The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 33

Page 6C Wednesday, May 4, 1994 1 uLil Briefly Peete leaves Lions, signs on in Dallas as Aikman 's backup Dent may sigh with Eagles NFL (V I V- if Jt i A. I ''X From Wire Reports IRVING, Texas Quarterback Rodney Peete is taking a break from working on his house while he resumes working on his National Football League career. "The agents said Rodney wanted to finish up doing a few things on his house before coming in, said Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer after Peete agreed to a one-year contract worth almost $600,000 Tuesday. "We said, 'Hey, we got three days of this Quarterback School left. So get in Peete, 28, followed Switzer's instructions.

The former Detroit Lions starter begins taking snaps as the second-stringer behind Troy Aikman today at Valley Ranch as he attempts to rejuvenate a five-year NFL career that has been slowed by injuries. "Even though he's a backup, you'd like to find a guy who is competitive and who wants to prove his worth," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who said he has Peete's assurance that the newcomer will spend the off-season in Dallas learning the team's offense. "Rodney knows his role here. But he wants to use this opportunity to lift himself to a (starting) opportunity next year, and that's fine with me." USC's Peete and UCLA's Aikman were peers as seniors in college, when they battled for honors in 1988. The 6-foot, 193-pound Peete was chosen as the Pac-10's top quarterback.

But Aikman now perhaps football's best player was 1989's top overall NFL draft pick, while Peete (who also had baseball as an option) developed from a sixth-round choice to a solid pro. When healthy, Peete has been a full-time Lions starter since his rookie year. Last season he started 10 of 12 games before eventually falling into a three-way quarterback controversy with Erik Kramer and Andre Ware. In his career, Peete has started 47 games and completed 57 percent of his passes, with 38 touchdowns and 49 interceptions. Skins' Copeland retires ASHBURN, Va.

Five years of pro football was enough for safety Danny Copeland, whose retirement was made official Tuesday, leaving the Washington Redskins with a big hole to fill on their already undermanned defense. Copeland, 28, had told new coach Norv Turner last Friday he wanted to retire and asked to be excused from a three-day mini-camp. Turner asked him to think about it over the weekend before making a final decision. "After thinking it over some more, he was firm in his decision to retire from the Washington Redskins," Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said after meeting again Tuesday with Copeland. His departure leaves the Redskins in somewhat of a lurch.

Through nearly three months of free agency and the NFL draft last week, Washington had viewed its defensive secondary as one of the few stable areas on a team that is undergoing a thorough house-cleaning in the wake last season's 4-12 record, its worst in three decades. Copeland could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but he had indicated to teammates that he no longer felt a burning desire to play football. They said he also didn want to aggravate a pinched nerve and neck sprain that kept him out of two games last season and three games in 1992. "He doesn't need football for his self-identity; I think that's pretty much the nutshell," said Pat Eilers, a special teams player who was made the starter in last week's minicamp in Copeland's absence. NFL i Auoclatad Prau Bears make moves LAKE FOREST, 111.

The Chicago Bears waived veteran offensive lineman John Wo-jciechowski on Tuesday. Wojciechowski, 26, joined the Bears in 1987 and played in 100 games, starting 41. He saw action at every position in the offensive line except center. Last year, Wojciechowski played in 14 games at right tackle and right guard. Former Detroit Lions QB Rodney Peete signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

From Wire Report PHILADELPHIA Richard Dent tied for third in the NFC with 12Vi sacks last season. Put him in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform, and coach Rich Kotite is positive that number goes up. NFL "If you get him into our type of system attacking the line of scrimmage and putting pressure on quarterbacks and doing more blitzing than some other teams I think it makes it more effective for Richard Dent," Kotite said. Dent, a longtime standout defensive end for the Chicago Bears, isn't an Eagle yet. But by the way he and Kotite were talking Tuesday, he could be very soon.

Dent took a tour through Veterans Stadium and sounded like a man who was ready' to move to Philadelphia. "I'm here to discuss my future and my ending my career here, which is very possible," he said. All it will take is for the Eagles to come up with a better offer than the $1.4 million, one-year deal the Bears have reportedly offered. "My main objective is to get an opportunity to get to the playoffs and then to a championship he said. "I feel the Eagles are moving in that Eagles fans may disagree, what with the defections of defensive stalwarts Reggie White, Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner over the last year.

But the Eagles have also made moves to replenish their defense, signing free agent defensive end William Fuller from Houston and trading for defensive end Burt Grossman (San Diego) and linebacker Bill Romanowski (San Francisco). Falcons waive Dukes SUWANEE, Ga. Jamie Dukes, an undrafted free agent out of Florida State who started the last 80 games at center for the Atlanta Falcons, is a free agent again. "I just had a hard time accepting some of the things that were going on," said Dukes, who was waived Tuesday. "I worked too hard out there, babysitting and nursemaiding some of the younger guys.

"I felt I did more than just play football for this team." By waiving Dukes, Atlanta realized a salary cap savings of about $600,000. HBO signs Johnson NEW YORK Jimmy Johnson will coach in the NFL again. Until then, his football duties will be confined to television. On Tuesday, the former Dallas Cowboys coach added HBO to his growing TV resume. Two weeks ago, Johnson joined Fox Sports as an NFL analyst.

"We wanted to make sure we did HBO," Johnson said in telling how his newest iob figured in his decision to sign with Fox Sports. Rams begin move out of Anaheim Associated Preat Local Basketball Alexandria High School senior Jason Bradfleld signed a basketball scholarship today at 1 p.m. with Gadsden State Community College. Bradfleld was signed at the high school by head coach Stan Cook who has coached the Gadsden program to the top of the competition amoung junior colleges in the state. Bradfleld, after playing his sophomore season at Alexandria, relocated to the Seattle, Washington area for his junior season before returning to play a big part in the Valley Cubs success this his senior season.

Bradfleld, a 6-5 center for Alexandria coach Larry Ginn, averaged 15 points a game and seven rebounds per outing and was an All-Area 10 tournament selection. Alexandria, coming off back-to back state championships at the beginning of the season, had an outstanding season with a 26-5 record and was ranked in the top three in the Alabama Sports-writers Association 4A poll all season. Alexandria won the 4A Area 10 title and was runnerup in the Northeast Region Tournament at Jacksonville State losing to state runnerup Midfield in the region finals. Golf GAINESVILLE, Va. Hale Irwin will captain the United States team and Australia's David Graham will direct the international team in the inaugural Presidents Cup Match on Sept.

16-18. The choices were announced Tuesday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, the site of the Ryder Cup-style competition. PONTE VEDRA, Fla. Hale Irwin, with a victory and a second-place finish, was selected Tuesday as player of the month for April on the PGA Tour. Raymond Floyd, who won the Tradition on April 3, was selected as Senior PGA player of the month.

He leads in senior earnings with $421,600. Irwinwon the Heritage Classic and was second at the Greater Greensboro Open. GULF SHORES Caroline Ritchey of Murphy High School and UMS-Wright's Brian Wright won state championships in the high school golf tournament at Gulf State Park. The girls' team title went to the McGill-Toolen Lady Yellow Jackets, led by Leslie Brislln's third-place finish. They beat second-place John Carroll of Birmingham by 33 shots (520-553) Tuesday.

In the boys' team championship, UMS-Wright held off a strong charge by Montgomery's St. James to win a rain-shortened 1 A-4A title by just two strokes, 439-441. Tennis ROME Martina Navratilova isn't pleased with the current state of game she once dominated. "They should blow it up and start all over again," Navratilova said Tuesday after routing 16-year-old Ludmila Richterova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Italian Open. The 37-year-old Navratilova, who maintains that she'll retire at the end of the year, wants to shorten matches, keep players under 16 off the tour and limit the number of events to guarantee better fields.

fl HAMBURG, Germany Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson and Spain's Carlos Costa won in straight sets Tuesday, averting the rash of upsets that have beset other seeded players at the German Open. The fifth-seeded Gustafsson routed Germany's Markus Naewie 6-0, 6-1 to reach the third round, while the ninth-seeded Spaniard struggled past France's Thierry Champion 6-4, 7-6 (7-0). Baseball HUNTS VILLE Scott Shockey and Joel Wolfe each had three hits and two RBI in leading the Huntsville Stars to a 10-3 Southern League victory over the Jacksonville Suns. Ernie Young had two hits, including his sixth homer of the year, and three RBI for the Stars. Bronswell Patrick (2-0) got the victory; In seven innings, he gave up two earned runs, walked one and struck out four.

i Ron Villone (0-3) took the loss, walking seven batters in 3 23 innings. Compiled firm staff and wire reports deposit on the bond for the expansion Stadium. The team must pay off the indebtedness, which is estimated to be if it terminates the lease. If the revoke the notice they gave Tuesday, they $2 million deposit. if they revoke their notice, I we could negotiate a refund with city spokesman Bret Colson said.

Rams have had four straight losing including a 5-11 record in 1993. attendance for home games last season 45,401, lowest in their 14 seasons at Stadium. said in a statement that the Rams have negotiations with any other city or authority, but termination of the lease to signal a flurry of interest. Representatives of Baltimore Orioles owner Angelos reportedly have met with team in Anaheim and discussed Angelos a minority interest in the Rams and the team to Baltimore. ANAHEIM, Calif.

The Los Angeles Rams have taken the first official step toward moving to another city. When they'll take the next one is anybody's guess. As expected, the Rams delivered a notice of termination of their 30-year lease to the City of Anaheim on Tuesday, along with a required $2 million deposit. Under terms of their lease, the Rams must give 15 months' notice before leaving Anaheim Stadium, where they have played their home games since moving from the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1980. However, that notice can be revoked at any time during those 15 months.

"This notice has been anticipated for some time and, therefore, comes as no surprise to us," Anaheim city manager James D. Ruth said, adding that the city remains open and responsive to exploring options that would keep the Rams in Anaheim. Executive vice president John Shaw assured city officials that the Rams will play all of their 1994. home games at Anaheim Stadium, and once again confirmed that no decision has been made to play elsewhere after that. Among cities said to be interested are Baltimore, St.

Louis, San Antonio, Hartford, and Memphis, Tenn. "We will continue to work with them in the coming months to identify contractual issues and resolve them in a manner that will satisfy both sides," Ruth said. Anaheim gave the Rams an escape clause in their lease in 1990 in exchange for the team's agreement not to block or delay the construction of the Pond of Anaheim, located less than a mile from Anaheim Stadium. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who play their home games at the Pond, completed their first season as an NHL expansion team last month The clause calls for 15 months' notice and a Despite being sidelined, Copeland finished last season with 125 tackles, third-highest on the team. In his three years with the Redskins, he had a total of 327 tackles but only two interceptions.

Finding a new veteran safety to replace him has suddenly become the Redskins' top priority. "We're going to look and see who's available," Turner said. "We've got three or four guys in mind right now." Pontiac 11 races, 10 by Rusty Wallace, whose team switched to Ford in the off-season. Wallace's team was the only Ford team to oppose the rule changes for the Pontiac. Along with Petty, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Hamilton, Walley Dallenbach and Bobby Labonte drive Pontiacs.

An open test for the changes was rained out Tuesday. Pemberton's team expects to test at Road Atlanta Monday in preparation for the road race at Sears Point, on May 15. By the time NASCAR rolls back to Talladega Superspeedway, for the DieHard 500 on July 24, the extension should be race proven as to whether or not it helped. $2 million of Anaheim remaining $30 million, Rams lose their "However, imagine them," The seasons, Average was Anaheim Shaw not begun stadium is expected Peter G. officials buying moving gy EttEiB I iHBBeBiaiaBaVMBBjBeieBllllllBiiBaiilBaailllllinillHaiilllinaNHaiM 7' I Valley Ford New Holland 1 820-9111 ifttsOeini Hwy 431, Alexandria, Between Gadsden Anniston Changes From Wire Reports A few dreams came true for Pontiac race teams Tuesday.

NASCAR officials granted a rule change expected to make the Pontiac more competitive in Winston Cup racing, especially on super-speedways, like Talladega. The changerwhich was reported in today's Atlanta Constitution, essentially makes the car longer, providing better stability and handling, something the five Pontiac teams have been campaigning for a while. Teams will be allowed to add two inches to the car's nose and three inches to the rear deck. The Pontiac will still be shorter than Senna From Page 1C OK'd for NASCAR Chcvrolets or Fords, but Pontiac teams seem pleased with the change. "It's more than half a loaf," Robin Pemberton told The Constitution.

Pemberton is the team manager for Sabco Racing, which fields the Pontiac driven by Kyle Petty. "This is a step in the right direction, which is toward a more level playing field." The new Pontiacs will be legal for The Winston Select all-star race on May 21. Pontiac has not been in Victory Lane this season through nine races. Last year Pontiac won I A lucsuay pay I presided by an hall to visitors. On Thursday, grave in Sao Paulo's Force squadron heart in the sky.

Fellow drivers Barichello and INDIAN OAKS INDIAN OAKS INDIAN OAKS Senior I Citizen Special evangelist minister before opening the as Senna's coffin is lowered to his Morumbi Cemetery, a special Air will fly overhead and trace a huge Christian Fittipaldi, Rubens Pedro Lamv arrived in Sn Panin 50 and Over 18 Holes Riding 55 1 ineir last respects to the ry man Confetti rained down from office buildings as the fire truck drove through downtown, accompanied by a state police honor guard and thousands of cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Many people waved Brazilian flags with a black sash and held up signs in Portuguese saying "Thanks Senna" and "Goodby Senna." Major TV networks interrupted their regular programming to show the arrival of Senna's coffin and the funeral cortege. "They say this city can't stop, but there are exceptions. This day belongs to Ayrton Senna," said William Bonner a broadcaster for the Globo TV network said. At the legislature, the line began to form on Tuesday.

By early today it stretched nearly a mile through downtown Sao Paulo. Inside, the main hall was bedecked with dozens of floral wreaths with banners in English and Portuguese. The family was to hold a short religious service 00 wnaiucrcu uic oesi rormuia une anver ever. "I am convinced the accident was caused by a mechanical failure. Something has to be done about car and track safety," said Fittipaldi of the Arrows team.

"We race to compete, not to die." "He was the victim of the new regulations that banned active suspension, traction control and electronic accelerators," wrote Castilho de Andrade, a Formula One reporter for the daily Jornal da Tarde. The ban on electronic gadgets also included computer-assisted brake systems and fully automatic transmissions. IB, UtUUUU (0 INDIAN OAKS INDIAN OAKS INDIAN OAKS .4.