The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 141

i "-y (-. -i .11. -ix -j- msl THE PALM BEACH POST FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1997 3C I Dolphins camp notebook STAR STUDENTS: Everyone. "We had one of our best practices today," Jimmy Johnson said. "Our guys were outstanding on goal line and short yardage.

We really improved our football team today." DUNCES DU JOUR: Reporters. Johnson didn't want to discuss much about Yatil Green's injury and was in a hurry to end his post-practice news conference. IN: Three of the injured TE Troy Drayton, WR Lawrence Dawsey and RB Brandon Bennett returned to practice. CB Sam Madison has been bothered by a sore quadriceps, but he practiced. OUT: QB Dan Marino took the afternoon off because the Dolphins were working in short-yardage situations.

QUOTE: "We've got people who monitor that lightning." Johnson, on why the team practiced with bolts flashing through the sky in the distance. INSIDE THE HELMET: He grew up barefoot and without indoor plumbing in tiny Portland, Jamaica, moved to Houston at age 8, and did not play football until high school. But Nicholas Lopez, a fifth-round defensive end, adjusted to technology quickly. So quickly he originally intended to major in computer science at Texas Southern but he switched to criminal justice. "So many blacks are involved from the inside of it, from a locked-up position," Lopez said.

"I wanted to know something from the inside, that I could use to assist those who are locked up." TODAY: Practice at the team's training complex in Davie. Practices are from 9-11 a.m. and p.m. ADMISSION: Free. DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 95 or Florida's Turnpike south to I-595 West.

Exit at University Drive and go left. Go three traffic lights to Southwest 30th Street and turn left. The parking garage is half a mile on the right. INFORMATION: (954) 452-7000. ETHAN J.

SKOLNICK Expectations for Izzo just got higher By STEVE DORSEY Palm Beach Post Staff Writer DAVIE The Dolphins lost more than a backup receiver when Kirby Dar Dar tore an anterior cruciate ligament during Sunday's scrimmage, an injury that likely will cause him to miss most of the season. Dar Dar played a major role on the Dolphins' special teams last season with a team-leading 11 tackles. Dolphins His absence puts the spotlight on second-year linebacker Larry Izzo, a 5-foot-10, 228-pound free-agent signee by the Dolphins last year. Despite not being drafted, Izzo played in all 16 games as a rookie last season and was second behind Dar Dar in special teams tackles with 10. He was a first-team special teams All-Pro selection by Football Digest and a special teams alternate for the AFC Pro Bowl squad.

"It's unfortunate with Dar Dar's injury because you know how hard he works and how important a player he is," Izzo said. "He definitely will be missed." Izzo, a three-year starter at Rice, where he recorded 301 career tackles (fourth all-time in the school's history), disputes the notion of special teams players as football's lunatic fringe. "You just got to be a football player," Izzo said. "Football is running and blocking and tackling, and that's what you do on special teams." Izzo, who last year had the first blocked punt by a Dolphin since 1994, also hopes to see some action on defense, despite an excess of competition at linebacker, where Izzo and nine others are battling for as few as six roster spots. Izzo has moved from middle linebacker to weak-side and said he feels "comfortable" there.

The Sports News NetworS OStfriPfF! I i until Siwimiiff I IT SPORTS Injury likely to sideline WR Green for season I HNkj LORID Ftti(4v healthy, could fill Green's deep threat slot. He has busted some patterns in camp, angering Dan Marino, but also caught numerous long throws against nearly every defensive back. Manning's routes are as precise as any receiver on the roster. Thursday, a Manning inside juke made cornerback Ce-dric Davis look as mobile as a toll booth. But Thomas and Dawsey benefit most.

Each will stick around, unless Miami signs another receiver. With Kevin Williams signing in Arizona, Torrence Small in St. Louis and Brett Perriman and Andre Rison in Kansas City, few free-agent wideouts are available. Michael Haynes, who was released by New Orleans, might be an option. Johnson, though, says he will stick with what he has.

"I like what our receivers are doing," Johnson said at 6:18, "and hopefully, we'll get Yatil back." They might. Just not (Ya)'til next year. DOLPHINS From 1C Johnson had hoped his presence might free up starters O.J. McDuf-fie and Fred Barnett in the same way the drafting of Alvin Harper made Michael Irvin a more prolific player in Dallas. Thursday, before the result of the MRI was known, Johnson tried to temper reactions to the injury.

"Let's not be premature on this thing," Johnson said. "He's got a sprained knee, he'll have an MRI, and we'll see tomorrow." How the Dolphins adjust remains to be seen, after their deep pool has become shallow as a bathtub. Kirby Dar Dar, a top special teams flyer and an improv-; ing receiver, tore an ACL in Sun- day's scrimmage. Only eight ceivers remain in camp, including longshots Dimitrious Stanley and James Dye. Charles Jordan, Lamar rookie Brian Manning and 'Lawrence Dawsey now seem des-V tined to make this team.

Jordan, if 4USA Today9 tabs Ankiel national Player of Year MINUTES AND A CLARITY GUARANTEE. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. CHANNEL FLORIDA All Sprint PCS plans OFFER A LOW 10t A MINUTE RATE ON WEEKDAYS, FROM 7 PM-7AM, AND ALL WEEKEND LONG. www.sprintpcs.com Coming Soon: Sprint PCS Center Country Isles Plaia 1144 Weston Rd, Weston (954) 385-2200 American Beepers (305) 221-0400 Beep USA (305) 551-2128 Cellular Us (305) 386-1400 DJ Sound (305) 887-4100 A Beepers (305) 267-7101 Genesis Communication System (305) 229-3956 World Wide Wireless (305) 513 FREE world's longest test-drive. Take the home with you for an entire have 1,000 free minutes of local should be ample time to prove to 100 digital, 100 PCS connection (CJ uiiwt -SeHM MS i 1 p.

It's like the month. You'll airtime, which yourself that our around for one Sprint Sprint PCS Phone is, indeed, remarkably return the phone of Local corner the second round of this year's amateur baseball draft, he said. Ankiel said he is strongly leaning toward attending the University of Miami, where he has a baseball scholarship, but is still willing to talk with Cardinals officials. "If they come in with what I want (between $5 million) then I guess (going to Miami) would change," he said. GOLF BTwo tied for lead: Brian Gay of Palm Beach Gardens and Graham Davidson of Starkville, moved into a tie for the lead after two rounds of the Golden Bear Tour event at PGA Golf Club in Port St.

Lucie. Gay shot a seven-under-par 65 on the North course. On the South course, Davidson shot 66. At 134, they share a one-shot lead over Rick Price of Stuart heading into today's final round. Leaders: 134: Brian Gay, Palm Beach Gardens, 69-65; Graham Davidson, Starkville, 61-66.

135: Rick Price, Stuart, 70-65. 136: Rob Labriti, Hobe Sound, 71-65; Chris Reeves, Tequesta, 71-65; Mike McNer-ney, West Palm Beach, 67-69; Adam Armagost, Jupiter, 63-73. 137: Damon Green, Orlando, 69-68; Robert Gage, New Smyrna Beach, 68-69. 138: Rodney Butcher, West Palm Beach, 71-67; Clark Burroughs, Pompano Beach, 68-70. 139: Eric Sage, West Palm Beach, 72-67; Don Gammon, South Africa, 70-69.

Gene George, West Palm Beach, 69-70; Rod Curl New Smyrna Beach, 67-72. 140: Sean Clark, Miami Beach, 72-68; Steve Anderson, Orlando, 71-69; Mike Malilia, Palm City, 70-70; Jon Veneziano, West Palm Beach, 70-70; Lloyd Warwick, England, 7O-70, Willy Burnlti, West Palm Beach, 69-71; Tom Carter, Lake Park, 69-71; David Ladd, Atlantis, 69-71; Brent Schwarirock, St. Simons Island, 69-71; John Nleporte, Boca Raton, 68-72; Jeffrey Williams, Winter Park, 68-72; Roy Biancalana, Lake Mary, 67-73; Eddie Maffo, Hilton Head Island, 67-73. Wellington's Harris wins: Chad Harris of Wellington shot a four-under-par 68 for a 135 total and a one-shot victory over Chad Couch in the South Florida Tour event at Winston Trail in Lake Worth. 135: Chad Harrison, Wellington, 67-68, $2,000.

136: Chad Couch, North Lauderdale, 70-66, $1,200 138: Marty Stanovlch, Tamarac, 68-70, S900. 139: Scott Brassard, Davie, 68-71, 5700. 140: Brian Johnson, Coral Springs, 66-75, 5575. Others Included 142: John Lynch, West Palm Beach, S4O0. BASKETBALL Stanley benefit postponed: The Belle Glade basketball tournament to raise money for Demale Stanley has been postponed from this weekend until next month because of a scheduling conflict.

By JULIUS WHIGHAM II Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Port St. Lucie baseball coach Messina has often said Rick Ankiel was one of the best, if not the best, high school players in the So have opposing coaches "who have had to face Ankiel's -90 mph fastball. i' The voters for the USA Today All-USA baseball team agreed. The newspaper named the fort St. Lucie pitcher as its nation--ial high school baseball Player of 'the Year.

"I was pretty excited about it," "Ankiel said Thursday from Joplin, where he is trying out for USA. "I found out about it -late (Wednesday) afternoon. They called here looking for me and I 'asked what it was about; someone said 'Take a Ankiel beat out Englewood, outfielder Darnell as the top vote getter in a poll college recruiters and pro scouts, said USA Today sports-writer Dave Krider, who selects 'the team. "He was clearly the guy who got the most votes," Krider said. "Besides, he had a phenomenal season." Ankiel, The Palm Beach Post Player of the Year and a first team Class 5A All-State selection, went 11-1 during his senior season, in-i eluding three no-hitters, to help the Jaguars reach the Class 5A regional finals.

Ankiel was one of five Florida players named to the All-USA I team, the most selections ever in the same year from one state. The other Florida players in-' eluded infielders Troy Cameron of Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aqui-: nas, Brett Groves of Tampa Bay Tech and Jason Romano of Tampa-- Hillsborough and outfielder Pat-I rick Boyd of Clearwater Central Catholic. Ankiel has been in Joplin, Mo. since last Saturday participating in the Team USA tryouts.

Eighteen "players out of 51 will be selected Saturday, and the team will com- pete in international games in Can-" ada. Meanwhile, there has been no progress made with the St. Louis Cardinals, who selected Ankiel in I clear. If you're not convinced, for a full refund. If you are, stick our excellent rate plans.

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