The Tennessean du lieu suivant : Nashville, Tennessee • Page 23

JtC Friday. Amml 27 193 TENNESSON SPORTS: PAGE 2 New Nashville track ready to increase seatui LEBANON As they were breaking ground on new Nashville Superspeedway yesterday, up the road the first of 140,000 fans were trickling into Bristol Motor Speedway. Tomorrow night's Goody's 500 is a sellout Bristol is one of NASCAR's tougher tickets. Even the scalpers usually run dry. In addition to tomorrow night's crowd of 140,000, more than 100,000 fans are expected for this afternoon's Winston Cup qualifying and tonight's Busch Series race.

Equally mammoth crowds packed in for the spring CupBusch events, making the Bristol races Tennessee's biggest sports events. By running NASCAR mid-level races and Indy Car events, the track could be a success. If it land a future Winston Cup race, the sky's the limit Seventeen of the nation's top attended sports events last year were NASCAR races. Could Nash-J ville Superspeedway someday crack' that top 20? Yes, it could, with a Winston Cup race. Will it get one? It's a long but at least it's shot That beats; nothing, which is what we'd; have without the new track.

tarry Woody Is a Tennessean sports, writer and columnist. He can be reached at 259-8019 or nessean.com. Nashville Superspeedway will start with 50,000 seats, not half enough to accommodate a Winston Cup crowd. But developer Denis McGlynn is prepared to double or triple the seating if a Cup race becomes a reality in the future. Could the Nashville track fill 100,000 seats? In a heartbeat Could it fill No sweat Even 200,000 wouldn't be out of the question for a Winston Cup race.

The sport wouldn't have to keep growing; all it has to do is hold onto what it has. Gary Baker, a Nashville attorney who at one time owned both Bristol Speedway and Nashville Speedway, always said Nashville had the most potential of the two tracks. Now Bristol is drawing Winston Cup crowds of 140,000, while Nashville runs Saturday night specials before 6,000 fans. While Nashville Superspeedway was breaking ground yesterday, new Adelphia Coliseum was being spiffed up for tonight's NFL exhibition game. The contrast between the two projects is dramatic.

Driver Darrell Waltrip, who serves as an advisor for Jerry Carroll's new Kentucky Speedway, noted the difference between building a NASCAR track and most other pro sports facilities. "What I like about our sport is we build our own facilities, with our own money," Waltrip says. "When somebody wants to build a track, they get their money together and they go out and build it They dont run to the government or to the taxpayers and ask them to build it for them. "I think the fans appreciate that I'm sure the taxpayers do, too." Citizens of Wilson County are being asked to help with some basic infrastructure expenses for the superspeedway, such as road work and water and sewer lines to accommodate what could become the county's largest town on race day. McGlynn's Dover Downs Entertainment is footing the entire $125 million bill for the track.

Commentary That's more than the 102,854 who pack Neyland Stadium and twice as big as a Tennessee Titans home sellout. Bristol could get even bigger. Owner Bruton Smith is considering expanding to 160,000 seats. Could all that be Nashville's someday? MEDIA WATCH SPORTS AM. Compiled from staff and wire reports by Charles Searcy wt Neu from radio, print journalism and the Internet Sports Babe to end ESPN radio show The Fabulous Sports Babe, previously scheduled to air her syndicated sports talk show from Nashville today, will not appear.

She is leaving ESPN Radio because her contract will expire. Her final show is scheduled for Sept 10. WNSR-AM 560 has not determined what will be aired from 9 a.m.-noon each weekday. Options include ESPN's Dan Patrick and One-on-One's Jay Mariotti. TENNESSEAN STAFF REPORTS Knight friend faces charges A state police sergeant faces internal charges that'V.

he improperly interviewed a witness and then dis-closed that information to Bob Knight during a police, investigation of a restaurant fight involving the Indi ana coach. Sgt J.D. Maxwell, who is a friend of Knight and has refereed games at the coach's basketball camp rs for four years, will answer the charges at a disciplinary hearing Sept. 2. State police this week notified Maxwell, an evi- -v dence technician at the Bloomington post, that he.

ic, faces charges of insubordination, conduct unbecomJ ing an officer and disclosing confidential "I'm surprised that the charges were levied against me, to be truthful," Maxwell said yesterday by phone his post in Bloomington. "As far as making any pertinent statements, I'm going to withhold my com- ments until after the hearing." MORE TROUBLE AT MICHIGAN -Are-'' port that a former University of Michigan basketball player accepted money from a booster could trigger' a further NCAA investigation, the Detroit Free Presf reported yesterday. The newspaper, citing sources familiar with a fed-! eration investigation, said former Michigan guard Louis Bullock, a second-round NBA draft pick, ig-nored a school directive to avoid Ed Martin and ac-1 cepted money that he considered a loan backed by future professional basketball earnings. Islanders agree to sell The owners of the New York Islanders agreed to sell the team to a group led by former Madison Square Garden President Bob Gutkowski for $180 million, people familiar with the transaction said. The NHL team's current owners, Howard and Edward Milstein and Steven Gluckstern, signed a letter of intent to sell to Gutkowski's group, the people said.

The New York Post reported yesterday. The Islanders declined to comment. Charles Kop-pelman, chairman of entertainment finance company CAK Universal Credit Corp. and a member of Gutkowski's group, also declined to comment The current owners paid $195 million for'the team and cable rights in February 1998. AVALANCHE SIGNS THREE Free-agent defenseman Jason Bowen signed with the Colorado Avalanche, along with two players from the club's minor league affiliate.

Wing Christian Matte and center Serge Aubin, who were the leading scorers last season for Hershey of the AHL, agreed to one-year contracts. TUREK GETS BIG DEAL The St Louis Blues signed goaltender Roman Turek to a multi-year contract. Turek, 29, was acquired by the Blues from Dallas in exchange for a compensatory pick, 66th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft in June. CANADIENS' BRUNET INJURED Montreal Canadiens left-winger Benoit Brunet will miss the start of the NHL season with a back injury. Brunet has been ordered to rest for two months to allow a tear in fibrous tissue between the vertebrae in his lower back to heal.

AP Lindsay Davenport returns a volley during yesterday's quarterfinal match in the Pilot Pen tournament against Amelie Mauresmo of France. Venus Williams in semis In the hunt for her fifth singles title this year, Venus Williams advanced to the semifinals of the Pilot Pen with a 6-0, 6-4 win over qualifier Magui Serna yesterday. Before the U.S. Open next week in New York, Williams still has the Pilot Pen draw to deal with. She faces the third seed, Monica Seles, in the semifinals.

Seles advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Amanda Coetzer, the fifth seed. Williams has beaten Seles in their only meeting, last year. Memphis in financial hole The Unversity of Memphis athletic department's $2.4 million deficit is the largest in school history. The deficit for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was the seventh straight for the department, which has a total budget of $16 million. The deficit exhausted the unrestricted reserve 5 fund of the department The last surplus was $1.6 million in fiscal 1992.

Bill Lofton, associate athletic director for finance said the department had between "$1.5 million and $2 million in reserve before covering most of the deficit The remainder was covered by working with the Nashville Dodgers lose The Nashville Dodgers, state champions in the Stan Musial League for 19-and over, were eliminated yesterday from the regionals in Bradenton, by the Baseball Academy of Ft Lauderdale. Griffith top newcomer Sacramento Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith was named the Women's National Basketball Association's top newcomer and defensive player of the year in her first season after arriving from the defunct American Basketball League. Griffith scored 18.8 points a game during the regular season and led the WNBA by averaging 2.52 steals and 11.3 rebounds. She helped the Monarchs reach the playoffs with a 19-13 record. She easily won the Newcomer of the Year balloting, receiving 47 of 51 votes cast by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Griffith received 17 of a possible 51 votes for defensive player honors, edging Houston's Sheryl Swoopes by one vote. hi' auiiiiiiisLraiion, ne said. Brazil in Women's Cup '99 Brazil, Finland and South Korea will join the Unit-ed States in the U.S. Women's Cup "99 tournament. The Americans, won last month won their World Cup title in the 1990s, play South Korea on; Oct 3 at Columbus, Ohio, in the second game of a that starts with Brazil playing fcwitj ifchli lift U4 I Hurst takes 2-shot lead Pat Hurst made the move from the maternity ward to the leader board look positively easy.

Hurst, just 10 weeks after giving birth to her first child, shot 8-under-par 64 yesterday to grab a 2-stroke lead over Karrie Webb in the first round of the LPGA Oldsmobile Classic at East Lansing, Mich. Marilyn Lovander, Rosie Jones, Dottie Pepper and Sweden's Eva Dahllof were one shot back at 67. CRAWFORD STATE CHAMP Nashville senior Bill Crawford won the Tennessee Senior Amateur championship yesterday, shooting a final-round 70 at the Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville. ine united Mates then plays Finland on Oct 7 at Kansas City, in a doubleheader that begins with K' Walker joining Spurs The San Antonio Spurs signed free-agent forward Samaki Walker to a three-year, $8.9 million contract replenishing their front line. The Spurs already have lost starting forward Sean Elliott, who is recovering from kidney transplant surgery, and reserve center Will Perdue, who signed with the Chicago Bulls.

a game Detween Brazil and South Korea. In the final games of the tournament the Ameri-1 cans play Brazil on Oct 10 at Louisville, in a doubleheader opens with South Korea playing Fin-' land. The United States beat Brazil in the final of last year's tournament ON THE AIR Telei ision and radio listings TODAY Time Event Station GOLF 1 p.m. PGA NEC Invitational USA 2 p.m. LPGA Oldsmobile Classic ESPN MOTORSPORTS 4 p.m.

Winston Cup qualifying ESPN2 6 p.m. Busch Food City 250 ESPN2 Also on 99.7-FM, 950-AM, 1010-AM, 101.7-FM PRO BASEBALL 7 p.m. Nashville at New Orleans 560-AM 7 p.m. Oakland at Chicago White Sox WGN 7:05 p.m. Atlanta at St.

Louis TBS Also on 1450-AM WNBA PLAYOFFS 7 p.m. New York at Charlotte LIFE NFL 7:15 p.m. Atlanta at Tennessee ESPN Also on WUXP-3Q; Radio on 104.S-FM BOXING 8 p.m. Forrest vs. Samaniego.

welterweights ESPN2 TOMORROW Time Event Station TRACK AND FIELD 11:30 a.m. World Championships WSMV-4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Noon Arizona at Penn State WKRN-2 2:30 p.m. Kansas at Notre Dame WSMV-4 4 p.m. Louisiana Tech at Florida State ESPN2 7:30 p.m. N.C State at Texas ESPN2 TENNIS Noon WTA Pilot Pen International WTVF-5 Noon ATP Hamlet Cup semifinals Sports South 6 p.m.

ATP Hamlet Cup semifinals Sports South PRO BASEBALL Noon Atlanta at St. Louis Fox-17 Also on 1450-AM 6 p.m. Oakland at Chicago White Sox WGN 7 p.m. Nashville at New Orleans 560-AM 9 p.m. New York Mets at Arizona FX MOTORSPORTS 1:30 p.m.

Craftsman Trucks O'Reilly Auto Parts 275 ESPN Also on 1010-AM, 101.7-FM 6:30 p.m. Winston Cup Goody's 500 ESPN Also on 99.7-FM, 1S10-AM, 950-AM, 1010-AM, 101.7-FM GOLF 2 p.m. PGA NEC Championships WTVF-5 4:30 p.m. LPGA Oldsmobile Classic ESPN YOUTH BASEBALL 3:30 p.m. Little League World Series final WKRN-2 GYMNASTICS 7 p.m.

U.S. Championships WSMV-4 BOXING 10 p.m. David Reid vs. Keith Mullings, welterweights HBO SUNDAY Time Event Station MOTORSPORTS 9 a.m. Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium Sports South 3 p.m.

IRL Colorado 200 Sports South TRACK AND FIELD 11 a.m. World Championships WSMV-4 PRO BASEBALL 1 p.m. Oakland at Chicago White Sox WGN 7 m. Nashville at New Orleans 560-AM 7 p.m. Atlanta Braves at St.

Louis Cardinals ESPN Also on 1450-AM TENNIS 1 p.m. ATP Hamlet Cup final Sports South GOLF 1 p.m. PGA NEC Championships WTVF-5 4 p.m. LPGA Otdsmobiie Classic ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 1:30 p.m. Miami (Fla) vs.

Ohio State WKRN-2 WNBA PLAYOFFS 3 p.m. Los Angeles at Houston WSMV-4 7 p.m. Charlotte at New York ESPN GYMNASTICS 6 p.m. U.S. Championships WSMV-4 NFL 7 p.m.

Denver at Dallas (exhibition) Fox-17 AROUND TOWN Community sports happenings TODAY WALK MO HORSES: Twhmmm National Celebration will be held through Sept 4 In Snetbyvllle. Tickets are for general admission and S7-S1S for reserved seats. Can (931) 684-5915. SOCCER: TenrMMM Rhythm has home game vs. Minnesota at 7:30 p.m.

at Battle Ground Academy Stadium In Franklin. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for youth. Call 591-9545. AUTO RACMOi Music City Raceway has NHRA racing today and tomorrow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8, or free for children.

Call 876-0981. Compihd by mn Aronin. CwH 250S292 to Indue Mo. Speedway ground broken Jar tu umm irr iiieii in Bristol approach Weekend st Bristol Goody's 500 qualifying: Today at 4p.m.,ESPN2 Busch Food City 250: Today at 6p.m.,ESPN2 ESPN With a swing of nearly 200 possible in each race, it's no der Jarrett comes to Bristol thn ing safety and survival first, atA possible victory second. "Things happen so quickly thai the leader of the race sometimei gets caught up in accidents," said.

"Anything can happen, and wl and community Development, Sen. Bob Rochelle, Sen. Andy Womack, Rep. Stratton Bone, Rep. Mae Beavers and Rep.

John Hood. Also present and endorsing the project were Wilson County Executive Bob Dedman, Lebanon Mayor Don Fox and Wilson County Sports Authority Chairman Carl Wallace. Although Gaylord Entertainment is no longer a minority partner in the project, the company plans to work closely with the track in several areas. Tom Adkinson yesterday represented Gaylord. John Rollins, founder and chairman of the board of Dover Downs Entertainment, joined the list of dignitaries, along with retired Nashville Speedway president Bob Harmon.

Dover Downs Speedway hosts two annual Winston Cup races. Both are sellouts and the track is preparing to expand its seating to 170,000. In addition to its two Winston Cup races, Dover Speedway hosts several other motor-sports events. It draws 2.5 million fans annually. In addition to the Dover and Nashville tracks, Dover Downs Entertainment also owns the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Gateway International Raceway near St.

Louis, and Memphis Motorsports Park. The Nashville Superspeedway complex will be built in stages, starting with the superspeedway. Also planned is a 5Sth-mile short track, a 1.8-mile road course, a Legends (older modified cars) track, a drag strip and a dirt track. "It's going to be one of the nicest motor-sports facilities anywhere," McGlynn said. "It will be something that everybody in Tennessee can share in and be proud of." just hope we can complete 500 lac "We've heard all the negatives and positives, but if everybody works together this will be good for our county." "I'm really thrilled about it," said Sterling Marlin, a two-time Daytona 500 winner who, along with Hamilton, will take part in today's pole qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway in preparation for tomorrow night's Goody's 500.

"They'll have about 140,000 folks for our race at Bristol, and we can have the same thing right here," Marlin said. "When we lost our Winston Cup races in the early 1980s Nashville was considered the third-best market in NASCAR. There's no reason why we can't get back there. When the track is up and running, Mr. Bill France NASCAR president will have to take a look." The track will begin with 50,000 seats, with plans to increase seating to 150,000 if a Winston Cup date is secured.

Most Cup races draw crowds in excess of 100,000, and last month's race at Indianapolis Motor Speeedway drew approximately 350,000. "Everybody is aware of the giant crowds this sport draws," said John Wade, the state's commissioner of tourist development "We are excited about what this track will do for tourism in our state." Bruce Saltsman, commissioner of transportation, promised the state's cooperation in building access roads to the track, located off 1-840 between Lebanon and Murfreesboro. Other government officials and representatives on hand for the ceremony were Alex Fisher, deputy commissioner of economic Associated Press BRISTOL, Tenn. One of the smaller tracks on stock car racing's premier series could be one of the biggest roadblocks between Dale Jarrett and his first Winston Cup championship. Jarrett is understandably cautious as the circuit shifts to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Goody's 500 tormorrow night.

Practice and first-round qualifying on the oval are scheduled today. Of the 12 events left on this year's schedule, the ones at Bristol and Talladega, could pose the biggest threat to Jarrett's 341-point lead in the standings. Both tracks have a well-deserved reputation for spawning multicar wrecks, the kind, that can create substantial shifts in points chases. At Bristol, the culprits are the 36-degree banked turns, which help cars record lap times in the 15-sec-ond range, creating conditions where a driver can roar up on the scene of a wreck before he has time to take evasive action. "If you sit down and look, anywhere can get you," Jarrett said.

"But if you look at two of the tracks we have left, Bristol and Talladega are the ones that are unpredictable. You can be running along in good shape and then from nowhere something happens and you dont have time to react" without any misfortune." Jarrett has experienced good fqi tune recently at Bristol, winnil the Goody's 500 in 1997 and firii ing third when the circuit stop; here in April. But he's hardly the only drive have success on the concrete 1 banks. i Mark Martin, the driver clost Jarrett in the 1999 standings, hi top-five finishes at Bristol, inf ing three victories. He was in the April race after winnini year Goody's 500.

His victory in last August's! race was his first followinj ueaui ui nis iainer, juuan.i plane crash..