie pro and had his second, depleted team at 11-4 in advance of a regular-season finale against Arizona on Monday Winning has failed to soothe critics who insist Switzer doesn't know what he’s doing — and does thai all too well.

His apparent fate is never to satisfy halt of the people most of the time. He has ap­ proached in general disfavor T om Landry’s career-low approval rating during the early 1960s. He is met with recoil here. He is a messiah to the Sooners.

So why endure the guff and grief? Go where he’s wanted. Leave where he’s Most Wanted “Do people think abuse in the media about football will influence whether I leave or not’" Switzer says. He sounds incredulous.

“How can words hurt if yod don’t have any respect for who writes them? I find mo§t of the stuff about me phony and com ical/ Then he glances over his Valley Ranch

Sooner or later Switzer was the man at Oklahoma. His future with in Dallas, however, is in the hands of Cowboys Owner jerry Jones (below).

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desk, at visiting daughter Kathy, 26. and says: “What did I tell you when I came here?”

Kathy takes up the story: “You looked at us kids (herself and broth­ ers Greg and Doug) and said. ‘Do you want to get back in the media? It'll be hell. If you don’t want to. we wont. if you thought the O.U. media was abusive, wait-’til we getto Dallas.’ " she says. ‘‘.MI ot us said. ‘Go, Dad.

go

The ensuing trip at times has jarred Switzer s children A copy of the Ne* York Post recently landed in Kathy's lap with the headline reterring to her lather as “Bozo The Coach.” in response to their concern. Jerr> Jones reaffirmed Switzer's security to his kids as they celebrated a 21-20 squeak De­ cember 17 over the Giants in the owners pri­ vate suite at Texas Stadium.

‘Can you imagine if we'd lost? We'd had to bolt the doors.” he told them. “But vou don't have to worry about your father. We’re not making any coaching changes-/ Unless, of course, a promotion was in­ volved, such as Cowboys' defensive line coach John Blake getting the O.U. nod.

Jones is asked if he’d release Switzer from a five-year rollover contract if Switzer opted for the Sooners. ^

“I wouldn'* ie* B a ry out ot his.contract But I would let J o h n /J o n e '- >ayv Switzer say** (h r sam e think : different way" "I nate to disappoint people bu- iT rn around Fhe\ n m ! to ge> th a - th ro u g h their ..heads. Jem . and I made* a com m itm ent i< each other. I b ehev«- je rry . I don I have it • a in to him every day and ask. How ain I do­ ing?’ 7

Intim ates of Sw itzer say n e S a pridrfui stu b b o rn so rt who wouid see leaving Tho C ow boys as adm ission of failure* lf pushed. he will push back. If h assled as he is ‘oday. he will dig in. N ote that Sw itzer a d d e d one m ore reason h e won't liar. w i t h e r NTI. team , stay in g dism ays^so m any en e m ies ♦ •

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easier to live with. Something about team chemistry and ail thai Plus Neil O'Donnell has elevated his game, He still may not be the next Elway. but he is more consistent and dependable than in years past. Because the Sheeters' passing game had been so shaky, opponents fre~ quentlv would stack eight or nine men along the line to stuff the running attack and dare O'Donnell to throw. Do that this year and he will make you pay. This. suddenly has be­ come a big-play offense — no Steelers team has ever passed for more yards — and I thought that would- never happen as long as O’Donnell and offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt were in Pittsburgh. The Steelers prob­ ably could have signed O’Donnell to a new contract in the offseason, b u t-they weren’t sure if he was their future, so they held off.

Now. hell be an attractive free ..agent come February and the Steelers wifl scramble to keep him. Sounds like a good story line for you. Dick.

Remember. Pittsburgh has gotten this far

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despite the absence of cornerback Rod Woodson, who was hurt in the opener, lite Steelers were almost gone at ZA when Coach Bill- C ocher began preaching. “Ifs a ninegame season.' Those proved to b e prophetic words. After that, Pittsburgh ran off eight’ consecutive victories to capture the AFC Cen­ tral before losing at Green Bay in a game the Steelers should have won. The Steelers no longer .are turning the ball over and they have confidence, a huge plus heading into the play­ offs. And they, have rookie Kordell Stewart This guy is something. Dick, He can play quarterback, receiver and running back — ■ and he produces at all three. Just when de­ fenses think they have him figured o u t the Steelers do something new with him. This once was one of the most tarin g offenses around. Now with O’Donnell throwing and Stewart doing his thing, it’s great theater. Or. in yourcase. television.

But O’Donnell, more than Stewart is the* key to the Steelers’ advancement through the playoffs, lf it comes down to a matchup against Kansas City for the trip lo Arizona, I think O’Donnell will outplay Steve Bono. No t . that either guy is going to make you forget Steve Young. But Bono is too mechanical; he tries to be too perfect too precise. He has stumbled near season’s end — that confi­ dence factor again — and the Chiefs’ offense. h asJbeen having problems scoring-touch­ downs. Its remarkable that Marcus Allen is enjoying his best season in IO yeart> — imag­ ine that kind of durability — but in what will certainly be a superb defensive battle, some­ body on offense has to b e the difference. So I’m taking O’Donnell and the Steelers.

But beating the Chiefs in Kansas City is no gimme. One general manager told me that Arrowhead Stadium has become the most dif­ ficult place in the league to play, because of the way. management orchestrates noise from the 80,000 in attendance. Dick, your man Joe Gibbs tells me he gives the Chiefs the edge over the Steeleps because of that home-field thing. The opportunistic Chiefs, CowpokesAftergetting body^ammed by the 49ers, the \Boys began to tumble. Part ofthe problem who rely so.much on not making mistakes was Smith's nagging injuries, which stowed him just enough to make him human. while forcing plenty of errors, thrive within this environment. But there is something so team Irvin, Aikman is restricted in his throw­ fragile about the way they win — they never ing options. The successful downfield pass is seem to overpower anyone — that it leaves all but eliminated (where have you gone, them vulnerable to a bold opponent such as Alvin Harper?). And Smith’s nagging injuries Pittsburgh, which plays tougher. have slowed Jiim just enough to make*him Ive tried to mention Buffalo as little as pos­ human. The'Cowboys’ obvious lack of depth, sible and for good reason. The Bills are a year caused by salary-cap problems, hurts them removed from missing the Super Bowl. but significantly when a key player goes down. \frho really is ready for them to make appear­ - And thep there is Switzer, who has been KSS* ance No. 5? This team is dangerous, though. accused of not coaching a lick ip Dallas, only A rr-v y Officials around the league marvel at their re­ to fool ail of us by trying to assert himself on silience anckcore of leadership. And at the that fourth-and-1 situation in Philadelphia. ability of.Coach Marv Levy. I didn’t think it Of course, the Cowboys felled, sending their was possible, but the BiDs finally are receiv­ world into even more turmoil than usual ing the sympathy vote, something they never Switzer is a lovable rogue, an engaging guy. . garnered from their Super Bowl flops. The But he is making a liar out of Owner Jerry ’94 season seemed like the end of the run: Jones and his prediction that virtually any­ this surely has to be. So why not puff for the one could lead the Cowboys to the Super underdog? But I keep thinking of how ThurBowL ‘ j • SPc* \ <• .man Thomas responds to big-game playoff But Dick, t don’t want to take anything pressure, and that is enough to eliminate Buf­ away from the! 49ers, who may be better than falo. the Cowboys even if Switzer w&s another Jim­ U - r . - iv , Talking about coaches — what about that my Johnson! George Seifert has done a’mas­ Barry7Switzer? Dick, I bet about midseason, I : terful job o f coaching — and I am not even you thought the Cowboys were locks to make iM m talking about Xs antf Os. His decision to hire the big game. The 49ers’were dreadful and Pete Carroll (defense) and Marc T resdtan BARRY SWITZER Dallas was steamrolling folks. Its offen ave (offense) as new coordinators determined the line was too strong for any defense, and the 49ers‘ season. They were brilliant choices,terrific trio of Emmitt Smith. Troy Aikman 'particularly Carroll Don’t forgel-jdefense is and Michael Irvin wps haying a career sea- . [/I Seife lf s baby (he was the 49ers’ defensive co­ son. And Deion jumped on board, just in time ordinator before replacing BSI Walsh) and be to shore up a wavering defense. Then it aff fell is. sensitive to how thtit unit is handled. But apart We have found out that the Cowboys he also believes his cdordmators should be don’t have a due on how to use Deion. And given room to coach, so he backed off when opponents finally realized that if you doubleCarroll made changes in die defensive ap•A

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January 1,1996

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preach, turning the 49ers info a much more aggressive, unpredictable group. The alter­ ations have worked splendidly, the 49ers now have the leagues best defense, to go along with the N F l’s best offense. Which make them pretty much unbeatable. Trestman. aftera slow start, has kept that offense at a high level despite the injury problems at quarter­ back. Not bad for someone who had been out of football for three years. Hiring him was a gamble. Maybe fre should take George with us to Vegas.

I haven’t seen his name mentioned much in M VP discussions, but don’t you Chink Jer­ ry Rice.might be the leagues best this sea­ son? Even with Young hurt for a gcpd chunk of games. Rice' has had a dazzifng year. At some point, his career has to start siding, but in qiany ways I think this was his greatest season. He had to adjust to quarterback changes, he didn’t have a consistent threat at the other receiver to take pressure off. and he couldn’t rely; on much help from the running game. Yet who really can stop him when the 49ers choose to use him prolifically? All of which makes him the most dangerous and respected threat in the league, at any position.

He is the N FL’s premier player If anything, this could be a better team than the one that roBed-througn the Charg­ ers in January, and. that was a terrific club.

But this edition is more opportunistic on de­ fense. creating turnovers that lead to quick points (seven touchdowns!. So the offense doesn’t have to do aB the scoring. To bea; the 49ers. you just can’t let than jump to a big earl)' lead. But with aB their talent, that is a most difficult assignment.

Of all the teams in the league. Dallas, even with Switzer, has the best chance to knock off the 49erS. What has killed the Cowboys in their ? last two meetings are quick turnovers, giving the 49ers the opportunity to grab that early large advantage, lf the Cowboys could get through the first quarter without falling behind by more than a touch down. they could be a threat. Their major de­ fensive weakness, stopping the run. is not as great a problem against the pass-oriented 49ers as it would be against most teams. So the defensive key ¥ will be how coordinator Dave Campo uses Sanders. Even though the 49ers have used Rice in the slot for years, the Cowboys # • were shocked earlier when he lined up in that position. They didn’t counter by moving Sanders inside and it cost them mightily. Now. can Switzer and Campo make the necessary adjustment the second time around5 I know your network has lovaitv V ¥ rn lo the AFC. but. Dick. I have to tell you. the NFC is so deep this season that atjeast lour and mavbe five teams could beat the .AFC’s finest in the Super Bowl. So the early NFC playoff games should produce some quality enter­ tainment. Keep in mind that Detroit- and Green Bay haven t been able to make the leap the last two years., 'the Lions lost twice in wild-card games to the Packers, who then were clobbered by the Cowboys. But af times this season, the lions and Packers have per­ formed on a level with Dallas and San Fran­ cisco. so their matchups against either team would be competitive.

Green Bay’s first division championship in 23 years has heightened expectations in Cheeseland. but these Packers aren’t blessed with a Lombardi-like defense. ^ bad. be­ cause with a littl«<$pore defensiv^ielp. quar­ terback Brett Favre is good^noagh to get his ‘team into the Super BowL This is a danger­ ous dub. just because it can score lots of points, and its quarterback is playing with tremendous confidence. .And Coach Mike Holmgren hasn’t received enough credit this season for improving his offense despite the loss of Sterling Sharpe. Bu t Dick, just hading even one playoff game in Green Bay makes this postseason special. The place d^erves at least one every season.

The mystery team is Philadelphia. Ray Rhodes’ inspired coaching has produced one of the classic overachieving teams in recent history. The Eagles don't have a quality quar­ terback, their passing game is arguably the worst in the league and. personnelwise. their defense shouldn’t be very solid. But Rhodes understands what constitutes good coaching at this level: You evaluate your personnel and ask them to do only what they are.capable of executing, and nothing more. That why the much ballyhooed change to the W est Coast offense has turned into a mort traditional, grind-it-out, NFC East style behind the run­ ning of Ricky Wailers.

The probienHs, this one-dimensional de sign will make the Eagles particularly vul­ nerable in the playoffs. Opponents will scheme to take away the run and force Rodney^Peetfc to pass. And that is when the Ea­ gles wifl lose .Anyway. D ick.Twish you happy holidays and the good fortune, of having a Steelers49ers Super Bowi Then we can see how the Steeled blitzes hold up against the 49ers’ short passing game. Al least ii wiii be a cham­ pionship game.with a different twist

Regards, Paul Attnei T h e S p o r t in g N.e w s

Ifs notevery season thata wild-cardteam can legitimately dream the Super Bowi dream. Hav­ ing to win three consecutive games, sometimes all on the road, is usually too much'for these usually marginal teams. But this wtnter.-that could change. The Lions could be capable of overcoming the long odds to advance to Arizona.

Certainly, Detroit can test the theory of Atlanta Coach June Jones, the run-end-shoot guru who claims that defenses get you to the playoffs but offenses push you Into the Super Bowl. Ttiat is contrary to most a&epted philosophies, hut the Lions hope he is right They surely won’t be playingfor the league championship becauseof their defense, as improved as it may be: In thfs-season of gaudy passing production, the Lions lave Kane train: Tracy Hayworth and the emerged the last few weeks with the most dan­ defense ate better, but the V is the show. gerous and balanced attack in the league.

•We’ve been thinking Super Bowl for weeks,” says Coach Wayne Fontes, who was think­ ing only of job security halfway through the season. Brave man, that Wayne.

Using Barry Sanders in a one-back alignment, the lions can keep defenses guessing, Con. centrale too much on Sanders and quarterback Scott Mitchell, who finally has proved he was worth his huge free-agentcontract will quickly goto Herman Moore and Brett Perriman. the most prolifitrsingfe-season receiving-duoin NFL history. The result has been seven consecu­ tive victories. And the Lions have gained more than 400 yards in seven of the last 12 games.

But just as important; Detroit is playing nearly errorless ball during the winning streak, a key to being successful in the playoffs. Theirtakeaway/giveaway differential the last seven weeks is plus-45; During the Patriots’ wild-card nm to the Super Bowl after the 1985 sea­ son, they committedtwoftrhdvers and forced 16. Keep an eye on Detroit A look at the opening round: -t . I

Miami a f Buffalo, 12:30 p.m. ET, Satur­ day The DblpWns sometimes played as lf beating Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Sari Diago^ , Kansas1Gityand At&nta. Butmbre often-, they were a disjointed group; iacffi® direct, lion anda defensive game pian that worked.

QuarterbackDahMarinastill isambngthebestbut heshowedsjgnsofageand never

: Detroit at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday: The'Eagles will bea'pood test for Mitchell and Co. Entering the final weekend, ihe 'Eagles were the NFL’s-secend-toughest team against.the pass and their defense was •third overed They yiefdyanfs begrudgingly, • parHcuiarlyathbme.The Lions will have to prove they are mare than attame team,

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January 1,1996

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new playbook- caused this fine franchise to stub its toe.

But then, maybe it h as little talent and an agin g quarter­ back. : : — B O I PlASCHKE

In respect for the one thing players study more than their gam e plans — the daily stock report — we end the regular season by charting the advancing and declining team s First tip: Buy O ilers stock, buy it now. and buy a ton.

Get a piece “o f the Air. That M cN air led can play. T h is time next year, the folks at the G fand O r Opry will be telling jo k e s about him. H e's {hat g o o d Dum p D olphins stock. All of l l Even with their po­ tential new CEO . that Jim m y Johnson fellow. He* is go­ ing to bloody the locker room. H e ll "talk about starting from scratch. At the beginning of Jb e season, he will re­ mind you that h e won one gam e in his debut year in Dal­ las.. He w ont need to remind you again.

Buy Colts. Dum p Cow boys. Buy Dom. Dump June.

Travel to the AFC W est and'load up on Seattle while get­ tin g rid o f a whole bunch of B roncos. .

A look at the m arketplace:

Expanding expectations

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1. Itasinrflla Something. Though he is a disciple of Buddy Ryan, O ilers Coach Je ff Fish er w oald never say.

“T h e r e ’s a winner in town." when he arrives in M usic City. But he could. Steve M cNair. Rodney T h om as and C h ris S an d ers form a rookie offensive c o rp s that could one day be legendary, and Fish er’s kids.ane already play­ ing fearless defense. ,* 2. Lions. A s their defense better un derstands the new 4-3- system , th ese gu y s will better understand what it tak es to'play in a Super Bowl.

3. Cote. N am e one person on that team who is grow­ ing too old. 4. S e a fo w ls. A s standout defenders finally grow into' their roles, winning is just a m atter of Rick M irer learn­ ing to m ake NFL-type d ecision s. With Jo ey Galloway • eventually turning many of those m istakes into first downs, we .like M irer’s chances.

4>. Patriots. With Drew B le d so e 's left sh ou lder healthy. C urtis Martin a year older and Bill Parcells a tad hum bler, the right defensive acquisitions could m ake flyem tj>e team they were supposed to be in ’95.

/

DECLINES.

1. Dtripttns. T h ere m ay be ju st one person left from

A keeper, lf the Dolphins* defense gets gutted by a certain

Fox commentator, Cox may be the only'survivor. that defense when Joh nson is finished gutting it Would it surprise you to know thai that person probably would be Bryan Cox? l f the team w asn’t old. underachieving and declining off the face of the earth, would we even be= talking about D on Shula losing his job? .

2. Cowboys. What- if Troy Aikman qui© and Emmitt Sm ith holds out and Deion San ders say s the beck with it all? T ak e a hint, Barry Switzer. Leave town before J e r ­ ry Jo n e s know s 7 ou're gone. Which, com e to think of it. shouldn’t be too hard.

3. Raiders. Q uarterback Je ff H ostetler .probably will .not return. M ore unfortunate, the entire linebacking corps probably will.

4. Falcons. We hear' Je ff G eorge could be leaving town a s a free a g e n t One of the oldest team s in footballwould need several years to recover.

5. Broncos. M aybe injuries and stru g g le s to learn the

TSN/STATS. INC. POWER POLL

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Pow er Team W -L points Com m ent 11-5 1144 Led league r tool defense - a S r i tor a norvsinke season.

49tfl 11-4 9.76 Can they oet a-together?

Cowboy* M8 Only team to OO undefeated at home this season. d rift* 113 Lions 745 Won 19 consecute (james when tearing n time of possession.

10-6 5.76 .With oofy sn funfcies lost. tied team record set in 1943.

Pickers 11-5 11-5 4.10 With week off. rushers Pegram and Moms should be healthy Steeter* * B S* JM . 116 Ptenrsna a chtfy welcome for Dobbins.

21 -point lead twoest ever squandered bv a Vikings team.

241 6-8 Vetoes 128 Knocking Raiders out of the playoffs provides some solace.

Broncos 8-8 Buries KW 2.11 1.99 Set team record tor penalties with 110 tor 907 yards.

Dobbins 8-8 142 AJtheyhadtodowaswm one oftest soc - but they faded.

Ratters 9-7 Chargers 1*1? Held opponents ufider IOO yards rushing each cf test four cames.

B e in 9-7 1.15 6-1 rn games « wtach Salaam rushed tor more than 75 yards.

9-7 F iko n s 128 7-1 home record equals best mark si franchise history o a rs 7-9 -008 Mcfteir — two starts, two v ic to r^ Coft* 9-7 -020 HarbauafTs 17 TO. passes most by I Colts OB s n * move to tody Seahswts 98 -1.18 Progress si Enckson's first year - 6-2 in second half.

•153 Avoided worst finish in Jim Mora's-10 seasons.

Saints 7-9 Bengals 7-9 -259 Mowed 6549 yards, 4545 passing yards, both franchise worsts.

-3J8 Won two in a row in same season tor first time since 92.

Redskins 6-10 -3 4 ? Gave up teanneenrd 418 points: outscored. 213-114. ii final 6 games.

Rams 7-9 Led at halftime sever, times - lost tour of those dames.

-353 Giants 5-11 -356 Coffins (7-61 first rook* OB sines Marino to have wmnmq record.

Panthers 7-9 5-11 -5.75 First team to lose to an expansion team twice si same season Browns Patriots 6-10 •030 Martin scored touchdowns in nine of test 10 (james Mew offensive coorrinator s a must.

044 Canones 4-11 -6,74 13th consecutive tesmg season.

Buccaneers 7-9 -9.10 Bio-ptey future? Bott ptevs tor 20 or more yards si finale Jaguars 4-12 They're on the dock to r the first pek b i the draft.

3-13 056 Jets

Through Sunday’s gam es The TSK/SU T S. Inc Power Poa i pax bead &y STATS inc ft s tasedhjn worv^oss record. net w its c«enw e anc oefw srve fu sin g yarOs/ansmcrt. o flro v e and Cetenswt adjusted quartertac* rating (fla w in g sa d s and sac* ram s) and strength of seneca* «

Jo e “G ib b s had a.svprd of caution recently for Caroli­ na Coach D om C apers. “You'd better back off a little b it" G ibbs said. T h e y 'r e goin g to expect you to win a Super Bowl next year. You're getting y o u rse lf in a m ess." .

Gibbs-, the first person offered the Panthers' coach­ ing job. j s right. Carolina's re co rd b reak in g expansion se a so n l a s raised expectations significantly for 1996.

T h e F a t h e r s (7-9) more than doubled the previous record for victories by an N FL expansion team (3).

But cain the P an th ers im prove their record next se aso n , -like {heir fans already expect? G.M . Bill Polian adm its that m ight be difficult. “W e are far. far from" a.com plete football team ." he say s. “T h e re s no question w ell be infusing new talent onto this team.

Much' of it may be rookie talent, and th ose players are probably b etter served to play, so on er rath er than later . -So i t s conceivable we could be a better team and have the sam e o rm a y b e even a little w orse record."

One thing is certain: It will be difficult for the Pan­ thers to duplicate their good health. Despite playing behind an expansion offensive line, their quarterbacks didn't m iss a down becau se of injury. .And the defense, which ranked am ong the best, kept its starting lineup intact for alm ost the entire season.

Another concern: How m uch more can they squeeze out of 5 a m M ills. G reg Kragen. Brett M axie. Gerald Williams and Tipi M cKyer. ail over 30 and the heart of the defense?

• But after their spectacular ‘95 season, you can't rule out th e'Panthers a s playoff contenders. They ll have . m ore m oney to spend in free agency than most team s and th eyll get extra tjraft picks in rounds 4 through 7 becau se of th ei* expansion status.»

“What w e’re after is that climb up the ladder' to where we can be competitive for all the m arbles." Pofian says., “M d you don’t do that in two years, or a year and a half. -Thi4 isn't a program built on flash and dash.

I t s saw ing wood every day."

— C h a r le s C h ajto lb ?

GOOD .MOVES

BAD MONES

RU SH AGAINST RUSH: To

HARMFUL INACTION: G ia n ts

blunt the Eagles’ No. 1-ranked pass rush, the Bears ran the ball 14 times and passed only eight tunes on second down when they needed 5 or more yards. They picked up foe first dow ns outright and seven oth­ er times left themselves need­ ing 3 or fewer yards on third down. Result: no Eagles sacks. 181 rushing yards and a 20-14 victory.

Stadium officials decided if would be impractical to re­ move the snow from under the 78.000 seats. The deci­ sion backfired when. Giants s fans spent m uch of the f C hargers gam e throw ing thousands of snow balls onto the field.-There were 175 ejections, and several people were- injured. NFL officials should have penalized the Gif ' ants to make the fans stop. § or called-the game a forfeit '•

FURIOUS GEORGE: A s he left

the field after getting knocked I* out of the game, the normally ' OFF THE MARK: M a r k Ice S to u r A bad decision Brunell ran 11 times for 58 reserved Jeff George, who had snowballed an the,-SFL yards when the Jaguars beat tired of the 4 9 e rs' taunts. shouted and pointed toward their bench, stir- , the Brow ns. 23-15. October 22 so it was no nng his teammates and the Georgia Dome ; surprise when he ran again What was sucpnscrowd. Inspired, the Falcons cut a 21-10 deficit j mg w as that the' Brow ns didn't -have a line­ a l -16 by halftime and went on to win. 28-27. backer spying him Brunell had the longest run T h a t ’s what we needed." Bobby Hebert, who ; of the game. 27 yards for a touchdown to put • came on for George, said of the outburst, "the ;• the Jaguars ahead. 19-14. and ended the day fire in your belly." . j with a team-high 51 yards on five carries.

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BENT}, NOT BROKEN: The Packers called a .j DOWN AGAIN: Buccaneers Coach Sam Wyche timeout to allow groggy quarterback Brett Favre to collect his wits after being hit by the Steelers’ Ray Seals on a third-quarter scram c e to the 1-yard line. After the break. Favre threw a 1-yard TD p ass to tight f rq M ark Chmura-. giving the Packers a 2 M C ead. *

I j ; J

alienated quarterback Trenf Differ by yanking him in the second quarter with the Lions ahead 14-0 Differ was upset about his fourth benefi­ mg of the season and let his feelings be known after the game. Wyche said he simply wanted to i give backup Casey Weldon som e experience

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14*IIFL

The^porting News I

NFL RFPORT

Running down the best free agents for 1996 leap. Very carefully.

Mara says there will be several opportuni­ ties for teams to improve throogh the "96freeagent marketplace.

T think it’s prob^^y very .strong in some positions like offensive tackle and corner­ back," Mara says. *There are some decent quarterbacks, tile wide receiver group is good, although there aren't any top guys.

Tight end is fedrly weak, it’s a decent running Bob backs group, and there ane a few good de­ GLAUBER fensive tackles." .■ Here is our4ist of the 30 \>esXfree agents: I. M f Geon^, OB, FalcoBS. He has resur­ rected his career a to the Indianapolis night-' hree years into the prev>ousl>’ un­ chartered waters of unrestricted. mare and easily will be the hottest quarter­ back on the market after two solid seasons in free agency, and this much is clear Alianta.

You don't always get what you pay 1. Chris Warm , BB, Seahsvks. Emmittand for. The Browns thought they paid Andq?

Barry*? Hey, ifs time to include Warren Rison $17 mHlitSn lo give them a Super Bowl among the elite. The Seahawkg would be ring. Yeah, right nuts to let him go anywhere.

Jerry Jones gave Deion banders a S 13-mil­ 3. Eric SvaoD, DT, Canlinals. Injuries are lion signing bonus to make sure the Cowthe only thing"preventing him from reaching bo>-s. and not the -f9ers. would be the class of superstardom. The Cardinals probably will the NFC. Sorry. use the franchise designation to make sure .^d the Buccaneeragave two-dme. Super he doesn't get aw^.

Bowl-uinning wide receiver Alvin Harper a 4. Rail OUoflaell, OB, StnfSFS. iiis market SlO.S-miilion contract in hopes he would re­ value has soared in recent weeks, thanks to vive the team's moribund :offense and get the Stee rs' need to open up the offense. A Tampa into the playoffs. Try again.

Super Bowl appearance would launch him “I think the whole thing free agency is into the S4-miIHon-*year stratosphere. trying lo keep the cdntiotiity within your 5. A n e s Winim s, CB, Carfftnls. One of team by re-signing the tttse of players that the few gems left on Buddy Ryan’s crumbling you feelwill be most productive for your learn defense. and then going out ,and filling in the last 6. CorBalloS Bsaaatt, OLB/U, N fa. An inpieces of the puzzle with guys who you feel will fit comfortably into your system." says • legral part of the BiDs’ revitalized defense, be has shown versatility by moving inside. His Chris Mara. pr^ident of ProRale scouting preference is to remain in Buffalo, bul the service. Mara is rating free-agent prospfcts Bflls wiD have to work hard to free up enou^ for several teamsiaaround the league. ‘'What mone>‘ under the cap. happens." he says, “is Chat some teams sign 7. Skawi Lee, BT, Ctargm. He’s the class players because they have been productive of a thin group of free-agent defence line­ elsewhere, but because theyVe played in a men. The Chargers hope lo re-sign him. but different system for a different t>pe of coach. hell comitiand a lot of attention. he doesn’t fit in."

8. B «m Wontam, S, Cowboys. The last reIn other words, look carefuRv before vou

T

The notable exception?

The Falcdns’Jeff George.

Wm 1996 be another ye^ Steinberg isn’t saying, but af musical quarterbacks in Raiders managing gerteral the league, where you will partner Davis may be in­ need a scorecard lo figure terested. Jeff Hosteller’s c o i f out w*ho’s playing whei^? Or tract runs out at year’s end. will the position enjoy a ^a^e and with Hostetler’s uncer­ year of relative tranquilit>*? • tain physical condition (he ■Vent Leigh Steinberg fig­ has vet to recover from a r ures to have a major impact separated left shoulder). on who goes w'here. for how Davis may go with the much and for how-long. Bul younger, stronger-armed don't expect Steinberg to ig­ Cjeorge. nore stabilit)’. Chalices are.

Jets Coach Rich Kotite most of his clients figure to has expressed admiration slay put — with one notable I for George's arm strength, exception. bul if George had a to^h Look for Dave* Brown to time playing in Indianapofis. slay with the Giants. Jim: it's almost inconceivable Harbaugh to stay with the would wan! lo subject him­ Colts. Neil O’DonneD lo slay self to the armchair quarter­ with the Steelers and War­ backs and screaming back ren Moon to slay in Min­ pages of New York. nesota.

So where would Hostetler

More stwff&ig?

go if Cieorge winds up in Oakland? Possibly Rttsburgh. Or Philadelphia.

The Jets? Considering Hostetler’s disdain for life in New.York as a result ofhis Gi­ ants' experioKe.ifs not Ekely.

j; "V

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Hot CflHM fitf: George trtZ/6e tire mosf guakerback this ofiedsofL

maining d^Jfensive star Jerry Jones has yet to re-sign. ' B. ital ttarbaigb, OB, Colts. Did someone say Comeback, Player of the Year? Harbau^fii’s performance this season will earn him a new long-term contract with the Colts.

10. Eric CB, 4 9 ^ Look for Niners salary-cap whiz Carmen Policy to do some se­ rious numbers crunching to keep this-rising star.

11.:Pbn]i|9i SrM cs, cb, G M K After three injury-pl^^ seasons, he finally established h iin ^ in '95. The Giants don’t want to lose him.

12. M f Hostttttr, OB, BaMos. The Raiders retain right of first refusal, but injury con­ cerns may scare them off. Rttsbui^ could be an alternative if the Steelers can't resgn Neil ODonnefl.

13. Rotth S in , e, Bolpiriis. A perennial Pro Bowl player. Sims unsuccessfutiy at­ tempted to sign a contract extension this year. The Dolphins may regret not making a move.

14. Lam Ssarey, BT, StseM . A solid pass protjector and su p ^ run blocker. One of the most consistent lineman around.

1$. Dale Cartar, CB, C IM t. He is prone to

' ''

Extra p c ^ Dexter Carter achieved an NFL rarity on Sunday. By playing against the Falcons, he appeared in 17 games ■this season. How'd he do iti Carter was waived during the Jets' bye week and was claimed by the 49ers afterSan Francisco already had its bye week. Too bad Carter won't be paid t dii!>e extra for his efforts. According to the collective-bargaining agreement players are paid ■ -Irib of their salary per week, and there is no stipu-

V.

I

Allotter y n r towarda reiurrL

cs ieaning

lation for playing an addi­ tional game. Dolphins line­ backer Chris Singleton is be­ lieved lo be Ae only oAer player to play 17 games in a season. In 1993, he was

erratic performances, but the t^ent level is unquestionably high.

16. Bmtey tlmytni, RB, CM a. Uncer­ tainty about rookie T ^ n e Wheatley wffl tempt the Giants to re-sign Hampton, but they amid get stiff competition fitm) the Pa& thera.

17sKevil C, L M . In a l^guewith -few<juality centers, Glover will gel pleigy of action on the open market IB. Bobm tfM , CT. Falcm. In case you hadn'.t.noticed. Jeff George start^ aff 16 games for the second consecutive season.

Think Whitfield’s blocking might have had something to do with thaL^ 19. L » Bravi, Urns. He signed only a one-year contract ffus season to keep freeagency optrohs open. The Lions aren’t optintistic a h ^ resigning him.

20. IMC C h m , TE, Psdmn. Memo to the Packers: Forge^about Keitii J^kson and get Chmura re-agnefi. His emergence this season is a huge reason the Packers are in the playoffs. ,, 21. M io BQtftt, BT, GM K Not the dom­ inating presence he was in the (jtants* *90do­ per Bowl run, but he remains one of league's most consistent blockers.

22. BnsaQ t o | M , BT, CovbOfS. He may not have lived up to the billing as the first overall pick in *9i. but ne remains one of the most reliable run-stofgiers in the league.

23. Qwatii Cvprtt, LB, ColtK A former first-round draft choice, be has had a solid year to lead an irnproved Colts defoise.

24. Bryn Cox, DB, OotpkisK He's one of the league’s best inside linebackers, but his re^ieat^ temper flareups may scare off some teams.

25. Tr^ ViMMt, CB, Dolpllln. He didnt have the breakout year many expected, but he’s stiff an excellent cover comer.* 26. Rflhert Pvchv, DE^, U n . A versa­ tile, undOTat^ tineioan. e 27. M n y IttcheO^TE, M k A gifted pass catcher witii a mescudal personality. * 28. K M !,M e n , FB, ChtefK.One of the few emerging fullbacks witii exceffent block­ ing skiffs and adequate running ability.

29. LesBe B M I, DE, C la rin . Is, your team dose to competing for tire Super Bowl and in need of a 31-year-old pass rusher with two good years left in Ae tank? Then OTJeal's your man. because Ae Chargers won’t retaiD him.

30. Marty lickarsas, LB, Biccaaem. De­ spite playingfor Ae woefuTBucs, he remains one ofAe' surest tacklers around.

waived by Ae Patriots and picked up by Ae Dolphins.

John Elw ^ win sit down in Ae offseason to talk dx)ut tus futtire wiA Ae Broncos but he's leaitifig toward re­ turning in 1996, Ae final ^year of his contract.» Bears rookie .runrving back Rashaan Salaam became only Ae sixA of 35 Heisman Trophy-winning running backs to rush for 1,900 ar more yards as an NFL rook*’ ie. The other five; Tony Dorsett of Ae Cowboys, Campbell of Ae Oilers. Biffy Sims of Ae lions. George Rogers of Ae Saints and Bar­ ry Sanders of Ae lions. ... .NFL owners may not vote on Browns move in their Janu­ ary 17 meeting in Atlanta.

The court case to determine wheAer Art Moddl must I

honor his lease wiA Cleve­ land (through Ae 1998 sea­ son) doeffl’t begin until Feb­ ruary. and owners may want to’ see what happens before voting. Pretty weak, if you ask me. DAer you ^ ro y e Aemove, or you don’t ♦

Bolt Giauiter cooers the NFL for Newsday.

IB* NFL

The Sporting News

A-

sonville cornerback Vinnie Clark in a 24-7 victory earlier this season. a catch along the right sideline that was reminiscent of Swann's acro*babes in Super Bowl X III. v Thigpen tries to take his high-wire act in stride, but don’t be fooled.

■ Through Sunday, the average point to­ He somedmes-wiH get up after a spectacular catch and pose, his arms ts per game this season was 42.9, the high­ held high, like Moses parting the Red Sea. est figure since'4&.l in 1985. .

“I made some amazing catches in practice." Thigpen says. “ID av­ ■ The Falcons became the first team in Stealers wide receiver erage a couple a week where everybody goes. ‘Ooooh.’ To me, to a lot history to have tour, players gain more than of people, when I make a catch like that its kind of expected of me.

Yancey ThigperNalways dreamed of being a. Steelers receiver. But I .(XX) yards from scrimmage in a season.

It’s n§t so much, 'Ooh,'look at that catch.’ Its more like. ‘Oooh. not just any receiver. He wanted to be Lynn Swann. “When you were Craig Hayward finished with 1.083. Erie Met­ little, everybody was always somebody when we played football." there’s another one... there he goes again.’ " calf 1,189. BertEsaBnef 1.039. and Terance Wifh the notable exception of the very end, Thigpen made a lot of Thigpen say’s. “I was always Lynn Swann. I loved the way he made ac­ Mathis 1.039. " people go 'Ooooh* during the regular robatic catches." : ■ With 12 catches for 153 yards. Jerry season.

He uses his great hands in Now that Thigpen is all grown up .. Rice surpassed Art Monk for the record for concert with a strong, well-muscled-6and a Steelers Pro Bowl receiver him­ career receptions (944 to 943) and Charley foot-1.206-pound frame to run precise self. Swann remains his idol. But it is Hennigan’s season receiving yards record routes. What’s more, he has become the ideal of John Stallworth. Swann's (1,848 to 1.746). set in 1961. most adept at leading the Steelers in pass-receiving*, partner, that Thigpen ■ The Lions are the first team in history. what they call RACs — runs after vto have a 4,000-yard passer (Scott Mttchetf has been chasing. y catch.

Thigpen finished the regular sea­ had 4338). a 1.500-yard rusher (Barry , The Steelers signed him after the son with 85 receptions' to break Stall­ Sandal had 1.500) and a 1.500-yard receiver fourth game of the 1992 season be­ worth's club record for catches in a (Harass Moore had 1.686). Moore’s 123 re­ cause they needed help on special season (80). set in J984. He also had ceptions broke Cris Carters record of 122, teams. But Thigpen has made such 1.307 receiving yards, vfeich was sec­ set last season. dramatic progress that wide receiver ond-best in the AFC but fell short of ■ The Jets became the second team in Charles Johnson.' the team’s No. I Stallworth's club-record 1.395 yards, 55 yeart to finish a season with two rushing draft pick in 1994, is having difficulty also set in 1984.

TDs. The other team was the 1972 Eaglet.

That made it all the mort shocking getting balls thrown his way.

■ The Chiefs are the first AFC West team Thigpen became a starter in the when Thigpen let an easy touchdown to sweep division opponents since the 10th game last season and has not reception slip through his fingers Raiders in 197a left the lineup. “He’s gotten better Sunday — giving Green Bay a 24-19 ■ With 20 yards in the finale, Buffalo's * every season." Oilers cornerback victory and ending the Steelers' eightThurman Thomas joined Erie Dickerson and 1 Cris Dishman says. “You can see game winning streak. Still, you had to Sanders as the only backs to rush for 1,000 like all but the last page af his regular that he’s developed a lot of confi­ yards in seven consecutive seasons. season. Not bad for a player who was dence.

He’s a possession receiver Upvanfly BObflg Signed in 1992 mainly as a spedai-Uams ■ The Packers’ Brett Farrs finished with cast aside b y the Chargers three who still gets down the field. Some player. Thigpen has become Hie Steelers' go-to guy.

38 TD passes, the most ever for an NFC J people take, his speed for granted, years ago and signed by the Steelers quarterback. Only Miami's Dan N&jino, : mainly as a speeiakeams player. but once he gets moving he can really go." who threw for 48 TDs in 1984 a n & S in *86, -Thigpen has made believers out of everybody. He was named as a “Every week he'* coming up and making big plays." Coach Bill had more scoring passes in a 16-game sea­ (Cowher says. ‘It’s really just a credit (to him) because here’s a guy reserve to the AFC Pro Bowl team, the first time a Steelers receiver son. will make the trip to Hawaii since Louis Lipps in 1986. three years ago who was covering kickoffs for us and was probably ■ The Patriots’ Curtis M »tlB ^ t a team ^ one of the best in The league doing that Now he’s a-guy wfho people *This definitely brings me a notch doser to the top receivers," season rushing record with 1.487 yards — are having a hai^i Time covering oneon-one."

Thigpen says. T h is is just one year, but hopefully I can continue to surpassing Jim Nance’s 1.458 yards in 1966 * ♦ Uke his boyhood idol. Thigpen’s signature has become the acro­ be consistent" — and also set an AFC rookie record. It was / . batic catch. He has made a number of spectacular catches the past * the fourth-highest rookie total overall two seasons, but his best might have a been a 32-yarder over Jack­ — Gam y D ulac

BREAKDOWN

THE BOOK ON ...

YANCEY THIGPEN

riers. In making inexperienced Ray Rhodes only the third African-American head coach in NFL history — still a shameful number — Lurie risked criticism that he was making ei­ Lurie has made Eagles soar ther a token hire or an ill-advised one. As it above the NR. confusion turns out, Rhodes deserves Coach of the He spends precious pregame moments in Year consideration after his successful han­ the stadium parking lo t boundng from hi­ dling of numerous off-field problems.

Lurie is a rich guy. but he's friendly and ac­ bachi to hibachi. He operates in a business en­ vironment that is barely, viable, hut he is not cessible. Before one game, you might spot him walking around the field, talking to fans moving his team or even threatening a move. in the box seats Before another, you might .And he has a minority as bis head coach.

Sound like airy N FL Towner you know? 'find him in the parking Iou inviting himself to tailgate parties.

Meet Jeffrey Lurie, headman of the Eagles Here are the other top owners: and our Owner of the Year.

So why would anybody give an award for I. Ralph Wilson, Bills: His belief in hiring such a category? You would think that huge real football men over showmen has provid­ profits and the ability to make the commis­ ed the backbone for one of the most consis­ sioner look silly would be gratification enough tent teams in N FL history. Wilson also was for most owners. But man era in which owners the first owner to showt guts and rip the have become even more important than the Browns' move to Baltimore. players, it only seems right they should be 3. Jerry Richardson, Panthers: Another real availed the same honors. Or dishonors. football man who has surrounded himself The most decorated should be Lurie, who with the same. He’s the author of what forev­ in his first full season has led with his heart er wifi be the manual on how to build an NFL as much as his head. And the results are im­ team from scratch. pressive: a playoff team. happy fans and even And here are the bottom three: the dreaded “S" word. Thats right “stabili­ 1. Art Model], Browns: His recent comment ty." In a league that systematically promotes that Browns fans will eventually understand the taking of citied and municipalities as the move proves that he has no clue. hostage, Lurie has refused to play that game.

2. BIB BUwin, Cardinals: One question, and “Even in the short time I have been here. I it should be extremely easy. If you were Bud­ have seen the special relationship that exists dy Ryan's boss, would you fire him? between the town and this team." Lurie said *3. Al Davis, Raiders: How bad have his earlier this year. “It is a wonderful thing that moves beenSJhere are some that were worse I don’t want to.change," than the one from Los Angeles to Oakland.

Not that he’s afraid of breaking down bar­ — B ftlPU SC flK E

PLASCH KE’S POINT

DRAFT WATCH If you ask general managers and personnel directors about next year’s draft you won’t hear the words “exciting." “loaded" or “can’t-miss."

“There are certain positions that have some decent depth and quality, but at this point it doesn’t look like a great draft’ Chargers per­ sonnel director Billy Devaoey says.

OK. so the scouts aren’t|irooling. But even so, don’t be surprise*^) set several blue-chip players come ouL . Don’t expect a quarterback to be among tl)e first IO*picks. Taking one that high would reflect a desperate need, rather than the quar­ terback’s true value. *' There is exceptional depth at cornerback, receiver and offensive tackle, but defensive linemen and linebackers will be in short sup* ftty. Running backs are not bad. tight ends so­ so and guards and centers iffy. , Here’s a look at the top IO prospects: Ptayer

i■Mnn rVBDOn

1. K eyster Johnson WR <Z KeWiHanJy LB 3. Jorctfran Ogden or

School

use ■nos UCLA

4. Certie Jones vTJT - Oklahoma 5. teetand Mc&oy-x RB TexasAAM & Daryl Gariener Baylor • DE 7. Terry Gtenn-x WR Ohio State a Simeon Rice DEAS fe w 9.~& tfe George 10. Bothy Engram

RS WR

HL 6-4

WL

aa

240

&6 6-4

315

210

271

5-10 .200 6-7

315 5-11 185

66 250 Oho State 6-3 227 PemState 5-10 187

lUtnqr *© b expected to arte t v t a t

— Boa Gla u k a

WARNING:

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A SAFE ALTERNAT1VETO CIGARETTES

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18 • NFL SUMMARIES

T h e Sporting News

Pins Ftfitotae-ioc:

SUNDAY’S GAM KS * CHIEFS 26. SEAHAWK3 3 S«C 9»............. 0 0 3 0

V - 7VB4 *

»

*/N '

Sn

Rr*l Down* RatKu-YareJ P a n ty P o t RflCuro K irto f R rture ireereoptor Rnpjrr.

Com^A3-tt Sarted Yards Loc Pow. r tra d e *-LOS ''on.ibto YareT w r# PoBUxoor

.

£

17-25 63 'A MS?* ’ ■C I 12833 4 29* '0 4 f'

• #*

SP

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H outton ^ ..0 ButWo ........... 0

5 13 t; ; 28 0 3 14 I? Sacond Quart* ! ] — rkx/ -Satof).Cook hctttoCoins n«pe1 Tone '-34 Moo -PG Dei SWC 39 531 Hoi*—PG Ob Greco 33.13 IC Third Quart* B*A—PG Ow5h»44.248 Hou—A Thoqpo 4 nu (run toted; ASO HOU-R TYiorp 7 nu (Dc Grecc tt» ) 1036 j Fourth Quart* Hc*> -Wychoci 36 pea trere S Ucftw (Od Gacc tx ij 65*.

B<A—Reed 15 pas*-4am v * Pub (Chrtsa* ttX . 836 BiA-Am w* 19 pas* trera Van Pal (Ototte todO.’ 13-46 A—46253 Houv Bul Rrc Downs 15 .1 5 Rush® Yare* 3S1» 2 1 78 P as t? . .

16* X Putt Robins , 3-21 . .3-8 Ktefc# Rotgre 310B f t * chaton R etire 1-0 IVO Corp-AW t 12263 1333*.

14 4-40 Sarta3Y*d» loc 742 *45 Rim ..

1-1

26 646

.7-61

TYrwcr Rttneofcr

32r*l 27 1® tadM teri RUSHWG—Ptouttr. R TTwnai 2*4X1 Brra*. 5-20. S IM M 618. T McNair 1-17. Bust W . ButtaH Haines *22.

Joxtttei M I . T. Thom* 320. C o ft* I - I P A S S M B -ttu tx i & IM M 12230-168. Buttsto.

Vin Pet 13160-106 C o ft* 615-1-30 „ flE C S V W G -H o uftavW ytfK *672.Jeft»222.

Sandanl-44, Saftron M 2 . R L te ftlG R m I IG R TTora* IG BuMo. C l * 618. FMd 338. A m a l M i Coot* 5-28. L Johracn IG Jcudfti 1-7. G s rh * 1-4. lESSH) R S P GOAL A T T E M P T S -*** W TB C B ’TDNS-Houftoh. Jadaon IG WCKDFf RETURJC—rtauitxv Gray 3 7 1 B u tt*.

Jourdaln 6106. T H M * IG R K T RETURNS—4tx*torv & *|r 321 a * t e .

CopMnd 2 G Jcxidar IG S O S —H X M Cook I i i Jastaon I. B am * 1. B o* dan I. Ford BuCftx Hana*) I

JAGUARS 24, BROWNS 21 7 7 ?

3 0 11 Fteto Q uoit* J **-F G H rfta 4 2 .i< 2 .

— 0 Jecteom fte 10 Q M M

r 21 24

Jart—Jackson33 can taro BnnW(Heft*tart! 1056 Sacood ( t o t e Cl»-Jartacn39 p a t tora T m i i r t {Stow tort). 11 J **-D = G Hale 21.1122 Thtd Quart*

Cte-Whte 3 rui (SE** tort). 726 Foam Quart* .

Jart-flrunW 27 nr. (Jackson pass torn Brutal). 732 C le -T o tte n * I run (Stew IMO. 13:47 J J rt-P G H rfb 3 A ISO) A—66007

ca* FHI Drams Rush® Yare* Pasnnj P utR rture Kkrtoe Reruns I teroocOon Raure Camp-AS-bt Sorted-Yards Loc

26 28-134 316 2-18 S-82 36 2M 53 -5 8

Jid 18 . .27-106 268 38 f€ 8 36 17293 .67

7 3 6 13 6 6 R n! O u s t* Rcr nocrawwJ hr t * c one ane IWIkns tat*

',.36

OILERS 2S, BILLS 17

PoraBaa-Yardi

749 28X»

S io Fnndaco 14 Atturn ........3

IndM du* StottoScx CJSHING Sojrtc W a rr * I-.'. Breussad ? l l K tn r • a Pos: : I Uades ' -C S&ray I 0 Kamas Ct) Mi '3 KArr )C*-43 Oonrwc 6 ‘ ' Bono ?-(n**B I" Thanwscr iv Ander* «0 Vanover J pnjnu* ’ •'ASSING SooSc F ix *; User?” 0 vamas Ct). Pore 152® 1-20S RECSVKG -Seattle. Gateway b-50 C/umps* r 'V auna •• P Worm '8 . Story : J. ProoM * ^ Braossarc " :• Kamas Oh. Clawson * 39. Stooge® 3 :*3 Casft 345 it 'Java: 26 (wince i /anova «-9 Aneta 8 ■.CSS© HELD GOAL ATTEUPTtu Nor* sTERCEFTTONS Seattfc Jones ' C OCKOPP RETURNS -Soaae BreunartLW47 Stone • :C Kansas Oh Venery® 1-8? Thcmwtr. '4C -VNT RETURNS • SaX Bn R Hares I -6 Kansas Oh V enter 6-56 SACKS Sonar,. Edwards I Jbm at O h. N SmCh ; UC*W ’■ Phfico I Satatmua •.

PoieiB^Uie

30

FALCONS 2&,X9&is Z7

2d 6-56 2 TW 03 IM * ’ 'A .4 36 •■c

535 PO i

53£

PaHrtlrw RUSHING—Opvetand. Byre* '.382..WWU. 3 * Pm * * 622. Tostererta 326 J*±sorafte Dotter 16-36 B u n * S Kl U s a a n i* Stewart M 2 PASSING- Ovatarta. Tosurvwde 28-433325. Jaa sotec BntaW 17 236-275 RECEIVING—OweiandtJJdax.7-130. UcCardoi 775 Bvoor 64Z KtxJiqn 2-28. BfcftOp M 2 . M*90f M S. fcson i i I Pow n f-6. S m » i-6 JadaorwSe.U*st3n H i .

Jartscn*8' 3 7 3 W W **2-29. Sm*h2-27 Howard 1-24 MISSED FIELD GOAL A7T34RTS—0 **to n d . Sterer 40 iNTEFCSTTCNS—Jarteorwfte. Goganou* I -4. V Clart I-3 Gator. 141 IQCKOPF fffTURNS—Ctoi^tortL P s *« i 354. & jn * I 17. Alexander 1.11 Jaaaomtta. Ftowad 4-68 P U *! RETIRNS-Owstand. Ik C v M M S SACXS-Ovatind.JcfraonI JaAJcrrvto Cow, iv, Logar. I. Sneanp %

SP' 1' *

•

16 -TTO 3152

Ftonafi® Yards Brr* rf Poutoscr

3

7 3 3 Fteto Quart* KC v'BTOvt* SS rotm fEJce IXK .16 KC -PG O r t 37 <53 KC - PG Cicero U 3 * S tood Quart* S® PG. Pw *»cr34 125 KC vane*® 6 poa» tom Bone © c e BOU * « Third Quart* KC -PG B k * JXI 73S FourBi Quart* KC--PG EloEZT I£26

KenaaaCBy.. t3

2-Si

A5 PG AnOdrson 52. 926 ’ -.1 Jfcitf*s4-. pass Korr Roe (Wtem ucto '3-0?

N Second Quart* - i UnCaT :? pass tnrr. J George i f v t x n t r t o ; • )t> 3 f L o **1 I run f.V&ru LOI UP PG An0 *s e n ?8 13 ’ 0 ‘J PG Andor**-. SS -452 Third Quart* ^ U arir : sass (roo-. Mctoen'm s * sated 5 0' Fourth Quart* .-I PG iVtom39 2 r 7 ;» PG 32 * I 24 Ah lACw 37 aus H r - -vonr ixua 5*cd :3Vi •- 67 -Bi lf ■ AD Jrs Clowre.

27 X Rush® varoj IM C ‘ 656 Tasses 34f JC' rV r RotumC Kckof Retrm *-64 6 1 TfrttereooOon Rrturnj 3C^mevjus t r 3246!

J6406 ia o x o Yards L » 26 *• 2 >JTO 3-42 346 :-ir*)ies-Lac 16 30 PwuO o-Yards 4G5 M i Time rf P ran cer.

3319 264) tadMdujf SWJtOcs RUSW IG -Sar Franoaai, L»fte 1662. S YOT5 4^4 Asarta. Ho^wd 7-35. MecaB 4-12L Hetwd 3G J Goog* 1 6 PASSING—S » Ffanasas. S Youig 31-44-1 -316 Rice l l-041. Asarta. Hrtoeri 17-27-0-167. J. Gocrge 6130-112 RECEJVNG—San Frarttco. R te tM 53- U>«# 647 Stofcm 6106 Jonas 329. Water 26. Thomas M i Asarta.

KbCio M 4 . Emanutf 7 6 6 U fto f 691. BWen M i. Hor«sdM 7 I0SSS) FIELD GOAL ATT0ylPT5—Nor* W TS C S ’ TlONS-ASarta.RDas 1-17 K3CK0FF RETURNS—San Francfcao. Cart* 4-64 Ay torta. M atal 4-106 Andenoc 2-62 PUNT RETURNS—San Francteo. Cuter 1 6 Asarta.

Uncar 1-1.

SACKS—S *i Francttm. Jackaon 1. Asarta. Tigpe I. Artharrtoaau I

SAINTS 12, JETS 0 N a * Ortaana - 3 ■ 0 3 6 tt 0 0 0 0 H Y . Jato-------- 0 Ftet Quart* NO —PG Bn*) 32.836 Thtd Quart* 6 NO -P G Brten21 K A ' FoorthQ uat* N O —WW* 12 pan tom Evan* (pas* toted). R C A—77.143 HY. te a FtosDdwne is ll .

Rushee-Yert 2740 1687 P an ty 198 139 P o t Retune . *8 6 .

18 iQrtaB Rehem 33 ‘ 480 mrtepbor R etire .03 544 . .

C onp4a-ti 2 0360 2846-3 Sertad-Yardi UW 30 436 P o t* ........ .728 740 F o rttee U a 30 43 Penrftei Yard* 580 350 TtrerfPoneeson 2959 3031 ta d it t n ls a M c i RUSWIG—N a* O rtw * Bain 2346 fro w 2G 7 * tao M . Es*rtO 1-tmlva 1^. Nae YOX. Uurel 10-41 Brtcor 3 1 6 I M 2G Ratftiad IG PASS*JG—N a* O r * * * . Et*oC 20330-1 aa New YOH. BrtSSor 2 0 2 » -M ia EaMon617-265.

RECEMNG—N e * OtMrt*. SnM 440. Eartf 4^ 6 S raft 3 4 2 W M M I B n te 2-26 H ayn* M A N M 2G Na* Yon. Ite m 6 1 2 Ortbot 640. Y*txatXJ^i 6 6 6 Iftc ta l 644. Raatead M I ttfaon IG IfiS S S ) FELD GOAL ATTBJPTS-Ne* O tto ** Brian S I 54 INTERCEPTIONS—Maw Orteam Legato l-dSooncnr M .U c C M M flG KOCOFF RETURNS—N a* Yort. Sizier 2-26 Serta3 1-26 Carpert* IG PUNT flE H K N S -N a * O ho**. l t ^ * » 350. Lagoee 1 6 No* Yort. Sydm* i-6 SACKS—No* Orteara. Jo* Johnson 2 Porter 1.6 Jones I

BENGALS 27, WONGS 24 U n o M O tl 3 Cincinnal „ t S

21 0 0 0 14 IO FtetQ oart*

M V -F G R W 0C 2Q .525

d v -P G Petrey 44. £44 Serv'd Quart* Un-Reed 51 pan ta r. Moon (Revec toe*!. 652.

24 27

Urv-Uacasar. J7 rtereagoon rafejm (Rraiuc UOO 719 Un—Cart* 14 past tom Ucon (Revee todil i«S8 * TMI) Quart* Cn—6*n*tny 5 H r (Peter tortO. 352 Cn—Patens ' I pan tom Baka (P eter ***3 ’ I AO Fourth Quart* On—fctGoe 5 pan tom ESaka (Petey tart). 65S Qr>—PG P eter 51 HOO A—34568

Md

n r* Downs Rub*w» Yards Pastry P u t Rafc/ra tOrtoCRaeum IrtBrcacfion Refcms ConvAS-H S a rta d -Y ** Los Pats FurtteK oC . .

Pmafies-Yardi T H * al Posscpcr.

j

27 33163 285 1-3 350 246 26430 .

16 632 It 320 . . SUSS

U K hU 1 1 6 T u n * 13

SACKS—Caroba. Conn* I UCO) Pater 1 . O w ** t

D*nrar ...... 17 Oakland 7 -

O

18 1671 231 1-?1 .

5-126 30 23-4)-2 OO 637 OO *2 0 23:OI

7

0 14

14 0

JI 28

First Quart*

0 * i—Harts l l pan tom Hobo*. Uaag* tockL 627 Socood Quart* Don—C la r* 2 pan tors Sway (Ban tort). 431 Den- C W * 1 o r (Eton tort). 636 Oat—F e m * 9 pass torn Evans (toeg* tort), u t * Der*—PG Ban 45 iS itt .

Third Quart* Oat—Brown 4 pan tora Hobart Uaag* tort). 135 Oat—Oown 48 pan to n Hob*! Uaagv torso. 420 FoorthQ urtv Den—PG Ban 27. i l l Den -UcCatey 4 pan toro B*ay ©way ani. 9-14 Den—PG Bam 37 1 * 1 2 A—5CL074 •Dee OW FniDrairo 19 50 28-96 Rishes-Yards 531» 507 233 Pasrty P ot R etire 528 53 KOS* R etire 598 58' tepreeebx Rceore 53 •-3 2441.1 CcmoAa-tt 20303 ** Sarted-Yards Las 213 **ots_ 522 • *» -onSkB-Ur: 22 v* 1?

4-27 Tnabes-Yards “me rf Passesacr.

5207 r$ 3 rtfttadual SoWtoten -U S K N 6 Denvtr O dW 20-106 U fctm 6*-2 O k * ■ -C Drttond. Wfcrns 72-57 E « r * 3 l l K a u tw ?-r~v

IKIV kX>l QAI Ift4*.4

• jj3 ! Fumer v-1 ’.4

IO 1 * 3 20 Fin! Quart* CH Jomnas ’ 3 doss tom Kram* (Boo* ural i IC SacondQuart* p*> Gamer 8 nn ^Andervr toe*; 04 C7> PG 5vOf» 2? 505 Ch Jenrri© ) pass tram Krerner (Buoer tort' 1239 Fourth Quart* > > Henderson 0 ttnrte retm (Anoorsor. cc*) v^C Ch -PG Bud* 26 4 42 A—5239!

PW , O F«B Down* 12 23 •344 47 161 Rush® Yarch is : 169 Psssng PotRetore* 13 ’ 11-4) Kirtofl Rrtons 488 581 2-7 L-tarcertpn Reruns 1 t-2) Corp-AS-tt 15312 15801 Sarted-YenJ* Lad 4-22 •33 Pots ..4 v 539 J 43 FoTta»AoBt 53 PenafiovYards ..

33 , . i8 1 Tire rf Possessor? . / . . . .. 2029 3031 todWdurf Kltotal* 1 R U S tK G -P h teM rta . W att*! t M l Gam * 4-26 ^ A M M i Chicago Steam 30-122. Tftrar 11-29. Kram* M A T. Cart* 2G Conway IG TTmcaon IG PASSKG-PMadftsrta. Paeta 1631-2-189. O tago.

Kam a 1630-1-1 CD. R S S V W G -R M M tta . Cvpcra* 666 W att*! 3 12 R Johnson 241. BarwC M 7 . Ucr* 1 3 6 Jon® 1-17 Chtoa^L G r# *n 7-75, FatJosraon 2-22. Tcpacr 2-20. J*v ningi M 4 . T. Cart* 1-27,Conway M I. IASSH) FELD GOAL ATTB^TS—Chicago. Bud* 4Q. 37 K T S C S T O B - P * * M t t a . fk x m x m B i-(nftrus 2). Okago. M. C arl* IG M nggn IG KICKOFF R E TU R N S -R M M rta. W ta p o o n 342.

Jones 1-26 Chtaga. K Law*241.Tftnan I-Z I R K T RETURNS—R ite M M a . C * p * t * IG C a t* ga Undy i-{n*ius4L , SACKS—O teg o . StMtean 6 f^rtgan 1

REDSKOiS 20, PANTHERS 17 3

Wtsm^sxv U.

7 0 7 17 WKSiMiJSXI — f 3 7 3 20 F t * Quart* C * —PG Kasxy 42. 6 0 6 Was-Alan I ft* (M any tort). 10:10.

Eftrgiyi O tw tar W afr-FG M arty 2 1 254 C »-U ocra 1<*) (Kaaay tortL 1436 Ttftd O cart* Was—Aten I run (Vkmy tortj. 1137.

Fourth Quart* Way—FG Itetay 3 2 .3 6 C * -G w n 2 p a * tom C oft* (Kasay tort!. 1425 A—42JB3 C* Wa* F t* O r t * * .......... ...19 .

17 ftahaa-Yart* 24-79 . ..36151 fK,, Bhill HXX1TQ ............ ...183 . ...1 0 6 P iixR texr* . . . . . . 6 8 .. ...2 -1 8 nrtcoCRMzra . . . .

686 .. ...6 -7 9 rtorcapOon ftaana - . 6 3 .. ...2 -1 4 C o a p A M t. .10462 . 10-2*3 Sartad-Yards Loc . . 2 3 ..

2-19 .741 ..

P u t! . . . ............ .. 740 Ftrttea-Lo* ....... . 6 3 .. . .13 rs * — * pnaiaty t afcn ..

435 .

628 DmaclPosseason .2 6 3 4 .

3128 kxfrtdu* Satiates RUSHWG-Carftia. ttoort 1*47, JUJohnson 3 1 6 ChnsfianMaG Thomas2G C o ft* IG Stone IG GrtSti IG Watfiin^on. Alen 2682. Ifc h M 320, Wastttaok 2-26 Logan 2G PmroQe 2-tmrus 6). Shepherd 617.

PASSING—Caralra. Coins 16462301 Watftngen.

FforeCe 102*3-185 RECSVNG-Carolra. C a n * M O I. A Johnson *30.

Boche 3 3 6 Chrlsaan 3 2*. Greer. 2-21. WashtogCfv Blart 3 8 6 WtsSraok 357. A le n M 6 Asfar IG Wfehrt IG IflSSED F d D GOAL ATTEMPTS—None INTERCEPTIONS—Washtopton. WM K p tn M A Tun*1 3

. ,

BEARS 20, EAGLES 14

C a ro ftv

1

BR L•4Lii If «i e* 31, RAPERS 28

RLISH1NG—ASnncKXa, Graham 2 6 1 1 6 1 *) * 3 6 Moor.

2G Evans l4.Ram or IO enemas. 8tom*ny 8-57.Green 7-11. Scot 13 PASSIG Mmoacxa. » to r 2 6 4 3 0 2 K Cnrtnss.

Btotf 23402-231. I^ S ftr OI-OO RECSVNG-Uhnaaota. C a w 7-79. La* 749. Reed 6 I ll. Patnar 334. Dc* 322. Sander Hmnus 1) CncmsL P a c ** 6 7 1 Jcwtoh 630. UcGoe 4 ^ 9 . Seed 3 5 ! Bn ■wn^ 321. Durn 2-17 USSEDFTEID GOAL ATTEMPTS-UnrtBOtt. Remc 36 25.

NTERCS'TIONS- U r w t d i jartscr '3 7 Brxfr '■9 KOCOPP RETURNS- iimesota. tarnal 3-50 O ner -45 HJ 2-56 Dem 2-52 Bm cny 1 IC "UNT RETURNS idmesota. Pamrr • 3 Cn a n a Sawyer I 21 SACKS Cncmat. W *trm 1

PhfiacJNphto ..0 Chicago 7

— -66645

KJCKOF? RETURNS~C*alra. S te t* 3 » Stone?

27 W asfwrjm ifc h rt 2-66 W Bal M I ’ PUNT RETURNS—Carlina. Cam * 3-6 W a s tr e l

°ASS?4G Dormer S*ay 2*41. 1 320 Oattarei «oo*r 1 163133 Ei-ans 6 ‘ I 3 ICT

RECETV1NG Oen«r VJcCatey 9-99 P tts r t* ? * ‘ 0 3 * * *3o Srrteh 2-56 toto 2-19 ‘ 23. Chares* a r M i Oattand. Brown 8127 Fem * 620 Hobbs 3 * ’ 1 Wtems2-20 J « 1 2 a Cash'-12 UISSED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS -O otm x E a r. a INTERCEPTIONS- Oatoarxl UcOareO 13 KICKOFF RETURNS- Ocratjr. iB tu * 6 8 7 S f^ h ’ *

Otetsnfi. amal 681 .

*

=W

RETURNS—O erw L K u d 3 2 8

SACKS--OetM* Perry I Ctotoand. J Bnf■I. A Smo t

E^LPHINS 41, RANS 22 MtetJ _____ 10 : S LU w to______ 3

17 0 14 41 9 7 3 22 FMX Quart* I SC.-PG B o a rd <2.2^41 • Lte—PG S&yano«rta 33.716 Ua—Ptealoe 3 run (SfcyaroArt ort). 1302 Sacood Quarts?

SZL—PG B k a rd 27. *57 tto —Pryar 6 pen boro U artc (S 4 ^ *» rth tort). 756 lid IfcO tfla 7 pan bore Uartio (SftyanqyO tort!

1152 ■ Sl-JCnchen 7 pan boro Flypien (paneled). 1426 ' Ite -F G SJoyarortrti 4 6 15SD. Third Opart* SSL—& ir» 5 pan bora ftytftn ©aaucd tort). 1225 Pa r t i Quarter -» SSL—PG Btoaucfl 3 6 758.

I IM —Parm al* 7 ta i (Sb^anoweittrtl U S I ite -J rtro c r 37 trcrte retrn (Sloyanateh tort).

1441.

A—61578 Ma .

SZL FHI Downs................................... 1 7 ................. 21 fM haa-Y ardi.............................2 * « ............... 1668 Pantog....................................

2K 416 P a tR a ftm * 3 0 .................M 3 P G ** t e t r a . . . .

‘5 -1 8 8 ..............7-162 ktarcaoflonRatrm ........................ 13 . . . . 2 2 5 'C o n p 4 9 -H .............................. 2 3 3 6 2 . . . 23461 S*Kad-Y*dsLoa .. : ..2 -1 0 ... .3 1 7 P u ts .............................................5 4 5 .344 F ir tte a t nei .. .................... . 2 3 ..........3 3 PenaBn-Yardi ------ . . . . . . . . 3 3 9 ........ „ . 3 - l 5 TbnertPoeaetalon .......... .,J iS » .

2SD0 kxtrtdu* SmtsScs RUgSNO H a r i P Tnaiae t * 2 6 PQtiy 4 -a . liartrc 2 3 r*tfl 3 . ^ to e 13. Wteor 1-6 Byss I G IfcOifle IfmktM 5L Si Late. B M I 621. Bater 5 2 6 Ftabtoscn 3 3 r* n u 1). Bruet M i Repton M .

PASSING—ite m . Marts 23352296 SL lo ts . RypF en Z74M-32Q. Ban 233 -1 1 R E C eV N G -ilarrt, Fry* 65V Qart * 8 6 (teen *8 4. k t ilt ie M I . Bye* 34. PQby 28. R. W 1-36 ParaKee V I S i l a i t ftuce 16210. A Wngd * 4 6 K M w M i . Bftbi 2 2 6 Salay M A Fttbscn V-8, Thcraaa IG Otayton t. (rrte.6L U2SSS) R O D GOAL ATTEMPTS—SL L a * . Btoaxd 32 KTH C g T C NS lia n l Burttey IG SL Lais. T. W a ^ tM 6 PhfcT-7.

POOCOFF RETURNS 4ter l Sfrtas 2-79. UcOdOe I4 7 . S i f t 1-36Oft0 * 1 - 2 2 SI l o f t . D o a n 387.

PQttwi M S . M a y 1-16 PUNT RETURNS—SL Io n . IQxhen 681 SACK? I terry. Cran 1. Cotopn 1. T. A,-:rat a y t. SL la ft.P M *1 .G ft« t1 .

PACKERS 24, STEELES 19 P tts b v ^ i 0 10 3 6 .1 9 Graft) Bay — 0 14 7 3 24 SacoodQoftter GB-—B e m e 9 ran (torte tort). A2.

P»—PG. N. Johnson 3 6 957.

G B .-A frooks 19 pan toro Fasrt (torte kirtL 13D4 ^ P l la s 8 pan toro OPonnal (N. Johnson tort).

14.4Q U t e Q uart* .

G S - O r a r a I pan tom Favre (torts tort). 534 P I-fG 'N Johbion 2 6 11«.

FoorthOaartv GB.—PG. JSrt»47.134.

Pl—U s* 2 nu Ow totert. 411-

; : I I

F fS Drawn =Ajsh® Yards P *ssry P o t R etras KO C * R e tire . btoreecAcn R e tire Comp-A34t Sattsd-Yards Lac P o ts F ond e* Lac PentoD*»Y*d* T h * r f Possesscn

.

W W W

pa r 2 *8 4 314 53 690 53 33853 14 3-45 •33 18 3235 > **n C *

CLB •9 •384 295 325 589 53 24-303 21: 54' M 538 2T 25

RUa^KG-Pesbui^). UcAtee 17G2. OTtomrf M 2.

Loss* 24. Sewad 2G A»*y IG Green Bay. Barnec 1687 Fbw* 3 6 Liwwra 1-1 PASSWG-J*Sfiu?L OUcmel 33563318 Green Bay. Fwre 263233W .ikl4ahorl M 3 3 REC£3VKG -«sbu^L HKrtigj 7^7 Degper. 630 U te 6 6 6 SMrad 642. UcAJee 4-12. Brjen* 326 A^ery 1.

9 G w Bay. R Braoto 1MS7. l* » * » * 3 1 O r a n *4 6 to g *: 347. B a rm M 2 * MISSED FELD GGAL ATTEltf’TS—N g » K T S C S T O N S —M ar* •QCKOFF RETURNS-PCCwgv U te 677 WfcASw 1 13 Green Bay. Freeman 362. Thereon M 6 Jervvr ’ 1* PUNT RETURNS-^Greer Bay. Freeman 325 SACKS—PCsbogv K Green* I G irt* 1 Green Bat KUbertte!

SATURDAY’S GAMES CHARGERS 27, GIANTS 17 27 3 -17 14 o F H I Quart* . * PG DaOSO JO U 03 Second Quart* orewn 3 o r (DaAnc to o 33: ' .0 PG Carney 30. 756 Hamoon • njp (OnAiBOtartt '4 i£ Third Quart* s r rta»den« o r (Campy ort; iOS F o rt) Quarte?

S 0 -C ite r 8 nj) (Caney tort). 556 S D - Gayte 99 itr r a c t e recxn (Camp, wrti. 916 c D • PG Campy 45. ’ 123 . v-50243 ■ H.Y. SJL . r n ! Drawn ! 13 n 54-96 Rush® Yards <504.202 j Pnsns . .

108 ! P o l Return 28 *-23 j K osS R etire 1 444 .

5138 I rtaeepaon Robins 33 '-ag .

- 1 *2 *3 I Corop-Aa-W 2136-1 * . 1-1 ..

Sartad-Yards Leer 67 . 3 3 9 ....

542 I P tf^ i.................................

I FoTttoa-Uc. . . *3 . . 2-1 . 2-15 Ponaftas-Yards .............. . — 585 L Ttae rf Pooam on............. .. 52fl0 . 2S2C » m n l rjlH D T l RIJ$HK5—San Otego. Hayden 2280. F te J )* 3 8 . ClAv«r M O . Gteerl 2-1. Harmon 1-1. ( f t * Yort. Hampton 2060, Yrtwafley 8-17. t o w 4-16 Bas 1-6 Way 13, PASSKG—San Otago. Gteert 12-21-W7. Kxnhrtee 2 33-16 N a* Yort. Breeei 2V3M 2DG RECSVMG-San Otago, Uarte *8 7 . P tarni 4-16 J # teaon M 7 . G Yowg 122, Crtaman 611, Harmon 64.

IM b ft 18-N m Tort. B a i 4 4 6 Hanston 617. Plaroe 6 3 6 Gateway 3 2 6 Kay 2 4 6 9 w n rd M A D o n M G Ite S B lM A kBSSED FELD GOAL ATTBPTS—Nm Tart. Dftjeo 42 K T B C S T D N S -S a n Otaga Gtjte 136 IQCKOFF R ETUW S-Sft) Ctago, CsM cm 3 4 6 K *raor 1 4 Pta* Yort. le w * 6 7 1 W tew 249. Redraw* 616 PUNT RETURNS-San Otaga Catonan 23. N m Yort.

Uarehal621 SACKS—San Dtaga, tortfcn I. N m Y o t, Dft*d 1.

0 PLY Gtentt.. T. 3 S in Diego

UONS 37; BUCCANEERS IO D ate* U I 10 10 Tinge Bay _ 0 3 0 7 '

V 10 -

- . FtetGoartar Dr*—U c rtr 5 pasrtoro Iftia a l Otarwan tort). 4 5 4 .

D *—Scrags* 81 kxrtterftton (Hnaon tort). 1036 Rk b h H Q cfltS D *—PG Hanaoo S I 856 TA —PG Hun*) 27,1456 Third Quart* Bal Pantnft)9l pan to n Iftr ta l ftenaon tort). 3 6 CW—PG Haoaon 3B, 1456 I Foorft Qoartar De6-PG Hnaon * 6 636 T A -B to o n i na) Otetad tort). 7546 D * -4 & h a l I run (Hanson Ort). 161(1 A—60D48 Oft TA FtetDowna _____________ 24 T7*. ftehM-Yanft ..................... . . . 2 * 8 0 .. . . . 16-u * ' Pan t y .......................................... 648 . . . a . ..t7i PutFtatora ...................................13 .18 lfc fc * ftr t* W .............................. 2 2 7 . . . . 6-151 MBrcepfcnftatens ....... 2 2 2 ................ M 9 * C a n p A M *...........................

27-42-1...... I M M S artad-Y ardiU s......................... 2-15 ...... 586 P o ts ................................

-3 2 8 542 F o T tte H ltf.................................. 1 3 ......

22 Paratea-Yaeda ............................5 8 5 .............. 11-103 Ttne rf Posaenan........................Z2S7 ------ 2753 tadM dorfStfttaO a RUSWNG—0 ® o i. S*)dea 1846 Utehel 3 2 Fters 24. Penttan IG T«ape Bay. Rhft! 1286 Bbon * 8 1 PASSKG—OeeuAWftJwi 20461852. Sandao '• TO­ IL Tampa Bay. WftJcn 1127-6106 M ta rM 61-MB. ’ RECSVWG-Orfrol. U om W-106 Porfrw» S-136 Sandal 5-32. Horton 66A Steer M I Hrtnan 1-7 -Tg^pe Bey. H ia tts 588. Harris * 8 6 Harp* *4 9 . Armsroc^MA CapetrxJ 1-16 Btaon S3, Ftiec IG Thaaas I - b a t a t a HSSED FELD GOALATTBJPTS—None.

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2 -3 M MS M9 54 7-41 2904

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9 6 ll IO 3 I 6 7 5 5 9 ' 5

FC—FOA Pts. 141 34/4T « 132 31/38 ' 26/34 132 31/40 126 01/37 122 2«38 122 2908 121 27/34 tie 114 24/25 114 2301 114 77/31 114 v rx 113 2903 109 23/29

3909 46/46

yysst 2^ 44/44 3404 3707 • 42/44 4S/4S 3303 3303 2606 40/40 3407 27ffiB ie ^ 8

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R U S W G -ta H tt. R t a i M 3. LM 5-14. »»• hnn 2 > {n tts a . C a w 1-0. Moat 1-a San FnroKs. LmO* 1 2 ^ . & Yang 7 ^ W Uar M Ac* M & C a w i-

9 P A S S fO -taM O C a U co n2> 3M 2H Sal F n m * COL S Yang 3 X S X 2 S .

RECSW C-M nraacci. C a w t> 8 9 DaUng 4>29 b a d 34a P U W M 2 Im 1-4. Evas 1-4. San Fanoace.

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Ho. 83 72 83 68 91 82 65 85

77 57 63 72 74 65 52 68 57

Patmer. U n.

U 8d«i W a I Coleman S.O B v m . Bul UBxAn Den. G uifcirdC ar I Vanover. KC ’ Charter. SF , (kilow ay. Sea. ' Howard. Jack Jordan. G J Brown C a l Edmonds. T 5 (key. HOU

Na 26 25 28 20 31 44 SI X X 24 21

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Yds. 342 315 326 229 354 MTS 540 309 WO 246 213 364 2ST. .X3-

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0 Anderson Ad 2 Sm0i. Jadt Gray. HOU H urter. De. Pts. 144 m 104 102 0 . Ihomas. U n.

102 Clay. D el 96 W W B a m s.P l 92 Thomas. PTt. 84 0. Lewis. HOU 84 SnSm.MY>) 80 T. w iv i. s a .

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toe 105 102

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Yds. 1269 553 1419 S72 1095 964 36 43 1064 42 1037 564 23.

1617 ae 54 1306 2> 495 TS2 32 24 566 a 1025 62 "1411 541 2^ 24 540 IIG S3 SOS Z3

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68 63 60 65 63 84 63 61 56 69 60 60 61 61 61 69

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at 78 77 74 72 7J 71 67 :

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lie s 1497 1235 1224 1342 790 6S2 1307 915 1X1 1007 1039 IGOI 1039

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5.7

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A tt 314 5W 522 447 583 400 606 482 567 • 392 356 416 567 542 348 286 567 458 478

5?9

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P ct Yards'-^ Avg. T d Comp. Com a Gained GW ied 2575 8X0 200 • 637 7 74 4413 359 SJ O , SOX 3838 735 315 • 7 16 299 3200 669 744 348 59X 4338 2954 739 259 64.8 377 4228 6 ^ 62.2 64 I . 3688 781 309 7a 336 603 4143* ?4» 2883 >35 515 691 225 2480 63X 714 248 59.1 ' 2970 345 3970 700 608 732 316 58 3 ‘ 3970 6X7 2168 201 SSI 172 601 "1998 X99 X74 57 5 3822 326 255 3130 X83 557 7d7 •5 9 .0 3381 262 6.00 5X3 ZP ; ? ’? ’ 575 . -2 6 2 3 648 595 3402 SJO 56.7 2814 6 )7

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Tot 2042

lese 1884 1798 1748 1715 1707 KWR IS G 1553

1541 1536

Rush.

1705 ISOO 36 17 1487' 1087 1373 ‘ 0 1348 1078 ,1309 48

Rec 387

396

s.

1848 1781 261 648 <34

1686 247 475 232 1488

irw i. OU R Brooks. G J WQarrs. Oak. Oavts. Den. Heyward. Att L o ^ . SF Carter. lAn, Brown. Oak. Hampton NYG Uecca/f. Att Rhea. TB Thgpen, P l G ra/am C s.

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38 29 20 ?2 14 33 24 24 1?

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P ct Tt).

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12 6 14

5.0

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43

ti

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4.3 48 4I

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45

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2-<-.

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IO 13

49

48 3.6 •4Q 4.4

1371

1342 1324 1322 1317

nm 1301 1280

lo o r 995 935 ^ 3 ^ 3 923 91 5 908 B9.S 87 8 878 977 870 864 62.6 323 621 81 I 604 2 ^^

2X X9 eW

35 > 1 3

Tot 1521 ISIS 1489 1484 1433 1385

Rating

X8

Rush.

0 21 n 14 H I? IU83 723 0 0 1182 133

1207 •

Rec <521 1497 375

367 350 662 1371 .

1342 142 1189 HO 1307

0

1301

796

465

Best of the best U W « iT BUHS FBOM SCM M IM g

TOP P A S s n w P B f f o m m i c g

S tU liari, sumaartw prm M id b f STATS, tao.

124.7 I I M 1092 1132 B9-3 » 7 , KUO 96.4 1142 91 I \06J6 1252 9?-9 94.1 1047 10B2 SXI 1162-117d 882 1142 4312 792 1782 l» .a 11X1 13X6 11421152 I U 1X 2 H>4^ 9X4 9 U IX . I 89.4 1042 » 2 1092 1212 1332

4

Player

Team Yards

Scott Mrtcheji Vtnrry T.estaYerde MarV RYpten Jo^n ENfay Net! O 'D onrtell Steve Young Brett Favre W arren Moon

Oet. Cle. StU. Den Pit S.F G.B Min

.

362 325 320 320 318 316 301 294

___

P layer Jerry Ellison Lam ont W arren M icfiaei W estbrook Mark Brunei) Aaron Craver Edgar Bennett Curbs Marun Pasbaan Salaam

Team Y ards T B 75 ir>d 42 .

Was 33 Jack 27 Den 23 G B 23 N E 22 C hi 21

20 • AFC

'Hie Sporting News

son will be rem em bered top pick Kkjana Carter in the preseason was a as the darkest in team history*, and not just be­ major setback because it hurt on two fronts. cause what was hoped to be a Super Bowl sea­ The running back would have been-a ma­ son ended with the team miserably out -of jor part of the offense, and the team gave up a No. 2 pick to trade up th e playoffs. On November 6, Owner Art Model! announced plans to move to Balti­ to get him. a pick that would have been used on a cornerback. The result was the pass de­ more in 1996. making him the most hated fense was one of the worst in team history, al­ man in Ohio. The season on the field was al­ lowing more than 260 yards per game. With­ m ost as bad. The organization dumped de­ out Carter. Jeff Blake and the long-ball game fensive tackles Michael Dean Perry and BQI struggled against zone defenses-w ith the Johnson and failed to re-sign defensive tackle league’s sixth worst running game. Still, the Jam es Jones. The defense was sabotaged by team found its quarterback of the future in -waiting until four days before the season be­ Blake, who made the Pro Bowl with a daz­ gan to sign Eric Turner. T urner came in less zling knack for the big play. Wide receiver than enthused and not in football condition Carl Pickens rewrote the team record book in and it was reflected in his play. His season making it to his first Pro Bowl. If Carter re­ ended prematurely when he injured his back covers well, fans will be cheering for a topOctober 29. No Perry and not much Turner five offense. meant little chem istry on defense. Trading Looking ahead: The major need is for Carter Eric Metcalf and signing Andre Rison caused to oome back and be able to carry the ball 20 similar problem s on offense. to 25 times a game. All indications are that b e ­ Looking ahead: If Coach Bill Belichick and earn Blake needs help up front, so the team personnel director Mike Lombardi aren ’t will probably look at drafting a tackle with its fired, they are kidding them selves if they first or second pick. There won’t be many think ModelTs announcem ent is the reason free-agent signings — one or two. the team is the team fell apart. M ost of the changes will saving. But one of those will likely be a cor­ have to be m ade defensively. Linebacker'is nerback. The Bengals wifi probably draft a the most glaring problem. T he team has not com er, too. The defense racked up impres­ had a good w eakside linebacker in Besive sack num bers with le ft end John lichick’s five years as coach^C raig Powell, Copeland and tackle Dan Wilkinson develop­ the first-round draft choice in1995. could be ing into a nice one-two punch, but the team that player, but he showed no prom ise be­ will also be on the lookout 'for a right defen­ fore a season-ending knee injury in October. sive end since it had trouble all season re­ The secondary was a strength in 1994, but it placing departed Alfred W iliam s. The team will have to be overhauled. The biggest lacks leadership in the locker room. While all question is at quarterback — Vinny Tessigns point to Coach Dave Shula’s returning taverde or Eric Zeier? A new offensive coor­ for the last year of his contract, h ell have to dinator and Heisman Trophy w inner Eddie find a way to fill that void and win the G eorge a t - running back c o u ld 'm ake the winnable games.

— - t o f f HOBS* team better in a hurry— JffF SCHUUR

DENVER BRONCOS ’15 breakdown For a

H a s ta rocket As the season progressed, more and more defensive backs fell prey to Sanders, who emerged as a genuine deep threat with excellent hands.

team that brought in a new offensive m aster­ mind to work as head coach and rebuilt its de­ fense with a heavy in­ flux of free-agent tie n t, the season was a-major disappointm ent In his first year. Coach Mike Shanahan managed -to rack-up a lot of im­ pressive yardage, but his gam e-day manage­ m ent was lacking as the Broncos were per­ haps the m ost consistently inconsistent team in the league. A lot had to do with bad deri­ sions on free-agent linebackers Dante Jones and Britt Hager. A weak linebaddng corps, coupled with some untimely injuries in die defensive line, left the club with an erratic front seven despite the play of prized free agent Michael Dean Perry. But just as many gam es were lost because of offensive failings.

At least two were lost because Shanahan in­ sisted on playing w ounded receivers unable to. get open, and a few o th e rstvere probablylost on careless turnovers by quarterback John Ehvay. This, rem em ber, was a team with six Pro Bowl selections, not including Perry. Elway or rookie sensation Terrell Davis, the biggest surprise of the d raft Lookiag ahead: Th? hottest topic is die future of Elway. 35. who is approaching the end of his career. But with one year left on his con­ tra c t Ehvay has indicated he wffl probably

PR ISS"

’95 breakdown: The sea­

IP/ASSOCIATE

tional wisdom was that G.M. John Butler made a series of blunders by showing seven starters and 14 reg u la rs the door after last year’s 7-9 finish;! signing three de­ fensive free agents — linebacker Bryce Paup, end Jim Jeffcoat and nose tackle Ted W ash­ ington — while neglecting the offense; think­ ing that the thirtysomething; core veterans — quarterback Jim Kelly, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Cornelius • Bennett and wide receiver Andre Reed: and 29-year-old Thurman th o m a s still Chad thriving ca­ reers. But Butler’s decisions proved to be right on target. The foundation of the team's su ccess has been improved defensive play, ^highlighted by a ferocious pass rush (keyed

by Paup’s league-leading sack total), looking ahead: The most crying need is for a speedy, big-play receiver — even if the team retains Reed, who becom es ah unrestricted free a g e n t BiIi Brooks and Steve Tasker played remarkably well, and Justin Armour seem s to have promise as a possession re­ ceiver. But the team needs to develop its go­ to guy of the future. The Bills should give se­ rious thought to signing an experienced quarterback to back up Kelly. .Rookie Todd Collins is not ready to fill the starting job for an extended period. The BiBs desperately need .a good blocking tight end. Lonnie Johns& vseem s to be slowly coming into his own a s j^ re c e iv e r. but Buffalo’s running game h d siv f been the same since the free-agent loss end Pete Metzelaars. The Bills are likely to do everything possible to retain free-agent offensive tackle John Fma. but they would be wise to draft a tackle/guard to enhance their depth. Neither Jerry Ostroski nor Corbin Larina has been able to get a firm grip on the right guard sp o t -r—Vie CARUCCI

’95 breakdown: Losing

CLEVELAND BROWNS

PNU

’95 breakdown: Conven­

CINCINNATI BENGALS

OAVTOJ

BUFFALO BILLS

Impressive Stride: Pickens will be playing, and starting, in his first Pro Bowl play for a few* more seaso n s Shanahan should also be better able to use his talent m ore con­ sistently. thereby taking som e of the pressure off the defense. But a couple of dominant players are needed on defense, most espe­ cially a disruptive pass rusher to replace the retiring Simon Fletcher. Help is also needed at lineSacker and at .cornerback to replace a g - 1 ing Lionel W ashington. Defense will be the * focus of the draft —JcSffB S A U S

HOUSTON OILERS ’95

breakdown:

Bol­ stered by an outstand­ ing draft, sm art freeagent acquisitions and sound coaching, the team had a chance to win every game but the two against the Steelers.

In the third year with the same system, the defense was the strength. Injuries hampered the pass rush. and the team seldom had huge fourth-quarter leads in which opponents were forced to throw, yet the defense was consis-. teift for the m ost part because of shrew d: schem es and solid performances. Strong safe­ ty Blaine Bishop was the team ’s best and most consistent player. The highly paid offen­ sive line was strong tip th e middle with guard Bruce Matthews, center Mark Stepnosld and guard Kevin Donnafley. But the story on of­ fense was the em ergence of three rookies.

Chris Sanders. Rodney Thom as and Steve McNair. Sanders was exceptional in the sec­ ond half, a genuine deep threat with excellent hands. McNair showed the coaches he is ready to compete with Chris C handler for the starting job next season.

Looking ahead: For the first time since the salary cap went into effect^ h e Oilers figure to have a lot of room to maneuver. Such high­ ly paid veterans as defensive tackles Ray Chil­ dress and Glenn M ontgomery and running back Gary Brown probably will be waived or asked to take huge pay cuts. Expect corner­ back Cris Dishman to be named the fran­ chise player. In free -agency, the. Oilers will "pursue a right.end wljo specializes in rushing the quarterback and probably' move Henry Ford to the left side. They wffl try* to sign a right offensive tackle: In th? draft, they will use their No. I piek o n ^ running back or re­ ceiver. Depth i s o is needed at linebacker and safety.

—Jon SfcCUH

;

'January 1,1996

AFC•21

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Racing In to '9 6 season with the team in 1994. safety Gene Atkins began to blow assign m en ts and ulti­ mately becam e a disciplinary problem. Trace .Armstrong did not improve the p ass rush as ’95 breakdown: The hoped, and defensive tackle Tim Bow ens did b ig g e st su rp rise and not becom e the force in the middle thaWbhe disappointm ent cam e at team had hoped. Receiver Irving Fryar start­ quarterback. The team ed strong, but the team som ehow forgot-h e thought it had upgraded w as around during die middle of the season, the position with the ac­ and he w asn’t much of a factor the rest of the quisition of C raig Erick­ way. One p e a sa n t surprise w as right tackle son from Tam pa Bay in and first-round pick Billy Milner, who took the offseason, but Erickson faltered in the over 4or injured Ron Heller and improved first two g a m e s and lost his confidence. Jim steadily throughout the season.

H arbaugh turned the team into a playoff con­ Looking ahead: Defensive coordinator Tom '95 breakdown: T h e tender. Show ing that confidence and bard Olivadotti could lose- his job after nine seateam lik es to m ock work can pay off, H arbaugh led the league in sons. along with running backs coach Tony th o se who predicted efficiency rating and earned his first Pro Nathan- Shula say s he wants to return to ful­ anything le ss than an.

Bowl selection. T h e defensive line shined as fill the final vear of his contract. W hatever .AFC W est cham pi w ell T h e defense w as ranked in the top five onship. In truth, only a [ ch an ges in the coaching staff hfc m akes will in stopping the run. allowing 89.8 yard s per probably be m ade before the Scouting Com ­ real v isio n a l*0 would gam e. T h e linebackers were adequate, and bine in February rn indianapolis. The Dol­ have predicted it from Tony Bennett had another solid seaso n rush­ phins are likely to once again dive into’ free the ruins of 1994. During the offseason. \i ing the quarterback. A m ajor area o f concern agency to m ake Shu la's final year successful. w asn’t so easy to-se e that the offensive line w as the defensive backs, who gave up nu­ The team is looking for help at receiver be­ would block so splendidly and make ih e run­ m erous big plays and m ade few them selves. cau se Fryar will be 34 in Septem ber. Gary ning gam e a consistent weapon. N obody T h e offensive line stru ggled , allowing 42 Clark and Randal Rill don't appear to be the knew how Steve Bono would do. Bono strug­ sa c k s and providing little room for M arshall answ ers, either. Speed at linebacker is anoth­ gled with h is accuracy for long stretch es but Faulk to run. Still. Faulk posted his second er need.

—Anura SALOM otherw ise did what he w as .asked: limit mis­ consecutive 1.000-yard season. takes. Defensively, the Chiefs were pothing Looking ahead: T h e offensive line h as four short of superb. End Neil Smith an d tackles starters w hose contracts are up. including Dan Saieaum ua and J o e Phillips had out­ tackle Will Wolford, center Kirk Lowdermilk standing se a so n s and helped the C hiefs'con­ and g u ard s Randy Dixon and Jo e Staysniak.

'95 breakdown: A break­ sistently shut down the run. T h eir inability to Another area of concern is the secondary and down is exactly the do so the previous seaso n w as a m ajor prob­ what to do with the agin g Eugene Daniel and lem. The C hiefs scored four defensive touch­ right term for what hap­ fourth-year player Ashley A m brose, who has downs, all in the fourth quarter or overtime. pened . this seaso n . never lived1up to expectation s: Special team s Every area of the team need to be im proved, with the focus on ge t­ Looking ahead: T h e b iggest offseason priori­ ty is to keep intact the offensive line, one of — offense, defense, spe­ ting players who are adept at punt and kick the leagu e’s b e s t T h e C hiefs started the cial team s and coaching coverage and obtaining a bona fide punt re­ p ro c e ss by recently sig n in g cen ter Tim — had a hand in the turner. T h e quarterback situation m ust be Grunhard to a long-term deal. But g u ard s team goin g from preseason contenders to a sorted oui- H arbaugh is expected to re-sign, D ave Szott and WHI sub-.500 group of under­ but rum or is Al D avis w ants to m ake him a Sh ield s can becom e free achievers. T h e coaching R aider. E rick so n will likely b e sh opped agen ts at th^ end of the staff w as unable to cap­ around in the spring, lf he g o e s. Paul Justin, se a so n and the C h iefs ture the co n sisten cy of the World L e a g u e s MVP, will have to step the ‘94 group that won ks would do well to retain up.

— T o s t Mnb e s s both for *96 and beyond. last seven gam es. Tfie ex ­ odus of key players via T h e d u b h as spent con­ free agency deprived the sid erab le re so u rc e s on attracting a gam e-break­ team of veteran leader­ ing receiver and -hasn't ship. N ew com ers ilike '95 breakdown: After a i im R oberts. .D avid yet su c c e e d e d .

The .se a so n in which he M eggett and Je ff DcllenChiefs may have to re­ started IO gam es. Mark bach were unable to.gen­ place Willie D avis, who BruneD h as shown that erate ch em istry. The he indeed h as the abili­ can be a free agent.

Longer term. the Chiefs b ig g e st disappointm ent ty to be a good starting w-as qu arterback Drew will need a quarterback.

Duedng QBs: Bledsoe (left) after a rare q u arterb ack in the 3 led so e. A Pro Bowl per-.

They gam bled by putting victory against the Bills 'Jim Kelly. leagu e. However, he form er in ’94. B led so e No. 4 draft pick Steve w as hindered by the fact the offense lacked a was the last-rated quarterback in the confer­ Stenstrom on w^aivers a s they tried to get him big-play receiver, which is so m e th in g . that ence for most of the season , barely getting to their practice squad. He was claim ed by wifi be ad d ressed in the offseason. As the se a­ the B ears. Defensively, the C hiefs have a lot , into double figures in touchdow ns and barely son wound down. rookie running back Ja m e s of ag e at defensive tackle and in the se c ­ ; breaking the 50 percent m ark in com pletions.

Stewart w as looking iik s.th e b ?ck the team ondary. They may ch oose to took to the fu­ ; The defense also was a m ajor problem, a l l o w thought he would be when it m ade him a ture at both spots.

— ADAM TOO© | in g 4 0 plays of more than 20 yards. Of tho***, .first-round. pick. Up front, rookie tackles j 19 went for touchdowns, Tony Boselli and Brian D eM arco improved i Looking ahead: One of B ledsoe s main probeach w eek and by the end of the seaso n were | lem s was lack of a dependable deep threat, good players. B oselli’s pass-blocking is a big j Vincent Brisby had a solid seaso n but never reason Brunell m atured a s a quarterback. ’95 breakdown: The sea­ ; achieved go-to status. Good c o m e rb ack s The m ajor disappointm ent on defense was took him . out of the offense. The primary son began with the the play of the defensive line. End Je ff Lageneed in the^offseason is a dependable deep . prom ise of a Super man.' who m issed the last four g a m e s with a threat on the outside, lf they get som eone in : Bowl. It d isin tegrated foot injury, and tackle Kelvin Pritchett both into one filled with bick­ ■ this draft, their offense will have the potential had trouble getting sac k s due to constant erin g am on g co ach es j of being a s good as anybody’s — providing double-team s. In the secondary, cornerback I and players. At the end ' B ledsoe g e ts back on track. A quarterbacks Ylnnie H ark caught a lot of heat. but it would o f the 1994 se a so n , i coach is a m ajor priority, and a p ass rush er or have been hard for any cornerback to cover Coach Don Shula identified the p a ss rush-as I two is also a desperate need. But a new ofwith the lack of p ressu re up fron t th e team ’s greatest need. But infree agency ] tensive coordinator would help tremendqusLooking ahead: Expect the Ja g u a r s to be very’ Iv. and Ren Erhardt’s contract with the Seed­ ag g ressiv e in free agency. The top priorities the club signed tight end Eric Green, who e rs expires this season. Reuniting P a rc e ls are finding deep speed and so m e pass-rush com pounded the problem by failing to gain with his form er offensive guru would help far help. A few wide receivers the team m ay look Dan M arino's confidence and becom e inte­ more than anything else.

— KEYW M K H at are C h icago's Je ff G raham and Philadel­ grated into the offense. After a stellar first

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

vO.T,ir^ o . . a r a i » bitin&; thai J av; b o t : ! t h r «»ire t o r Cup a r u Ir.vi_ C a r t i t l e * , d e c i d e d l r tile xa^t : a c - , .ar.; car l o o j. ^ Oi v . a r i t o :r.o;*r

phia's Fred Barnett. If the learn d oes g e t help through free agency, it will move toward the defensive front through the draft. However, the team will be tempted by CSC wide re­ ceiver Keyshaw n Jo h n so n . Also, if Ohio State's Terry Glenn com es out. his speed will be som ething the team will consider. .As for getting pass-rush help through free agency-, the team will look at Dolphins linebacker Bryan Cox. ; — PHE PRISCO

KANSAS CHT CHIEFS

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I. S t Ignatius 14-0

NORTH

(Cleveland, OH)

Record

2 . M idw est

City (OK)

14-0

Record

«•

1.

3. D e La S alle (C oncord, CA)

ISO

L P enn H ills (Pittsburgh, PA)* IS0"

15-0

Providence (New Lenox, IL) 14-0

4. P en n H ills (P ittsburgh, PA)

State 4A champion has 28 victories in a row.

2. B erew ick (PA) ISO Bulldogs have a stronghold on eastern PA and a Class 3A title. •

5.

St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 14-0, Wildcats are state Division I kings for fifth year in a row, this time with a nadonal-championship crown.

2.

Catholic Central '

13-0

(Redford, MI) Won state Class:2A title.

4.

Penn (Mishawaka, IN)

14-0 Northern Indiana ^powerhouse captured the Class 5A title and is on an 83-game " regular season winning streak.

5. Stillw ater (MN) - State Class 2A champion.

14-0

R oosevelt (San Antonio, IX )

Indians are western PA power and state 4A champion. t9

3. S t Joseph (Montvale, NJ) Top-ranked team in the state and Parochial champion.

16-0

. 11-0

6. B erw ick (PA)

15-0

7. B rentw ood A cadem y

15-0

4. Jam estow n (NY) 13-0 Repeat state Class A champian has won 26 games in a row.

J*

154)

5. C heshire (CT) 4 12-0 On a state-record 43 game winning streak and L division state champion.

C FN )

8.

Spartanburg (SC)

9 P in e B lu ff (AR)

14-0

lo . P rovid en ce

14-0

(New Lenox, IL)

Record

1. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 13-0 Bob Ladouceur’s Spartans have yon 52 stra ig h ted 86 of their last 87.

Record

M IDW EST

3.B ishopA m at

12-1-1

(La Puente, CA) Back on top with a victory in the California Southern Section Div. I final.

4. S t Louis (Honolulu, HI) 12 I State titles pile up on the island as Coach Cai Lee brings home a 10th straight championship*.

5. Poly (Long Beach, CA) 12-1 Rough-and-tumble schedule; lost by a point.to Bishop Amat in the semis.

15-0 State SA champion has won tides in three different classes.

Record

•

2. S t M ary’s (Phoenix, AZ) 13r0 State 5A champion was led by QB Ryan Kealv’s 41 touchdown passes.

I. Brentw ood (TN) Academ y

I. M idwest C ity (OK)

IM

State Class 5A-II titlist.

3 P in e Bluff (AR) 14-0 Won the state Class 4A title for the third year in a row.

15-0

Second straight 4A-I .crown and 30 straight victories.

• •

14-0

First repeat State 6A champion in 20 years is on a 28 game winning streak. •'

’.Roosevelt (Sam Antonio, TX)

2 S partanburg (SC) 3. Southw est DeKalb (Decatur, GA) ; * QB Quincy Carter led the state 4A champion. i *

14-1

4. Bo Des (Jacksonville, FL) 14-1-1 % 12 underclassmen start on the Class 4A titlist

•

4.S a lm o n (SBdefl, LA) 14-0 Repeat winner of the state’s 4A crown.

sH azelw ood E ast (St. Louis, MO) 14-0 St Louis-area power snatches the SA fide.

5.

A m ory (MS) 30 straight victories and ^second consecutive state 3A tide behind TE Rufus French.

• 15-0

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NFO *25

January 1,1996

o

Monday night's gam e against Dallas. Offen­ sive guard Duval Lbve did not approach the Pro Bowl season he had last year for Pitts­ burgh. The only draft pick to make a signify, cant contribution was receiver Frank Sanders.

Looking ahead; The needs are many. The of­ fense could use another tackle, a. tight end who can catch and a quarterback who throws for more touchdowns than interceptions. The defense needs a right cornerback to go along with Aeneas Williams. Weak safety, a key spot in Ryan's system, also needs to be ad­ dressed. An elite pass rusher is ^needed. If Ryan is back. and that’s questionable, look for him to go after two of his former players.

Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunning­ ham and Green Bay tight end Keith Jackson, both free agents. Look for Ryan also to bring in a new offensive coordinator, —t a r T Soffits

ATLANTA FALCONS *95 breakdown: The line between success and mediocrity was a thin one for a second consec­ utive season under Coach June jones. Road gam es at Arizona and Miami could have been won by gaining one additional yard and at Buf­ falo and Carolina by completing one more pass. One clutch play by the defense could have won any of those* games. The team fin­ ished 2-6 on the road, but five of the losses were decided in the final plays. T v e said all along, the season comes down to winning your d o se games," Jones say’s. “We did it three or four times this year, and then we • didn’t do it three or four times." This isn’t to suggest the team is a player or two- away jrom a Super Bowl The defense again was horren­ dous, especially against the pass. On offense, quarterback Jeff George, running back Craig Heyward and receiver Eric Metcalf had nice . seasons and cannot be faulted directly’ for the 1 offense's inability to deliver a knockout punch.

Looking ateatfc George, left tackle Bob Whit­ field. receiver Terance Mathis and defensive end Chuck Smith are the key potential free agents. The team will do everything it can to sign George to a long-term contract but it may get sticky. George is miffed about not get­ ting a new deal last fafl. Barring an 'unexpect­ ed change of heart by ownership, Jones will be back. The team has shown improvement and has been a high-effort unit under him. and while there is still a long way to go. progress suggests the best route is to stay the course

Looking ahead: The team lias to get some help for Collins on offense. Itll target big-play re­ ceivers in the draft and free agency, and also will ny to upgrade the running back situation, .Already, the Panthers are attempting to r e sign Derrick Moore. The team also will be try­ ing lo upgrade at tight end. where Pete Metzelaars. 35. looks to have little left except two years on his contract. Itll also target improv­ ing the offensive line. The team probably will try to re-sign unrestricted free agent center Curtis Whitley and likely will seek extra help at cornerback and. if it can find it. the defen­ sive line. Outside linebacker Danon Conner. an unrestricted free agent with a clause in his contract that gives the team right-of-first-refusal for any offer he gets. may bt* replaced, af­ ter an inconsistent season —CHAOS Chudlb.

CHICAGO BEARS

i b ack Maurice Hurst or they' may use their i No. I pick there. ...Four-fifths o k h e offensive I line will be free agents. So will Conway. GraI ham and Robert Green, the team s most pn> { ductive all-around back.

—J o n MULA

DALLAS COWBOYS ’95 breakdown: Nim* gam es into the season, the team was the bes; thing going, sitting at s J and holding a three game advantage ove” San Francisco ’ fir home-field advantag* throughout the playoffs. But all that change* cm the -second play of the San Francisco gam* when jerry Rice turned an S-yard pass into . shocking * I-yard touchdown. The lean hasn t been the same since, its weaknesses exposed. .Among those are the lack of a deep threat wide receiver, total lack of a viabU third receiver, lack of an aggressive nickedefense, teams throwing on linebackers un­ derneath. inability to stop the run following several injuries and the loss of Pro Bowl cen­ ter Rat Donaldson. Those w eaknesses off-set the strengths created by Troy Aikman's pass­ ing touch. Emmitt Smith marching toward a fourth rushing ti­ tle .‘ wide receiver Michael Irvin hav­ ing a career season and the arrival of Deion Sanders. .Also causing con­ cern .was the inabil­ ity to scfrre touchdowns inside the

’95 breakdown: The fell from 6-2 and a spot among the NFC elite to Surprising s ta rt Willie Greene and the mediocrity was painful Panthers were more than theHfy. I expansion and bitter. The offense' team. carried the team. Erik for another year. That said. Jones must make Kramer's throws to Cur­ some bold moves to address the defense. The tis Conway and Jeff Gra­ team m ust acquire- younger linebackers, and ham gave iH e 'Bears two 1.000-yard' receivers consideration should be given to hiring a in the sam e season for the first time in team proven defensive coordinator. — T an FUSCX) history. Conway became a big-play th reat and Graham was solid again, catching more than ' 70 passes for tfte first time in his career, with. h is second consecutive TOcatch year. Rashaan Salaam's fumbling was costly, but he justified ’95 breakdown: T he Pan- j his draft slot (21st) with double-digit touch­ thers might be the sur- | downs. The offensive line came together be­ p rise team of the NFC ! yond expectations. It had seven no-sack Th$y won more gsoies j gam es and improved in run-blocking as, the 20. in ir o w (four) than i j y j season went on. But defense and punting were Looking ahead: Be­ previous ' pansion^ sion i crisis areas. After cornerback Donnell Woolcause of monev tearrfLjyon s^ so n N|s ford went down with a tom quadriceps tendon (three). ___ ______ earfr November, the team lost five of-its spent to re-sign Donaldson built almost exclusively through’free agency, next she The defensive line2* ^ the No. I con­ several players and to sign Sanders, little financial ability is avail­ cern entering training camp. It never really im­ ranked in the top IO in the league throughout the second half of the season. Buoyed by ex­ proved and too often left a vulnerable sec­ able under the salary cap. What you see is what you ll get in ’96. with the exception of tra pioks. the team came away from the col­ ondary hanging. Jim Flanigan* was the only several of its own free agents the team might lineman who provided a consistent pass rush. lege draft with four hard-to-find positions not be able to afford. .Among those are Dar­ well-filled for the future — quarterback (Ker­ Looking ahead: The defense has to be fixed. ren W oodson. Russell Maryland* Larry Defensive tackle and cornerback are the trou­ ry Collins), left tackle (Blake Brockerm eyer), cornerback (Tyrone Poole) and a pass-rush­ ble spots. and those are pricy holes to fill. I Brown and all three starting linebackers (Robert Jones. Darrin Smith. Dixon Ed­ Tackle Carl Simpson probably’ won’t be back. ing defensive- lineman (Shawn King). The wards). The return of Charles Haley from bust was offensive tackle -Derrick Graham. *Ana Alonzo Spellman, a free a g e n t won't be back surgery' is essential, otherwise Leon hotly’ p u rsu ed Pat Riley, a b ig g er, player, who received a four-year. $6-million contract Lett likely will be moved to defensive end and but wasn’t even starting by the end of the sea­ could replace Spellman at left end. Don't be son. Another disappointment was wide re­ shocked if the Bears make Woo lforb avail­ that will necessitate spending to re-sign Maryland. Also, the Cowboys could be thin ai able. He’s their best defender, but hell turn ceiver Don Beebe, who rarely’ played until he cornerback — rem em ber. Sanders could still took over the kickoff returns late in the sea­ 30 January 6 and will be entering his final —MttKT SWOWU contract year. The Bears may pursue comer- I play baseball._. son.

CAROLINA FANTI IKRS

24 * AFC/NFC

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SqnrStBetars: Few teams, including Eddie Anderson's Raiders, have had. a prayer beating Greg Lloyd (right) and Pittsburgh, which is geared up Jar a Super Bowl run after a stow s ta r t..

NKW YORK J in 'S

OAKLAND RAU)KRS

’95 htw M owi : On the' day he hired Rich K otite.. Owner Leon Hess proclaimed. T m 80 ye^rs old. I want re­ sults now." So what did he get’ The worst -nonfcxpansion team in the league. Kotite did a poor job of assembling talent and-coaching it but he doesn't have to worry about his job. He’s safe for at least one more season.Buthis offense was so Jjad it once managedonly 13 total yards in a half.

Bad personnel moves and injuries shredded the offensive line and the receiving corps.

Kotite's grand plans for a two-tight end attack never materialized. Johnny'Mitchell the only legitimate playmaker on offense, was a non­ factor most of the season. Rookie tight end Kyle Brady started well but faded drastically.

The sacrificial lamb was quarterback Boomer Esiason, who was pounded week after week.

On the j$lus side, Kotite had one of the stingi­ est defenses in the league over the last IO games. .With Marvin Jones, linebacker Mo Lewis, cornerback Aaron Glenn and rookie defensive end Hugh Douglas, the team has the foundation for a strong defense.

Looking ahead: The offseason will be devoted to improving the offense. The only players who can count on starting jobs in ’96 are Brady, fullback Brad Baxter and rookie guard Matt 0 ’Dwyer, insiders believe Kotite will make a run at free-agent quarterback Neil O’Donnell of Pittsburgh. If he can't lure O'Donnell % to New York. Kodte - mavrn have littie choice but to re-sign Esiason. H ie two biggest needs: offensive tackle and wide re­ ceiver With <t high draft pick and plenty of money to spend on tret* agents, the learn has th<- means to nil the holes. The key is spend­ ing is wisely, something that wasn’t done last offseason.

—ftffl Cat®

'95 b r sa U m : The team showed promise early in die season, then collapsed down the stretch. As Coach Mike White acknowledged, the team unraveled at die slightest hint of ad­ versity. Oakland’s penchant for penalties and turnovers wiped away th e u p h o ria of an 8-2 start The draft did produce one big-time tal­ ent in running back Napoleon Kaufman, and the free-agent acquisition of defensive end Pat Swilling was brilliant. But they were not enough to mask the deficiencies of the Raiders. Their lack of depth at quarterback proved costly when Jeff Hostetler went down with an injury to his left shoulder (and ulti­ mately needed surgery). .Some veterans questioned the work ethic and attitude of younger players.

Looking ahead: The offseason agenda starts at quarterback. Hostetler, who turns 35 in April, can become a free agent The Raiders may let him leave and pursue a younger quarterback, possibly Jeff George of Atlanta. Rocket Ismail has not developed into a dependable wide re ­ ceiver. so the Raiders must find somebody to take pressure off Tira Brown. They want to re-sign running back Harvey Williams' since they wonder if Kaufman is big enough to play on every down. To open holes for Williams and Kaufman, the Raiders may seek freeagent help along the offensive line; tackles Greg Skrepenak. Gerald Pern' and Rpbert Jenkins are all uncertain if they will return in 1995. On defense. Oakland needs tn keep swilling, its best outside pass rusher. The club also could use a play-making safety, somebody capable of causing turnovers: Raiders safeties h^d no interceptions in 1994 and onlv two in the first 15 games this season.

—Rn Kaaawa

iMTTSBl K(»H STKKLKRS *95 brw ktow * Why did the dub win its third AFC Central tide in four seasons? H ie develop­ ment of Neil O'Donnell and a passing game: O'Donnell came back after breaking his throwing hand in the season opener to lead die dub to a strong finish. Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen was another surprise, as was versatile rookie sensation KordeD Stewart After a slow start, Erne Pegram and Bam Morris developed into a solid 1-2 running combination. One of the reasons for the late success of the running game was rookie Broiden StaL Defensively, the team over­ came die loss of cornerback Rod Woodson, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in die opener. After a lot of juggling, the sec­ ondary finally settled down. The defense got better production from the line,, particularly ends Ray Seals and Brenton Buckner. Line­ backer Chad Brown was likely headed to die Pro Bowl until he injured his ankle October 19 against the Bengals: ; LfiOfcbg stead: The team’s biggest priority is resigningJree agents O'Donnell and offen­ sive tackle Leon Searcy. O’Donnell who says money w ont be the determining factor to re­ main, says he wants-to stay with the dub. But >the front office has to decide if it wants to dis­ rupt the salary cap by signing O’Donnell Af­ ter a terrific season, h ell command a deal much larger than die three-year, $8-miIlion contract he signed Nin 1992. Also, does the team want to sign him to a long-torn deal with St^wartwaiting in the wings? The.chib will try tb^igh^earcy andHkely make room under the cap by releasing one of its highpriced veteran linemen, maybe Tom Newber­ ry br John Jackson. Justin Strzekzyk would assume a starting spot —fia tTDSUC

SAN DIRGO CIIARGKRS ’95

Itm U m : The U O lfl showed bow resplent it was by overcoming numerous distractions to contend for a playoff sp o t Ever since linebacker David Griggs was killed in an offseason car accident the defending AFC champion freed numerous obstacles in its road back to the playoffs. For a run-oriented team to rebound without a healthy Natrone Means is a significant accomplishment Among the pleasant surprises was die emer­ gence of running back Aaron Hayden in Means’ absence, Same goes for cornerback Terrance Shaw, after he started most of the season for an injured Darrien Gordon. The team hit a free-agent jackpot by bringing in safeties Shaun Gayle and Bo Orlando. The Chargers also were pleased with the play of wide receiver Tony Martin (career highs in­ catches and yardage), QB Stan Humphries (one of his best statistical seasons), Leslie O'Neal (among the AFC sack leaders) and defensive tackles Reuben Davis and Shawn Lee. Looking ahead: Expect the team to beef up its linebaddng corps. The Chargers would like to replace Gibson, and outside linebacker Lewis Bush is playing out of position. Don’tbe surprised if Junior beau is the only '95 first-stringer starting in ’96. Some key deci­ sion' must also be made regarding free

agents. Among those possibly leaving are running back Ronnie Hannon, tackle Harry Swayne, O’Neal and Lee. The team could im­ prove its questionable stable of receivers by putting return specialist Andre Colem&i into die mix. He’s proved how dangerous he is in the open field. The Chargers are without a first-round pick in *96, having traded it to the Lions to draft Terrell Fletcher, —t a PAB

SKA'ITLK SKAJ IAU KS

A b r a u m The diffi­ culty of the AFC West schedule and the adjust­ ment to a new coaching staff caused the 2-6 start By midseason, playas found a liking to Dennis Erickson’s pew system. The secondary, which allowed 21 touchdowns in the first nine games, solidified itself with soBd play. The steady play of de­ fensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and lineback­ ers Winston M oss and Terry Wooden spread to a point where the team could compete within the division. Offensively, the Sea-' hawks added firepower. Top draft choices Joey Galloway and Christian Fauna added impact Quarterback Rick Mirer struggled i during his third season, but john Friesz might have been one of the steals of free agency.

Lookiag s to a t The future looks bright but N threats of -moving the team could affect its chances to recruit in free agency. The team f needs a pass-rushing defensive end, another cornerback, one.big offensive lineman, depth at linebacker and, more than anything else, roster stability. Too many top plaiters slipped I away while the team thought it am id bringlfrs^-* better prospects. Key re-signings involve half-" back Chris Warren, wide receiver Brian Blades, left tackle Ray Roberts, p&nter Rick Tuten and strong safety Robert Blackmon.

The team can designate Warren the franchise player if contract negotiations go nowhere, but that also could lead to a costly holdout Roberts has a transition tag, but the team doesn’t want to pay top IO offensive fine mon­ ey. If the team can keep Roberts, it can move left tackle Jamie Atkins to guard and have Kevin Mawae challenge Fun Sweeney at cen­ ter. Mirer will work on technique during the offseason so he can regain his starting job from Friesz.

—Jo* CUTT®

ARIZONA CARDINALS *95 tm k d o v i: .T h e to m expected to make the playoffs this season, but turned out to‘be one of die league’s biggest disappointments. Near­ ly everything that could go wrong did. It started in camp when linebacker J amir Miller and re­ ceiver Chuck Levy, the top picks in the *94 draft, were suspended for violating the substance-abuse policy. But the biggest reason for the poor performance is the collapse of the defense. Last season, the defense was near the top of the NFL in nearly every sig­ nificant category'. This season, it is at the bot­ tom in the same categories. Help didn't arrive from the draft or free agency. Right comer Patrick Hunter, signed from Seattle, played just five games because of a knee injury- But oven when he was healthy. Hunter wasn’t a favorite of Coach Buddy Ryan’s. Quarterback Dave Klieg had 19 interceptions entering

m»n

January 1,1996

The next two most important free agents are left tackle Jumbo Elliott and Sparks. Running back Rodney Hampton also can become a free agent and keeping him around while Wheatley develops might be too costly. ...

The biggest draft ne&I will be at linebacker.

The team also could use a pass rusher, youth and depth on the offensive line and a big-otey receiver.

- N a Bor

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES "95 b m k tftn : When Ray Rhodes said last summer he felt he had a playoff team. most peo­ ple laughed.

But Rhodes has done a job worthy of Coach of the Year honors. His team has overcome one injury after another to earn its first playoff berth since 1992. Rhodes has gotten major contributions from his top three draft picks — Mike Mamula, Bobby Taylor and Barrett Brooks. Despite missing three games with a dislocated shoulder. Mamula has 5l/j sacks. Taylor’s play at cornerback is one of the major reasons the team is second overall against the pass. Brooks has Started every game at left tackle. The biggest offsea­ son acquisition, though, has been free-agent running back Ricky Watters. Watters has been the key to the running game, setting ca­ reer highs in rushing yards, rushing attempts and touchdowns. The biggest disappoint­ ment has been wide receiver Fred Barnett.

He was expected to flourish in the West Coast offense. Instead, he all too frequently has been invisible, catching just 46 passes, looking obo l4: A lot of time will be spent at the negotiating table this offseason. The team has l l starters who win become unrestricted free agents after the season, including six from its third-ranked defense. Middle line­ backer Kurt Gouveia played better than any­ one expected. But he started to wear down in the second half of the season. Rhodes says he wants Rodney Peete back next season, even though the free-agent quarterback finished 13th in the NFC in passing. One thing the oftense -badly needs is a pass-catching tight end. The Eagles probably also are going to have to find a replacement for Barnett, who is looking for a lot more money than they feel he's worth.

- jP tfl DOM im

ST. LOI IS RAMS *95 k n U m After a 51 start, the team wasn’t the same after a 44-10 loss to San Francisco on October 22. From then on, it fell into bad habits, hearkening back to the days in southern California: turnovers, silly penalties and criti­

W a t e Ii Playoff Fantasy Football Weekly!

cal errors. Quarterback Chris Miller didn’t running back and a pass-rush­ throw an interception in his first four games, ing defensive end. Derek then tossed 15 in his next nine. Jerome Beths Loville did all that was asked experienced a surprising fall from grace, of him, but he's not going to telling well short of 1,000 yards for the first scare defensive coordinators. time in his career. But a pair of second-year Problems running the ball are. players had breakthrough seasons. Fluid, ^one reason a team record was soft-spoken wide receiver Isaac Bruce set set for passes attempted this franchise records for receptions and recep­ season. At 37, Rickey Jackson tion yards. On defense, undersized tackle had a great year rushing the D'Marco Farr became a hit in the new “jet" passer, at one time making defense. An undrafted rookie free agent in sacks in five consecutive *94, he was the team’s sack ieader and best games for the first time in his firm an on a defensive front filled with mil­ 15-year career. But Jackson plans to retire.,A replacement lionaires.

Looking steak: M iller’s season ended prema­ will have jo be found via free Salary-cap con­ turely December 3 when be suffered his fifth agency. concussion in 14 months. By late winter, the straints will limit the shop­ organization will know whether M iller plans ping on the free-agent mar­ to return' or will retire. His situation will di­ ket. and 'the top priority is rectly. affect free agency and draft plans, be­ keeping the defensive back­ StMfcfiag fetedc Even with DQfer not improving as much as —ta M ila expected,\the Bucs should've been over .500. cause there is no quarterback of the future. veld together.

And what happens to Bettis? He was the sub­ ject of trade rumors late in the season. Other needs are at left guard, linebacker and cor­ nerback. The team would like to sign former ’95 b rBtefan : The '95 krvtedm : The New England cornerback Maurice Hurst to most disappointing play right corner and slide Anthony Parker Bucs were in their usual player was Heath turmoil as the season over to nickel back. Playing against San Shuler, who was set Francisco and Atlanta, the team feels it can’t ended with Owner Mat back by injuries •and * have enough good defensive backs. Free colin Glazer ready to didn’t make the hoped- * agents of note are linebacker Shane eonian, move the team unless a for progress after a de­ tight end Troy Drayton and cornerback new stadium is built cent finish as a rookie.

Todd Lyght —JB I TUUS Coach Sam Wyche un­ QB rating even slipped from 59.6 to 55.6. der fire, and their 13th consecutive non-win­ ning record. Among the disappointments was and he attempted few downfieid throws. free agent Alvin Harper, who never material­ Though Gus Frerotte outplayed Shuler, its ized into the big-play receiver his four-year. Shuler's job to lose at camp. Injuries limited *95 fcrak d m : This $10.6-million contract demanded; quarter­ rookie receiver Michael Westbrook and team proved once more back Trent Differ, who should have been guard Tre Johnson to nine starts apiece, dam- ■ it is folly to write it off. showing more improvement down the aging an inconsistent team. The Redskins Even with quarterback stretch: and a secondary that started strong didn't receive as much help as expected from Steve Young and sever­ but was exposed as the year wore on. Still, big investments in linebackers Marvcus Pat­ al others injured, the the team had enough talent — and a soft ton and Rod Stephens and safeties Stanley season was turned enough schedule — to make the playoffs, if Richard and James Washington. But halfback Terry Allen may have been the NFL's top around at mid-year. At not finish on the plus side of .500. one point it even looked like the playoffs Lootiog teete: Unless plans are finned up free-agent bargain, producing more than were in jeopardy, but another NFC West title for a new stadium. Glazer likely will move the 1.200 yards for $450,000. was clinched with two games on the sched­ team to any number of cities eager to have Looting stead: Only five starters are unre­ ule. Two controversial offseason signings the NFL in their backyard. Assuming the stricted free agents. The Redskins should be played a big role: offensive lineman Kirk franchise remains in Tampa, the next item on able to re-sign receiver Henry Ellard and Spafford and defensive back Marquez Pope. the agenda likely will be to thank Wyche for guard Ray Brown, and they wont worry if tight Sanford, a career backup, proved to be a four years of service and clean house.The of­ end Scott Galbraith and defensive linemen valuable addition when injuries h it and he fense, Wyche’s supposed area of expertise, Tony Woods and Marc Boutte leave. The club started at four ofthe five spots along the line. was pitiful most of the season and there are ‘ has the rights of first refusal on Allen and tack­ And last spring,1Coach George Seifert was problems between the head coach and some le Ed Simmbns and plans tomatch reasonable virtually alone in believing Pope, who‘had of his key players, such as Differ and Harper. offers. Rebuilding the defensive line is the ma­ been a safety with the Rams, could play cor­ The teamHcould take some hard hits on the jor priority, with Detroit's Robert Porcher and nerback in the N FL But he played so well free-agency front with middle linebacker- Dallas’ Russell Maryland especially attractive.T the defense was better than it was last sea­ Hardy Nickerson eligible to become unre­ The Redskins would like to use their top pick son. The draft provided little help, although stricted February 16. Others who are eligible on a defensive lineman, but there may not be top pick J J. Stokes, an emerging talent at re­ to become free agents are guard Charles any worthy of such a high selection, so a trade ceiver, was coming on at season’s end. The McRae, wide receiver Courtney Hawkins, de­ down is possible. The Redskins believe Joe team enters the playoffs with its weakest fensive tackles Santana Dotson and ‘Marie’ Patton, who filled in at left tackle, belongs at running game in years and possibly vulnera­ Wheeler and safety John Lynch. Depending guard, so they'll be shopping for a veteran left^ ble to a defense committed to stopping the on who they loserin free agency, the team still tackle, such as Atlanta’s Bob Whitfield and needs help in several areas, including the de­ Buffalo’s john Fina. An all-around tight end. a pass.

LMfclag ten d : The major shopping areas fensive and offensive lines and in the sec­ young linebacker and a solid blocking fullback —fltth S U E S would be nice additions.

—BAWD Elf* figure to be the same as last year, a big-time ondary.

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The Sporting News

NKW ORLEANS SAINTS *95 breakdown: For a

team frying to rebuild its defense, the club was doomed for failure byallowing defensive starters Sam Mills, Dar­ ien Conner and Vmnie Clark to escape via free agency. Then came the big blunder Jim Mora's decision to terminate the contract of Pro Bowl kicker Morten Andersen and aflow him to sign with the Falcons. Early season in­ juries to key defensive starters plagued the unit’s transition from a 3-kto a 4-3, and mkny of the new. inexperienced players had trouble grasping the scheme. The defensive prob­ lems were magnified when die offense failed to be a factor early on. By then, the team was 0-5. Of the rookies, only second-round pick Ray Zeflars shined. Top pick Mark Fields flopped. Cornerback Erie*Allen and lineback­ ers Richard Harvey and Rufus Porter were solid free-agent acquisitions.

I M id i te n d : Even if Mora survives Owner Tom Bensons postseason evaluation (which appears to be a long shot), ifs obvious the front office needs a savvy, experienced foot­ ball man to replace deceased Jim Finks. The three-man team of Mora, Bill Kuharich and Jim Miller has failed miserably, especially in the free-agent m arket Instead of spending $14 million on Allen, the team would have been «better served spending money on players like Pw ijpj te e ] r. Packers fans and quarterback Brett Favre embraced Brooks (87) as the receiver to replace Stetting Sharpe, and Green Bay rode a Bryce Paup, Michael Dean Perry or Henry high-powered offense into'the playoffs.

Thomas. Michael Haynes was a nonfactor af­ •_____________________________________________________ , -_ oter catching a career-high 77 passes in '94. ik V c j Again, the offseason priority is defense, specif­ I) ITR OD LIONS (iRHKN HAV PACKKRS ically the Ane, cornerback, safety and line­ ’95 bretedow r Unless ’95 breakdown . The *95 breakdown: The 1995 backer. Receiver Quinn Early, tight end Wes­ defense dropped from ley Walls, offensive tackle Richard Cooper and the team reaches the Packers broke new Super Bowl, the season ground this year on ofthe NFL’s top ranking center Jeff Uhlenhake are key unrestricted —M c STON will be considered a dis­ Tense'.

Quarterback in 1993 to 20th. More, free agents to be re-signed appointment. It ap­ Brett Favre broke his im portant it surren­ peared Capable of big club record for touchdered the most points' things, but the coaching downs in a season and the team has allowed NKW VORK (WANTS staff took too long to tap •threw for more than since 1984. There is its potential. It took four weeks for Coach 4.000 yards. Wide receiver Robert Brooks young defensive talent: rookie safety Orianda breakdown: The Wayne Fontes to dump the run-oriented for­ and tight end Mark Chmura were his favorite Thomas and rookie cornerback Corey Fuller. team did not come dose mations and go exclusively to the three-re­ targets, but six different players had 30 or But the losses c4 nose tackle Henry Thomas, to ^Coach Dan Reeves’ ceiver set. and it took him until the 10th week more catches. The running game was solid safety Venrie Glenn and end Chris Doleinan 11-5 goal, thanks to an to work out the team s defensive problems. with Edgar Bennett’s 1.000-yard season and have caught up t o ,defensive coordinator 0-3 s ta rt a difficult, By then, it was 3-6. lf Fontes could have cor­ fullbacks Dorsey Levens and William Hen­ Tony Dungy- The offense continues to thrive schedule, bad breaks rected those problems earlier, the team derson emerging as a multi-talented tandem. behind the passing combination of Warren and a lack of big plays. might have made a run .at Dallas and San On defense. Reggie White had another great Moon and Cris Carter and running back Quarterback Dave Francisco for home-field advantage. The Li­ season — despite injury — but the lineback- Robert Smith. And the draft provided a quar­ Brown was expected to be the offensive key, ons at the Sflverdome are twice as dangerous ing corps and the secondary didn’t make tet of starters: Thomas, Fuller, end Derrick but his slow development was only part of the - as the Lions on the road. The. team got a big many big plays, Alexander and tackle Korey Stringer. problem. He was hurt by lack of protection defensive lift from free-agent nose tackle Looking at e a t The team’s top priority is to Looking ahead: Moon, 39. has thrown for 30 and the failure of receivers to get open. The Henry* Thomas, who has been everything ex­ upgrade the talent at middle linebacker. Ifs touchdowns, proving he still has what it takes backfield was a b u st with the biggest pickups pected — and more. Thomas has not tailed unlikely theyH pick high enough to get some­ to play at a high level. The team plans to ex­ in the draft (Tyrone Wheatley) and free off as he had in previous.years. one out of the draft but there are a few play­ ercise an option and give the Moon-Cris agency (Herscher Walker) failing to make an Looking s te a d There are going to be some ers in free agency they may target such as Carter combination another season to dick. impact Defensively, the Hnebadting corps coaching changes on the defensive side with Tampa Bay’s Hardy Nickerson. Don’t be sur­ The defense has only one starter — under- struggled, with Michael Brooks failing in his emphasis geared more toward John Teer- prised if the team takes a shot at Phoenix’s achieving end Roy Barker — who can leave move to the middle. Mike Cruel making little Iinck’s aggressive 4-3 style. Unless the team is Eric Swann, who will command a giant free- as an unrestricted free agent The pitier IO impact and Corey Miller getting benched gutted by free agency, it should be a much agent contract On offense, the team needs a defensive starters are signed through the over a six-game stretch. The team’s most stronger defensive unit because of young breakaway runner to complement Bennett 1997 season. Players to watch next season: pleasant surprise was a secondary that fea­ players who have benefited from a full season and it will look to get that through the draft middle linebacker Jeff Brady and pass-rush­ tured curnertttckPhinippi Sparks and safety under Teeriinck. The team must be aggres­ Among its players, the priority wifl be to re­ ing end, Martin Harrison. Brady played well Venae Glenn. Did Reeves miscalculate* the sive with the re-signing of free agents. Offen­ sign Pro Bowl tight end Marie. Chmura. If when Jack Del Rio was injured, and Harrison talent level or was it “Just One of those sively. three line starters will be be unrestrict­ -ifhm ura signs elsewhere, the Packers wfl] recorded five sacks in a four-week period.... years?" The truth is somewhere between. ed — fro Bowl performers Lomas Brown and ra v e lo persuade free agent fe ith Jackson to Look for. the Vikings to bid farewell to veter­ Lookteg stead: The foremost decision will be Kevin Glover and guard Doug Widefl, a two- return. The team would like quarterback Ty an guard Chris Hinton, who cost them $2. mil­ Reeves’ future. He has two years remaining year starter. The team’s high-powered attack Definer back, but he will get a good look lion and barely played because of knee prob-' on his contract but has openly criticized man­ will fizzle quickly if Scott Mitchell and Co. from the rest of the league and might accept Iems. Injury-prone running back Smith is a agement procedures: The front office does can’t gel adequate blocking. Defensively, the an offer where he can be a starter. He has ex­ restricted free ag en t and Coach Dennis not want a lame-duck coach for two years, team could lose Chris Spielman, Bennie pressed an interest in returning to Green Green is considering his options. He likes and both sides would be well advised to sit Blades. Robert Porches Corey Raymond.

Bay. however. Others to be re-signed include Smith’s speed, but if someone makes a big of­ down and settle their differences. ... Brown, Millie Clay and Robert Massey. Kicker Jason guard Harry Galbreath. wide receiver Antho­ fer, the tearn might decline to match it Every­ the most prominent of l l potential unrestrict­ Hanson, the NFC’s top scorer, also will be an ny Morgan, nose tackle John Jurkovic and body is high on rookie running back James ed free agents, probably will be back. He unrestricted free agent —TOH KoittflO tackle E ^ l Dotson.

—'I OHSiyaSTHI Stewart * showed re a l improvement down die stretch. _

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January 1,1996

come unrestricted free Bakei* against having agents. And anybody else to play, night in and you have under contract, night out. against Ae w hra their contract is up. big centers rn Ais they become an unre­ league, having to lake stricted free agent YouYe Ae pounding." in a situation where it ‘It's a big relief." probably doesn't do you Baker says. ‘ Being any good to have playas young, I didn t really around you are trying to realize how much of a develop, lf a pjayer is a relief it was to have a guy who is going to be center. I felt I want to two or three years away, go out and play cen­ unless you’re an expan­ ter. power forward. sion team, you are better But it's a big differ­ off trying to get a player ence and Aar's helped who can play. now.* us a lo t We’re going OK. circumstances in to have A al spot the NBA have changed. sealed up for us for 1 ^ the truth is, this team, Ae whole season." in the fourth year of EhinStill. A ere is con­ le a v /s tenure, w as sup­ siderable speculation p o s e to make a playoff the moves came be­ took sam beet he (u:quired Benjamin (l^ in la te nm and it simply was not November, bid least now he doesn't have tofigure oui koto to stop him. cause Dunleavy was r e ^ . True, the Bucks under pressure from bf basketball matches A e players.* finished one game outof the playoff last sea­ Ownd* Herb Kohl to win immediately. Dun­ 't is easy to say A e Bucks have a better leavy scoffs at A e notion. T rn not feeling any son. But they also finished 3 ^ . Even Dunroster than last season, because Acy l e ^ says the proximity to the playoffs was more pressure Aan I feel in any particular weren’t exactly A e Magic in *94-95.

But misleading. year," he says. “Look, I knew coming into this ►how much better are they? job it was gomg to be tough. I will say I “Last year. we missed it by one game, but Among A e acquisidoos, Cummings, who the level wasn't where it was supposed to maybe didn't know it was going lo be Ais was signed as a free agent N ovem b« 2. inito u ^ . But that's why I had an eightyear con­ be.’ he says. "It was a fake. It wasn’t realis­ mediately earned A e respect of his tearotic.* This season, the reality is the Bucks tract It's a monster to get it done in five. mates. ^ t A e trade wiA Vancouver that opened 3-9 and, as the New Year ap^ years. It was a .bigchaBenge and I accepted it brought Benjamin raised eyebrows. Ben­ And I SAI accept i t And Prn going lo fulfill it 'proached, are playing like anything but a jamin's abOhy is acknow ledge but has atti­ playoff team, And I fee! good that we’re going to geuhings tude has b e e quesdoned at every stop — taken care o t" ^ e came back with the unit that we had and he’s had six of Aem. “We know ^ a t Dunleavy, who is also vice president of baslast year and we had a tough schedule, but everybody else says.* Dunleavy says. “But kelbaD operations, did not come lo. Milwau­ we didn't get off to the start that we want­ A e dearest ^acture that I have of hun is when kee as coach and general manager. He was ed.* says power forward Vin Baker. “We’ve hired as coach in but Ae obvious prima­ got to do things for thisTteam to get better. cy of that eight-year contraa warned off oth­ We've got to get on with i t We’ve got some er Candidates for A e G.M. job. So he got Aal older people in here now. We’ve got some portion, too. And h^wiD say now that maybe people in here now that have been in play­ one job. A e coaching job. would be enough. off situations. We’re trying to get to the “I never came wiA Ae intention of domg place we want to be fa st And that's the boA jobs." Dunleavy says. ‘It just happened. playoffs.* It's tough. It is. The further I go into it there’s Ah. Vin Baker. His play has been superb. times vAen I think I would Uke to wear just He could get a hernia carrying the teant one h a t I love coaching. I’ve always felt Aal At 23, he wfll be around for a while- But at the I could work wiA anybody. I would like, if we outset of the season, the Bucks were set at got somebody in here (as general manager). only two positions.

■that it would be somebody I know and trust There was Baker and the other forward, that I feel good about’ the SfiS-mOIion man. Robinson. And while DuoJeavy's coaching credentials were in I t i? #-v I / f ?

Robinson’s offensive game is a thing of beau­ order in Los Angeles, where he compiled a ty combining strength and touch, defense has TOl-63 record in two seasons. He has not be­ not become a priority. Then again, defense come incompetent because of Ae colder cli­ hasn t been much of a priority for most of die mate. His shortcoming in Milwaukee rests odiers either. wiA not being able to persuade his young That diere were some major holes to fill team to play defense on a nightly basis. He became evident November 26 and 27. vriien, I says it is f r x ik r a t^ aJAough he attributes it in separate deals with Boston and Vancou­ parity to in e ^ rie n c e d players. ver. A e team gave up Todd Day, Alton Lis­ But inexperience win no longer serve, eiter, Eric Mobley and Erie Murdock for A er as an excuse or a descriptive term. Dun­ Sherman Douglas and Benjamin. The key leavy says his team is improved, and notes player was Day, because it f^ re se n te d A e even if Ae new additions don't work o u t Ae largest miscalculation of Dunleavy*s career. salary slots of Benjamin and Duckworth Dunleavy spent a lottery pick in *94 to get ^ aam: Baker is the Bucks'brightest star, but alone vail open up more than $6 million un­ Day. who was believed to be A e best shoot­ he couid get a hernia from carrying everyone. der Ae salary cap. ing guard available. But before A e season.

Maybe Dimleavy acted rapidly and wisely Day's career shooting percentage was a Asin changing circumstances, er maybe he ap­ I was wiA Ae Lakers and I was trying to fig­ appointing .424. plied Band-Aids to gaping wounds, lf his Dunleavy is normally protective of his ure out how A e hell am I going to slop Ais moves work. this was a well-devised shorUrul c h a r ^ in public, bul not this time. “In Ae on A e road to recovery If Aey don't Ae opinion of our staff, we were being hurt at Baker, who led Ae league in minutes last team could become a league-wide joke. season, is also happy to have*somebody who A al matchup night in and night out," he said Bot Ais much is certain: This edition of Ae can play like a center. Too many of his minof Day's d e fu se after A e trade. "We needed Bucks is no longer the team of Ae future.

•jlefi came out of position — at center — be­ to make axhange."

This was a n e w era. until recently, when it be­ c a l l Baker was Ae best option.

Day expressed surprise and a trace of bit­ gan to look like a used era. You suspea at any “Wc made deals to get bigger, in order to' terness. “The whole A in? is idnd oi disapmoment Dan Schayes will come running out protect our young laleni." :>unleav\- says of poindng." Day says. “I was ne\*er Lreateti lik*on Ae court. ^ Ae trades for Benjamin and DuckworA. who a lottery pick. We were never se ttle . We had was acquired from Washington on O a o b e r . .\ftchael Bauman is a columnist for the Ae chemistry to win. but mr some reason. ic. *The main locus Nvas to try to protea a Vin Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. we were not clicking. I don't reel Aeir style

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In Milwaukee, a slow-but-sure approach to building a franchise suddenly has been replaced — through the acquisition of aging veterans — by a necessity to win C o n n e cticu t P rid e. A g ain st th e P a c e rs .

Reynolds seem s better thao you remember.

He makes some nice assists. He grabs some t s crunch time at Bradley Center in Mil­ rebounds. He does a good job of defending waukee — Bucks vs. Pacers. The home against Reggie Miller. T hose arms are still team- is up. 79-76. •with less than 40 sec­ very long. onds remaining. You check the floor. . .And then it happens. Ice is coming up the You see Yin Baker arid Glenn Robinson, left side on the dribble. There are several de­ the fabulous frontcourt cisions he can make, all of them potentially You see Lee Mayberri'. You see Jerry (Ice) good. Ice picks up his dribble. Ice resumes Reynolds. his dribble. Ice travels.

Ice Reynolds J .And after the game. Coach Mike Dnrileavy You don't know whether to be amazed or says that,'outside of the point guard, the guy demoralized.' Is this a dream sequence he w’ants with his hands on the bd l in-this brought on by ingesting an undercooked kind of crucial situation is Reynolds, because; bratwurst? y o u know, he is a veteran.

See. Ice Reynolds, who-has been out of This does not feel like progress. This feels the league for nearly foot: years, reminds like Bill Murray in the movie, with the same B u cks fans of another era. But this is not morning, the same groundhog, the same like Packers tans being reminded of the everything, endlessly repeating. The Bucks Lombardi Era. Reynolds was the franchise's bounce back from Reynolds' blunder to de­ first pick in the 1985 draft. .Al the time, there feat the Pacers, 84-80. So this story has a hap­ was a Milwaukee product available, practi­ py ending. But does it really? cally sitting in the same room and wanting This w*as supposed to be the season in • desperately to play for his. hometown team. w'hich the Bucks matured. Instead, it is look­ But then-C oach/G .M . Don Nelson passed ing mofe like the season in which the Bucks on Tern- Porter, who went on to a proud got old jn a harry with the additions of T e n y professional career with Portland and Min­ Cummings. 34: Kevin Duckworth, 31: Benoit nesota.

Benjamin. 31; and Reynolds. Some youth Instead. Nellie drafted Ice. glowing about movement. ^R eyn old s’ “wingspan." Milwaukee fans r e I Suddenly, a slow-but-sure approach to member that the team passed on Terry building a franchise — guaranteed by Dun* Porter in favor of a pair of long arms. leavy’s unprecedented eight-year contract — So while you're watching Ice Reynolds. seem s to have been replaced,by a sudden ne­ 83. you're thinking he is somewhat symbol­ cessity to win. The moves hint at desperation. ic of the subsequent era. the Band-Aid ap­ This does not seem to be a mere change of p r o a c h that Nelson's successors. Del Harris direction. It looks more like a lunge. and M ike Dunleavy, have taken with this' , T h e question of panic or pressure. I mean, "that's misconstrued," Dunleavy says. “W e team. ; Get a veteran here. Patch a hole there. changed direction for a reason. I t s not some­ First round of the playoffs and out. mediocre thing that we’ve just changed our mind about draft position, season upon season, until in­ T h e re s a cause and a reaction to it And it’s heritably, the bottom falls out and the team ! the change in the collective-bargaining agree­ wins. over the last four seasons: 31 games. 28 m ent In the past our philosophy was to try to games. 20 games and 34 games. bring in as many young £u y s as we could.

You realize ail of this is. hardly Ice's fault Dismantle the old team we had. in- to deveh He is just one mistake of many, but the orga­ op a core of those young guys to build around nization didn’t see him that way when it and then go on to the future.

“Well. for us right now. you get rookies signed him as a free agent December I while he was leading the CBA in scoring for the with -three-year contracts and then they b e

Br MICHAEL BAUMAN

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O rt Of b o m b ? Robinson is a building block for thefuture, but the team seem to be taking a fu tures -now

Bulls run

TUE HOOK ON... . ■V -

T here are many reasons ih e Bulls are the best team in the NBA and off to their best start in franchise history at 21-2.

T h ere’s Michael Jordan, who was leading the league in scoring with a 30.1 points per game average.

T h e re s Scottie Pippen, who has settled back into his role complementing Jordan so w ell he’s contributing 21.4 points per game.

T h e re s Dennis Rodman, who seem s happy in his new home and, so far, has done everything but disrupt the apple carl T here was that 6-1 road trip in late November and early De­ cember, a trip Coach Phil Jackson says set the right tone for the season. “Chit there in the West brought us to the level where we knew we had a De­ cem ber at home, and we knew we could take advantage of our home c o u rt’ Jackson says.

And as the Christmas holiday ap­ proached. the Bulls were in the midst of an 11-game winning streak and a perfect 11-0 record at home.

N ot to be forgotten in all this is V tts r team depth. T he reserves are starting • to mesh as a cohesive un it How do they know that5 Because after the Bulls’ bench outscored Dallas' bench, 49-39, in a 114-101 victory over the Mavericks on D ecem ber 19, assistant T ex Winter told them so.

• T e x came in the locker room after the game and said. Y ou guys are getting there,’ " says backup guard Steve Kerr, who was 5 for 5 from the fifeld for 13 points against the Mavs. "And if T ex says that, it means something. He’s usually our tough­ est c ritic" Toni Kukoc has been the biggest spark off the bench, scor­ ing in double figures in six of eight games through D ecem ber 19. He had 17 points and soc rebounds against D allas Kerr says when Kukoc is playing w ell the rest of the bench follows su it “Early in the season was our weakness as a team," Kerr sa y s “W e weren’t playing well — I wasn’t playing well — Toni was a little inconsistent It seem s Kke lately we have been more consistent off the bench. Our rhythm, offensively, is getting there. We’re starting to learn how to play with one an­ other on the floor and recognize each other’s ten d en cies’ That’s good for Jackson, who is going to need his reserves in January and early February when the season begihs to take its toH Jackson says he worries about the amount of minutes

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Bendcffiykrs like Kukoc, who consistently scores in double figures, give the Bulls an added weapon: Jordan, Pippen and Rodman have bees playing.

T h e important thing for a coach is getting all of his players — or as many as possible — playing weft.’ Jackson’ says “Sometimes ifs real difficult to get players to contribute, from a Toni Kukoc and a Steve Kerr on down to BOI Wennington and Jason Caffey and the guys who we really think are going to have to give us a lift’ — T s a r Arm (HBI

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Bench starting to come through.

Banos keeps hrs 3 ro rt string intact Andenon shctfda taken the money.

AdetmarYs resume sure looked good

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VVEams resorts to kissing up to the refs.

Cam we s i just oe< atona?

The Bucks stooped here, there and everywhere.

How rfid they beat the Maaic?

Maybe they can win the lottery — they cam win anything e*S8.

Expansion basketoal — a's FANtasbd

Throucfi games of Thursday. December:21.

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Comment Jordan says Ptooetfs The Man crf this juooemaui * tomenraptors? now OC mer rose Resumed to wnrana uafy whie Ode's on the sheff.

Harper eouates money with respect Free-aoenJ-to-be Stockton is Mr. Clutch.

Payton’s geeing the hang of this leadership thana Rofcnson and BW! form a areal 1-2 punch.

New Year's wish: Ray in *96 fte they (Sd in *95.

Miler primed tor his contract run.

RteYs Escape iron New York made memoraWe. Pizza tor Coach Harris. Pizza tor Coach Hams.

Bag Gheorge isnt just a novelty anymore.

Stands*! $9 orsicanQ fast?

After an 0-7 start they're happy to be at SOO. is this what you had in mind. Lenny?

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T h e season’s first coaching change hap­ pened in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves will find out for the fifth time in their seven-year history that a new coach can’t change their miserable fortunes. Flip Saun­ ders replaces Bill Blair, a change anticipated since before the season when General Man­ ager Kevin McHale hired Saunders, his old college roomie, as personnel man.

Blair was in a tough position An Army veter­ an, he couldn't play the drill-sergeant role with rebellious players like J.R. Rider. He also want­ ed to win and give teen-aged rookie Kevin Gar­ nett some playing time. But in a watered-down league, the Timberwolves started out worse than the Raptors, and a change was necessary.

The weight is now on McHale’s shoulders-, not Saunders'. He must make the right moves to find a compatible mix of players.

Ha. must find a way to make the Timber­ wolves attractive to free agents and make more direct hits in the draft It would also help if the Wolves players began to show their new coach some respect every night “lf they could fire the players, they would," forward Tora Gugiiotta says. “But they can’t ’ — Shah Powhi

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Nothing in common except ugly uniforms

Shaun POWELL ith a stretch of 19 consecutive losses, a No. I pick who couldn’t beat out Benoit Benjamin, and worst of all. coming up short in the provincial battle with Toronto, the Griz­ zlies shouldn't get too down. This is what ex­ pansion is all about. Especially the first sea­ son. The first season is all about selling T- \ shirts, marveling ai packed houses and en­ 'I joying it when Michael jo rd an pay's a visit.

What happens today won’t necessarily'hap­ pen tomorrow. That is what the two Canadian expansion team s should keep in mind. Histo­ ry says things will get better, as long as they don’t follow the Timberwolves' blueprint.

As expected. Toronto is losing too. al­ though the Raptors are averaging an enviable

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one victory per week. As expected, die fans love them anyway, because in fertile territory, basketball rem ains a curiosity and even Oliv­ er Miller can becom e a hero. _ They share nothing except ugly uniforms.

Everything else about them is different The Grizzlies and Raptors took decidedly differ­ ent paths when constructed and they contin­ ue to carry a different look with the season one-fourth complete: ■ The Grizzlies won their first two games, then didn’t celebrate again for 20 games, when they flpset the Sonics to hah a 19-game skid before it reached NBA-record proportions.

“Nobody wants to see a team go through what they’ve gone through.’ Raptors Coach Brendan Malone says. “Who knows, it might be us one day."

The Grizzlies have a keeper in point guard Greg Anthony. 28. the prize of the expansion draft who leads the club in scoring, assists and steals. They also thought their center po­ sition was set for a*few years until top pick Bryant Reeves stumbled his way through the preseason and the first month, em erging as an early candidate for rookie bust of the year.

So General M anager Stu Jackson moved Benjamin in order to free up playing time for Reeves, who tripled his scoring and doubled his rebound averages in the first IO gam es as

Simon says The NBA players' associa­ tion quietly gave Simon Gourdine. who com es in at No. 80 in this week's TSN IOO. a two-year contract, thus ensuring his role as ex­ ecutive director. Gourdine's role in the labor fight was se­ verely criticized by a num­ ber of players who .felt he didn’t lobby for the best deal possible.

However, most of those players w eren’t player reps for their team s. >which means they were powerless to oust Gourdine. since only player reps can approve of his contract. ... .

Union P resident’ Buck Williams say's Gourdine re­ ceived a majority backing of player reps but there is indi­ cation Gourdine slipped through by a slim margin.

The attorney’s who repre­ sented the dissident faction may legally challenge Gour­ dine's contract.

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given the chance to prove himself. a starter.

“I said to Isiah (Thomas, the Raptors' boss), give the kid two years, and h ell be a player," M alone says* “The best thing they did was trade Benjamin and let (Reeves) play" That didn't help the Grizzlies' main prob­ lem — scoring. They're stilf stuck at the bot­ tom of the league in shooting percentage and scoring. They didn’t become instant winners, either.

Veteran guard Byron Soon blasted his teammates after a lackluster effort and loss in Miami, saying. “You can’t win with three or four guys wanting to win."

Yet the most important aspect of the first season isn’t necessarily winning, it is d ev el-, oping players. In that sense, the Grizzlies I season will be m easured largely by how good Reeves is in A pril ■ T he Raptors are m ore polished.

Thoihas looks like a genius for taking Da­ mon Stoudamire higher than anyone ex­ pected in last June’s draft.

Stoudamire is a front-runner for rookie of the year because he can score, he can re­ bound (third on the team) despite standing only 5 feet IO and because he m akes th e re st of his team m ates look better than they actu­ ally are. : Put it this way: There are team s actually in­ quiring about players on Toronto’s roster.

“W hat Tm doing right now is kind of sur­ prising." Stoudamire says. “I didn’t know how long it would take. But I think IVe adjusted to the NBA." Thom as also decided to keep established veterans like Alviri Robertson and Willie .An­ derson. And he’s getting encouraging signs from Tracy Murray, a shooter who was per­ petually out of shape in previous stops, in Portland and Houston.

I Before long, the Raptors owned victories over the Sonics and Magic, two division lead­ ers. T hen they took out the Grizzlies in the first all-Canadian gam e in the country’s his­ tory'. • “W e’re pretty happy to be where Weare at this p o in t"- Malone says. “But we have to keep improving and getting b e tte r/ They should also express lots of patience.

The real growth and satisfaction w ont arrive this season.

Pistons Coach Doug Collins disagrees. “He was the last player picked in the expan­ sion draft," Collins says.

Life with Riley The New Yolk media re­ action to Pat Riley’s return to the city was humorous.

The New York Post even assigned a reporter to stake out the team hotel and tail Riley the day of the game.

Daily coverage began a week before Riley's visit

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Rotten Apple: Riley got mixed

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Raptor center Oliver Miller is stiD fuming over the way the Pistons dumped hifn in the expansion draft. Miller was discarded after the Pistons accused him of rigging the scales before his weigh-in.

“T hat's a poor excuse."

Miller says. “Why not say they caught me eating five Big Macs?"

Miller says the Pistons re­ gret losing him because he has played well of late. But

George- McCloud shot a blistering 68 percent on 3s and averaged 26 points in his first four gam es as a replace­ m ent for injured Jkmal M ashbum .

With McCloud and Tony Dumas playing well as back­ ups. the M avericks may be tem pted to trade either M ashbum or Jimmy Jack­ son. the two feuding team ­ m ates. for a center. Coach Dick Motta likes Bryant Reeves and. yes, Shawn Bradley'.

Arnold the league What in the world are peo­ ple doing in L A ? T h e re s no football team and the Lakers and Clippers are 26th and

§ Damon Stoudamire

Raptors

.

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29th in NBA attendance. ...

The Pacers gave Derrick McKey a five-year. S24-miJlion deal and would love to see their investment pay off during the playoffs, w here McKey has often disap­ peared. ... The Knickfc would love to reward D erek Harp­ er. 35. for his loyalty and hard work but are hesitant to

lock up an aging point guard when younger point guards such as Gary Payton and Kenny A nderson will be available next sum m er. ...

Anderson and his new agent, David Falk, may dis­ cover that nO'Other team is willing to match the N ets’ of­ fer forJ>40 million over six years for A nderson’s ser­

vices. T he N ets and W ar­ riors have discussed an Anderson-for-Tim Hardaway swap. ... Some rew ard for winning two championships: T he Rockets played on die road during Thanksgiving and Christmas. +

Shaun Powell covers the SB A for Newsday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 33

January 1.1996

COLLEGE BASKETBALL REPORT

Why haven’t most of the big names signed? It’s academic forward from Paterson, N J.; and Earl, a 6-9 cen ter/reb o u n d in g machine from Baton Rouge. La. It also includes 6-3 Ronnie Fields, a high-leaping shooting guard from Chicago who recently m ade at least his third reported oral commitment to DePaul. .Among the Top IOO players as rated byBob Gibbons of .All-Star Scouting in Lenoir.

N.C.. ofay 69 signed early’, down from 87 in 1991. .Van Coleman of FutureStars. based in Mike Rochester. Mich., says 114 of his Top 200 DeCOURCY players signed, the lowest ever.

'-There is nothing magical about the No­ vem ber signing period. With the letter-of-ine may be coming a little late to tent being harder to break than a marriage pick through this early recruit*, c o n tra c t it is probably not in the athletes’ ing period business, but 'then best interests to commit so profoundly to sit­ again, what did we miss? Any­ uations that are inherently unstable. But the body know w here Kobe Bryant is going declinetoin its popularity is indicative of some play? Tun Thomas? Lester Earl? Perhaps significant trends. none will even bother.

Enhanced academic restrictions, in the re­ For more than a decade, high school play­ cruiting process and for freshman eligibility, ers wishing to pledge allegiance to a college make it difficult for colleges to sign players before the start of their senior seasons have • early. Without a qualifying test score, recruits i been offered a one-week November window are not perm itted to make official visits be­ to sign letters-of-intent. This time, that winfore the early signing date. Some visited cam­ " dow was just about sealed s h u t puses on their own. Anthony Dent. a 6-9 for­ T he Spo r in g N ews 1995-% College Basward from Edison, Ga., signed at Kentucky - ketball Yearbook listed a group of IOO ‘‘Prime without a visit Prospects." a consensus reached by combin­ “I think it really fostered more regional re­ ing the ratings of five respected recruiting an­ cruiting." Gibbons says. “If you can’t make a alysts. Of that group of IOO high school paid visit, you go at your own expense to a prospects, nine m em bers of the top IO ig­ program closer to your home!" nored the early signing period.

Coleman believes these rules negate the That includes the nation’s three top se­ original intent of the early signing period, niors: Bryant, a 6-foot-6 guard from suburban “which w*as to get the process out of the way Philadelphia being com pared to A hfem ee so a kid can have a good academic year as a Hardaway; Thom as, a versatile 6-10 power senior. Everything is a contradiction."

W

ifs the troth, honest to God He is playing like God. which seem s rather high praise, but isn’t really. This is about God Shamm god playing like he knows he can.

Starting at point guard as a freshm an for Providence.

Shamm god is averaging nearly 12 points and eight as­ sists and has an assist/ turnover ratio of just under 2.5 to I. “I feel comfortable. I Just have to be more of a leader, stuff like that, take over the gam e more," Shammgod says. “Sometimes, you don’t really know what the team really wants from you.

T here ll be tim es when the team is down, and you don’t know w hether to shoot the team back into the game or pass them back into the game." ». ' Shammgod played in high school at New York’s LaSaHe Academy under the name

son.

“I can shoo! it from the outside — like a point guard." Shammgod say's, ex­ plaining his under-40 per­ centage. Hey’, nobody’s per­ fect

Beartog down or No. 1

(tistog Darnell Burton's 'Cats are scheduled for No. I. Shammgod Wefls. using his m o th e rs name. He says he chose not to use his given nam e — “I t s on my birth certificate" — because he didn’t get along with his fa­ ther. T i e two are close now.

Shamm god entered col­ lege with a reputation as a non-shooter but spent the sum m er working in New York with Vincent Smith, older brother of Houston Rockets guard Kenny Smith and m entor of New Jersey N ets guard Kenny Ander­

They probably ought to be there now, given what they’ve accom plished, but the Cincinnati Bearcats will be college basketball’s No. I team before long.

No team has done more. and in more impressive fash­ ion. than Cincinnati in beat­ ing Wyoming, Arkansas.

Minnesota, Temple and Cal­ ifornia.

Now. the 7-0 Bearcats can settle in for a long winter's nap. However tough Confer­ ence USA may be. Cincin­ nati got o n e of the league’s cushier schedules, playing Louisville and M em phis at home without returning vis­ its. The only im posing non­

Ron Bnscoe of the South-, ►yn-flavored Regional Scout­ ing Service in Lafayette. La..

Contends such players as Thomas. Earl and Bryant are enjoying the recruiting process and the renown- (hey are receiving. None of those players, however, has openly scoffed at questions about following Kevin G arnett in his preps-to-pros odyssey.

T h a t ’s som ething that you don’t know how serious it might be." Gibbons says.

T h e r e are a g e n ts... who are getting to kids and implanting that th o u g h t ‘Hey. you’re better than Garnett. You can make it without college.’ " Given all th a t some schools were able to take ad­ vantage of the early period to guarantee an infusion of tal­ ent next season.

The big winner was Ari­ fcnrfcd possession: Because a f Bibby, a prized prospect from zona. lf you think the Wild­ Phoenix, everybody is wild about the 'Cats' recruits. cats’ early season success began with their run through the Preseason NTT. I star-qualjty for the first time in years, you should see Mike Bibby, the wiry 6-1 point I * 3. Pardue. After years of winning with playguard at Shadow .Mountain High in Phoenix I ers rejected or ignored by others. Coach* and son of former UCLA All-American H enry/) • Gene Keady is starting to win in recruiting.

Bibby. He has an explosive first step, shoots- J too. His Top 15 recruit is 6-6 forward Michael Robinson of Richwoods High in Peoria. 111. .and passes well and plays bigger than his' -Point guard Mosi Barnes of RitteriJigh in In­ height would indicate. Coach Lute Olsen got a dianapolis and 6-3 shooting guard Jaraan second Top 15 player in 63 forward Stephen Cornell of Clay High in South Bend. Ind., also Jackson of Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy. ‘ are elite flayers.

The rest of the top five: 4. A sisra. In two seasons, not many 2. -Syracuse. Brick O ettinger of the Prep ,schootewill have a better backcourt than the Stars Recruiter’s Handbook in Chapel HIU. T ig e rs with 6-2 guard Michael Spruell of NLC., says beefy 6-3 shooting guard Ranlel Lloyd of Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx is OkaToosa-Walton Junior College in Florida and 6-2 point guard Julius Robinson of Selma. am ong the m ost improved and underrated .Ala. > • players in his class. The Orangemen also will get backcourt help from 6-2 guard Jason Han j . 5, Oklahoma Stats. Desmond Mason, a 6-6 ** of Los .Angeles and 6-10 center Derrick forward from W axahachie. Tex., is the big catch in a five-player class that adds size and Thomas of Tulsa. But if Oettinger is overrat­ ing Lloyd and 6-10 power forward Winfred backcourt depth, lf everybody wants to run.

Walton of Detroit signs elsew here in the how come the Cowboys keep w-aJking their way to'great recruiting years' spring. Syracuse will enter 1996-97 lacking a

league gam e left is against .Arizona on February l l in P hoenix H ow ’ does 12-0 sound, heading to AlabamaBirmingham for a game Jan­ uary 21?

nasty on., defense, shot crooked aff the way to th e NCAA Elite Eight last sea­ son. and this-season after' five gam es are. hitting just * 37.8 percent; from the field. “W e’re stSl searching.": Ctankatieis Coach Jeff. Jones says.

T h a t ’s one area where Here is a designation Vir­ we’ve been'ajittie slo w in de­ ginia surely would like to abandon: worst-shooting s veloping.". r Virginia stresses defense. good team. so much that a gifted one-on--' The Cavaliers/perennially one player like 6-foot^ ju n io r; Jamal Robinson never h a s : been fully'incorporated into * the sc h e m e He drifts from brilliance to. ahsence.vJ t e Cavs rely on guards Harold Deane and Curtis Staples f o r 1 a lot of-their offense. N e ith e r; •a is hitting above 26 percent * from 3-point range through five games. ; “Hopefully', we can do a lit- tie better job of not relying on jump shots." Jones says.

“We need target a little more penetration and a lirtJemore movement so the defense has to move around and No shot Staples and the Cavs guard us." . have been misfiring.

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Parting shots Those poll voters keeping Louisville in the Top 25 are going to have to give it up With forwards .Alex Sanders and Jason O sborne ineligi­ ble for the season, the Cards might not even be an NCAA team. ... The best fre s h m a n no one s heard of plays for Mississippi, and his name is Keith Carter. Coach- RobT v a n s found the 6-foot-4 shooting guard in Per­ rysville. .Ark., where Carter had few suitors and almost no reputation. ... Next time someone says the polls don't mean anything, hit 'em with this statistic; The teams ranked in the Top 24 in the final .AP poll have coincided with the top six seeds in each of the four regions o7 the NCAA Tournam ent 87.5 percent of the time since 1989. ♦ 0

•

Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. Tenn.

*

32 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Sporting News

e n th by T h e S p o r tin g N ew s, has a showdown

A new team-first attitude may take Memphis to new heights

By MIKE DeCOUBCY

he heal is on. Man. is it on. The locker-room tem perature, here in the belly of the Elma Roane Field House on the University of Mem­ phis cam pus, is well past three figures and ‘ seemingly working cfi four. In a town famous for barbecue and basketball; the local univer­ sity is about to barbecue ks basketball play­ ers.

So why are these men smiling? The Mem­ phis Tigers, at this moment, are not being treated like-one of college basketball’s elite*, teams. The furnace in the low-rent dressing room is broken and blazing, they're waiting to board the bus that must travel 20 minutes * to their practice court, and there Coach L am ' Finch will run them through three hours of drills and sprints.

“Everybody here is having fun. We like each other.” says sophom ore center Lorenzen W right. “We re a family. Once you get that atm osphere, it m akes everything easier.r ' T hese sorts of claims are m ade all around college basketball each season, but never before in M em phis. T he feud has been the one family value constant am ong the Tigers.

This is w here a jealous team m ate once socked All-America guard A nfem ee H ard­ away in the eye. w here guard Deuce Ford quit and transferred to lo u isian a State in a dispute over playing time even though he had started every gam e. As M em phis worked on a 12-4 start last season, the par­ ents of reserve guard M arcus Nolan picket­ ed outside The Pyramid because he wasn’t playing.

'When Wright was a high school All-Amor-, ican at Booker T. Washington High, he went against Hillcrest High" and its star, future tig e rs forward Dorian Davis. A spectator held up a sign demeaning both: “Dorian and Lorenzen Who? Torian Richards is in the house, too.” Richard^. a'6-foot-9 power for­ ward. was W right’s teammate.

Most m ajor-college^program s are judi­ cious about the num ber of local players they recruit, but the M em ^ris roster always has ■■been stocked with M em phis talent. There are nine M emphians am ong 13 players this season. That creates a unique problem for Finch “When you go hom e.” says senior forward ^ Rodney Newsom, “the people that are in your neighborhood say. ‘Man, why aren’t you play­ ing all the time?’ T hey‘d o g -I.know w hats go­ ing on. so they're going to&sk you. Its best to tell them everything's all right, as long as we win." j j That has happened often, of late. The ^ Tigers claimed the final Gri§at Midwest Con­ ference championship; and ^advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last March. They opened the season with a convincing 91-76 victory against Purdue and re g a in e d undefeated ^through seven gam es, i fief playing host to United they stand: Talented players like Wright, who has a showdown with Massachusetts star Temple on Thursday, M ra p h is, ranked sevMarcus Comby loaming, a n valuable, but Memphis' real strength is its unselfishness.

T

----------------:------ 4 -4 ------------------------------------

January 4 against M assachusetts in W orces­ ter. Mass.

T he UM ass gam e presents W right with the opportunity' to enhance his reputation against 6-11 M arcus Cam b)’, who got the b etter of W ake F o rest’s Tim D uncan in a gam e earlier this season widely billed as a m atchup between the top two college cen­ ters. A victory m ight get M em phis a Top 5 ranking.

The Tigers’ sudden, surprising team unity developed part])' as a result of a 13*16 disaster in 1993-94 precipitated by selfish play. “Every­ body was like. ‘I can be the man.’ That’s what really m essed that year up." Newsom says.

The em ergence of point guard Chris G am er as a leader last season, as well as the recruit­ ment of Wright and ultra-competitive shoot­ ing guard Mingo Johnson, helped eliminate that plague.

With 6-10 David Vaughn gone one year ahead of schedule and playing with the O r­ lando Magic, this Memphis learn has 6-7.2IS pound Cedric Henderson and S 5 , 175-pound Michael Wilson at forward <$id does not have the sam e degree of froM court muscle.

Vaughn fended to slow thj? Tigers, though; Henderson is a versatile, 'dynamic small for­ ward and Wilson is a running and leaping machine whose vertical leap has been m ea­ sured at 51 inches. j W hen Vaughn was injured with 3 stre ss fracture last FebruaryTWilson held th e start­ ing job the rest of the season. “I thought when they really got good was when hp start­ ed playing.” Cincinnati Coach Bob H iggins says. M em phis destroyed rival Louisville.

77-56. in the opening round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament; Cardmals Coach Denny Crum says the only better team his club faced was national champion UCLA T he M em phis players are gifted enough offensively that four of the five starters have ; scored 30 or m ore points at least once rn . th eir careers. Only G am er is the exception, and he put up 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists and held G eorgetow n’s Allen Iverson to 4-of*18 shooting in last season's m atchup.

A lthough W right is 'powerful enough at 6-11.230. the lack of bulk at other positions perm its opponent^ free reign tc/ bang on the T igers beneath the goal. P urdue tried this w hen the two opened the season in T he Classic at Kansas City’s K em per Arena, but when M em phis turned on its quickness and pressure defense midway through the first half, the gam e turned. “T hey beat us to every loose ball.” Purdue forward Roy Hair­ ston said afterward. “It was an old-fashioned butt-whipping. If they had a paddle out there, they couldn’t have done it a n i b e t­ ter."

The Tigers m anaged that without New­ som. a tough character with great shooting ra n g e .Tollowing a gradual conversion to the ^ team-first approach, he is with the program.

Newsom missed the first four gam es this sea­ son as/an academic casualty and still h as not recovered from a toe injury suffered last Feb­ ruary- It would make more sense for him. per­ sonally. to redshirt and play as a senior rn 1996-97. But he chooses to be a part of this team.

“I think w e’ve got a chance to be cham ps,” he says. “J think we have a chance of win­ ning it by m e playing. T he coaches asked me what Lthought about it. This is our yeiar.

If I didn't think we had a chance to be cham ps. I wouldn't come back." \' ♦

Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Term.

34 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Tile p o r tin g News A

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Dawgs get fat on ‘TubbybalI |

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seasons as head coach at Tulsa, where he losing string to the Yellow Jackets. The k wasn't supposed to be like this, but recent))' guided the Golden Hurricane to next day's Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia fans aren’t com plaining The Bulldogs are off to an 8-1 start — consecutive 23-8 and 24-8 marks and ap­ made references to T ubby ball” and sung their b e s t since 1984-85 — that has fea­ pearances in the NCAA Sweet 16. In four • his praises in a column.

“It will be fashionable in the days tured a 24-point victor)* over rival Georgia seasons with Tulsa, Smith went a com­ ahead to credit Tubby Smith for this re­ Tech and a 13-point triumph against Vir­ bined 7943.

Smith has injected a dose of excite- formation," the newspaper said. “It will ginia Tech. The consecutive victories also be correct The BuDdogs’ against nationally ranked new coach has channeled his foes occurred in a four-day team’s long-dormant talent span. T hats heady stuff for a program; supposedly in a into basketball that players love to play and fans love to rebuilding:' mode under a „ watch." first-year coach. So instead During the victory over of witnessing a renovation the Yellow Jackets, the Geor­ of the hoops team and gia.Coliseum f&Lfike basket­ counting the days until new ball, big-time basketball the Coach Glen Mason opens sort of basketball played ’at spring football practice. schools where the game isn’t Georgia tabs are abuzz talk­ ing about TTubbybalL" an afterthought but a passion.

“It is just a new era in Said a wide-eyed Terrell Bell basketball’in Georgia that I T ve never seen a game like assume people want to this before."

Bell is a senior center. He hype,* says Coach Tubby Smith. was bom and raised in Smith s making many Athens, Ga. On the night of people believers. the Tech triumph, he saw Georgia basketball as it has “Georgia is very' good."

Virginia.Tech Coach Bill never been — vibrant and Foster say's. forceful, raucous and heart­ Georgia always has felt “A great atmosphere," been pretty good, al­ the losing coach called it As though not as good in re­ he spoke, Bobby Cremins cent years:as it had been smiled ruefully. More than earlier. The Bulldogs were anyone else. Cremins could a combined 4740 the past sense that Georgia' Tech’s three seasons under Hugh days of owning the BuDdogs Durham and haven’t been are done. to the NCAA tourney Credit Tubbybafl. since the .1990-91 season, So. what is TubbybaB? Hoops OI their n M They're talking basketball, notfootball, at also the last time Georgia Smith .says it has a simple Georgia, which has Anderson and his teammates feeling special was ranked in any poll. definition.

The Bulldogs haven’t won an NCAA ment into the 6awgs. who have a strange “Ifs basketball." game since the 1985 tourney. The cu­ roster makeup of eight seniors and five “'W ell, yes, but it's basketbaD played at a mulative effect of this lack of produc­ freshmen. v. fast pace on offense and defense. The tion led to Durham's ouster after 17 Thus far. the pinnacle of the Bulldogs’ BuDdogs run. The BuDdogs press. It seasons and Smith’s arrival. season has been a 94-70 whipping of mimics the variety of baO played at Ken­ Smith. 44, had spent the previous four Georgia Tech. which broke a three-year tucky, where Smith worked under high-

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Comment Ready for the Bio Bott after acana tough earty toss.

Until woven otherwise, Campy is theJiabon's too bio man.

The Widcats haven't stowed down since winning the NR. There’s no such thtoa as too much of a pood thing. right UK? Is any school's trontcourt playing better?

Pretender or contender? The Bn East baffles wfll ta i Have you noticed Kitties can vanish in bio games?

Against Sam Houston, the Tigers looted oood — firefly.

LAe Georgetown. UConn wont be tested untfl Bio East season.

Victory over Utah has the Deacons feefino good.

Come on. Dr. Tom. play somebody.

With each game. Carofire is tooting finer.

The ffinfs backcourt takes a back seat to few teams.

Jessie has a few games to warm ira before WAC season. > The yourn Wolverines are oood, but the best is vet to come.

The Oranae can show its colors a! the Rainbow Classic.

Hawao-bound Tners are 0-2 in bio games.

Tubby has the Dawgs ctevm up to their talents.

The Bulldogs need to airt barton and start biting The Hoboes can Drove tots bv beating Virginia.

These arent the Dodoes you've grown to know.

The Eagles should cruise until meeting Cincinnati January 13. * The backcourt is OK: toe trontcourt needs to steo ua lf Attour-Rahim oms help, the Bears could be a monster.

Throop Thirfclay's g^Ties.

Others recerwng votes: Georgia Tech. Mam: (0.). Pean State. Stanford. Tulsa. UCLA, Washington State.

The TSN Top 25 is determined by columns! Mike DeCourcy and TSN editors.

I Smith's brand o fbasketball has On Bulldogs on the go — and winning.

I

in te n s ity , in -yo u r-fa ce , d o n ’t-w a lk -it-u p -' m iH t-u p Rick fit in o before going to Till-:

sa. * -.

Senior guard Pertha Robinson has his definition of TuibybaD, “It’s defense. Ifs an up-tempo s ty & Ifs athletic ability."

In sum, ifs Georgia basketbaD as it trio seldom was, fcjut, so long as Smith re­ mains in place, forevermore wfll be.

Georgia has scored fewer than 81 , points only once, in its only loss of the season (to North Carolina). It has kept five of its opponents under 60 points, and foes are shooting less than 40 per­ cent “Ifs just like Rick Pitino plays," Foster says. “Everybody thafs kind of come out from under him plays th^t way. ' The Georgia program slumbers no • longer. It is awake and aroused. It real- • izes what can be accomplished There'S ‘ a new excitement" says swingman Shan- ’ don Anderson, another BuDcjog senior.

“You go around town, ifs like you’re part of something special."

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Nm *37

January 1,1996 t

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Lindsey

Abel

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is plan is simple. He wants to use two defensive lines so that one will be on the ice even- time the Flyers’ Legion of Doom line of Erie Lin* dros. John LeClair and Mikael Renberg is out there. The idea is so m eth in like a prevent defense in football. Don’t give up any big play's, play solid defense and wait for them to make mistakes.

Easier said than done when the players you are trying to stop accounted for 160 - points in the 38 games they played together.

Sabres Coach John M u d d ers team is down 2 games to I in the first round of the 1995 playoffs — three games Lin dros missed because of an eye injury. But his plan to blan%- ket this line is, well. not working.

Muckier fidgets behind the bench. He mo­ tions to his captain. Alexander Mogilny. to call a timeout. *TimeoutT The players huddle around Muckier at the bench. He does not yell because he knows the assignment he has given them is difficult His voice is clear and his message is to the point even if the mission is near-impossible.

"Don’t just stand there and watch Erie Lindros and his linemates." he says.

Defenseman Garry Galley would like to call his own timeout "We may look like we’re standing there watching them." he says, "but its sort of like standing there with a car bearing down on you. You freeze.

"Seeing 700 pounds of talent bearing down on you can be scary."

The size anti speed of the Flyers’ big line is too intimidating for the small, quick Sabres.

Philadelphia wins the series in five games.

When three players are at least 6 feet 2 and 218 pounds like Lindros, LeClair ancLRenberg. its almost like trying to stop Larry Csou­ ks, Jim Khck and Mercury Morns — and that didn’t happen very often in the Dolphins’ glo­ ry years in the 1970s.

“Before John LeClair joined us, the other teams always put their biggest five players against us. and we didn’t have any room." Lin­ dros says. "Now, weiiave the size abd speed to control the puck down low. We alwaysseem to be able to create scoring chances.

“Being able to communicate with the oth­ er guys on your line is the key. From the Doomed to mcceet After LeClair joined Lindros (middle) and Renberg last season, the Flyers were moment John joined Mikael and me. we’ve 23S-3. They have continued to ravage the NHL this season. all seemed to be able to read each other, know what we are going to do and where we Larry Bird. Magic Johnson and Michael J ot-' and harmony. You want Diana Ross and the will be. I ts probably a lot like the relation­ dan on the court at the same time. You know Supremes, you want Greg Maddux. Tom ship a quarterback has with his receivers vs. something exciting is going to happen."

Glavine and Steve Avery, you want bacon, let­ the defense not knowing what play is com­ tuce and tomato. ing n e x t’ “A lot of teams have two guys who work to­ There’s a fine line between winning and he bottom line in hockey is to find ai gether, but if you can find that third compo­ losing. One is finding a great line. great playmaking center, a swift nent Uke Philadelphia found when they got But finding three players who can domi­ winger and a third forward who can John LeClair from Montreal to go along with nate a game, can throw an opponents entire go to the n et Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg, you’re go­ Championships have been built on psyche offhabmce, is difficult You don’t want ing to win a lot of games," Rangers General great fine and teams feeding off them,'Such Moe, Larry and Curly. You want teamwork Manager Neil Smith says. “I fs like putting

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. as the. Production Line in Detroit (Gordie ■Howe, Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay), the Punch ■! Line tfr Montreal (Elmer Lach. Toe Blake and : Rocket Richard), the Pony Line in Chicago (Max and Doug Bentley and Bill Mosienko), the Bread Line in New York (Bill and Bun Cook and Frank Boucher), the Kraut Line in -Boston (Milt Schmidt. Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer) and the Million Dollar Line in Chicago (Bill Hay. Bobby Hull and Murray Balfour).

Others have not had fancy names but were just as successful. • “I had Guy L^fleur. Jacques Lemaire and Steve Shutt on tne great teams I had in Mon­ treal. and I had Mario Lemieux. Kevin Stevens and Mark Recchi in P ittsburgh/says Red Wings Coach Scotty Bowman, winner of six Stanley’Cups. "Defense gets so tight in the playoffs, your best line has to dom inate' and the rest of the players have to feed off that" You flev^r know for sure where that suc­ cessful line is going to come from, however.

Panthers President Bill Torrey remembers when he was with the Islanders and a young­ ster named Mike Bossy was having a miseF- . able time in training camp, despite being a big scorer in the Quebec Major Junior Hock­ ey League.

Torrey was sitting next to Coach Al Arbour on a flight. “We were both wondering what we were going to do with Boss," Torrey re­ calls. "I suggested maybe we put the three kids together — Bryan Trottier. C ark Gillies and Bossy. .After all. they were all big scorers in junior hockey.

“In the next game, it was like tic4ac-(oe — the puck was in the net They were a natural together."

In Other words, sometimes the best line on paper isn’t always the best line on the ice.

“Sometimes its easy to find two guys but •n o t1the third." Blues G M .-Coach Mike Keenan says. "Look at those great Oilers tearrp in the 1980s. (den Sather had Wayne^ Gretzky and jari Kurri and he had Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson, but he coukjn’t find that third player until Esa Tikkanen came along and joined Gretzky and Kurri. “in theoffseason. I went out and signed Dale Hawerchuk and Shayne Corson, fig­ uring they would be the perfect co m p lo t­ ment for Brett Hull. I gambled $2-million- •* plus for Hawerchuk and Corson hoping that they would make Brett Hull a $>million player (he makes $3.8 million a year).

For the. file of me I can’t understand why* Dale Hawerchuk (a 1.000-point-career pro­ ducer) can’t do the same with Hull that Adam Oates did (when Hull was a perenni­ al 70-goal scorer).

“But; I’m not ready to give up on the*experimenl I still think they have the*"ight mix­ ture of things you need to make a great fin * pne — scorer, playmaker and winger who works hard in the comers and goes to the net."

38 • COHEE! BASKETBALL n ii-;

The Sporting News

hook on

KVM DAYS M o ri (0.) forward If Devin Davis-had chosen the University of Pluto, it wouldn’t have seemed much more improbable than the school he actually picked and the circumstances of how he picked it Davis and Miami (0.);seemed a 4>ectacuiar mismatch.

It has all worked out better than anyone had dared dream. Davis, a junior forward, is .the -preseason pick as Mid-American Conference ?aHanc a Big Man on Campus. With a 2.4 grade-point Player of the YeaHand average as a physical education major, he is holding his own academ­ ically .intent on getting his degree in case his hopes bf playing pro ball fizzle.

He s happy at and Miami is thrilled to have him, A former Miami (Fla.) High star. Davis comes from Overtown, one of the most dangerous, crime-ridden neighborhoods youU find any­ where.

Davis had difficultyvwith the SAT, one reason he picked a college late (and the mabrresson the Hurricanes didn’t land him). He made his decision based on a -pact with a friend and high school teammate, Pancho Farquharsbii, to attend the same school. Miami accepted Farquharson. and Davis.followed.

Located 35 miles noi^h of Cincinnati in the midst of fields of corn and soybeans, Miami dominates the tiny town of Oxford (pop. 10,000) that is its home. Its student body of 16,000 is overwhelmingly white, affluent and preppy, none of which remotely describes Devin Davis, who is 6 feet 7, black a id wears dreadlocks. He has two front teeth in­ laid with gold stars and .a third bearing an exclamation point A tattoo on his left arm reads ' “Pbke," -ft! a childhood nickname.

Devin Davis at this Miami? *TotaIly different worlds,” Davis says.

When he arrived at Oxford in the fall of 1993, some of his fellow stu­ dents were actually afraid of Davis. The)' had never seen anyone like him. It was culture:shock.

“They'd give me that look like. “Oh. my God. who is this guy?’ “ Davis says. T hey were Ascared as if I was thinking of hurting them or something. I felt offended. I mean, they didn’t even know me." ‘ Offended and feeling put of place. Davis struggled academically. He felt Coach Herb Sendek was unduly tough on him and Farquharson in practice. The weather was cold, the social life virtually nil.

•Unable to make th e:transition. Farquharson left after one year.

S O O T IN G R EPO R T Looking fur the complete package?

Look no flitter Hon Allen Ray M en doesn’t figure to be around Con­ necticut long enough to experience senioritis. * • How good is AJlen? lf the versatile junior swingman opts for the NBA this spring, he figures to be a toft-five pick. A solid 6 feet 5.

205 pounds, M en-reminds many of Vancou­ ver’s Byron Scott.'In feet M en has the size, athletic ability and offensive skills to eventu­ ally become an All-Star shooting guard.

A military brat who; graduated from Hill­ crest High in Dalzell, S.C.. M en is an out­ standing scorer who is off to a great start af­ ter eight games, averaging more than 20 points, 7 rebounds. 3 assists and I steal while .. shooting 48 percent fnbfft theffeld. 47 percent from 3-point range -and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

One of the things scouts love most about M en is his knack .to:perform well in big games. He scored 36 points against eventual national champion UCLA in last season's NCAA West Regiohal' Final, and his fourgame average of 24 points topped the 1995 NCAA Tournament field.

After his outstanding sophomore season.

M en helped direct the U.S. to -the Gold Medal at the World University Games. He av­ eraged 15.6 points las the U.S. finished 7-0 and M en was named USA Basketball’s 1995 Male Athlete of the Year.

Davis contemplated doing the same “many times."

What made him stay was aieeling of closeness that devel­ oped with his new teammates.

Both Davis, who's averaging 18.3 points and 103 rebounds for the 6-0 Redskins, and Miamr are glad he stuck it ou t With a style marked by fierce, re­ lentless competitive­ ness, Davis has be­ come a terrific play­ er. Dreadlocks fly­ ing. he bangs, bruis­ es and dominates. . “Devin plays with passion.’ Sendek says. “He im­ poses his wifl. His v, fearlessness and | competitive instincts I really nourish our team. Other players feed off him. I think they like to look up and see him on the same bus."

As a sophomore Whmi m kffc Foes dreadfacing Darts, who is last season, Davis known for his fierce play andflying hair. led Miami to a con­ ference championship and NCAA berth. Davis had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead-Miami to an upset of Arizona in the tournament’s first round, and another doubledouble (12-12) in a season-ending overtime loss to Virginia.

“Damn, that guy with the hair ... he can play,’ Arizona center Joe Blair said after the tourney loss.

Ah, the hair. Always, the hair.

own shot. M e n also is a talented long-range shooter. Entering this season, M e n had hit 43 percent of his 273 3-pointers and 49 percent of his field goals. He gets up well on his jumper and is equally adept at catching and shooting or feing off the dribble. And if you foul him, he’s a good bet to hit his free throws.

Aside from his physical skills.

Allen also has great character offthe court and is mature emotionally. He is a steady performer who keeps his emotions in check, never getting too high or too low.

M en. who is playing big guard and small forward this season, has developed into a good rebounder for his size, averaging 5.8 entering g this season. He is especially strong on the offensive glass. M en also' has improved as a passer, averaging 1.9 assists after two seasons.

While M en has made strides as a rebounder and passer, he has Bet t rf? . Nobody questions Aliens shooting ability, but made his biggest gains as a defend­ the UConn star must become a hefter baUhandler. er. In almost every game, hell make a steal near the top of the opponent’s Allen, who possesses good speed and key and race in for an uncontested dunk. quickness, is an explosive and entertaining But ADen isn’t flawless. The part of his athlete who can do some things that appear game that needs the most work is his ballJordanesque. He is a great leaper, excellent handling. Though he doesn’t commit finisher and a crowd-pleaser with his large turnovers often. M e n ’s bsllhandling would repertoire of dunks, have benefited had he spent his entire career - In addition to being a good slasher and in the backcourt. penetrator and the type of offensive power-' house who can go one-on-one and create his — D oaU vam uL

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n this day and Carlines are rare. Exp^sion has thinned the t^ent base. And since coaches know how knporiant it is to have two lines thatwfD produce in the playoffs, they tr>' to spread the talent around two lines.

Gordie Howe sa y s’Red W ings coaches I

Tommy Ivan and Jimmy tonner tried to break up the Production line every year to try to get a balanced attack, but it never worked. T here just wasni the same kind of chemistry with anyone dse." he says. "They'd split us up and then after about five or IO games — boom — we’d be back together."

^ During the 1949-50 season. Lindsay. Abel <md Howe finished 1-2^ in scoring. There were only she teams in the NKL at the time and there was plenty-of scoring to go around. The Red Wings won die Stanley Q p that year and three more titn « in the next five years.

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Team 1. Eric Undros>lohn L8CISK.-Mikael RenbBri Byers 2. Mario Lemleux-T^as Sandstrom-Marims Naslond Penguins Una

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because everyone concentrated on slopping the Legion of Docnn line — and no other play­ ers stepped up to contribute. To add to their scoring balance. the Flyers obtained Joef Otto and Pat Palloon and are still looking for an­ other second-line f ^ e r .

The Rangers had Mafk M essier. Adam Graves andjPat Verbeek. but lost in the sec­ ond round of the playoffs because that line was blanketed by the Flyers. They acquired Luc RobitaiSe and Ray Ferraro to give them punch. The Red Wings traded Ray Sheppard. a former 50^oai scorer and leadBfig goal pro­ ducer for Detroit the last two seasons, for ag­ ing center Igor Larionov and switched Strgei, F ^ o ro v from center to left diving on a line’ with Larionov and Slava Kozlov. The success has been poetry in motion. ’ Critics of European hockey often say those flighty foreigners don't understand the im­ portance of the Stanley Cup and therefore doo^t play as hard in the playofis. Those crit­ ics obviously found Bdwman’s actions a little strange. But Scotty has been Jacghing at his skeptics ever since.

"I don't care what language' they speak."

Bowman says. T h e communication thqy were taught as youngsters is a m essage for all nations. Control the puck. work ii around quickly and then find the open man.

T V hafs so different ab o ^ t o ? " Nothing when Larionov has found new life al 35. Fedorov has regained the scoring touch he had two years ago when he was the NHL*s Most Valuable ^Player and Kozlov has his sights set on a ‘4 0 -g ^ season.

The Red Wings were 1S4 in * e ir first 20 gam es after acquiring Larionov from San Jose. And the Lairionov-Fedorov-Kozlov line has been so good t o Steve Yzerraan has re­ ceived less attention, regained his scoring touch and is on a 40- to SO^oal pace.

"When you can k eejr^e puck and cbotro! it it s something like a bsEsketball game.*^ Lar­ ionov says of the tfiriing. circling offerisive maneuvers the threesome makes look sim­ ple. "You work it around, control it until you have a good shot You find the open man and hope he has a layup."

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ut your best three players together and go from ther?. That’s the rule of thumb coaches such as Keenan and the Flyers'TerryWurray use. ' "It’s sort of like fw ttiaj your best players at the lop of the batting oroer so that they get more a t^ ts ," Keeoan says. , O t o teams, like the Canadiens. concen­ trate more on having at 4easl one g re ^ de­ fensive player on each line. Sometimes, how-

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"If you fen behind m the standing last “Last year, eveiybody thought year, it was tough to catch up. With 82 they were in the p la ^ ff chase games, teams may not pace thsmeelves,. item the day the ^ason started ,b i^ .to ^ jq o t^ th 6 same sense of ;.nnai..a:.we0k befdro It anded." ^ ^ “ schedule, to ad s Svex^^body thought, they had a thave ah'advazBa^ beshot That kept everybody sharp­ rlB^nes 'you p l^ , the er mmitaily. In an 82-game sea-.

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January 1,1996_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ■

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(without helmet), Bossy and Trotter (rightJ wen called the Long Island Lightning Co. Bottom line: They helped the Islanders win four consecutive Stanley Cups.

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ASSOCIATE TOSS

So, how does Avalanche goal-; tender Patrick Roy stop so many shots? Some insiders say he uses ii- ; legal pads.

•* "Sure, Patrick's pads are about two inches too wide." former Rangers goalie John Davidson says. ‘But every goalie’s are. Ifs like the speed. . limit’s 55, but you drive 70. Just don’t get caught doing 75 or you better be able to B.S. your way out of a ticket" Sharks goalie Arturs Irbe got caught last season when Mighty Ducks Coach Ron Wilson asked for a measurement Irbe had to change his: pads — and he hasn’t been able in­ step a beach ball since.’, .

lineout Isaid

been a 40-goal scorer every year “But we felt like parents watching over a troubled kid. We didn't know what to expect next from him. Its too bad.*-

On the same page?

Not happy with effort in the early stages of a five-game trip. Flames Coach Pierre Page called a mandato­ ry 10:45 a.m. practice in Boston Goalie Trevor Kidd was still dressing when he hit the ice. Steve Chiasson.

Phil Housiey and Dean Evason were one minute late — and Page sent them off.

After trying to persuade Page to give the threesome a break, the rest of the players huddled and deeded to leave the ice as well. Page refused to give in and the Flames did not prac­ tice. * But. seeing how angry the coach was over the incident, all the players arrived at least 20 minutes early to the next practice in Pittsburgh.

End'of the mini-mutiny.

Moon probe Bob Probert is still a popular play­ er in Detroit even though he chose to sign with Chicago. He’s stifl one of the league’s top heavyweights, but his hands and instincts as a player are not what they were in 1987-88 when he scored 29 goals and played in the All-Star Game.

“He’s like a cat who has nine lives," Redwings Vice President jimmy Deveflano says. .“Bob Probert could have been a phenomenal player with a different lifestyle. He could have

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ever. that eau cost you, as Montreal fans found ecchi has played on a line with out when LeClair, playing third-line center, Lemieux in Pittsburgh, with Lindros was traded to the Flyers last February and im­ in Philadelphia. He was the player the mediately became a high-scoring left wing.

Flyers traded to Montreal to get Earlier this season Brian Savage was playing LeClair. “Its funny how certain lines just center on Montreal’s third line. Does that click," he says. “No one can be more physi­ sound familiar? But life changed dramatically cally dominant than Erie, and no one can be for Savage when Mario Tremblay left the more dominant talent-wise than Mario. That’s broadcast booth and replaced Jacques Demers what made those lines. as teach of the Canadiens. Call it a hunch (af­ “Here in Montreal, it's like back to the Le­ ter all Savage had scored only 13 goals in 40 gos. trying to build with three ordinary NHL games entering this season), but Trem­ blocks." blay moved Vincent Damphousse to center on Of course, there s nothing ordinary about a the second line and put Savage on the No. I productive line. line with Pierre Turgeon and R ecchi.

Hull recently caught fire on a Western trip Tremblay had remembered doinean-irtter- when he was reunited with Hawerchuk and view with assistant Corson, scoring eight coach S hutt who goals in seven games.

Put your best three played on that great Hull says instincts, be­ Montreal line with ing able to do things Lemaire and Lafleur. players together and go ad-h'b. are the most im­ “Steve said he thought portant part of scoring.

Savage could be a big "Pavel Bure and trom there That's the rule goal scorer if he were Alexander Mogilny moved to left wing.’ were supposed to be ot thumb co aches such as Tremblay says. “He the best line in the* thought he would be league this season."

Keenan and the Flyers able to use his speed to 1 Hull says, “but you had come off the wing and two very talented Terry Murray use go to the net wingers getting in "That was good each other’s way be­ enough for me. especially after watching John cause there was no center there to act as the LeClair for several years and then seeing him traffic cop. Their instincts were fighting go to Philadelphia and become a big scorer. I against one another.. didn’t want that to happen again."

“Unless you have a center like Mario So, with the flawless passing of Turgeon Lemieux or a Wayne Gretzky, wherejou have and Becchi — voila! — you have the makings a successful tine no matter who is on the of a great line. That's how this line was put to­ wings, you have to work at making the line gether — on the gut instinct of Shutt work."

Before practice a couple of weeks ago.

This isn’t a life and death story, but finding Savage is putting pucks at the leg of a table a productive line can be the lifeline of a team’s in the locker room. He moans about losing success — and can cause a real problem for an opposing coach in the playoffs. Just ask his touch and tosses his golf cap to the ground in disgust Savage won three North­ John Muckier about the Legion of Doom if ern Ontario junior golf championships and you want to see* a frustrated man. was a long-driving champ. Sometimes his Still, there were no guarantees when Fly­ touch around the net is better than it was on ers President/G eneral Manager Bobby Clarke obtained LeClair from Montreal. the greens.

But this night in a game against the Blues. "Sure we acquired john to play on left wing Savage drives to the n et fires slap shots from I with Erie." Clarke says. "But never in a mil­ the wing and scores when he takes a pass be­ lion' years did we expect this kind of produc­ hind the S t Louis net from Recchi. outmus- tion. LeClair's ability to go to the net hard des Adam Creighton, who is 6-5.200 pounds, and work the com ers made the line — and i and wraps a shot around the goalpost behind the confidence they had carried over to the goaltender Grant Fuhr. The goal gives Savage rest of the team.

18 in 18 games since being teamed with Rec­ “But if building a line was this easy, then chi and Turgeon. every team would have a great line, wouldn’t “Earlier this year I would have probably lost they?" the puck behind the net" Savage laughs. “But That's right it would be easier than Legos. ♦ now I have the kind of confidence I used to Carry Wigge has covena Hockey for THE have standing over six-foot putts."

S p o r t in g N e w s since 1969.

Some coaches will do anything to get a timeout Flyers Coach Terry Murray want-' ed to get his penaJty-kiUers a rest in a recent game against the. Islanders, but he didn’t want to waste s timeout So he called referee Dave Jackson: over to complain aboat Islanders winger Zigmund Paiffy wearing an il­ legal logo oh his pants. By the time Jackson consulted with the fashion police for an interpretation. Murray had given his penalty-kiflers an inge­ nious breather. And the Islanders and the referee were caught with their pants down.

40 * NHL

The Sporting News <} ;, < ■i--] i t • .

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NBL REPORT

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WIGGE V

ob (iaim*> sits behind his desk. penCli and paper resting in front of him Like som eone working a crossword puzzle. he isn't sure h e wants lo use an ink pen just yet. His task is pleasant: trying to figure out how veteran center jo e Nieuwendyk is going lo fit in with his Dallas Stars Be bold. Bob (ret out that pen. You just got your team a two-time 50-goal scorer, a player with al least 20 goals rn each of the last eight seasons and 21 in 46 gam es last season For a team thai had scored the fewest goals in the Wps4ern Conference ajid the fourth fewest in the entire league, the acqui­ sition of Nieuwendyk is like adding Jem - Ria* to the New England Patriots or Scottie Pippen to the Indiana Pacers.-The competitive Stars were a difterence-maker away from be­ ing a serious contender.

T o add such a player without subtracting a player who's been a regular in our lineup should give us a boost," says Gamey, who gave up journeyman centerT orey Millen. 31,

B

Calling captain KMc * Now that the Stars have Joe Nieuwendyk. the fioaF ists in the Kirk Muller sw eepstakes are thinning out .And y o u can b e t v o u r house on another team from the rival-conscious Central ^Division — like the Blues or Maple Leafs — getting the Islanders left w ingBet on the Blues.

M uller was asked to re­ turn to the Islanders, five weeks after he was sent hom e by then-G.M Don Maloney for being a nega­ tive influence on the team.

Muller wanted his $ 1.38-mi 1lion contract renegotiated and told m anagem ent he didn’t wani to be in a re-, building program .

Bul ''M uller, who has topped 90 points twice in his 12-ycar career, revised to: re tu rn .; With the yield on Nieuwendyk so low. S t -Louis' offer of lan Laperriere and David Roberts or Craig johnson is m o re than 9

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and right wing Jarom e Iginla. a 1995 firstround pick who is at least two years away from playing in the NHL “Joe Nieuwendyk is a very gifted offensive player. He’s got great hands. I rem em ber having to check him my last two years in the league at M ontreal — and he scored a few against me.

"But then, he scored a lot against other people, too. because he had 50 goals each of his first two seasons. He's still got those .goal­ sco rers instincts as he showed in the playoffs I four goals in five games) last season."

Nieuwendyk had been holding out since training camp as'the Flames refused to make him a long-term offer at about $2 million per year The Stars gave him a five-year.-Sll.l* million contract — $1.7 million this season. $2 million in 1996-^7. $2.2 million in ’97-98 and $2.6 million the next twp seasons. The big-money commitment of new Dallas own­ er Thom as Hicks made this deal, and per­ haps others, possible. .And now Gainey can return to the pleasant task of jotting down name£ rn his puzzle. He can keep Greg Adams with Mike Modano • and put Dave Gagner with Nieuwendyk — or ; vice versa. The Stars defense, which has i made them a playoff threat over the last few seasons, now can be balanced by an offensive threat for the first tim e..

Interim Flames General M anager Al Coates likes to recall a 1985 deal that sent center Kent Nilsson to the North Stars for a i second-round pick. When the Flames selecti ' ed Nieuwendyk, everyone said. “Joe W ho?'

S That was 314 goals ago — and there are no guarantees iginla (Jarome Who?) will b? the power forward some project him to be. ;

■enough for a player who has gone AWOL

A Brownout It's a num bers game ac­ cording to former Canucks defenseman Jeff Brown, who had not spoken with Van­ couver Coach Rick Lev since a heated argum ent over ice time and was dealt to the W halers in a three-team trade last week.

“I know this is a business, and I found o u t pretty early that the coach didn't think I was earning my ($2-million) salary." he says. “Basically. I. becam e a num ber to the Canucks, and they wanted two other num bers more than thev wanted me.'

The bottom line is that Brown. 29. is a proven offen­ sive defenseman. First the Whalers obtained center Jim Dowd and a second-round 1997 draft choice from the Devjls for left wing Jocelyn Lem ieux and their secondround 1998 pick. Then they s e n t Dowd, d e f e n s e m a n 9

Shooting Star Goal-hungry Dallas fans hope Nieuwendyk will be no ordinary Joe. Coates was careful not to make a careless move with Nieuwendyk because of the team s last big trade — in January 1992. when Doug Gilmour was dealt to Toronto in a 10player deal. The team hasn't been the same since.

“In the perfect world — no disrespect to Corey Millen — there would somehow be m ore for today and a whole lot more for tomorrow." Coates says. “But as we worked mro through the whole process, the perfect world just wasn’t there.'

W hat Coates did was trade a 29-year-old player for an 18-year-old prospect who al­ ready had scored 68 points for Kamloops of the W estern Hockey League after totaling just 71 in 72 gam es last season.

“He's a cross between Mario Lemieux and Eric U ndros." Blues defenseman Al Macln-

nis says facetiously, referring to Iginla.

T here were o th e j snide rem arks at the Blues’ practice one day after the trade be­ cause St. Louis had been in there pitching for Nieuwendyk as well.

"I don't know what we offered, but I know we offered m ore than they got." right wing Brett Hull says. T h e y got nothing. Ive never seen a guy get offered nothing and accept it What kind .of com m itm ent to winning is that?”

The Blues had offered young centers lan Laperriere and David Roberts for Nieuwendyk and had suggested a bigger deal in which L apem ere. Roberts and defenseman Chris Pronger would go to Calgary for Nieuwendyk and defenseman Steve Chiasson. But the Flames wanted no pan of Pronger’s huge contract.

Canadian Junior National Team Coach Marcel Comeau has faced Iginla and says the deal isn’t as lopsided as it might seem. “lginla is a prototypical power forward." he says.

“We usually have to put two players on him to check him down low."

One scout says Iginla is the best player in junior hockey right now But how often do those great’junior players make it big in the NHL5 Maybe I in 50?

The Barnes had hoped Nieuwendyk would attract som e aggressive bidding, but the three-m onth auction drew no outlandish of­ fers. Coates admits he could have taken Gag­ ner and a first-round pick from the Stars: a deal that would have helped Calgary, more now. But he says there is too much of a gam­ ble on a first-round draft choice thai hasn’t al­ ready begun developing.

The deaL however, is not without risks for the Stars. Nieuwendyk has a herniated disk and guppy knees. “I studied the upsides of N ieuwend^k’s scoring but didn’t m ake the trade because he could go down in a month and then w here would you be." one general m anager says. T h a t's the kind of deal that can get you fired."

But it*s also the kind of deal that makes the Stars a contender. And come playoff time.

Gainey will be turning in his lineup cards-in ink. Guaranteed.

Icy bits For all of those C hris Pronger bashers, h e r e s an interesting item: The W halers actually put Bren­ dan Shanahan — the guy the Blues gave up for P ronger — on the trading block before the Blues of­ fered P ronger to the Flam es. T h at’s r ig h t The W h alers acquired Shana­ han last sum m er to be a contender, but now that $3million-plus salary looks like about $5 million. So. Hartford offered Shanahan to the Flyers for Rod B lind'Amour and a couple of prospects. Now that they' Oat of thedogbOEStt Defenseman Brown's puck-moving skills have Bro WTI. how ever, you will be a welcome addition to Hartford's offense can forget about those Shanahan rum ors — at Frantisek Kucera and a sec­ Canucks? They just traded least for the time being. ... ond-round 1997 pick to the away their offensive quar- * First it was Patrick Roy. Canucks for Brown and a terback. And the W halers.

T hen it was M ark Recchi. third-round 1998 choice.

• who bad been iooking for T he latest player to have T h efc's absolutely, posi­ an offensive defensem an to trouble w ith new M ontreal tively no chance Lemieux run th eir pow er play, just Coach M ario T rem blay is .wiB be the reincarnation of got one of th e b est in the defensem an Lyle O delein. b ro th er Claude for the Dev­ business.

T he M aple Leafs, Red ils. He’s ne savior. T he W ings and probably the en­ Advantage: Hartford.

tire Central Division is in­ quiring about the rugged blueliner. ... Red W ings right wing Dino Ciccarelli. who has been com plaining about lack of ice tim e, al­ most was traded to Edm on­ ton and T a m p a Bay last week. T he close call m ade him realize things could be w orse and there aren ’t any team s with a better chance Of getting back to the finals than D e tro it Good think­ ing. Dino. + Larry Wigge has covered hockey fo r T h e S p o r t in g N e w s since 1969.

Th? Sporting News

42 • ALL.

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CINCINNATI REDS Buying tine:

COLORADO ROCKIES

PlitooD leader Jeff The team Reejl signed as a back­ avoided arbitration when up ^catcher, but he it signed starting pitch­ migtit . find him self ers Pete Schourek and b u sier than he has Dave Burba and catcher f- been in the p a s t With Eddie Taubensee, while the trade of Joe Girard*! outfielder Ron Gant de­ * to the Y ankees. Jayclined the offer in favor hawk Owens has been proclaimed the club's of free agency'. By offering Gant arbitration, No. I catcher. Owens is a converted out­ the Reds bought themselves until January 8 to fielder who has caught 54 big league gam es, keep negotiating with him: otherwise, they all with the Rockies Lj- 32 in 1993. 6 in ‘94 would have been unable to re-sign him until May I. But the question continues to be af­ and 16 in *95. Enter Reed. 33. a lefthanded hitter, who will be paid a base salary of fordability. especially with Schourek now $425,000 with incentives that will add locked up for $3.3 million for 19% and Burba $100,000 if he appears in 90 gam es. Reed making another $1 million. Add thai to John Smiley’s $4.6 million. Mark Portugal’s $4 mil­ has 10-plus years of big league service but has appeared in only 722 gam es himself. lion. David Wells’ $3 million and Jose Rijo's “W e're going to start the season with basi­ $5.5million Cif he can come back from surgery cally a rookie catcher with just a bit of expe­ and the insurance policy doesn’t kick in), and rience." G eneral M anager Bob G ebhard you can see why Gant is a long shot unless the says. Reed, the Twins’ top draft choice in the team trades one or more of its starting 1980. also had offers from the Brewers and pitchers.... Cincinnati did make one economic Cardinals. T h e Cardinals would've been & move, cutting center fielder Jerome Walton, great s p o t but I felt th e Rockies had a bet!en making him the second center fielder the Reds axed for budgetary reasons, the other be­ chance to win. At my age, i t s never fun plaW ing at the end if you’re not in the race." ing Darren Lewis.

Me|ia disappointment Roberto Mejia, consid­ Suitcase King: One of the more interesting ered the steal of the expansion d ra ft became, additions to the roster is outfielder .Andre expendable to make room for Reed. Mejia, al ‘ King. Originally selected by the Braves in the second round of the *93 draft, he was second-round selection from Los Angeles in.traded to the White Sox last August for out­ the expansion d raft was not tendered a con-' Do Ron, Bon: The Reds bought themselves until January 8 to negotiate with Gant, but the question fielder Mike Devereaux. King was then ac­ tra c t Even though he had never played still remains whether they can afford him. In truth: It's a long shot quired in the Rule 5. draft by the Cardinals, above Class A before 1993. he was promoted at the All-Star break that year and given th e who traded him to the Reds in a three-way starting second-base job. By the All-Stan deal in which Cincinnati sent minor league pitcher Mike Remlinger to the Royals and break the next year, concern about his work* habits and m oodiness had landed him back in Left-field stakes? Ozzie m inor league infielder Luis Qrdaz to St. Voting and cheap: For the minors. “We will try to re-sign him to a Louis. The Reds have to keep King. 22. on the firs! time since Timmons appeared to be the 25-man roster all season or have to offer m inor league c o n tra c t but I’m not sure!

Steve Avery joined the the winner in the annua) where that wiil go." G ebhard says. ... Bill staff in 1990. the club left-field sweepstakes —. him back to the W hite Sox for $25,000. King Swift, who underwent arthroscopic surgery could join right fielder Reggie Sanders as fla ils to include a.rookieuntil Luis Gonzalez on his right shoulder October 12. began ♦; .in its rotation. Right­ signed a one-year con­ contingencies for center field if Thom as Howard and rookie Steve Gibralter stumble, throwing last week. He says he felt no pain or hander Jason Schm idt tract at the deadline. but G.M. Jim Bowden plans on King being discom fort ‘ My strength is there." Swift I .‘who will Ulm 23 -this Manager Jim Riggieman used mainly as a defensive replacem ent and - says. “The endurance is the biggest thing." month, became the-fifth starter when Kent wanted veteran Gonzalez's lefthanded bac but pinch runner this year, then probably going Swift has two years left on his contract at M ercker was tra d e d .: “W e think Jason told him Timmons would get more than the 171 to Double A in 1997.

—Kb Bass $4,275 million a year.

—TBtfT RkXSST Schmidt is ready." 'Gen'eraJ M anager John at-bats he had last season when Timmons hit Schuerholz says. has come." At .337 in his last 25 starts. “I don’t mind a chal­ least that's what :lhe front office hopes. lenge. but I still consider the Job mine." says Schmidt dominated (he fnfemational League Gonzalez, who hit .290 with the Cubs after hit­ last season, posting -an £-6 record and 2.25 ting .258 with Houston. General Manager Ed Lynch says Gonzalez's playing time may de­ ERA while collecting © .strik eo u ts in 116 in­ nings. However, in a brief stint with the big pend on how he does-in spring training. “Luis is club. he had a 5 J 6 ERA in. nine games.

28^and wants to play every day. but we have to W hether or not Schraidtyworks out. the front give Timmons his chances." Lynch says. ... office has saved a jot bf money. M ercker Gonzalez's return keeps Scot! Bullet! in a re­ would have commanded a salary in the $2.5serve role and leaves Brooks Kieschnick on the miilion range; Schm idt can be paid the mini­ outside despite 23 home runs at Triple-A Iowa mum. ... Though outfield®’ Dwight Smith re­ (American Association). fused the team 's offer of salary arbitration, Saving Braca Mark Grace “re-upped" for three the club remains hopefuPof signing its best years when the club convinced him it wanted pinch hitter. The team retains negotiating to win despite letting go closer Randy Myers rights with Smith untitjanuary 8.... Now. that and shortstop Shawon Dunston. The .306 ca­ the front office has signed M arquis Grissom reer hitter and three-time Gold Glove winner and Fred McGriff and trac ed M ercker. it will agreed to a three-year. $14-m pon contract but turn its attention to three players eligible for almost certainly will walk-after next season if arbitration. Signing Mari; Wohlers. Avery the Cubs don’t improve because he was given and Mark Lemke becom es a top priority. the option for 97. “Al least we have Mark for Minor doings: Jeff Cox. t&ird-base coach for now." Lynch says. “We’re very relieved. His the Royals last season, .was hired to manage main goal is to win. That’s our goaL too. It’s a Double-A Greenville {Southern). Randy in­ challenge we hope to meet together.’ Grace g le /a coach at Greenville the last two years, had one of his best seasons this year with a w'as named manager a t -Double-A Durham league-leading 51 doubles, 92 RBIs and career (Carolina), and form er Braves infielder Paul highs in batting average (.326), homers (16) Runge was named m anager at Class-A Ma­ and runs scored (97).... The club didn't tender con (South Atlantic)!... T he club will open its contracts to third baseman Todd ZeDe, who hit exhibition season February 29 against the only 227 after coming from the Cardinals, and University of Georgia, then play its Grape­ reliever Anthony Young. Signed to one-year fruit League o p en er the next day against the deals were relievers Mike Perez and Larry Gratatad: The Cubsfirst baseman, a .306 career hitter, signed for three years t# : > * # • ' v e he is convinced Ed Lynch and Andy MacPhail can build a big winner... soon.

Mets.

— B U LUX Cassan.

—J s G c o w b

ATLANTA BRAVES

CHICAGO CUBS

BASEBALL • 41

January 1,1996

BASEBALL REPORT

Fiscal constraint? It just went flying out the window

Bob NIGHTENGALE he owners threatened Armageddon, whispered that there would be an­ other homeless free-agent camp and tried to convince the world that salaries wiD be in a free-fall.

You watch and see, they told us. They ll flood the free-agent market, not offer arbitra­ tion to anyone, and smile smugly as players come crawling back looking for jobs.

Who were they kidding?

The D-day of December 20. when all con­ tracts had to be tendered, came and went, and although there was a sense of urgency this year, it was business as usual, putting only 30 players on the free-agent m arket The only high-profile players who were neither signed nor tendered contracts were Orioles starting pitcher Ben McDonald. Cubs

T

We have a contender That gulping sound you heard is coming from the In­ dians and Braves, watching the Orioles make a serious run at being World Series contenders in ’96.

In a matter of IO days, the Orioles signed second base­ man Roberto Alomar, closer Randy Myers, infielder BJ. Surhoff and setup man Roger McDowell; and traded for starter Kent Mercker.

“We want to win," General Manager Pat Gillick says, “and we’ve substantiated our position.”

No kidding. Angelos has told Gillick Stat if you can justify the cost and believe it will help the team win a championship, go ahead and spend what you want Giffick originally wanted to keep the payroll at about $40 million, but now, it likely will exceed $50 million.

No matter, the Orioles have a legitimate champi­ onship contender, and fans will be flocking to the gates.

The Orioles sold a singleday, dub-record 62,000 tick­ ets the day they opened the . ticket windows and have $12 ’ million a year coming from baseball’s new national tele­

third baseman Todd Zeile. .Dodgers starter Kevin Tapani. Reds catcher Benito Santiago and Giants outfielder Deion Sanders.

Wow. that really shook up the baseball world, ail right.

“How many times can (baseball’s owners) cry wolf and have the public crying for them," says veteran agent Tony Artanasio, “before people realize what’s happening. The owners are doing the sam e.... When.it comes down to it. nothing's changed except for a sense of urgency and aggressiveness to get contracts done.

“You look at some of these signings, guys like Dose) Canseco, Al Letter and (Tmo) Martinez, and you say, ‘Why would the own­ ers do that?’ ft’s unbelievable, and that Canseco contract absolutely blows me away."

The free-agent market perhaps would have been dramatically different several general managers and agents say, but that changed with a quartet of stunning signings: ■ Jose Canseco, who has not played more than 119 games since 1991, receives a twoyear. $9-million contract from the Red Sox. ■ Al Leiter, who has a 33-32 record and never has won more than 11 games in a sea­ son, receives a three-year. $8.6-miIlion con­ tract from the Marlins.

■ First baseman Tino Martinez, who hit more than 20 hom ers and drove in more than IOO runs for the first time last season, re­

vision contract Oh. and the Yankees?

How long do you give General Manager Bob Wat­ son and Manager Joe Torre before they’re the scape­ goats and lose their jobsj T h e Yankees have man­ aged to lose Jack McDowell 4nd Sterling Hitchcock from their rotation. Don Matting­ ly, Mike Stanley and Randy Velarde from their lineup, and Gene Michael and Buck Showalter from their front office.

The Yankees are finished, and the A.L East race al­ ready is over.

Book your reservations to watch the Indians and Ori­ oles play for the American League pennant

(tony tunes W ell it turns out that Jack McDowell may have found Utopia in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

McDowell has produced a new CD called “Just a Thought’ with his band.

“Stick Figure." He even has a song on the in-flight guide on American Airlines.

“The real me is this guy," McDowell says. “The guy on

Giants qaestkxn Will this ball­ park be approved? the baseball field, I’ve never been real comfortable with him. It kills me le a n t do this full time."

Around the basepaths ff the folks in San Francis­ co want to keep their team, they need to approve plans on the March 26 ballot for a new $255-miIlion ballpark in China Basin. It Will be the first privately financed major league ballpark to open in the United States since Dodger Stadium in '62. The Giants owners will finance half of the 42,000-seat stadi­ um, and the rest of the mon­ ey will com e from about

ify, 0*S, Btf. G.M. Pat GiUick (left), with the helftpfV. P. for finance Joe Foss, crunched the numbers — and names — that will make the Orioles Wqrid-Series contenders in *96. ceives a five-year. $20.25-mil!ion contract ers around $50 million? .And if the Padres re­ ally are losing ail of this money, how can they from the Yankees.

•I afford- to be in the Biggio and Grace sweep­ ■ Rick Aguilera, who last was a starting : stakes and now offer Ron Gam three years at pitcher in 1989. signs a three-year. $9-mik $15 million?

1km contract to be in the Twins' rotation. •; • The owners will keep telling us how nec­ Suddenly, all of that boid talk we heard ail essary it-is to have a luxury tax at $44 milwinter about fiscal constraint went flying out liortdn the new collective-bargaining agree­ the window. ‘\ Come on. did Omar Vizquel really need to I ment. but the way they've begun throwing around money again, how can anyone be­ be given a six-year contract? If times ar* lieve them?; tough, then why is David Cone making more little wonder Donald Fehr and the players money than the gross national product Of Third World countries? Is Orioles Owner Pe­ I union carf t hide that smirk, knowing once again Che owners are unable to control them­ ter Angelos concerned about losing money selves; when hexrouldn't care less if his payroll hov­ ■

12.000 permanent seat li­ censes. the ballpark’s name. luxury box sales, conces­ sions and ticket sales. ...

Now that the Angels have signed Bryan Harvey to a one-year. $500,000 contract, don't be surprised if they try to move Lee Smith and free up $2 million in their budget They would like Troy Perrival to be the closer, anyway. ... Cardinals closer Tom •Henke says he would play again if the team made itself a contender. Well. the Cardi­ nals traded for shortstop Royce Clayton and signed third baseman Gary Gaetti.

Henke's decision? He plans to retire. T m not going to knock any (new) players," Henke says, “but they haven’t done what I think ifs going to take to go oat and win yet" The Cubs and Expos are talking about a deal that would send shortstop WH Cordero and pitchers Jeff Fassero and Jim Bullinger to the Cubs for shortstop Rey Sanchez and power-hitting outfielder Brooks Kiesch*nick.... Look for the Marin­ ers to sign first baseman Paul Sorrento, who was non­ tendered by the Indians. ...

Left fielder Tim Raines, who has an escape clause in his contract, may soon flee for the Yankees. The White Sox would welcome his depar­ ture and immediately ut to sign Ron Gam. ... How set are the Indians? The only competition in camp will be determining *the fifth out­ fielder. “These are the kinds of training camps you like to have." Manager Mike Har­ grove says, “just worrying about getting everyoneanto shape, not having to pick a team or find a closer."... Be­ cause the Indians' *96 home season is sold out. the Tigers are trying- to capitalize .by marketing ticket packages in Cleveland ;>for the Indians' two trips to Detroit" Tfottgh winter for the Brewers, th ey planned on actively pursuing dnly two free-agents — Paul Molitor and BJ. Surhoff-— and now have lost both?...

Remember when the Rock­ ies considered., second base­ man Roberto Mejia the steal of the expansion d ra f^ H e was non-tendered last week. with the Rockies, complain­ ing about h is work habits and moodiness, ... The An­ gels find-themselves ham­ strung by- the fad that own­ %

ers still have not approved the Disney sale. leaving it nearly impossible to commit to free agents Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott without Dis­ ney's approval. ... Look for the Phillies to soon sign third baseman Todd Zeile. although Lenny Dykstra and Darren Daulton are pushing for Dave Hollins. Hollins likely will wind up with the Cubs.

After signing Orlando Mer-ced to a two-year, *$5.4miIlion contract the Pirates-* now are looking to dump outfielder Midre Cummings, the centerpiece in the John Smiley trade, who has been a complete bust. ♦ Bob Nightengale covers the Dodgers for the Los Auge' les Times.

N.L. • 43

January 1,19%

} teagues. Hansen was pretty much a regular I in '92. a year he batted just .214. In the three seasons-since then, when, he's been used pri­ marily as a pinch hitter, he's 37 for 121 (.306). . His; 52 career pinch hits tie for second (with • Chris Gwynn) among all-time Dodger pinch hitlers, behind Manny M ota's franchise .record 106 CMOla also holds the major league record with 150 pinch hits). —SORDO* VERRBi

I make an aggressive push toland what would . be a m arketing coup. It could take as much as $3 million to sign the highly touted Hernan­ dez. 20. and the less-talented-but-sawy Fer­ nandez. 29. Its unlikely they'll sign before January 15. ... .Andre Dawson declined arbi­ tration. giving the team until January 8 to sign the future Hall-ofTamer. Both sides expect a deal to get done.

—SCOTT TOUEY

HOLSTON ASTROS

.MONTREAL EXPOS

Trade for Berry: Calling it The last big piece to

Truly free agents The M aim s have targeted Livan Hernandez (left) and Osvaldo Fernandez.

FLORIDA .MARLINS Signed up: Rather than chase m ore money in arbitration or with an­ t h e r team. Chris Ham* mond made sure he re­ mained in the rotation by accepting a one-year, SI.6-million deal. Incen­ tives could push the figure close to $2 million if he pitches at least 220 in n in g s.... The club tendered its three remaining arbitration-eligi*ble players — first basem an Greg Colbrunn. pitcher Ryan Bowen and utility infielder Alex Arias. Colbrunn was perhaps baseballs best bargain a year ago. hitting .277 with 23 hom ers and 89 RBIs while making a paltry $225,000. A club source expects Colbrunn to sign for close to $1 million.

Pitching wanted: While its wish list shrinks, the clu b s search for a starter expands. The te a m s attention is focused on righthander Kevin Brown, the ex-Oriole who was 10-9 with a 3.60 ERA. He's been offered a threeyear deal worth around $14 million, plus an option year. The front office has kept in close contact with agent Scott Boras, who repre­ sents Brown. The club also has had discus­ sions about four of his other clients — Kenny Rogers, Jim A bbott Andy Benes and Tim B elcher.... The Marlins are believed to be the front-runners to sign Cuban righthanders Li­ van Hernandez and Osvaldo Fernandez. Bid­ ding for the duo. which defected from Cuba and took up residence in the Dominican, be­ gan D ecem ber 15. The club was expected to

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M anager G erry HunI sicker got the man he S 5 5 J wanted when the team finalized a trade with the Expos to acquire third baseman Sean Berry. Six days after re­ ceiving the good news about second baseman Craig Biggio. the team filled the weakest position in the deal for Berry, who hit .318 last season for Montreal. But H unsicker had ’ to give up reliever Dave Veres and talented minor league catcher Raul Chavez. ‘Acquir­ ing a player like this com es at a price, and the price we had to pay is losing Dave Veres."

Hunsicker says. “He was a very valuable m em ber of this bullpen last year, and he will be sorely missed. ... But we all felt acquiring an everyday third baseman of this quality. who is still young and will be under our con­ trol over the next three years, was the over­ rid in g factor in evaluating that tradeoff."

Berry. 29. had the best year of his career last season when he hit 14 hom ers and drove in 55 runs while playing in 103 games. “I knew som ething probably was going to happen with me this year.’ Berry says. “I couldn’t ask for a better place to go. Hopefully it s a place where I can stay for a num ber of years. It could be one of the best infields around. The right side is great with (Jeff) Bagwell and Big­ gio. and I hope I can help out of the left side and take some of the weight off of those guys’ shoulders."

Trickle-down e ffe c t The acquisition of B eny meant third baseman Craig Shipley was not tendered an offer. "But I would like to reiter­ ate that not tendering Shipley does not mean we won’t re-sign him." Hunsicker says. "I talked to Craig and his agent about trying to work som ething out to have Craig back." The team did tender offers to four arbitration-eli­ gible players — right fielder Derek Bell, left fielder Derrick May. catcher Rick Wilkins and B e n y -An agreem ent was worked out with pitcher Darryl Kile.

—Tbwt BIDOT

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS Cotton

Candy:

Even though the “won-lost record of 7-14 does not rx say much about Tom Candiotti’s performance last season, there s re good reasons the team gave him a new cwpyear. $6 million contract. .As much as Ca^diotti was betrayed by the offense, he w as [et down even. more by the defense. In ‘95. the Dodgers backed him with three or fearer runs in 17 of his 30 starts, and in six of them they didn't score at all. But even more dam­ aging were thej)lunders in the field, particu­ larly the left side of the infield, where Jose Of­ ferman's errors had become legendary'. Gceg Gagne and Jeff Blowers are now fortifying the left side of the infield. “We ended up with one of the best shortstops in the business." says Candiuiti, whose ERA of 3.50 was the 15th best in the N .L One startling reason why Candiotti didn't win more games: When he was on the mound, the opposition scored 19 unearned runs (no pitcher in the N.L was vic­ timized with more) And the Dodgers, as a team, permitted 83 unearned runs (in the ma­ jors. only St. Louis allowed as many). Candiotti turned dawn offers from Toronto and California. ' j Just a pinch: lni.1994, the Dodgers were the best pinch-hitting team in the N.L. in '95 they were the poorek. hitting only .198 (46 for 232). Dave Hansen had nearly one-fourth-of the team's pinch hits (he was 11 for 35. 414).and was recently re-signed for the same role in '96. “I still want to be a regular." says Hansen, who is only 27 But he aho realizes it’s his best ticket to remain in the big

few

On-Line'MI

CHALLENGES

Earned income: The Dodgers have given Car­ diod: financed support, now about those runs

Setup time: The acquisi­ tion of righthander David Veres from the Astros for third base­ man Scan B ern' add resses the te a m s biggest area of offsea­ son concern: finding a bona fide setup man for closer Mel Rojas, somebody- preferably with the potential to save a few gam es'along the way. too. In short, the Expos wanted somebody to do what Ro­ jas did two years ago for John Wefteland. som ething Tim Scott couldn’t do in 1995 “With Veres.Scott and Rojas, we re pretty much set now for late innings." says pitching .coach Joe Ke:Tigan. “Veres b an g s a lot to the -table. It goes a lot deeper than his numbers. *It s his dem eanor, his body language He has very demonstrative actions, exudes the feel. ing bt somebody with no fear Give him the ball and he just fires away with absolute con­ fidence " Veres. 29. led N L relievers with 103'; innings and w-as second in appearances with;72. He was 5-1 with a 2.26 KRA. DaaPs Irooss: The team likely will use left­ hander O m ar Daal. acquired from the Dodgers (o f righthanded pitching prospect Rick- Clelland. as a starter Daal. 4-0 (7.20 ERA) as a bullpen specialist in '95. has been a starter in tile minors and in winter bai! in . Venezuela.' Bul he couldn’t break in to the Dodgers' rotation. “He’s one of those guys who needs to get his breaking ball over to be effective, because he doesn't have an over powering fastball." says G.M. Jim Beattie, af­ ter • receiving scouting • reports from Venezuela. “For that reason, he might be bet­ ter suited to start."... Lefthander Dave Griper and righthander Gil Heredia wen- not ten­ dered contracts. The Expos will still talk to their agents, particularly Heredia's. Infield er .Andy Stankiewicz was signed to a Tnple-A contract. Stankiewicz hit 115 in 52 at-bats with the Astros last se a so n .... One N.L G.M says concern about infielder WU Cordero < sore nght shoulder caused him to stop talk ing trade with the Expos —JETT Buffi

; 2 ; 3 4 5 i6 7 : 8 9 510

Bin B utch V inca Langley J o s h N evarez Jo h n Lomax Don E rtandson C had S c h u ste r Tim Ozga P a t Fox Tim K ruse R obert W illard

Hum m e lsto w n , PA C arm ich ael, CA W alnut C reek , CA N ashville, TM Fr e m o n t, CA G lendale, AZ O ak P ark , IL P uyallup, WA R h in elan d er, WI E ato n to w n , N J

1 M atthew Scfaade 2 Jo n a th an L ofter?

3 Todd Mitchell 4 Gary WBSamson 5 Mark Beckm an 6 Todd R athgeber 7 Tom nippon 8 Craig Funkftouser 9 Tom fevcefl 10 Tim Logsdn

Hockey Free Agents Players wtio can be claimed on FrL. Dec. 29tti. and ore 9PM on Ttuire.. Jan. 4Ui. and be on your team for games beginning FrL, Jan. 5th.

PO IO G 10 C 190 ■ 403 V 436 D 906 0 909

PLAYER/TEAM SAURY Roo Hextafl, Philadelphia S2J70JK 0 Ifid iM ltfy tm tar, Calgary 5730,000 8 r* a d » Shanahan, Hartford S2^43Q40 Tama* Sandstrom, R tsfaw ^i $1,550400 MxtMaa Schneider, MYI *1490400 Ken Sutton, Edmonton *550400

r ' j - r-r “i- '

M urrysville, PA 1 BUI W asosky L ake C h a rle s. LA 2 R ob ert B ryant Jk M o fcft, MN 3 P a tric k Z erw lg St. L ouis, MO Bartlett, TX M adison. WI Palm D e sse rt, CA j 4 J e ff T rex el B e file * Ord, S A S * j 5 D an C h am m F lat R ock, MI Ketfrf*. BASK 6 M ichael C a se o n e H ick sv ille, HY Y p silan ti. MI ^ V a n c o u v e r. BC I 7 Tim B illups Mttd&rton, PA 8 Qtno Yu T o rra n c e , CA K in sto n , GNT 9 J a m e s B ritt C olorado Spgs,C O B atavia, HY lO C m ie T k ac M ount L au rel, NJ R&fcey Perk, P A

I

Basketball Free Agents who be claimed after Moon on Tues.. Jan 2nd. & before 1TFM .Of) Sunday. Jan.7!Jh and be on your team for games beginning Mon., Jan.Stir* . tD 119 ISI U4 398 502

PLAYER/TEAM Dan* Barres, Boston A m y Johnson. San Antonio Christian Larftnsr. IfcmesoU Iftafik Sealy, LA Capper? .

H aU m OMfcwron. H o lto n

SALARY 12,730,000 S i.740400 *2,740400 030400 *4490400

The Sporting News

44 • IB.L NKW YORK METS

PHILADELPHIA PHIL

PirrS B L R G H PIRATES

Xta Hayne ta b le t For

ta i for ta te : With Curt

Merci, Merced: The out­

tfcfee years, 6.M. Joe MtDvaine had tried to acquire Brent Mayne to supplement his team’s catching.

Mcllvaine made offers that were significantly betta* than what he traded last-week — five-year Class-A outfielder .Al Shirley -% to-obtain the 27-yearold. fiveyear veteran from the Royals. With the R oyis having signed Mike McFarlane and not likely to tender a contract to Mayne. the Mets moved quickly. The deal doesn't bode well for Kelly Stinnett, who served two years as understudy to Todd Hundley. Stin­ nett was applauded for his work in *94. but last season he batted just .219 and threw out a lower percentage of runners (19.1) than anycatcher in the N.L Mcllvaine calls Mayne a bit of a luxury — afrarbilration-eligibie No. 2 catcher with a $625:000 salary. But Hundley has missed significant portions of the last rwo seasons. And last week, in fact he was still wearing a cast on his left w rist the result of October 9 surgery that removed a bone spur and repaired a slight fracture.

Acad Ventura: Whatever chance the club and the White S q x had of swinging a deal that would have moved ;Robin Ventura to the Mets died when the Mets indicated they wouldn't include Jason Isrmghausen. Bin Pul­ sipher or Paul Wilson-in a package for Ventu­ ra. “I wouldn't trade one of them straight up."

Mcllvaine says, acknowledging the $11,975,000. two-year obligation remaining on Ventura’s contract significantly decreased what the Mets were willing to spend.... Talks with the Rangers about third baseman Dean Palmer won’t resume-untH spring — if then — when the-Mets can determine if P alm ers sound. ... The team signed relief pitcher Doug Henry, one of four remaining arbitra­ tion-eligible players, to a one-year contract for $750,000. a raise of $350,000. Mayne.

Hundley and Jeff Kenr^lso are eligible. The Mets haven't had ap arbitration case to to hearing since 1992. * —HtoBTT HORE

Schilling, David West and MarkWhiten agree­ ing to contracts, the pri­ mary focus remains on signing Todd Zeile.

Non-tendered by the Cubs, Zeile, 30, has ex­ pressed a strong desire to play in Philadel­ phia He likes hitting at Veterans Stadium, is very close with first baseman Gregg Jefferies and has a strong relationship with General Manager Lee Thomas from their days in S t Louis’ minor league system. As always, it will come down to money. Zeile, who was both­ ered by a wrist injury- last season while split­ ting the season between th e Cardinals and the Cubs, was paid $3.7 million for hitting .246 with 14 homers and 52 RBI in 113 games. While he isn't looking for that as a free agent, Zeile is expecting something in the $2.5-mfflion range. .»

Reeling them lr. Schilling and West — both of whom are trying to-rebound from shoul­ der surgery — agreed to one-year deals.

Since both took more than 20 percent pay cuts,-the deals weren’t made public until the day after the tender date. Whiten also agreed to a contract hours before the dead­ line. He, too. took more than a 20 percent c u t Schilling, who may not be ready to pitch until May, agreed to a base salary' of $600,000. With $1.7 million in performance bonuses. Schilling has a chance to reach the guaranteed $2.3 million he made last season.

W est who says he win be ready by spring training, agreed to a base salary of $350,000 with a chance to make $1 million with per­ formance bonuses. West made $950,000 in base salary last year. Whiten, who tied for the team lead with l l homers, signed a con­ tract for a guaranteed $800,000 with $1.05 million worth of performance bonuses. Last year. Whiten made $1.6 million. “I am happy about getting all of them done" Thomas says. “I really believe Wliiten w ijb e a better player if everybody else stays healthy around him.'

— Geose A. im III

field is settled now that Orlando Merced has signed for two years.

Merced will play right field, free-agent acquist hon Mike Kingery will play center and Al Mar­ tin and Jacob Brumfield are expected to share left The system allows Manager Jim Leyland to save Dave Clark as a pinch hitter or occasional starter. .Merced came off his demand for three years and signed for two at an estimated $53 million, slightly more than Jeff King got for his two years. Merced, who grew up in Puerto Rico with Roberto Clemente’s sons; says he would like to spend his entire career with Pittsburgh, just like Clemente. General Manager Cam Bonifay was able to hold onto Merced and King with­ out putting too big a dent in his limited bud­ g e t “Its good to be able to sign your two best run producers,’ Bonifay says. The new con­ tracts add about $1 million to the *96 payroll The Pirates save about $3 million with Don Slaught and Jim Got! gone but some of that will go to raises for Denny Neagle and Carlos Garcia.

Infield boles: Third base and catcher are the remaining spots to be filled. With King ex­ pected to play first fulltime, the team has to look outside the organization for a third base­ man. The only choices within the roster are utifftyman John Wehner and Kevin Young, who hasn't hit in his three major league sea­ sons. The team needs a veteran part-time catcher for one year. ... One proven major league starter is needed to help Neagle stabi­ lize the top of the rotation. Adding another experienced starter would give Leyland flexi­ bility and create competition for jobs further down the staff.... Paul Wagner may be bumped from the rotation and sent to the bullpen, particularly if he struggles as a starter in spring training. Some in the organi­ zation feel that Wagner’s power arm and lim­ ited repertoire make him best suited for short' relief.

—J a i Mo b

catcher Danny Sheaffer w*as signed to a oneyear deal.... Tom Henke has told the team to start planning for *96 without him. Henke, who had 36* saves last season, declined salary arbitration,, meaning he can negotiate with any team until January 8. Heqke says he doesn’t plan to sign with anybody. T m not officially retiring y et" says Henke, 38.

T m doing a Don Mattingly. The chances of me coining back are pretty slim, but I would like to leave this open.... If I do play, it vriff be with the Cardinals, but right now I don’t think I want to play." Henke made $1.5 mil­ lion last season and. if he had accepted arbi­ tration. he could have made twice as much.

Henke says that if he decided to return, he wants to play for a contender and. despite re­ cent movies, doesn’t think the team is quite there y e t —t a IM M EL

ST. LOLIS CARDINALS

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Beno, earr

I-

V

Starts W M K The Cardinals consider Gaetti a legitimate d

at a disadvantage in learning the National League’s pitchers.

p hitter, but he admits he will be ii

AD the orga­ nization had to do was give Gary Gaetti 4,000 times what he was of­ fered the first time.

Gaetti. who turned •down a $500 bonus as the team’s fourth-round choice in 1978, agreed to a one-year contract that will pay him close to $2 minion for 1996.

Gaetti. who had 35 homervand 96 RBIs for Kansas City, is eight homers shy of 300 for his career and and has 1.075 career RBIs. General Manager Walt Jocketty thinks the Team has found a legitimate cleanup hitter.

•“He’s a winner, a champion, a legitimate blue-, collar guy," Jocketty says. Gaetti, 37, spent IS seasons in the American League and admits he will be at a disadvantage in leamiag new pitchers.Td be dishonest if I said I wasn't a little bit nervous," he says. "There will be times when ITI look really dumb and other times when it looks like I actually know what Tm doing."

GMAft, Scett Gaetti’s signing probably means the end for third baseman Scott Cooper, who wasn't tendered a contract Neither was second baseman Geronimo Pena nor c a tc h e r Scott Bem ond. Reserve

East Coast svteg? Zede, a free agent, could be rounding the basesfor the PhiUies in '96.

First iaprcssioes: The trade of versatile.’ Bip • Roberts to the Royals underscores two impor­ tant things: Thd club was not happy with its production at-first base - ? Eddie W illiams.. .Roberto Petagme. Scott Livingstone, et a1. — and it obviously felt it could replace Roberts in left field with a youngster, Marc Newfield or Melvin Nieves, or free agent Ron Gant The commitment of $535 million in salary for the next two years to Wally Joyner with a $3.75 minion option for *97 (which the club can buy out for $1 million) shows how seri­ ous the team fe about joyner, who hit 310 with 12 homers tind 83 RBIs last season and * led A.L first basemen with a .998 fielding aw erage.... The Padres have offered more than $15 minion to Gant The package, which in­ cludes three guaranteed years a id an option year, put the Padres “very much in the thick of it," says Gant’s agent, Jeff Beck. Their chief * corapetitors.in the bidding include the Reds, White Sox and Cardinals.

Fir Maters Thdugh they did not tender Wiffie Blair a co n tra^ making the veteran pitcher a free agent, the Padres stiff intend to

January 1,1996

N.L./A.L *45

sign Blair. The holdup: the versatile Blair. 30. w^pts to be compensated as a starter, not as a middle reliever. The Padres, though, are uncertain whether Blair (who allowed three runs or fewer in six of seven starts after the trade of Andy Benes) will be a starter.... The decision to bring back shortstop Andujar Cedeno was a controversial one. Some within the franchise think Cedeno is too erratic. But CEO Lam- Lucchino says he has faith in Ce­ deno. and G.M. Kevin Towers says Cedeno has All-Star potential. ... The Padres’ signing of control artist Bob Tewksbury raised eye­ brows throughout the league. Not that they signed him. but the price tag Al $1.5 million, the Padres paid more than $500,000 beyond the market rate, others contend. Still desper­ ate for pitchfiig they have inquired about Ex­ pos lefthander Jeff Fassero. —TOM KRASOVIC

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Two hours after Rod Beck learned from his agentthat he probably would become a free agent, the team's closer agreed to sign a twoyear contract worth $6 million. “I’m shocked." says Beck, who made $224 million in a 1995 season in which he had 33 saves but blew an N.L-high IO save chances. "Any time your contract is up. there s always that possibility (of not being tendered a contract). Let’s just say I was crossing my fingers and hoping to get some­ thing done." Team officials confirmed Beck’s signing was influenced somewhat by a shrinking pool of free-agent closers fbUowing the signings of Randy Myers, Rick Aguilera and Jeff Montgomery. In exchange for a longsought multiyear deal. Beck agreed to defer $1 million of his contract from 1998 through 2002. "I know I can give them what they want," says Beck, -whose 109 saves over the past three seasons are third highest in base baff “I know they gave me what I wanted."

Still looting for a starter. The signings of Beck and relievers Rich DeLuda (two years. $1.05 million) and Sergio Valdez (one year. $200,000) mean the Giants won’t have to pre­ pare arbitration cases and allows them to concentrate on adding another starter by trade or by free agency. However, the team already has earmarked nearly $30 million for 15 players, putting it out of the market for a high-profile pitcher unless management can clear some payroll by a trade. Quinn says the latter scenario is unlikely. “Right now I would feel comfortable with the pitchers that we have, but I would feel more comfortable if we could find another pitcher for the rotation."

Quinn says. Should the Giants fail to land an­ other starter, rookie lefthander Shawn Estes and Jeff Juden. acquired from the Phillies.

Would compete for the fifth spot in the rota­ tion. They would join Mark Leiter, William VanLandingham. Allen’ Watson and Jam ie Brewington. —MAB GOKZAiES Relief,

at

te st

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

nearly $6 million per year to add soc-time AllStar second baseman Roberto Alomar, bring­ ing to five the number of veteran players he has acquired or signed since taking control of the -team in late November. The other acqui­ sitions bolstered the bullpen (Roger McDow­ ell and Randy Myers) and fified the gap left when the team decided not to offer salary ar­ bitration to free-agent designated hitter Harold Baines (B J. Surhoff). Surhoff will play some third base and play a big role in a D.H.-by-comraittee arrangement that Manag­ er Davey Johnson hopes will give many of his regulars periodic rest The club already has $42 millioQ tied up in 12 players, and still could end up signing another starting pitcher — perhaps veteran lefthander Kenny Rogers.

GiJiick also wants to acquire a reserve out­ fielder and a defensive specialist to back up catcher Chris Holies.

Parting of the ways: No one was really sur­ prised that the team didn’t tender a contract to righthander Ben McDonald, who won only three games in *95 and made $4.5 million, meaning that the Orioles would have to pay him at least $3.6 million (rules prohibit ten­ dering a contract for more than a 20 percent pay cut) for the *96 season. The club was looking for McDonald to accept about $2 mil­ lion plus incentives. The Orioles can still try to sign McDonald, but considering that the club has had a very volatile relationship with agent Scott Boras since McDonald was the No. I pick in the ’89 draft that seems unlike­ ly. ... The Orioles still have an interest in righthander Kevin Brown, who also is repre­ sented by Boras, but don’t figure to make any overtures unless they strike out in an attempt to sign Rogers.

—PETH SCHMUCK

BOSTON RED SOX Basti and dash: The signing of Tom Gordon to a two-year. $5.8-miliion contract gives the team a ready' replace­ ment for righthander Erik Hanson, who fin­ ished second on the club in victories last season but refused the club’s offer of arbitration and became a free agent Gordon, who was 12-12 with 4.43 ERA last season for the Royals, will move in as the No. 4 starter behind Roger Clemens. Aaron Sele and Tim Wakefield. “I know this-club wants to win. expects to win," Gordon says, “and Tm thrilled to get the chance." Hanson

was looking for a multiyear deal and consid­ ered himself in the same class as Indians righthander Charles Nagy (two years. $6.75 million) and Marlins lefthander Al Leiter (three years, $8.6 million). He was miffed at the team’s initial offer of one year at a* little more than $1 million. Last year, he earned $1.4 million, including incentives. Because he was offered and turn down arbitration, any. team signing Hanson will owe the Red Sox z draft choice as compensation. ..; The teanv avoided- arbitration with third baseman Tim I Naehring by signing him to a one-year deal- | worth an estimated $1.25 million. The club also signed outfielder Milt Cuvier to a minor league contract and invited him to spnng training. , -J Lefthanders back: General Manager Dan Du^ quette sent contracts to all unsigned mem-. hers of the 40-man roster, ending speculation: lefthanders Rhea!.Cormier and Mike Stantorr may not return next season. Duquette, says Stanton may be used as a closer if the team is­ n’t able to sign one. Reggie Jefferson, whom Duquette feels can handle the designated-hitter duties next season, and backup catcher BiD Haselman, agreed to one-year deals. ...

Lefthander Butch Henry', who went 7-9 with 2.84 ERA for the Expos before undergoing el­ bow surgery in August agreed to a one-year. $400,000 contract after being claimed on waivers.

—JOE GJUUOTTI *

CALIFORNIA ANGELS

The team was looking for. an I aggressive, decisive general manager when they hired P i GOlick. .and that’s just what they got Apparently not will­ ing to stop at building just an A .L East champion, GiDick ponied up spree:

Closing argument Becks re ign in g was

Time and money: The

front office Is being forced to play a game of brinkmanship with its two premier free-agenI pitchers. Chuck Finley m and Jim Abbott G.M. Bill Bavasi wants to re­ sign both, but there's probably only enough' money for one of them in the budget (ap­ proximately $24 million) drawn up by outgo­ ing Owners Gene and Jackie Autry. A new budget — probably bigger — is forthcoming from the Walt Disney Co., but the new own­ ership team probably won’t be approved until mid-January. Since Abbott and Finley both re­ fused arbitration, the club has only until Jan­ uary 8 to sign them: after that, it can't negoti­ ate with either pitcher until May I. ... The Yankees were making a run at Finley, but the Louisiana country boy doesn't think he’d be comfortable in the Big Apple. ... Toronto of­ fered $82 million over three years for Abbott

influenced by the number of cbrsers available but. like Finley, his preference is to stay in California.

Three amigos: The signing of Bryan Harvey means starting pitchers may work only six innings...lf the club is ahead going into the seventh, it could use three legitimate closers for one inning apiece — Harvey. Troy Percival and Lee Smith. ... Harvey will enter spring training determined to prove his much-injured elbow is sound. He's had three surgeries, including a full elbow reconstruc­ tion May 3.... With the signings of Tim Wal­ lace Randy Velarde and Jack Howell, the tenure of infielder Damion Easley appeared on the critical list But Easley will get anoth­ er chance to win a job at second or third base. The front office re-signed him to a oneyear contract.... In addition to Finley and Ab­ bott outfielder Dave Gallagher refused arbi­ tration. It’s a move recommended by agents to increase their clients' bargaining lever­ age —Dave Cuuqkham

r'

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ILL«47

January 1,1996

1995 his best season — a 301 average. 18 home runs and 58 RBIs — the oig^uzatioD feh it would like to look in another direction.

So he was taken off the 4f>man roster. *I wanted to have some flexibility, and I wanted to see .who might be out there, if there’s someone who makes more s&se," General Manager Terry Ryan says. Munoz, 27, whose average didn’t drop below 300 a i ^ August 26. estabflshed several career highs in 1995 and has a career average of one RBI every 6.78 ai-bats. But he can be a liability in the field, and the agoing of Paul Molitor seems to eliminate the need for someone else who is strictly a designated hitter. Ryan, though, de­ nies the move was caused by either Molitor's arrival or by Munoz’s salary, which was S700.000 in 1995 and. either brough negotiahon or arbitration, would be well over Si mil­ lion in 1996. T h is is not a money-saving proposition,* Ryan says. T may not save a dime. » I w ant^ some space on the roster, so^Fve got some room to maneuver. This gives me flexibility for trades, to claim guys, sign free agents, and the ^Oity to make some moves."

Y n f i t SOM, r » I m *>■>: Negotiations continue with second baseman Chuck Knoblauch on a multiyear deal .u. A formal ofler was made to third baseman Gary Gaetti before Gaetti decided to sign with S t Louis.

T ie got a nice deal from the Cardinals, and I wish him well* Ryan says.... Also lost were pitdiers Mo Sanford to Texas and Carlos Pulido to the Cubs, both of whom have ap­ peared in the majors but were ax-year frw. agents.... The dub signed pitcher Erik Ben­ nett, formeriy of California, as a six-year agent with an invitation to major le a ^ e camp tte^ m h g .

Hu b

NKW^OKK VWKKKS Cm stifs; David Cone. saying he was ‘re­ lieved* to get' through his free-agent orde^, signed a three-year, $19.5-miIlioo contract to remain in New York.

But he probably wasn’t, as relieved as team management which sweated out the possHnHty of Cone choosing division-rival Baltimore or the crosstowD-rival Mets. Cone says die key was Owner George Steinbrenner’s wiOingness to include a notrade clause, topping the Orioles’ fimited no­ trade offer. “No more padding my bags and having the bir^l-gun routine on my mind.* Cone says. There's a tremendous comfort (mowing that* Steinbrenner nearly blew the'deal by offering Cone $19 milBon one day and lowering the offer to S1835 minion die next Cone's a ^ t Steve Fehr, chalked up the backtracking to ‘miscommunicatioo.* The dealings gave Cone second thoughts and m ^ e team officials so nervous they buddled in Steinbrenneris Tampa botel malting alter­ nate plans -g o ffers to Kenny Rogers and Kevin Browmv A P it The team re-signed Pal Kelly, a 337 hitter last season, to a two-year. S2.1nfiffion deal An oAct was never made to sec­ ond baseman Roberto Alomar, who had asked for a three-year deal at about S25 milGon. ™The team offered contracts to arbitration^eiigible players John Wetteland (^ 3 7 million last season). Bernie Williams ($400,900), Jeff Nelson ($275,000). Bob Wickman (8 ^ ,0 0 0 ) and fmi Leyritz ($135 millioD). Look for Tnn i ^ e s to become a Yankee soon. A deal has been worked out with die White-Sox and afl drat remains is to

as his own agent Contracts were tendered to the dlher three eligible players — outfielder (jeronimo Berroa, shortstop Mike Boftijick and utility man Saitt Broshis. Berroa.iwho made $235,000 last season, figures to qqiadrupfe his salary after putting togeffier ii sive consecutive seasons.

SK ;\Tnj{ MARINERS

a closer and have had discussions with the agents for Mike Henneman and Gregg OI SOO. Henpeman lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville and for several years has expressed a desire to play for the Rangers.

C A e^ ig But the rsserrss: The Rangers let both their backup middle infielders go by not tendering Contracts to second baseman Jeff Frye and shortstop Esteban Beltre. Frye was once considered the starting second b a ^ man bul injuries took away playing time, and Mark McLemore now has the job. "I look at it as they c5d me a favor." Frye says. Kurt StilL well. who hasn’t played in the majors since 1993 but has signed a minor league cPnlract could win-a job as the backup middle infield­ er. ... The Rangers had hoped lo free up soqie money for pilchingjjy trading one of their of­ fensive stars. But they’ve received no interest in outfielder Juan (ionzalez and first baseman Win (Hark because of their huge contracts.

Some teams are interested in third baseman Dean Palmer bul prefer lo wait until spring training to see if he’s folly recovered from the bieeps-tendon injury that sidelined him for four months. , ~T.R. SouiVAi

Stifl The bull­ pen, which finally-had recovered from ■the WI 1991 trade that sent BID Swift Mike Jackson and 4 t i t ! .* M m Dave Burba to the Gi­ ants for outfielder Kevin Mitchell is being shred­ ded again. After dealing depencfeble righthander Jeff Nelson to the Yankees. Gen­ era Manager Woody Woodward traded Bill Ksiey to die Blue Jays for les&experienced pitchers Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart *! was shocked." Risky says. “I had absolutely DO idea, and a trade was the farthest thing from my mind. I have no idea what they are O' thinking." Risley and Nelson were a com­ % bined 9 4 last season with 161 strikeouts and TORONTO BEI E .LAYS Ptwtiiiwd. Conefinally diase the Yankees over 45 walks in 107 relief appearance coverifg 139 innings. The Mariners have been oo- a the Otioies and Ae Mets^ cost-saving kick this offseason, dealing thihl — Closw by trailK After setde some monetary issues. Raines has an baseman Mike Blowers, first baseman Tmo being snubbed by out clause Ina contract that will pay him S3.7 Martinez and Nelson to keep the payrofl ar three v etei^ free-agent million in 1996.... The team sold the contract about $35 million. Trading 1 0 ^ — 11-7 with closers in Jeff .Montof lefthanded reliever ISck Honeycutt to the 37 walks and 126 strikeouts the past two sea­ gomeiy. Randy Myers C^ardinals. After mistakenly offering Honey­ sons — had nothing to do with money. "Says 2nd Rick Aguilera, the cutt arbitration, the team was forced to deal Manager Leu PinidSa: TVe’re starting to ,put club win try to recreate him, leaving Paul Gibson as the only left­ together a good, young pitching staff that^& ; the Duane Ward scehanded reliever. anchored by Randy Johnson, We had to*do a nariorwith Bill Risley. The hard-throwing little trading in the middle (relief) to do that" righthander was obtained from the Mariners Hurtado, 25. figures to be the leading candid afong with minor league second baseman date for a rotation rok. He is 5-2 with a 5.45 Miguel Cairo for pitchers Paul Menhart and OAKiAM) VS ERA after IO big-league starts. Bniella ^ y s Edwin Hurtado, both potential starters. RisFin- akK It dkinT take there win be eight starting pitching candi­ ley. who once had control problems, fanned — long to discern what di- dates when training camp opens FebrnarYlS, 65 bitters in 60'/, innings last year while walking 18. Uke Ward several years ago. he rectioD the team is A riltritin m fd sA Three potential s a £ ^ was a setup man with the Mariners. ‘He headed. After posturing arbitration cases were avoided last w e ^ that the dub would not when Rich Amaral Doug Strange ^ Lafe hasn't had that (closer's) role before, but be gutted. General Sojo a g re^ lo one-year contracts. The de­ w ell fry him there in the Manager Sandy Alder­ parted Mike Blowers. Tmo Marting. Jeff spring and early in the son called' as many Nelson and Warren Newson had b ^ on sdfe& le and see how he G.M.s as he. could last week, offering just the arbitratiorf-eligibie list until being traded does." General Manager about every player on the roster to anyone or released. ... Nearly one-third of the Gord Ash says. “We willing to take them. Among the names he league championship roster has .been couldn’t get the closer we wanted, but this has been was pushing were Mark McGwire. Todd Slot- changed. ... Piniella wants more c o m e ly demjre, Danny Tartabufl, Dennis Edcersley games in 1996. The starting staff had K), ii brewing for some time."

Mike Timlin and Tim and anyone e l^ making more than Sl .mil- 145 starts last season and Johnson had se^ Crabtree also will com­ —J * $11^ Gon. Ne^v Owner ^eve Schott said a fire sale en of them.

4 pete for dbser status. ... would not happen, but dearly the dub’s ac­ With Roberto Alomar re­ tions speak volumes. The S35^niI&on payroQ jecting arbitration as expected. Cairo will join foom b k season wiD be slashed severely, pos­ a crowd of contenders for second base that sibly into the teens if odier dubs are wising to t^ e a chance on someone Eke McGwire, IM d n tM r BitcA: The will indude second-year shortstop Tomas who is owed rou^iiy $11 millioQ over the dub has made a-four- Perez, utility infielder Domingo Cedeno and ^ next two years but has spent more time on year contract offer to progpect Tdson Brito. the disabled list than off the last three sea­ pitcher Kenny Rogers Sirbrisi s ^ lig : After indicating all fofl that it sons. One reason for the calls was probably but also has begun talks would not tender Juan Guzman a contract to scare S t Louis into acting on a trade with free agent Ken’HiD the dub re-signed the righthanded pitcher. worked out several weeks ago. The Cardinals as a possibk alterna- Guzman took the maximum 20 percent pay were interested in a cq u ir^ Stottleinyre. live. Rogers led the cut permitted during contract-tendering peri­ Edcersley and KHke Bordick. aO Tony La team in victories (IT) and innings^(208). He od. The former ace went 4-14 with a 6.32 ERA Russa ferrites, but cooled on the idea since had a 338 ERA in 31 starts Hifi, who went in 1^ 5 and had control problems for the sec­ they didn’t know how much salary they 4-1 to finish tile season with the Indians after ond straight year. Ash says that although the would be taking on in their pursuit of Mark starting 6-7 with the Cardinals and his-agent deal was against his better judgment, “some­ Grace and Craig Biggie. Wiffi those players Larry Reynolds came to Texas on December body was going to lake a gamble on him. It signed with other dubs. the team still wants 20 to meet with (}enera] Manager Doug might as wefl be us." ». The dub still is lookthe deal that would help slash hs payroll by Melvin and get a lour of The BaDpark in Ar­ ing for one firee-agent starter, and is among lington. Former Orioles pitcher Bai McDon­ at least seven teams thai have shown strong about $7.5 minion.

F B ^ the gape Arbitration was averted^ en ald, who wasn’t tendered a contract should interest in pitchers Osvaldo Fernandez and retiever Jm dorsi agreed to a new contract for attract some interest firom the Rangers. Livan Hernandez, both of whom defected $4<X),000 with the possibility to earn another Melvin and pitching coach Dick Bosman tike from the Cuban national team and are not $50,000 through a;q)earance bonuses. Corsi. McDonald from their days together in. the subject to baseball’s free agent draft of ama- ^ —Srm M coi the chib's best seu^ ;»tcher last season, acted Orioles organization. The Ranges also need leurs.

The Sporting News

Sorrento a free ag ast After declining to pick

CHICAGO WH ITH SOX lim y t a t e Although

relievers Scott Radin­ sky :and Jeff Shaw weren't tendered con­ tracts, the team would like to have them back at - a reduced rate.

Radinsky, the veteran lefthander who was paid $1.1 million last year, had a 5.45 ERA. butic was his first sea­ son back after a year off to battle Hodgkin's disease. Shaw. acquired from Montreal late last season, made $325,600. Both presum­ ably will be offered^mope than a 20 percent pay c u t ... Veteran backup infielder Craig Grebeck won’t be offered.^ contract even at a reduction of his $670,000 salary. The team plans to use Norberto Martin, Chris Snopek and Doug Brady as its backups. ... General Manager Ron Schueler again is denying re­ ports that Robin Ventura* will be traded, this time to the Mets. Schueler says he expects Ventura to be the Opening. Day third base­ man.

'•;% Haloes gone? lf left fielderTiro Raines and his $3.7-miIlion salary are trad ed , the front office could be serio u s’ about signing Cincinnati free-agent outfielder Ron G ant Raines can terminate h£. contract this win­ ter and has asked for an extension of that option, supposedly so lie can bargain with other teams about securing a lodger deal.

The Yankees reportedly were close to ac­ quiring the speedy Raines, but Schueler continues talking with more than one team.

The Yankee deal was being held up by final negotiations on monetary issues involving Raines' contract ... Even though his team finished 32 games behind the Indians, who have seemingly improved through, several free-agent moves, Schueler says he is not conceding the Central Division to Cleve­ land. “T his will be my 30th year in baseball and it is really not how much you spend, it is how you spend it" he says* "We are all going to spring training and starting even.

On March 31. we are going to be tied with Cleveland."

—DAVI VAI B ra

up a $ 1.5-million option on arbitration-eligi­ ble Paul Sorrento, th£ club tried to work out a trade for him. When that failed — a lastminute deal with the Mariners feD through — the club refused to offeriSorrento a con­ tract making him a free agent As a platoon first baseman in 1995, Sorrento batted 235 but hit 25 home runs and collected 79 RBls in only 323 at-bats, facing lefthanded pitch­ ers almost exclusively. ... The Indians signed lefthanded catcher Eric Helfand to a Triple-A contract Last season as a reserve with the A’s. Helfand batted .163 with seven RBIs in 86 at-bats. Helfand’s contract in­ cludes an invitation to train with the bigleague club in Winter Haven, Fla. Helfand, 26. was the Athletics’ second-round pick in the 1990 draft —SHB*! OOH

deadline for tendering contracts drawing near, the club signed •righthander Mark Clark to a one-year guaran­ teed ;! contract for $900,000 plus an option season worth $1.5 million or more, depend­ ing on howmany innings he pitches, lf the club does not exercise the 1997 option. Clark will receive a $27,500 buyout Clark posted a 9-7 record and 5.27 ERA in 1995. He also spent time at Buffalo when be got off to a slow start. Had Clark not come to terms, the club would not have offered him a contract for 19%. making him a free agent “.AD along we wanted to keep Mark." Assistant General Manager Dan O’Dowd says. “It depended on ,the dollars." The club dedined to pick up a Si.4-million option on Clark for 96, opting in­ stead to start over. Clark wiD contend with Chad Ogea and Albie Lopez for the final berth in the rotation. “We look at Mark as a starter to fill out the bottom of the rotation."

“ODowd say's. “By no means do we want to trade him, but a lot of teams will be looking for pitching in spring training, so well keep our options open."

Stattftzm : With all the changes and an em­

phasis an youth. General Manager Herk Robinson wanted to maintain a core of veter­ an leaders, and he did that by keeping pitch­ ers Jeff Montgomery and Mark Gubicza and bringingfcack Macfariane. Montgomery, who had a $4-miHion deal last year, returned for much less — ^two years at $2.1 million and $23 million. The Blue Jays were ready to give him $3 miflion a year, but Montgomery opted to stay in Kansas City. where he has pros­ pered and just built a home. ... Righthander Tom Gordon signed with the Red Sox and lefthander Dave Fleming was not offered a contract so relievers HipoHto Pichardo and Rusty Meacham might get new looks as starters. Lefty Tora Browning, making a comeback, and several young starters also are in the picture.

— O d KaBEL

MI [AVAL KEE BREWERS At e a s w ed: For the

Pitch, pitch, pitch: How new Manager Buddy Bell will use Doherty, who has

i and been a

reliever, is up in the air rune. His tender arm likely will dictate the final

CLEVELAND INDIANS A n o tta option: With the

had arm tenderness last year and battled back problems in 1994. fielder’s declaration that he wants to play elsewhere sparked a torrent of criticism on talk shows and among Detroit media. There’s strong sentiment that the Tigers — who rescued fielder from Japan, gave him his first chance to be a regular and lavished upon him a five-year, $3&mHlion con­ tract — deserve more gratitude. Add-to that his strong union stand during the strike, and you can expect plenty of catcalls for the Big C a t T h e pitching staff will have at least a 50 percent turnover from Opening Day last year.

Gone are Brian •Bohanon, Buddy Groom, Mike Henneman, Mike Moore and David Wells — and Joe Boever and Mark Gardiner are not sure bets.... BelJ’s home in Cincinnati wiD give him convenient access to Toledo, the Tigers' Triple-A home.

—B a CUCH

KANSAS 6etita| tim : For a re­ building team, the Tigers already have a fairly set everyday fifieupfBf J996.

Assuming that Cedi fielder is still around and barring injuries, the regulars figure to be Fielder at designated hitter, John Flaherty catching. Tony Clark at first’b a i ; Mark Lewis at second; Travis Fryman at third; Chris Gomez at shortstop; Bobby Higginson and/or PhD Nevin in left field; Chad Curtis in center, and PhD Planner in right The outfield situation is flexible in left and right, depending on who has the hot bat and who’s pitching (the lefthandedhitting Higginson is stiD learning, to hit left­ handers). Higginson is equally capable defen­ sively in left or right and Nevin — a converted third baseman — is still learning the ropes.

What aholt Doherty? Righthander John Do­ herty. who agreed to a one-year contract for a reported $400,000 last week, win go into spring training as somewhat of a wild card on Buddy Bell’s staff. A career reliever, Doherty was a starter in all of 1993 and 94,- then was switched back to the bullpen last year (5-9, 5.10 ERA with six saves). BeD needs to deter­ mine which role is easiest on Doherty, who

cm KOVALS

to ffee By dealing Wally Jeyner to the Padres, the club not only unloaded his $5 ^million * salary but opened up first base for Joe VitielTo or Bob Hamelin. One young slugger is expected to $>lay first while the other is the designated hitler. Bip Roberts, obtained in the trade, likely wifl get a shot at second base. That means the entire infield will be new, with Jose Offerman replacing Greg Gagne at shortstop and a platoon com­ bo of Keith Lockhart and Joe Randa at third base. Also, the team wiD have an old/new catcher in Mike Macfariane, re-signed after a year’s exile with the Red Sox. That made Brent Mayne expendable, and he was traded to the Mets for outfielder Al Shirley.... The addition of Roberts probably means that David Howard, penciled in at shortstop be­ fore the Offerman trade and th a i at second base after it, is back on the bench. With Gary Gaetti’s signing with the Cardinals, the club would fike to do more to fin his pdrwer (35 homers, 96 RBls) a1 third than a LockhartRanda combo. That’s why. ifs looking at the Expos’ WO Cordero.

tiff

£

second time in three weeks, the club lost a coveted free agent be­ cause of reasons not di­ rectly related to base­ ball or finances. BJ. Surhoff, who spent the • last nine seasons in Milwaukee, turned down the club's four-year. $4-m3fion offer to take a three-year, $3.7-million offer from Baltimore.

“It was the toughest decision I ever had to make," Surhoff says. “In all honesty, it -didn’t come down to .money. Milwaukee did every­ thing they could. It wasn’t anything they didn't do to keep me." Earlier, Paul MoDtor spurned Milwaukee in orderj to play in his hometown with the Twins. “There wasn’t any­ thing more we could do," General Manager Sal Bando says. “With Paul we couldn’t com­ pete with his hometown. With B J., we couldn’t compete with family considerations."

Surhoff^ wife, Polly, is from the Baltimore area. /[m ajor consideration in the decision was the educational and care facilities in the area for son Mason, who is autistic “There is a multitude of issues that come into th a t’ Surhoff says. T h e professional side took a backseat to my family side." la te st reared With Surhoff out of the pic­ ture, Bando says his focus wiD be on finding pitching. “We’ve taDced to a few agents," Bando says. Sources say the club is in ter-. ested in starters .Kevin Tapani and Bobby ' W itt... When Surhoff s decision became ap­ parent the club signed outfielder David Hulse to a one-year, $270,000 contract ...

Catcher Mike Matheny, known as a defen­ sive specialist for the past few seasons, is flexing some offensive muscle in -P u e rto ’ Rico. Through 34 games with Aricebo, he was hitting 276 with 3 homers and 17 RBIs. ... Groundbreaking Is tentatively set for March 17 on a new stadium, with comple­ tion expected in time for the home opener in 1999. The designers are HKS, the same group that designed Texas’ The Ballpark in Arlington.

—O n OLsa

MINNESOTA TWIN'S See |r They took it up to the deadline before fi­ nally cutting toe cord; the team declined to of­ fer a contract to desig­ nated hitter Pedro Munoz, who has been a part of the organization since 1990. Even after Munoz produced in

January 1,1996

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51

THE CLOSER

January 1,1996

F I R S T - I N S E C T

Best-o-Fly Don’t expect any bad buzz from ’95 here (shaddup!)

You heart it here second:

On the high hone:

■ Fly hears the NFL’s tuh-remblin’ because a certain Dallas maverick is at it again.... Tags is afraid the 'Boys'll sign with a company not licensed by this here league like, say, oh, Nike.

■ F tys Fearless F orecast Alvin Harpers already rung up the biggest number hell ever ring up for the Bucs.

■ The Spies say theT-woofs’re mighty interested in Kevin Garnett They project him at power forward (you choose the pronunciation o f project).

■ The Spies say there’s little/no preseason evidence that Randall Cunning­ ham can get the Eagles’ late-model offense outta the driveway. He continues his bad habit of bein’ more concerned with the othe* teams’ pass rush (read; savin’ his owm grits) than their coverages.

■ The Spies say that cHa<hing was this here garage league hornin’ in on Phoenix. Fly hears the Minnepeg Jets’re hiss-toe-ree and the NHL’s lookin’ longingly at Jerry Colangelo’s bank statem ent

■ One of a bajillion of college football’s problems: Sleazoids who wanna dip their toes in the job-market waters without gettin’ wet, for cryin' out loud.

Coaches wanna interview for the ’Canes job without hurtin’ recruiting back at ol’ Current Job U. Never mind that some 18-year-old’s whistlin’ “Be True to Your School” all the way home from a campus visit thinkin’ he’s committed to play for a guy who may be gone before the.first ankle’s taped for spring drills.

■ Autographs, shmautographs. Jose Shortstop puttin’ Sharpie to horsehide for some nimrod who says, “This is gonna be worth somethin’ someday” ain't gonna bring back fens like exdtin’ baseball games, teams and pennant races., ‘T h is is our product,” Indians G.M. John Hart tells the Spies. “At some p o in t you have to stop begging people to watch."

■ Hey, this here league can talk loy­ alty and stability all it wants, but you-nFTy know that the fens fell waaay down the NFL’s list-o-priorities (somewhere behind sweetheart stadium/tax deals, “ancillary income" and turbo-dollar TV deals but in front of protectin’ QBs’ melons). If it ain’t the Ballamore Browns, then ifs the Nashville Awlers, L A Seasquawks, Orlando Bucs or In­ diana Bears. 'And if you think that coach-tumed-TV foot is right in blamin' Jerry Jones for all this, then explain why Pats Prez Bob Kraft and the Raiders’ Big Al tell Fly the league shouldn’t be suin’ the Dallas maverick.

Spire ■ Let’s see if Fly has this straight Mike says it was his frustration with baseball’s la­ bor .woes, not bush-league breakin’ balls (wink, wink), that pushed him back to the Bulls. B ut Mr. Stern, wasn’t that MJ .’s name at the top of the movement that’s caused the Teflon league’s first work stoppage?

■ OK, so- w h /d the NCAA cave to Rev. Jerry on the subject of life, Liberty and the lawsuit of happiness? It didn’t have a prayer.

■ The Spies helped sing happy M a y to Gints G.M. George Young (and the 65 can­ dles didn’t set off the smoke alarm) then re­ ported that George isn’t eager to retire andTl have a new pact by season’s end. Translation:.

Dan Reeves ain’t gonna get full control over personnel that he cuh-raves. The only thing that could be worse is a 1-4 sta rt ■ 3Com Corp. tells Fly its become the oh-ficial sponsor of the SFGiants and 49ers’ home field, which!! now be called 3Com Park. Fly’s response to 3Com: ’Stick it

Just wondering: ■ If th eres no settlem ent will the NBA players walk? And if the players walk, will Patrick Ewing? And if Patrick Ewing walks, will the refs finally' call it?

■ How’s this sound for the climax of years of planning Arlington? Replace­ ment AB-Star balloting (sponsored/tabulated by Accountemps), replacement AflStars (“Yer attention, please, now batting for S.C. Rubeenie... Butch Leaguer”) and replacement umpires (“Yer, u rn ... out?”)- Just the thought makes Fly wan­ na grab a no-alcohol brew and soy-product dog and head for the cheap seats.

■ Lets see if Fly has this straight Albert BelIe. who has a candy bar named after him, says he doesn’t have any goodies for trick-or-treaters? Whatta Halloweenie. . *.•

From the mouths of...: ■ Fly was wonderin’ how spoiled millionaires would do when called on to take sign in hand and hum solidarity songs outside the ballyard. Mess pitcher Bret Saberhagen: “I don’t walk no picket lines. I’ve got more important things to do than stand outside a stadium and take abuse from fens.”

■ Proof he’s Fly’s kinda guy, Jim Wrigleynian says, “I try to have respect for people in general, whether its baseball players or lowlifes like the media.”

Oops: ■ Believe Fly. Big D ain’t ready for Prime Time.

■ The Raiders back in Oakland? Fly­ ’ll believe it at kickoff... of the second game at the O-AC Mausoleum.

Hey, didnl you used to be: ■ Cleveland?

■ Scotty Thurman and Jam es Forrest?

The Gints. NFC East contenders?

The M ildens?

■ T he Olympic Festival?

Patrick W^caahr

■ Jim Mora?

Shot selection: ■ Hey-yo, Doc Gooden, 117 mph in a 55 zone? .As if Fly needed more proof yer goin’ nowhere fest.

■ Proof that news is stranger than fiction: The story Fly read said. “Kevin McHale will succeed General Manager Jack McClo^key." markin' the first time “succeed" has been used in connection with the T-woofs.’

■ Hang on while Fly takes this long-distance call from Knoxville.

■ Poof! The Magic's draggin’.

■ This is yer brain, this is yer brain as a Clips oh-ficial on NBA draft day.

■ Truth be told, Fly’s a subway alum of Northwestern. , ■ The Spies just call it T h e Halfway House that Ruth Built."

■ Two miracles for the priceoone: I) The Nets find out that D errick C o le man has a minor heartbeat irregularity before he has any serious problems, and 2) They find out that he has any heart at all.

■ Last franchise outta Houston, turn off the Dome lights.

■ Northwestern in the Rose Bowl? Right And Fly supposes the Beatles have a new single out, too. +

50 ‘ COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Sporting News

COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT

One coach jolts, another bolts, in the Big Eight of famine, preceded by a score of feasts dat­ ing lo the mid-1960s.

Switzer, rum ored to be coaching some­ where south of the Red River, has no desire to leave, and his present employer indicates a I similar desire to keep him. Cowboys Presi­ dent Jerry Jones said he would hold Switzer to his contract but not assistant coach John Blake, who worked for Switzer at Oklahoma.

Blake is young (34). enthusiastic and African Ivan ’ American, frhich dovetails nicely when one MAISEL is competing with Oklahoma State and Bob Simmons. T he only guy likely to keep Blake from getting the job is Switzer. niversity of Oklahoma President The shocking turn of events became pub­ David Boren is a former U.S. sena­ lic last w'eek. when Schnellenberger released tor and. as such, he doesn’t thijnk a cryptic resignation statement. “(I)n recent small. So when he decided that he months a climate has developed toward the wanted a new football coach onlv one season program, understandably in some cases and after Howard Schnellenberger had begun, he perhaps unfairly in others, that has changed didn’t ask for a laundry list of assistants. He my outlook on the situation.” he said. “A broached the subject with form er Sooners change could help improve that climate." Al­ coach Barry Switzer, forced out of Norman in though Boren insists Schnellenberger volun­ sham e in 1988. Never mind the shipwreck teered to resign, it may have been the most Switzer left behind — why not pronounce palatable option presented him. He leaves him rehabilitated5 Why not invoke the Bible'" with a comfortable settlem ent for the re­ .After all. the Sooners have had seven years maining four years on his contract.

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The titbit connection T e rn Shea is the 409th to n n er assistant to Bill Walsh to get a Division I-A head coaching job. or so it seems. Actually. Shea, the new head coach at Rutgers. is the second this season with a direct connection to Walsh, after Fred vonAppen of Hawaii. That doesn't count $teve*Mariucci. whom California hired from Green Bay. to where he worked for Mike Holmgren, a former Walsh assistant. You can bet that Shea’s l&6*2,j-ecord at San Jose State in 1990 and '91 had a lot less to do with Rutgers being attracted to him than did his connection to Walsh.

Shea left San Jose State to w'ork as an assistant- to Walsh at Stanford in 1992.

Shea got the label “heir ap­ p aren t" but he became nei­ ther apparent nor the heir.

That speaks m ore; to The idiosyncrasies of Stanford than it does Shea. The West Coast offense will be tested in the oft-foul East Coast au­ tum ns. Shea announced at his new-s conference that two quarterbacks at I-A schools had contacted- him that day to express interest in transferring. T h a ts im­ portant but the most impor­ tant recruit Shea will sign is a defensive coordinator.-

That will determ ine how quickly — or if — he suc­ ceeds.

Six shooters W hen the coaches of the six .Alliance team s m et re­ cently in New York at the re­ quest of CBS. the one-liners came as fast as you might think any time Lou Holtz.

Bobby Bowden and Steve Spurrier gather. (Surely Tom O sborne would have told a joke or two. cut-up that he is. but he spent most of the news conference stuck in New York holiday traffic.

T h a ts what we locale call getting to be a part of it, New York. New York.)

Holtz, on his new lifetime contract with Notre Dame: “That m eans I can be de­ clared legally dead anytime."

Bowden, who recentlyagreed to a deal that will pay him nearly $1 million a year. on Holtz: “He out-contracted me."

Spurrier, on the rivalry- be­ tween the Gators and the Seminoles: “Bobby• and I don’t call each other about our opponents. We used to talk when I was at Duke, if I had a ballplay I w-anted to run by him." Bowden: “I don’t ask him how to beat Notre Dame. He don’t ask me how to beat Nebraska."

Bowden did indicate he

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those who heard M ason say for weeks thfei he wouldn't leave. "I don’t have time for rd* m ors and speculation." Mason said in Nfi| vember. when the Rutgers job opened, “j* don't care if it is Rutgers or the University of the United States. Its a waste of time. I ain’t going to talk to them. Pm happy at Kansas."

In December, he said: “I am coming back to the University of Kansas next year."

T he sam e day. M ason told Georgia Ath­ letic D irector Wince Dooley. “I'm not just in­ terested. I want the job." So he got JU and who cares if h e misled the media, th ep u b b c and his players? M ason took Kansan from the depths of I-A to the top. In his first sea­ son. 1988, M ason asked the referees not to stop the clock in the second half of an em ­ barrassing loss at Auburn. In his last, the Jayhaw ks w ent 9-2 in the regular season.

But he also-has gone through a painful di­ vorce. and his son is graduating from Lawrence High this spring. His roots came Sooner troot-fomer. Blake could be moving up easily. from Dallas' sideline to Oklahoma's Mason is the first coach without a South­ eastern Conference background to be hired ' That O klahom a 5-5-1. ended the season in at Georgia since the leather-helm et days. If disarray becam e as apparent as the empty hard work and enthusiasm account for any­ seats at Memorial Stadium. The offense failed thing. be wiD have the Bulldogs challenging to score a touchdown in the last two games.

Offensive assistant Gary Nord scuffled with Tennessee and Florida in the SEC East soon. linebacker Broderick Simpson after a 12-0 Next year isn’t out of the realm of possibility loss to Oklahoma State. A problem, yes, but — had .quarterback Mike Bobo and tailback hot one worth resigning over. Ifs clear Boren Robert Edw ards stayed healthy. Ray Goff hasn’t come clean. would still be head coach. . The last place anyone expected to find an M ason won't attend the Peach Bowl. al­ opening this offseason would have been the lowing Goff to coach his final game without a Big E ig h t where four jobs changed hands a j vulture in the press box. Schnellenberger at­ year ago. The departure of Kansas coach i tended the Sooners' Copper Bowi washout Glen M ason for Georgia is less surprising against Brigham Young a year ago. Ix>ok than the change at Oklahoma, particularly for where it got him.

thinks N ebraska is better than Florida. “I really feel like they are the strongest team." Bowden said of the C om huskers. “But .after playing Florida, even before, if they are hot. they can beat anybody in the country."

Everybody's All-American Select m em bers of the Football W riters Association of America cast two ballots recently and named Bronko Nagurski and Pat Fitzgerald the winners. Nagurski de­ feated Knute R ockne.and Gen. Robert Neyland to be­ come the nam esake of the FWAA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. Fitzgerald.

N orthw estern’s junior line­ backer, won the award itself. ' Fitzgerald went to Pasadena to get the cast off the broken ankle he suf­ fered in November. He has lost 15 p o u n d s w hile h o b ­ b l i n g c r o s s - c o u n tr y on crutches to receive a wall full of awards. Fitzgerald won the last, the Nagurski, over linebackers Kevin Hardy of Illinois and Zach Thom as of Texas Tech. end Cornell Brown of Virginia Tech and cornerback Chris Canty of Kansas State.

Fitzgerald’s participation in the Rose Bowl'will be lim­ ited to giving the signals to

Dynastic W K Fitzgerald (above), who is recoveringfrom a broken ankle, and Nagurski art connected by an award his defensive team m ates.

Lauded by Coach Gary Bar‘ nett for being sm art on a team fuD of sm art players.

F itz g e ra ld w as plenty’ shrewd when it came to tick­ ets. He and his family came up with 22 — all to watch Fitzgerald perform sideline sem aphore. His rehab will begin while the team is in Pasadena.

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last three years. The best of the juniors, wide receiver Rae Carruth. who caught S3 *passes for 1.008 0vards and nine touchdowns this sea­ son. told the coaches some time ago he plans to return for 1996.... The Big 12 Con­ ference averted a rift among I its m em bers recently when le a g u e presidents voted to accept no non-qualifiers and up to four partial qualifiers am ong its incoming student athletes. Texas had threat­ ened to “review our options" if the league had allowed non-qualifiers. Translation: Texas had threatened to “go to the Pac-IO."T he Big Eight has left it up to individual in­ stitutions. The com prom ise will allow each school to take one partial qualifier in foot­ ball. one in another m en’s sp o rt one in w om ens bas­ ketball and one in another women’s sp o rt to

Ivan M aisel covers college football for Newsday. w

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T his is definitely news: None of the eight junior starters at Colorado is ex­ pected to come out early for the NFL D raft T he Buf­ faloes have lost four in the

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By MICHAEL BUSHY ue on its games lately. In fact from one easily accessible- perspective, they are outlandish prices to pay for a sport that commanded absolutely no upfront guaranteed money •**s:. in its recently deceased, over-the-air television contract with The Baseball Network. Which leads one to question whether Murdoch knew anything about the critical Amer­ ican baseball issue, either, when asked to decide it But sticky wickets (another cricket term) like exorbi­ tance nearly never slow down a Murdoch decision. It is, in fact the sort of sticky-wicket decision he made about baseball that makes Murdoch what he is today. And to­ day — with Major League Baseball part of his endless media terrain, and ESPN focused firmly in his gunsights — Murdoch is, once again, the most powerful person in T h e S p o r t in g N ew s IOO. our annual ranking of sport’s most influential movers and shakers.

Murdoch, who was No. I in 1994 for igniting Fox’s ex­ plosion into the sports broadcast marketplace with deals bails in Bombay? (It’s a cricket term, silly.) The response is this: The criti­ to televise professional football and hockey, is the first person to top the TSN IOO in consecutive years. In fact he is the first person to be named No. I for cal Indian cricket issue in December is quite similar to one Murdoch faced in November regarding another game, a game a bit more regularly ad­ a second time since the list began in 1990.

‘No one can deny the far-reaching influence of today s corporate power dressed in these pages. Cricket's distant cousin, as it happens. „ Who, Murdoch is asked in November, will have these baseball rights cur­ brokers on the evolution of professional sports as an extremely valuable busi­ ness and entertainment p r o p e l " saki Nicholas H. Niles. President of T he rently in dispute in America? And how much will they cost5 S porting N ew s . T h e magazine’s T o p IOO list proves this to be true year af­ The answer, we know, is that the baseball rights will be had by Murdoch.

And the price of bats and bails in Boston and Baltimore (and elsewhere) is ter year."

Others who have reached the top spot and failed to hold i t include Turn­ $575 million, payable to Major League Baseball in return for five years of Fox Broadcasting Company telecasts, beginning this spring. And another $172 er Broadcasting executive Ted Turner (1993). Nike CEO Pfal Knight C92), . million, also payable to Major League Baseball in return for two nights of NBA Commissioner David Stem 091) and former CBS'chairman Laurence games every week, beginning in the 1997 season on the fX network, which is Tisch 090).

M urdoch/64, repeats where the others didn’t because little has interrupt­ Murdoch’s whippersnapper challenger to ESPN. Those are princely prices to pay for a sport that hasn’t commanded much val­ ed his speed-oMight expansion of Fox Sports and its parent company. News

he phone rings in Rupert Murdoch’s New York office with news from an­ other hot spot in that place where night never falls, which is to say the global Murdoch media empire. This time, it is India. It is urgent It is cricket Inquiring Indian r n -minds need to know: Who will have these cricket rights currently in dispute in India? And how *S*. much will they cost? r “I didn’t know anything about the issue,” Mur­ tats? doch says later. “But'they wanted me to decide.”

And w h at the gentle reader may be asking of this odd anecdote, do the pages of T h e S p o r t in g - N ew s have to do with the price of

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S-2'T8III^TUP100 Corporation. Murdoch's all-cncompassing as­ work. during the last two seasons as rightssault on the core of sports broadcasting in this holder. walked away from it altogether. country is the corpOTle equivaleni of a noBul Murdoch's Fox won its new contract huddle. two-minute drill. Like most quarter­ with Major League Baseball partly on the backs in a hurry-up offense, he isn’t always strength of a perilous promise to breathe life precise bul he is aJways fast. And he keeps back into the 5>aturd^ afternoon franchise. It ^ Fox moving, and mowing, down the field. is a promise, indderitally. that the barons o f ' *I guess we’re the new boy's on the block, basebaD tried to extort from any network cozyso we're doing the most things,* Murdoch ing up to buy the rights to broadcast regularsays. “We’ve got a lot of initiatives going on season games. Among those suitors, only around the world, and a lot of them are based Murdoch didn't flinch. on sports. I'm sure other people ire doing So beginning on the first Saturday after great things with sport, too. But from the Memorid Day. Fox will attempt to make broadcasting point of view and the popular­ chicken salad out of the Game of the Week. ization of sport — taking it to the people — I Consistent with his usual modus operandi, think we're doing the most. And we have the Murdoch made the deal before he w o rk ^ out most opportunity to do it." the particulars.

As Murdoch enters 1996. the sports divi­ He leaves that sort of detail work up to sions of the other three networks have lo de­ David Hill, the Fox Sports president who deftfend theif turf against a Fox programming ar­ 'ly put together the network’s NFL broadcasts senal that includes the National Football League and its intemation' al offspring, the World League: Ma­ jor League Baseball in- both its reguiar-season and postseason casts; the National Hockey League in its only over-the-air exposure: a boxing se­ ries that debuted two w ^ k s ago with Mike Tyson on free television; and figure skating, whose ratings r e g u l ^ ' dust every other sport on the lu b ^ In two years; beginning in I>ecem- on short notice two years ago and who earlier ber of *93. Murdoch has acquired them all — turned Murdoch’s Sky Sports channel into a whether he knew much'about them or not. dominant force in Great Britain.

“Well. I think we've got superior promo­ tional skills and superior broadcasters." Mur­ I n the late 197t)s. a nationally (elerised Sal- doch says by way of a stubborn optimism. urday-aftemoon baseball game was a “We're just going lo 'make the Game of the thriving network franchise for NSC. with Week a big event I can't say anything more ratings consistently over 7.0. Bul that was than that b r a u s e I don’t want to give away se­ before cable and superslations made televised crets. In fact I don’t know the secrets. I don’t baseball more common than colds. .Against know what’s in David’s mind, bul I can assure the proliferation of that competition, the Game you that David Hill will make it a big event" of the Week gradually withered into the in­ The lesson here is that sports savvy, in Mur­ significance of miniscule viewership. Near the doch's worid. rarely needs lo extend much be­ end of CBS's unfortunate four-year baseball yond one simple business principle: Sports in package from 1990 through-'93. the ratings .Americans the promotional engine that drives were bareh' over 3.0. And The Baseball Net- Fox's prime-ffme programming. Prime-time

progranuning is where the real money lives, so Murdoch can overpay for the promotional portunities that M ^ r League BasebaD and the NFL offer up to shows like “Melrose Place."

“Beverly Hills, 90210" and of Five."

The idea is lo use Fox-televised athletes as a sort of human growth hormone for the net­ work’s other programming- ll is a principle Murdoch embraces far more vigorously than do other network executives, who insist that dtdr sports properties generate enough revenue to be selfsustaining. But vriiedier if actually works over the long hail remains to be seen ■What we’re doing is building Fox Sports."

Murdoch says. “We want it to be No. I. We’re building on the basis of partnerships with the NFL, baseball with the NHL But they’ve got to contribute, loo. TheyVe got to help us with the games. They've got to play good baseball. We can only do so much. We’ve got lo help build new heroes, and help them capture the imagination of the American public. We think we can do i t but it is a partnership."

Fox certainly does have a higdier profile now that it is an established holder of major sports rights — a partner. So far in this television sea­ son. though. Fbx’s prime-time num­ bers are down about 5 percent over a year ago. Murdoch blithely insists they will bounce back. But it may be that his hoped-for G n o sis from sports lo prime time isn't happening, while the benefit flow from Fox to its sports partners is strong in the oth­ er dirwtion even beyond the extravagant rights fees being paid to the NFL and Major League Baseball.

W thin a week after Fox signed its new deals with baseball. Murdoch’s men contact­ ed a number of ke^ high-profile players, in­ cluding Cal Ripken. Kirby Puckett and Mb Vaughn, about taping promotional spots for Fox's prime time. In November, quarterbadc

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DICK EBERSOL

down side for baseball in th a t Maybe I’m naive, but I can’t* If nothing else. M urdoch recognizes the re­ President, NBC Sports ality' he has to spend money to make money.

Age: 48 So he spends i t even if it m eans damning the torpedoes as he full-speeds ahead.

Rank Rank “M urdoch has had the money and h e ’s in *91 in *93 » been willing to spend it" says Trans World In­ ternational’s Barry Frank, who negotiated the new television package for Major League Ebersol continues to match Fox's Rupert Baseball. “H e’s bought what he wanted and Murdoch, step for step, in the sports-progotten what he wanted, with the exception of gramming game, turning the battle of the the Olympic Games. And the ability to put network sports divisions into a two-team race. your money' where your mouth is gives you an NBC’s preemptive bids this year to obtain awdul lot of power. T he ability to deliver on Olympic rights through 2008 for a locked-in things — translation: put your money where r n , price tag of $3.57 billion — deals Ebersol en­ your mouth is — is terribly im portant" gineered with KBC president and CEO The only major 1995 setback for M urdoch Robert Wright — were the piece de resistance for sports in a very active year of m e t e r s and ac­ in the tug-of-war over broadcast rights is the quisitions. In that mano-a-manojjialchup with Murdoch, who dearly coveted the 2000 Games Olympics package NBC holds for the next in his native Australia, Ebersol won in a slam-dunk. And he wasn’t finished. Despite public de­ dozen years. (S ee re la te d story, P ag e S -2.) nials of interest in another contract to televise baseball Ebersol re-upped NBC for another five Fox dabbled in negotiations last sum m er to years to the tune of $400 million. Take a gander at NBC's sports year, beginning in October of acquire W imbledon and the U.S. Open tennis ^ 5 and running through August of *96: the World Series, Notre Dame football the AFC and tournam ent but didn’t get .serious enough to Super Bowl XXX, the NBA AO-Star Game and playoffs, Wimbledon and the French Open, the take those events aw'ay from NBC and CBS. U.S. Open golf tournam ent and the PGA Tour, the Breeder's Cup and the Summer Olympics in respectively. Neither tennis tournam ent qual­ Atlanta. No wonder NBC’s affiliates are more solidly aligned than any other network. ifies as a tide-turning deal for a netw ork’s sports division, as the Olympics do.

But if he can nurture his new cabl^gartnership with Liberty Media into die rivaHie envi­ sions f o r .ESPN. M urdoch .will forget the Chairman and CEO, International Olympics loss. The deal to m erge the Fox Sports brand with Liberty Media’s 'regional Management Group Age: 65 sports channels into fX brings Mur­ doch together with another of the Rank Rank most powerful people in broadcast­ in ’93 in ’91 ing and sports. T elecom m unica­ Ii tions* Inc.’s John Malone. The al­ liance was announced October 31. Its No one holds m ore sway over* the worlds of cable baseball package was acquired tennis and golf than McCormack, also known on November 6. Perhaps nurturing as “Super A gent" McCormack,has integrated isn’t what M urdoch and Malone large chunks of those sports into owned-andhave in mind for Fox Sports Cable. It operated tournam ents, in which the money is could be he sees the fX sports chan­ put up by IMG. earned by EMG and paid out nel growing in faster-forward speed,

by IMG to, more often than n o t IMG’s clients. like Jack’s beanstalk.

But pick a sp o rt any sp o rt and his name isn't To M urdoch, typically, the fact very' far from its epicenter. W hen pairs figure skater Sergei Grinkov died in late November. that ESPN e s s e n tiily h a s had the IMG handled the publicity and arrangem ents.’When first the Olympic Games and then Major national cable alksports market to it­ League Baseball negotiated new* television deals this year. IMG was the consultant When self for the last 15 years is nothing Monica Seles returned to tennis, she came back with IMG’s guidance; and then McCormack Game of the Week. (How else to explain the more than a bump on the road to everything. found a new sponsor (CoreD for the WTA Tour on which she plays. IMG’s basketball division N FL? shoulder-shrug as two Los .Angeles I Especially given the breadth and scope of negotiated the record-breaking contract with the Bullets for Chris W ebber’s services. IMG g le a m s vacated the nation s largest television News Corporation’s global reach. now has 69 offices in 28 countries and is focusing on serious expansion in Asia. McCormack market last sum m er5) But they do understand - T h e y ’re very weak. internationally.’ Mur­ now is applying the principles of the factory-line success of IMG’s Nick Bollettieri Tennis M urdoch's money. Some rough nthm etic in doch says about ESPN. T h e y ’re really just Academy to a new Baseball Academy in Bradenton. Fla. Major Leage Baseball beware!

NFL economics yields up an average increase starting to pay some attention to the interna­ of about $3.5 million in each team 's salarytional. but they' don’t have the platforms. Where capped player payroll since Murdoch signed there is cable internationally, they can get in. his $l.S8-biIlion deal to broadcast NFC games But they 're not on any sort of mass,distribution file trickie-down effect on baseball's salary system which goes directly to people's homes.

President and Chairman, Turner structure, which isn’t governed by a cap. is so they have a disadvantage there.

Broadcasting System, Inc. Age: 57 more difficult to quantify But the theory is the “We expect they will be very vigorous com­ same. I petitors. They have an entrenched position Rank I Rank “W henever you're broadcasting baseball here, and they are very. very good. But we will in 91 in *93 ! gam es, whenever you're taking it to the pub­ start by building’ and improving these region­ I ♦ J lic. whenever you have people who are doing al (Liberty Media) networks right across the I D 1 i it who are very interested in it and really want country. Already, when they have a big local • • lf T u rn er’s deal to m erge TBS with Time it to help make their business grow. whenev­ game, they out-rate everything. They don’t W arner is realized, he will become the No. 2 er they• re innovative and have recentlyrn simply just out-rate ESPN. They out-rate a big man (to Gerald Levin) in what would be the demonstrated a success in being able lotto all movie or a big network program. And we have world’s largest media com pany— larger. those franchises now." ot that you know. most of the time, that's even. than the D ispey/Cap Cities/ABC ven­ What goes out on Fox or fX across America pretty good.* says Hon Fehr. MLBPA's exec­ ture also announced late last sum m er. Hard can also go out now to almost all of Latin utive director to fathom T urner being No. 2 to anyone, but •America. to almost all of Europe, to Australia.

“Based on what I know of Fox. I think they the power logic to the deal m akes sense this to China, to Indonesia and. yes. to India. fit those characteristics. I think they’re comway: Instead of being a big fish in a relatively small pond (TBS), he will be the secondmg into it with an attitude that isn’t 'W e're go­ .Among other things, that's football, hockey biggest fish in a monstrously huge ocean (Time W arner/TBS). The $8.5-biBion stock m erger and baseball. ing to do baseball the way it’s been done ever keeps him in charge of all the TBS enterprises (CNN. TBS. TNT. the Braves, the Hawks.

It works, of course, the other way. too. What since the T V tube was invented You know.

SportSouth. the Cartoon Network. Castle Rock Entertainment, etc.) and adds HBO to his do­ comes in from those com ers of Murdoch’s plan­ we had an experience recently with a network main; and his five-year compensation package as Time W arner’s -vice chairman is said to be et can come into America nowon Fox or DC carrying baseball .gam es that really didn't in excess of $100 million. Asked if the m erger would affect the Braves, M anager Bobby Cox Among other things, that’s cricket. ♦ want to But Fox seem s to want to utilize it as said. “No. Ted’s still going to be running the thing. Now he just has. I think, more money.* a great property tor their own purposes, and lo Michael Kinsley is a senior writer for TMF Too. speculation has T urner poised to a k e over Time W arner, since Levin’s strength is said market it as nest they can I can't see any S p o R n sc ; N k w s . j to be precarious. And did we mention that Ted’s Braves finally won a World Series?

Sieve‘Young, who plays for San Francisco in the Fox-televised NFC. made a guest appear­ ance with agent Leigh Steinberg in an episode of “Beverly Hills. 90210.* They aren’t in line for Emmys (unless the competition is from, say. “Baywatch"). but they are a little more fa­ miliar now to an ^audience significantly younger and — dare we say it? — hipper than > the usual Sunday afternoon crowd.

From m anagem ent to labor and all points in between, the leagues love their end of the symbiosis.

• "How brilliant is that?* Steinberg says, (Rem em ber, th is is Steve Young's agent talking bere.) "You take the league's MVT. w hiffs a highly popular. all-American star quarterback, and you pop him into one of your prime-time show^s. W ell you’re building tom orrow's au­ dience. You're helping your football program­ ming. You're helping your prime-time pro­ gramming J t just sort of works in about 15 dif­ ferent ways.

N ' why not go to an audience whose de•:rapbics are much younger? Why not en- ic, if you do the econom ics correctly, a whole new generation of football-crazy young people? Ixiok. most of the owners don’t even understand what we're'4aiking about here.

The NFL is being led along, in spite of itself. by outside people who at least-understand these issues."

- The leagues may not understand the issues anv more than M urdoch understands the

MARK MCCORMACK

Jf nothing else, Murdoch recognizes the reality he has to spend money to make money. So he spends it, even if it means damning the torpedoes as he full-speeds ahead.

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January 1,1996

PHIL KNIGHT

JOHN MALONE

Chairman and CEO, Nike Age: 57 RUT: I P. •• r',:9y m

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Every few years or so. Knight seem s to need to fight a few batties. In *92, when he was TSN’s most powerful person, he used the Barcelona Olympics and NBA Properties for his challenges. In '95. after a couple of rela­ tively quiet years, he came back to the forefronrof the fray with a highly visible deal to sponsor Texas Stadium, aligning himself with jerry Jones in Jones* spittin’ match with NFL Properties and the league's revenuesharing plan. In another link with the Cowboys. Knight signed Deion Sanders to a big-money endorsement deal. At the same time. Nike culminated a five-year effort in '95 to get an ap­ parel license from the N F L a $200-million deal and a nice balancing a c t Nike, meanwhile, is expanding into hockey, boxing and skiing. The fiscal end of the business saw Nike dramati­ cally widen its lead over Reebok. When the final figures are in. the company is expected to own 38 percent of the global footwear market, up from 34 percent last year. Nike's cam- paigns continue to be controversial and provocative, including spots in support of girls' sports, an unprecedented and laudable undertaking. K night the rogue, is back.

MICHAEL EISNER Un •

Chairman and CEO, Disney Age: 53 Rank r n , Rank Tn’flA j in '93 111'82 in '91

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Eisner would have been somewhere on this list anyway, for Disney’s ownership of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and 25 percent piece of the California Angels. But in a blockbuster move last summer, he cata­ pulted Disney into the front lines of sports authority and near the top of this ranking.

For $19 billion, the corporation built byMickey and Minnie and Donald and Goofy bought Cap Cities/ABC and all of its subsidiaries, including ESPN and ESPN2. All of a sudden. Disney/ABC is the dominant programming power in television, with marketing and merchandising possibilities for that programming that boggle the imagination. The takeover won't become official until early January, but Eisner has let it be known that ESPN was one of the key factors in Disney’s purchase. Put franchise ownership together with network and ESPN programming, and then throw in Disney’s legendary marketing prowess for a marriage made in sports heaven. And Eisner has his sights set on NBA and NFL franchises in thsx^iming years. When the NFL returns to Los Angeles, Disney will be a possible owner.

DAVID STHN

Commissioner, National Basketball Association Age: 53 ».f

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The last 12 months have been rockier for Stem than the earlier years of ultra-successes to which the NBA has become accustomed under his commissionership. But Stem scores points for keeping the game on the court despite the labor problems that have become part of the permanent turf in profes­ sional sports. W here baseball and hockey lost games, the N BA s lockout started as scion as the Finals finished up last summer and ended in time for the *95-96 season to begin on schedule. And, while the six-year deal the league finally struck with its players is something of a financial risk for ownership, it- killed the threats of union decertification and antitrust lawsuits, both of which posed greater risks. Stem , though, wasn’t able to bring game officials into the fold of labor peace until December, and shoddy work by replacement referees marred the first few months of the season. Stiff, ratings con­ tinue to be strong, and expansion into Canada came off without a hitch. The summer lockout put a temporary brake to the NBA’s runaway marketing train, but Stem stiff seem s to know how to keep the league and its players out fro n t at least compared to baseball and football

WM

With each passing season. Malone-moves in closer on the world of sports. This year, the tentacles of the TCI octopus finally sur­ rounded a major sports property when TCL owned Prime Liberty affiliated with Fox and bought the four-year cable rights to Major League Baseball for $172 million, beginning in 1997. The new Fox-TCl cable deal won't challenge ESPN immediately'', but with Rupert Murdoch and Malone backing it. we shouldn't be w-aiting too long. The arrangement gives Malone access to Murdoch's sports services- in .Australia. Latin America and .Asia. Malone's clout in the communications industry is indis­ putable. His imprint is all over the proposed Time Wamer-Tumer Broadcasting merger, since he owns a 21 percent stake in Turner. TCI is a major distributor not only of Turner’s cable ser­ vices but also of Time W arners HBO. The success of the merger hinged on his approval, a role he leveraged into a long-term preferential deal to carry Turner channels on TC Es cable systems. That’s one of the points of dispute in challenges to the merger. Malone also came out of those negotiations with options to buy Turner's stake in two sports networks.

J. ANTONIO SAMARANCH President, International Olympic Committee Age: 75 Rank

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President and CEO, Tele-Communications, Inc. Age: 53

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When it com es to sports programming, nobody does more of it than ESPN, of course. But in the past, it was difficult to think of the cable outlet in the same terms - as gcli^tLpyer-lhe-air networks such as NBC and .ABC No longer. A recent study

by Advertising .Age shows ESPN overtaking .ABC as the No. 2 sports network; and. with a 22.5 percent share of household rating points for sports programming. ESPN barely trails NBC’s 23 percent share. Bom stein is the mastermind of the rise that has made ESPN the television source authority for sports news; and starting next year, the cable network h a s postseason M ajor League Baseball in its domain. Internationally. ESPN is now in 150 countries and 14 languages, with a 46,00CVsquare foot production facility recently opened in Singapore. But Bom stein and ESPN may (ace their greatest challenge in the coming years. as Fox and TCI (Rupert Murdoch and joh n Malone) have combined forces to launch a cable competitor for global sports programming under the fX banner. Fox Sports' cable outlet

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General Motors* phitosopt?y atwut its brand management underwent a major shift in ’95. toward a focus on the marketing of indMdua! brands (Chevy. Cadillac, etc.). i W s w^iere Zarrella. the V.P. of North American sales, service and marketing, enters the picture, lf either Guarascio or Zarrella opted to with­ draw GM’s support tor sports, the bottom would drop out of a number of our favorite pastimes. Guarasao. the V .P 7 ^ e ra l man­ ager of marketing and advertising for North American operations, technically reports to Zarrella (formerly with Bausch i Lomb) now. but Guarasdo’s responsibilities haven't changed. And GM remains active in sports, including signing on this year to be the offi­ cial domestic car and taick sponsor of the Atlanta Olympic Games next s u m m e ^ d a sponsor of the Women's Sports Foundation.

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Jones' maverick deals with Nike and Pepsi sent Shockwaves through a league rooted in revenue-sharing. They have helped create a me-first climate In the NFL and spurred competition for high-revenue stadium deals. Also, of course. Jones has put together the most talented team in the league, though there are doubts about his handpicked coach. Barry Switzer.

Despite a serious debt problem, .rime Warner is the wortd's largest music publisher, the second-largest cable operator in the U.S. and publisher of three ok the top-seliing magazines — People.

Sports Illustrated and Time. Now Levin wants to purchase Turner Broadcasting and ait its holdings — including the Braves. Hawks. TBS. TNT and ONN. '••••

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The stabijity of a year ago that lifted Tagliabue 'to No. 2 has dissolved in acrimony over multiple franchise moves. a tettle with Cowbo^^ Owner Jerry Jones and an ineffective salary cap. Fans say that NFL stands for ‘No Fan Loyalty." and bitterness in many cities hangs like a cloud over the league.

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January 1,1996

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RICHARD POUND

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From his law office in Montreal. Pound is keeping a close watch on what's happening in Atlanta. Late last summer, he negotiated the IO C's startling $1 27-billion deal with N8C to televise the 2000 Sum m er Games in Sydney and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City Pound continues to Pe among the favorites to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch as IOC president

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Find the cutting edge of sports in America, and Steinberg is likely to Pe there His core b usin e ss is the representation of athletes including .Steve Young. Troy Aikman and Will Clark, His biggest contract coup rn 95 was quarterback Drew Bledsoe s stunning $42rmiHion deal with the Patriots One 95 failure: His drive to keep the R am s in Los Angeles came up short ‘ # *

BUD SELIG

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Selig has lobbied successfully for a new retro stadium that will keep the Brewers in Milwaukee 8ut his leadership outside W isconsin has been fa rle ss effective He has been Major L e S g i# Baseball's de-facto •com m issioner for three “full" seasons, and two of them have been rendered partial because of labor problem s he was unable to help solve. % There is little doubt that Wright is as proud as a you-know-what after the year M ust-see TV had. NBC w as No 1 in prime­ time ratings, and its “crafty" bargaining — and huge cash reserves — netted it every Sum m er and Winter Olympics from 2000 to 2008. NBC already was in line to air the 0 6 Atlanta Gam es Also of note rn 0 5 was N B C ’s flip-flop on major league baseball.

These movers and shakers dfdn’t make the TSN 10O this year, but they definitely are on the move. Here'are 11 to watch in'96: Peter Barton, President and GEO, Liberty Media: Now that TCI’U Liberty Media and Fox have hooked up to .mount a cable challenge to ESPN, watch for Barton to play ahuge role in the acquisition of sports broadcast rights. ' » Robert U awa Id, Senior Executive Vl<& President and General'Manager, FILA: The shoe and apparel company is becoming increasingly activg in the endorsement area, stealing Grant-Hill a year ago and Jerry Stackhouse this , season from the big boys at'NIke and Reebok.

Nicholas Zumas, baseball arbitrator: Zumas succeeds George Nicolau, but his tenure may be a short one. l f baseball ever gets a collecthreUargainlng agreement, arbitration may not be included. 1 9 9 6 could belts last hurrah.

Jim Branner,agent: With partner Bob Giihooley.

Brenner's firm represents more baseball players than any agency in the business and has cornered the Latin market. A recent example is a contract for Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez that will pay S5 million a year.

BeflvF. Jaynes, Executive Director, Women's Basketball Coaches Association: She is helping the W BCA mount an important defense of Title IX, the legislation supporting women’s sports, against efforts by cQllege football to wpaten it •; William Hybi, Chairman, El Pomar Foundation: He is a behind-the-scenes force in the UIS. .Olympic movement and:considered the front-runner-to be the next USOC president, Owner, Toronto Raptors: Having finished a !

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Remsdorfs best employee is Jordan again, buttle owner hasnt done much lately for his otherfranchise

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The best thing Reinsdorf bas done since our last list is to greet Michael Jordan back into his basketball fold. As for his baseball team.

Reinsdorf did nothing but dismantle it allowing big RBI man Julio Franco to skip to Japan and Jade McDowell to sign with the Yankees. Reinsdorf has kept a low profile during the labor war but still is considered Bud Selig’s righthand man.

WHOM Chairman.

White Sox and Bulls 59

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BARY BETTMAN

While thrNHL's m arting growth continues, problem solving became Bettman's main job in ’95. He helped end a 106-day lockout and salvage a 48-game season with a new five-year collective-bargaining agreement assuring peace through the 1998-99 season.

The potential embarrassment of the cham­ pion New Jersey Devils* move to Nashville was allayed with the help of the Commise

JORY

Cotangelo has made professional sports what it is in Phoenix He has built the Suns . into a cash cow. helped secure a major league baseball franchise for the area and persuaded Buck Showalter to join the organization. As the year ended, he helped secure an NHL franchise (the Jets), making Phoenix the 11th city in the country with franchises in all four professional sports.

Commissioner, NHL 44

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Fehr. like Selig. hastdone a great deal of talking over the past two years but has no new labor agreement and millions of disenchanted fans to show for it He was / hailed as a victor when major league players returned to work last spring, but the subsequent “correction" in the free-agent market — superstars excepted — makes it obvious that the union’s victory was Pyrrhic.

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JAMES DOLAN

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CEO, Cablevision 40

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Dolan is the son of cable patnarch Charles Dolan, who is best known for founding HRO in 1972. In October, when papa turned 69. he turned over Cablevision to Jam es-who has been with the company for 20 years. (Charles stayed on as chairman.)

Cablevision. the sixth-largest cable operator, has 2.6 million subscribers in 19 states.

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Chairman and CEO, Fax television 42

This year, when Falk talked. Jordan and Ewing listened. The players made the headlines, but Falk was behind the vote for decertification of the NBA players' association that came up just short Watch out in '96. As the agent for Jordan. Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo — the three top free agents next summer — Falk will be negotiating contracts that, collectively, could exceed $150 million.

DAVID FALK

President and CEO.

FAME 45

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merewere only 31 new members of tfiteyear’s Top JOO,: coraparedte 35 last year. in caSeyoiiwere wondering, 19 of last year’s newcomers made.the list" again this season. .v“": ? c :•’• :i- •: • Zarrella and Philip Guarascto of General Motors'(ll),-:-; Gerald Leyfo of Time Wanter (13) and James Dolan of

Carey negotiated Fox's contract with Major League Baseball, the network's sports cable venture with TCI and Fox's broadcast deal with Mike Tyson. In about the time it took America to find out who shot Mr. Bums. Carey has brought to Fox the NFL. NHL and major league baseball and mounted a challenge to ESPN. What's next/left^

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4Uebs8l B sn r, Chairman & CEO, Dfcwy Corp; ( 6 ) " v RonaM Z n h ila ami Pitiifp G«fe^io,-GenetaF? ' . ': . w iw la w f C t e O T ^ r a n e . V ^ ^ fttai p iH P O , CEO, Tribune Corp. (23) TfttfiyiFrtak. Presiderit, TransW orldi^ J: V

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Payne has the exhaustive task of organizing the Atlanta Olympics. Some have questioned his organizational abilities — he has a hands-on approach to management and has dealt with everything from corporate fund-raising to animal-rights activists. He maintains the Games are on solid financial footing, but if any aspect does not go smoothly, he will have to shoulder the blame

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Granik is the behind-the-scenes man for Commissioner David Stem. Besides being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the league. Granik was given an added responsibility this year. Stern made him the point man on negotiations with the players’ union this summer, which means he played a pivotal role in the collectivebargaining agreement.

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Among the entities Madigan. who assumed leadership of the company in May. oversees are the Cubs; two minor league baseball teams; eight television stations, including WGN; six daily newspapers; and six radio stations. Tribune also is positioned in the entertainment industry and multimedia, and its local stations hold b r o a d c a s t e r s to seven major league teams.

Ponturo wasn't directly involved in the Cardinals, so the brewery's decision to sell won't drastically change his sphere of in­ fluence. But A-B's surprising announcement means the company isn't in as centralised a position in sports as it was. After the sale. A-B becomes like the other corpora­ tions heavily involved in sports: a sponsor, rather than an owner and a sponsor

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As director of media and presence marketing.

Fruit leads Coca-Cola's efforts in sponsonng more than 80 percent of all U.S. professional sports franchises and stadiums. But Coke is showing signs of coming off its desire to be everywhere. Uke many corporations these days. Coke seems to be taking more of a bottom-line approach, picking its spots with a little more care.

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BARRY FRANK

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Frank negotiated the.new five-year, $1 .7billion television contract for Major League . .Baseball that will involve NBC, ESPN, Fox, Liberty Media and international rights to the games. The deal guarantees each major c league team more than $50 million and. more important to fans, ensures that each postseason game will be available nationwide.

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Huizenga continues to be the only person to own a .major league baseball team, an NFL teaniand an NHL team. Huizenga, who also owns Joe Robbie Stadium, soon must face his toughest decision as a sports ow ner Shouldhe retain coaching legend Don Shula. whose star has fallen in a season that was supposed to lead to the Super Bow l?

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Dempsey is co-chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee/NCAA task force that is trying to deal with Olympic team sports that face extinction in the NCAA community. The task force also is trying to forge new Olympic sport programs at universities. Dempsey will play a big part at the NCAA's annual convention this month, when the organ­ ization is slated to begin restructuring.

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DeFrantz has been a catalyst in the move­ ment to include more .women in Olympic policy-making. A s a result the IOC has ordered the world’s Olympic committees to have women fill at least 10 percent of deci- • siorwnaking positions by the end of the year 2000 and at least 20 percent by die end of 2005. She remains president of the Amateur Athletic Foundation in Los Angeles.

Wayne’s wort: The dominant force in M iam i

sports, Huizenga faces the most dominant issue Should he retain the legend?

PICTURES OF 1995 • S U

A rendezvous in time 1995 was a year on the run, 2,131, a year of comebacks, work stoppages and, as usual, a year to remember

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In 1995 someone stole O.J. Simpson's bust from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was recovered alongside a highway in northeast Ohio. To discourage any future thief, the Hall bolted down the bust Meanwhile, 0 J . himself began a. relentless and dedicated and obsessive and ready, really big search for the real killers of Nicole Brown.

He also appeared on videotape, smiling and cheery and thanking everyone at Johnnie Cochran’s Christmas party to which the jury’s African Americans were invited.

In 1995 Cal Ripken Jr. made baseball lovely again.

Michael Jordan came to his senses.

Joe Montana left us wanting more.

Ben Crenshaw w oathe Masters five days after carrying his mentor.

Haryey Penick, to the grave. “I believe in fate,” Crenshaw said. “Harvey was the 15th du b in my bag." Howard Cosell’s death left an awesome silence on the stage he dominated. Mickey Mantle taught us a certain strength:

S 12 • PICTURES OF 1995 He blamed no one but himself. We round a Bill Dickey quote from *1951 when the great old hitterfirst saw the rookie Mantle in batting practice: ■The boy hit the first she balls nearly 500 feet — over the lights and out of sight He hit them over fences righthanded and lefthanded. And he hit them over the right-fieid fence righthanded and over the left-field fence lefthanded.” in 1995 Chipper Jones arrived.

Albert Belle pointed to his biceps. jerry Rice was still and forever ■ •I em* Rice. iulie Krone rode in the Kentucky .

Derby a year after a racing accident Voke her into pieces.'She had first Norrie to Churchill Downs as a 0

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dreaming ut a day she would ride in 'he Derby: “I imagined galloping town the stretch. i could hear the thundering Hooves and the roaring 'rowd. I imagined them laying the roses across my lap. it was a great feeling of romance." 'Though her norse. Suave Prospect; finished 11th.

Krone was undaunted. As she wiped mud off her face, she said. This is Kentucky Derby mud. Real Derby mud. Put it in your pocket and keep it. You ll want it because I’m going to. win this race someday.”

In 1995 Hideo Nomo arrived.

Ryne Sandberg came back. '.Ail Model! lied.

The arrogant and ignorant lords of baseball threatened to start-the season with what they called replacement players, less euphemistically known as scabs. To one old player, twotime MVT Dale Murphy, the prospect of scabball was discomfiting at best: “Yankee Stadium, golly. You’re talking about a place where Joe DiMaggio played and Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig.

Babe Ruth. That's hallowed ground.”

Broadcaster Skip Caray said, “Baseball walking out gave me a feeling like seeing your first girl­ friend in high school walking away from you with a guy a year older who’s wearing a letterman^ jacket” Cooperstown rejected a minor league franchise, saying the city’ is “really not a baseball town."

In 199S3rett Favre arrived.

Mario Lemieux came back.

Art Model! lied. . Ohio State University' placed on administrative leave a coach who permitted “improper benefits” to an athlete on the school’s synchronized swimming team.

Northwestern’s football team went 101 a:year after it suspended two players for gambling. Wiscbn sin’s

C A M ER A R EA D Y : A fte r y o n t i (M u g to Jo e 's s t a t o r , Stare Ta m a fo o d tee spotDgbt la aiery way He capped ae R V P season w ttt a Soper Bowl M Y P , teadlag the A d e n past the helpless Chargers.

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H B * PICTURES OF 1095 . renovation of its football stadium in­ cluded two holding cells for fans ar­ rested during games.

After Michigan football Coach Gary Moeller’s drunk-anddisorderly arrest, 120 copies of the police report -were sold at $15 each to readers of an Ohio State news bulletin.

In 1995 Sylvester Stallope took up golf.

• . Dennis Rodman posed nude. ’ Cleveland wept A New Jersey company asked $75 . for yarmulkes worn by Sandy Koufax. A man who bought Jimmy Johnson’s old house in Arkansas“ asked $250 for a toilet used by the coach. Leland’s, an auction house in New York City, advertised a Goose Gossage jock strap. O J.'s ex-teammate/buddy/chauffeur, Al Cowlings, asked $20 each for photographs of himself behind the wheel of a white Ford Bronco.

Memorabilia dealer Barry Halper -denied he wanted Mickey M antles liver T v e got Ty Cobb’s dentures.

That’s as far as HI go.”

Greg Maddux became baseball’s \ equivalent of Larry Bird and joe Montana, an athlete of surpassing talent who came to his work recognizing possibilities no one else sees. “Picasso had i t Maddux has it" said George Zuraw, a veteran scout for the Mariners. “Some artists will make a brushstroke and stand back and ask, ‘Is that all right?’

Picasso just does it and it’s done, a masterpiece. That’s Maddux. Before he throws a ball, he knows where it’s going. Tm .in awe.”

Braves catcher Charlie O’Brien said he knew of only one lineup that might scare Maddux: “God's.

Maybe."

Sparky Anderson explained why the couldn’t straighten out the Tigers’ pitching problems: “This is unstraigh table." . Bob Packwood calculated the sexual content of his senatorial jjiaries: “A little more than Francis of Assisi and a little less than Wilt Chamberlain."

Bill Bradley quit the Senate, reminding us of how he would tevolutionize the presidential nominating process: “Personally, I prefer jump shots from the top of the key." ' f In 1995 Duke Snider pleaded < guilty*. x Willie McCovey pleaded guilty.

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PICTURES BF 1995 * S - 1 7 ROCXETMAN: It was to year of the big nan, and

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(left) came up with a huge performance to help the Rockets beat Shaquille OUeal ami the Magic for their second consecutive MBA championship.

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Bob Aliison Gus Bell Toe Blake Glenn Burke Jim Campbell Bob Chandler Howard Coseli Leon Day Don Faurot Rick Ferrell Dan Fortmann Dan Galbreath Jimmy Garcia Pancho Gonzalez David Griggs Sergei Grinkov

Alex Groza Walter A. Haas Jr. Les Horvath Vernal (Nippy) Jones Jim Katcavage Ron Luciano Mickey Mantle Buster Mathis Terry Moore Lindsey Nelson Harvey Penick Fred Perry Vada Pinson Tommy Prothro Bobby Riggs Dick Steinberg Anatoly Tarasov Cecil Upshaw Zoilo Versalles Margaret Wade Bob Young

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S18 * PICTURES OF 1995

Our job is to tell you not only the who, what, when and where of sports year in and year out, but also the how and why We attempt on a weekly basis to put things in a context to give you a richer understanding o f the games you are fanatical about. That type of analysis is what we strive for, it also gives us a jum p when it comes to •what’s just around the comer.

Here then is an educated guess about what's up ahead, based upon #what we know now — the year in preview, i f you will.

■ Franchise relocation will be the hot topic in the NFL The Browns and Oilers apparently are moving to Balti­ more and Tennessee in 1996. But Tam­ pa Bay, Seattle and Arizona are among the other franchises that are consider­ ing moving if they don’t get stadiums.

■ Look who’s still talking: A collective-bargairung'agreement is at the top of many .baseball fans’ wish list and it could happen in ’96. There’s a reasonable chance that talks will go nowhere again, however, and the exist­ ing economic situation will roll over.

■ like the NFL and major league baseball, the main eygnt in the NBA next season will take place off the court with some of the biggest names in the league testing the free-agent wa­ ters. The likes of Michael Jordan.

Shaq, Alonzo Mourning and Juwon Howard will be trolling for.new con-

A • H ■

One tan i o n * h is d isp le a su re to Randy M y e r s others just sta y e d aw ay M e a n w h ile b a se b a ll is still tryinq to qet *ts h o u se rn order

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f a t h e r s and so n s. even 8 ig O n w qs -right} in C le ve la nd m ay have se e n the last ot the B ro w n s, but the NFL h a s not se e n the last ot tra n c h ise upheaval.

tracts, some of which could wind up in paneling from 26 to 28 teams in 1997-98 excess of $20 million.

— with Portland a lock for one of the ■ The Big 12 will begin play in *96 new teams and Canada a lock not to and play a football championship game get the other. > in December in S t Louis. The Western ■ Among the more interesting long­ Athletic Conference will expand to 16 time rivalries in the NFL that will contin­ teams, including Texas Christian, Rice u e will be the 49ers vs. the Cowboys, and Southern Methodist from the de­ Jerry Jones vs. the NFL and Paul Tagfifunct Southwest Conference. abue vs. public opinion. But our favorite * T he NHL which will have could be Don Shula vs. Jimmy Johnson. played its second consecutive Stanley If Shula goes and Johnson returns, the Clip Finals without a Canadian team, Dolphins will become the highest-prowill announce that the league is exfile team in the league in *96.

■ tyajor League Baseball’s Open­ ing Day will be March 31, the earliest in history. The Mariners play the White1Sox on a Sunday night ■ And why will Major League Baseball be opening on March 31? Be­ cause Monday, April I, is Final Four championship night and even Bud Selig knows when he can’t compete. .

■ Michigan and Northwestern bailed out the Big Ten this season, but if there s another No. I controversy in­ volving a Big Ten in *96, the rumors will fly again about the Big Ten and Pac-10 coining to an agreement that allows a team to bypass the Rose Bowl in favor of a nationaLchampionship game, ■ NHL teams will continue to cut payrolls and high-profile players such as Jeremy Roenick, Dominik Hasek and Teemu Sdanne will be traded.

■ No 2,131 last season, but streaks] still will be the rage in baseball this season: Greg MadduX, already the first] pitcher to win four consecutive Cy Young awards, will go for No. 5, Mean-] time, hell face Tony Gwynn, who has won the last two N.L baiting titles (he finished second in 1993) and will go af-] ter No, 7 this season. That would tie him with Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial for second-most in NJL history, behind Honus Wagner’s eight Gwynn also will hit 300 or better for the 14th consecutive season, the N.L’s best streak since Musial did it 16 seasons (1942 through *58). ♦

T S N *T O P I O O ‘S IB

J a n u a ry 1 ,1 9 9 6

Rank

Name/title/age

DAVID HILL President. Fox Sports

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He’s more than the man who brought America the “Fox B o x ' (the running on-screen score-and-ciock graphic) and “Fox B o ts" (the animated transformers on N H I telecasts). And he’s also more than the president of Fox Sports. In November, Hill became the CEO of Fox's cable venture with TCI that will be designed to challenge ESPN. ....

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GAL R1PKBV Shortstop. Baltimore

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M I KRIMSKY

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Deputy Secretary General and Managing Director of Business Affairs.

USOC 57

r-Cp'&ry*

Ripken reminded everyone this year why baseball has been the national pastime when he played in his 2,131st consecutive gam e on September 6 in Baltimore. His ability to let Am enca share in the event w a s a boon to the sport. He also silenced E S P N ’s Chris Berman for more than 20 minutes, a singular achievement.

Krim sky presided over the U SO C until Dick Schultz took over. Schultz would not have taken the position if not for Krimsky.

Krim sky is responsible for the financial aspects of the USOC, and a s usual, he has done an extraordinary fund-raising job.

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A s chief martceting officer. Schrage leads M cDonald's rapidly-expanding global ^ o r t s presence. That includes a commrt-ment to World Cup soccer in 19 9 8 . In the '98 Olympics in Atlanta, we'll be seeing Schrage's influence dam near everywhere we see the five rings. Other sponsorships include the N B A . the N F L . U S A Gym nas­ tics. U S A Basketball and N A S C A R .

PAKSdffiABE S«iiar £ssefyfirf Vict Pm ideni, McDonald's SO

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Welts not only oversees the martceting of the N B A . but he oversees league communications, business affairs, creative services and intemationa] groups, too.

Every marketing project, every promotion. every logoed item you see in stores. on television or in arenas has Welts’ name behind it

RiGKWBia Executive Vice Pm ident. A'fiA

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NBA Properties 42

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he enters the final months of his term presidenT(it v^ll run through me Atlanta gam es). Walker has gained in stature by working on increasing opportunities for women and minorities. He also led the comprehensive search tor a new U S O C ex­ ecutive director that produced Dick Schultz, and he helped Salt Lake City ob­ tain the 2002 Winter Games.

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Ifs been an unstable year tor the N F L . so the president of the league, even a low-profile one like Austrian, feels the power pinch. Austrian remains influential behind the scenes ih a league where the commissioner commands die public spotlight. Austrian has a say in every major decision, and most of those under his leadership have proved to be successful.

NEIL AUSTRIAN

42

Lopiano has become the premier spokesperson for wom en's sports in this country. When the Ben Wright situation reared its ugly head last M ay. Lopiano was the first to speak out in defense of female athletes on the L P G A Tour. And when Congress was holding hearings about Title JX . Lopiano prepared the testimony in its defense.

President. NFL as

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Strup is moving the brewery’s sponsor commitments toward long-term partner­ ships in sports rather than the more traditional one- or two-year deals. An example; Miller signed one of the largest and longest individual major league base­ ball team deals in history this year when it becamd a sponsor partner with the expan­ sion Arizona Diamondbacks through 2010.

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Through endorsements with companies such as Nike. M cDonald's. Gatorade.

Hanes, W ilson. Rayovac and Oakley.

Jordan picked up a cool $40 million this year. Add that to the S3.9 million he made p l ^ n g for the Bulls, and Jordan tops Forbes' list o f richest athletes tor the fourth consecutive year. A n d . oh yeah, did we say he could still play basketball?

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Upshaw came under fire in '94 when the salary cap seemed to lim iteam ing powers ancLmade casualties of non-superstar veterans. In ’95.-the earning power was increased as teams found loopholes.

Under Upshaw, the m inim um player salary was raised from S I 78.000 to ^ M .O O O , and the average salary has increased from $492,000 in '92 to $ 714 ,0 0 0 in '95.

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traded his cleats far sneakers and once again made the Bjdis a team to watch.

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January 1,1996

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R n for c o m l O'Neal loomed large in 1995, pacing the NEA in scoring and leading Orlando to 57 victories, but even his massive presence wasn't enough to bring the Magic the title. He may be hacked off enough to do it this season

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Although it was Sonia Sotomayor who ended the strike with her NLRB decision against owners, it was Angelos, the long­ time union lawyer, who refused to allow replacement players in a Baltimore game * that kept pressure on negotiators. Angelos" franchise is one of the most viable because of his support in Baltimore and the appeal of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Managing Partner, Baltimore Orioles 66

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After years of threatening to leave the Los ' Angeles Coliseum, Davis finally took the leap and moved back to Oakland, where his _ team had once prospered and was still embraced. In departing, Davis left the second-biggest market without a team.

Davis also refused the league's request to share a chunk of his Oakland personaJ-seatlicense booty with the rest of the owners.

AL MVIS Managing General Partner, Raiders 66

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The Knight Commission will be the guiding force behind the reformation of the NCAA. A new structure will be fully Installed by August 1997. The Knight Commission Issued a landmark report in 1991 that stated that college presidents must take firm control of their athletics programs.

Hesburgh was president of Notre Dame for 35 years before retiring in 1987.

Co-chair, Knight Commission 78

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Bowlen is a member of the Management.

Council Executive Committee, international committee and board of the World League. rn

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This was the year Shaq went from basket­ ball star to cottage industry. He made nis first movie appearance, recorded 'a rap album and. while that other basketball megastar was off playing baseball, became the NBA's most sought-after marketing commodity. He proved he can carry a team to the Finals, too.

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The Sporting News

a m Rank

Rank in ‘93

Name / title / age

fin k ' W hy in ‘95?

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JERRY MCMORRIS

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Chair. President.

CEO. Colorado Rockies

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'M cM orris has made a quick impression within baseball's powerstructure. He has become an insider, well-liked and respected by the old guard Peers appreciated his work dunng the strike in emerging as a lead ne­ gotiator. even though his development of a taxation system to replace the salary-cap proposal was no more successful in ending the strike than anything else at the table.

Here’s a real power play; By finagling another Boston deal for Jose Canseco that could be worth between $9 million to S I 7.5 million based on incentives. Gilbert blew away base­ ball insiders and keeps successfully stressing the players-are-entertamers theme. With guys like Canseco. Barry Bonds. Bobby Bonilla. Danny Tartabul! and Kevin Appier in the stable. Gilbert still is the agent with pizzazz. * • Think of Berst as one of the NCAA’s district ! attorneys. His main focus is supervising the process of major infraction cases, which are presented to the NCAA s “judges." He decides rf a school’s case should be consid­ ered major or secondary, in player-eligibility cases. Berst’s staff decides to restore eligibility or require that other conditions be met before reinstatement.

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FAME chairman/CEO •Tax attorney .;? •* ~ MLBPAiaecutive director LLS: Figure Slating president PGA Tour 'commissioner Reebok chairman/CEO NFL team president NFL Properties president ■ % TSN insect Robert Fraley Playeragent . ' Barry Frank Television rights negotiator ■C harles B. Fruit Coca-Cola vice president

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The way analysts are viewing Westing­ house^ acquisition of CBS — a debt-heavy company purchasing an ailing network — this Michael Jordan will have to be to broad­ casting what the other Michael Jordan is to basketball. CBS lost the NFL and baseball. It has none of the big four — but it does have the Fiesta Bowl, the *98 Winter Games and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. ...+ . .

Harrington faded to the background of the labor negotiations after Colorado Owner Jerry McMorris assumed the futile fore.

I Nevertheless. Harrington wields consider­ able clout He is chairman of tfie expansion committee, which has added Phoenix and Tampa-St. Pete tor ’98. and is one of 12 owners on the Executive Council. Harrington also is on the schedule-tormat committee

President. .

Boston Red Sox

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Henderson is the front man on the labor front and chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee. Since joining the NFL in 1991. Henderson has guided the creation of NFL Players Programs, a league office designated to provide assistance in financial planning. Henderson helped put together the new drug policy, which em­ phasizes confidentiality and treatment.

••••

MICHAEL JORDAN .VT-

Sanders double-dipped his way into an in­ credibly lucrative year, signing a $35-million contract with the Cowboys that in­ cluded a St 3-million signing bonus. His Cowboys contract shook up the NFL be­ cause rf highlighted the difference between the big-cash teams such as the Cowboys and the small-revenue teams that couldn’t compete for Sanders’ services. e %

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The insurance company has been arounc sports for a long time. In the last decade, those sponsorships have been manipulated

by D ’Alessandro. who has become some­ thing of a national spokesperson on corpo­ rate sponsorships. His biggest splash is yet to come, when he takes the corporation through its major sponsorship of the • Olympics this summer.

Dollar daze: When

Sanders made it Prime Time in Dallas to the tune of $35 million, the NFL was shaken but not nearly as shaken as the Cowboys have been over a late-season fade

TSN* TOP IOO *8-23'

January 1,1996

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Schultz, former executive director of the NCAA, was named to the post last June. At Senate hearings on the Amateur Sports Act he defended the USOC against charges it was failing to adeqoately support grassroots programs. He also made an immediate im­ pact on the USOC’s future by beginning work on an overall plan that will outline goals for the organization through 2000 and beyond.

SS?

USOC 66

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The Houston Hendricks brothers may not have a glitzy stable of clients, but they. have a bigger business and have been more involved in the general direction of baseball: They have been agents since 1970 and have played an active role during labor matters, especially during the last strike. They are very influential within the union. Clients include Roger Clemens.

Chuck Knoblauch. Chuck Finley. John Smiley. Jay Buhner. Ryan Klesko and Al Leiter. whose three-year. $3.6 million con­ tract with the Marlins at age 30 has been a hot topic this offseason.

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ProServ claims to represent more profes­ sional football players (some 50. including CR players) than any other agency. But it is synonymous with tennis, where Dell wields all the power of a serve by client Michael Stich. ProServ television holds the rights to the U.S. and French opens and also the international rights to the NCAA Tournament in basketball.

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BILL BILES President. CEO. General Partner.

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Chair o f Major League Baseball TV Committee 61

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Jiminy Johnson ’S i Fbxanalysl Magic Johnson ^'Athlete Pater Johnson I M G v-; Alastafr Johnston IMG senior vice president ■Jerry Jones NR.team owner ■Michael Jordan.' Athletes -.'J-;■ Michael Jordan Westinghouse chairman Ma Junreri Coach , *

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His team was a washout despite an im­ pressive start, and there's no sign yet that a new stadium is in the Phillies' future But the biggest feather in the cap of Giles has been his stake in the TV game. The $1.7-billion deal with NBC. Fox. ESPN and Liberty Media came out of the blue and served notice that baseball’s future is not so bleak.

Easily the most powerful man in track and f field. Nebtolo’s presence in this country will be felt firsthand in Atlanta. Even in the face of medical evidence about the dangers of high­ boy distance running, he hasn’t given an inch to those who would move the Olympic men’s marathon out of Georgia’s earty-August late-aftemooo humidity. He is contro­ versial and dangerously autocratic.

Miami wanted Riley so badly it gave him part of the store. Of course. Riley’s gain in Miami was viewed with contempt in New York. But can you blame him? He has complete control of basketball operations and. so far. he has not disappointed. Riley not only brought in a franchise player in Alonzo Mourning, he also has guided the team to the best start in its history.

Goodenow is proud of the fact hockey and baseball are currently the only major sports without a salary cap. The revenue generated by the association before Goodenow took over was $400,000; it has since risen to be­ tween $15 million and $20 million. Interac­ tivity with the league association has never been more organized, and approval of the Dream Team in ‘93 is a major coup.

Cold Heat Riley d id n t lei a contract in New York bother him in negotiating a huge new deal as part-owner in M iam i

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Name I title I age

B CARMEN POLICY

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President.

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Son Francisco 49en 52 r

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MARC HOBLER

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PAUL FIREMAN Chairman/CEO. Reebok 51 I

DAVE CHECKETTS

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ROBERT IKER

President and COO. Cap Cities/ABC

44

SORA IflflNSON President.

N F L Properties 45

DAVID OGREAN Executive Director.

USA Hockey

42

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The 49ers didn’t get as heavily involved in free agency as they did in ’94 and lost the Oeion Sanders bidding war to archrival Dallas. But the team continues to win and maintain its status as a model franchise.

Policy, a member of the NFL’s finance and player/club operations committees, is one of the league's most vocal leaders and * behind-the-scenes power players.

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BILL STRICKLAND

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IM C Basketball 46

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Why in ’95?

Strickland had a good year, and he made sure his clients did as well. Besides securing contracts for No. 4 pick Rasheed Wallace with the Bullets and No. 16 pick Alan Henderson with the Hawks, Strickland nego­ tiated a monster deal ($57 million over six years) for top client Chris Webber. Strickland is a member of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association Hall of Fame/ At 77. Hodler is the IOC's de facto overseer of the Winter Games, with as much of the hands-on responsibility as IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. As head of skiing's international body (FIS). Hodler oversees a sport that controls about 65 percent of the medals awarded in the Winter Games.

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"■Donna LopJaho' Women’s Sports,Foandabon directorMike Lynn- - : ^

Not even the presence of Shaq has kept Reebok from losing ground in the shoe market. Reebok is getting beat by rival Nike, and Fila. behind the powerful person­ ality of spokesman Grant Hill. is making a steady ascent. All of which is why Fireman has fallen far in the rankings. While he has taken a hit on the retail front. Fireman remains a champion of human rights.

Checketts took over the Kmcks nearly five years ago and turned them into one of the most valuable franchises in professional sports. As head of the country's most glamorous indoor sports venue. Checketts oversees all operations of the Garden — including the Knicks and Rangers — along with the MSG Network that televises the Yankees.

Now that Disney has purchased Cap Cities/ABC. what will Disney do with its new properties? Some analysts say the gem of the deal was ESPN, of which Cap Cities/ABC has an 80 percent stake. We'll find how all this plays out in Cap Cities/ABC is one of the strongest media conglomerates around, and Iger is re­ sponsible for all of its operating divisions.

Levinson, one of the highest-ranking fe­ male executives in pro sports, runs the multibillion-dollar merchandising arm of the league. With player salaries growing.

Levinson is under pressure to keep NFL Properties’ revenue rocketing. The NFL wants her to increase the N F l’s merchan­ dising popularity in a youthful community that has been actively courted by the NBA. Ogrean is behind hockey’s Dream Team.

So far, he seems to have preserved the •integrity of the national governing body. so that USA Hockey will remain heavily involved in team and staff selection. That didn’t happen with basketball. Also, Ogrean’s focus on hockey’s grassroots resulted in a single-season membership increase of more than 55.000 players.

rwm Silver to g a e , golden I" ^* An eloquent speaker and one ofthe most vocal NFL executives, Policy is adept at mustering support leaguewidefor his opinions and plans. Though the 49m weren't as active in free agency as they had been in 94, they continue to win and live up to their billing as the modelfranchise.

i I

s

TSN) TOP IOO * S25*

January 1,1996

Rank

Name / title / age

Why in ’95?

TIM RNCHEM

Talk of an outlaw World Tour was still rampant at the beginning of the 1995 golf season as well as a troubling 4 i f year investigation of Tour rules and regulations by the FTC. In his first full year as c o m m is­ sioner. Finchem proved a master in rallying forces and sp o n so rs and networlcs against the W orld Tour and then in patching up differences between the warring forces

PG.-4 Tour

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48

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4 /

I

••••• .»•*«.

DBUNIS SWANSON

President, ABC Sports 57 •

•••

% »• . r

-

A B C Sports isn’t positioned as well in '96 as it w as in '95. It no longer has baseball, and the next three Super Bow ls go to NBC (’96 and ’98) and Fox (’97). And no Olym pics are on the horizon, either. ABC has the Rose. Su g a r and Citrus bowls, but the jewel of '96. the Fiesta, is on C B S The prize of A B C 's sports lineup remains M onday Night Football

••

JACK NICKLAUS Golfer 55

WASHINGTON Coach, Drake University: Executive Director.

Black Coaches Association 44

Easton is one of only two Am ericans on the IOC. Easton also is acknowledged as an innovator in the business of sports equipment. He is president of the International Archery Federation and chapm an of Easton Sports, Inc., a sporting-goods firm based in California that manufactures equipment for baseball, cycling, ice hockey and archery.

MIQUEL BASNETT

W hen you start-with Wayne Gretzky. Brett Hull and Jarom ir Jagr am ong 4 2 -N H I players on your client list, that's powerful.

S ix of the first 18 choices in the ’95 draft were IM G clients as well, continuing a C ir trend that has seen Barnett capture 22 percent of the first-rounders in the last three drafts.

SIMON

The man who held this title last year.

Charles Grantham, w as ranked 25 on this list. That the position has fallen so far is an indication of just how much power Gourdine wielded in ‘95 — not much. 8ut G o u t * dine bolds a position of power. Had G our­ d e s negotiated a collective-bargaining agreement that all the players approved of. the lockout could have been avoided

President, IMG Hockey 46

- ■ -Marie McCormack -JMG chairman/QEO •: -•WlHM c D o h o u Q l i t ■ T e rry McjJitirfcv

?

‘ vice

RichardMcWilliams: Upper OeckfrarilngcardspresIdent Don M e e te r-'*, v u n ite r / Tom Meeter' > . . •ChurehIHliownsThorough6red • • ■ • r * RaciilgAssociaboftpresident QleoMerio. t --..; : /Philip Morris vice president Howard Metzenbaum U.S; Senator: Mari* Miles:/. V : ATP Tour CEO . : .

A rtM ddell> -; - : . .NFtteam owner V ■ Jeff Moo red Player agent J '• D IckM oss • v Player a g e n t . . .

MaricMufvby ? •f *«Sports frustrated managing editor ■ Rupert Murdoch- Fox chairman/CEO Jim M urray; *• , L A Times columnist

N , ■ P rim o Neblolo (AAP president Charles M. Neinas' CFA executive director Rock Newman - • Boxing promoter Athlete'-'"'.

■ Jack Nicklaus George Nlcolau • 'Arbitrator. 0 ; Roger Nod. , Stanford University economics professor - Athlete ' Greg Norman

•••

Executive Director.

NEPA 55

BILL SCHMIOT

Vice President.

Gatorade 48 -

»

A s leader of the BCA. which has 3.000 members. W ashington addresses significant issu e s pertaining to minorities in sports. The organization creates a positive environment of com m on ground where issu e s can be properly exposed, directly confronted and intelligently discussed. It remains a power because it is not afraid to use the threat of boycott.

JAMES EASTON Member, IOC 60

«••••

Forget the fact that Nicklaus w on only once on the Senior Tour. Power may begin on the dow nsw ing for som e goiters, but for Nicklaus it’s in the golf-course designing b usin e ss and in Golden Bear International.

Nicklaus also became a contributing editor to Golf Magazine and finished in the Top 10 in all seven senior events he entered in '95.

JolmMadden.?'. : r .M ifflinJtediganv ^Tribune G d ^ C E O ^ S ^ * M ifehaM afcne cv-'ICl^p^dent/CEO '-rv'*.

Wellington Mara V fiFLteampresident :*v.. .

E d J te iw V :?:: U S . Represerrtathfe-;^ t Rudy-Martztev> .V ^..O S/tTbd^jy cblumntet Loren Matthews- ESPN'senior vice president

%

A s V.P for Gatorades worldwide sports marketing. Schmidt is having to find cre­ ative ways to head off the competition from Coke (Powerade) and Pepsi (All Sport). So far. he's doing it. In '95. Gatorade. still using Michael Jordan as-its sole spokesperson, went over the $1 billion mairk in U.S. sales for the first time.and maintained its 80-oercern share of the marketplace.

/

Better than par, of course: Power may begin on the downswing b r some golfers, but for Sicklaus. the hve-time K A Plover #

o f the Year, the business ut g o lf has never w en natter

S-2B • TSN^S TOP IOO

The Sporting News

ar***1* ?

Rank

82

Marne I title I age

Why in ’95?

r n

OBERY President, Nike sports Management 37

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RICHARDE. LAP CRICK 'Director, the Center for Study of Sport in Society 50

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TOM W ECH President. CEO.

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Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee 51

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Coincidence that Mike and the Cowboys ended up doing a deal in the same season Jerry Jones signed Deion Sanders?

Doubtful. And ifs Ussery who runs the career-management program that ties ath­ letes such as Sanders. Junior Griffey and Alon20 .Mourning to Nike beyond simple endorsements. However. Nike hasn’t be­ come a threat to conventional agents.

A regular TSN columnist. Lapchick and his center at Northeastern University are the racial conscience of sports. The center’s well-known Racial Report Card annually evaluates hiring practices for front-office personnel and coaches/managers in the NBA, NFL and major league baseball.

Lapchick works closely with African orga­ nizations.

Welch's 10-^ter effort to bring the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City culminated in the city’s selection as the site for the 2002 Games. Under his leadership, virtually all of the facilities needed to stage the Games are already complete. Now that the Games are in hand. Welch, who also sits on the board of directors of the USOC. says he wants a raise.

McGuirk cuts the deals for Turner Sports, and his work in *94 ensured that the NFL would remain on TNT. Another sweet move: He secured the NBA cable rights for TNT and TBS. In *96. keep an eye on Turner’s plans for making TBS a broadcast (free-market) station. It could have a pro­ found effect on TBS' sports programming.

Executive Vice President.

Turner Broadcasting AA

Since 1981. Smith has been owner and op­ erator of a firm that provides consulting services for professional baseball clubs and other sports interests. He continues to represent major league clubs in salary-arbitration cases — ■as long as those dubs do not compete or conflict with the inter­ ests'of the Astros. His son Randy is De­ troit's G M .

IRL SMITH President.

Houston .Astros 62

BOB COSTAS

You can’t put a price on what makes Costas powerful. You can’t buy respect.

Costas sometimes appears to be every­ where. always filling the same role of the voice of reason. One night it’s “Dateline.

NBC." The next night it's “Nightline" on a competing network. The consummate host, the consummate interviewer

FRANK

Craighill’s firm is the world's leading Olympic sponsorship consultant. Advan.tage is guiding the sponsorship program for 10 Olympic sponsors, including The Home Depot. Motorola. IBM. Sara Lee (Hanes), Bell South and General Mills.

Craighill was part of the team that devel­ oped the modem approach to global Olympic sponsorship in the early 1980s.

.Sportscaster. HBC 43 '

CRAIGHILL

Managing Director.

Advantage International 56 se w - S

BAN WIEDEN Cofounder.

Wieden & Kennedy 50

SSL.

The advertising agency of Wieden & Kennedy, with Wieden as the copywriting founder and principal force, is responsible for some of the most creative imageshaping sports has known. Wieden is the man behind Nike’s “Just Do It" slogan,* and ad campaigns like the “Bo K n o w s..." spots and the current Deion SandersDalias Cowboys commercial crush.

TSN^T0P 1 0 0 *S -27

J a n u a r y 1 ,1 9 9 6

Name I title I age

Why in ‘95?

JffFM OOBAD

Moorad negotiated a Si.725 niilion-con* tract for one of baseball's hottest prospects.

Oann Erstad. June's No. I overall pick. His clients are not limited to baseball players Moorad negotiated SICK) million in football contracts in a two-v/eek period in August, including deals for Drew Bledsoe and Kerry Collins Moorad's partner is Leigh Steinberg (No. 16).

Rank

T

f«lD THORN Vice President/

Thorn has been one of the busiest guys rn David Stem's office. He was the one in charge of handing out fines as he tned lo keep control of the players while the league negotiated with Its referees. Besides being « the league's peace-keeper and handslapper. he also is the executive in charge o f scheduling andofficiabng and oversees the NBA's pre-draft camp.

Operations. SOA . 4-

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Burke s main duties include rules changes, disciplining players and organizing the de­ velopment of referees and linesmen. But the 1995-96 season is a tribute to the lob Burke does because of his role in making sure obstruction penalties are called. He has given skilled players room to show off talent and has created an increase in scoring of more than 1.5 goals per game

• *V U S*J • r

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FRANK VUONO President and CEO.

93

Vuono IS the marketing agent for Super Bowl MVF Steve Young and NBA Finals M VF Hakeem Olaiuwon. Other clients in­ clude Dan Jansen. Drew Bledsoe. Randall Cunningham. Will Clark and Matt Williams.

Vuono has also helped develop marketing strategies for the 49ers and the NBA ex: pansion Raptors as well as 14 universities, including Stanford and Notre Dame.

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Integrated Sports Iniernationai 39

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NEA president operations CBS chairman-: Spprts Martediig and Television fnteitiational chairman boxing agent I : I' Bra East oim m i^ ner T K presjdertt/Ch^rman

■PaQlTagtlabue Bernard John Thompson: ■ Rodthom Liw irehcoTis^ ^ ''

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Hockey Operations.

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USAToday coIumiitst/NBC analyst Nike agent - ■ K&K (osiitanca vice president MLBcdmmissiflfner ■ In te g ra Sports Internationa) CEO

W ■ Dr.^LeRoy Walker USOC president BiirWaish NBCanalyst :■ JohnWaish ■ ESPN :? • ■ Rudy VteMtgton Brack Coaches Association , . I■ r , executive ditiscttr \ ■ Tom Wetoh . Salt Lake'Ci^ Organizinp committee '■V,-: .-c -■ ■ ■- :.presldeiTtV---r.v^,-:; i,« ;R lc k J« ^ v :.

NBA PmpMties president

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EB8Y HABTaSTDN president, DirecTV

94

Hartenstein has had the overall responsi­ bility for the operabon of the premier highpower direct broadcast satellite service since its inception in 1990. DirecTV de­ livers 175 channels of entertainment and informational programming to low-cost.

18-inch satellite receiving antennas in­ stalled in more than a million homes.

45

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SETH ABRAHAM President and CEO.

Boxing is Abraham's bread and butter, and it provides the sports backbone for HBC and led to the creation of the pay-per-view service TVKO. Among the boxers under contract lo HBC are Pemell Whitaker. Roy Jones Jr.. Oscar De La Hoya, George Foreman. Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. Under Abraham. HEO also has es­ tablished a niche ii|^port5 documentaries.

Time Warner 'NBO

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D'mc-ors C'-it) an annua; a.va'^: givon nr a st:h')n! tot ;t«.. Si}:'?*', rti;.:’;!--' t!‘-

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Susan O 'M alley, president. W ashington Bullels: n-: ivad-nsn:;: lh** itiani .vi * ■h.nn!- n:; n.' i-f a'n-- Uy. t*:-: *993 ' ‘ .J Cnns ant: M a '-n-n':.:; s-.5‘;--i!i .S' ‘.r a.fsan-ati-r.-ianr - is •in..:' ; T O'.'O -i ’.-asn:: aC'' t’.' I - *100 Vi!'- S'Msnn Peter Angelos. Owner. Baltimore Orioles: n; T‘:- ?S<i HJO

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Ulah). chairman.

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Tim Finchem: Com m issioner. PCA Tour: H - I-:: : n - IOO a* i-'- /-I Sandy Knapp. Chairm an ol the Board. ' USA Gym nastics: Sh^ as :n»: . : ' ,

of a task force !fta* recentiv pres^’ nted to •fie USOC recoinnMridations on how lo t»rinf) more wonieo imo (i*:t.isK;n-riiakinii fuias Kn-ipi) also .‘..is consaiatad to; Umi USOC executive ciireclOEshrp fmt v/as I)as*a;a over in l a -or o! Oi;>. Schiill.; Andy P.lacPhail. President and CEO. Chicago Cubs: His fn-;' full /oaf of M^iUilrlJiKi the OJfiamaation v.as a solid one, arn; fie Iuk I (jonc! fo U ii'f! of .'.(eirid arontvi V:tien Hyne Sa:ul!?*;fr; to r nnv' Oil; of '•rtnr-fijnni Tiger W oods, golfer. Stanford: He -von :i:s second consei :i!!'.>'- U.S Ani.tEem trite ami has hee:: fiafn*": gt;.* cf IQ finalists for t?i*: Sail;/an A;.'ar;*. niven annnailv to the narion s too amat-nt attaete ^ — M ark SHIMABUKURO

S-28 • ISNS TOP IOO

The Sporting News

Getaflfocac Theres a Worid Wide Web

of behind-the-scenes sports info on-line and Gates'giant Microsoft Network added to it in 55.

3

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Is N am e/title/age

Rank

in '93S i ^ j >n 91

Why in 95?

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Chairman, Microsoft Corporation

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LIZ DOLAN Vice President , o f Marketing. Nike 38 •rV * f if e

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RANDY LEVINE

Chief labor negotiator for Major League ^ Baseball

48

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JEFFREY POLLACK

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Publisher.

The Sports Business D a ih

31

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Though his Microsoft Network, the first-year online service that has based a fair share of its content on sports, has been a disappointment Gates continues to profit from interest in the sports market As the techno-environment continues to grow, so too will mammoth Microsoft's share, which includes basketball and baseball CD-ROM titles that are the standards of the industry.

For the last two years, Dolan has had responsibility for Nike's product marketing, sports marketing and advertising. Most of the company’s recent campaigns for women's sports emanate horn Dolan’s office — the "Air Swoopes" shoe is its first basket-ball shoe named for a female player. Sheryl Swoopes. Dolan is behind the “lf You Let Me Play Sports" ad campaign.

Levine came to the Player Relations Com­ mittee from his position as Commissioner of Labor in New York City. As an appoint­ ment of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Levine’s major accomplishment was negotiating a new teachers' contract. As he takes on Don Fehr and the MLBPA, Levine is an unknown because negotiations will not start in earnest until after New Year’s Day. Pollack, who founded the electronically de­ livered publication that is the first and only daily briefing on the -business of sports, pro­ vides the information that helps big-time de­ cision-makers in the sports industry. Clients include major professional teams and leagues, big-dollar sponsors, agents, player unions. TV networks and print outlets.

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IOO?! Fly finally pulls rank and comes in at triple digits? Grab a Kluszewski, pal. Fly has always been the leadoff hitter in this lineup. You-n-Ffy know that media mo-ghouls (say. maybe Most Powerful Rupe)„pencilnecked owners and front-office types (like the G.M. who gets it faxed his way when he's on the road), even brain-dead commishes and-jocks — those who can read, at least — turn to COTF first. .