The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 25

PORTS THE BEACON JOURNAL TUESDAY, DEC. 29,1987 SECTION Holiday is over Horse racing 2 for area college College football 3 cage teams 4 classified 6 ixon again Playoffs mean time for drama But Browns are strictly business is honored as All-Pro Cornerback is only-Browns first-teamer By Ed Meyer Beacon Journal staff writer Associated Prftss Jim. ill i mmnm inn inw mi-. jjhi -fi i i i 1 V-v iv 1 4k 1 'v 5 )f tii.f trylir AviW The playoffs. Think of what those words would mean to the people who follow the Buffalo Bills.

They haven't seen their team in the playoffs since 1981. The Browns, who have made the playoffs for three years in a row, were informed by the NFL that they will play either Indianapolis or Seattle in the divisional playoffs at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Cleveland Stadium. The playoffs.

A Cleveland-Seattle matchup would mean that the Browns' Dawg defense, led by Pro Bowl cornerbacks Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, would have the chance to put a collar and leash on the Seahawks' Pro Bowl wide receiver, Steve Largent. A Cleveland-Indianapolis matchup would mean that the Browns would have a shot at sweet revenge. Their last defeat, Dec. 6 at the Stadium, was against the Colts. The playoffs.

Think of what the players and coaches in Buffalo might say if they knew they had a shot at Largent and Seattle, or Eric Dickerson and the Colts. In Cleveland, it almost sounds as though the playoffs have become commonplace to Browns coach Marty Schot-tenheimer. "All of that stuff is meaningless," Schottenheimer said, referring to the dramatic elements of the playoffs. "The only thing that's important is for us to See SCnOTTENIIEIMER, page D3 New York Browns cornerback Hanford Dixon Monday was named to the Associated Press All -Pro team for the second year in a row. Dixon, who intercepted three passes this season, was the only Browns player named to the first team.

Browns cornerback Frank Minnifield, who will start with Dixon for the American Football Conference in the Pro Bowl, was a second-team pick. The other first-team All-Pro cornerback was Barry Wilburn of the Washington Redskins. Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers, who set two NFL receiving records despite the strike that cut four games from his season, was the only unanimous All-Pro choice. Rice, from Mississippi Valley State, set marks by catching touchdown passes in 13 consecutive regular-season games dating to last year, and by making 22 touchdown catches in 12 games. The latter figure broke the 1984 mark of 18 touchdowns set by Miami's Mark Clayton In 16 games.

San Francisco, which had the league's best record at 13-2, placed three other players on the first team quarterback Joe Montana, nose tackle Michael Carter and safety Ronnie Lott. Three sportswriters or broadcasters representing every NFL city selected the squad. A total of 19 of the league's 28 teams placed players on the 2G-man first team. After San Francisco, only four teams had two selections the Redskins, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. The team also featured an oddity.

Named at running backs were Eric Dickerson, who was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to Indianapolis at mid-season, and former Brown Charles White, the man who replaced Dickerson on the Rams and led the NFL in rushing. The team also excluded Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor for the first time in his 7-year career. Taylor, last year's league MVP, made the second team. He was edged by two votes by teammate Carl Banks. Andre Tippett of New England was the other outside linebacker.

The rest of the offensive first team included: Wide receiver Gary Clark of Washington. Tight end Mark Bavaro of the Giants. Tackles Anthony Munoz of Cincinnati and Gary Zimmerman of Minnesota. Guards Bill Fralic of Atlanta and Mike Munchak of Houston. Center Dwight Stephenson of Miami.

Kicker Morten Andersen of New Orleans. Kick-returner Vai Sikahema of St. Louis. The defense also included: Ends Reggie White of Philadelphia and Bruce Smith of Buffalo. Tackle Steve McMichaol of Chicago.

Inside linebackers Mike Singletary of the Bears and Fredd Young of Seattle. Safety Joey Browner of Minnesota. Punter Jim Arnold of Detroit. Tickets remain for Browns game The Browns announced Monday that about 2,000 tickets remained for their first playoff game at Cleveland Stadium. The remaining tickets will go on sale this morning, beginning at 8 o'clock, at the Stadium box office and through the Browns' Teletron phone service.

The numbers to call are 524-0000 (in Cleveland) and 1-800-362-0400 (toll free, outside of Cleveland). There is a limit of four tickets per customer. Anyone buying tickets at the Stadium must pay in cash. Ticket prices, set by the league, are $26, $23 and $15. The Browns will play either Seattle or Indianapolis at 12:30 p.m.

Jan. 9. beacon journal pnoiuSiiMn Klrkman All-Pro Hanford Dixon is congratulated by Eddie Johnson after interception against Stcclers Air Wars: Drennan's hiring sets off talk-show hosts Drennan: "I speak my mind. The fact Is that Pete and I hate each other and here's why. When I was backing him up on WWWE, he called me illiterate, an amateur, the scum of the earth and we were supposed to be on the same team? One day, I challenged him in the lobby and I told him to shut up.

"Listen, the fact is that Pete's day is over. He took the money and went to New York, where he'll work a year or two and they'll put him out to pasture. Pete had been stale in this market for quite a while." Brinda: "Now that Pete has gone, the current sports talk-show scene has changed dramatically. It's a wide-open game. I think my kind of show is See AIR WARS, page D4 new Sportsline.

Brinda says he will call Franklin next week and for an in-depth interview about how Franklin has had a very strong first four months in New York. Drennan says he hates Franklin, and Drennan says it about a million times an hour. It all adds up Air Wars. Just listen in: Franklin: "Bruce Drennan? Who's he? I have nothing to say about Bruce Drennan. It would be far beneath me to comment on a talent like that." Drennan: "That's because Pete knows that of all the guys in the country, I'm the only one who could replace him on the show.

I'm his only threat. We have despised each other's guts for years, and nothing will ever change that." Franklin: "I went off Sportsline in May, and it has taken them until now to find someone to re place me. I am astonished by that. When Jack Kennedy was shot, they had a guy lined up in a few minutes, but it has taken them seven months to replace Pete Franklin. In the interim, they tried a million guys baseball card salesmen, bar owners, amateurs, bookies, you name it.

What that tells me is the new owners don't have the money to pay anybody." Brinda: "It won't be easy for Bruce. Pete was a unique talent. The fans liked and respected him. Sportsline wasn't a popular show, it was Pete Franklin who made it the most popular sports talk show in the country. I think some fans will be bothered by what Bruce is saying about Pete.

List spring, Bruce said in the Like County News Her ald that he was glad Pete had a heart attack. How can you say that?" By Terry Pluto Beftcon Joufnal staff writaf Let's see, where do we begin? Bruce Drennan now is the permanent host of Sportiline, replacing legendary sports blabber Pete Franklin. Franklin has gone on to WFAN in New York, where he has very little to say about Drennan, and what he does say isn't good. To become the new Sportsline host on WWWE (1100-AM), Drennan beat out Greg Brinda of WERE (1300-AM), and those guys clearly don't like each other. Brinda and Drennan will go head-to-head from 6-8 p.m.

during the week for the sports audience. Drennan's show will run from 6-10 p.m. Franklin says he will not be interviewed on the vrm II II Orrville High accepts basketball probation Nogueira-Vaccaro deal goes on display tonight if i By Dick Shippy Bwficon Journal staff wntnr 5 'j while wearing a Cleveland uniform. And on the other side of the field, there will be Chris Vaccaro, who had five seasons of his own in Cleveland, waving to old friends before going out to handle goalkeeping for the Sting. Of course, both teams may be out with snow shovels prior to the game, trying to shovel a path to the team entrance, all of Chicago now being in- See GOALIES, page Dl Rosemont, III.

It should look like Old Home Week at the Rosemont Horizon tonight vhen the Force meets the Chicago Sling with first place in the MISL East at stake. Not that anyone is going to break down and blubber, but Victor Nogueira, who toiled in goal for four seasons with the Sting, will be back in the city of his old conquests, greeting former teammates, Victor Nogueira step our boundaries." Thomas, who phoned Armstrong Monday to clarify the ruling, said the probation was effective immediately. In addition to the probation, the Red Riders will be limited to 18 regular-season games in 1988-89, but are allowed to play all of their scheduled 20 games this season. Both Orrville and Mansfield St. Peter's still will be permitted to participate in the post-season tournament.

"I don't think (the ruling) is going to have a real serious consequence on our basketball program," Thomas said. "Of course, we could lose a home gate. It's not a desirable situation." Orrville could lose two home games next season, depending on which games the OHSAA eliminates from the schedule. It is highly unlikely that any of those games would involve Orrville's All-Ohio League opponents. Thomas was uncertain how much revenue the athletic department would lose if one or two home games were canceled.

Thomas said he didn't expect the OHSAA to take further action. The school board did, however, discipline See ORRVILLE, page Di By Ralph Paulk Bnacon Journal staff writnf It was not the best of Christmases for Orrville High's basketball program. Nearly two weeks after a hearing on charges of recruiting violations, the Red Riders were placed on 2-year. probation Ty the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Red Riders coach Steve Smith admitted that he had visited the home of former Lucas High basketball star R.D.

DeLoach in an attempt to persuade the senior to play at Orrville. DeLoach now is playing at Wooster, against which similar charges were dismissed several weeks ago. OHSAA commissioner Richard Armstrong leveled the same disciplinary action against Mansfield St. Peter's High. However, Mansfield Senior was found not guilty because of a lack of evidence linking the school to the recruitment of DeLoach.

Orrville superintendent Richard Thomas said the school would not appeal the decision. Mansfield St. Peter's will appeal. "I think the decision is fair," Thomas said Monday. "There were a lot of gray areas with the ruling, but we did over Losses reveal Cavs' missing ingredient Jersey would have made their record 13-13.

Instead, the Cavs lost. They were a weary team and played like it. The same thing happened earlier In the week. Cleveland won 106-102 in Washington. Then they came home to face Utah, one of the worst road teams in the See RECENT, page Dl But some basketball players, like some people, are stronger and more determined than others.

That's what the Cavaliers need guys who know how to gr ind out a victory. This subjfct came up after the Cavs' embarrassing 101-83 loss at New Jersey Sunday. The Cavs had beaten an excellent Portland team by a 120-117 count Saturday night, and a victory in New By Terry Pluto Beacon Journal staff writar In NBA terms, it's called grinding it out. It means that there are certain nights when you know that your team isn't going to play well. Travel is part of the reason.

A natural letdown after a big game is another. Remember, basketball players are people, too..