The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 21

tote ttJjfctMtf UtiHft'Mi iltKMU Award-winners The Beacon Journal placed The Beacon Journal won four second in Best Daily Section, awards in the Ohio Associated Staff writer Ralph Paulk Press' sportswriting contest for placed third in the Investigative daily newspapers with circula- Enterprise category for his story tions of more than 100,000. on the outbreak of violence at Columnist Terry Pluto placed high school basketball games, first in Features for his story on The Beacon Journal placed Rick Barry, the former NBA star third in the Special Section who spent part of last season as category for its preview of the coach of Fort Wayne of the Con- World Series of Golf, featuring the tinental Basketball Association. Firestone North course. The Beacon Journal Wednesday, April 26, 1995 America's Cup A race to decide the defender's title between Stars Stripes and America3 was postponed from yesterday until today. Page C2.

Baseball The Los Angeles Dodgers top the Florida Marlins 8-7 in the first major-league game since Aug. 12. Page C5. Mickey Monus BUSINESS Horses, Page 2 Trivia, Page 3 Jury selection begins in retrial of executive. PageC6.

owns to mack some 3r power Signing Lorenzo White gives team a hard-hitting back like Kevin Mack iL I 1 1 1, 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 1 1 II 1.11 II III 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 II I. IM I II I III. III. WW I I 1 1 1 I Browns schedule According to the NFL, the Cleveland Browns are ready for prime time next season. The team will make eight appearances on national TV.

Page C4. White ran for 4,079 yards on 1,000 carries. "You know what you've got with Lorenzo White," Belichick said. "That's what we're paying for, and that's what we're happy with." White once went 485 consecutive plays without fumbling. In what might have been the finest moment of his NFL career, he tore through the heart of Beli- By Ed Meyer Beacon Journal slaffuiriler Lorenzo White, who signed with the Browns as a free agent yesterday, looked long and hard at his dark brown jersey.

It was No. 34, the same number worn by one of the hardest hitting running backs in Browns history, Kevin Mack. Seated in the middle of a table during a press conference at Browns headquarters in Berea, White picked up that old, familiar jersey as the cameras fired away and said: "I hope he left some of Lorenzo White and Coach Bill Belichick laugh at a joke during a press conference yesterday to announce White's signing. Associated Press ometning Jyissing Indians add a ringer, or rather, Infielder David gets shot in majors, just like father and grandfather By Sheldon Ocker Buffalo, N.Y.: As he walked down the dugout steps after batting practice yesterday, David Bell encountered a reporter. "You know, you made history today, David," the writer said.

"Well, not yet," Bell said. "Not until Thursday." The Indians called up Bell to take the roster spot of Sandy Alomar, who has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. that strength in there." Strength is what the White signing is all about. Asked if White will battle Leroy Hoard for the starting job in the backfield next season, Coach Bill Belichick said: "The better battle will be between Lorenzo and Pepper Johnson. That's where the contact will be." White, 29, built a solid reputation as a power runner with the Houston Oilers.

In seven years, he became the team's second-leading rusher behind the king of all power backs, Earl Campbell. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, Campbell ran for 8,574 yards on 1,979 carries over seven seasons with the Oilers. --I msamMummmm wmmmm JOCELYN WU JAMS Beacon Journal "Hot Rod" Williams said he would ,11995 PLAYOFFS CAVAUERS at KNICKS What First-round series! (best of five) Where 7 p.m. tomorrow Site: Madison Square Garden TV: TBS. SportsChannel incredible barrage See CAVS, Page C5 chick's defense on a 60-yard screen play that set up the decisive touchdown in the final minutes of a 17-14 win over the Browns at the Stadium in December 1992.

The loss mathematically eliminated the Browns from the playoffs. "If we lose that game, we were out and the Browns were in," White said. "So I had to give my best effort to put my team ahead, and I did. Now that I'm with the Browns, I'll do the same here." White signed a three-year contract worth $2.75 million, including a $650,000 signing bonus. His 1995 salary-cap value is $517,000, with base salaries of $900,000 in 1996 and 1997.

The Oilers had offered White $500,000 for the season. a Be Although Bell is officially on the team, the Indians don't open the season until tomorrow night against Texas in Arlington. And, it was typical of Bell not to get ahead of the story or take anything for granted. But how does a rookie make history his first day on a major-league roster? When the Indians promoted Bell, he became the third generation of his family to play in the big leagues. David's grandfather Gus was a slugging outfielder, mostly for the Cincinnati Reds, 40 years ago.

David's father Buddy had a distin- See TRIBE, Page C5 just weakness that can be erased only by hard work. However, Hart clearly is concerned that Alomar's knee problems be completely resolved before he plays in a game. "We just want to make sure there are belts and suspenders on this thing," Hart said. "We don't want to be dealing with some sort of mystery." Alomar's knee was surgically See SANDY, Page C5 "So far, we've had a good season. But if we go the rest of the way, I don't think anybody is going to be happy about it." Jim Benedict Akron pikher But you don't hear about all the ones who don't.

"Jim's elbow looks like a road map. It's amazing the way he has come back this year." As a whole, Akron's pitching staff was a major question mark entering the season. But Benedict's comeback (4-3 with a 3.26 eamed- See ZIPS, Page C3 7 I Tribe want to be sure with Alomar Catcher put on disabled list, will miss first week He never knew his mother and hardly knows his father, but Cavs' Williams has used past to build a future There are times when John Williams thinks about his father. "If my daddy wanted to come to the playoff game (tomorrow) in New York, I'd leave him a ticket," the Cavs center said. "Then I'd take him out to dinner so we could talk about some things." Williams is 32 years old and a father himself.

He also named his four children for himself John Johnfrancis, Johnpaul and his daughter, Johnna. "I want them to know that they always have a daddy, and I want them to know who their daddy is," he said. "I never got to know mine." Williams is the son of John Washington and Anne Williams. He was only six months old when his mother died of leukemia at age 29. After the funeral, John Washington said he was going to the store.

He left Williams at the home of his grandfather his feeble, blind grandfather. Washington never returned. "I always wanted to know why he left me like that," Williams said. "I'm not going to hold it against him. Not anymore.

I guess it was what he had to do. But I'd like to hear him explain it to me." Williams isn't asking for sympathy. He will tell you that he is lucky. A neighbor named Barbara Colar found him crying on his grandfather's porch, took him in "and raised me like her own." But he also wonders about his family, about what might have been. "I was real excited, because a year ago, my mama (Colar) found a picture of my mother (Anne Williams)," he said.

"It was all brown and tattered around the edges, but I gave it to an artist, See MISS, Page C5 Terry Pluto 't 1 By Sheldon Ocker Beacm Journal staff writer Buffalo, N.Y.: As expected, Sandy Alomar was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday and will be out until at least May 4. Alomar remains in Cleveland awaiting further examination of his knee by doctors at Lutheran Medical Center, but General Manager John Hart does not expect any change in Alomar's prognosis. That is, he doubts that doctors will find any structural damage, Zips pitcher well-armed once again Benedict comes back from elbow operation, is throwing better than ever by Roland Queen Beacon Journal staff writer Before the University of Akron's baseball season began, junior lefthander Jim Benedict could only look at his surgically repaired pitching elbow and wonder if he could resurrect his career. Benedict missed all of the 1994 season after reconstructive ligament surgery on his elbow. And after an arduous off-season rehabilitation program, he no idea what to expect this spring.

"His prognosis was tenuous at best," said Akron coach Dave Fross. "Obviously, you hear about the few guys that make it back after the 'Tommy John' surgery. Despite seeing his father only once since he was a baby, Cavs center John be willing to talk to him if his father contacted him first. Cavs in playoffs, who cares? Interest is minimal as Cleveland readies for series against powerful Knicks starting tomorrow of Cavaliers merchandise, none of comes it going anywhere. through vir-What gives? tually every "I guess there are some loyal time the fans rooting for them, but that's Cavs and more in blind faith," said Bill Nee- their show-die, a former Cavs spokesman down with who hosts a morning show on the Knicks WKNR.

are men- "The real feeling is that the tioned. Cavs have done the best they Much of could this year, and nobody's get- the apathy ting their hopes up for the play- stems from the about the Browns and the Indians and more about the Browns and the Indians. Step up to the ticket window at Gund Arena, and you'll be told that thousands of seats remain for Game 3 on Monday possibly the Cavs' lone home playoff appearance. Walk into any area sporting goods store, and you'll see racks BYBARTHUBBUCH Beacon Journal stqff 'writer What if they held an NBA playoff series and nobody cared? It sounds harsh, but it's not much of a stretch when describing local interest in the Cavaliers' first-round matchup against the New York Knicks. Scan any sports talk show in Cleveland, and you'll hear plenty That sense of resignation.