The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 75

fib 2C TywUy, FbnwTf 11 W7 TH1 TENNE8SIAN ON THE AIR I SPORTS AM. 1 (jumfrikd mm stoffwul triiv nftuts ijyjohH Mayiuml 1 1 il'l-'r-''-'-- a ii Van Slyke to try comeback Andy Van Slyke, who retired after the 1995 season due to back problems, is trying to make a comeback wlln nis original team, St Louis Cardinals manager i I Tnnu I Riitxn whn npds a hack- I i jr -at Vv 'f i'S -1 up third baseman and wants a reserve infielder who hits left-handed, has invited Van Slyke to training camp as a non-roster player. Van Slyke, 36, won five Gold Gloves as a center fielder, but started out as an erratic-throw- Ino thii-H hncpmnn with thp fordi- ACC eliminates play-in game The Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament will feature two games on Thursday nights beginning next year in an effort to eliminate the stigma of the current play-in game. The new tournament format will feature two games on Thursday, pairing the seventh- and eighth-' seeded teams followed by a game between the league's No. 1 seed vs.

No. 9. The winner of the No. T-No. 8 game will face the No.

2 seed in Friday's only afternoon game. The winner of the No. 1-No. 9 gets a bye to Saturday's semifinals. The play-in game used since 1992 when Florida State became the ninth conference member pits the eighth- and ninth-seeded teams in a game that determines which team gets into the tournament to face the top-seeded team on Friday.

The play-in game will be used for the last time this season. SEC HONOR Tara Williams of Auburn was named the Southeastern Conference women's player of the week after she scored a career-high 32 points: in a victory over Arkansas. She also scored 21 points in 25 minutes against Jacksonville State last week. ADEBAYO DAY-TO-DAY University of Memphis forward Sunday Adebayo is day-to-day with, a partially torn ligament in his right knee he suffered in Sunday's win over then llth-ranked Louisville. He-won't play in tomorrow's game at Houston, but could return for Sunday's game against No.

23 Tulane. NORTHWESTERN FIRES COACH Ricky Byrdsong, his team last in the Big Ten and struggling with a 6-16 record, was fired as Northwestern's coach. His dismissal takes effect after the season. SEASON OVER The men's basketball sea- son at Yavapai College In Prescott, is over after seven of the team's nine players were suspended by the school following their arrests on marijuana possession charges off campus Sunday night .4 VAN SLYKE nals 1984 He retired from the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1995 season. H0J0-METS REUNION In the midst of a youth movement, the New York Mets reached back to their past and agreed to a minor-league contract with Howard Johnson.

Johnson, 36, spent 1996 as a minor-league coach with Butte of the Pioneer Rookie League, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devils. PADRES SIGN VAUGHN The San Diego Padres re-signed outfielder Greg Vaughn to a three-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration Terms of the contract weren't disclosed. ESPN reported that Vaughn signed a three-year, $15 million contract. REDS SIGN BURBA Pitcher Dave Burba avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds that guarantees him $8.15 million. He could make as much as $11 million over the three years with contract incentives.

AP RUMBLE REVISITED Muhammad All, center, it surrounded by children in costumes during a press conference in New York, yesterday, to promote movie about the former heavyweight legend. Muhammed All: When We Were Klngt, opening in New York today, is about the 1974 bout between All and George Foreman also known as "The Rumble in the Jungle." Tvkiiskm and nulki listings TODAY Tim Event Station 1 1:30 am, Auto racing: Winston Cup Twin 1g5s qualifying ESPN2 3 p.m. Man'a baafcatball: Coach Billy Donovan Show SptSouth 4.30 m. Man'a baakalbaH: Coach Kevin O'Neill Show SptSouth 6 m. Woman baatwtbatt South Carolina at Tennessee SptSouth 6 m.

Man'a baakarbaH: Coach Rick Byrd Show 1380-AM 8:30 p.m. Man'a bketfaaH; West Virginia at Notre Dame ESPN2 8:30 m. Man'a baakfba Perm State at Indiana ESPN 7 p.m. Men'a ketbaH: Coach FranKle Allen Show 1470-AM 7 p.m. NBA; Detroit at Miami TNT 8:30 m.

Men'a baakarbaH: Auburn at ArKanaaa ESPN 8:30 p.m. Men'a baakarbaH: fordham at Rhode Island ESPN2 TOMORROW Tim Event Station 1:55 p.m. Sooct Italy at England ESPN 2 p.m. Men's baaKotbalt: Coach Nolan Richardson Show SptSouth 3 p.m. Women's baafcatbalh Coach Jim Foster Show SptSouth 4 p.m.

Men'a baaketbalt Coach Jan van Breda Kottl Show SptSouth 6 iti, Men'a basketball: Va. Commonwealth at E. Carolina SptSouth 8 p.m. Men'a basketball: Clemson at Wake Forest ESPN 6:30 m. NHL: San Jose at Detroit ESPN2 7 m.

Men'a basketball: LSU at Kentucky Ch 66 7 p.m. Men's basketball: Tennessee at Vanderbltt Ch. 4 Also on 650-AM and 1510-AM. 7 m. NBA: Orlando at Detroit TBS 7:05 p.m.

Pro hockey: Nashville at Huntsville 1380-AM Also Hmulcast on Ch. 64, audio only. 8 m. Men'a basketball: UConn at Boston College ESPN 11 p.m. Men's basketball: Florida at Miss.

St. (taped) SptSouth AtewK Programming aubjact to changa and blackout AROUND TOWN Community sfKtiis luif unifies TODAY FIGURE 8KATMO: The 1997 U.S. Championships are scheduled lor today-Feb. 16 In NashviHe Arena. Tickets: Individual event tickets range from $10-40.

All event tickets are $130 upper level. Caw 255-9600. TOMORROW QUEST SPEAKERS: Vandy basketbaM coach Jan van Breda Korfl will bo the guest speaker at the National Commodore Club luncheon In the Stadium Club. Luncheon starts at 11:30 am. Cost: $t0.

CaH 343-7145. Tennessee Coach Kevin O'Neill, Vandy sentcxs Pax Whitehead and Howard Pnde also wi speak. UPCOMING PRO HOCKEY: The Nashville NtghrHawks wit host San Antonio In Municipal Auditorium at 7:30 pm. Friday. General admission: $6.

Pre-terred: $10 Premium: $15. CaH 255-9600 BOXtKk Rematch between Roy Bohannon and Jerry Smith at 7 pm on Feb. 26 in Municipal Auditorium. For tickets call 255-9600 or 244-5646. Terrenes Churchwes' is also on the card.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL 0VC tournament: A-session ticket books tor the Feb. 28-Marcrt 1 OVC basketball tournament at the Nashville Arena are on sale. Prices are $15 upper level, $25 dub and $35 lower level. Call 770-2000. m.4 ARENA FOOTBALL The NaehvWe Kate 1M7 home schedule wit be played in Nashvsle Arena Aprs-August.

Preseason game at 7 35 p.m. on Aprt 18 vs. Portland. Regular season starts at 7:35 pm on May 2 vs. San Jose Season tickets wit range from $86-900 Cat 254-5287.

I lQ Woods, Torre claim ESPYs The fifth annual ESPY awards were handed out at Radio City Music Hall in New York last night with Tiger Woods and Joe Torre, among numerous others, claiming the ESPN awards. Woods was presented the ESPY for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year for his stunning debut on the PGA Tour. Torre, manager for the 1996 World Champion New York Yankees, won the ESPY for Coach-Manager of the Year with the Yankees claiming Outstanding team of the Year honors. t)Llst on 5C Blues, Keenan settle dispute The St Louis Blues and Mike Keenan settled their contract dispute yesterday, averting a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Keenan, the Blues' former general manager and coach, was fired Dec.

19 with 3'2 years remaining on a contract he signed in July 1994 that paid him about $2 million a year. Keenan had been seeking about $6 million; the Blues had offered $3 million. A statement from the league said that as part of the agreement neither party would disclose settlement terms. CANADIENS 4, SHARKS 2 Rookie goalie Jose Theodore made a season-high 47 saves and Vincent Damphousse reached the 800-point plateau with a goal and two assists leading Montreal to a win over San Jose. Theodore, making his 10th career start, made 21 saves in the second period.

HASEK TO MISS GAME Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek will miss tomorrow's game against the Montreal Canadlens because of an illness in his family, the team said. He Is expected back In the lineup Sunday. Trickle's nephew found shot Chris Trickle, the 24-year-old nephew of Winston Cup regular Dick Trickle, is in critical condition after being shot In the head while driving on a Las Vegas freeway overpass Sunday night Chris Trickle, who has one win and five top 5 finishes in NASCAR's Southwest Tour Division, was hospitalized at University Medical Center with a bullet lodged In his brain. He was driving a Chrysler convertible on the overpass just south of the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night when he was apparently shot The car left the roadway and crashed into a highway sign. Police appealed for a possible witness who stopped a city bus to get help for the victim to come forward, but said they had little to go on in the shooting.

CHAFFIN WINS RACE Nashville's Chad Chaffin re-worked his Busch series race car and then dominated the Hooter's Pro Cup 250 in Lakeland, Fla, Sunday, lapping all but the second- and third-place cars on the 4-mile oval. Chaffin. who races at Nashville Speedway, started on the the pole. fcr iflti a mmi i i I Local program receives check Nashville attorney Alan Mazer, president-elect of the Tennessee Special Olympics, was all smiles at halftime of last night's Lipscomb-Lee College basketball game. On behalf of the Special Olympics, Mazer accepted a check in the amount of $100,000 from Tennessee Attorney General Charles Burson, money that will fund a grant which will provide funding locally for a new unified sports program.

Funds from an anti-settlement with Reebok were distributed to the state's attorney general office, which in turn picked Special Olympics as one its charities. MMOR LEAGUE BASEBALL The NeshviBe Sounds 1997 Metros hire new coach The Nashville Metros named Greg Petersen the team's new head coach yesterday. Petersen has previously coached the Reno Rattlers, the Monterey Bay Jaguars and C.CV. Hydra, all top United States Interregional Soccer League clubs. ecneduta at Greer Sladum w4 begin Aprt 8 against Lousvite.

Season tickets are on sale now. Cat 242-4371. The Sounds nave also announced thee maior league exhibition schedule. The Cleveland Indians play the Chicago White Sos at 6 pm on March 28 And the Detroit Tigers wit play the White Sos at 1.05 on March 29. Tickets are on sale now at Greer Satdum.

Prices are $30 tor bos seats and $18 lor reserved general admission rickets. Single-game tickets: ($19 lor box seats, $11 tor reserved grandstsnd and $6 for general admission). Compaad by Javier Goruaftu. Cat 72S-U41 to Muda Mo. Smk LETTERS.

RECREATION Frostbite has first female winner Running Let us know What's on your mind about sports or The Tennessean'a coverage of It? Send letters to The Tennessean, Sports Department. 1 100 Broadway, Nashville, 37203. You can also fax us at 259-8826. You must include name, street address and phone number, though phone number won't be published. Letters may be edited for length.

AV Swim ment with the quantity and quality of coverage of Vanderbilt women's basketball this season. The women Commodores are the only local basketball team which is nationally ranked (in the NCAA) often in the nation's top 10. Yet there is often little or no pre-game coverage. Coverage of the actual games Is on the inside pages rather than Page 1 even when a big win over a nationally ranked opponent is involved. The photograph selection accompanying articles has certainly been uniaspired.

Ton! Ellis 5350 Hillsboro Road I could win. "He came up and congratulated me after the race, but I knew he was a little disappointed." McReynolds said. Vaden admitted he was slightly disappointed. "It bothers me a little bit because this was the first time I've won the overall men's division and I still didn't win the race," he said. With the Frostbite behind them, both are training hard for the Boston Marathon In April.

For some of the other 251 runners, getting to the race was Just as difficult as running it "There were a lot of people from East Tennessee and Alabama who didn't make It because of the snow," dePaulis said. "But it made the run in Montgomery Bell beautiful. The trees and the ground alongside the course were covered with snow." Coming up: Saturday The War Party 10K Run in Klngsport, call (423) 239-7708. Kim Swint covers running and recreation lor The Tennessean. Call 259-6010 or fax to 259-8826 to Include Information.

DICKSON, Tenn. Spectators at Saturday's Frostbite Half Marathon cheered wildly when Bonnie McReynolds bolted to the finish. The unthinkable was about to happen. McReynolds was on the brink of becoming the first woman to ever win a Tennessee State Park Tour race In Its 18-year history. Breathlessly, she crossed the line and took the win in 1 hour, 16 minutes, 54 seconds an lfteecond lead over runner-up Curt Vaden.

"Everyone was totally shocked when they saw her In the lead." race director Lynda dePaulis said. Despite a remarkable race, it was slightly off compared to her recent best half-marathon time of 1:14:55, which she ran last September in Philadelphia. "It's by far the hardest half-marathon I've ever run. There's a lot of both, the uphills and said McReynolds, who Is coached by former Olympic marathoner Margaret Groos. Because of a recent hip injury for McReynolds, the downhills were actually more painful than the uphills.

Several onlookers commented on how badly she was limping after the race. "My hip Is killing me. but sometimes you have to pay for the pleasure with the pain," she said. It was those painful downhill surges that helped her overcome Vaden. "Curt was really strong on the uphilLs, and I was stronger on the downhill stretches," McReynolds said.

"During the flat parts we were either even or swapping places." At mile nine McReynolds took the lead and retained it to the end. "I looked back and he Vadenl, had dropped back a bit" she said. "After the race I learned he had gotten sick." McReynolds and Vaden have faced each other before and know that on any given day either person most likely will miss out on NCAA post season play, a win over unbeaten South Carolina and the lucky Mr. (Coach Eddie Fogler. John Hayes 104 Woodmont Blvd.

Suite 401 Nashville 37205 More diverse coverage, not NASCAR, needed To the editor 1 thought Larry Woody's article on NASCAR was well balanced and well written. And I can understand the resentment by the fans who feel State baseball tourney has lived with 4 teams To the editor I am writing in response to Mr. Stan Mullen's letter lamenting his displeasure over the fact the TSSAA has chose to limit the number of state tournament participants in each classification to four. Mr. Mullen cites the decline in exposure for these athletes from scouts as well as their deserving fans.

I have no problem with Mr. Mullen's premise. I would like to inform him that as a high school baseball coach, we have put up with this situation for quite some time. Only four baseball teams are allowed to participate in the state tournament, therefore prohibiting two strong teams from the same district cr region from participating in the state tournament at the same time. At least the TSSAA did not discriminate and reduce only the boys to four teams.

The TSSAA policy for baseball and Softball Is to limit the boys state baseball participants to four but allows girls Softball to have eight Bob Turman Assistant baseball coach Wayne County High School Waynesboro, Tenn. 38485 South Carolina game officiating questioned To The editor Did the so-called "top" official In the SEC swallow his whistle at the end of the Vanderbilt-South Carolina game? Likewise for his two cohorts? He sure knew where his whistle was when a tennis ball hit the floor costing VU the SEC Championship 1988-9 season J. Now, due to their no-call, VU Bass record mystery continues 3 Nashville 37215 Memorial Gym letter shows orange shades To the editor In response to Mr. Steve Wilson's letter on Feb. 4: Forgive me, but it appears your comments about the Memorial Gymnasium staff have been unfairly Judged.

I feel assured that you're wearing orange and white. Don't get me wrong, Vandy fans enjoy competing with your team more than all others combined. We still dream of the day when we'll be able to match up consistently with one of the best athletic programs in the country. But Mr. Wilson, please be reminded that some of the best country "home cooking" is prepared In Knoxville.

Buddy Goad 413 Old Hickory Blvd. Madison 37115 Kentucky made good showing against S.C. To The editor Even though Kentucky got beat last night Feb. A vs. South Carolina, I think they deserve congratulations for their effort They were playing a team that was undefeated in SEC play.

They were playing without two Injured players. They were playing with eight scholarship men and one walk-on. It may he a different story In Kupp Arena. Virgil Robertson 2020 Tomahawk Trace Murfreesboro 37129 The whole mess could go up In smoke again if the last witness to come forth, Granville Madison of Albany, passes a polygraph test He har signed an affidavit claiming he saw the fish the morning it was caught and It weighed 1 1 pounds, 15 ounces, at Wisdom Dock. The official Field and Stream magazine weight was recorded later at Cedar Hill Dock.

Gear Slugged: Mike Stubbs, who owns the Professional Bass Flshnr- By CHARLES SEARCY Spurn Hriirr It was supposed to be a couple of weeks of Investigation. Everything would be over by the holidays. That couple of weeks has now stretched Into four months, and Ron Fox, assistant director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Is still trying to find out what really happened to the once-world record smallmouth bass. Fox Is heading a study by the TWRA to decide whether the Dale Hollow Lake 11-pound, 15-ounce, smallmouth caught by D.L Hayes more than 40 years ago should remain a state record. Hayes' smallmouth has been replaced in the world record book by the International Game Fish Association and the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

But Tennessee, which shared the world record with Kentucky, has kept the record Intact pending Fox's Investigation. A witness to the weighing of the fish, John Barlow of Ccllna, passed a polygraph test that centered on his affidavit a couple of weeks after the fish was caught that he stuffed it with weights. 'IThe investigation coasumed my entire holidays," Fox said recently. "It looks like I'm down to one more interview and we'll be able to make a decision." Fox added that everything he had studied and results from those people he had Interviewed pointed "to only one conclusion. It all points to Hayes' fish being a good fish.

"But then we have the affidavit and the witness passing the polygraph test" their sport is receiving second-class treatment I am certain there are a great number of NASCAR fans who would like to see more coverage. However, I support The Tennes-scan's choice. In fact I feel that NASCAR gets far too much coverage. Readers from the west feel like sports coverage stops at about Texas. If there's more room, tell us what's happening In the Pac-10 once In a while.

And you don't spend much time on the biggest sport In the world soccer. Analyze NASCAR for a minute. Non-athletes, using huge amounts of a precious resource gasoline, advertising mostly tobacco and alcohol, and modeling driving habits that are Illegal to the rest of us. John Shindler 2817 West End Ave, No. 126-115 Nashville 37203 Vandy women need more coverage To the editor.

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