Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 100

H2 Asbury Park PressSunday, August 9, 1992 BY ELLIOTT OENMAN Moltissimes grades, thank you, Barcelona i If I had to blame anybody, I would, blame myself. I'm sure I just overdid it on my own. Joe Montana SAN F9ANC5C0 49RS QUARTERBACK ON THE P906LEMS hE HAVING IN TRYING TO RETURN FROM ELBOW SURGERY .1 1 Stops MM Flowing Rivers Reggie Rivers, in his second year as a running back for the Denver Broncos, has quite a little media empire going. A journalism major when he attended Southwest Texas State, Rivers is writing a syndicated column that appears in four newspapers the Rocky Mountain News, the Laramie (Wyo.) Daily Boomerang, the Billings (Mont.) Gazette and the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal. Of course, there is always the chance that Rivers won't be around to fill his appointed space.

His column in the Rocky Mountain News appears with this explanation: "Bronco running back Reggie Rivers' column will appear on Sunday as long as he is with the team." Ettu, Peie? Conveniently forgetting about all of those 1-1 games, former soccer star Pele considers the media's lack of support to be a major reason why his sport has yet to take hold in the United States. "When I played here (in the old North American Soccer League), I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated only one time," he said during a recent appearance in Los Angeles to promote a credit card company for which he works. "You see every other sport on the cover. Never soccer. This is not fair.

Soccer in the states is a reality." Add Peie The game's greatest scorer, Peie had 97 goals in international competition for his native Brazil. His son, however, is a goalkeeper. Said Pele: "Maybe he doesn't want the comparisons." Forgettable Skip Bayless writes in the Dallas Observer: "As. an American, I'm embarrassed to be represented at the Olympics by Charles Barkley. His brainless comments can make him the ugliest of Americans." It's the 1984 model According to South African journalist Hugh Mervyn Eley, taxis in his country are known as either "Zola Budds" or "Mary Deckers." A Zola, he savs is fasrpr Hnwpvpr a 7n1a hpcnmps a Marv 1 Associated Press CHOP, CHOP Competing in their own traditional sports some 200 miles away from the Olympics in Barcelona, Basque athletes Josu Mendieta (front) and Inaki Azumendi show off their wood chopping skills.

Unforgettable Even with all his great years as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' "Steel Curtain," Joe Greene is often best remembered for the soft-drink commercial that played so sweetly off his "Mean Joe" image. Witness this exchange, reported by Scott Fowler of the Miami Herald, between Greene, now the Miami Dolphins' defensive line coach, and cornerback Kerry Glenn after a recent practice: Green (sweating profusely): "Kerry, get me a couple of towels, will you?" Glenn: "What'd you say you want, Joe? A Coke?" Green (now growling): "A towel." Glenn: "A Coke?" According to Fowler, Greene finally gave up and got the towels himself. When do the finals begin? They raged for two weeks and two days. Qui es el primer? Quien es el primero? Who was first? Segon, se-gundo, second? Tercer, tercero, third? Whoever it was, in the big picture, it wasn't the biggest thing. Much bigger was entering the arena, making a heck of an effort, and earning the simple privilege for life of being called "Olympian." L'equip espanyol has guanyat.

El equipo espanol ha ganado. The Spanish team has won. All over the place, likely spots and otherwise. Good on them. Aixo es nou record olimpic.

Esto es nuevo record olimpico. That's a new Olympic record. Ha millorat el record mondial. Ha mejorado la plusmarca mun-dial. He has broken the world record.

These were among Barcelona's favorite words. Soc periodista America. Soy pe-riodista Americano. I'm an American journalist. I was lucky to be here.

The privilege was all ours. There was thrill after thrill, provided by the men and women of Team Everywhere. Germany was one, the Baltic States were back. So were Ethiopia and Cuba and South Africa, and more. The Soviets may have been Uni-fieds but they hardly missed a beat.

Except the beaten-down Sergei Bubka, whose early exit again proved that even the greatest champions get no byes to the victory platform. Some of the millionaire pros had themselves a ball alongside those who occupy the real world. Jennifer Capriati bubbled over. Many of the Dream Team actually called it fun and games, at the Games. Es poden aconseguirencara en-trades per a las clausura? Se puede conseguir todavia entradas para la clausura? Can tickets still be obtained for the closing ceremonies? Hardly.

Except for a ton or two of pesetas. No cal dir. Por su-puesto. Of course. What did you expect? It's diumenge, domingo, it's Sunday.

It's tonight. They put out the flame. They say their goodbyes. Let me say this. Li estic obligat.

Le estroy obligado. Much obliged. For 16 days, that flame warmed our hearts. Qunia llastima. Excusa, las-tima.

What a shame, a good thing's now got to end. Es increible. Es increible. It's incredible, what this city has done. All good things, however, must end.

Adeu, senyoras, senyors. Adios, senoras, senors. Good-bye, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for everything, Barcelona. Multes gracias.

El gust es meu. El gusto es mio. The pleasure is mine. Adeu. Adios.

Farewell. Fins aviat. Hasta luego. See you later. Hauria d'anar me'n.

Tendria que irme. I should go now. Entesos? Es clar? Entendido? Esta claro? Is all that understood? Is it clear? If, in the distant possibility it is not, don't blame me, blame my phrase book. Esta claro! Elliott Denman is an Asbury Park Press staff writer. Bye-bye, Barcelona.

Faci el favor. Haga el favor. Please be so kind. Barcelona, accept my thanks. In Catalan, Spanish, English, whatever.

I really mean this. You've done one terrific job. You've gone above and beyond. You gave us terrific facilities, terrific people, terrific days, terrific nights. All right, the weather was not terrific.

Too much heat, too steamy. But who would dare be so ugly as to complain? Will there be less steam in Atlanta, 1996? Was there less in Los Angeles, 1984? There were medals and records and headlines for some, honor and glory for all. Well, nearly all all except those who brought it down upon their own heads. This Games of the XXV Olympiad will go down with the best. Shooting was limited to Camp de Tir Olimpic de Mollet.

That's the firing range. You took the No. 253 bus to get there. Boxing was at Pavello Joventut Badalona. You took the No.

234 bus. Apart from a few frayed feelings that are normal in human commerce, there were no further fisticuffs. Or any other violence. Moltissimes grades. Muchismas gracias.

Thank you very much, Barcelona. Parla angles? Habla usted ingles? Do you speak English? Who is so gauche as to think Barcelonans should? No matter. They spoke Olympish everywhere. The messages got through. Hardly a thought was lost in passage.

These Games were subtitled "Friends for Life." Wonderful idea, wonderful. Even if it's amigos ma-nana, or still friends in September, it's a triumph. It took the efforts of a volunteer army of many thousands to keep this Games going, from coming unglued. They did it all with a smile. En que puc ajudarlo? En que puedo ayudarle? What can I do for you? It was asked so often a visitor ran out of answers.

We had our pre-Games doubts. We weren't so sure. We had no reason to be. Barcelona, your city and its people have done themselves proud. Ouc dir-li una cosa.

Puedo dcirle algo. May I tell you something? Engorabona. Enhorabuenra. Congratulations. The signs were out from the beginning.

Benvinguts, Bienvinods, Welcome. And all the flags. The city opened its arms, and the world came. Molt de gust. Mucho gusto.

Pleased to meet you. Guests loved to hear those words. So what if visitors misread or mal-pronounced words from the phrase book? Doni'm un pollastre sencer. Deme un polio entero. Give me a half chicken.

No one got less. Quin es el seuo esport favorit? Cual es su deporte favorite? What's your favorite sport? Atletisme, at-lesmo, track and field athletics? Rem, remo, rowing? Basquetbol, ba-loncestro, basketball? Halterofilia, levantamineto de pesos, was all here and it all hung out. Quan comencen les finals? Cuando comiezan las finales? i wv.m when it is in vol ved in an accident. Attention, TripieCast fans ESPN plans to devote 6V2 hours of live coverage to baseball's expansion draft in November. Quiz answer Golfer Sam Snead.

According to "Green Cathedrals," a book on baseball stadiums, Snead teed up a golf ball at home plate on April 14, 1951, and drove it to the scoreboard. The book reports that no batter has accomplished the feat, although some, including the late Roberto Clemente, have come close. The Los A ngeles Times WHO HIT the only ball to reach the scoreboard at Chicago's Wrigley Field? Temple's Cabrera has paid his dues Joe zedalis "I thought Rashod looked very good in the state all-star game," Graber said. Swinger will be working at one of the few positions that a freshman will have a chance to break through for playing time. "Obviously, as your program gets better, it becomes more and more difficult for a freshman to earn playing time," Graber said.

"But we never rule that out. If a freshman can help us win, he's going to play. "If by some miracle one of the freshmen can help us as an edge (outside) pass rusher, or as a kick returner or a great corner, he's going to play." Graber said decisions will have to be made on which side of the ball newcomers Mike Fullman, from Roselle, and Andre Saunders, from Salem, will play. Fullman is a speed-burning wide receiver-defensive back. Saunders is a two-way lineman.

Another area fresh-" man, former Red Bank wide receiver Eric Harris did not qualify academi-, cally. Rutgers will rent four sets of ble lights to illuminate Rutgers Sta-. dium for its Sept. 17 game against', Pittsburgh. Rutgers athletic director Fred Gruninger also said additional, lights have been rented for parking, areas at Rutgers.

The lights will be in the southeast, southwest, northeast and northwest corners of the stadium. For appearing on ESPN against the Panthers, Rutgers will received approximately $350,000 the largest payday in university athletic history. Joe Zedalis is an Asbury Park Press staff writer. the Owls after finishing with 37 tackles last season. Rutgers coach Doug Graber welcomes 27 newcomers to camp today.

The Scarlet Knights' veterans report Thursday. Among the freshmen who will be put through strength and speed tests today is defensive lineman Rashod Swinger from Manalapan. Graber said Swinger will get work at all the defensive line positions. 1 (EMErrWrr Teaching geography using the There was quite an assemblage of talent at Big East Football Conference media day Thursday at Giants Stadium. Miami's Gino Torretta, the potential All-America quarterback was there.

Qadry "The Missle" Ismail from Syracuse was there. Arian Murrell, the all-conference running back from West Virginia, was there. There, too, was Efrain Cabrera, dressed in two-tone cowboy boots, faded jeans and a dress shirt that was stretched to the seams by his chiseled upper body. Cabrera, a graduate of Keyport High School, was one of the surprise Temple University representatives. "Hey," he said immediately, "I've worked hard for this." There is no denying that Cabrera has paid his dues.

Still, it was unusual to see a school showcasing a fullback who carred the ball only 23 times last year. "Efrain is an excited football player," Temple head coach Jerry Berndt said. "Pound for pound he is one of the strongest players on our team. He is going to get a chance to carry the ball." Berndt went so far as to say that Temple modified its offensive structure just to make sure that Cabrera gets the ball in his hands. "Every time he touches it, he has a chance to break it," Berndt said.

Besides being the strongest player on the team (a 445-pound bench press) Cabrera is also one of the fastest. He recently turned in a 4.3-second 40 yard dash. "I've been hearing about the changes in our offense," Cabrera said. "But coach hasn't said anything to me yet." Cabrera's new lofty stature in the offensive scheme will be a surprise. At least Berndt hopes it will be for the opposition.

"I deserve the opportunity," said six-foot, 225-pound Cabrera. "Just let me carry it. Just let me get into the clear and use my speed." After carrying only 73 times for 343 yards in three prior seasons, Cabrera will finally have his wishes granted. "I want to dominate," Cabrera said. "I'll jump over people or run over people if I have to.

I'm still crazy." Jerold Jeffcoat, who also played at Keyport, is expected to play a major role for Temple on defense. Jeffcoat, a newlywed, is No. 1 at nose tackle for NFL season? LIVE EVENTS BASEBALL Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Bronx N.Y., m. Expos vs.

Phillies at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. FOOTBALL Bengals vs. Giants at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, 7 p.m. HORSE RACING Monmouth Park, Oceanport, thoroughbreds, 1:05 p.m. post time.

PDGSKDN ETCIMIJW Yes, It's truel See how this exciting program fits into your curriculum (grades 4-10) at a special teachers' workshop at the Asbury Park Press in Neptune. This workshop will be conducted by the creator of PIGSKIN GEOGRAPHY, Al Wilson. 7-11 p.m., Channels 3, 4 Track and field-men's marathon; men's volleyball-gold medal game; closing ceremony; special feature-gold medal gymnastics performances. BASEBALL Red Sox at Yankees, 1:30 p.m., Channel 11,770 AM. Expos at Phillies, 1 :30 p.m., Channel 29.

1210 AM. Dodgers at Braves. 2 p.m., TBS. White Sox at Angels, 4 p.m., WGN. Mets at Cubs, 8 p.m., ESPN, 660 AM.

FOOTBALL Bengals at Giants, 8 p.m., Channel 11, TNT. OOLF Bulck Open, Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, final round, 3:30 p.m., Channels 2, 10. Digital Seniors Classic. Nashawtuc Country Club, Concord, final round. 5:30 p.m., ESPN.

TENNIS Volvo Open, Los Angeles, men's singles final, 7 p.m., MSG Network. AUTO RACINO NASCAR Budweiser at the Glen from Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, 1 p.m., ESPN. Wednesday, August 26 TIME: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Call Karen Smith, NIE Coordinator to sign up today space is limited! Registration deadline: Friday, August 21 1-800-822-9770 x3240 TVRADIO OLYMPICS 8-11 a.m., Channels 3, 4 Equestrian-Individual Jumping final. Noon-6 p.m., Channels 3.

4 Boxing-finals; water polo-bronze medal and gold medal games. Special feature-gold medal highlights of the Barcelona Olympics. Including swimming, track and field and diving. Newspaper in Education ASBURY PARK PRESS.