The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 32

iqjinptri'iiy nil 20 Thursday, Mmr 21 THC TtNNISHN SPORTS: PAGE 2 There's mo McGwire can go the distance: doubt 1 Of.l.lt 1 past Babe Ruth's 11.76 as the best ever? Or how this Is all Just not product from the muscles, but from the mind of a serious student of thj. game? If this keeps up, it is a long, hotji summer that awaits McGwire. Fully. By MIKE LOPRESTI (junneii News Senict The count, as of yesterday, was 8,407 feet About 1.6 miles. Meaning would take an Olympic distance runner, let's say one of those Kenyans, nearly six minutes to cover Mark McGwire's 20 home runs, laid end to end.

This Is what the summer may turn out to be for the St Louis Cardinals: An ongoing quest to find new ways to put McGwire in perspective, to measure his rampage and calibrate the wreckage he is making of National League pitching. Here's another On Tuesday night he smacked a sent mad pace would put him at 73, a mind-boggling 14 ahead of the record-setting Maris, but then It Is unimaginable that he could stay on such a tear. Isnt It? "When somebody gets to 50 by September, then it's legitimate to talk about It," McGwire said the other day about Maris. "Right now, I dont think it is." Maris, as a destination, can wait. It is McGwire's journey that is so interesting now.

Has anyone noticed his batting average, for example? A career .260 hitter Is currently at .312. Or how his career homer-to-at-bat ratio is now 11.70, having nudged offering McGwire deposited off toward the horizon in left field, "I probably would have cheered, too." We are, without a doubt, seeing something very special here. An intersection of expansionist pitching, with all its fat fastballs, and a howitzer at full power. A happy coincidence of history. There Is no telling what McGwire might do this season, and that is the fun of it Sport has limits, but right now, with a bat in his hand, he apparently has none.

It is hard not to get bogged down just with the chase of Roger Maris. McGwire makes it a more relevant Issue every 6.9 at-bats, which is his current home run ratio. The pre It is the same In every city, I suppose. There is a crowd at the gates early, and when the doors open they hustle to the target area in the outfield. There they wait In thrilled expectancy for the St.

Louis batting practice, and the rain of McGwire shells from the sky. Just the power of his BP carnage satisfies many of them, I'd guess. If he actually does It in the game, so much the better. The Philadelphia fans, who normally have the heart and attitude of loan shark collectors, gave him a standing ovation upon his third home run Tuesday night "If I paid my money," said Phillies reliever Wayne Gomes, whose 440-foot home run In Philadelphia. Now, any baseball hit 440 feet Is an inspiring sight.

But of a seven-homer week, that one was the second shortest. This is beginning to be hard work for the distance specialists. With McGwire, one needs a radar gun to clock the pitch Inbound, and a radar dish to track it outbound. That moon shot was followed, so the telemetry tells us, by missile firings of 478, 471 and 451 feet. Plus the 440-foot blooper.

It is beginning to be like fishing. Anything less than 400 feet, McGwire has to throw back. of media and questions and Maris. He is in many ways a guarded man;" who divulges little to the outside world. It will be hard for him to stay comfortable.

But for the time being, the tape measure can do his talking. For the.t moment the pleasure is not in any records, but seeing his sheer might Mark McGwire has reminded us how absorbing a truly great power hitter is to the game of baseball, MEDIA WATCH SPORTS AM. Compiled from staff and ire rvports by Tom Wood Ml I I iaatahaIafcaaTa Regional play begins today 3 r- 4 Southeastern Conference teams are scattered across the country today for the start of the eight NCAA Regionals, with the winners advancing to the College World Series. Florida (42-15) Is the No. 1 seed in the South I regional in Gainesville, Fla.

LSU (42-17) Is hosting the NCAA South II Regional at Baton Rouge, which features in-state schools Tulane, Nicholls State and Southwestern Louisiana. Alabama is in Stanford, for maybe the toughest of the eight regionals. Alabama (43-16) opens against No. seed Minnesota (45-13). CUMBERLAND PLAYS Cumberland University (51-13) tries to avoid elimination today when it meets Oklahoma City (43-19) at noon in the NAIA National Championship at Tulsa.

I'lH Li I 2 join U.S. World Cup team David Regis was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and Tab Ramos was named to the American World Cup team. Regis, a Martinique-born French citizen with an American wife, passed his citizenship exam. As a final exercise, he correctly wrote a sentence in English: "Today is a nice day." Atus from IV, nulio.

print jtntnuilism and the luiirtm Piazza buys an ad to thank L.A. fans Mike Piazza said thanks and goodbye to fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday In a rather expensive way. Piazza, the popular slugger traded to the Florida Marlins last Friday, took out an advertisement on page 5 of the Los Angeles Times sports section, taking up a quarter of the page. A display advertisement of that size runs $18,898. The ad read as follows: "An Open Letter to Dodger Fans It's never easy to say goodbye.

But from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for the overwhelming support you have shown during my years in Los Angeles. I leave with nothing but great memories and deep appreciation. Sincerely, Mike Piazza." Bird's daughter on Oprah: Corrie Bird told her tale of woe to Oprah yesterday saying that she was not angry or bitter at her father for neglecting her most of her life. Larry Bird's daughter was joined on Oprah Winfrey's television show by the mother of Celtic Greg Minor's three children, Celestyne Rowan. Their youngest son appeared on the cover of a recent Issue of Sports Illustrated that reported on the number of deadbeat dads among professional athletes.

Winfrey played it straight down the middle asking tough questions of all her guests. "It's been 20 years that you have lived without your father," Winfrey said to Corrie Bird. "Why cant you move on?" Corrie said that in some respects, she has. "But I still have hope that he can be part of my life." Bird married his high school sweetheart when he was 18. The marriage lasted a year.

Corrie was born 10 months after their divorce. TENNESSEAN NEWS SERVICES Clancy's bid for Vikes fails Close the book on Tom Clancy. The best-selling author's offer to buy the Minnesota Vikings was rebuffed after the NFL learned he only had $3 million in cash toward his proposed $60 million stake in the team, said a person familiar with the proposal. The bid was $200 million, and Clancy planned to hold a 30 stake in the team. Clancy knew the deal was in trouble after he met with Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on May 11.

"The decision was painful, but necessary. It was set in motion when the league's finance committee would not recommend the proposal presented on May 11," Clancy said. Meanwhile, the same bidders who tried three months ago to buy the Minnesota Vikings were back in the running after the novelist withdrew his bid. San Antonio businessman Red McCombs, Vikings co-owner Roger Headrick, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad, Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider and Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor are among those vying for the team. EXHIBITION REPLAYS The NFL will again experiment with instant replay in the preseason, but it will not carry over to the regular season.

Replays will be used sparingly and the experiment will only cover 1 1 exhibition games televised by the networks. Each team will be allowed two challenges a game at the coach's discretion. RICE HEALING San Francisco 49ers receiver Jerry Rice recently had several Irritating screws removed from his knee that were placed there after surgery in December. FALCONS NOT FOR SALE Atlanta Falcons president Taylor Smith said his family has no intention of selling the team, as rumors suggested. U.S.

falls in World Team Former French Open champions Michael Chang and Jim Courier lost their matches at the $1.9 million World Team Cup and the U.S. was eliminated by the Czech Republic. RACING CAREER OVER Caps Town fractured his left front leg in the Preakness and is being retired to stud at William T. Young's Over-brook Farm in Lexington, Ky. Cape Town, trained by D.

Wayne Lukes, was filth in the Kentucky Derby. In the Preakness, the colt threw his left front shoe and finished ninth. X-rays taken when the colt returned to Churchill Downs in Louisville revealed a fractured sesamoid. Surgery will not be required. ia4iaBttattM aavaavNCuuiJali Michigan penalties accepted 4 The NCAA has accepted Michigan's self-imposed UConn player suspended Track site not yet set penalties on its basketball team, stemming from an -3 investigation that resulted in the firing of Coach Steve University of Connecticut linebacker Charles Ad Fisher.

No additional penalties will be imposed. i ams, charged with pointing a gun at a woman volleyball player during last month's spring weekend melee, has been indefinitely suspended from the team. He was charged on May 9 with first-degree reckless endangerment, threatening and breach of peace. He was released on a $5,000 bond. The case has been continued to June 2.

National group moving The National Federation of State High School Asso- ON THE AIR Tdnision atul nutto listings TODAY Tim Event Station 10 a NAU Softball: Lipscomb vs Athens Stale 95Q-AM 1pm. Baasbalfc Los Angelas at Chicago Cubs WON 1 Auto racing: Indianapoha 500 Carburetion Day ESPN ipm CoHeoe pott: NCAA Women's Championship ESPN2 3 pm Port: PGA Colonial USA 6 30 Baeebafc Baltimore at New York SptSouth 6 30 p.m. Baaabalh Colorado at Atlanta WNAB-SS Also on MSO-AM TOMORROW Time Event Station Moon OoH: PGA Colonial USA 2 pm. Port Senior Be Atlantic Classic ESPN 0 35 m. Baaabsft Chicago Cuba at Atlanta TBS Aso on WGN.

MSO-AM Babart Salt Lata City at NashvWe S6Q-AM 7 30 m. Bosing: McKart vs Weaver ESPN 9pm NBA playoff Utah at L.A. Inters TNT AROUND TOWN Community yrts batfuiiinas TOMORROW clations will leave Kansas City and move to Indianap- olis to stay close to the NCAA, also relocating there. Officials at Dover Downs and Gaylord Entertainment insist selection of a site for the new Nashville-area superspeedway is "three or four weeks away." A Gaylord Entertainment spokesman yesterday said several sites are being considered but no final choice has been made. Speedway officials reportedly are surveying prospective sites in Dickson, Rutherford, Wilson and Robertson counties, as well as Davidson the track developers' first choice.

Lipscomb still alive in NAIA Lipscomb shortstop Jamie Cleaves hit a solo homer and Erin Hall (28-6) scattered four hits and struck out five as the Lady Bisons beat McKendree College 34) to stay alive in the NAIA Softball National Championship at Broken Arrow, Okla. Lipscomb faces Athens State today at 10 a.m. (950-AM). Lanham second at State Open Nashvillian set for Ironman Nashville's Bruce Gennari, 32, has qualified to compete in the 1998 Ironman Triathlon World Championship, slated for Oct 3 at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Gennari qualified at the St Anthony's Triathlon in SL Petersburg.

and will be one of 1,500 triathletes in the Ironman, which coasists of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile run. Nashboro Golf Club assistant pro Jesse Lanham is 2 in second place at 139 in the Coca-ColaNabisco State j3 Smith of Dresden leads at 68-138. Garrison, Bolen take Knee nnrl Knntc trairnpv? SU1U Jb'VVHJ SV VaVaV AAVJ by ftirouibDes ail Dundy son. "We had widely varying report! of success, said spokesman Pau Schmidt, head of the migratory bin management office. INDIANAPOLIS 500 Carburetlon Day: today at 2 p.m.

TV: ESPN. I Indianapolis 500: Sunday at 10 a.m. TV: ABC. BASEBALL: The NaahvMe Sounds host Salt Lake City at 7 p.m. at Greer Stadium.

Also. Salt Lake City on Saturday at 4 Sunday at 2 and Monday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 tor box seats ($7 tor children) and $4 tor general admission ($3 tor children) Call 242-4371. ARENA FOOTBALL: The Nashville Kate host Orlando at Nashville Arena at 7 30 m. Tickets range from to $125 and can be purchased at NaanvUe Arena bo office or TicketMaater Can 254-KATS.

PRO SOCCER: The NaehvMe Metroe host Jackaonville at 7 30 m. at Columbia Soccer Stadium. Tickets are (10 for adults and $7 tor children. Can 781-0600 AUTO HACSta Muwc Crly Raceway have NHRA racing at 6 p.m. Events are street legal and fun and grudge racing.

Tickets are $5 tor eduns, tree tor children 12-under. Cat S76-0981. PRO BASKETBALL: NsehvWs's ABL eipenekm team has made entry forms available tor its "Name the Team" contest. Forms are available at Middle Tennessee Boy and Girts Clubs. Middle Tenneseee YMCAs and at Municipal Auditorium.

Deadline tor entries tomorrow Cad 843-8430. UPCOMING AUTO RACMQt NaahvMa Speedway wtl have the Pontiac Excitement 300 Saturday tor the AS A AC Deteo Challenge Series plus Late Models and SuparTrucka Racing begins at 6 m. Tickets are $20 tor adults; free tor efxdren 11-unosr. Cal 726-1818. AUTO RACMO: Highland Rim Speedway wM have racing In seven divisions Saturday at 7 m.

Tickets are $8 tor adults; free tor children 11 -under Can 643-8725 QOW- Schooldays OoH Tournament, sponsored by The Tenneaasan, wW be held June 9-11 at MoCabe Qoff Course There is no entry fee and tournament la open to girls and boys ages 12-17, OOLF: Be South Senior Classic at Opryland wW be field June 12-14 at Sprlnghouse Golf Club. Single tickets and group tickets can be ordered by calling 671-7888 or at Kroger stores. Compihd by n-an Arena Calf 2SS-B2S? to tndudt Ma. "Even within individual states some hunters reported banner" years while others said they sap very few ducks." Day for fun: Children visitingj Land Between The Lakes on SatuM day can participate In a one-dayJ junior fishing tournament The event runs from 8 a.m. to IT a.m.

at Honker Lake, located near the Nature Center, according to the! Tennessee Valley Authority. The tourney Is for kids ages 6-t2j an4 mrrii-t wnflnwt knnlna nt anu itijuauuu uiiii9 ai a. 1 11, By CHARLES SEARCY Spurts Writtr Hendersonville's Rick Garrison and Goodlettsville's Jason Bolen teamed to win the first Bass and Boots tournament on Old Hickory Lake last weekend. The two caught 19.78 pounds of bass and won a new Stratos boat, Stratos Trail trailer and a Evinrude motor. The prize Is valued at $22,000.

Second place and $1,600 went to Tad Jenkins and George Sledge. Rick Hunter and Jim Smallwood finished third to win $800. The tournament named In part for Middle Tennessee Suite football coach Boots Donnelly, was held to benefit the MTSU football program. Duck problems: Tennessee's early wood duck season could be In trouble, according to Larry Marcum, chief of wildlife for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "Hunters have enjoyed this early season for the last 17 years," Marcum said, "and there Is no evidence that It has been detrimental to our native wood ducks." The TWRA has indicated the federal agency that regulates waterfowl hunting, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, may propose the elimination of the special season. Only three states Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky have been allowed to hunt during the early season. The feds are also reporting mixed results from last year's sea- On the road: The Professional AsuKiattd Prrss INDIANAPOLIS In a slightly altered world, this might have been the year Scott Goodyear attempted to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears as the winning-est drivers in Indianapolis 500 history.

In 1992, Goodyear was about three feet short of Al Unser Jr. In "95, the Canadian crossed the line first but it didn't count Then there was that yellow-light mess and another runner-up finish a year ago. "If you don't win here," Goodyear moaned yesterday, his voice trailing off, "it's like finishing last, really." In 1992, Goodyear was the closest runner-up in Indy history when he dove inside on the final straightaway but wound up 43-thousandths of a second behind Little Al. "I'd rather have lost by the length of a front straightaway than 43-thousandths of a second, to be honest with you," Goodyear said. "Going side by side after 500 miles is a little bit ironic." He was in a similar position last year, this time losing out to Arie Luyendyk by 57-hundredths of a second.

It was the third-closest finish at Indy, and one that may have been more frustrating because Goodyear didn't get a chance to make a run at Luyendyk. After a one-lap caution period, track officials forgot to turn off the yellow lights for a split second even while they waved the green flag for a one-lap sprint to the finish. Luyendyk saw the flag and put his foot on the accelerator. Goodyear obeyed the lights and settled for second. Bass Fisherman's one-day tourna-3 ment trail heads to Guntersvilk.

Lake In northern Alabama this weekend with at least 130 two-arr "Would I have had enough to pass Arie?" Goodyear pondered. 'I'm not too sure. He was running pretty strong that day, too, but It would have been nice to maybe be a little bit more ready and have an honest shot at It instead of a half-stab at it" Of course, Goodyear's most miserable Indy moment came In the 1995 race, when he was leading with 10 laps to go but passed the pace car on a restart Goodyear refused to obey a black flag after the Incident so officials stopped scoring him and he wound up In 1 4th place. Jacques Vllleneuve, who hadn't even come out of the fourth turn when Goodyear crossed the line, was declared the winner. "The one I dont agree with and will never agree with is "95, when we physically crossed the line first," Goodyear said.

"If the pace car had been doing 100 mph like It was supposed to be, I probably wouldn't have caught up to It and passed it by the time I got to turn four." "For me, it's a sense of knowing that we did It," he said. "But I guess we have to go out and do It again. That's the way I look at gler teams already registered. cording to owner Mike Stubbs. New lake numbers: New teM phone numbers released by thel Corps of Engineers for area lakes.1 Source 24: Dial 242-2424 Forth latest news wdaoores, i cal 2422424 to Masnv area n.

mm-. and trmtm, codes lw Man menu 3000 CL i nfl 3010 NBA 3020 Baseball 3030 ffy tljf NHL 3040 ECTi I Motorsporta 3050 1 if 1 Go 3060 lm i TenrW X70 Boxing 3080 SEC tootbal 31 20 CoHegee 3100 College basketbal 3102 College tootbal 3101 SEC baeketbal 3210 They are: Barkley (502-362-8430), Cheatham (615-883-2351), Priest (615-883-2351), Old Hickory (615-824-7766), Cordell Hult (615-735-1050), Center Hill (931-858-4366 or 615-548-8581), Dale i 1 1 nil aji innv mm MUMUW i Charles Searcy covers outdoors fort or f4 The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8017. i ir' fill ill i if i f. J.JWTHilU IU1SI at ft 111- it" 1 MM!.