The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 21

ORTS NBA 2C Horse racing 3C II Scoreboard 7C V- SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2001 Kats crush champs in season opener If "Vis College football Volunteers try to smooth out rough spots during scrimmage 3C SP 3 1 i the Kats last season. Andy Kelly looked sharp after the Kats went 0-2 in the preseason as he completed 16-of-28 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns. "It was a big win for a lot of reasons," Kelly said "One, it was because we haven't played well in the preseasoa Two, it was our first game and the home opener. And three, it was Orlando. There's no doubt that's a rivalry." It was a Friday the 13th jinx for Orlando, delighting the crowd of 9368 as the defending AFL champion never recovered after falling behind 20-0 midway through the second quarter.

"This sets the tone for the seasoa" Kats lineman Pat Downey said. "This is a great momentum-carrier for us. A lot of people were skeptical because of the preseason, Please see KATS, 5C Nashville wins ArenaBowl rematch ByCHIPCIRILLO Staff Writer The Nashville Kats unleashed eight months of frustration last night The ArenaBowl runners-up avenged a heartbreaking loss to Orlando in last year's title game with a 50-25 victory in the season opener at Gaylord Entertainment Cen ter. "We came out with the mentality that somebody has got to explain why we ain't got a ring and it was Orlando tonight," said Kats lineman James Baron, who had four pass deflections. It was an important win because margin of victory is the first tiebreaker when determining the division champioa The Predators won the Southern Division by a two-game margin over Dow own ot ricE T1CE SIOSMSb 'v yl 4CI Imrih Strut 1 Kats 50 Predators 25 Nashville receiver Tyronne Jones sparks victory with six catches for 100 yards, two TDs.

1 FREEMAN RAMSEY STAFF A Kats fan attempts to haul in a pass intended for Nashville receiver Darryl Hammond (7). The pass fell incomplete. NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY Evans reinstated Mien DDDft by NFL Today Titans must make decision by Monday By PAUL KUHARSKY Slqff Writer Titans defensive tackle Josh Evans, suspended last season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, has Pepsi 300 Grandstands open, 8 am Busch race begins, noon (300 miles, 226 laps) TV FX, 11:30 am Radio: 99.7-FM Inside been reinstated by the league, But the league also put the Titans on a tight timetable for figuring out DirpZT- Jr- liMf EVANS RANDY PILAND STAFF The long haul Race haulers like Craig Wadsworth, above, do more than just transporting drivers' cars from one track to another. On 4C. 'n OS" JOHN PARTIPILO STAFF The field of race cars makes the turn to kick off yesterday ARCA PFG Lester 150, the first race held at Nashville Superspeedway.

Busch I 7 TSi Arca what to do with Evans. They must decide if they want him and can fit him under the salary cap by the end of the day Monday. Before he was suspended, Evans was slated to count $L65 million against the 2000 salary cap in the final year of his Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said yesterday the Titans swallowed $250,000 of that the final prorated piece of Evans' signing bonus under last year's cap. That would leave Evans with a scheduled $900,000 base salary this seasoa a salary the Titans are not expected to pay. Evans was also due a $200,000 roster bonus and a $300,000 reporting bonus.

Reese indicated the team wants Evans back, but with a less expensive and less risky deaL "We'd give him the opportunity to make money if he's here and performing the way we know he caa" Reese said "Our risk is going to be minimal." As a five-year veteraa Evans could play for a deal with a $477,000 base salary layered with incentives for the 2001 seasoa His agent, Mitch Frankel said Evans "is in the best shape of his life" and "would like to play for the Titans, of course." Frankel said he and Evans are "willing to talk" about a new Please see TITANS, 3C JOHN PARTIPILO STAFF ft W. ltf "All In the pits Drivers worried by slickTurn 2 By LARRY WOODY Staff Writer GLADEVILLE Maybe they should put one of those "Watch Your Step" signs between Turns 1 and 2 of Nashville Superspeedway. That would remind drivers of a slippery, treacherous patch of concrete that has sent several cars skidding into the wall during practice this week, and created some anxiety going into today's Busch Series Pepsi 300. "When you hit it, it feels like you hit water," Kevin Harvick said yesterday Please see BUSCH, 5C Schraderwins inaugural race By JIM WYATT Stafl Writer GLADEVTLLE A racing veteran helped break in a rookie track yesterday as Ken Schrader captured the ARCA REMAX Series PFG Lester 150, the inaugural race at Nashville Superspeedway. His plan to stay near the front and out of trouble proved to be the perfect formula on a day where spinning cars, caution flags and trips to the infield medical center were the norm.

And although the victory earned Please see ARCA, 5C The demands on pit crews have increased because, as one crew member puts it, a second saved in the pits can make a difference of 20 car lengths on the track. On 4C. Also: Map on how to reach the track. On 4C. Nashville Superspeedway notebook.

On 4C. Complete results from yesterday's ARCA race. On 5C. JEANNE RE1SEL STAFF Kevin Harvick is congratulated by his wife Delana after winning the pole for today Busch race, the Pepsi 300. Back in Busch league, Little wants to prove he's more than a retread ii Opinion Larry Woody ing of, "Well, he didn't make it the first time; why take another chance on him? Hammond said.

"Everybody is looking for the next superstar. We're seeing a trend toward owners going with new young drivers instead of giving older guys a second shot "Every time one driver moves up, somebody else gets moved dowa Ifs the nature of the sport" Larry Woody covets auto racing for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-801 9 or rwoodytennessean.com "The difference between the ones who make it and the ones who don't is not just a matter of talent Frankly, there's not that big a difference between the talent of most of the Busch drivers and most of the Cup guys. It's a matter of breaks, good backing, being able to take advantage of opportunities." Although Little is convinced that he will eventually get another shot at the big time, Hammond said second and third chances are getting harder and harder to come by. 'There seems to be a feel OK, so let's take Little as an example.

Nice guy, decent driver. Why did he get his Winston Cup pink slip from boss Jack Roush? "I think the world of Chad and consider him a good friend," Hammond said, picking his words carefully. "But he just didn't produce the way a driver has to produce on that leveL This is a big business involving big money, and everybody expects a return for their investment If a driver can't give a team owner the return he expects, the owner makes a change. wants to sing backup in NASCAR's band. Most Busch drivers are either fresh young hotfoots antsy to set the racing world on fire or battle-scarred veterans who have been to the top and slipped back dowa "They're called racing said Jeff Hammond, who served as a crew chief for Little as well as for fellow Fox TV racing analyst Darrell Waltrip.

"Why didn't they make it in Winston Cup? Ifs hard to say. It's usually not just one thing, but a combination of factors. Timing is everything." here, racing in today's Pepsi 300 Busch race at Nashville Superspeedway. "Ifs a great division and a lot of fans think the competition may actually be better in Busch than Cup," said Little, who starts 10th. But "I'll be honest with you: I want to get back to Winston Cup.

And if every guy here is equally honest, they want to be in Cup, too," he said, nodding toward the bustling Nashville Superspeedway garage. "I don't care what they say." Little is correct Nobody GLADEVILLE There is no truth to the rumor that racing attorney Chad Little is considering opening a new law firm: "Crashum, Smashum Bashum." Nope, Little has no intention of falling back on the lucrative security of the law degree he earned from Gon-zaga University any time sooa He is committed to his sport, determined to scratch his way back to NASCAR's big league, Winston Cup. "Once you've raced in Winston Cup you always want to get back? said Little, who late last year was "sent down" to NASCAR's minor leagues the Busch Series after four straight seasons in the premier divisioa But to borrow the trademark line of our late Grand Ole Opry diva, Cousin Minnie Pearl, Litde is proud to be More online Web-exclusive local coverage and commentary. Click on Sports Extra. Leafs cover Senators Matt Sundin's goal tffA in overtime gave SSSJ the Toronto Maple Leafs a 1-0 victory against the Ottawa Senators in the first game of their playoff series.

On 5C. Women's league opens play today U.S. Olympic stars like Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain will be among the players taking the field when the eight-team WUSA begins its inaugural season. On 2C. Assistant Managing EditorSports: Bill Bradley, 259-8022 bbracfcytenness6an.corn Deputy Sports Editor Michael H.

Jones, 259-8013 Assistant Sports Editor: Kevin Procter, 259-8014 Assistant Sports Editor Bob McOelan, 259-8299 Write us: tnsportstennessean.com Glavine sets stage for Helms' heroics Tom Glavine, right, shut down the Philadelphia Phillies for six innings and Wes Helms belted a two-run homer to propel the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 victory. Glavine evened his record at 1-1 on the year. On 6C. own 1 7r ft- AP i i A www.temessearucom imw.teflnessean.coni,.