The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 9

In Business: Insider trading can be a valuable tool. Rage 8 OBITUARIES 9 ffin vliiL MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1993 The Indianapolis Star mm veterans Crafty 1 Tn i. DroMl acers 0' Wolford eager to resolve his residence 1 Lineman views offer sheet he signed as a win-win situation. JL JL youiij Pacers 108 Bucks 98 Next game: At Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, WXIN-59; 0 Reggie Miller sinks club-record eight 3-pointers to push Pacers two games above .500.

i By Mike Chappell STAR STAFF WRITER Sometime In the not-too-distant future, either the Indianapolis Colts or the Buffalo Bills will begin cutting payroll checks which will make Will Wolford the highest-paid offensive lineman in the National Football League. "It's really hard to believe all of this is happening to me," Wolford said Sunday In a telephone interview from his home in Buffalo. "The way I look at it, I'm in a win-win situation." A three-time Pro Bowl left tackle with Buffalo, Wolford became 'I I the focal point of an enviable tug-of-war when he signed a 3-year, $7.65 million offer sheet March 28 with the Colts. The Bills immediately objected to an "escalator" clause in the No. 6 Charlotte and 2lh behind injury-stricken New Jersey for the fifth spot heading into the final week.

Perhaps prematurely but clearly pumped, Coach Bob Hill seized the moment to re-emphasize the importance of the Pacers' postseason showing. "If we played Milwaukee the three times (the Pacers lost) like we should have, we'd be playing for 43 wins today," Hill said. "The thing that this franchise has to break through Is this mindset of Just getting to the playoffs, Those days are over. "We have to plant our feet and try to do our best to get to the second round. This year we have to want more.

Everyone in this franchise has to want more." Miller, Fleming and McCloud symbolized the sense of urgency. Miller had 16 points, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, In the third quarter and 10 more in the fourth. He shrugged off the landmark effort, which included passing Chuck Person by three for most 3-polnt attempts (16), noting he got several In transition. "A couple of 3s by George and me and it was lights out," Miller said. "It was definitely our day." And not Day's.

In the past 10 days, the rookie swlngman has been burned by Miami's erratic Brian Shaw for a league-record 10 3s, by Orlando's Dennis Scott's nine and now by Miller's eight. Not to mention 47 points Friday by MlchaelJordan. "On some he was beyond the 3-point line, and I didn't figure he was gonna shoot it," Day said. "Reggie Miller is really toughi" said second-year point guard Mur- See PACERS Page 7 By Dan Dunkin STAR STAFF WRITER Milwaukee The best days of the Milwaukee Bucks' promising young backcourt are ahead of it. Sunday, it was about 24 hours behind three veterans.

Anyone who thinks the Indiana Pacers' battle-bleary Reggie Miller, Vern Fleming and George McCloud have peaked should have seen them. Todd Day, Eric Murdock and Lee Mayberry lacking little but 15 years of experience will be seeing them in their sleep. It was a long defensive day for Day in particular in the Pacers' 108-98 victory In Bradley Center. Miller's eight 3-pointers broke his club record by one in a 36-point performance. Fleming, starting In place of injured Pooh Richardson, dispensed 16 assists.

McCloud, with 13 points, three 3-polnters and five assists, finished with poise for the hurting Fleming. Led by the backcourt, the Pacer offense was so proficient (.519 shooting, a club record-tying 11 treys, nine turnovers) that It could withstand .521 firing from the Bucks and a combined 22 points from Detlef Schrempf (six assists) and Rik Smits. Dale Davis had 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting as he formed a brutally efficient battery with Fleming. The Pacers (40-38) finished a big week with their third straight win and moved two games over .500 for the first time since Dec. 21, when they were 13-11.

More Importantly, in making fast work of a lottery-bound team that had beaten them three out of four, the Pacers tied Atlanta for the seventh Eastern Conference playoff spot. They meet the Hawks Tuesday, Indiana is just a half-game behind Will Wolford Associated Press ALMOST: LaSalle Thompson gets hung up while trying to block Orlando Woolridge's shot. offer sheet, claiming Colts' general manager Jim Irsay had devised pro football's version of an Indecent Proposal "1 thought it was a pretty ingenious idea," said Wolford, a restricted free agent. "I knew the teams that would go after transition players like myself would try to make it awfully difficult for the Bills to match the offer. "When I talked with my agent (Ralph Cindrich) about it, he told me he felt the offer sheet was legal, so I said, 'Let's do But I knew when I signed there might be a problem with the 'escalator' clause." An arbitrator will determine Thursday if Wolford is destined to remain a Bill or relocate to Indianapolis.

But one fact is indisputable: The 6-5, 296-pounder will be gripping financial security wherever he finds himself. Wolford's only desire Is to have this particular mini-series run its course. "I had no idea it would take so long," he said. "This has really gotten out of hand." Along with wanting to learn the name of his employer, Wolford has two other reasons for seeking a swift end to the Colts-Bills squabble. He tore his left rotator cuff during Super Bowl XXVII and any treatment has been put on hold until it's determined whose medical advice he must heed.

The Colts are leaning toward surgery while the Bills apparently feel normal rehabilitation would suffice. Also, he and his wife, Jude, are expecting their first child within the week. "We're both awfully excited about that," Wolford said, "and I really don't need a distraction like this at this time. We just need to get this resolved." See WOLFORD Page 2 Ice fall behind early again, lose 6-2 to Knights Ice playoffs ATLANTA LEADS SERIES 2-0 Saturday Atlanta 5, Indianapolis 1 Sunday Atlanta 6, Indianapolis 2 Thursday at Market Square Arena, 7:35 p.m. Friday at Market Square Arena, 7:35 p.m.

x-April 25 at Market Square Arena, 1:35 p.m. x-April 27 at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. x-April 28 at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. x-lf necessary Callander and Colin Miller, helped Atlanta to a 6-2 win before 6,773 fans in the Omni. The Knights hold a 2-0 lead In the best-of-seven series, which moves to Indianapolis and Market Square Arena, where the Ice were forced to move their home games due to a conflict with the Shrine Circus in the Pepsi Coliseum, their usual home.

Despite coming home down two games, Ice coach Duane Sutter felt his team improved its play Sunday, "We deserved a better fate," Sutter said. "The guys all battled hard and we made fewer mistakes. There was no quit, and there won't be any quit. These guys are professional athletes and they're going to play right to the end. The series is far from over.

their offense going In the second period, outshooting Atlanta 14-12. They were also given a golden opportunity less than a minute Into the period. With 38 seconds still left on an Atlanta penalty called at the end of the first period, Drulia was assessed a double minor for high sticking. The Ice failed to score on the two-man advantage, but they did get on the scoreboard when Sergei Krlvokrasov banged a pass from Vladimir Tsyplakov past Atlanta goaltender J.C. Bergeron for a power-play goal that cut the Atlanta lead to 2-1 at 1:58.

But the Knights got that goal back by converting an Indianapolis mistake Into a short-handed See ICE Page 2 (Atlanta has) still got to win 120 more minutes." Sunday's game started exactly like Game 1 Saturday did with Atlanta scoring two quick goals to jump in front. Miller sent a slapshot from the right face-off circle past Ray Le-Blanc Inside the right post to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead Just 3:51 Into the game. The Knights made It 2-0 when Stan Drulia recorded his second goal of the playoffs, a power-play goal from Shawn Rivers and Callander, at 5:40. "I thought we had played real well," Sutter said. "But we couldn't score when we had to.

We only made about six or eight mistakes the whole night and they Just capitalized." The Ice finally started to get Struggling Indianapolis comes home trailing Atlanta 2-0 in Turner Cup playoff series. By David Friedlander STAR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Atlanta For the second consecutive day the Indianapolis Ice fell behind early In their opening round Turner Cup playoff game with the Atlanta Knights. And for the second straight day Atlanta kept the Ice's top offensive line In check and did a similar defensive Job on the Ice's potent power-play. The defensive clamps, along with two goals apiece from Jock Incidents on and off track may lead to a very hot May Robin Miller Long Beach, Calif. Blood pressure was higher than oil pressure Sunday as tempers flared early and often because of several altercations at Tracy triumphs at Long Beach By Robin Miller STAR ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Long Beach, Calif.

Two weeks after a sure victory got away In the desert, Paul Tracy emerged from this concrete Jungle Sunday with a few scars but, more importantly, all four wheels and his first IndyCar triumph. The talented 24-year-old Canadian made up for his Phoenix disappointment and made Roger Penske proud by turning in another dominating drive to capture the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Tracy, who led 155 laps and was breezing toward his initial win at Phoenix before crashing, had to work harder here and overcome several obstacles to secure Penske's first-ever victory on these California streets. Two punctured tires and one blistered Goodyear made Tracy's afternoon a little more exciting, but It also gave the 85,000 spectators a little extra drama on a day filled with late-race failures and over-aggressive driving, As he was on the Phoenix oval, Tracy was clearly ln control feading 81 of the 105 laps In his See TRACY Page 5 NBA Pacers 108 Milwaukee 98 Orlando 88 Boston 79 Philadelphia 106 Minnesota 79 Portland 105 San Antonio 101 Cleveland 103 Chicago 94 Denver 94 LA Clippers 83 LA Lakers T6 Golden State 112 AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston 4 Chicago 0 Texas ti New York 2 lrtl.llir 8lSeattie' 71 Cleveland 6 Toronto 5 Baltimore 4 California 3 Kansas City 5 Minnesota 4 Milwaukee 8 Oakland 0 NATIONAL LEAGUE Montreal 4 Colorado 2 Cincinnati 3 New York 2 Houston 3 Florida 6 Philadelphia 11 Chicago 10 San Diego 10 St. Louis 6 San Francisco 13 Atlanta 12 Los Angeies 6 Pittsburgh 4 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Iowa 2 Indians 1 4 it JkfM 1 1 ii 5 UJ A Al Unser Jr.

wanted Nigel Mansell deported after the defending Indianapolis winner got a cement sandwich from the defending world champion. Eddie Cheever was fuming because Robby Gordon blatantly battered him at the Queen's Hairpin. Arie Luyendyk gave Mark Smith a face-to-face lecture on paybacks. And I thought the American Gladiators had some action. "It's ridiculous," snarled Johansson, whose AMAX Penske-Chevy was rear-ended by Andretti, shoved Into the wall and eliminated before It ever got to the starting line.

"I don't know what (Andretti) had to gain by trying to pass me there (exiting the hairpin). It's a 105-lap race, so there was no reason for him to try to gain there See MILLER Page 5 speed during the 11th Toyota Grand Prix. When all the spearing, squeezing, sliding, slamming and screaming was over, IndyCar officials handed out $20,500 in fines for unsportsmanlike conduct or driving and disqualified one driver. The feuding parties lined up like this: Stefan Johansson and Tony Bettenhausen were furious with Mario Andretti following an accident on the pace lap. Associated Press THE SPOILS: Paul TiHcy holds the trophy for his first IndyCar victory..