The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 15

5 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 The Indianapolis Star Online: www.stamews.com InfoLine: 624-4636 Tribo rained out WEEK 2: COLTS 21, JETS 7 fUl J7 7TT 'j i -r- ks r-v'-u Colts tight end Ken Dilger struggles for more yardage with the Jets' Staff Photo Patrick Schneider Gary Jones attached to his hip during the third quarter. BUFFALO, N.Y. The Indianapolis Indians were rained out Sunday for the 1 second consecutive night In their quest to wrap up the first-round series of the American Association playoffs. Indianapolis, leading two games to one against the Buffalo Bisons, will try again at 6:05 tonight in the best-of-five series. If tonight's game is postponed, the teams will play a doubleheader Tuesday if necessary.

If Indianapolis wins tonight, the championship series, another best-of-five affair, will begin Tuesday night at Oklahoma City. If Buffalo wins tonight, the league's championship series is scheduled to begin Wednes-t day night at Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City, which elimi: nated the Omaha Royals in the Western Division playoffs will host the first two games of the championship series. Story: Page 10 Sampras, Graf are U.S. Open i champs Men's champion blows away Michael Chang to defend title, while women's titlist repeats by beating Monica Seles.

From Wire Services NEW YORK Staggered and sick one match, tight and worried the next, Pete Sampras put on an Impeccable show of force and grace in the final Sunday night to claim his fourth U.S. Open championship. From his first 125 mph service winner to his last at 117 mph, Sampras defended his title by blowing away Michael Chang 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in two hours. In the women's final, Steffi Graf saved her best tennis for last. For her last match of the 1996 U.S.

Open. For the last women's final to be played at Stadium Court at the U.S. Tennis Center In New, York. With a marvelous service game that confounded her opponent, Graf defended her U.S. Open title by beating Monica Seles, 7-5, 6-4, and a nasty storm.

-The win was her fifth U.S. Open title and the 21st Grand Slam title of her career. "I served very well and I made very few unforced errors," Graf said. "I'm very pleased." Sampras secured his No. 1 ranking and salvaged a tortured year by dominating Chang in every aspect of the match, even winning long rallies to prove he could beat Chang at his own game.

To see Sampras sprinting so lightly, moving so quickly and hammering shots so hard for his eighth Grand Slam title, no one who hadn't heard of his problems a few days earlier would believe i See CHAMPS Page 10 TOYOTA, y- -r-ffma. IAV jIMA 5ECA A 7 Sparked by Ken Dilger magnificence and Tony McCoy's determination, Indy rides out a storm of injuries to dump Jets DRAGGING ALONG: Colts play own painful version of 8 men out Robin Miller EAST RUTHERFORD, .1 SnnHau'e l.f 'y Indianapolis tl Colts-New York 1 Jets game was stopped for 32 minutes In the fourth quarter Ml By Mike Chapped STAFF WRITER EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -Neither a historic, lightning-induced delay nor a glut of damaged bodies kept Tony McCoy from retrieving his football and the Indianapolis Colts from rejecting the New York Jets on Sunday. Confused? Well, it was that kind of afternoon at Giants Stadium. Wet, wacky, worthwhile.

Leave it to McCoy, the team's veteran defensive tackle, to graphically depict how the Colts overcame: The first recorded delay In a National Football League regular-season game. A rash of injuries that knocked eight starters and assorted backups from the game. The Jets, 21-7. "The way I face away games is I act like someone dropped us off in a bad neighborhood, or you kicked your ball over the fence of some neighbor who hates your guts," McCoy said. "No matter what, you've got to go over that fence and get your ball and get home.

"You might get bit by the because of lightning. And the way things were going for Indianapolis well, let's just say none of the Colts felt like tempting fate. "I thought it was a good call by the officials," said Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh. "It was getting dangerous out there." Was it ever. Because long before weather moved In, Indianapolis' immediate future was clouded by an unbelievable deluge of Injuries.

Seven Colt starters were knocked out of action prior to the stoppage and one more joined the list after play resumed. neighbor's dog, and you might get hit in the head by the neighbor's pan every once In a while, but you've got to get your ball. That's all that matters." Mission accomplished. "Yeah," McCoy said, "we got our ball, and we're going home." Unfazed by the 32-minute suspension of play caused when heavy rain and lightning visited Giants Stadium, and undaunted by the sight of so many front-line players leaning on crutches in the second half, the Colts returned home limped home, actually with a 2-0 record. They may have trouble finding enough able bodies to practice this week or line up and play against Super Bowl champion Dallas on Sunday, but their best start since 1977 can serve as a soothing balm.

"This is something for us to build off of," coach Lindy Infante said. "This was important," added quarterback Jim Harbaugh. "It was a division game and a road game, and you've got to be able to win those." See COLTS Page 2 ZD v. i tin v- WALKING WOUNDED: Colts suffering leg cramps, is helped Staff Photo Patrick Schneider linebacker Sammie Burroughs, off the field by trainers Sunday. See MILLER Page 2 ni I SAME OLD RAVENS; BEARS 'SKINNED' Baltimore resembles Cleveland in loss to Pittsburgh, while Chicago can only manage a field goal against Washington.

NFL coverage: Pages 4-6 SP0TUGHT SHiKES OH TIGHT EKD iKen Dilger, a rising star for the Indianapolis Colts, uses his soft hands, strength and athleticism to subdue the Jets. More Colts coverage: Pages 2-3 'J Vasser clinches Indy Car title But teammate Alex Zanardi makes nifty move around Bryan Herta to win race. NFL BaltirrKw? 6 Detroit 2 Colts 21 NY Jets '7 4 "Toronto 2 Baltimore 31 Prttstajrgh 17 Chicago 7 Boston 4 Carolina California 4 Minnesota 2 Wington 3 Texas 7 Milwaukee 1 Houston Oakland Minnesota 23 Atlanta 17 NATIONAL LEAGUE Kansas City 19 Oakland 3 New York 6 Atlanta 2 Detroit 21 Tampa Bay 6 Chicago Philadelphia 3 San pjego 27 Cincinnati 14 San Diego Denver 30 Seattle 20 toiorado Sim Houston 2 Dallas 27 NY Giants 0 Cincinnati 8 Sar i Francisco 3 Sain Francisco 34 St Louis 0 Pittsburgh I Anyiw 1 Miami 38 Arizona 10 Fkxida .1 AMERICAN LEAGUE CISL Cleveland 2-5 Seattle Monterrey B.Jls!? that you guys are all asking Alex about, but I have a feeling it was a good save," Vasser joked, glancing at Zanardi. Vasser, who led the points nearly the entire season, could afford to be a little facetious after wrapping up the title and the $1 million prize that comes with It. "This is the goal we set out to achieve," the 30-year-old California-born driver said.

"We had some race wins early and had some thin times in the middle, but we stayed consistent, and that's what It takes to win championships. "It's a great feeling to be champion, and I hope we can keep it all together and come back and do It again next year." See VASSER Page 7 By Mike Harris ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTEREY, Calif. Jimmy Vasser was supposed to be the center of attention Sunday after clinching his first PPG Indy Car World Series championship with a fourth-place finish In the Bank of America 300. Instead, he sat grinning, listening to Chip Ganassl Racing teammate Alex Zanardi describing a daring Jast-lap pass that gave him the race victory "I haven't seen this impossible move yet l( -af 4 Associated Press TAKING AIM: Alex Zanardi sprays wine on his leammates after winning the Bank of America 300 Sunday in Monterey, Calif..