The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 54

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1991 -THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- Bentley might play against Miami Doctors say there's little risk to injured left shoulder 47 TV By JOHN BANSCH STAR STAFF WRITER Albert Bentley Is eager to return to work. If all goes well in practice today and tomorrow, the multi-talented running back will be in uniform Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts visit Miami. Bentley, who suffered a separated left shoulder in the preseason finale Aug. 23 at Philadelphia, was not scheduled to be back until Sept. 15 at the earliest.

There was even some fear he would be sidelined for five or six games. "It's starting to feel good," the 31-year-old Bentley said as he moved his injured shoulder while sitting on a stool in the Colts' dressing room. "I want to try it out. I want to see how it feels." "That's super news," Colts coach Ron Meyer said of Bentley's desire to play Sunday. "I'm anxious to see how he feels in practice." Bentley says he has been told by Don Shelbourne and Art Rettig, the team's orthopedic surgeons, that he will not risk any further damage to the shoulder if he plays at Miami.

"They told me it's no more vulnerable to injury than the right shoulder," said Bentley. "It is my understanding that as long as I can handle the pain 1 can play." Bentley, who caught a career-high 71 passes last season and rushed for 556 yards. and three touchdowns at Buffalo, is 12-4 against the Colts. The Indianapolis defense held New England to a league-low 206 yards, but that wasn't good enough In the eyes of corner-back Eugene Daniel. "I thought we played well, but not well enough." said the recently-elected defensive captain.

"We gave up 16 points while our offense was scoring seven. We needed to hold them to six points." There Is no here-we-go-again attitude on the defensive unit, according to Daniel, who has seen the Colts go through some very difficult seasons. "We've got all the parts," he said. "In the past, we didn't have all the parts. There is no losing mentality on this team." MIAMI SHOULD have three starters in uniform Sunday who did not play in the 35-31 loss at Buffalo offensive tackle Richmond Webb, tight end Ferrell Edmunds and cornerback J.B.

Brown. Edmunds and Brown Joined the team late last week after ending long holdouts and did not make the trip to Buffalo. Webb missed the game with a knee injury. Four other Dolphins remain unsigned linebacker Hugh Green, center Jeff Uhlen-hake. nose tackle Brian Sochia and kicker Pete Stoyanovich.

wore a harness for two days after being injured. He lifted weights Monday, doing sets of eight with 75. 135, 185 and 225 pounds. "There was no pain," he said. Even though Bentley played his college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was born in Florida, those are not overriding factors in his desire to play.

"This is an Important game with a division rival," he said. "It's like a game-and-a-half. It's a game we need to win." Bentley said he was "frustrated and angry" while standing on the sideline last Sunday and watching the Colts lose 16-7 to New England. "There was no way for me to release all of my emotion," he explained. "I wanted to be on the field and defend our honor." Bentley lauded his replacement second-year back Anthony Johnson, who caught 1 1 passes for 87 yards.

"He played well," Bentley said of Johnson, who played much of the game with an injured ankle. "I was pleased with his effort." While the offense may regain Bentley's services, the defense must prepare to take on Dan Marino, the NFL's top-rated passer going into Week 2. The Colts have never sacked the Dolphins quarterback in eight games in Miami. Marino completed 17 of 28 passes for 267 yards FILE PHOTO Albert Bentley is recovering from a shoulder injury faster than expected. Quarterbacks are becoming an endangered species NFL ROUNDUP coach during the offseason, was fired Tuesday.

Coach Dan Henning said he would take over as the team's offensive coordinator and will call plays from the sideline. Henning made the decision to fire Tollner. NOTES The Philadelphia Eagles signed former New York Jets' quarterback Pat Ryan to back up Jim McMahon, who has taken over for the injured Randall Cunningham The Miami Dolphins traded wide receiver Randal Hill, their first-round draft pick, to Phoenix in exchange for the Cardinals' top selection in next year's college draft. 3-WATTS 7 XT 9 NUMBER MEMORY INCLUDED ASSOCIATED PRESS At the rate quarterbacks are dropping four after the first week every starter in the NFL nvill be out by the seventh week of the season. And Joe Montana, Randall Cunningham, Dave Krieg and "Timm Rosenbach aren't alone on the sidelines.

Marcus Allen is lout six weeks with an injury, Barry Sanders has bruised ribs and Bruce Smith is still recover- ing from knee surgery. With the season only a week old, consider who is out of action: The league's MVP the last two seasons (Montana). The league's most exciting quarterback (Cunningham). Last year's defensive player of the year (Smith). One of the league's most exciting running backs (Sanders).

Allen, with 7,974 career rushing yardsr injured a knee in the Raiders' loss to the Oilers, while the Eagles' Cunningham (knee) is gone for the, season and the Seahawks' Krieg (thumb) Is out at least six weeks. All were injured Sunday. Sanders should be back probably this week. A FEDERAL appeals court at Richmond, told NFL team owners Tuesday to pay more than $18 million into a players' pension plan, but refused to order improved benefits for retired players. The 4th U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a U.S. District Court order requiring the 28 NFL clubs to pay delinquent pension funds sought by the players. But the three-Judge panel reversed lower court findings that some pension plan trustees had breached their duties and that the court should set retirement benefits for players. The judges also overturned the lower court's appointment of a special master to set pension Improvements. "It is for the trustees and not for the courts to determine the extent of any benefit increase," the appeals court said.

SAN DIEGO offensive coordinator Ted Tollner, who was promoted from quarterbacks Al Toon, the Jets Pro Bowler, is "week to week" with what's described as "post-concussion syndrome." No one knew about it until an hour before last Sunday's game and "week to week" can mean anything two years ago, the Giants' Mark Bavaro injured a knee in the seventh game and was "week to week" for the rest of the season. The holdouts include running back Lorenzo White of the Oilers, center Jeff Uhlenake and kicker Pete Stoyanovich of the Dolphins and cornerback Bruce Pickens, the Falcons' No. 1 draft choice. As always, the reason for the injuries vary. Allen blames artificial turf.

But Cunningham went down on the grass in Green Bay when linebacker Bryce Paup hit him head-on in the knee. Montana's muscle tear isn't related to any surface. Allen, however, speaks for a lot of players. "I don't think there's a player in the league that likes the stuff," Allen said. "That stuff should not be used by anybody." The prognosis? The Cardinals' Rosenbach is out for the year with a preseason knee injury and the 49ers' Montana will miss at least three more games with an elbow injury.

The NFL's attitude? Plug on. League spokesman Greg Aiello cited the two highlight games of Week 1 the Bills' 35-31 win over the Dolphins in a game televised to most of the nation and the Giants' 16-14 win over the 49ers Monday night. "You always miss great players," Aiello said. "But injuries are an unfortunate part of sport. Football is more of a team game than most and the NFL has an abundance of quality players.

"With the opening thrillers like Buffalo-Miami and San Francisco and, the Giants, we feel the league has picked up where the Super Bowl left off last season in terms of drama and excitement." Beyond Smith and the quarterbacks, there are other big names still out, either through injury or holdout. PORTABLE CAR PHONE Portable Lightweight No Installation Needed Cigarette Lighter Adapter Antenna Carrying Strap 1-800-842-7999 Call 8-5, Sat. 9-2, Sun. 11-4 Service Available At 2500 E. 46th Indianapolis GENUINE PELLA CLAD REPLACEMENT WINDOWS 2 WHY SETTLE FOR LESS? Please get our competitive price.

Credit Card charges of three hundred dollars tf Cellular One activator contract is not returned to Cell-America within 6 days or receipt ot phone. No dealers. Must maintain service through Cellular One for 1 year minimum. Indy Cellular One only. $20 Size 11Hi9Wx4D 7690 Zionsville Rd.

(317) 872-9927 1(800) 732-1379 Clemens of the Red Sox shared American League special prices in eneci tnru sepiemoer 11, -v player of the week honors, while Ken Caminiti of BRIEFLY Sports the Astros won the honor in the National League. Saberhagen threw his first career no-hitter last week, while Clemens was 2-0 with a shutout and an 0.55 ERA. Caminiti hit .393 with two homers and two doubles during the week, tying a career-high with five RBI on Aug. 28. 799 I ea.

Orloff Light Vodka or Light Gin STAR STAFF WIRE REPORT Former professional baseball player Othello "Chico" Renfroe died of a heart attack Tuesday at Atlanta. He was 68. li i li i iiii 1 1 Jill ii fcssw m.i Renfroe was the old Negro League's all-star ii ir luvy 1.75-nter. shortstop in 1947 before playing with Cleveland in 1948-49. He returned to Atlanta to play for the BASKETBALL Oliver signs contract with Cavs Former Purdue small forward Jimmy Oliver, Black Crackers in 1950.

GOLF Bradley wins Rail Charity Classic Pat Bradley set a 54-hole LPGA record Tues the Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick in the 1991 draft, signed a contract with the team Tuesday, executive vice dent and general manager Wayne Embry said. The 6-foot-6, 208-pound Oliver averaged 19.2 points per game, and was 'named to the All-Big Ten Conference first team last year. Oliver participated in the day with a 19-under-par 197 as she won the Rail Charity Classic at Springfield, 111., and the 28th ff-a LIT7! Ill Seaaram's victory of her pro career. i I mm firuu i 1 Rain and lightning stopped the tournament Monday, but the the delay didn slow down Brad I ,1 M.75 liter. ley.

With six holes to go when play resumed, she 11 1 Rarinnar E34tvli Dum birided two straight holes to move to 19-under, then played even-par on the final three holes. That was good enough for a record-low in a 54-hole event and a 6-stroke victory over Danielle Ammaccapane, who moved into second with a birdie on the 18th, giving her a 13-under 203. COLLEGES Pebworth gets new Wabash duties Gail Pebworth, Wabash College swimming coach the past eight years, has been named assistant athletic director. She will continue as swimming coach in addition to her new duties. Pebworth's teams have compiled a 49-10 dual-meet record, including 37-1 over the past four years.

Thirteen of her swimmers have been named NCAA Division III Ail-Americans. Los Angeles bummer rro oas- nijver ketball League, helping the Cavaliers entry take the championship with wins in eight of their last nine games. He averaged 14.3 points on .488 percent shooting, and had four rebounds per game. "We like Jimmy's athletic ability, his physical strength, and his ability to shoot the ball," Embry said in a release. "At the L.A.

Summer League, he demonstrated the ability to play the two-guard position and we think he can do that in the NBA." Notes: Avent to play in Italy Norman Blass, the agent for Milwaukee Bucks rookie Anthony Avent, said his client will play In Italy next season because the NBA team can't fit a contract for the 6-10 former Seton Hall forward under the salary cap. Forward John Turner, the 20th pick in the NBA draft, signed a three-year contract Tuesday with the Rockets that will pay him a reported $800,000 a year. Turner was an NAIA All-Amerlcan at Phillips University last season, where he led the Sooner Athletic Conference in scoring with 23.9 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. BASEBALL National League umpire Eric Gregg said he will send a videotape of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bobby Bonilla's angry confrontation with him to the league offices for review. Bonilla became enraged when he was called out on strikes in the eighth inning of the Pirates' 9-8 victory in San Francisco Monday.

Bonilla had been angered earlier by a strike call before he flied out in the sixth inning. Gregg said Bonilla didn't bump him, but Bonilla definitely came in contact with him. A Wines OJf -or- 1 KZZj' I Canadian Club XXJ SrGamay iyiKf-ra 1 -J299 Seagram's (f VVn VSebastiani Jack Daniel's I ri 7 Crown (I I 1 1 Wines tf4fAn-J Whiskey 1 Whiskey i-HcR -f K-- I I chandonnay, while sgaj Beefeater Gin I ri II 1 i Zintandel or ESn 5 1 -Al Cabernet Jj 750-ml. 1 I 1 Jrl I. jj Sauvignon.

v. imw in is I 1299 I SVt5- Seagram's iry or Ml MlSt VlVMAHCRu Wine rAArandas I Whiskey Coolers HMI'ItW 9 Vi JlLi 1-75-iter- White or gold tequila. ftSs2' a gj i -1 Choice ot varieties. fiLJJ lm I H03" fifrl 0ld irKwy SLsT Passport My Milwaukee weiser Ml Scotch fi UrXJ e1" Budweiser Deer fiTTl 1.75-liter. Liquor, beer and wine items available only at Hook's Drug Stores with a licensed liquor ijjejji 'jUifV! department.

Beer not available at all locations, 'mmm i LJLJ Liquor, beer and wine items available only at Hook's Drua Stores with a licensed liauor department. Beer not available at all locations. SHOOTING Danville rifleman misses bronze Former Olympian Bill Beard of Danville, fell only a point short of the bronze medal in the men's free rifle prone event Tuesday in the World Cup Final at Colorado Springs, Colo. AUTO RACING Rahal to sign with Patrick Racing Bobby Rahal, the points leader on this year's CART Indy-car circuit, will leave the Galles-Kraco racing team to sign with Pat Patrick Racing. Rick Galles said Tuesday.

"We were shocked," Galles said of Rahal's planned departure. "He decided for his own personal reasons to go with Patrick." He said the Galles-Kraco team would work with Rahal through the enJ of the season "and do everything we can to win the championship." Notes: 2 share AL player of week Bret Saberhagen of the Royals and Roger We reserve the right to limit quantities. I CoDvriqhrrt 1991 by Hook's Drugs.