The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 16

2STIIEDKS MOINES REGISTER Tuesday, February 27, 1990 SPORTS FOCUS pr iwnrf Tfrnraa wwirr AUOCWIM Press Playir SHspindid. win Talks halted; season could be delayed I TLX. Avk. -Sfc. Bobby Hall Joined I the celebration after sob Brett reached the 50-goal platen earlier this month.

Brett's aat trick Sunday left him with II goals. Blues' star is making Hull name famous again Milestones are whizzing by like mile markers on the interstate for Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues. Hull got his 50th goal of the season earlier this month. That is a team record and it matched the best season total of his father, former Chicago star Bobby Hall.

Brett's toul is 61 and he is closing in Jarri Karri's record of 71 goals by a right wing. "I'm going to try to score as many as I can." Hull said, "but you can't let yourself think about things like records." He is the 13th player in league history to score 60 goals and he's got 16 regular-season games left. "I guess it's like an honor, you could say," Hull said. "It's not only passing my dad, but it's joining guys like Guy Lafleur, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lem-ienx. There are not many guys who have scored more than 60 goals." Berry fired in lev England power struggle TM tiHciiM Prata FOXBORO, MASS.

Raymond Berry was fired Monday coach of the New England Patriots in a power struggle with General Manager Pat SulUvan. Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Rod Rust, a former Iowa State center and linebacker, reportedly is the top candidate to succeed Berry. The Steelers said they had given Rust permission to talk with the Patriots. The firing of Berry apparently centered on Sullivan's desire that Berry go outside the organization to name offensive and defensive coordinators. Berry apparently wanted to fill those spots from his current staff.

"In my Job as a coach, I'm hired to give these people my best Judgment. I do things I believe in and I have a very difficult time doing things I don't believe in," said Berry, who was released after 54 seasons. When asked if he had ever waiv-ered on his position, Berry said, "You can't do that. You can't compromise your beliefs." In a statement released by the team, Sullivan said the decision to release Berry was "the most difficult and most unpleasant of my career." Sullivan had said improvements throughout the entire organization were needed and a postseason review was undertaken to pinpoint them. "It is apparent to me that Raymond Berry and I have encountered deep philosophical differences as to the depth and nature of those improvements.

To allow such differences to continue to exist is harmful to the organization," Sullivan's statement said. The Patriots were 5-11 last season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Berry, who had worked without offensive and defensive coordinators, was pressured by Sullivan to add those positions. But after Berry reportedly said he planned to split the offensive coordinator's job between running back coach Bobby Grier and quarterback coach Richard Wood, Sullivan went to team owner Victor Kiam and got permission to find a new coach. If Rust, 61, is hired, it would be his first NFL head coaching job.

The native of Webster City, has been an assistant with four teams the past 14 years. He was Berry's defensive coordinator for iVt seasons before filling that position with Kansas City in 1988 Wiley quitting as By CHRISTOPHER NELSON Reenter Staff Writer Des Moines Buccaneers coach and general manager Jim Wiley has resigned, effective April 30. "I think it's time for me to move on to a different endeavor," Wiley said Monday. Buccaneers players were informed by Wiley of his decision two weeks ago. "Jim has brought our organization a long way in the few years that he's been here," Buccaneers' President Bob Walker said.

"We are grateful for all he accomplished. He's given us exciting hockey, and a lot of his players have gone on to college, which is one of our goals." Wiley, 38, joined the Buccaneers in 1984, taking over from interim coach Jeff Ullrich, who had guided the team for eight games after Coach Ivan Prediger stepped down. nlpei Jets defensttnao Peter Tagliaaettl was suspended for five games Monday for what the league said was a deliberate attempt to injur Buffalo Sabres center Christian Ruutu. Brian O'Neill, the NHL'l executive vice president, said that while no serious injury occurred and Taglianettl does not have a previous record of major stick fouls, his attack on Ruuttu was no accident "It is clear that he was reuniting and that bis action was deliberate," O'Neill said. "Players must understand that retaliation is not an excuse for the irresponsible use of their stick." S0Vlt hOHOrid.

Sergei Makarov, the Calgary Flames right winger from the Soviet Union, was named the NHL Player of the Week on Monday, after scoring 10 points in three games during the week. Monday's (amis. Nordi- quel 3, Penguins 2: At Quebec, Ken Mcrae and Lucien DeBlois scored third-period goals to give lowly Quebec a victory against Pittsburgh. Rangers Bruins 1: At New York, Darren Turcotte scored three times, twice in a five-goal second period, as the Rangers completed their first-ever regular-season sweep of Boston. Vancouver 5, Toronto 2: At Vancouver, the Canucks, last in the Smyth Division, claimed their 20th victory.

WALES CONFERENCE potwck I Ok NY Ranters 28 25 11 210 206 67 NY Islanders 28 28 230 228 64 Pittsourgh 29 30 265 291 63 Ne Jersey 26 29 8 227 241 60 Wtshfton 27 32 4 239 234 58 Philadelphia 25 31 8 232 228 58 AOkklt 1 OF CA Pta Boston 38 22 5 232 183 81 Buffalo 36 23 6 223 201 78 (-Montreal 35 23 7 238 191 77 i-Harttord 28 28 7 217 220 63 Quebec 11 46 6 191 319 28 CAMPBELL CONFERENCE nowhis i or pa Chicago 35 24 4 260 233 74 St Lows 31 25 8 238 213 70 Toronto 32 29 3 281 288 67 Minnesota 26 35 3 215 238 55 Detroit 22 32 10 239 267 54 SMYTHf OF OA Pt Calgary 31 20 13 274 215 75 Edmonton 31 22 12 259 229 74 Winnipeg 30 26 8 234 230 68 tos Angeles 27 30 6 273 263 60 Vancouver 20 36 10 196 253 50 -clinched playoff spot TOOAY'S OAMCS 6 35 Chicago at Washington 7 35 Buffalo at St Louis 7 35 Winnipeg at Minnesota Statistical summarise: Page 4S Rockets sign Lloyd. Former Drake star Lewis Lloyd has signed a 10-day contract with Houston and was en route Monday night to join the team in Detroit. "I don't think it's any pressure," Lloyd said. "I think it's a matter of me proving myself and getting out there and showing them I can still do the same things I've been doing in the past." Lloyd started the season with the Rockets, after a two-year drug suspension, but he was waived after injuring an ankle. He later signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and was cut.

Player Of WOek. San An tonio's David Robinson, who averaged 24.3 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocked shots in three games, was named NBA player of the week on Monday. Monday's games. Hawks 123, Heat 114: At Atlanta, Domi nique Wilkins scored 36 points and Atlanta overcame a 17-point, third-quarter deficit. 76ers 129, Magic 110: At Philadelphia, Charles Barkley scored 25 points to lead the 76ers Spurs 105, Kings 96: At Sacramento, Calif.

Terry Cummings scored 10 points in the fourth quarter for San An tonio. Hull's 61st goal was his third of the game against Montreal on Sunday. "I couldn't believe how hard the shot was," Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy said. "It was a perfect shot" Roy isn't the only one who has been impressed. Teams around the league are beginning to tailor their defenses to stop Hull, who has 37 more goals than Paul MacLean, the Blues' second-leading scorer.

It hasn't made much difference. Hull has scored in 26 of his last 27 games. Gretzky 's record 92 goals in the 1980-81 season is out of reach, but Kurd's 71 goals in the 1984-85 season is sixth on the list Five players have scored at least 70 goals. Gretzky has done it four times and Lemieux twice. "That's nice company," Hull said.

"I'm going to try to climb up the list as far as I can." 3 Continued from Page One players to be eligible for arbitration after two years, as they were before the 1985 agreement, which Increased the requirement to three years. Vincent said be sympathized with fans, saying they would view the stalemate as "two giant organizations overwhelmed with riches, fight ing in circumstances where there's a national obligation or trust at stake." "I find It tragic to the point of absurdity," he said. Fehr met with Vincent on Monday. He did not say when he would return. Other Meetings "My expectation is that after the Phoenix meeting the great likelihood is that I will see players in two or three other places before coming back to New York," Fehr said.

Management negotiator Chuck O'Connor said he would wait for Fehr to call about another bargaining session. "It really depends on his meeting," O'Connor said. "At the earliest, I probably could hear from him Wednesday. But, yes, it could be a week before we get together again. I hope not, but it could be." Asked what it would take for the union to return to negotiations, Fehr said, "It has to take an indication from the clubs that there's something meaningful to talk about.

"We have not broken through the logjam of the three-year salary arbitration problem. There have been no new proposals on the benefit plan, no new proposals on the minimum salary, no new proposals on roster size." One New Proposal Vincent said he attempted to find a solution to the arbitration problem on Sunday, but that the union would not tell him what it would accept other than a complete rollback to two-year eligibility. The owners did offer one new proposal Monday: to allow the parties to reopen the contract after three years instead of two. And management said it has offered to guarantee triple damages for collusion if the union proves it against seven teams. Fehr said he had not heard any criticism from players about the union's stand on arbitration.

"I have yet to have a player call me up and tell me we should be doing anything differently from the way we are," he said. San Diego player representative Dennis Rasmussen agreed. "I feel strongly that we should get that year back and I think that's the overall feeling of the majority of players," he said. Pair of Cubs ready to begin spring training By ANDREW BAGNATO Chtceoe Trtoune MESA, ARIZ. Mark Grace and Ryne Sandberg have had enough.

They have had enough weight-lifting, enough sprints, enough 80-degree days without baseball. "We're all ready to go," said Grace, the Chicago Cubs first baseman. "As soon as the owners let us play, we're ready. I'm getting tired of waiting." Sandberg, the second baseman, agreed. "This time of the year, there's a clock in me that says, 'It's time to especially with the weather being so warm," Sandberg said.

"It feels weird. You just want to be on the field when it's like this." Sandberg has been working out at a high school in Tempe. His company there includes California's Mark Langston and Baltimore's Phil Bradley. "We worked out all last week, but the reporters didn't find us until Friday," he said. Grace has been working out at Arizona State with teammates Steve Wilson, Jeff Pico and former Cub Darrin Jackson.

The regimen includes running and batting practice. Wilson out there dropping down on me with the curve," Grace said. "It's a humbling feeling." Grace has joined a health club to continue his weight work. Weight equipment sent from Chicago is sitting in a workout room in Fitch Park, wrapped in mailing paper and useless to the players because the park is off limits during the lockout. Grace hasn't been able to do much fielding, which is usually a focus of his preparation.

"I mostly work on my fielding and my bat speed," he said. "I'm not a natural like Bo Jackson or Ryne Rod Rait Likely to be Berry's successor NFL and the Steelers In 1989. It was a dispute about an assistant coach that led Berry to the Patriots' head job in the first place. And that assistant was Rust. Ron Meyer, then the head coach, fired Rust on Oct 24, 1984, before informing Sullivan, who was attending league meetings in New Orleans.

Sullivan rushed home, hired Berry that night and told Meyer the next morning he was fired. Rust regained his defensive coordinator's position. Rust was the Patriots' defensive coordinator from 1983 through 1987. His stay with Kansas City ended when Coach Frank Gansz and his staff were fired late in the 1988 season. BRIGHT'S REGRET.

Former Dallas owner H.R. "Bum" Bright says he wanted to fire Tom Landry In 1987, but couldn't talk Tex Schramm into it. A year after selling the Cowboys to Jerry Jones, Bright says his one regret is not doing it. He didn't because Schramm, who was the team's general manager at the time, told him he didn't have a replacement ready. SHOULD HE STAY OR GO? Illinois quarterback Jeff George says he knows whether he'll turn professional or remain for his senior year but he won't disclose his decision until March 12.

McNALLY TO RETIRE. Art McNally, the NFL's supervisor of officials since 1973, will retire following the 1990 season. McNally, 64, will serve during a transitional period following next season. coach of Dues The Buccaneers were 4-14 when Wiley took over and finished the year 7-40-1. Wiley assumed the general manager position the following season when Prediger stepped aside.

Wiley has a regular-season record of 94-165-9 in Des Moines with two games remaining this season. His best season was 1987-88, when he led the Buccaneers to a 23-22-3 record and a fourth-place finish in the United States Hockey League. It was only the second season since the USHL became a junior-A league in 1980 that Des Moines finished above .500. Walker said the Buccaneers' board of directors has received several applications, and hopes to replace Wiley with another USHL coach by April 1. sure to stop by The Des Moines Register booth during the MONEY TALKS Financial Seminar March 1 and 2.

Register Financial Columnist Jim Lawless is eager to listen to any questions you might have about investments, financial planning, gold stocks, or other financial issues. He would also like to hear any concerns you have about the way The Register reports on business and financial issues. Jim will be using some of your questions and suggestions as the basis of future Investor's Memo columns. Don't miss your chance to talk with Jim Lawless at MONEY TALKS, March 1 and 2, at the Des Moines Convention Center. Jim Lawless booth schedule: Thursday, March 1 11:30 a.m.

to 3:00 p.m. (between workshops) and 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 2 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. I in 60-GOAL SEASONS 92 Wayne Gretrky. Edmonton.

1980 81 Waynt Gretky Edmonton, 1983 84 85 Meno lmu Pittsburg. 1988 89 76 Phil Cspotito. Boston. 19'0-M 73 yn Gretzky Edmonton. 1984 85 71 Jar i Kurn, Edmonton.

1984 85 71 Wuynt GretAy, Edmonton. 1982 83 70 Mno lrmux. PittJburgh. 1987-88 70 Brm Nicnolli. Lot Angii.

1988 89 69 Mikt Bowy. founder 1978-79 68 Phil Esposito. Boston. 1973-74 68 Mkt Bossy. Isiandtrs.

1980-81 68 Jan Kurn Edmonton. 1985-86 66 Ptl Esposito. Boston, 1971-72 66 Lanny McDonald Ca'gary. 1982 83 65 Steva Vi man. ttro.t.

1988 89 64 Ma Bossy. Islanders. 1981-82 62 (rVayn G'ttfky. Edmonton. 1986-87 61 Mint Bossy Y.

IsianOtrs. 1985-86 61 Pun Esposito. Boston. 1974-75 61 Regg a leach. Philadelphia.

1975-76 61 Brett Hu. St Louis. 1989-90 60 Mike Bossy. Islanders. 1982-83 60 Guy taneur.

Montreal. 1977-78 60 Steve Shutt. Montreal. 1976-77 60 Dennis Maruk. Washington.

1981-82 Mark Martin "It was a mistake" $40,000 tint. NASCAR handed out the biggest fine in stock car history Sunday night when Mark Martin Ford Thun derbird was found to have an ille gal engine part. Three hours after Martin won the Pontiac 400 at the Richmond, NASCAR fined his team $40,000 and 46 points in the stand ings when a spacer between the carburetor and intake manifold was found to be a half-inch too tall. Robin Pemberton, Martin's crew chief, was suspended for 30 days Monday by Steve Hmeil, the team manager. Pemberton apparently put the larger spacer on the car without clearing it with his team or NASCAR.

"You can't do things outside what the company wants," Hmeil said. "I hate to think it will make people think of us as cheaters from now on." Hmeil said the part didn't give Martin an advantage, "but it was mistake on our part. It was a rule and we violated it. I blame our people." NASCAR allowed the victory to stand, but Martin will take home only $19,150 of the $59,150 top prize. Martin, who was crushed by the news Sunday, offered no excuses Monday.

If you re speeding by 5 mph or 50 mph, it doesn't make a differ ence, he said. You re still speeding. We broke the rules and we accept the penalties." The biggest previous penalty was in 1983, when Richard Petty was fined $35,000 because his winning car at Charlotte, N.C., had an oversized engine and ille gal tires. Dale Earnhardt finished second in the race and Ricky Rudd was third. Hum, 1 usiem BTop COacN.

Morningside Coach Rick Garahan has been named men's indoor track coach of the year in North Central Conference. Clarahan, a native of Iowa City, formerly coached at Iowa City Regina High School. Top playirS. Buena Vis ta's Kim Beckman and Central's Nate Hart have been named the Iowa Conference basketball play ers of the week. Beckman, a 5-foot 10-inch se nior from Carroll, scored 55 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in victories against Luther and Wartburg that helped Buena Vista earn a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.

Hart, a 6-5 sophomore from Ottumwa, had 24 points and seven rebounds in an 86-78 loss to Loras. He was ll-for-12 from the field. Dlowa sottball swoop. Diana Repp's two-out triple in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in Karin Wick and Kriiten Rhoades to lead Iowa's softball team to a 2-1 victory against Nevada-Las Vegas Sunday at the Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The Hawkeyes went on to sweep the Rebels with a 5-4 victo ry in the second game, and improved their record to 4-2.

Repp, who pitched a complete game, raised her record to 2-0. Terri McFarland pitched the second-game victory to go 2-0. Linescores: Page 4S. Blowa signs athloto. Courtney Gillis of Laguna Niguel, has signed a volleyball national letter of intent to attend the University of Iowa.

BNCC playor of wook. Chris Knhlmann, a 6-foot junior guard from Morningside, was named North Central Conference basketball player of the week. Kuhlmann, of Denison, scored 64 points in two weekend games to set a single-season scoring record at Morningside with 622 points. Kuhlmann scored 40 points the most in a game in the league this season and had four assists in a 99-98 overtime loss at Augus- tana (S.D.). He also had a 24-point, four-assist outing in an 88-82 victory against South Dako ta State.

Kuhlmann connected on 26 of 44 shots from the field in the two games. He hit eight of 11 free throws and bad four rebounds, eight assists and two steals. EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC I Pet. 08 New York 35 19 .648 Philadelphia 35 21 .625 1 Boston 32 22 .593 3 Washington 22 34 393 14 NewJersey 13 41 241 22 Miami 11 46 193 25 CENTRAL Pet. OB Detroit 40 15 .727 Chicago 34 20 .630 SH Milwaukee 32 23 .582 8 Indiana 29 26 527 11 Atlanta 26 29 .473 14 Cleveland 25 28 .472 14 Orlando IS 40 273 25 WESTERN CONFERENCE MIDWEST Pet.

08 Utah 39 16 709 San Antonio 37 17 685 14 Dallas 31 23 .674 TVi Denver 29 25 .537 9 Houston 24 30 .444 14 Minnesota 14 40 .259 24 Charlotte 9 43 .173 28Vt PACIFIC Pet. 08 A Lakers 40 13 .755 Portland 37 17 .685 3 Phoenix 35 17 .67" 4Vi Seattle 28 25 .528 12 Golden State 24 30 .444 16 A. Clippers 21 33 .389 19 Sacramento 15 39 .278 25 TODAY'S GAMES 6 30 Charlotte at Orlando 6 30 Houston at Detroit 6 30 New Jersey at Indiana 7 00 Dallas at New York 7 00 Washington at Minnesota 7 30 Milwaukee at Chicago 30 Denver at Phoenix 9 30 Seattle at Los Angeles Clippers 9 30 Cleveland at Portland Boi scoree: Page 4S Sandberg. Those guys show up the first day and look like they do in July. need time to get my timing down." Still, Grace was anything but a slow starter in 1989.

His average didn't drop below .300 after April 23. He batted .321 in April, .306 in May, .333 in June, .347 in July, .284 in August, .308 in September. As for other diversions, Grace took a Phoenix Suns game Saturday night with his wife, Michelle, and did a radio show Sunday. Sandberg played in Lou Boudreau's charity golf tournament Saturday and spent Sunday with his kids. "I've been playing a lot more golf than usual," Sandberg said.

5H3.