The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 8

1 KL PETER O'MALLEY LA. Dodgers up for sale Page 2C SPORTS Running 2C Scoreboard 5C Letters 6C 3 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1997 Niekro in Hall of Fame Spencer to manage Sounds The Nashville Sounds announced yesterday that Tom Spencer will be the team's new manager. Spencer, 45, who replaces Rick Renlck, Is a former Chicago White Sox player. He has managed the I-arry in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Niekro, 318-274 in 24 seasons mostly with the Braves, will join reliever Hoyt Wilhelm as the preeminent knuckle-bailers in the Hall when he is enshrined the 229th iripmhpr for six years at various minor league locations.

Renlck left the White Sox organization In September. Chicago is the Sounds' parent club. I "I know that he Is a real veteran manager," Sounds President Larry Schmlttou said. "I think he Is a guy that the fans can Identify with." I Spencer was the White Sox outfield coordinator last season and becomes the 16th manager Associated Press NEW YORK Just like one of his knuckleballs, Phil Niekro fluttered into the Hall of Fame. Niekro, who missed on his first four tries, made it yesterday.

The only knuckle-ballcr to win 300 games, he was the lone player elected. "Well, sometimes you wonder," Niekro said at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. "I thought someday It was going to come." Niekro, the top vote-getter last year when no one was elected, was named on 380 of the 473 ballots. He got 80.34 or the vote, easily above the required 75. "It's a day of a dream.

I've had my nightmares," Niekro said. Don Sutton, another 300-game winner, fell nine votes short of the 3S5 needed. Former slugger Tony Perez missed by 43 Niekro had a 3.33 ERA in 24 seasons. A five-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner, Niekro ranks 14th on baseball's career win list and is eighth in strikeouts He is one of just 20 pitchers to win 300 games. Sutton missed the Hall on his fourth try.

He was 324-256 with a 3.26 ERA in 23 seasons, most of them with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Perez, on the ballot for the sixth time, ranks 16tb on baseball's career RBI list with 1,652. Ken Griffey Sr. and Bobby Bonds were among the players who did not receive 5 of the vote and were eliminated from future consideration. The Veterans Committee will meet March 5 In Tampa, to consider older candidates.

The late Nellie Fox is expected to be selected. SPENCER NIEKRO -pjg dQte for the tion ceremonies this summer in Cooper-stown, N.Y., has not yet been determined. "Giving a description of today's phone call is Impossible," Niekro said. "I Just didn't prepare myself this year. I was not going to get myself so high." In the 20-year history of the Sounds.

"I'm looking forward to calling the shots again," sold Spencer, whose last stint as a manager was during the 1990 season. ANTHONY COLEMAN i i ltd Graa OBroGT Young Dawes await schooling in Vandy's gym Allison's hard road has no end CHARLOTTE, N.C There Is no sadder saga in sports than Bobby Allison's. Racing has stolen his health, two wonderful young sons, his best friend and a 35-year marriage. It has broken his body, crushed his spirit. Through it all, Allison somehow has kept going, remaining active In the sport that has cost him so much.

Now fate seems determined to deal Allison one final cruel blow. Allison has been unable to secure a sponsorship for his racing team. Unless something turns up before next month's Daytona 500 season opener, Allison will be out of the sport for the first time in 40 years. "I keep hoping the phone will ring, but so far it hasn't" said Allison on the eve of the annual Motor-sports Media Tour. "I've been beating the for sponsors but havent had any Juck.

I suppose it's all in the hand of the Good Lord Allison, 59, Is deeply religious, a devout Catholic No faith has been more sorely tested. "You know the expression, "Cheer up, it could be Allison said. "Well, I cheered up and It got worse. So I'm not going to cheer up anymore." Life once brimmed for Allison. Handsome, bright and personable, he was one of racing's Golden Boys.

The Allison name ruled at the top, along Petty and Pearson. He won 84 races still tied for third all-time and a NASCAR championship. Then in the summer of 1988 his ByllMMY DAVY Senior Writer It appears Georgia's history of misfortune in Vanderbiit's Memorial Gym Is being overlooked by sports pundits. A gambling tout sheet suggests the. Bulldogs are the smart picks 7 tomorrow night bhimh at Vandy.

GEORGIA The text ex if AM Jr team In tomorrow's game Is its youth, the players having little or no historical reference to the Vandy facility. For the record, Vanderbilt has won 12 of the past 15 games with Georgia on the home court, including five consecutive. Many, if not most were down-to-the wire games with good fortune hanging over the Commodores. Two of the most memorable Vandy wins were in January 1989 and December 1990. In 1989.

Vandy's Barry Goheen made a 53-foot halftime buzzer shot that put the Commodores ahead by ohe point At the end of the game, Goheen passed up a sure game-tying layup, to turn and dribble behind the 3-point line, hitting the last gasp, game-winning shot in a 76-75 decision. Early In the 1990-91 season, Vandy's Steve Grant a senior from Atlanta, made the only 3-point shot of his career near the buzzer to beat Georgia 75-74 in overtime. Turn lo PACE olumn 6 plains: -Bulldog AT VANDY nomes far 7:30 tomorrow speedy for oafish night.Radio: Commodores." There is some question, particularly in the minds of Alabama's Crtrnson Tide, that this developing Vandy team (9-3) is neither stupid or Awkward the short definition of oafish. But the sheet is right on the mark in its description of this astonishing Georgia team (11-2) that is loaded with no-name young players who are, indeed, fast and talented. But forget speed and talent Most years the Dawgs have brought both of these attributes to Memorial Gym with little success.

The real strength of this very young Georgia Coach working on new team uniforms By'MIKE ORGAN NfM Hnw New Vanderbilt football coach Woody Widenhofer will give you the shirt off his back, particularly if it's; one of the Commodores' black Jerseys. Widenhofer doesn't care for the dark uniforms his team wears for world began to crumble. He was involved in a near-fatal crash In a race at Pocono that ended his driving career. Allison, his legs crushed and his skull shattered, was unconscious for three weeks. He spent months in the hospital, then was transferred to a Birmingham, Ala, rehab center for almost two years of Intensive physical and speech therapy.

Although he could hardly walk and barely speak, Allison vowed to return to racing. He did, six years ago, as a car owner. But tragedy still stalked. In August 1992, youngest son Clifford died in a crash at Michigan Speedway. In July 1993, his second son, Davey, died In a helicopter crash at Talladega.

He was coming to see family friend Nell Bonnett practice. The next February, Bonnett was killed at Daytona Last year, the accumulated grief and strain finally snapped Allison's marriage to Judy, who had been at his side for almost four decades. Now, during a time of unprecedented prosperity In racing, Allison's team Is on the verge of collapse. "Running a team is a business, and I wasn't a good businessman," Allison said. "I was good at driving and good at engineering, but I wasn't good at business." Allison's two loves have always been racing and flying.

He was the first driver to pilot his own plane to races. He said he felt most carefree when he was soaring through the air, at the controls of his plane. How bitterly ironic, he noted, "that racing took Clifford and flying took Davey." Allison admitted he Is "really confused about what to do. The thing I know best Is racing." That's what makes Allison's present plight so tragic If he loses racing, what's left? Everything else he held dear is already gone. Larry Woody Is Tennessee) sports writer and columnist.

He can be reached at 259-6019. home games, and designing new game uniforms will be one of the first changes he makes. TThose all-black uniforms don't do any-thihd for me." RICK MUSACCHK STAFF WBO heavyweight champ Henry Akinwande gets his hands taped by trainer Don Turner at the Police Athletic League gym a he tune up for Saturday's title match against Scott Welch. Tkktt Information, 2C. Welch calls Akinwande a Yank coach has brought to the program over the years.

Sometimes it's a subtle change mainly with jersey colors, but sometimes the pants and helmets are included. When Watson Brown replaced George Maclntyre 10 years ago, he changed the color scheme from gold to yellow. He later changed the uniform back to black and gold. Gerry DiNardo came from the Colorado staff in 1991 and mimicked the Buffaloes' uniforms since the color schemes were the same. Rod Dowhower made subtle changes during both of the years he was the coach, Including the all-black design.

Widenhofer, who Is in Orlando, for the NCAA Coaches Convention, hasn't spent much time in his office since replacing Dowhower last month. But he has made decisions on some Important dates: His first meeting as head coach with his players Is set for Friday. The start of spring practice for the first week in March. The annual Black Gold spring game for April 5. Widenhofer is focusing on recruiting.

He has 17 scholarships to offer and has received 10 verbal commitments, Including five from defensive linemen. Another, Tyler Un-zlcker, likely will come tomorrow. NCAA national signing day is Feb.7.B Widenhofer said. WIDENHOFER "Our white uniforms look great I may change the style of those a little bit but the one thing I know is we're not going to be In all-black." Widenhofer is tinkering with the idea of dressing his team in gold pants. He may even make gold the predominant color on the jerseys trimmed In black.

The coach will consult his players and Athletics Director Todd Turner before making a final decision on a new style. There will be no change In the helmet design. like the gold helmets with the 6n them," Widenhofer said. The redesign of game uniforms ha been one of the things a new Akinwande was born In England to Nigerian parents and now makes his home In Tallahassee, while Welch has lived all his life in his native land. "To me, this ain't two Brits fighting," said Welch, who is the British, British Commonwealth and WBO Intercontinental heavyweight titles.

"I don't class him as British. He has an American domicile and comes out to the American anthem so, to me, it's England vs. America. "I just believe he's now an American. The people can see for themselves he's not defending Great Britain." Akinwande doesn't take offense at Welch's attitude and says his citizenship isn't a point of contro- By TOM WOOD Spurts Writer The fight is still four days away, but Scott Welch has thrown the first punch in the war of words.

Welch (19-2, 16 knockouts) challenges World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Henry Akinwande (31-0-1, 19 KOs) Saturday night in the new Nashville Arena The scheduled 12-round bout is being billed as the first heavyweight championship fight between two Englishmen on American soil, but Welch doesn't see it that way. Barking with all the feistiness of an English bulldog, Welch says it Is bloody well wrong to label Saturday's showdown as pro boxing's version of the Battle of Britain. In making this brash statment Welch notes that ft Turn to PACE 2C, Column 3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL mm a TENNIS Defending champion Monica coach, Against the advice of RESULTS Tennessee State put forth a lackluster effort last night in losing 71-53 at home to Southeast Missouri In men's basketball. But Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech won. On 4C.

NO. 8 VlllanOVa was routed 91-68 by Providence In men's college basketball action. On 4C. The Chicago Bulls Improved their NBA-best record to 29-4 by beating Utah 102-89 at home. On 4C.

NBA PhceniX forward Robert Horry was suspended for two games without pay for throwing a towel and swearing at Coach Danny Ainge during Sunday's game against Boston. Horry will miss tonight's game In Atlanta and tomorrow's game In Washington. Orlando point guard Anfemee Hardaway, sidelined for 23 of the Magic's 28 games because of leg injuries, will return to the lineup tonight against Philadelphia. He was activated yesterday. ei- A seies puuea out oi ine Australian Open yesterday because of a broken right ring finger.

Seles, who has never lost a match In Australia, has won the Australian Open four times, Including 1996. She's been sidelined sinra Dec. 4. The Ooen Northwestern a running back Darnell Autry said yesterday that he'll skip his senior year and make himself eligible for the NFL draft In April. He joined Ohio State's offensive lineman Orlando Pace and cornerback Shawn RnrlnnQ In rlndnrlnd for SECTION EDITORS John Gibson, Sports Editor, 259-8022.

Kathy Kudravi, Assistant Sports EditorPlanning, 259-8299. Kevin Procter, Assistant Sports EditorNights. 259-8014. Senior Writer: Jimmy Davy, 259-8298; David Cllmer, 259-8020. To report eporte news: 259-8010.

8 portf tax machine: 259-8826. begins Monday. SELES 4 tiie draft. On 6C. AUTRY iL.