Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 35

Star TribuneFridayNovember 111994 V5C 4 NFL Backup center Cornish gets released i "He did well," Green said. "Butlhat still does not mean he will start. It doesn't mean he won't I think it'll be one of those game-day decisions." 171 A Who will fill Cornish's spot on the roster isn't certain. The Vikings have not signed anyone, but they brought in former Washington center Greg Huntington for a workout "We'll probably just go with 52 guys on the roster this week," vice president Jeff Diamond said. "It's possible we'll do something next week." Sunday at New England, long snapper Mike Morris and guard John Gerak will be the backups at center.

The apparent lack of depth makes the release of Cornish seem untimely, though Green said he feels confident in his line. Parker probable Cornerback Anthony Parker (hamstring) practiced Thursday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game. Irvin fined 2,000 Scufflers amass $43,000 in fines Associated Press 0: Dallas wide receiver Michael Irvin 3, was fined $12,000 Thursday, one of five people fined a total of $43,000 by the NFL for their roles in a fight Monday night in the Cowboys-New York Giants game. By Selena Roberts Staff Writer The Vikings admitted to one of the few mistakes they made in the offseason by releasing backup center Frank Cornish on Thursday. "It came down to, I just didn't think it was working," coach Dennis Green said.

"There's not much more to it than that." The Vikings signed Cornish as an unrestricted free agent to be the starter when the team decided not to resign Adam Schreiber before training camp. But Cornish was beaten out by Jeff Christy and was unable to become the kind of lineman he was in Dallas, where he stepped in for injured Pro Bowl player Mark Stepnoski the last Fantasy leagues Big money obscures Irvin and teammate James Washing- ton were involved in an incident in the end zone at the end of the first half, after Cowboys receiver Alvin Harper was injured. Irvin was fined for swinging a helmet at other players, while Washington was fined $10,000 for brandishing a monopod, a photographer's stand. Cowboys assistant coach Hubbard -Alexander was fined $5,000 for "inflaming the situation." Two Giants defensive backs, Jarvis Williams and Jesse Campbell, were fined $8,000 each for fighting. "It was foolish of me, but I have been known to come off the deep end." Washington said.

"I'll just have to three games of the 1993 season. "When a guy doesn't get that starting job, it's hard," Green said. "But the bottom line is, he had to battle and Jeff Christy won. It's not easy being a backup." There is some speculation that Cornish was disgruntled with his role. However, when reached at his home, Cornish would not comment, adding "I have nothing to say." "Again, you look at the chemistry of your team and if you are willing to make a roster move to help the chemistry of your team, then we'll do it," Green said.

"I think Jeff Christy' just came in here and battled his butt off and won the spot." Rules Leagues vary, but generally each owner drafts a team of skill-position players before the season, able to start two wide receivers, a tight end or a swingman, a quarterback, two running backs, a placekicker and a team defensespecial teams each week. Points are based on touchdowns, but there can be myriad bonuses, such as a receiver or running back who has a 100-yard game, a quarterback who throws for 300 yards, or a defense's sack total. Cost The entry fee for a typical league is about $50, going up to $10,000 or more for higher-stakes leagues. Blockbuster trades happen frequently for a transaction fee: $5 to $500 or more. Commercial leagues The Star Tribune is one of many media organizations that sponsor fantasy football.

The Star Tribune's league drew 35,000 entrants. The league had no entry fee, but requires a $5 fee for each trade. The payoff A pool of cash awaits a league's winner, as little as $500 to $100,000 or more. point systems. Whoever won, maybe they'd get a prize or a dinner.

Now it has become a moneymaking thing. It's dangerous." Yet, it seems innocent enough. And for the most part, it still is. It's a way to get into the game, something to bring co-workers together around the coffee pot. Twenty-five bucks and you're in.

What's $25? A dinner, a concert ticket. Big deal. But think about $25,000. Think about someone who is pouring As Low As $1099.99 orgy? i use my hands next time." that much into player performances. And that nothing.

Barely loose change in some circles. There's a group in California where the fantasy league is run by millionaires. Fantasy team owners who select and trade players at their actual NFL salaries. And there are Las Vegas-based fantasy teams, too. Not to mention leagues as close as your doorstep.

The Star Tribune sponsors a league with a $10,000 payoff to the winner. How much does money like that mean to people? At what point does the fantasy turn as twisted as a David Lynch film? "I hope nobody uses a lot of money to pick a player, hoping they're going to get so many points for their team," Vikings receiver Qadry Ismail said. "If that guy doesn't come through, does someone get so upset that they come after a guy because it cost them money? It's not to that point, yet. But it's getting weird." It's odd how obsessive some are about fantasy football. Fantasy nerds.

They don't just check the league standings, they subscribe to publications that provide everything you need to know about whom to pick and what trades to make. Hello? Get a life. "People are really, really into it," Ismail said. "Someone will come up to you and say, 'Hey, couldn't you guys have just settled for a field As Low As $399.99 LiLJ Schlichtor pleads guilty Former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Art Schlichter pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal charge of bank fraud tor stealing and writing SI 75.000 in bad checks. Schlichter, 34, entered the plea agreement in U.S.

District Court in Las Vegas and was taken into custody immediately. The maximum sentence for federal bank fraud is 30 years and-or $1 million, but Schlichter is expected to get 18 to 24 montns, according to nis attorney, Frank Cremen. "He's a self-admitted gambling addict that has cost him careers and relationships, yet he hasn't gotten counseling," assistant U.S. attorney John Ham said in arguing that Schlichter be jailed. plaroff Plavoff ticket notice The Vikines will send out ploff ticket invoices to season-ticket holders Nov.

21. Payment is due by Dec. Any remaining tickets will not go. on sale to the general public until after the Vikings' final regular-season game against San Francisco, on Dec. 26.

i Ticket prices for a potential first-round playoff home game are $30, $35, $40 and $45. Should the Vikings play host to the NFC championship game Jan. 15, the prices will be $40,, $50, $55 and $60. fans' view! goalT And I'm like, 'What are you talking about? We won the Then they'll say, 'Well, I had it setiup to where I needed a field goafcfor points on my fantasy Thcftct we won the game doesn't anything." 'J I You hear it all the time. A Viking fan pulling for the Packers because Sterling Sharpe is on his fantasy team.

A Packers fan cheering onDthe Vikings defense because a sack means points in her league. 1 'fa "People will actually come up totyou and say: 'If you don't come through fpr my fantasy foptball team, going to bench Ismail said "It's a little crazy." is! Most people aren't so nuts. Mosture content with the office league. Mosj keep it at that. IT But the fantasy football industryland the fans who take it too far taintSIhe hobby.

I "I think it's just like autographs. Fantasy football is just perceived differently now," Moon said. "At3ne time, a fan liked you and they wanted your autograph. Now it's melmp rabilia and people are making money. Fantasy football used to benfor fun.

People used to do it just to keep track of their favorite players." El Now, some are watching only to keep track of their investments. I As Low As $799.99 or As Low As $34Month Rubber-lined rlgnt down to the pavement. Clear unto 1 a 24' path In ueep snow with one pass. J3 St Jo ui )b IB 8 yw-Tw mJJ may be extra at participating dealers. Robbinsdale Marine Robbinsdaie, MN ig Shorewood True Value Shorawood.

MNM IQ Twin City. Marine Minneapolis, MN Valley Lawa Sport, Inc. Burnsville, MN? Wilson How To Hardware Glencoa, MN Northern Burnsville, MN Maplewood, MN Minnetonka, MN Rogers, MN Spring Lake Park, MN West St PauL Mti' Barreiro Doctors discovered tumor smwarnm nrmm, Art Schlichter Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd aggravated a foot injury Thursday in practice and is listed as questionable for Monday's game against Buffalo. Lloyd injured the foot Oct. 30 against Arizona but returned to nlav last week against Houston.

New York Giants The Giants nrohahlv will without four starters and their top kickoff returner when they play Arizona. Coach Dan Reeves said Thursday that center Brian Williams (ribs), right guard Lance Smith (ankle, knee), safety Jarvis Williams (knee) and cornerback Phillippi Sparks (groin) were all listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at Giants Stadium. Thomas Lewis, the Giants No. 1 draft pick and leading kickoff returner (19.6 yards) won't play because of a knee injury suffered against Dallas on Monday. Miami Veteran fullback James Saxon and undrafted rookie running back Irving Spikes will make their first starts for Miami on Sunday against the Bears, replacing injured Keith Byars and Bernie Parmalee.

Byars' season ended Sunday with a knee injury that will require reconstructive surgery. Parmalee strained his right knee and will miss at least one game. Tampa Bay The Buccaneers, who have the worst record in NFL history, are for sale. The three-member trust running the team since owner Hugh Culver-house's death in August is putting the Bucs on the market immediately, team officials said Thursday. Financial World Magazine has estimated the franchise's value at $142 million.

Staff Photo by Jerry Holt Allen Piatt on his return this season: little rusty, but after that I was fine." there and not be able to help in some way," he says. "It was a real frustrating year for everybody." Because of the stress fracture, he also missed the basketball season. But in his senior year of football, there have been no setbacks. "This year, he's just been phenomenal," says Thompson. "He averages something like 13 or 14 tackles.

In the playoffs, he has been in on almost every tackle, has a couple of fumble recoveries, an interception. We basically use him as a spy in the middle of the field, and he just goes to the ball." It should come as no surprise that Allen was not at all gunshy about throwing his body around since coming back from the leg injury. "The first game of the year I felt a little rusty, but after that I was fine," he says. "I thought it might be a little tougher to feel comfortable, but it wasn't." What has been a bit more difficult to accept is Lakeville's record, which at one time was 1-6 in the tough Lake -XT Jlllfltl Bs or As Low As $46MonthM or As Low As $25Month Continued from page 1C It can be a bit unsettling. Because a fantasy league isn't like an office-pool bet on a team to reach the Final Four.

Fantasy football places money on the individual, a price on each player's performance. Take quarterback Warren Moon. And you wish you had if you're a fantasy football team owner. He threw for 420 yards against the Saints last week. Bonus time.

Three better. And the Vikings won, too. Not that it mattered. Wins don't mean points. Yards, touchdowns.

The stats are what count. That's where the money is when the league season is over. And that's what is so disturbing to some players. "People come up and tell me I'm their fantasy quarterback and want to know how well I'm going to do that week," Moon said. "I don't want to know anything about it, because I know that it has gambling implications to it." Exactly.

It's all but asking a player to fix his stats to help you win your league. An unsavory side to a hobby that has grown as fast as natural grass. It's an industry these days. "Fantasy football has become bigger than when it first started. It used to be for fun," Moon said.

"People would do it in the office and have "The first game of the year I felt a Conference. Since then, Lakeville has won four in a row, including three in the playoffs, to advance to Friday night's state quarterfinal game against Anoka. "I know Anoka has had a great season, but I like our chances," says Allen. "We don't have a real big team; we're built more on quickness. The dry weather lately has really helped us.

Early in the season there was a lot of rain, and I think that hurt us against bigger teams." At 6-2, 205 pounds, Allen is not tiny. "I have a lot of freedom in this defense to just try to go to the play." "It's not that he's that fast or anything," says Thompson. "He's one of those players who has great instincts to find the football." Allen is a senior going after one more state title, but the coach need not worry. A.J. Piatt is a sophomore linebacker-in-training.

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MODEL LE317R i Continued from page 1C When Allen was a sophomore, we plugged him in at linebacker on the state championship team because we had some problems at linebacker. He didn't miss a beat. There's no question that when we lost Allen last year, we knew we had lost the one player we could least afford to." It is quite possible that on the day the X-rays came back, Linda Piatt, Allen's mother, could not have cared less about the impact of his son's loss on the defending state champions. After looking at the X-rays, doctors told the Platts the one thing a mother and father do not want to hear In checking for the crack, they had found a tumor in Allen's leg. It would have to be removed.

"As soon as they said tumor, you can't help but think the worst," Linda Piatt said. "You have these visions of him losing his leg. Even though they didn't think it was cancer, you worry a lot because I have a lot of cancer on my side of the family. All of my mom's brothers and sisters who are not still alive died of cancer. And my mom had cancer.

It was very scary." Despite the doctors' belief that the tumor was benign, they would not be able to confirm the diagnosis until Allen underwent surgery. "I really didn't think much about cancer," says Allen. "You just don't think about that, being so young." Linda Piatt is not so sure. "Allen didn't show it much, but I could tell he was more worried than he was letting on," she says. "I can't tell you how relieved we all were when we found out that it was benign." The surgery was a success, and the tumor was removed.

But had it not been for the injury, it is possible it might not have been detected until much later, when it couia nave iea to more serious complications. "In a mav it m9v have been a Allen says. His rehabilitation was not without setbacks. While lifting weights, he suffered a stress fracture in his healing leg. If that was not frustrating enough, he also had to watch his SNAPPER TRACTOR PACKAGE SPECIALS Mower 38" Two-Stage Snowthrower) MODEL LI I 40H38AB 14 HP OHV Engine Hydrostatic Drive 38" Mower 38" Two-Stage Snowthrower Regularly $3899.99 SPECIAL PACKAGE AQQ QQ (Includes 38" With approved credit.

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