The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 33

THE TENNE55EAN Sunday, June 6 1998 9C SPORTS rwmm'i After 17 years, Green finally gives op a step Comerback no longer fastest Redskin Nashville rallies from 6 runs down ership," the will reads. It was not a contentious request because neither Hess' widow, Norma, nor any of his three children have ever expressed an inter BvQilPgraLLO Sports Writer The great pitchers' duel never quite developed last night Not that it bothered Nashville any as the Sounds rallied for a victory over Memphis at Greer Stadium. Aramis Ramirez thrilled the crowd of 9,959 second biggest of the year with a two-run double off the wall in center field in the bottom of the eighth inning for the winning hit against Bryan Eversgerd. "I was looking for a fastball and that's what I got," Ramirez said. "He had to throw me a strike because the bases were loaded." Nashville trailed 7-1 in the top of the fifth, but battled back with two runs in PCL standings American Conference Central Division Omaha (Royals) 35 20 Cot.Sprlngs (Rockies) 27 28 Iowa (Cubs) 25 30 Albuq.

(Dodgers) 25 30 Eastern Division Oklahoma (Rangers) 35 18 Memphis (Cardinals) 31 20 Nashville (Pirates) 33 22 New Orleans (Astros) 23 32 Pacific Conference Southern Division Las Vegas (Padres) 30 26 Fresno (Giants) 29 26 Tucson (D'backs) 22 30 Salt Lake (Twins) 22 30 Northern Division Edmonton (Angels) 26 27 Vancouver (Athletics) 26 29 Calgarv (Martins) 21 30 Tacoma (Mariners) 21 32 Pet GB .636 .491 .455 .455 MS .418 Pet GB 5J6 -327 Vt .423 6 .423 6 .491 .473 1 .412 4 .396 5 Friday's results Albuquerque 4, Iowa 3 Las Vegas 9, Vancouver 5 Nashville 6, Memphis 4 Oklahoma 5, Fresno 3 Omaha 10, Colorado Springs 9 Edmonton 7, Salt Lake 1 Calgary 9, Tucson 4 Tacoma 9, New Orleans 5 Yesterday's results Calgary at Tucson New Orleans at Tacoma Edmonton at Salt Lake Colorado Springs at Omaha Fresno at Oklahoma Memphis at Nashville Vancouver at Las Vegas Iowa at Albuquerque Today's games Iowa at Albuquerque Vancouver at Las Vegas Memphis at Nashville Fresno at Oklahoma Colorado Springs at Omaha Edmonton at Salt Lake New Orleans at Tacoma Calgary at Tucson Katslose to Iowa in shootout Tennessean Staff Reports The bad news is the Nashville Kats lost their third straight game', 6463 to the host Iowa Barnstormer? in Des Moines. The good news is quarterback Andy Kelly and the offense came out of its slump. But Aaron Garcia threw six touch' down passes and ran for one while! Kevin Swayhe caught five of those TDs and also returned one of two kick returns the Kats (24) allowed as special teams proved costly against Iowa (5-2). "This loss really hurts," Kats receiverlinebacker Cory Fleming said. "Right now I really don't know where we are." The slugfest had 11 lead changes; but came down to Garcia's fifth TD pass, 20 yards to Swayne with 2:39 to play.

Nashville had a chance to win with 17 seconds left, but Steve McLaughlin missed a 48-yard field goal attempt 1 The kick came after two consecutive Nashville penalties, the first taking the Kats out of a 4th and 1 situation in which they were going to go for a first down, and the second when McLaughlin had a 43-yard attempt. Fleming brought Nashville back into the game and then got the Kats the lead after they trailed 51-42 late in the third quarter. First, Fleming hauled in a 32-yard pass from Kelly to cut the lead to 51-49 and then started the fourth quarter by intercepting Garcia and returning it 36 yards to put the Kats up 56-51. Garcia and Swayne hooked up again for a 57-56 Iowa lead as the extra point was missed, but Nashville regained the lead with a 5-yard run by Jason Bratton to put the Kats up 63-57 with 603 to play, before Garcia found Swayne again for the game-winner. "Cory ended up making a big play to put ourselves in a position to win," Kelly said.

"But we didn't get it done." Kelly finished 22-of-35 passing for 243 yards and five TDs with one interception. "We still have a lot of improvement to make. We turned it over twice and ended up taking points off the board. We put ourselves in a hole and managed to climb back out, but it still wasn't enough. Iowa led 38-35 in a wild first half, opening the game with a 55-yard kick return by Leonard Conley.

Nashville playing in one of the toughest buildings in the league known as The Barn answered in the hostile environment as Kelly calmly marched the Kats 55 yards by hitting 4-of4 passes with Anthony Hicks finishing the drive with a 1-yard run. The defense took longer to settle down, as Iowa quickly took a 14-6 lcad.i BvlBTUKWOUl Sports Writer It took 17 years, but Washington Redskins comerback Darrell Green has finally been ousted as the team's fastest player. The 39-year-old has won NFL's Fastest Man competition three times, but earlier this month he was fourth-best in Washington's 40-yard dash during the team's workouts. It was the first time since being drafted in 1983 that he has not been the team's fastest player. That honor now goes to wide receiver Albert Connell at just over 45 seconds, followed by comerback Darryl Pounds, rookie comerback Champ Bailey and then Green, who ran a 4.4.

"Shocking," joked Coach Norv Turner. "He reluctantly took the crown off. "He said that's what been causing that little round spot where there was no hair." Green will enter his team-record 17th season during this training camp, and was anywhere from 12 to 17 years older than any of the players he was running against. His 4.4 is still an amazing testament to his. conditioning and abilities.

After running, Green had joked about wearing hiking boots and cruising to a fourth-place finish just to make his teammates feel better. "Darrell doesn't want to go away silently," Pounds said. "He's fully dressed in the locker room and I'm wearing a towel and he's like 'Let's go "I said 'D. Green, you're the fastest person in the world, but today you're No family affair. One of the many pieces of business the late Jets' owner, Leon Hess, took care of in his will was to order the sale of his team and make certain no member of his family would be among those buying it Hess, who died on May 7 at the age of 85, has also asked in writing that Steve Gutman, his long-time confidant, remain as the team's president and assist the investment firm of Goldman, Sachs and Co.

in the auction of the Jets. Hess' will also states Gutman would receive $3.75 million if the Jets sell for the expected $500 million. There are no requests in the will as to who should be pursued as a buyer. But Hess forbid any member of his family from playing a role, "either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever," in the club's future. "It is my intent that my interests in the Jets be disposed of unaffected by any desire of family members to participate in the club's future own counted against the cap as would $800,000 of his original pro-rated signing bonus.

General Manager Neal Dahlen said the new contract will be based on playing time and sacks. Smith needs two more to join the elite 100 club. "Right now I have to be open-minded," Smith said of his new deal. "Another team is not going to take me the way I am. But I don't have a problem putting it in incentives.

"I did it my first year, I can do it again." Smith said he has not considered retirement despite the criticism and the recent injuries. "I'm not going to go out like that" Smith said. "I'm not that kind of guy, to quit because of injury. I think everyone knows when it's your time. John Elway said he couldn't perform at a certain level no more.

I don't feel like that I still feel like I have a lot more left." Numbers game: New Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has more numbers on his mind than the $800 million he paid for the team and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. Snyder has already promised to release overweight players or "malcontents." Wide receiver Michael Wesbrook, guard Tre Johnson and offensive tackle Joe Patton are already considered to be on his list of potential problems. Former Colts and Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda is headed for the broadcast booth instead of the sideline. He will be the analyst on the Colts' radio broadcasts. Marchibroda is tied with Don Shula for the most wins in Colts' history 73.

Words to the wise: Broncos General Manager Neal Dahlen on the prospect of Deion Sanders joining the Broncos; "Deion would be intriguing to anybody, but at this point he's the property of the Dallas Cowboys. "We can't even respond when he makes a comment in the newspaper." Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary on his state of contract talks with the team: "The only thing I have told him his agent is to be fair. "If the top guys in this league are making $50,000, then that's what I want to make. If it's $100,000, 1 want to make the same amount. I'm not saying I'm the greatest or the best, but I do think I'm considered in the top group." Writers who cover the NFL contributed to this report.

the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and three in the eighth. "That was our biggest win of the year until the next one," Sounds Manager Trent Jewett said. "I really like it when the guys pour their hearts out That was a helluva comeback." The two teams combined for 23 hits in an unexpected slugfest considering who the starting pitchers were. The Redbirds sent Rick Ankiel to the mound while the Sounds countered with Jimmy Anderson. Baseball Anierka ranks Ankiel as the No.

2 prospect in the minor leagues behind J.D. Drew, and Anderson (8-1) leads the Pacific Coast League in wins. Sounds leadoff hitter Ray Montgomery had a great game with a 4-for-5 showing at the plate and three RBI. He hit a solo homer on Ankiel's second pitch of the game and he also made a sliding catch in center in the seventh. Ankiel gave up five hits and three runs in five innings.

"Rick ranks right at the top," Memphis Manager Gaylen Pitts said. "I can't see anybody better than him. He's got all the pitches." Ankiel, a left-hander, earned a $2.5 million signing bonus after being drafted in the second round out of Port St Lucie (Fla.) High in 1997. The 6-foot-l, 210-pounder went 12-6 with a 2.63 earned run average in Class A ball during the 1998 season. The 19-year-old hurler, who started this season at Class AA Arkansas, is a combined 8-1 with a 1.62 ERA this year.

"He's going to be a big-league pitcher," Pitts said. "His fastball averages about 91 mph, he's got a good changeup and a big-league breaking ball." est in keeping the Jets in the family. Hess' will also decrees that any of his family members or other beneficiaries who try to interfere with the sale of the team will have his or her inheritance reduced by 25. Most around the team believe the sale could be completed by the time the 1999 season opens with a minimal amount of front-office instability. Hess' son, John Hess, recently assured Coach Bill Parcells his powers as the head of the Jets' football operations would remain intact this season, regardless of the sale.

Last year, Forbes magazine estimated Leon Hess' worth at $720 million. The bulk of his estate was left to his wife. Prove It Broncos defensive end Neil Smith has heard the talk that he is washed up after 11 years in the league. Well, he will likely get a chance, albeit at a far lower salary than he expected, to prove those critics wrong. Smith will sign a new deal with the Broncos in the coming weeks, a process that will start with him first being released from his current contract and larger guaranteed salary.

Smith's new deal will feature a lower base salary and plenty of incentives. "A lot of people are saying I don't have it any more and everyone is entitled to an opinion," Smith said. "I don't read the papers, but it gets back to me. It bums my soul to hear that But that's all right because I build off that negative stuff." Smith suffered through a disappointing four-sack season before being benched in Week 15 because of a torn abdominal muscle as well as ineffective play when he was healthy last year. Since the season ended, he has worked hard to rehab the injury and return to form that helped him earn six trips to the Pro Bowl.

Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan has openly praised Smith for his 100 attendance at voluntary offseason workouts. "That's one of the reasons why we want him, because he's done everything the right way," Shanahan said. "Even though he got hurt, we're hoping with a good offseason program and good conditioning that he can come back and play at the level he has in the past" Smith was due to make $2 million in base salary this season. Another $620,000 in likely-to-be-earned incentives also would have Sounds 9, Redbirds 7 MEMPHIS NASHVILLE abrhH abrhbi Lrvlerorf 5120 Mnlgmrycf 5243 Kennedv2b 5110 EBrownrt 3111 Drewcf 3121 Ramireilb 4012 Hulsecf 1000 Rvanp 0000 Perez lb 5221 Brinkleylf 3000 Haas3b 4100 VanPoppel ph 0000 Detmersp 0000 ABrown 2000 Busbyp 0000 Laker lb 3100 Eversgerdp 0000 Howard 2b 3110 Jensen ph 0000 Tremiec 2111 Warner It 5121 Potcovichss 3211 Oroazss 3012 Anderson 1000 Stelansklc 4011 Sparks 0000 Ankiel 3010 Hermanseti ph 1 000 Clapp3b 1010 Dougherty 0000 Cruzph 1010 Hansell pr 0100 Sauveurp 0000 Sveum3b 0000 Totals 39 713 i Totals 31 910 I Memphis 005 020 000-8 Nashvle 100 021 23x-9 E-Detmers, Ordaz, Slefanskl. DP-Memphls 1.

LOB-Memphls 8, Nashville 7. 2B-Drew, Perez, Ramirez, Tremie. 3B-E-Brown. HR-Montgomery (7). SB-Perez, Montgomery.

CS-Clapp. SH-tremie, Sparks. SF-Ordaz, Tremie. a) tr bb so Memphis Ankiel 5 5 3 3 2 7 Detmers Vt 2 3 2 1 1 Busby ft I 0 1 I I Eversgerd 1-3 1 3 3 3 2 0 Nashvle Anderson 4 11 7 7 0 6 Sparks 3 1 0 0 0 2 Dougherty 2-0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Sauveur 0 0 0 1 1 Ryan 3 'A 0 0 0 0 0 Anderson pitched lo three batters in the fifth. HBP-bv Sparks (Drew).

WP-Anderson. T-2il. Sounds schedule JUNE 8-11 at Iowa 12 Oklahoma, 6 P.m. 14 Oklahoma, 2 P.m. (DH) 15 Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

17 New Orleans, 7 p.m. 18 New Orleans, 7 P.m. 19 New Orleans, 6 P.m. 20 New Orleans, 4 p.m. 22-25 at Tucson 26-29 at Vancouver 30 at Tacoma JULY 1-3 at Tacoma 4 Vancouver, 6 p.m.

5 Vancouver, 2 p.m. 6 Vancouver, 7 p.m. 7 Vancouver, noon 8 Tacoma, 7 P.m. 9 Tacoma, 7 p.m. 10 Tacoma, 6 p.m.

11 Tacoma, 4 p.m. 12-14 All-Star Break 15 Memphis, 7 p.m. 16 Memphis, 7 p.m. 17 Memphis, 7 p.m. Memphis, 4 p.m., Greer Stadium.

Nashville right-hander Todd Van Poppel (4-1, 5.71 ERA) will face Redbirds righty Clint Sodowsky (2-1, 3.48). mm I Tomorrow Off. I Tuesday at Iowa I Wednesday at Iowa I Thursday at Iowa. Qj0Q(BfeB0O Don't get stuck with another sellout Order now! IITIUIIIII Friday July 9th 6pm Bud Pole Qualifying torn Twin 100s NASfcAR Late Models Kroger SuperTrucks i Classifieds aire now online! Call 242-SALE to place your ad. It will run online at the same time at no extra cost! iCCL-ji 1 f-lwKO i Driver p.r l4T Vlt II Catered Box Lunch nAf T-rrr; 17- 11 -iJL 1 VIP Parking 11 JLi lrrf'Ilsrr Only 1000 tollable.

I Ly KV Lj mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmimmmm itmmmmmtt tft 0 2pp HH TENNESSEAN.com 'Classified categories now online include: merchandise, garage sales, petsfarming, recreational, transportation, rentals, employment financial and announcements. Sorry, real estate, education and auctions are not online at this time. "A.