The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 25

ill i-M' irniiy mi. in. i nij fTTl I i I TT" 'i "i ig SPORTS section NFL draft appears to be thin, 8C Wilander ousted from Monte Carlo tourney, 24C Scoreboard, 2C Preps, 5C NBA, 6C TheTENNESSEAN FRIDAY, April 22 1988 4 ''vir BM WSMD Orioles still at zer-0 after 15 games LARRY WOODY 1 I -IP II WWW Longest losing streaks starting the season 1 I I 1. BALTIMORE ORIOLES AL. 1988" (0-15) Baseball 2.

Washington Senators AL, 1904" (0-13) 3. Detroit Tigers AL, 1920 (0-13) 4. Chicago White Sox AL, 1968 (0-10) "We just have to keep battling with this thing until we get out of it," Robinson said. "We need a well-pitched game. We need to put some runs on the board.

We didn't get good pitching here in this series. "I don't think we've been fouling up on fundamentals. It's just that we're not performing well. We're not pitching well, and today we didn't hit. Those are two things we have to be patient with, and hopefully players will come around and perform the way they're capable of performing." Bill Schroeder's two-run homer capped a six-run third inning for the Brewers off Scott McGregor, who has not won a game since last May.

"To McGregor's credit, three of the hits in the inning were broken bat, but they count. We need to start getting some of them," Robinson said. "When you leave bats scattered around the infield, you can't feel you made pitches," said McGregor, who gave up six hits and six ruas in 2 2-3 innings and fell to 0-3. "Things have to start going our way. We just keep waiting.

"You can't believe it, nobody can. I don't care if you we're trying to lose, you couldn't lose this many games, even if you went out there and didn't even give a damn. "We just have to keep plugging away and praying and smiling and going after them Turn to PACE 4C, Column 4 (0-10) 5. Atlanta Braves NL, 1988 Still active "lTie AP not only sunk them deeper in the came loneer han record books but also was a franchise losing streak since the 1982 New York record for consecutive losses. It be- Mets lost 1 5.

4irX ILr i 4 A RICKCANQ AssK iaied Press MILWAUKEE Frank Robinson is getting a lot of advice lately. But the manager of the 0-15 Baltimore Orioles would prefer a well-pitched game and some timely hits, all at the same time. "I've gotten all kinds of phone calls and advice, but not many of those people can play positions," Robinson said. The Orioles extended their own major league record for losses at the start of a season to 15 yesterday with a 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Orioles broke the major league record with their 14th straight season-opening loss Wednesday night.

No. 15 Quinones' clutch HR triumphs LARRY WOODY Spurts Writer They can't blame it on the baby any more. Nashville Sounds shortstop Luis Quinones, who had been in a hitting slump after missing five games this season to return to Puerto Rico for the birth of his baby daughter Oma-ley, last night rocked Iowa's cradle. Quinones lashed a clutch ninth-inning two-run homer to give the Sounds a 2-1 victory over the Cubs, before a small but improved Greer Stadium crowd of 1,481. "I'm not a home run hitter," said Quinones after depositing Cubs reliever Rich Surhoff 3-2 fastball into the parking lot behind the right field fence.

"Until the full count I was looking for the bunt, to advance the runner," said Quinones, whose blow followed a single by leadoff hitter Dan Boever. "When it went 3-2, 1 decided to swing. But even then, I wasn't thinking home run. I didn't know if the ball was going to make it or not." Last night's victory evened the slate with Iowa after the Cubs took a 5-3 decision on Wednesday. Game three of a nine-game home stand starts at 7:05 tonight.

The win also nudged the Sounds back above .500, at 6-5, and halted a two-game losing streak. Quinones was an unlikely home run hero. He had gone 0-for-4 in Wednesday's series opener and had only six hits one for extra bases in nine games this season. "When Luis went home for the birth of his daughter he missed five games," said Sounds manager Jack Lind. "He got behind and is just now starting to catch back up.

We knew he was capable of driving in runs." Quinones reports that wife and daughter are doing fine. Prior to Quinones' game-winning blast, the Sounds had laid a string of eight goose eggs, despite getting several runners in scoring position. Three times Nashville left runners stranded on third. "We'd get them to third with two outs and not be able to bring them on home," said Lind. Iowa scord its run in the fourth.

Cubs leadoff hitter Greg Tabor singled, moved to second on a balk by Sounds pitcher Tim Birtsas and advanced to third on a Damon Berryhill sacrifice. Tabor, running on a single by Dave Meier, was called safe on a touchey call at home plate. Iowa starter Roger Williams who had given up five hits in eight innings of work, was replaced by Surhoff at the start of the ninth. Nashville's Birtsas worked seven innings, giving up three hits. Reliever Turn to PACE 4C, Column 3 Revitalized Schmittou apologizes I.arry Schmittou, pressed to explain the rusting Greer Stadium turnstiles, recalls the immortal words of Yogi Berra: "If people don't want to come to games you can't stop 'em." "As far as I'm concerned, that about says it all," says the Sounds president, who iasisLs he is mystified by the lacklaster turnouts that have marked his franchise this season.

A scant 948 spectators showed up for the Sounds' Wednesday game with Iowa. A slightly improved cYowd of 1,481 was on hand last night. Yes, this is the franchise that attracted national headlines with minor lague record-setting crowds in the past. It's the same franchise into which Schmittou and fellow investors pumped an addition $1 million in the off-season to bring their 1 1-year total to a cool $10 million. Then, all of a sudden, one of the fanciest minor league parks has become one of the emptiest.

JUDGING FROM phone calls to The Tennessean sports department as well as a WSIX radio survey yesterday, Schmittou is the only person in Nashville who doesn't have a theory on the bleak bleacher situation. A sampling of suRgestioas to boost attendance ranges from skimpier Soundettes' uniforms to pulling the plug on the country music to establishing a non-drinking section. A more reasonable theory by one longtime Sounds observer. The dis: count ticket buyouts that marked the club's early years spoiled the fans. "They got in the habit of waiting for afreebie," one fan said.

Indeed, one of the complaints of callers concerns what they deem high ticket and concession prices. Another theory: Nashville progressed itself right out of the local fans' interest. In the old Class AA Southern League days, the Sounds had natural rivals in Memphis, K'noxville and Birmingham and Chattanooga. Now we've got Nashville playing Iowa, Buffalo, Oklahoma City not exactly neighborhood rivals. Another notion: the advent of cable TV has cut into the live audience.

THEN THERE'S THE theory that the club has neglected its once-famous promotions, such as "Tight Fit-tin' Jeans" contests and other crowd-involving activities. "It used to be fun to go to the ball park because something was always going on," said the caller. "Now ail they have is a baseball game." Which brings up Schmittou's recently-stated concern: "Maybe Nashville's not the baseball town I thought it was." After Wednesday's dismal turnout, Schmittou said the city's major league hopes were dead, in his opinion. Yesterday he he regretted making the statments. "I let the pressure get to me; I've never reacted like that," he said.

"I'm going to get back to being the old, optimistic Schmittou and start enjoying myself again whether we've got two fans or 20,000." But you can hear the wheels turning in Schmittou's head. He has listened to the phone calls and the radio gripes. The hunch is that those empty seats aren't going to stay empty. AP II a i I' i oMon tins ourKs Mips pasi uetroit pitcher Ouillermo Her- umpire Steve Palermo in a 12-3 Boston win yesterday at Ticer nandez, who was covering the plate. Burks was called safe by Stadium.

Story on Page 3C Tulanc returns to basketball in 1990 MARY FOSTER AsstK iuted Press NEW ORLEANS Tulane University announced yesterday that it would reinstitute men's basketball and hopes to resume play in 1990-91 The university abolished the program three years ago because of a point-shaving scandal. The Tulane Board of Administrators approved the recommendation of President Eamon Kelly and the University Senate, a group of students, faculty and alumni who recommended that basketball be resumed. The board also authorized a $25 million fund-raising campaign for intercollegiate athletics which it said would ensure a solid foundation for a strong Division I athletic program. Avron B. Fogelman, co-owner of the Kansas City Royals and a graduate of Tulane, was present for the announcement and said he has contributed $1 million to the university as a result of the decision to restore the men's basketball program.

Fogelman said the gift was earmarked for programs designed to prevent problems such as those that led to the discontinuation of the program. "I asked that my gift be used to help Tulane's basketball players in the areas of counseling, tutoring, and adjusting to pressures facing today's student-athlete," Fogelman said. Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk said the search for a coach would begin immediately, with one in place by July 1. Gladchuk said the search was wide open, but the school would like to hire someone who had been associated with a winning program. "We want someone who is ambitious, enthusiastic, and ready to go to work.

I'm sure there'll be a lot of interest. It's a unique opportunity," Gladchuk said. Kelly eliminated the men's basketball program April 4, 1985, nine days afterstar forward John (Hot Rod) Williams and others were arrested on sports bribery and related charges. Williams was acquitted, but the scandal resulted in the resignation of Tulane's athletic director and entire men's baskeball coaching staff. The school told the NCAA that, in addition to eliminating basketball, it would conduct annual audits of booster groups and institute a thorough drug-testing program for all sports.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions accepted Tulane's compliance report in January 1 987. However, Dan Beebe of the NCAA's Enforcement Division, who was asked about the situation on Wednesday, left the door open for further review of the case because NCAA files make no mention of resuming basketball. Gladchuk said yesterday that Tulane has contacted the NCAA to begin the process of reinstating basketball. Kelly, who had said when he discontinued the program that there would have to be a change in the national attitude toward college athletics before the school would reinstitute the program, said yesterday he felt there had been a change for the better. "I think there has been an improvement in the national climate.

I think there is a greater awareness now of the guidelines needed, and the need for compliance to them," Kelly said. Opry-bound Drew tunes up with 66 Leaderboard Heather Drew 35-3166 Rosie Jones 33-3467 Tina Tombs Purtzer 33-3467 Martha Nause 32-35 67 KalhyAhern 33-3568 Donna White 34-3468 Kathy Postlewait 35-3368 Vicki Fergon 34.3468 Susan Tonkin 36-3369 Sherrin Smyers 35-3469 Vicki Tabor 32-38 70 Anne Kelly 32-3870 Kathy Baker-Guadagnino33-37 70 Connie Chillemi 35-3570 Patty Jordan 34-3670 Susan Sanders 34-3670 Jackie Bertsch 34-3670 Sally Little 35-3570 Caroline Gowan 35-3570 tynn Connelly 36-3470 Complete scores, 2C Facts, figures When: April 29-May 1. What: 54-hole tournament, championship round Sunday May 1. Site: Hermitage on the Cumberland Course, Old Hickory Boulevard, Old Hickory, Tenn. Course plays par 72 over 6,242 yards.

The missing: Japan's Ayako Oka-moto, a two-tournament winner this spring, and Laura Davies, The British winner of the Tucson Open, have withdrawn to honor commitments next week in their own countries. Tickets: Available at Kroger Stores. Third National Bank offices. Ticketmaster, and Hermitage and Cumberland golf courses. Qualifying and practice rounds are free; Thursday Pro-Am $10; Friday's opening round $10; Saturday's second round $12.

and Sunday's final round $14. Clubhouse badge $40. includes grounds and clubhouse but not parking. INDY SMITH Sports Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

Heather Drew already has tickets for the Grand Ole Opry. After firing a 6-under-par 66 here yesterday to take the first-round lead in the $225,000 USX Golf Classic at Pasadena Yacht and Country Club, Drew had plenty of big plans. And not just for the next three days here. Some of those plans include next week's Ladies Professional Golf Association tour stop in Nashville for the first annual Sara Lee Classic. "The first thing I did when I found out the tour was coming to Nashville was get reservations to the Opry on Friday night," Drew said.

The first thing she did here yesterday was birdie the opening four holes, the best tournament start of her career. The 66 is the lowest career round for the 28-year-old native of Solana Beach, Calif. "I've never led a tournament before and this is the lowest round I've ever shot," said the five-year LPGA tour veteran whose previous low round was a 67. "Everything went right for me today, I got it rolling early and didn't let up." A trio of golfers, Rosie Jones, Martha Nause and rookie Tina Tombs Purtzer, are one stroke off the pace with ive-under-par 67s. Four players are tied at 68, including Kathy Ahern, Vicki Fergon, Kathy Postlewait and Donna White.

Some of the better known players, who drew the largest galleries among the 1 1,463 fans who attended opening day, didn't fare as well yesterday. Both Jan Stephenson and JoAnne Carner shot 73s. Kathy Whitworth, like Carner an LPGA Hall of Fame member, turned in a 72. Whitworth has won the St. Petersburg tournament five times.

This year's event, the 35th annual, concludes Sunday with most of the golfers immediately heading to Nashville for the $335,000 Sara Lee Classic at Hermitage Golf Course. "We're all excited about Nashville," Drew said. "We understand it's a fine course." Rising star Jones had a chance to tie Drew for the lead on her closing hole yesterday, but a putt wouldn't fall. "I finished on the par-five No. 9 and had a 22-footer for birdie that lipped out of the cup," said Jones, a runner-up in the U.S.

Open in 1984 to Hollis Stacy. Jones has already earned $59,180 on the LPGA tour this season, ninth on the 1 988 money list. Drew, on the other hand, is 1 00th on the list and has picked up a mere $3,431 for her efforts in five tournaments. She stands to improve the bank account if she can hold her game together. "Starting off with four birdies, I jast wanted Turn to PAGE 6C, Column I.