The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 19

rridwJANUAItY 29. 1W3 TMt TEHWCMEAN 3C Questions and answers about Nashville's double play By LARRY TAFT Southern League Eastern DMaonc Columbus, Ga (Pittsburgh Pirates), Greenville, C. (Atlanta Braves), Jacksonville (Seattle Mariners), Knoxville (Toronto Blue Jays), Orlando (Chicago Cubs) Wnlsrn DWsicK Birmingham (Chicago White Sox). Chattanooga (Cincinnati Reds), Huntsvllle (Oakland A's), Memphis (Kansas City Royals), Nashville (Minnesota Twins). I season-ticket holder admission to all Xpress games, too.

Xpress season tickets will be $250. Individual game tickets for both teams are to run $7 (box), $6 (reserve) and $3 (general admission). Has anything like this ever happened before? In the early days of baseball, it wasn't uncommon to have teams share the same stadium. The St Louis Browns and Cardinals shared Sportsman Park from 1920 until the Browns moved to Baltimore in the mid 1950s. The two clubs actually played each other in the 1944 World Series, the only fall classic played entirely in one stadium.

Before the California Angels had their stadium in Anaheim, they shared Dodger Stadium with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Charlotte and Asheville played all their games in Charlotte in 1971. The most recent dual use of a stadium was in 1975, when the New York Yankees played all of their home games at the Shea Stadium, home of the Mets, while Yankee Stadium was being renovated. Are Schmittou and his ownership group going to make a lot of money out of this? Maybe, but they could also lose a lot Schmittou says he has just Increased his expenses for the year by $400,000. He hopes to recoup that and make a profit by drawing an additional 250,000 fans to Greer Stadium.

If the two clubs do not draw significant numbers of additional fans, they stand to suffer. "I would not have done this if I did not have a large and talented staff," Schmittou said. "It's not as great a financial risk as a Huey Lewis concert" The Sounds lost approximately $100,000 on that failed venture last season. Sports Writer There are plenty of questions on how one city and one ballpark can handle two baseball teams. Some answers: 1 What will be the new team's nickname? The Nashville Xpress.

Why the Xpress and who named it? Nashville Sounds President Larry Schmittou credited his son Ronnie, director of Greer Stadium operations, and Assistant General Manager Jim Ballweg with the nickname for the team, whose colors are to be red, blue and metallic silver with a train logo. "We wanted the Double-A club to have its own logo, nickname and colors because we're treating each team Schmittou said. "We felt the name fit accordingly with the trains that travel adjacent to the stadium. All old ballparks were accustomed to having trains running by them, including Nashville's Sulphur Dell. Also, this team is coming in a hurry and it's going to be leaving in a hurry when the season is over." Are the two Nashville teams in the same league? i A.

No. The Sounds will be the Chicago White Sox affiliate of the Triple-A American Association. The Xpress fa to be in the Double-A Southern League with the Minnesota Twins as the parent club. I How can they both play In the same stadium? I The Sounds will have 72 home openings, beginning ton April 8 (vs. the Iowa Cubs) and closing on Aug.

29 (vs. the Omaha Royals). The Xpress is to have 71 Greer Stadium dates with its opener on April 16 (vs. the Orlando Cubs). The Xpress' season-ending schedule is still to be determined.

The Southern League hopes to have a Freeman Ramsey Staff Nashville Sounds president Larry Schmittou (center) announces the arrival of the Xpress along with Minnesota farm director Jim Rantz (left) and manager Phil Roof. ville in the 1986 when the Sounds were the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. How will the field survive the wear and tear? It won't be easy, but Schmittou says that grounds-keeper Dave Naspany "is one of the best in the game." "We're going to hire extra people and work harder," Schmittou said. "We're laying our neck on the line for the good of baseball to make sure this works. I have no worry that we won't have a good field every night" Roof said he believes it can be done, and Minnesota Director of Minor League Operations Jim Rantz said he has confidence that Schmittou's staff can pull it off.

Are there enough clubhouses? After either the Sounds or Xpress leave for a road trip, home clubhouse manager Tim Williamson will pack away the personal effects which each player leaves behind, store it until that team returns and bring out the stored equipment for the Incoming team. Yes, he'll have a busy summer. The visitors' clubhouse situation will remain basically unchanged. Can I get a season-ticket for both teams? Definitely. Sounds season tickets are to sell for $325 (box) and $300 (reserve) with $100 more giving a schedule in place by early next week.

Will there be any double-headers? There will be no Sounds-Xpress double-headers, although the Xpress may have one or two double-headers during the season. Who will manage each club? Ironically, the two managers are former Minnesota Twins teammates. Rick Renick will direct the Sounds in '93 while Phil Roof, a Paducah, native, has charge of the Xpress. Roofs brother Gene is a former Sounds player and coach, having been with Nash- A RIVERBOAT GAMBLING EXPRESS Free Includes Free Gambling Admission Buffet Instructor FREE BOOZE 292-4755 Not Just A Ride 'A Party I Drivers set to fire up their motors HIGH PERFORMANCE RETREADS FREE MOUNTING WITH THIS AO I Bock by Popular Demand 1 I Adult Film Superstar 1 4 JAN. lY I 1 25-30 Wvt-l 11 pm, I nj 4 i maim SI7F SIZE PRICE 'Mil USSAVIM 1 "lioT.el' liises 1 HS60H15 22SOVRlS "Mil 162 es 7a By LARRY WOODY Sports Writer With one Petty stepping down, another Petty is ready to step up.

Kyle Petty, whose legendary father Richard retired at the end of last season, said he is on the verge of making a major impact in NASCAR racing. "I think this could really be a good season for us," Petty said last night prior to participating in the third annual Nashville Now model WsVKVHif U7S5 I reTeTl 1 LJ I Wl I 4 UG33 p3 wnm JtWl. ftMiil iwrr Reuters ROUNDUP Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson talks with Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman before yesterday's practice at UCLA. Ex-Cowboy Morton sticking by his guns No money? No problem. car race at Opry-land.

"I got a little momentum built up during the second half of last season, and I think it might carry on into this season." Petty, who was ioined in last 2 By TOM WOOD Sports Writer Once a Cowboy, always a Cow- boy. Former Dallas quarterback LANDRY VISIT: Tom Landry was in Los Angeles to address an Athletes in Action breakfast and told his audience of about Z00O "I'm glad to be out Eleven coaches ware fired last year, five were fired this year." After the speech, he said he hopes the Cowboys win even though he was fired vtfwn Jerry Jones took over the team. "People think I should be bitter," he said "I'm not." NO MICHAEL: NBCs pregame show (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.) will feature partially paralyzed New York Jet Dennis Byrd in an interview segment Instead of singer Mfchaet Jackson, who wouldn't allow the network access to rehearsals fa his 10-rrinute hatttime show. PRACTICES: The Cowboys held their shortest workout of the week 90 minutes and coach Jimmy Johnson said was "an excellent Buffalo practiced without pads for just under two hours, working on long-yardage and third-down situations. "These practices have been superior," said coach Man Levy.

"There has been lot of hoo-tln" and hollerin', but they have been very attentive." TENNELL ARREST: Bail was set at $25,000 yesterday for Cowboys backup tight end Derek Termefl on an arrest warrant alleging failure to provide child support Coach Jimmy Johnson said it would have no bearing on preparations for Sunday. CLAMP DOWN: Expecting to lose up to $2 million on sham Super Bowl rnerchandbe, the NFL yesterday obtained court permission to seize counterfeit goods from hundreds of swinders and their helpers. night's contest by PETTY local drivers Bobby Hamilton and Darrell Waltrip, along with Bill Elliott, said he didn't think the racetrack absence of his father has yet sunk in. "I've been around him at home, just like I always am during the offseason," said Petty. "When we get to the track and roll the cars out and number 43's not there well, then I think that's when it'll hit me that he's not racing anymore." The 1993 season opens with the Feb.

14 Daytona 500. Nashville's Hamilton posted the fastest lap of any Ford drivers during recent testing at Daytona, at 190.180 mph. "It makes you feel good to know you've got a good, fast car going In," he said. "It's good for the driver's morale and the crew's morale." Hamilton said the season-opening excitement has not started to build. "Actually, we've been so busy that I haven't had much time to even think about it We've spent a lot of time at Daytona, in practice.

But when we go back and get ready to race, it won't be like just another day at the office." Asked how he enjoyed his off-season, Elliott said, "There's no such thing any more. We stay on the go all the time, from the end of one season 'til the start of the next" Who'U be favored at Daytona? "It's impossible to even guess," Elliott said. "There's a lot of good cars coming back from last season, plus every year there's always a surprise or two. That's what makes it interesting." Craig Morton is picking his old team to beat the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's Super Bowl XXVII by a 27-17 margin. "I'm sentimental when I pick that score but the quarterback that has the biggest game and seize's the moment will win," said Morton, who led the both the Cowboys and Broncos to Super Bowl appearances.

"Both teams have great quarterbacks who are having great years. "I really admire Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and Dallas QB Troy Aikman has really come into his own. There's a lot of pressure on Kelly to win after losing the last two. At this point in his career, Jim has a little more experience, but Troy's future is ahead of him. He can truly be a great quarterback in this league.

He's got great feet, a great arm, makes big plays and surrounded by great people," Morton added. "As hard a pick as this is, with the quickness and aggressiveness on defense, the Cowboys may be a little better matched against their offense than vice versa. I dont know if Buffalo can stop Emmitt Smith." Morton is a member of the Nashville-based Quarterback Legends. The organization is holding its annual card show this weekend in Orlando. Ifc fill I Tako another It's Xerox.

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