Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 54

4 Section 4 Chicago Tribune, Thursday, October 28, 1999 WORLD SERIES SOCCER INSIDE THE WORLD SERIES Baylor: Cubs have offer on table Fire gets dethroned in Dallas 43 The celebration begins after the Yankees beat the Braves 4-1 Wednesday night in New York to win their second straight World Series. next manager. Milwaukee remains a darkhorse in the race, though Baylor lauded the Brewers efforts to hire him. "Milwaukee definitely came to the party and they came out blasting right away," he said. "They have a proposal on the table and it's a very legitimate proposal" Baylor, who said money would not be the final criteria in his decision, hinted that location may play a big part.

"Chicago is a great town," he said. "Besides New York City, Chicago is right there, the No. 2 city as far as media is concerned. It's on my mind. Seeing Sammy Sosa today I had to make that happen.

Just go say hello and congratulations to him." Sosa told friends that Baylor was his choice as his next boss. "I like to hear those things," Baylor said. "Coming from a star like him. I know he'd like to have some input in it. Hopefully we can get it done.

I don't know how soon. If I had a crystal ball going down the road right now, I have no idea what's going to happen." O'Neill's father dies: When Yankees manager Joe Torre learned that Paul O'Neill's father had passed away Wednesday morning, he was prepared. Sadly, tragedy and triumph have gone hand-in-hand for the Yankees for much of the season. Third baseman Scott Brosius lost his father, Maury, to colon cancer Sept 12. Reserve infielder Luis Sojo missed the first two By Paul Sullivan and.

Teddy Grecnstein Tribune Staff Writers NEW YORK Atlanta hitting coach Don Baylor said Wednesday the Cubs are ahead of his many suitors in the race to hire him as manager. Baylor said the Cubs and Milwaukee are the only teams to have given him concrete offers, adding that Baltimore called him during the Series to set up an interview and Cleveland is also in the mix if they're still interested. But if the Cubs wanted Baylor badly enough to do a deal now, would Baylor "blow off" his other suitors and sign the dotted line? "I don't know if you can blow anybody off," he said. "The Cubs put in a lot of work, a lot of effort. I'm not going to let that go by the books.

I respect Andy MacPhail and Ed Lynch. They definitely are ahead of everybody else." Baylor is not only impressed by Cubs management, but he has also received quite a bit of support from Cub fans he has heard fro)n and run into over the last few weeks after his candidacy became public. "Who can I thank?" Baylor said with a grin. "Can I thank the kid that put my name out there on the Internet?" Baylor was referring to the Cubs' employee who mistakenly put a Baylor web page on the Cubs' official Web site, erroneously announcing him as their 17 Game Season Ticket Plan Only $95 773-325-SLAM right field. You hate to get beat on an easy out, but it's Yankee Stadium and it's a home run.

So you can't cry about that." Hit parade: With his second-inning single, Derek Jeter tied the all-time postseason record by extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Jeter is even with Hank Bauer of the Yankees, who hit safely in 17 straight World Series games from 1956-58. Take it: The Hall of Fame has requested the bat Curtis used for his game-ending home run Tuesday night. Curtis said Cooper-stown will have no trouble prying it loose. is a great manager games of the World Series to attend the funeral of his father, Ambrosio, who had an aortic aneurysm.

"Playing this game is all about dealing with highs and lows," Torre said. "There's nothing higher than playing in the World Series and nothing lower than having to mourn the death of a family member." O'Neill, whose father Charles had been experiencing heart problems for years, opted to play Wednesday night. Torre left that decision up to his right-fielder. "Paulie has been carrying a heavy heart for a while," Torre said. "This is something we have to get him through.

I think the best way to do that is by writing his name in the lineup and giving him a couple of hours away from the grieving. Hopefully we can occupy his mind with a victory tonight." Short porch talk: The Braves came tantalizingly close in losses in Games 1 and 3, taking leads into the eighth inning on both occasions before losing. Manager Bobby Cox was still upset Wednesday about Chuck Knoblauch's 315-foot, game-tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 3. "We got beat on a ball that barely went 315 feet," Cox said. 'That was hard to take.

The home run Chad Curtis hit to win Game 3, you accept those. But little pop-ups? The ball was jumping out in that area last night, Sosa: 'Don By Paul Sullivan Tribune Staff Writer NEW YORK Sammy Sosa and Don Baylor huddled together for a minute before Game 4 of the World Series Wednesday in what may be the start of a budding relationship. "He told me he was going to hit 70 homers next year," Baylor said. Whether Baylor will be the beneficiary of Sosa's slugging prowess is still officially up in the air, although Baylor's hiring as the next Cubs manager appears only a few days away. Sosa attended the World Series game to accept the first Hank Gray Continued from Page 1 My agent said no, 'You just heard what he's going to Sunday's interview, coming moments after Rose received a rousing ovation for being a part of baseball's all-century team before Game 2 of the World Series, became contentious when Gray persistently asked Rose if he would apologize and admit he had gambled on baseball When Gray wouldn't back down, it was perceived by many viewers that he was badgering Rose.

After a huge backlash against him, Gray went on the air before Tuesday night's game and apologized to fans if the interview took away from the celebration. However, Gray didn't apologize to Rose, and Rose said Wednesday he isn't looking for one. However, he clearly remained angry about the exchange. "I always got along with Jim Gray, but all of a sudden he's talking to me like John Dowd," Rose said, alluding to the attorney baseball hired to investigate his case. Later, Rose said, "I've been asked the same questions for 10 years.

What got into him that he would think I would give a different answer in front of 70 million people? He could ask the question. But he kept pursuing it. He kept pursuing it." Gray was not available to comment on Rose's charges Wednes i AP photo "I hate to burst people's bubbles," he said, "but I'm not into that stuff. I play the game to compete, not for the hype or the trophies." Curtis joined two exclusive lists Tuesday. He became one of 43 players to hit two or more homers in a World Series game and just the 10th player to end a Series game with a homer.

The list includes Pittsburgh's Bill Maze-roski, Boston's Carlton Fisk, Los Angeles' Kirk Gibson and Toronto's Joe Carter. "I'm not planning to tell my kids about it," Curtis said. "But if they ask, I might have to." don't know how many interviews he has had with Ed Lynch. I'd like to wait for the announcement. It'll probably be soon." Sosa also lauded coach Billy Williams, another of the three remaining candidates.

Over the summer Sosa reportedly was hinting that the Cubs should think ahead and sign him to a contract extension his four-year $40 million contract, which runs through 2001 with an option year for 2002. Sosa said Wednesday that he and the Cubs have not spoken about a new deal. "No," he said. "I have two more years left on my contract." media North said. "He's really upset about this." Rose, though, seemed at ease Wednesday in front of an audience of cheering fans.

North asked Rose about his case, but in a much less confrontational manner than Gray. Rose once again denied that he bet on baseball. When asked if he would consider a form of a plea bargain that would continue his ban from baseball but allow him to get into the Hall of Fame, Rose said, "No way." "I'm a baseball person," Rose said. "I want to be a manager." Rose's strongest comments were reserved for Johnny Bench. His former teammate believes Rose shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame because of his gambling involvement "Ask Johnny a question: Did you ever make an illegal bet on a football game?" Rose said.

"He'll say no, and he'll be lying because we used to bet with the same guy." Rose said he still is hoping to get an audience with Commissioner Bud Selig. Before Sunday's ceremony he sent his 15-year old son Tyler over to shake hands with Selig. "I'm not looking for a fight," Rose said. "Everything I've been told is that Bud is a fair man. I just want to sit down and talk to Bud and let him get to know me." When the show finished, Rose received a standing ovation.

THE NFL Jj 1 BLUE DEMONS By Bob Foltman Tribune Staff Writer DALLAS The Fire did exactly what it wanted to start Wednesday's decisive Game in its first-round playoff matchup with the Dallas Burn. Burn 6 After five min-pjre 2 utes, the Fire was ahead by two goals and facing a Dallas team that had yet to win this, season after allowing the first goal. But with 85 minutes left to play, Dallas had plenty of time to erase that and it did, scoring three goals in the final 36 minutes, including the tying and winning goals in the 84th and 86th minutes, to win 3-2 and advance to the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The tying goal came off a scramble in front of the Fire goal. After Zach Thornton made a great save off an Ariel Gra-ziani shot, the ball went out to Sergi Daniv.

C.J. Brown came charging out after Daniv and dove in front of Daniv's shot. The ball slammed of Brown's arm and referee Kevin Stott awarded a penalty kick. Jorge Rodriguez beat Thornton to tie the match at 2-2. Two minutes later the Fire lost possession deep in its own end.

Again Thornton was called on to make a save but the rebound came to a wide-open Graziani, whose shot glanced off the crossbar and into the net for the game-winner in front of a stunned Fire team, which was trying to repeat as MLS champion. The Fire wasted little time jumping out in front. Ante Razov, nursing a sore left calf, was the recipient of some pretty passing from Jerzy Podbrozny and Lubos Kubik while tapping a shot past Dallas goalkeeper Mark Dodd in the third minute. Two minutes later, it was 2-0 and Kubik again was the catalyst. After Roman Kosecki was fouled by Jorge Rodriguez about 30 yards from goal, Kubik sent a perfectly weighted pass in front of the Dallas goal.

Jesse Marsch was able to extend his right leg and get a boot to nudge it past Dodd. The two goals were the fastest in the two-year history of the franchise. Dallas pulled one back in the 54th minute when Chad Deering headed home Sergi Daniv cross from right in front of the Fire goal. The goal culminated a stream of steady pressure that Dallas put on the Fire defense. The Fire was dealt a blow when it stepped off the plane in Dallas Tuesday when it received word from the league that rookie Dema Kovalenko would be suspended for Wednesday's match.

Kovalenko was suspended and fined $250 for his tackle that resulted in a broken leg for Burn defender Brandon Pollard. "I feel bad, I really do," Kovalenko said before Wednesday's game. "I apologized to Brandon. I know what it's like to be injured." Kovalenko missed a year in college while at Indiana due to an ankle injury. Bradley wasn't surprised that Kovalenko was suspended, only that the decision from the league office wasn't announced until Tuesday afternoon.

"It's definitely a bad tackle," Bradley said. "It was more. of a case of being overly enthusiastic. In a 4-0 game, obviously there is no need for that kind of reckless tackle. But you see that kind of tackle 100 times and 99 times it results in a sprained ankle." physical crisis in two seasons.

Glover, 36, had trouble breathing during Sunday's game against Buffalo in the Kingdome. Doctors discovered the blood clot when he underwent tests Tuesday night. Hall nominees: Joe Montana, who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles, is among the 71 former NFL players, coaches and contributors nominated for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also on the list are longtime Bears linemen Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Mark Bortz and Jay Hilgenberg. A list of 15 finalists will be announced in January, with the 2000 inductees announced on Jan.

29, the day before the Super Bowl. Hanifan returning: St Louis Rams offensive line coach Jim Hanifan underwent a coronary-artery angiogram Wednesday but will be back at work Friday, the team said. Be A Part Of Chicago Sports History: Sat. Nov. 20th 6:00 p.m.

vs. Howard The Last Men's Game At Historic Alumni Hall i Watch The Nationally Ranked Blue Demons Face: Cincinnati St. John's Florida Marquette Louisville And Others Individual Tickets Available At Any TicketMaster Outlet Or By Phone 312-559-1212 WISCONSIN BADGERS FIND IT HERE. Office or call: '-'A -m. rf 1 (ffj Aaron Award for being the most productive hitter in the National League.

Cleveland's Manny Ramirez won the American League Aaron honor, which goes to the players in each league with most combined hits, home runs and runs batted in. While Sosa was bombarded with questions about Baylor, he said anyone could be his next manager, including a baseball beat writer. "I know Don is a great manager," Sosa said. "I don't worry about it. We just need a manager.

It could be Don Baylor or anybody. It could be you. No matter who it is, I'll still do my job. I day. After being snubbed on camera by Game 3 hero Chad Curtis Tuesday, who said the Yankees were boycotting him, Gray did interview New York manager Joe Torre and second baseman Chuck Knoblauch before Wednesday's game.

NBC was livid about Curtis' stance Tuesday. Curtis stood with Gray on the field for 40 seconds before he went on air and refused to answer questions. Before Wednesday's game, Torre said he planned to talk to his team before airtime. "I just wish Chad had said it was his choice instead of that the team had agreed to do this," he said. "Because I know the whole team didn't have a meeting or anything like that.

We have a certain obligation to NBC that we're going to fulfill. I don't like to orchestrate anything. Each individual should make up his own mind on what to do. That's the way it should have been. Because of the Gray firestorm, Rose isn't in the mood to speak with the media.

He buzzed past reporters after the North show's taping at Basta Pasta on the Northwest side of Chicago. Rose told North that he only was doing his show because of a commitment he made 2 Va months ago; the program airs at 11:05 p.m. Sunday on WBBM-Ch. 2. Included among those Rose has turned down this week is CNN's Larry King.

"He said, 'I don't want any INSIDE nearly in tears as he described not being able to control his arms and legs and thinking he'd never hold his son again. In 1986, Green Bay cornerback Tim Lewis and Houston Oilers linebacker Frank Bush learned they had the same genetic condition, which is known as cervical stenosis. Both retired. The primary concern now is for the swelling in Irvin's neck to subside. An MRI to be taken this week will be compared with one made shortly after the injury to see how far he has progressed.

Doctors will then determine the next step in his recovery. Young still hopeful: Steve Young wants to play again. His doctors, teammates, coaches and friends are telling him it may be time to 1 quit. "We would all love him to be healthy and playing again," coach COME 'GRRR' AT A BADGER! 77is Saturday, Oct. 30th 11 a.m.

at Ryan Field Spinal condition threatens Irvin's comeback hopes NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS Steve Mariucci said Wednesday. "But it's really a long shot." The 38-year-old quarterback, who has had four concussions, won't put a timetable on his return and refused to rule out a comeback this season. "I don't know if you can put percentages on it, but today I'm not on the field, so it's zero percent," he said. "I'm not going to play in the next couple weeks." Mariucci said the team has discussed putting Young on injured reserve, which would finish him for the year. But Young has pleaded for patience, and out of respect to him the team is allowing more time before making a decision.

Glover gone: The Seattle Sea-hawks have lost starting center Kevin Glover for the remainder of the season because of a blood clot in his lung, his second major From Tribune News Services The neck injury that has sidelined Michael Irvin is no longer his biggest hurdle in returning to the Dallas Cowboys. Tests for the herniated disc Irvin sustained earlier this month have uncovered a narrow spinal cord, a genetic condition that increases risk of serious injury if he takes another blow to the head or neck. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the threat posed by Irvin's condition will have more to do with whether the receiver plays football again than his current injury. The risk is the same Irvin, 33, has faced throughout his 12-year career. What's different now is that he knows it exists.

And, still fresh in his mind is the memory of being paralyzed for a few minutes following the Oct 10 injury against Philadelphia. Three days later, Irvin was Tickets available at the 1 Wildcat Ticket rR47 4Q1.rATS muports.com I mm.