Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 58

2 Section 4 Chicago Tribune, Wednesday. September 30. 1998 LOCAL TEAMS AT A GLANCE Home SEPT. OCT. Away Wed.

30 Thw. 1 Fri. 2 Sit. 3 Sim. 4 Mon.

5 Tu. 6 INSIDE THE BEARS Half full or empty, glass teetering on the edge DETROIT Noon INSIDE THE NFL Packers acquire Bills' backup for running depth ATLANTA i ATLANTA (Playoff) (Playoff) 3 p.m. 7 p.m. TV: CH. 9.ESPN TV: Ch.

32; OTTAWA (Exhibition) 7:30 p.m. MILWAUKEE (Exhibition)! 7:30 p.m. Wilmerte I MANITOBA (Exhibition)! 7:30 p.m. Joiiet I COLORADO 1 (Playoff) I 7 p.m. TV: ESPN 2 lf necessary ATLANTA I KRANTA ATLANTA (Playoff) 1 (Playoff) (Playoff) TBA 1 TBA I TBA I TV: TBA TV: TBA TORONTO MONTREAL (Exhibition) (Exhibition) 7:30 p.m.

7 p.m. COLORADO (Playoff) 8 p.m. TV: FSC GAME 1 WGN-Ch. 9, ESPN. WGN -AM 720.

YANKEES, GAME 2 WMAQ-Ch. 5, By John Mullin Tribune Staff Writer Bears coaches, fans and players could look at the positive in their team leading four good teams at halftime before losing, and they could feel encouraged. But not too much. Because it could get worse. The 1996 New York Jets under coach Rich Kotite went into eight halftimes tied with or ahead of eight good teams, including AFC finalist Jacksonville and Super Bowl runner-up New England.

They lost every one of those games and finished 1-15. The agony of the second-half shutdowns worsened as the season wore on. Six of the defeats came in the last 10 games and were by final margins of four, three, four, five, one and three points. Bears players, like the Jets before them, have admitted to increasingly fragile psyches after repeated disasters. Once something goes awry after halftime, human nature kicks in and tension, as much as Vikings, Buccaneers or some other opponent, becomes the true enemy.

That is not what coach Dave Wannstedt the public portrait of optimism, wants to see or hear. "You have to be tough enough not to think that way," Wannstedt said. "Every one of us controls what we think. That's one thing Holmes rushed for 1,383 yards in 385 attempts for a 3.6-yard average and 10 touchdowns in three-plus seasons with the Bills. He also caught 54 passes for 431 yards, an 8-yard average, and one touchdown.

The Packers are without Pro Bowl selection Dorsey Levens, who has a broken leg and a severely sprained ankle. Travis Jervey has been plagued by a pulled hamstring, leaving the rushing load to Raymont Harris, a rusher last year Helping hands: Left tackle Jimmy Herndon gave a good accoimt of himself in his first NFL start, keeping Minnesota defensive lineman John Randle largely at bay. Herndon said it wasn't all him. "The backs were good and left guard Todd Perry helped me out a lot," Herndon said. "Whenever they schemed on me, somebody was there to help me out and that made a big difference." Backing: Tailback Bam Morris appears headed for his second straight week on the inactive list, ON THE AIR WEDNESDAY auto ZZZZZZZZZZZZZl ZZZZ Z1ZZZZZ, 8:30 p.m.

USAC MIDGETS ESPN2 BASEBALL Noon AL DIVISION SERIES: BOSTON AT CLEVELAND, GAME 2 ESPN, WMVP-AM 1000 3 p.m. NL DIVISION SERIES: CUBS AT ATLANTA, WMVP-AM 1000 7 p.m. AL DIVISION SERIES: TEXAS AT NEW YORK WMVP-AM 1000 HORSE RACING 4:30 p.m. POST TIME AT HAWTHORNE Fox Sports Chicago SOCCER 7 p.m. MLS EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS, GAME MIAMI AT D.C.

UNITED ESPN VOLLEYBALL 7 p.m. COLLEGE TOLEDO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS WLBK-AM 1360 SOCCER The Press Box Compiled by Jack Thompson BASEBALL Report: Dodgers fire Hoffman Thornton shoulders goalie pressure as Campos leaves The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired manager Glenn Hoffman, according to the Wednesday edition of the Orange Country Register. Hoffman, who will apparently be reassigned to another position in the organization, was the manager for the Dodgers' Class AAA team at Albuquerque when he succeeded the fired Bill Russell on June 22. COLLEGES Kustok leaving Notre Dame Associated Press The Green Bay Packers shored up their banged-up back-field Tuesday with the acquisition of running back Darick Holmes from the Buffalo Bills. The Packers sent an undisclosed 1999 draft choice to the Bills for the 6-foot, 226-pound fourth-year pro out of Portland State.

To make room for Holmes, the Packers placed first-year fullback Michael Blair on waivers. that we control, and so I'd be disappointed if somebody thought that way." Yet Wannstedt, as has been his practice throughout eight consecutive demoralizing 1998 losses stretching back through the preseason, refuses to point fingers elsewhere in the locker room. "It's totally my responsibility to keep this thing together and keep the guys playing with the type of emotion and attitude that they played with Sunday," Wannstedt said. "It starts with me, definitely." feelings." The decision is a gamble for Bradley. Although Campos would start the playoffs on the bench, he certainly would have been called on had Thornton struggled or gotten hurt.

Campos also has much more playoff, or big-match, experience than Thornton. Before this season, Thornton had played in a total of six MLS games in two seasons. In addition to leading Mexico to the second round of the last two World Cups, Campos was in goal as the Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the championship game two seasons ago. HORSE RACING Race could be jackpot for owner By Neil Milbert Tribune Staff Writer Never a dull night for George Steinbrenner. His Yankees have a travel break Thursday in their American League playoff series with Texas, but Steinbrenner's racing stable will have a bonus baby in action at Balmoral Park.

Her name is Speed Sahara and she's co-owned by Steinbrenner, Mystical Marker Farms and Jack and Peggy Hood. If Speedy Sahara wins Balmoral's $100,000 Lady Lin-colnland Trot she will tap into a $1 million bonus jackpot offered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. In each of the four divisions, horses must win three of four designated races at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, the DuQuoin State Fair, Balmoral and Maywood Park. Speedy Sahara already has won at the fairs and needs only to win either Thursday night's race for 2-year-old filly trotters or the Oct 16 Violet at Maywood to guarantee her owners no worse than a share of the bonus. If she turns out to be the only horse to win at least three races in the series, Steinbrenner and associates will get the entire $1 million.

Also on Thursday's card at Balmoral is the $100,500 Lincolnland for 2-year-old male trotters. In this division Springfield winner Million Dollar Bye will meet Cooper Finale, who bested him by a nose at DuQuoin. Both still have a shot at the bonus money but both also are a loss away from elimination. In the pacing competition, the 2-year-old filly Juxtaposition and the 2-year-old male Fox Valley Admiral must win their final races in the series Oct 16 at Maywood to partake in the bonus booty. John Husar On the outdoors with the Bears who is still recuperating from a broken fibula.

Saints go home: The Saints were back in New Orleans on Tuesday, a couple of days late but no worse for the wear after Hurricane Georges delayed their return from Indianapolis. Georges' approach toward New Orleans over the weekend forced the team and numerous fans who flew to Indianapolis for Sunday's overtime victory over the Colts to put off their return. with the Edgar Bennett-starting Curtis Enis-off-the-bench tag team expected to remain the Bears' plan for using running backs. Ranking: The Bears' 28 points against the Minnesota Vikings leave them tied for 14th in scor ing. Their average yardage per game ranks 11th overall on offense, 18th rushing and 10th passing.

The defense, down to 25th after surrendering 31 points to the Vikings, ranks 17th overall in' yardage allowed 28th against the rush, second against the pass. Under Hoffman, the Dodgers went 47-41 on the way to an 83-79 season, 15 games behind San Diego in the NL West The Mariners have exercised their 1999 option, reportedly worth $3.5 million, on Edgar Martinez's contract. The designated hitter, who hit .322 with 29 home runs and 102 RBIs this season, will return for his 13th year in Seattle. second-team spot this season. But in preseason practice, Bat- tie, a freshman from Shreve-port, emerged as the backup to Jarious Jackson.

"Arnaz is clearly the second quarterback, but I don't think that was the deciding thing at all," Davie said. "It's a combination of a lot of things." The coach said he attempted to persuade Kustok to stay. "It was too early to tell, and that was really my point," Davie said. "I just know he's a smart kid, he's got ability, and he was a good fit at Notre Dame. So where he fit down the road, I think it was too early to tell" Malcolm Moron Bjorkman rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat Tim Henman 7-5, 6-4 and Felix Mantilla beat Nicolas Escude 6-3, 6-3.

Top-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain defeated Ion Moldovan of Romania 6-4, 13-11 in the first round of the Mallorca Open clay-court tournament in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Moya is from the Mediterranean Spanish island. nist Bernie Miklasz, who said, "That's not a home run total; that's an interstate." Boxing: Mike Tyson missed the deadline for giving the Nevada Athletic Commission his independent psychiatric reports, prompting state boxing officials to delay Saturday's resumption of Tyson's hearing to get his revoked Nevada boxing license restored. A new date was expected to be set Wednesday. Hockey: Left wing Steve Mal-tais returned to the IHL's Wolves after trying out with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

The New York Islanders have been ordered to return to the Nassau Coliseum after a judge ruled the arena was safe to play in. The team moved out earlier this month, claiming it was a danger to fans and players. SOUTH BEND, Dame football coach Bob Davie said Tuesday that the departure of sophomore quarterback Zak Kustok was not the result of freshman Arnaz Battle's elevation to second team. Kustok, a sophomore from Sandburg High in Orland Park, was given his release and intends to transfer. He could not be reached Tuesday.

Kustok committed to Notre Dame in April 1996 before his senior season at Sandburg. He separated both shoulders during his senior season. He did not play in his freshman year at Notre Dame and was expected to compete for a By Bob Foltman Tribune Staff Writer Zach Thornton had better stay healthy. If the Fire hopes to advance in the Western Conference playoffs, which begin for it Thursday night at Soldier Field against the Colorado Rapids, the health of goalkeeper Thornton will be just as important as the play of the other 10 players on the field. That's because the Fire's other keeper, Jorge Campos, left the Fire on Monday to rejoin his Mexican League team, UNAM Pumas.

Herman Survivor ROCKf Campos is barred from playing for the Fire again until next season, if he's still with the club. "After talking with the Fire and with Jorge in the last 48 hours, we decided to allow him to leave early," Major League Soccer Deputy Commissioner Sunil Gulati said Tuesday. "That decision was finalized Monday with Campos." Despite being a two-time starting goalkeeper in the World Cup for the Mexican national team, Campos was unable to become a consistent first-team choice for the Fire. In the last week the Pumas lost Omaha Casual a forward to injury and another to suspension and asked the league if Campos could return before the end of the MLS season. Fire coach Bob Bradley and Gulati agreed to wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

When Bradley decided that Thornton would be the starting keeper once the playoffs started, it paved the way for Campos to leave. "Jorge has a lot of respect for the team and for the way Zach has played," Bradley said. "He felt it was best for him to go back immediately. We respected his Limited sizes on some styles Nike Cross Trainer A.S. Original $59.95 Outdoor Work Gurnee Mills Mall 6112 W.Grand Ave.

Gurnee, IL 60031 Store Hours: Mon-Sat 9AM-10PM Sun 10AM-7PM (847) 856-1229 Visit Us On The Internet At: http:www.outdoor-world.com (l TENNIS Hingis celebrates with victory Martina Hingis opened the women's era in the $6.7 million Grand Slam Cup in Munich on Tuesday by beating Conchita Martinez 6-2, 7-5. Hingis, who turns 18 Wednesday, beat the 26-year-old Spaniard to reach the semifinals. The Grand Slam Cup began in 1990, and women are now playing for the first time. In men's matches, Jonas rltaP 1 BRIEFS Playoff cuts into football audience Sidewinder' GORE-TDC Boot 'sAVEN 0riginal W.95. saveN Original $79.95 saveN I I A Current 69.88 I ft Current 34.88 I CH I Current 39.88 yZllS -25 XlL -25 VH -25 5241 2616 2991 Waterproof Boot 'Excludes Special Purchases (Hi-Tec' Ducks Unlimited) SAVeN Original $109.95 CQ Current 59.88 XjX -25 4491 48 to ESPN's coverage of Monday's wild-card playoff between the Cubs and San Francisco Giants was the most-watched baseball game in cable TV history.

It was watched in 6.1 million homes on ESPN and 1.4 million additional homes on WGN and a San Francisco station. ESPN got an 8.1 rating, second to its 9.5 on Sept. 7 for Mark McGwire's 61st homer. The Detroit-Tampa Bay "Monday Night Football" game, meanwhile, rated an 11.1, which initial estimates show as the lowest-rated game since 1986. The Senate has voted to name the St.

Louis stretch of Interstate 71) after McGwire, the Cardinals' 70-homer slugger. Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) said he borrowed the idea from St. Louis Post-Dispatch colum fe Wlffliiir -i i i- r--m on vacation..