The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 64

2002:10:20:22:49:46 SPORTS CC SF VN OC latimes.com/sports By Lisa Dillman Times Staff Writer FOXBORO, Mass. amere 113 minutes after seven seasons of waiting, anyway? Membership in the MLS champions club going to come easily for the long-suffering Galaxy, which previously fell short three times at the final hurdle. It took a one-timed, left- footed goal from Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz in overtime, in the 113th minute, to complete the journey, giving it a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. And so, the circle was completed before a record MLS Cup crowd of 61,316. As Galaxy defender Alexi Lalas said the other day, some circles are a lot bigger than others.

Two of the three losses in finals were in this city, the first being Oct. 20, 1996, in the old stadium. Galaxy midfielders Cobi Jones and Associated Press FINISHING KICK: Sasha Victorine, left, and Peter Vagenas, right, celebrate with teammates after Carlos goal in the 113th minute gave the Galaxy a 1-0 victory in the MLS Cup. Galaxy Is No Longer a Footnote overtime goal defeats New England, 1-0, as L.A. ends string of near misses to win first MLS title.

See Galaxy, Page D9 omewhere on the Mediterranean island of Corsica this morning, Greg Vanney will be smiling. Perhaps he will even put in a call to Paul Caligiuri. Somewhere near Acapulco, Mexico, this afternoon, Jorge Campos will grin for no apparent reason. Perhaps he will even send Cobi Jones an e-mail. Somewhere in Denver today, Robin Fraser will nod knowingly to himself and, not for the first time, will Perhaps he will even call Dan Calichman.

In places around the globe, wherever Galaxy players of the past find themselves, they will hold their heads a little higher, look strangers in the eye a little more directly and know that justice, at long last, has been done. Especially those players who SOCCERGRAHAME L. JONES Weight of the World Is Lifted See Soccer, Page D9 By Steve Henson Times Staff Writer OAKLAND Marty Schot- tenheimer has proclaimed it for weeks. But one thing to talk the talk, quite another to call the call. On Sunday, the San Diego Charger coach showed the world at least the AFC West world that matters most to his team that Drew Brees is his man.

On third and 10 from the Oakland Raider 30-yard line in overtime, Schottenheimer called apass play from shotgun formation. Even though the Raiders had been putting on a fierce rush and asack would have taken the Chargers out of field-goal range. Even though tailback LaDai- nian Tomlinson was the safe choice and had already touched the ball 43 times. Even though Brees, 23, is in his first season as the Charger starting quarterback and Schot- tenheimer has a streak of conservatism as thick as his spine. Brees took the snap and completed a sharp 11-yard pass to Tim Dwight.

The discouraged Raiders regroup quickly enough and Tomlinson blasted 19 yards for a touchdown on the next play, giving the Chargers a 27-21 victory at Network Associates Coliseum. trust the Schottenheimer said. knew what to Enraged Raider fans pelted Tomlinson with plastic bottles Brees Keeps His Cool With the Heat On Associated Press WINNING RUN: LaDainian Tomlinson, who carried 39 times, runs 19 yards for a touchdown in overtime to give the Chargers a victory over the Raiders in a key AFC West game Sunday. See Chargers, Page D8 He completes key pass in overtime to set up winning run by Tomlinson as Chargers beat Raiders, 27-21. By Elliott Teaford Times Staff Writer Nine days before opening one of their most anticipated seasons since arriving in Los Angeles from San Diego in 1984, the Clippers are still without a cable television deal.

Talks with Fox Sports Net continue, the team and the cable network say, but there is a distinct possibility that the season will begin without a resolution. The growing legion of fans figuresto be the big loser if the case. As it stands now, fans will have only 25 opportunities to watch the team on Channel 5. The Clippers also are scheduled to appear six times on national cablecasts on ESPN and four on TNT. Three games will be shown in Spanish on the Telemundo network, but those games also will be aired by Channel 5.

Last season, the Clippers disappointed many local fans without cable by failing to secure an over-the-air deal when negotiations broke off with Channel 9. Between them, Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Net 2 showed 40 of 82 games last season, when the Clippers went39- 43and finishedninthin the Western Conference, their best season since posting a 41-41 Clipper Picture Remains Fuzzy Barely a week before start of season, team is without a cable-TV deal. As of now, only 35 games scheduled to be shown. See Clippers, Page D8 MLS champions 2002 CUP Galaxy 1, New England 0 (OT) Carlos golden goal gives franchise first Cup in its fourth appearance in seven years. 2001 CUP San Jose 2, Galaxy 1 (OT) Substitute Dwayne DeRosario scores golden goal to deny Galaxy a title for the third time.

2000 CUP Kansas City 1, Chicago 0 Miklos 11th-minute goal is all MVP goalie Tony Meola needs. 1999 CUP D.C. 2, Galaxy 0 Jaime Moreno and MVP Ben Olsen score in win. Robin Fraser out with injury in first half. 1998 CUP Chicago 2, D.C.

0 Peter Nowak assists on both first-half goals to become MVP, and goalie Zach Thornton gets shutout. 1997 CUP D.C. 2, Colorado 1 Jaime Moreno and Tony Sanneh score to give United consecutive titles. 1996 CUP D.C. 3, Galaxy 2 (OT) Eddie Pope heads in overtime goal to cap rally from 2-0 deficit in first title game.

By Peter Yoon Times Staff Writer JenniTangtiphaiboontana plays golf because it helps her to remember and because it allows her to forget. She plays because her parents dreamed she would someday make it to the top and, even though they are not here to see it wants to make them proud. Ittisak and Uthaivan Tangti- phaiboontana were driving Jen- ni and a Long Beach Wilson High teammate home from the Southern Section team golf championships in Calimesa last November when they died in a single-car accident. For Jenni, a highly ranked player on the national golf American Junior Golf Assn. circuit before the accident, the game she learned at age 8 has become a refuge, a focal point to channel her grief.

She sustained cuts and bruises in the accident but was playing in a tournament three weeks later. Last month, she was runner-up in the U.S. Junior Championship, junior premier event. And now that school has started, she has reclaimed her spot as the top player (her average is under par) on Southern best team. Observers marvel at her composure, her toughness.

But Jen- ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times ALEADER: JenniTangtiphaiboontana, second in the U.S. Junior Championship, is No. 1 on top-ranked team. A FTERTHE A CCIDENT Golf helps Long Beach Tangtiphaiboontana keep life on course, nearly a year after both parents die in crash See Golf, Page D11 McDonald Knows What He Hears in Win Crowd reaction tells Andy McDonald that his goal beat Colorado, 3-2, in overtime. D9 Burns Outlasts Woods Bob Burns holds up under pressure from Tiger 63 to win the Disney Golf Classic.

D10 INSIDE ANGELS VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Complete coverage of Game 2 Section WORLD SERIES SPECIAL SECTION RESULTS 8 Detroit 23, Chicago 20, OT 8 Buffalo 23, Miami 10 8 Atlanta 30, Carolina 0 8 N.Y. Jets 20, Minnesota 7 8 St. Louis 37, Seattle 20 8 Denver 37, Kansas City 34, OT 8 New Orleans 35, San Fran. 27 8 Baltimore 17, Jacksonville 10 8 Cleveland 34, Houston 17 8 San Diego 27, Oakland 21, OT 8 Green Bay 30, Washington 9 8 Philadelphia 20, Tampa Bay 10 8 Arizona 9, Dallas 6, OT Coverage, D4-8 NFL WEEK 7 Associated Press DRIVEN OFF: Quarterback Brett Favre covers his face with a towel as he is taken to locker room after spraining left knee..