Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 21

DEX wwm Minnesota scene Page C2 Tuesday MARCH 4, 1997 SECTION College polls Page C4 Scoreboard Page C6 High school polls Page C7 StarHibune Inside JL Erikson, Moos athletes of week At 40, with 3,000 hits, Molitor mulls encore By Jim Souhan Star Tribune Staff Writer FORT MYERS, FLA. Paul Molitor pulled out his abacus 31 $3 the other day. (His generation doesn't cater to these newfangled inventions, like pencils and paper.) "I figured out that I've spent two years of my life in spring training," he said. "That's sick." Molitor has spent and set career highs in games, hits and RBI. This spring, even the likes of Tom Kelly and Kirby Puckett bowed before him, humbled by the presence of greatness.

Sort of. On one of the first days of camp, Molitor absent-mindedly put on white uniform pants. "I had them on for about half an hour, and I was standing over there by the coffee machine," Molitor said. "TK finally came up and said, real quiet, 'You have white pants on. We wear gray.

Listen, I'll keep it quiet, and you might want to sneak around the back and get to your locker before anyone "No sooner than he gets that out of his mouth, he walks out into the middle of the clubhouse and yells, 'Molly wants to wear white pants today. Paul wants to wear white, so I guess everybody else will have to change. It's OK, Paulie we'll go with whatever you "I said, 'Thanks for taking care of me.TK.'" The first time Molitor took batting practice, Puckett stood behind the cage and filled Molitor's ear until Molitor turned and pleaded, "Come on, Puck!" Puck's banter, edited from a transcript that makes the Unabomber's tome look like a haiku, included these observations, which coincided with every swing Molitor took: "That's hit number 3,272 that's hit number 3,273 When you get your first hit this spring, could you stop the game and give me the ball? Can I have that one? Autographed? Geez, Molly, you hit that one last year and there were three Kansas City Royals saying, 'I got it, I got it, no you take it. Oh, Molly, hit it, let it drop it's his hit. Turn to TWINS on C3 Also on C3: Day at camp: Becker's contract renewed.

28 DAYS April 1, 1997 more time practicing rundowns in spring trainings than many of his teammates have spent in the major leagues. In this, the 21st spring of his evergreen career, Molitor has basked in the glow of one of the most remarkable seasons in baseball history. In 1996, while turning 40, he reached 3,000 hits Star Tribune Photo by Jeff Wheeler Paul Molitor takes part In the 21st spring training camp of his career by signing a few autographs. Chad Erikson Carolyn Moos Chad Erikson, a senior wrestler from Apple Valley, and Carolyn Moos, a senior basketball player from Blake, are this week's metro prep athletes of the week. Turn to C7 Wolves aim to start new win streak Timberwolves players held a meeting Monday as a pre-emptive strike against slipping further during the remaining five games of the current homestand.

The Wolves had won four in a row before losing to Charlotte on Sunday at Target Center. Turn to WOLVES NOTES on C5 Gustavus earns tournament berth The Gustavus men's basketball team, although it was the MIAC regular-season champion, wasn't guaranteed a spot in the 64-team NCAA Division III Tournament, but it earned its way in with two nail-biters in the conference playoffs. Turn to SMALL COLLEGE NOTES on C5 Slumping Penguins fire Johnston The Pittsburgh Penguins fired coach Eddie Johnston Monday, and general manager Craig Patrick will jap i 1 Clem Haskins and senior center Trevor Winter have learned each other's strengths and shortcomings during a bumpy five seasons. Both cherish the experience. pita gets found farewell I I in ml' i fclmif Patrick Reusse Record will do in 'U' coach coach the remaining 20 games.

Turn to NHL NOTES on C6 FYI A woman who had read a report Friday on Linda Hill-MacDonald's probable dismissal as the Gophers women's basketball coach called a sportswriter to discuss the issue. At one time, this woman had the extreme displeasure of working for Chris Voelz, the women's athletic director. The conversation between UndaHB-MacDonaM A- Howe hoping Saints' revive his career Former New York Yankees pitcher Steve Howe is hoping to revive his base- ball career with the St. Paul -Saints, following the path that Darryl Strawberry took back to the majors last year. Howe, who was suspended seven times for drug and alcohol abuse during his 12-year major league career, was cut by the Yankees in June after he compiled an 0-1 record and 6.35 ERA.

The Saints, who play in the independent Northern League, could be the last option for I lowe, 38. "We have had positive experiences dealing with players whose major league careers -have gotten off track for whatever reason, most recently with Darryl Strawberry," said Marv Goldklang, chairman and part owner of the Saints. "As a result, players view us as an option and Steve is one of several who have contacted us." Goldklang said the team is still taking a long look into Howe's history before making a decision. NBA BOSTON 107 SACRA. 108 TORONTO 103 NEW JERSEY 95 the former employee (FE) and the sportswriter (SW) went like this: FE: "Has the decision been made to fire Linda?" SW: "I haven't been told that directly, but it appears that, yes, the decision has been made." FE: "So, Chris Voelz is going to get her way again." Turn to REUSSE on C4 Sweet 16 1 1 it-1' Sixteen boys hockey teams begin play Wednesday and Thursday for 1 iAJ I y.

'( 'I the state hockey championship. Dan Carlson, who helped Edina reach the state tournament for the third consecutive year, was named the Star Tribune Metro Star Trfeune Photo by Jeff Wheeler Trevor Winter, In action against Iowa In January, will play his final game In Williams Arena on Thursday against Michigan State. 108 90 CHICAGO MLWAUKEE UTAH GOLDEN ST. Ill 104 Dan Cartoon Turn to C5 NHL TORONTO BOSTON COLORADO VANCOUVER 8 1 RANGERS SAN JOSE Boys' Hockey Player of the Year. Story on C8 Class A A GAMES THURSDAY uppar -bracket quarterfinals Anoka vs.

Moortiead, 12:05 p.m. Duluth East vs. Rochester Mayo, 2:45 p.m. Lower-bracket quarterfinals Edina vs. Henry Sibley, 7:05 p.m.

Roomlnflton Jefferson vs. HiH-Murray, 0:45 p.m. Turn to C6 climactic NIT appearance. And now, a limited but purposeful part of the No. 2-ranked, Big Ten champion Gophers (26-2).

"It has definitely been a learning experience, from the first day on the court that first summer right up until today," Winter said. "You learn a lot, more those first four years than you think you will." Winter spent those early years learning Haskins' unique ways. He has spent all the time since discovering his place on the team. By Jerry Zgoda Star Tribune Staff Writer Three Gophers will say farewell to Williams Arena and the home crowd at Thursday's Senior Night game against Michigan State. John Thomas will depart the old place four years after he arrived as a soft, lumpy freshman.

Bobby lack-son will go after two short, successful seasons. But, for all both have done for the program, Gophers coach Clem Haskins says he will have some extra mist in his eyes for Trevor Winter, the Slayton, product who is last statistically among the three but might be first in Haskins' heart. "I love that guy," Haskins said. "He's been here five years. He's been through injuries.

He's put up with me. At the end of his career, after all that, he's having a great senior year, and I'm so happy for that." Winter almost has seen it all during those five years. An NIT championship while he missed his first season because of an emergency appendectomy. A redshirt freshman season shortened to 1 1 games because of a broken wrist. A Great Alaska Shootout championship and brief NCAA tournament appearance his sophomore year.

A difficult junior season highlighted with one big performance against St. Louis in an anti- Up next What: 2 Gophers (26-2, 15-1 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (15-10, 8-8) When: 7 p.m. Thursday Where: Williams Arena TV; radio: College basketball: Midwestern Collegiate Tournament, 6:30 p.m., ESPN; Big East Women's Tournament, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2; Sun Belt Tournament, 8:30 p.m., ESPN. NBA: Orlando at Seattle, 7 p.m., TNT.

Class A GAMES WEDNESDAY Quarterfinals Warroadvs. Hutchinson, 12:05 p.m. Proctor vs. MoraHlnckley-Finlayson, 2:45 p.m. Breck vs.

Red Wing, 7:05 p.m. Fergus Falls vs. Mahlomedl, 9:45 p.m. Turn to BASKETBALL on C4 Also on C4: Iowa women defeat Illinois..