The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 30

13 3 SFC. AL West LOCK MEMO MKT I Anaheim Wiefieacon Journal Detroit" 1098 In Business Charles Schafcr quits as head of Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems. C6 at Texas late Eastern League 11 EBUSINESS Akron Portland 3 2 A different tale on the Tiger He isn't winning as much. His line of clothing isn't selling. All the same, Woods is more than just a golfer I World Series of Golf NEC Opening Ceremony one, because they saw where he had been, and suddenly, they understood.

Tiger anything about Woods, it's that. He will not win every tournament he plays. He will not Time: 3 p.m., today I Site: First tee. South Course By Miciiael Weinreb Beacon Journal stiff writer For a moment, he disappeared, and the crowds lost him, and the cameras lost him, and in the midst of the PGA Championship, no one knew where Tiger Woods had gone. There was nothing but a caddy and a golf bag and this eerie void.

But as rapidly as he had vanished, he reappeared. And a wave of realization washed over every the Masters and five other tournaments since joining the PGA Tour. But he's won only one American tournament since, and when you go from winning all the time to not winning very often, people start to wonder where you have gone. Even when you haven't gone anywhere. It's just that sometimes, when See Woods, Page C3 Woods was coming from the bathroom.

"Look," someone said. "He's not Superman." No. He's not. If the past year has taught us win every major. He will not win every Masters.

It's different this time around. Last year, Woods came to the NEC World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club having won PHIL MASTUHZOBeacon Journal Tile photo In his first appearance at the World Series of Golf last year, Tiger Woods finished with a 278 total, tied for third. "After a week, I'd say C.C. was accepted by nearly everyone." Burlington Pitching coach carl Willis rOTnYn WieJI-a 'fiffk Tribe's slump: Going strong Why have Indians been a team since June Theories abound 7 rrn ti on ti slum wei Ik. PHIL MASTUKZO Beacon Journal By Sheldon Ocker Hcnani Journal stuff' writer The numbers continue to baffle Indians watchers.

Since June 8, 33-34; since the All-Star Game, 21-23; since the end of July, 9-12. Those are records of the team that leads the Central Division by a whopping 12'4 games. In fact, even though the Tribe is one game below .500 since June 8, Cleveland has gained two games in the standings. We know the source of some of the problems. David Justice, Sandy Alomar and -until the last week or so -Kenny Lofton have been in batting slumps for most of the season.

Jim Thome has been sidelined since Aug. 8 Mariners at Indians Time: 7:05 tonight Site: Jacobs Field TV: FOX Sports Ohio Pitchers: Bill Swift (10-7, 5.47) vs. Charles Nagy (10-9, 5.62) with a frac- tured bone in his hand. "Jim Thome is the engine of this team," Omar Vizquel said. PHIL MASTURZOBeacon Journal C.C.

Sabathia is the Tribe's top pick this year, but that's not why his initials are on the wall in Burlington. Actually it's an ad for a local bank. Above, the big lefty stretches. Top-pick Sabathia can pitch, get along Life in Baseball's Rookie League BURLINGTON, N.C. hey are the marked men.

Instead of a number on the This is the third of a three-part series np backs of their uniforms, 1 they should wear signs. "Him not being here has hurt us a lot. Even though Richie Sexson is doing a great job, we really miss Jim in the lineup." The starting pitching, so exemplary the first half of the season, has fallen back a bit. Until the arrival of Steve Reed, the bullpen had difficulty getting from the starter to the closer. And the one trouble area that can't be quantified with statistics, yet might be the biggest reason for Cleveland's inconsistency -lack of motivation.

There is clear and convincing evidence that no matter how poorly the Indians perform, no team in the Central Division is capable of threatening their lead. So why worry and why play with intensity? Ask Vizquel what's wrong with See Tribe, Page C5 It always works like that in rookie ball. The No. 1 picks are the chosen few, the anointed ones. The other players know that no matter how poorly Sabathia pitches, how much of a pain in the butt he becomes' -he is on a long leash with lots of attention from the coaches and front office.

Being the No. 1 pick buys you lots of time and love. It also makes your teammates hate you. Then they met Sabathia. They discovered he had just turned 18, See PICK, Page C5 makes $850 per month.

He stays in a small room with a teammate at Kirk's Motor Lodge, which is the home of every Burlington player. The difference is the signing bonus. White received $35,000. Ninth-round pick and leading hitter Paul Day signed for $50,000. A few of the Latin players were given little more than a ticket to the United States and a Burlington uniform.

Meanwhile, C.C. Sabathia received $1.3 million. The Indians' first-round draft pick last June, Sabathia signed late not arriving in Burlington until the end of July. By then, most of the players had friends. Cliques had formed.

In his first day with Burlington, Sabathia found himself standing alone in the outfield during batting practice. He was the new kid in class. He felt hard, suspicious eyes staring at him, but few hands were extended his way. "Everybody knows who the first-round picks are," Matt White said. "Not just on your team, but every team.

And when you face them, you bear down a little harder." White is a pitcher for the Burlington Indians, Cleveland's rookie league farm club. He is not a first-round pick His name wasn't called until the 15th round. Like all the other members of the Burlington Indians, White ----'TfTir-ilrimini muffii TERRY Pluto Rockers keep rolling to Game 3 Search for AD at Akron to concentrate on three Interviews of candidates scheduled for this week Cleveland edges Phoenix 67-66 in Game 2 to tie playoff series "I think we're well within the timetable that we had anticipated. We gave ourselves the month ofAugusttogetthis process completed We're pleased with the progress of the search." Dr. Joseph Walton Head of the University of Akron 's search coin ittee to recommend a new athletic director BY ROLAND QlTEEN Beacon Journal staff writer The Cleveland Rockers earned the right to play another day tonight specifically as they avoided elimination from the WNBA playoffs with a thrilling 67-66 victory over the stubborn and talented Phoenix Mercury.

Phoenix's Jennifer Gillom has been a Rockers killer all seasoa She has scored at will against the Rockers with the pressure off, and she has buried clutch shots when the game was on the line. Last night before 10,465 emotionally drained fans at Gund Arena, the Rockers were fighting and clawing to keep their season afloat, Gillom once again was given the opportunity to beat Cleveland for the fifth time in as many meetings three in the regular season and twice in the current WNBA semifinal series. Trailing the Rockers by one point with See WIN, Page C5 Ruebel said he and the Board of Trustees hope to reach a decision by the end of this week. The list for the position includes St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) AD Dr.

David L. Diles, University of North Dakota AD Dr. Terry Wan-less and Syracuse associate direc- See AKRON, Page C3 by Jason butler Beacon Journal staff writer By scheduling interviews with three candidates this week, the University of Akron took a big step toward achieving its goal of finding a new athletic director by the beginning of the school year. Classes start on Monday, and university president Marion A. Inside Terry Pluto says there's never been anything like it at Gund Arena as the Rockers eke out a victory, Page C5.