The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 7

i 3 MTFOOTBALL Wi Two tailbacks run t0 defense Jr I page 6C FORI Outdoors 2C Baseball 4C Scoreboard 5C THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1992 Another tough serve for Ashe changed our opinion of him. This AIDS Is a topic we need to add to our clinics, and hopefully Arthur will be here to address It" Ed Martin, associate professor of human resources at Vanderbllt University and a one-time TSU and Vandy basketball coach, said: "Young people don't know Ashe as they knew Magic, but Ashe is a great pioneer and spokesman, a dynamic person who broke color barriers In tennis." Tennessee tennis coach Mike De-Palmer, whose team was In town for a match with Vanderbllt yesterday, said, "Arthur and I are good friends, and he has no By HAROLD HUCCINS Sports Writer When famed track coach Ed Temple heard the news, he responded wltn the title of Arthur Ashe's writings. "A Hard Road to Glory," the Tennessee State University coach and teacher said, sadly. The announcment yesterday that Ashe, the black tennis pioneer, has AIDS hits hard and crosses racial and sports boundaries, Temple said. "It Is a sad time.

He is a role model of success on and off the tennis court A pioneer, leading the way," said the 63-year old Temple, who uses Ashe's three-volume history of season. Joe Goldthreate, long-time director of the Hadley Park Tennis Center and the national president of the U.S. Pro Tennis Registry, said yesterday: "This news will definitely have a huge Impact on kids, particularly after what has happened to Magic Johnson, even though Arthur got the disease through a blood transfusion," he said. "The effect will be on all kids, not Just blacks or other minorities." Goldthreate says that Ashe "was going to be one of the speakers at our summer clinics, and we still plan to invite him. This hasn't Ashe and AIDS I How he got It, 3C.

I Teaming with Magic, 3C. African-Americans In sports as a text for his sports sociology classes. "It Just goes to show you that this thing can hit anybody. It's dangerous," he said. "If there Is any good to come of It, first the news about Magic Johnson and now Arthur Ashe, there will be more emphasis on it-Johnson, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, has the virus, leading to his retirement this Couples, Daly await blastoff AP Arthur Ashe composes himself during a press conference.

Masters offers interesting mix of old, young breed awaits opening test By BOB GREEN Associated Press AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) New faces moving to the top of the game and a new administration combine with nostalgia in goirs I annual rites of spring In the tradition-rich Masters opening today. Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson the old champions who did so much to make this the most celebrated tournament in golf again will be traipsing the the rolling hills of Augusta National. But it is tne new oreea Fred Couples, Jose Maria Olazabal, Davis Love and John Daly who will command attention when the first of an elite, international field begins play at 7:45 a.m.CDT. Just as he has done in triumph in the 1991 PGA 56th Masters where Today-Sunday.

TV; Today and tomorrow, USA cable, 3-5 p.m. COT; Saturday. Ch.5, 3-6 p.m.; Sunday, Ch.5, 3-5 p.m. FMd 85 (81 pros, 4 amateurs). Defend ng cnampc Ian Woosnam.

IMon on Masters, 2C. fvery tournament since his storybook AUGUSTA, Ga. Already, this 56th Masters has all the symptoms of taking its place among Its more memorable predecessors. It's going to be a blast Credit this sustained anticipation to a pair of challengers, Fred Couples and John Daly. Couples Is the hottest player on the planet right now, and Daly is the game's premier curiosity.

As the famous field finished practice rounds yesterday, Couples and Daly dominated the pre-tourna-ment conversation. Is Couples' game losing altitude after six months of glory? Well, the greatest Masters champion of them all, Jack Nicklaus, says Couples Is at the top of his stack of favorites. Then, Nicklaus became so engrossed in his discussion of Daly's first Masters, he never got around to naming the others, and nobody thought to ask him. But when Nicklaus was asked about his own chances, there was an ever so slight hint that he might Include his own name on the list: "My game is reasonably good. Not great Not bad.

I feel wonderful. I'm in good shape and shouldn't become fatigued on Sunday as I have the last couple of years." Can Daly, the spectacular long-ball swatter who conceiveably could be putting for as many as eight eagles a day for as many rounds as he lasts, join today's playing partner, Fuzzy Zoeller, as a first Master? winner? "Aw, git off that stuff," Daly said. "I'm just trying to finish in the top 24. I have a five-year Invitation here, and I'm setting my sights on winning once in five. These fast greens may be more than I can handle right now." But Nicklaus isn't so sure.

"The Augusta National is absolutely made for him. If ever a course matched a player's game this is it He's not going to back off, and you know he's going to make a birdie or two every day. There's no telling what else he'll make." Nick Faldo, the Britisher who along with Nicklaus, has won back-to-back Masters, readily admits he's been training for this week for more than half a year. And, he has Masters fever. "It's such a wonderful championship, I hope I'll still be coming here when I'm 60 years old.

And, every time I come, I hope I'll feel as though I have a chance to win. My chances now? Well, every week my game has been moving up a notch." How about Couples? "He's been on a fantastic run. You can't overlook that." There's been such a fuss over Greg Norman's invitation as a "foreign" player that he's been overlooked by many in the pre-tourna-ment ratings. Norman, an Australian who lives In Florida, says he is experiencing little trouble after knee surgery sidelined him for more than a month. "I can't squat to read putts, but I've played enough here to be able to read those 10 and 12 foot breaks on the greens without bending over." Norman also added a disclaimer about Daly's problems as a first-time player in the Masters: "It's a perfect place for Daly to play, and it's not just his length on a wide open course.

He has the perfect attitude. He hasn't had time to worry about how the creeks affect putts and that stuff." John Bibb is sports editor at The Ten-nessean, attending his 43rd Masters. Championship, Daly has exertea a nea nper eneci on me les In practice sessions for his first Masters, i Couples, Love and Olazabal, none of whom have yet won one of coirs major tournments, are knocking on the door, i "Couples has reached the level that he's the favorite in any tournament he enters," Love said. And the demands presented by the course play directly to his strength this year more so than before. "The greens are more firm than I've seen them in years," Watson said.

"That puts a premium on length if you're hitting a wedge or a 9-lron to the green instead of a 5- or 6-lron, that makes a lot of difference and hitting the high, soft shot is more Important than it usually is." Couples, dubbed "Boom Boom" by his fellow pros, is very, very long. And he hits the high, soft shot "It's a good golf course for me," he said. Love, a winner two weeks ago in the Players Championship, has a similar game. He plays the high, soft shot and has pulled back on his enormous length in favor of accuracy and consistency in recent years. Olazabal, a 26-year-old Spaniard, is the youngest of the European Big Six that has dominated world golf and the Masters in recent years.

Olazabal proved he could play Augusta National with a runner-up finish in the Masters last year, has won twice In Europe this season and appears to be the leading contender to extend a string of four consecutive Masters victories by Europeans. That string has done much to bolster claims by Europeans that they, not the Americans, now are the prime force in the game and has prompted an "us vs. them" aspect that produced some unseemly taunting of last year's eventual winner, Ian Woosnam of Wales. 4T i pionship and won four of five games from Columbus for the Triple-A Alliance championship. Looking to get Nashville's 1992 fortunes on the right track Is a veteran team with all position players except catcher Dan Wilson six-year free agents.

Tabbed as the starters in the opener are Denver righthander Cal Eldred, 13-9, a year ago, and Nashville left-hander Gino Minutelli, who had a 4-7 record and 1 .90 in 1 3 starts with the Sounds. "It's always an honor to be the opening day pitcher, no matter what league you are In," said Minutelli, who spent part of the 1991 season with Cincinnati. "It fees good to know that the club has confidence in you and wants you to get things started right" AUGUSTA IN BLOOM Defending Masters champion Ian Woosnam crosses the bridge on No. 13. Sounds lose player before opener Probable starters Player Poe.

NtckCapra CF Jeff Small 2B Jeff Stone DH G.Berroa LF D.Coles 3B Mark Howie 1B Dan Wilson Gary Green SS REscaJera RF 1 Vandy women escape major sanctions The Vanderbllt women's basketball program will lose one scholarship for next season as part of its penalty for violations committed under former coach Phil Lee. The reduction in Vanderbilfs allowable scholarships from 15 to 14 for next season as well as limiting official paid visits to campus by recruits from 15 to 10 during the current academic voar were self-imnosed bv the university and accepted by the NCAA Committee on miracuons on Tuesday. The punishment could have been much more severe. Foster not worried, 6C. Sounds face the Zephyrs at 7:35 p.m.

(CDT) at Mile High Stadium. While the transaction leaves Nashville with less depth than Manager Pete Mackanin desired, the Sounds' skipper said he does not consider it a fatal blow. "Gary Green Is a better defensive shortstop than Jeff," Mackanin said. "He hasn't hit but Jeff had not proven he could hit consistently on this level. My biggest concern is that If I need a pinch-runner during a game, this moves leaves me somewhat handicapped." Nashville and Denver are teams that were headed In different directions last year.

The Zephyrs, beginning the last season of minor league baseball in Denver, rallied for the American Association West title, defeated Buffalo in the league cham By LARRY TAFT Sports Writer DENVER, Colo. The Nashville Sounds open their 15th season tonight facing defending American Association champion Denver with shortstop Jeff Branson absent from the lineup. aaaaaaaaaaaaaBBi Branson, the only regular po- Tonight sition player Sounds at from last sea- son's team who had earned a EgJ7. starting Job this WWTN-FM. season, became Cincinnati's first callup of the new season yesterday when Reds' third baseman Chris Sabo was placed on the disabled list Gary Green will replace Branson in the lineup tonight when the G.MInutelll LHP MINUTELLI Troy Afenlr, Jeff Schutz, Todd Trafton, Rick Wrona Pitchers: Joes Alvarez, Keith Brown, Tim Dammond, Tony Menen-dez, Ross Powell, Tim Pugh, Ruben Segura, Mo Sanford, Joey Vlerra.

Manager. Pete Mackanin. Coachsae Frank Funk, Jim Lett. Trainer John Young. National League San Diego 2, Cincinnati 1 Phlla 11, Chicago 3 Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 2 Atlanta 3, Hou.1 New York at St.

Louis Ind. 122, Milwaukee 107 Dallas at Golden State BEST Steve the the Braves against (TBS, Burkett for games Cubs RESULTS ON TV Avery (18-8 in 1991) pitches BASKETBALL Christian Laettner completed a MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ft TDBO TUMI a. 1 American League Toronto 10, Detroit 9 Milwaukee 9, Minn. 5 Cleveland 4, Baltimore 0 Texas at Seattle Kansas City at Oakland Chicago at California home-opener for National League champion Atlanta tonight San Francisco John (12-11) hurls the Giants. Other BASEBALL, FOOTBALL Roger Clemens Is among the latest stars ailing just three days Into the season.

Clemens could Join Nolan Ryan, Andres Galarraga, Chris Sabo, Lenny Dyks-tra, Jose Oquendo, Felix Jose and Mike Gallego on the disabled list. Baseball, 4C Montreal has formed a commit-. tee to conduct a feasability study for bidding on the 1997 Super Bowl. Roger Dore, president of the Montreal Machine of the World League, was given the green light by the NFL to set up the study. sweep of college basketball's major awards yesterday when he was honored as winner of the 16th annual John R.

Wooden Award. Laettner, a 6-foot-11 senior at Duke, also received the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy and the WHAT'S UP TODAY Prosectuors in Fort Pierce, Fla, announce today the findings In their alleged rape Investigation of three New York Mets players. Prosecutors must decide whether to charge Dwight Gooden, Vince Coleman and Daryl Boston with rape. NBA Boston 93, New York 89 Detroit 89, Phila, N.J.

109, Washington 103 on television tonight: Chicago at Philadelphia Phillies (WGN, Cincinnati Reds at Houston Astros (Ch. 30, Listings, 4C aismlth Award. LAETTNER .9.