The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 41

The News Journal, Wilmington, Del. www.delawareonline.com Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 Section iiiet nsida today Lost in the Eagles' recent success has been the play of the offensive line. C6 TVradio listings, C2 Delaware at Play, C2 Schedule of local events, C2 NBA and NHL roundups, C5 Football roundup, C6 Scoreboard, C7 News tips for Sports: 324-2801 or sportsdelawareonline.com Sports editor: Ron Fritz, 324-291 9 ii Mm r-rO following season. "I've hit guys like that 100 times, 200 times in my 15-year career," Roenick said.

"I hope the league looks at it and rescinds the suspension. The guy had his head down, and there's nothing you can do." Svehla didn't question the hit. He admitted his head was down, and "in the NHL, you have to be ready for that," he said. But Toronto coach Pat Quinn wasn't as forgiving, sarcastically calling Roenick See FLYERS C5 return to the game. Roenick pleaded his case afterward, saying he didn't leave his feet and didn't hit Svehla with his elbow.

It was just that the puck had jumped over Svehla's stick and Roenick, still in stride, hit him when he was looking down, much like the Devils' Stevens did to Lindros in the 2000 Eastern Conference finals. Stevens didn't get a penalty, and he didn't get a suspension either. Lindros ended up with a concussion that caused him to miss the When asked about the entertainment value of the coach Ken Hitchcock deadpanned: "I coach I'm not P.T. Bar-num Entertainment-wise, points, it was a Hockey-wise, Roenick a suspension for which will be reviewed the NHL because given a match and five-minute Svehla crumpled to blood covering his needed four stitches right eye, but he did By MARTIN FRANK Slaff reporter PHILADELPHIA First came the goal, an occurrence so rare that the Flyers were on the verge of making Toronto goaltender Ed Belfour seem like the second coming of Jacques Plante. Then came the hit, a shot so unnerving and violent that images of Scott Stevens knocking out former Flyer Eric Lindros in the playoffs two years ago were invoked.

Just like that, within the span of a minute midway The News JournalWIUJAM BRETZGER Flyers winger Justin Williams tangles with Toronto goalie Ed Belfour on Thursday. Williams was penalized for Interference. Glasgow with win escapes Phillies looking to deal, but carefully By EDWARD de la FUENTE Staff reporter The Phillies' free agent spending spree this offseason has made them the envy of cost-cutting teams everywhere. And even though the Phillies already have splurged on signing Jim Thome and David Bell, they have a few more items on their shopping list. That will make general manager Ed Wade very popular during baseball's winter meetings, which kick off today in Nashville, Tenn.

There is one caveat, though. The Phillies may be more free-spending than in previous years, but they're not about to take on other teams' dirty laundry Asked how checklist Find a veteran starting pitcher Find a taker for Travis Lee Shore up the bullpen By JACK IRELAND Staff reporter GREENVILLE Marc Williams scored all five points in overtime as third ranked Glasgow escaped with a 43-42 boys basketball victory over No. 3 St. Mark's in the semifinals of the Kappa Klassic Tournament on Thursday night at Alexis I. du Pont.

St. Mark's Shannon Davis sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 38, forcing overtime. Trailing 27-12 at half, St. Mark's outscored Glasgow 19-6 to tie the game at 31 with 6:47 left on a three by Jasen Maciey. Williams sank two fouls, then banked in a three to put Glasgow up 43-38.

Davis made two more baskets, his second with 45.6 seconds left. Forward Marc Egerson led Glasgow with 17 points and Williams had 13. Davis and junior Jamie McCloskey, who fouled out with 3:33 left, each had 18 for the Spartans. Glasgow used a 12-0 run, including i i 1 mux fir-, lV I Prep Friday C3 dunks by Egerson and John Pr ingle to take a lead. We used a lot of en 2 1 through the third period, Simon Gagne broke Belfour's two-game shutout streak against the Flyers and Jeremy Roenick knocked Robert Svehla into next week.

In the process, the Flyers turned a somnolent First Union Center into a rollicking arena, and earned a hard-fought, 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. numerous STORY BY KEVIN TRESOLINI rn) Flyers Toronto win, Flyers the Flyers. it was two great win." could face his hit, by he was penalty major. the ice, face. He over his gio, Wilt Csonka special local and Just coach success years Zabitka, Delaware Some McKean whose ergy in that spurt and couldn't keep up that pace this early in the season," said Glasgow coach Don Haman.

"Our plan was to get the lead and slow the pace in the second half." Guards Williams and Sean Hammond lead the double team out front forcing 14 St Mark's turnovers in the first half. But the Spartans regained control turning over just three in the second. "We challenged them in the second half and I couldn't be prouder of the way they bounced back" said St Mark's coach Lee Sibley. "We did everything right in the second half except win." Things nearly got out of hand in the final seconds of overtime. With Matt Romanczuk trying to take the ball out of bounds for St.

Mark's, several Glasgow fans in the front row were standing around him. When two state troopers attempted to move the fans back, tempers flared. The troopers ejected one fan before the ball was inbounded. Reach Jack Ireland at 324-2806 or irelanddelawareonline. Heisman within reach for Banks many trade proposals he has received recently involving the other team offering a high-salaried and unwanted player, Wade answered emphatically, "A lot." The Phillies are definitely willing to deal.

They are searching for a veteran starting pitcher after being spurned by Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer, and have prospects to offer. But Wade is reluctant to make any trade in which money is the driving force. "This is the climate that's ripe for deals like that," he said. "But I think it's unfortunate that we're at that point in the industry where teams have to do that. I'd rather put myself in a position for making sound baseball decisions." Wade is fully aware of his team's perception these days.

After signing Thome, the top free agent of the offseason, to a six-year, $85 million deal last week, he said, "All of a sudden we're being viewed as a subdivision of Fort Knox." With Thome and Bell on board, the Phillies' lineup is set. They had hoped to solidify their rotation by now, but with then-top two choices off the market, they are still searching. "We're going to continue to work at it," Wade said. "We've already had conversations with a number of free agents still on the market. We'll see if we can work on something more uptempo at the winter meetings." Their other department of concern, the bullpen, became less of one last weekend when veteran left-hander Dan Plesac re-signed for one year.

The Phillies also are trying to convince right-hander Terry Adams, signed before last season as a starter, to return as their setup man. "We believe Plesac is a major signing in itself," Wade said. "We're still trying to negotiate with Terry Adams. Those are two very effective guys." The Phillies also have Travis Lee and Marlon Anderson, who made up the starting right side of the infield the last two seasons, on the trading block. But unlike last month, the Phillies don't expect to be the club attracting the most attention at the winter meetings.

"We're not out there necessarily looking to take somebody's contract and make a deal," Wade said. "We may find that the best short-term solution would be to not make a move." Reach Edward de la Fuente at 324-2805 or edelafuedelawareonline.com. The News JournalFRED COMEGYS "Once I got started, I couldn't stop," said Matt Zabitka of his writing habit. "My enthusiasm has never waned." Devout storyteller The News Journal's Matt Zabitka retires after 40 years sports icons, such as Joe DiMag- iea wunams, Stan Musial, Cal Ripken, Jesse Owens, Rocky Graziano, Joe Montana, Bob Cousy, Chamberlain, Don Shula, Larry and Arnold Palmer. By CHUCK SCHOFFNER Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa Brad Banks was among the fortunate.

Well, as fortunate as a youngster could be in Belle Glade, a ttwV gritty town surrounded by aoiWf sugar cane fields. A town without mall or theater. "Brad was pretty blessod In Mation to most kids," said Milton VVatsriu Banks' football coach at Glal tVnh-n High School. "First, by haviue Mr-ents, and then by both iWTnts bp'lne there to push him. 8 "Generally, that doesn't iwnMi Jt sort of a migrant commuultv would take for granted roupVHv tint the norm here." 1 Charles and Vida WtmU iuV hto the only child from thotr tuiu-Hn-n they had 12 others from riages went to chuivh.

a hie hnmpwnrlf Arwl ii But there has always been a place in Zabitka's heart -and therefore, in his stories for the athlete, coach, administrator official about any Delaware athlete or att Zabitka has spent nearly his entire life getting people's names in the newspaper, often to be clipped and saved for their eternal delight. Today his name finds its way into, rather than atop, a news story because it is his last day as a News Journal sportswriter. Zabitka, 82, is retiring after 40 years spent chronicling the achievements of athletes, coaches and other sports personalities who are from, or have visited, Delaware or its surrounding areas. During that time, he has interviewed and written about who enjoyed a modicum of at some point over the last 40 has likely been interviewed by a 2000 inductee into the Sports Hall of Fame. did great things, such as High graduate Randy White, Dallas Cowboys career landed See ZABITKA C4 Uffe iui luuiuiui, uiey PlHVMInpvrl VM From that niulurlnacflprt yet modest quartti lm ln gence as a senior at Iowa the great success Mot lv.

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