The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 31

www.thejournalnews.com BasebaSIBoxingHorse Racing axx The Journal News Sunday, June 2, 2002 7C Holyffield turns back clock Ballpark i figures -j- wHJJ 1 ir 7 Frank Kazuhiro Sasaki Wilson Alvarez Jay Gibbons Thomas Heavyweight wins, looks for greater worlds to conquer The Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. The old man still has some fight left in him. Evander Holyfield, showing glimpses of the warrior he was in his prime, pounded Hasim Rahman for most of eight rounds last night before winning a technical decision after a head butt caused a large swelling on Rahman's head. The end of the fight was anticli-mactic, coming on the recommendation of the ring doctor, but Holyfield showed he still had enough at age 39 to fight and beat a man who was heavyweight champion only seven months ago. The head butt in the fourth round appeared to cause the mark on Rahman's head, which kept getting bigger and bigger until it had grown grotesquely to nearly the size of a base ball on the top left side of his forehead.

After the fight was halted in the middle of the eighth round, ring doctor Howard Taylor consulted with the referee and declared Rahman couldn't continue, sending the fight to the scorecards. Two judges had Holyfield winning 69-64, while the third had Rahman ahead 67-66. The Associ- The Associated Press Hasim Rahman (left) lands a left jab to Evander Holyfield's chest last night in Atlantic City, N.J. WHO'S HOT Roberta Hernandez: Kansas City Royals RH closer, has converted 17 of his last 18 save opportunities. Benito Santiago: San Francisco Giants entered weekend on 13Tor-21 tear, including eight doubles.

Kazuhiro Sasaki: Seattle Mariners RH reliever, hasn't given up an earned run in 20 appearances. Frank Thomas: Chicago White Sox DH, homered Monday, his 34th birthday, against the Yankees. Thomas is hitting .472 (17 for 36) with two homers and nine RBI on his birthday. AL LEADERS Through Friday RBI: Mtodriguez, Texas, 52; Konerko, Chicago, 48: Glaus, Anaheim, 47; Garciaparra, Boston, 42; Thomas, Chicago, 41; Hillenbrand, Boston, 40; JaGlaniM, Yankees, 39; Thome, Cleveland, 39. NOME RUNS: ARodriguez, Texas, 17; JUorlam, Yankees, 14; THunter, Minnesota, 14; JaGlambi, Yankees, 14; Thome, Cleveland, 14; EChavez, Oakland, 13; TBatista, Baltimore, 13; CDelgado, Toronto, 13; Ventura, Yankees, 13.

STOLEN BASES: Lofton, Chicago, 20; ASort.no, Vankees, 16; ISuzuki. Seattle, 15; Beltran, Kansas City, 15; Durham, Chicago, 15; Damon, Boston, 14; Eckstein, Anaheim, 12; Knoblauch, Kansas City, 12. STRIKEOUTS: Clemens, Yankees, 85; Boston, 80; FGarcia, Seattle, 66; Zito, Oakland, 65; Mussina, Yankees, 65; Halladay, Toronto, 64; THudson, Oakland, 57; Colon, Cleveland, 57. SAVES: MRhrera, Yankees, 17; Urbina, Boston, 17; Guardado, Minnesota, 16; Sasaki, Seattle, 12; Wickman, Cleveland, 12; Irabu, Texas, 11; Koch, Oakland, 10. AL BATTING STATISTICS WHO'S NOT Wilson Alvarez: Tampa Bay Devil Rays LHP, has not won a game since Aug.

29, 1999. Keith Foulke: Chicago White Sox RH reliever, dropped to 0-3 with his second blown save, Wednesday against Yankees. Jay Gibbons: Baltimore Orioles OF, has two homers in 34-game stretch after hitting seven in first 17 games. Reggie Sanders: San Francisco Giants OF, had 43 strikeouts in 49 games. NL LEADERS Through Friday RBI: Helton, Colorado, 48; Berkman, Houston, 47; Sexson, Milwaukee, 46; VGuerrero, Montreal, 45; Vidro, Montreal, 40; SnGreen, Los Angeles, 39; LWalker, Colorado, 37.

HOME RUNS: SSosa, Chicago, 19; Bonds, San Francisco, 18; Berkman, Houston, 17; Burrell, Philadelphia, 14; Sex-son, Milwaukee, 14; Helton, Colorado, 14; VGuerrero, Montreal, 14. STOLEN BASES: LCastillo, Florida, 21; Pierre, Colorado, 18; PrWilson, Florida, 16; ASanchez, Milwaukee, 14; DRoberts, Los Angeles, 14; Owens, Florida, 14; Furcal, Atlanta, 13. STRIKEOUTS: Schilling, Ahzona, 123; RJohnson, Arizona, 104; Burnett, Florida, 79; Morris, St Louis, 73; Duckworth, Philadelphia, 68; Clement Chicago, 67; Oswalt Houston, 65. SAVES: Gagne, Los Angeles, 18; Graves, Cincinnati, 17; Mi-Williams, Pittsburgh, 16; Isringhausen, St Louis, 15; Mesa, Philadelphia, 15; BKim, Ahzona, 14; JJimenez, Colorado, 14; Hoffman, San Diego, 14; Nen, San Francisco, 14; Smoltz, Atlanta, 14. NL BATTING STATISTICS ated Press had Holyfield winning 69-64.

Holyfield, the aging statesman of the heavyweight division, attacked Rahman early and often, not afraid of a fighter who was a decade his junior and was also supposed to be much stronger. Rahman had entered the ring as a slight favorite, but it was clear by the second round that Holyfield had far more ring skills and savvy. It was the second straight loss for the 29-year-old Rahman, whose reign as the heavyweight champi on lasted only seven months and who said he would retire if he couldn't beat Holyfield. "He was head-butting me from round one and I told the referee," Rahman said. "I don't feel Evander beat me.

I don't think it was a fair or an official fight." Holyfield, though, said he was fighting fairly and won fairly. "We did hit heads there but I'm hitting him with shots anyway and I hit him right on it," Holyfield said. The fight was billed as a heavy weight elimination bout, with the winner moving into position for a shot at next week's winner of the Lewis-Tyson fight or the winner of next month's WBA title fight between John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson. Holyfield (38-5-2) now hopes that Tyson will beat Lewis in Memphis, so he could possibly fight Tyson a third time and get closer to his goal of becoming the undisputed champion again. Rahman, losing his second straight bout, fell to 35-4.

(Basel 1155 plate appearances) HR RBI 0 22 9 29 8 48 3 20 7 42 1 21 64 10 40 77 14 37 51 4 17 64 10 33 62 10 35 57 4 28 63 17 52 61 6 28 65 14 39 66 14 37 56 6 55 6 70 6 56 7 24 52 9 37 63 10 37 Y' 4 -Hj mmmmmm Vf I -r? --x. -r. i X. 1 17 54 11 47 47 8 21 43 5 25 50 3 25 49 11 31 50 13 38 49 9 29 9 3 2 3 Ave .362 .342 .333 .325 .323 .322 .320 .320 .315 .314 .313 .313 .313 .313 .311 .310 .308 .306 .303 .301 .301 .301 .299 .295 .294 .293 .292 .291 .291 .291 .288 .287. .286 .285 .285 .284 .282 .281 .280 .278 .276 .276 .276 .274 .274 .274 .274 .274 .270 .270 .270 .269 .268 .267 .267 .265 .265 .259 .258 .250 .257 .255 .254 .254 .253 .252 .251 .251 .247 .247 .245 .245 .242 .241 .240 .239 .237 .236 .233 .231 .231 .231 .228 AB 207 41 190 33 210 28 200 43 198 39 149 23 200 34 241 43 162 20 204 42 198 42 182 27 201 37 195 31 209 40 213 40 182 24 180 37 231 36 219 35 196 43 143 27 157 19 190 23 177 31 215 35 192 23 158 20 182 20 213 37 146 24 167 .13 189 -44 165 16 151 22 176 35 174 24 178 31 175 27 180 29 181 35 152 20 196 24 179 29 157 26 157 22 164 18 179 27 141 17 163 18 152 24 193 36 190 23 191 33 150 16 185 29 196 31 170 25 163 20 171 21 206 22 200 42 177 28 193 24 166 22 202 29 179 37 167 22 158 17 170 32 155 20 200 28 165 18 191 13 179 31 213 24 156 17 165 23 172 17 169 25 173 21 143 15 180 40 (Based on 155 plate appearances) 11 I I II RBI Avg Edmonds, StL 167 35 57 12 36 .341 Klesko, SO 168 31 57 11 35 .339 Clones, Atl 201 29 67 6 33 .333 Bonds, SF 136 43 45 18 33 .331 Lowell, Ra 212 29 70 7 35 .330 SSosa, ChC 185 47 61 19 35 .330 Sprvey.

Ari 189 39 62 6 35 .328 Vidro, Mon 220 38 72 5 40 .327 Helton, Col 194 43 63 14 48 .325 VGuerrero, Mon 209 34 68 14 45 .325 BaurJsta, Ari 154 22 50 6 23 .325 LCastillo, Ra 207 29 67 1 12 .324 Barrett, Mon 143 18 46 6 23 .322 181 11 58 2 21 .320 AHoruo, Mets 177 23 56 1 13 .316 BGiles, Pit 167 32 52 13 29 .311 LWalker, Col 168 33 52 10 37 .310 Karros, LA 181 18 56 4 21 .309 LoDuca. LA 185 22 57 2 22 .308 Dunn, On 173 32 53 11 36 .306 Kotsay, SD 186 29 57 5 20 .306 Hammonds, Mil 164 22 50 4 17 .305 BSantiago, SF 158 18 48 4 27 .304 LGonzalez.Ari 195 37 59 11 34 .303 Burrell, Phi 183 29 55 14 34 .301 Zeile, Col 171 23 51 8 32 .298 Casey. Cin 179 30 53 2 25 .296 Floyd, Ra 186 37 55 13 34 .296 BJordan, LA 169 28 50 9 28 .296 Patterson, ChC 190 24 56 2 15 .295 ASanchez, Mil. 143 20 42 0 13 .294 Counsell.An 204 33 60 1 29 .294 OMiller. Ari 140 24 41 7 27 .293 147 17 43 5 21 .293 Owens, Ra 150 24 44 2 19 .293 Vina, StL 219 27 64 1 24 .292 JHemandez, Mil 171 25 50 10 28 .292 Rollins, Phi 219 29 63 5 22 .288 Hollandsworth, Col 151 23 43 6 26 .285 Bagwell, Hou 186 34 53 9 27 .285 Pierre, Col 232 37 66 0 10 .284 BAbreu.Phi 169 28 48 3 25 .284 Pujols, StL 198 42 56 10 30 .283 MAnderson, Phi 184 24 52 4 17 .283 Kendall, Pit 173 13 48 1 20 .277 ShGreen.LA 195 33 54 13 39 .277 Uribe.

Col 214 36 59 1 16 .276 Wilkerson, Mon 156 24 43 3 17 .276 Sexson, Mil 196 34 54 14 46 .276 174 20 48 2 24 .276 JDrew.StL 189 30 52 8 23 .275 TWalker, Cin 197 27 54 3 19 .274 Plaza, Mets 158 23 43 10 30 .272 JEncarnacion, Cin 209 30 56 33 .268 AJones.MI 205 33 55 12 36 .268 Hidalgo, Hou 181 30 48 10 30 .265 Berkman, Hou 194 31 51 17 47 .263 Alomar, Mets 218 31 57 4 IS .261 KentSF 196 28 51 7 24 .260 Furcal, Atl 221 31 57 2 15 .258 DCmz, SD 167 16 43 4 21 .257 Lieberthal, Phi 161 15 41 4 18 .255 WomaclcAri 204 32 52 1 19 .255 McGnfLChC 184 20 47 7 35 .255 Grudzielanek, LA 173 16 44 3 17 .254 Polanco.Stl 159 14 40 1 11 .252 Peyton, Mets 155 21 39 4 17 .252 175 19 44 4 16 .251 Beltre, LA 208 21 52 4 19 .250 PrWilson, Ra 208 32 52 7 30 .250 OCabrera, Mon 204 23 51 4 19 .250 Sheffield, Ad 152 21 38 6 19 .250 Izturis. LA 205 20 51 0 14 .249 Biggio, Hou 188 31 46 5 21 .245 DJimenez.SD 206 27 50 2 14 .243 DaBell, SF 186 31 45 8 29 .242 SFinley, Ari 157 29 38 10 22 .242 Rolen, Phi 200 28 48 6 26 .240 Cedent, Hets 179 IS 43 2 14 .240 MGiles, Ad 152 17 36 5 12 .237 Jenkins, Mil 190 28 45 7 20 .237 NL PITCHING STATISTICS ISuzuki, Sea MiSweeney, KC Konerko, ChW Damon, Bos Garciaparra, Bos Pierzynski, Mm Hillenbrand, Bos ASoriano, Yankees Magee, Det BWIIIIams, Yankees Ordonez, ChW Erstad, Ana ARodriguez, Tex vlzquel, Cle JaGlamM, Yankees THunter, Min Sierra, Sea CGuillen, Sea Jeter, Yankees Teada, Oak Lofton, ChW McLemore, Sea Randa, KC Cox, IB Posada, Yankees Hones, Min Greer, Tex StiStewarl, Tor Higginson, Det GAnderson, Ana Koskie, Min jBMolina. Glaus, Ana Hatteberg, Oak Cordova, Bal Durham, ChW RPalmeiro, Tex EChavez, Oak Buiks, Cle Olerud, Sea Eckstein, Ana AKennedy, Ana Winn, TB Hinske. Tor JeGiambi, Oak Fullmer, Ana Gomez, TB Thome, Cle Kapler, Tex Simon, Det Spiezio, Ana TBatista, Bal Abematny, TB Beltran, KC Vantek. Bos Fick, Det Thomas, ChW Singleton, Bal Mientkiemcz, Min WMte, Yankees Conine, Bal Lawton, Cle Gibbons, Bal Wells, Tor Lee, ChW Boone, Sea CDelgado, Tor Valentin, ChW MYoung, Tex Salmon, Ana Grieve, TB NPerez, KC Nixon, Bos Gutierrez.

Cle Mora. Bal CGuzman, Min Halter, Det Ventura, Yankees Cinilo, Sea FLopez, Tor NJohnsen, Yankees Febles, KC Cameron, Sea 49 14 38 0 44 9 41 2 52 13 33 51 2 11 51 8 33 40 4 25 49 5 18 52 11 41 44 3 20 42 2 23 The Associated Press 5 25 9 38 Stamina may be the biggest Belmont obstacle for War Emblem, who was nearly passed by Magic Weisner down the stretch at the Preakness. History proves Triple Crown is no trot in the park 8 26 9 22 4 23 6 23 7 34 45 13 38 7 30 3 18 42 39 42 War Emblem's crowning achievement? Only 11 colts have won the Triple Crown. It has been 24 years since the last Triple Crown winner. Will War Emblem, this year's contender, make history? 33 25 38 7 2 18 5 18 2 8 5 17 2 20 2 14 13 37 5 28 7 22 27 1 10 Triple Crown history The term "Triple Crown" was not used until 1930, when sportswriter Charles Hatton, of the Daily Racing Form, coined the phrase.

Kentucky ry Ofvl Belmont Derby Stakes 41 10 28 Victor Espinoza celebrates as War Emblem wins the 127th Preakness AL PITCHING STATISTICS Triple Crown winners Sir Gallant War Barton Fox Admiral Whirlaway (Based en Ave decisions) Citation I decisions) BB SO 6 22 ERA 1.47 8 2 1.59 1919 1930 1937 1941 19,48 20S 'SOS '40J 60S Affirmed Secretariat 2002 1978 1973 1 1.91 3 2.45 1 2.48 3 2.48 2 2.51 3 2.52 (Based on Ave IP 18 16 84 66 47 33 29 24 87 69 76 72 32 25 78 60 57 59 67 54 76 06 64 65 75 65 62 51 1935 Omaha 1943 1946 Count Assault 21 55 12 43 7 23 23 104 17 65 10 23 12 50 22 31 15 a 20 59 20 33 21 28 8sl ti '90s I '80s OOs 70s 1977 Seattle Slew 2.65 2.69 2.71 2.78 2.88 Fleet Close calls Since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown in 1978, seven colts have entered the Belmont Stakes with a chance. None was successful: BELMONT, from 1C nose ever so slightly in the lead. "It's almost as if fate has a hand in these things," said Tom Durkin, who will call the Belmont for NBC and is the race caller for the New York Racing Association. "That was the worst defeat in history. Real Quiet not only lost $1 million for the Belmont and $3 million for the Triple Crown, but a place in history." "A lot of people felt Real Quiet didn't deserve it," Hillenbrand said.

"So for him to lose by a nose at the wire was perfect." Several factors conspire to make the Triple Crown the most elusive of goals: An intense schedule of three superior races in five weeks, especially considering the trend over the past two decades of running a horse every three to four weeks. Lengths the 3-year-old horses have yet to run a mile and a quarter in the Kentucky Derby, a mile and 3-16ths at Pimlico and a marathon mile and a half at Belmont "What is the most difficult thing? I say the time period to run those three races, including the first at a mile and a quarter," said WFAN's Jody McDonald, a Yonkers native who hosts "Mac at the Track." "It's a grueling task to begin with and then, two weeks later, they have to run at the same level of competition, if not higher. Then to come back three weeks later than that and go a distance none of them have ever gone. That's just beating a horse up. Horses aren't bred to run those types of distances." The size of the fields, sometimes up to 20 in the Derby, and the fact that most non-Triple Crown contenders skip at least one of the races to stay fresh.

The average Belmont field was five horses forthe 11 Triple 39 63 8 1 2.90 1 2.93 8 123 10 19 32 6 27 43 8 12 SO 4 Year Horse Finish Winner What happened 1979 Spectacular Bid Third Coastal Stepped on a safety pin before the race 1981 Pleasant Colony Third Summing Spooked by a photographer at the start 1987 Atysheba Fourth Bet Twice "Got tied up in traffic 1989 Sunday Silence Second Easy Goer Easy Goer won going away by eight lengths 1997 Silver Charm Second Touch Gold Never saw the winner closing at the sixteenth pole 1998 Real Quiet Second Victory Gallop Lost by a nose as the winner came from behind 1999 Charismatic Third Lemon Drop Kid Broke his leg near the eighth-pole 19 57 6 39 61 6 9 24 1 2.98 3.00 3.03 3.04 3.07 3.16 3.20 3.21 3.23 3.29 3.31 60 59 66 60 68 SI 77 62 70 45 25 25 25 21 61 46 64 60 63 48 16 16 24 18 9 24 I 26 50 4 32 42 3 24 67 3 5 17 3 9 19 6 CI IP BB SO I ERA 78 45 22 48 8 2 1.95 89 73 23 57 7 3 2.22 56 47 21 37 5 1 2.57 1 81 69 24 51 8 3 2.77 Pineiro, Sea 48 44 21 39 4 2 2.81 78 60 12 47 8 2 2.88 UUy, Yankees 50 31 13 42 2 4 2.88 PMattinez, Bos 67 51 17 80 7 0 2.93 8- Appier, Ana 60 55 19 41 5 2 2.98 Weaver, Det 78 74 19 44 4 6 3.00 Rogers, Tex 72 68 23 38 5 3 3.10 Halladay, Tor 74 73 19 64 5 2 3.13 Bailey, KC 31 32 19 18 3 4 3.16 -A Julio, Bal 25 26 10 19 2 3 3.24 Washburn, Ana 68 61 21 48 5 2 3.29 1. BurketlBos 47 52 11 37 6 0 3.40 Hernandez, Taets 52 37 15 43 4 2 144 T- 72' 63 18 56 5 5 3.47 Zito, Oak 66 58 25 65 5 2 3.51 ri: 80 71 15 66 6 4 3.60 DWelts, Yankees 71 67 21 45 2 3.66 31 29 7 15 4 1 3.77 -Jl Clemens, Yankees 70 69 29 15 7 2 3.79 rf ValdeUex 60 58 17 29 3 5 3.86 70 71 25 41 2 3 3.86 FCastillo. Bos 59 48 16 36 3 5 3.94 Bauer, Bal 29 29 17 19 3 2 3.99 63 66 15 47 3 4 4.00 68 68 25 42 2 5 4.06 Mover, Sea 77 71 19 38 4 2 4.29 DBaez.Oe 56 52 31 45 4 4 4.29 ri: THudson, Oak 80 77 32 57 3 6 4.37 Mussina, Yankees 73 61 16 65 7 2 4.42 77 71 17 43 5 4 4.42 56 63 11 40 5 2 4.45 Kinney, Min 38 41 20 28 1 4 4 46 Cfinley.Cle 58 65 29 50 3 6 4.47 Erickson, Bal 73 7 7 30 27 3 5 4.54 Ritchie, ChW 65 77 23 37 3 6 4.71 69 75 24 49 3 3 4.80 habtUes 31 32 9 21 2 4 4.88 f). Rupe, TB 62 55 11 50 5 5 4.88 lohscMin 55 58 22 39 4 3 4 88 62 73 22 37 4 4 4.91 Garland. ChW 61 65 28 27 5 4 4.96 59 67 22 28 3 5 4.98 Sparks, Det 68 84 20 27 3 5 5.00 Oliver.

Bos 49 60 21 28 4 4 5.14 Embree, SD Glavine, Ad Daal, LA Jaivis, SD RJotinson. Ari Oswalt, Hou VNunez, Ra OPerez, LA Reitsma, On Letter, Mets Desserts, Cin Rueter, SF Ishii, LA Schilling, Ari Maddux. Ad Wells, Pit D'Anice, Mets Padilla. Phi Wood, ChC Mesa, Phi Strickland, Mets Ashby.LA Quevedo, Mil Clement, ChC MMyers, Ari Stechschulte, StL (Vazquez, Mon Ueber, ChC Fogg. Pit CHemandez, Hou Dotel, Hou Morris, StL Tomko, SD Nomo, LA Ohka, Mon Lawrence.

SD Tncnsel, Mets Burnett, Fla RuOitiz, SF Kile. SI BSheets.Mil Hamilton, Cin Veres, StL LHemandez.SF Thomson, Col Mlicki, Hou Adams. PW Source: Churchill Downs. Pimlico, Belmont Parfc, Sewce, AP Graphic: Lee Hulteng, Andrew GrossThe Journal News KRT. Benjamin MarraThe Journal News 1 3.33 2 3.34 15 60 3 89 85 66 71 7 37 14 40 24 48 12 34 28 73 3 6 5 3 7 66 56 63 57 31 26 79 76 3.37 3.39 3.39 3.41 3.42 3.42 71 65 22 61 3 67 57 44 57 59 58 17 38 17 45 5 3.49 3 3.49 3 3.53 3.57 74 75 63 67 yards to go and finished third to Lemon Drop Kid.

Yet Belmont can be the fairest of the three tracks. Its long run to the turns and the sweeping turns themselves mean few horses get caught on the outside or in traffic. And the crowd is further away, making it less likely a horse will be spooked. "The element of luck is vastly diminished at Belmont Park," Durkin said. "For War Emblem, the most difficult will be Belmont because he's a headstrong horse and very fast and you can't be fast and headstrong for a mile and a half." "War Emblem is a very tenacious animal, he doesn't want to lose," Hillenbrand said.

"The biggest thing at Belmont is it's about tenacity and courage." War Emblem will either conquer the remaining obstacles or be consigned to "nice try" status, his fate possibly determined by something as slight as the angle of his neck. Reach Andrew Gross at agrossthejournalnews.com.'j Crown winners. But for the 17 failed bids at Belmont, the average field was 11 horses, which will likely be the field size this year. The difficulty of keeping a horse injury free. In 1979, Spectacular Bid seemed like a sure bet to become the third straight Triple Crown winner following Seattle Slew and Affirmed before stepping on a pin that went a half-inch deep into his hoof just prior to his finishing third behind Coastal.

Twenty years later, Charismatic broke a leg with 60 27 79 81 64 5 3.65 68 63 25 42 4 21 36 2 3.67 3.73 60 57 65 68 5 3.74 27 54 25 32 21 22 49 55 30 25 74 75 23 38 3.83 3.86 3.86 3.86 3.90 70 71 15 47 19 32 55 56 5563 19 39 2 3 3.90.