Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 48

ZF WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1998 Tr NHL BEST BETS Brtroil 4frw Vrcss Yesss! Marv Albert, left, returns as a guest on "The Late Show With David Letterman" (11 p.m., Channel 62). Albert last visited the show in November, after pleading guilty to assault charges in Virginia following a hearing that made public a few of the sportscaster's unusual fetishes. Perhaps Letterman's production company, i RedWing Darren McCarty tangles with Carolina's Gary Roberts along the boards Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. McCarty duked it out with ex-Wing Keith Primeauwith 58 seconds left World Wide Pants, will change its name to World Wide Panties for the evening. Fetisov settling in behind New Jersey bench 1 i JULIAN H.

GONZALEZDetroit Free Press Devils after 14 years with the famed Central Red Army team. He was traded to the Red Wings for a third-round draft choice in 1995 and helped them win two Stanley Cups. Wings exhibit accuracy, but Hurricanes win, 5-4 was sad because it's the last time I see so many of the boys. It was very hard for me." Guests included teammates Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsa-kanov, both of whom were severely injured in a limousine accident six days after the Wings won the Cup in 1997. Other friends included Wings forward Igor Larionov, Fetisov's teammate for eight years with the Red Army.

Together, they batded the Army to be released, blazing a trail for Russian hockey stars to come to the NHL. "He has been a friend of mine for long, long time," larionov said. "We have spent so much lime together, so many years. We have been through so much together. It is really hard not to see him around you.

Last year at this time, we could go out together habit that spans almost four decades isn't easy to break. But Slava Felisov new life demands that he stay back 1 and observe, not join in the scrimmages and drills that have been his life since boyhood. Fetisov, 40, is growing accustomed to his new job as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils, a position he accepted this summer, ending one of hockey's most storied careers. "It's very strange," Fetisov said. "First few days of practice, I wanted to jump in and join the rush.

It's very different. I come to practice earlier to prepare, write down reports, look at film. Good thing so many people are helping me." Fetisov began his NHL career in 1989 with New Jersey, joining the Jl a 11 in NFL NATIONWORLD Phillips to get another chance with Rams? 49ers re-sign Kirby and have good time, have a good dinner." Fetisov makes his only professional appearance in Detroit on Feb. 19, 18 days after the Wings play in New Jersey. By then, he will have settled into his new routine.

But Fetisov, who accepted the New Jersey job after it became apparent he and the Wings could not agree on a deal 'that would have allowed him to play another season, hinted that the old routine might not be a tiling of the past. "Scouts see me in practice and tell I look very good," Fetisov said, laughing. They tell me they're going to draft me next summer." By Helene St. James; to leave a message, call 1-313-222-2295 or E-mail Hstjamesaol.com marked by three arrests and 23 days in jail for violating probation after a drunken-driving arrest. The Dolphins released him after a woman in Plantation, accused him of becoming violent when she refused to dance with him.

The Rams also are considering Rodney Hampton, George Jones and former Rams back David Thompson. Rams spokesperson Rick Smith said Tuesday there were no immediate plans to schedule a tryout for Phillips. CHICAGO: Punter Todd Sauerbrun will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury suffered during the Bears' 27-15 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. He will be replaced by Mike Horan. JACKSONVILLE: Running back James Stewart was diagnosed to have a partial tear of the ACL in his left knee, and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Stewart was injured during the Jaguars' 24-10 victory over Baltimore on Sunday. Fred Taylor will replace Stewart in the starting lineup. SAN FRANCISCO: The 49ers signed running back Terry Kirby, whom they let go earlier this year in a salary-cap move. Terms of the deal were not released. The 49ers agreed to terms on a contract with punter Reggie Roby, who spent last season with Tennessee.

general manager Ken Holland said. "Or can we find a way to make a deal and get back draft picks or young players who are still exempt from the waiver draft?" GOALIE CRACKDOWN: The NHL inspected the Wings' goalies' equipment Tuesday; Holland said no major changes are required. In August, the GMs unanimously adopted the equipment crackdown, including regulations for chest and arm pads, pants, jerseys and catching gloves. "We're a little bit big in some spots, nothing major," Holland said. "Now we've got three weeks to get in compliance on everything." ILITCH REPORTED OK: Wings and Tigers owner Mike Hitch, who underwent heart surgery in January, felt dizzy Tuesday afternoon and went to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak to be checked out.

"Everything is fine, and he has been released," according to a statement from Little Caesars Entertainment. "He's doing great." INJURY UPDATE: Prospect Jesse Wallin underwent ultrasound testing on his injured groin and hamstring and will sit out at least another week. Wallin hasn't practiced in about 10 days. Jamie Macoun underwent further tests on his sprained left wrist to ensure there are no tiny fractures. He'll be out at least another week.

Goalie Norm Maracle remains off the ice with a sprained ankle and will rest at least a few more days. NHL NOTEBOOK: The Vancouver Canucks won't let right wing Bill Muckalt, a rookie from Michigan, play in preseason games until he signs a contract. Florida right wing Dino Ciccarelli, at 38 the oldest Panther, is out of scrimmages for at least a week after spraining his right ankle in practice. "There's no need to take a look at him in training camp, anyway," coach Terry Murray said of the former Red Wing. "He's been around 100 years." Philadelphia Flyers coach Roger Neilson missed Tuesday night's 2-2 exhibition tie with visiting Pittsburgh because of lower-back spasms, and will miss tonight's game at Montreal.

Penguins forward Petr Nedved, in a contract impasse, signed a contract with the International Hockey League's Las Vegas Thunder. An MRI exam failed to disclose the extent of the damage to Penguins defenseman Darius Kasparai-tis's right knee. Kasparaitis might have sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament Sunday against the Wings. Free Press news services contributed. Hurricanes 5, Red Wings 4 Carolina Detroit 1-5 1-4 First period Detroit, Yzerman (Shanahan, LaPoinle) 232 Carolina, Gelinas (Francis, Emerson) 922 (pp) Detroit, Lidstrom (Murphy, Shanahan) 1134 (pp) Detroit, Lidstrom (Maltby, Draper) 14:58.

Second period Carolina, Emerson (Fronds, Kapanen) 1:41 (pp) Carolina, Kapanen (Primeau) 221 (pp) Carolina, Kapanen (Roberts) 1739. Tnlrd period Detroit, Murphy (Lidstrom, Kozlov), 935 (pp) Carolina, Primeau (Battaolia) 1531. GoatoK Carolina, Kidd; Detroit, Osgood, Bach. 15,639. ByJASONLACANFORA I'Yee IVpss Sporls Writer Whatever Brendan Shanahan has, it's contagious.

The Red Wings' power forward scored on his first shot of the exhibition season Sunday night. On Tuesday night, he made a beautiful one-touch pass at center ice early in the game against Carolina springing captain Steve Yzerman on a breakaway for his first goal on his first exhibition shot. Less than two minutes later, de-fenseman Nick Lidstrom beat Trevor Kidd on the slick side on you guessed it his first shol of the exhibition season with an assist from you guessed it Shanahan, Lidstrom scored again on his second shot one of 46 by the Wings vs. 18 by the Hurricanes and Iarry Muhphy scored a fluky power-play goal in the third period. But former Wing Keith Primeau scored with less than five minutes left, giving the Hurricanes a 5-4 victory.

"As soon as I scored, I knew they were going to boo," Primeau said of the announced crowd of 15,639. "The louder they booed, the more I liked it. This is the first time I can say I liked playing in Joe Louis Arena." The Wings (0-2-1) led, 3-1, at the end of 20 minutes but trailed, 4-3, after two. Darren McCarty mixed it up three times, including a bout with Primeau with 58 seconds left. Aaron Ward provoked a few cheap shots, and Yzerman attacked Curtis Ieschyshyn late in the second period landing a left hook and knocking the defense-man to the ice.

Martin Ipoinle pounded Leschyshyn in the third. Wings goalie Chris Osgood allowed three goals on 10 shots. Rookie Ryan Bach took over with 10:58 left in the second period. DRAFT IS AN ILL WIND: Two play ers from the Wings' NHL roster will be exposed to the October waiver draft. As things stand, those two are likely to be enforcer Joey Kocur and injured forward Brent Gilchrist.

Kocur, who would be paid $450,000 this season, vows he'll consider retirement rather than play elsewhere. But Carolina, among others, would nab Kocur if available, sources said. Gilchrist also would garner interest, though his groin injury and salary over the next two years will scare some teams off. Gilchrist suffered the injury in March and on Monday had hernia surgery, which the Wings hope will correct the problem. He's at least a month from returning to the lineup.

"Do we sit on what we have and do nothing, and gamble on losing players?" T. LOUIS The Rams are considering the return of trou bled running back Lawrence I Phillips to bolster their deplet ed backfield. "You have to consider it because we still have a lot of games to play," coach Dick Vermeil told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Greg Hill's right leg was broken in the fourth quarter of the Rams' 34-33 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

The injury happened as Hill was having his best game ever 158 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Hill is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks, but might be out for the year. Phillips, the Rams' top draft pick in 1996, was cut by Miami during the exhibition season. He called Rams running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on Monday to ask if the team needed a back because of Hill's injury. Phillips rushed for 1,265 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 25 games with the Rams before being released last November.

He finished the season with Miami. Phillips told Montgomery he has been slaying in Miami and has been working out. His 19 months in St. Louis were Slava Fetisov Fittingly, the Cup was present when Fetisov, a nine-time Soviet league All-Star and winner of two Olympic gold medals, threw a farewell party at Big Daddy's restaurant in West Bloomfield in early September. "It was very mixed feelings for me," Fetisov said.

"It was fun, but I DAVID ZALUBOWSKIAssociated Press Mike D'Antoni, front, and new assistant coach Louie Dampier are all smiles after D'Antoni is named head coach of the Denver Nuggets. career. Her sister-in-law, world heptathlon record-holder Jackie Joyner-Kersee, urged people to wait for the autopsy results expected within a few days saying, "At this time I don't feel that it is appropriate." BOWLING: Roy Buckley used a solid six-game block to jump from fourth to first and clinched the No. 1 seed entering the match-play portion of the I'BA Naples (Fla.) Senior Open. Buckley finished 18 games of qualifying with a pinfall of 4,156.

Dave SouUir was second at 4,107. Defending champion Gene Stus of Allen Park moved up 24 places to third with 4,101. Tish Johnson continued to lead the TKO Triton Open in Rossford, Ohio, by going 6-2 in the first round of match play for a 5,823 total. Aleta Sill of Dearborn jumped eight spots to fourth with 5,537. TODAY TV HIGHLIGHTS Complete TV schedule, Pages 56D.

2:00 p.m. (RPD Soccer: FC Barcelona vs. Manchester United FC, UEFA Champions League. 2:05 Cf GM) Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee. 7:40 Baseball: Montreal at New York Mets.

8:10 (ESPRi Baseball: Houston at St. Louis. 10:35 CfSPD Baseball: Oakland at Seattle. 11:00 tSPN Baseball: Texas at Anaheim (joined in progress). RADIO HIGHLIGHT 8:05 p.m.

Tigers: Detroit at Kansas City. WJR-AM (760). AREA EVENT Fall Boat Show: Noon-8 p.m., Metro Beach Metropark, Mt. Clemens. $7, under-12 $1.

Boat Show USA, 1-810-468-4338. HORSE RACING 1 I em-, I il 1.4 I Sanders speaks out about 0-3 start NCAA: No dance for Louisville I he NCAA banned the Louis ville men's basketball team from postseason play for one year Tuesday and placed the school on three years' proba tion because of rules violations. The nine violations in the men's basketball and women's volleyball programs involved extra benefits, recruiting, financial aid, institutional control and ethical conduct The Division I Committee on Infractions handed down other penalties as well, including a reduction of scholarships in both sports. The volleyball team forfeited three scholarships over the next two years, the basketball program one each the next two seasons. The basketball program's postseason ban also will include this year's Conference USA Tournament.

"We had nearly 1(X) percent agreement with the NCAA Fnforcemenl staff on all facts of the case," university president John Shumaker said. "The NCAA's response has been tough, but the sanctions are fair." NBA: The Denver Nuggets gave Mike D'Antoni, 47, a three-year contract as coach for a reported $2.75 million, assigning him the daunting task of rebuilding one of the worst teams in league history. His assistants will be former NBA head coach John Lucas, Mike Evans and Louie Dampier. D'Antoni, who spent seven years coaching in the Italian Ix-ague before becoming Denver's director of player personnel last year, is Denver's seventh coach this decade. He replaces Bill Manzlik, who was fired after the Nuggets went 11-71 last season.

AUTO RACING: Two-time CART series champion Alex Zanardi of Italy announced his return to Formula One racing next season by joining Ralf Schumacher at Williams. Zanardi, 31, just wrapped up his second CART series title, driving for TargetChip Ganassi Racing. NBC signed a contract with Homestead Motor Speedway to air the first NASCAR race on the network. The three-year deal begins in 1999, with coverage of the Jiffy Lube Miami 400, Nov. 14.

TRACK AND FIELD: The night before she died, Florence Griffith Joyner felt "a little tired" but showed no outward signs of illness according to her former coach, Bob Kersee. Meanwhile, medical examiners in Iis Angeles continue their investigation into what caused the death of the 38-year-old Olympic gold medalist. Her death re-ignited questions about whether she had ever used performance-enhancing drugs during her SPORTS SPEAK Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, on what is more significant to baseball Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa or Cal Ripken: "Absolutely what that man (pointing to Ripken on TV) did. Not to slight what the other boys are doing, but you can't even do what Ripken did on Nintendo. You can hit 65 home runs pji Nintendo." METROSTATE Skate America boasts solid field DONS, from Page IF planned.

"I just felt the time was right," he said. "I just felt like it was the appropriate time." The Lions' slow start after they came out of training camp with high expectations of making a run at Green Bay for the NFC Central Division title and advancing deep into the playoffs obviously has made an impact on Sanders. He says he is not discouraged by the 0-3 start as much as he is concerned by the Lions' lackluster play in the second half of the Minnesota game, when they were unable to move the ball consistently. "No one's going anywhere with three wins and no one has to stay home with three losses, the way I look at it," Sanders said. 'There's going to be so many changes in the next few weeks and leading up to the end of the season as far as how well teams are doing.

I'm not worried about it. The only thing I'm worried about is that we didn't play as hard this last game as we did the first two games. The second half. "We put a nice offensive show against Green Bay, for the most part. We put up a nice show against Cincinnati, we played well.

But yet, -Sunday, I don't know. The loss is one thing but the results other than the loss is a little bit concerning." With losses in the first three games and division games coming up against Tampa Bay, Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota the Lions are facing something of a crisis situation. They already are 0-2 in the division. Fven if they win three of the next four they'll be only 3-3 in the division, but at 3-4 they would still have a chance to make a playoff run. Anything less than three wins makes it just that much more difficult to get back into the division race and muster a run for the playoffs.

Sanders is well aware of the situa tion and senses the urgency involved with the next four games, but says it's far too early to succumb to desperation. "I think the thing is not to panic, to go about business as usual and be professional about it," Sanders said. "I think if anything, hopefully the loss (at Minnesota) will give us a sense of perspective." Coach Bobby Ross said after the loss to the Vikings that he fell bad for Sanders, because he works so hard and tries so hard that he deserves a better fate than being 0-3. Sanders said Tuesday he doesn't consider himself unique in his work ethic. "I think a lot of us play hard, not just me," he said.

"And I think it's too early to count us out. Yeah, I'm disappointed in the way things have gone, but too many things can happen between now and January." NOTEBOOK: Defensive tackle Travis Kirschke, who has missed the first three games with an abdominal injury, was put on injured reserve. Ross said he expects Kirschke will have surgery. The Lions also have a fullback crisis, with Tommy Vardell out after having arthroscopic knee surgery and Cory Schlesinger in an immobilizer boot with a high ankle sprain, an injury that frequently requires 2-3 weeks recovery. The I Jons are believed to be interested in signing rookie Brock Olivo, a fullback and special-teams player who was on San Francisco's practice squad.

Quarterback Scott Mitchell was excused from practice because of a family obligation. Wide receiver Johnnie Morton, who rested a bruised kneecap Tuesday, has dropped several passes in the first three games. Ross has not criticized Morton but said: "I think he can play better, definitely so. He's a prideful guy but we've got to do it. We need him to be playing better." To leave a message for Curt Sylvester, call 1-313-222-2621.

ft! post-Olympic worries for next month's Skate America Bf International at Joe Louis Arena, tl The annual skating com petition, which kicks off the International Skating Union's Champions Series, boasts a strong field especially in the men's event. Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko of Canada will make the Detroit stop his first competition since recovering from a groin injury suffered at the Nagano Ciames in February. Joining him at the Oct. 29-Nov. 1 event will be world champion Alexei Yagudin of Russia; '94 Olympic gold medalist Alexei Urmanov; U.S.

silver medalist Michael Weiss; world junior champion Derrick Delmore, and She-phard Clark. The female skaters who have committed include 1995 U.S. champion Nicole Bobek of the Detroit Skating Club; world bronze medalist Maria Butyrskaya of Russia; '94 world bronze medalist Tanja Szewczenko of Germany, and Angela Nikodinov. Confirmed pairs skaters include world champions Flena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia; U.S. bronze medalists Danielle and Steve Harlsell of the Detroit Skating Club; and Kyoko Ina and new partner John Zimmerman.

Ice dancing will feature Olympic bronze medalists Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France; U.S. silver medalists Jessica Joseph and Charles Butler of the Detroit Skating Club; and U.S. bronze medalists Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev, also of the Detroit SC. Individual-event tickets ($40 and $25) are on sale. Ticket packages ($200, $145, $142 and $87) also are available by calling 1-313-965-3099.

By Jo-Ann Barnas BASKETBALL: The Detroit Shock announced the hiring of Steve Smith as an assistant coach and Tommy Cross as assistant director of scouting. Smith previously was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury; Cross was a basketball staff assistant last season with the Shock. GOLF: Ron Beurmann shot 74-67141 to win the Michigan PGA Cobra Classic at the Country Club of Jackson. Beurmann, playing for the host club, collected $1,100. Brad Dean of Crystal Mountain Resort was second with 73-69142.

HOCKEY: Tickets for the Muskegon Fury's seventh season in the United Hockey League will go on sale at 9:30 a.m. today. Call 616-726-2400. WOMEN'S SOCCER: Host Madonna (0-31, 0 2-1) and Cornerstone (4-3-1, 0-2-1) played to a 2-2 tie. WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Host Oakland CC (8 7, 3-1 MCCAA East) defeated Macomb CC (11-7, 2-1), 16-14, 15-2, 15-11.

Host Madonna (16-3, 3-0 Wolverine-Hoosier) defeated Concordia (3-9, 0-2), 15-5, 15-4, 15-4. Senior Lucie Jara of Northwood is Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference player of the week after posting 70 kills, 10 blocks and 17 digs over two matches. Seniors Karen Chase and Jeanlne Szczesniak picked up all-tournament honors after leading Michigan to a 2-1 record and a runner-up finist) at the Domino's Pizza Classic. i DRC: Intertrack at noon, 1-734-525-7300. Hazel Park: 11 races, starting at 7:45 p.m., plus intertrack at 12:35 p.m., 1-248398-1000.

Jackson: 12 races, starting at 7:37 p.m., plus intertrack at noon, 1-517 788-4500. Northville: Intertrack at noon, 1-248-349-1000. Saginaw: Intertrack at noon, 1-517-755-3451. Sports Creek: Intertrack at noon, 1-810-635-3333. Toledo: Intertrack at noon, 1-419-476-7751.

Windsor 11 races, starting at 7:20 p.m., plus intertrack at 1:00 p.m., 1-313-9619545..