News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 27

I A INSIDE NEWS-PRESS SECTION NEWS-PRESS SCORELINE Call 332-5600 or (800) 848-0515 and press 8018 Touch tone only IScorecard2C I Motorsports6C lGolf7C I College football 8C I Sports from the North 9C I Youth Sports 12C MM SPORTS EDITOR: TOM HAYDEN, 335-0357 (Monday Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 1998 3 mm nffi Piazza is nothing but an ingrate MKE PIAZZA IS wearing his third uni-. form of 1998. He doesn't like this one any better than the first two. But he'll stick it out until the end of the season, wielding a A stiff upper lip and a stick that isn't up to his standards.

I Then he'll move on. He blew into South 1 Florida earlier this summer and tugged on a Marlins jer Fl sey, appearing as thrilled as the crew that was sent to find Private Ryan. Wasn't it a magical time for all of us? We hardly got to know him in that incan- RICK WEBER Pro football The Associated Press ONE MORE TO GO: Fort Myers' Brittany Straza, celebrating a putt on the ninth hole Saturday, advanced to today's national championship match by beating Jessica Reese 5 and 3. Straza goes for title today Dolphins' kicker boots 4 field goals in 19-16 triumph By RICK WEBER News-Press staff writer RAUON, Md. Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson likes to fill his training camp with competitive battles that create job insecurity and a rising level of performance.

But there's one position he's leaving uncompetitive: kicker. Olindo Mare added clarity to that picture by nailing field goals of 27, 44, 50 and 46 yards in the Dolphins' 19-16 victory over the Washington Redskins in Saturday's preseason opener before 64,243 fans at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. Johnson usually treats kickers like disposable razors. But Mare, coming off a season in which he made 28 of 36 field-goal attempts and tied for fourth in the NFL with 21 touchbacks, is the only kicker in camp. The Dolphins waived Jon Baker two days before the first full-squad workout, It's all in the right leg of Mare.

Or perhaps his hands, too? He even ended James Thrash's 33-yard kickoff return by dragging him down near the right sideline despite a posse of help a sight that must have made Johnson cringe. Overall, if you can read anything into a preseason game, it was animpressive night for the Dolphins. "I was really happy with the execution on both offense and defense," Johnson said. "The disappointing thing is that the penalties (six for 45 yards in the first half) really kept us from scoring more points. "For being the first preseason game, and the first time we've had contact with any other team, I thought our guys See DOLPHINS 10C Preseason standings 10C z1 1 ill Wl fifty) (, 'A Hi: 1i I i -ft "nlfrliaf The Associated Press NOWHERE TO RUN: Miami Dolphins linebacker Derrick Rodgers (59) eyes Redskins running back Terry Allen (21) during the first quarter of Saturday night preseason game at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

Fumble in end zone dooms Bucs 17-13 NFL PRESEASON SATURDAY By DAVE FRENCH News-Press staff writer Following a rare good night's sleep Saturday, Fort Myers' Brittany Straza will play a familiar opponent today for the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in Ardmore, Pa. "We've played together since the age of 9," Straza said of finals opponent Leigh Ann Hardin of Martinsville, Ind. "I know her very well personally. "It's a big advantage because tonight (Saturday), I can go to bed knowing my opponent, unlike I did Friday night." In Saturday's semifinals, Straza defeated Jessica Reese of Santa Rosa, 5 and 3.

Hardin downed Kristin Thompson of Napa, 6 and 5. They tee off at 8:32 a.m. on Merion Golf Club's East Course. Straza watched about 10 minutes of ESPN2's taped broadcast Saturday. "I didn't watch my match; 1 watched Leigh Ann's," said Straza, a 17-year-old senior at Lehigh High School who moved to Florida 18 months ago from Decatur, 111.

"I just wanted to get a feel for how she was playing. "She doesn't hit the ball long, but she is very accurate." The two have never met in match play, but have been paired together 25 times in stroke play, Straza said. "It's about even," she said of their stroke-play competition. "Whoever comes out and plays their A-plus game is going to win." Straza was near the top of her game Saturday, winning holes Nos. 14 and 15, and needing only seven putts over the last five holes to close out the match.

Yet the tournament probably turned on No. 8 when she made a 15-foot par putt and Hardin missed a 10-foot birdie putt. They halved the hole. Straza took control on No. 1 1 when she drained a 45-foot birdie putt.

"My coach and I have talked about staying focused and taking everything one step at a time," Straza said. "I'm out there to play well and enjoy myself. So far I've been doing that. "It's been great because I've dreamed about making it this far in a major event. For juniors, this is as big as it gets." Hardin, the Indiana state champion and a member of two state championship basketball teams, has played only 67 holes in five matches.

"The whole day I felt confident and in control," Hardin said. "I'm just so happy right now with the way I've been hitting it." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got a chance to hobnob with Raiders owner Al Davis, right, as the teams met in Dallas. Roundup 10C field goal by Pete Stoyanovich that gave the Chiefs a 10-7 lead. The Bucs tied it on a 48-yard field goal by Peter Elezovic with 4:48 remaining.

Milanovich had kept the drive alive earlier by hitting Leeland McElroy on a 20-yard screen pass on third-and-14. Kansas City took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on an 8-yard pass from Elvis Grbac to Derrick Alexander. Grbac did nothing but hand off to Donnell Bennett on the Chiefs' first two series, which each went three and out. But he was 5-of-6 for 57 yards on the scoring drive, including three completions to Andre Rison. The last of those, a 20-yarder, set up the TD.

By OWEN CANFIELD The Associated Press NORMAN, Okla. Kansas City receiver Chris Ortiz recovered a Tampa Bay fumble in the end zone with 44 seconds left, giving the Chiefs a wild 17-13 exhibition victory over the Buccaneers Saturday night. Eric Vance, who had set up the Bucs' go-ahead touchdown with an interception earlier in the quarter, picked off Pat Barnes' long pass and was turning to start back upfield when he dropped the ball at the 5-yard line. It squirted backward into the end zone and Ortiz, the intended receiver, got to it first. Micah Husted's 25-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining had given the Buccaneers a 13-10 lead.

His only kick of the game came four plays after Vance intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards to the Chiefs 16. Kansas City, which led the NFL in points allowed last season at 14.5 per game, limited Tampa Bay to 73 yards through three quarters before Bucs third-stringer Scott Milanovich hit rookie Jacquez Green on a 69-yard touchdown pass that tied the score 7-7 early in the fourth. Safety Melvin Johnson picked off Milanovich's overthrown pass and his short return put the ball at the Tampa Bay 31, setting up a 42-yard descent week, which really was no great loss. Now he has soured on Gotham. He says he "hates" the reception given by the callous New York Mets fans and the cynical media.

So he has suspended contract talks until after the season. But he already has decided he'll move on. Doesn't matter what the Mets offer. They could talk the city into surrendering the Statue of Liberty. He's gone.

He is tired and yearns to be free. Did we mention he is poor? Boos have cascaded down on Mercenary Mike, who is hitting .211 with runners in scoring position. A teammate has been quoted as saying Mercenary Mike "basically told me to have fun without him next year." Their psyches are scarred, but they'll do the best they can. Here's a guy who just doesn't get it. He had the ideal situation.

He was worshipped in La-La Land. He was wearing Dodger blue and playing for Tommy Lasorda, who adored Jiim. He said it was all he ever Nvanted in life, Then the Dodgers insulted him. They checked in with an offer of six years and $80 million. He wanted seven years and $100 million.

Forget for a moment what Mercenary Mike would be worth on the open market and consider these questions: How could his life possibly have been better at $14.28 million a year, as opposed to $13.33 million? What could he have done with that extra million that would have enriched his sense of well-being and purpose on this planet? I asked my father how much money he earned in his lifetime. "I don't know," he said, "but it's less than a million." Fourteen years ago, my parents built a modest house on an acre of land in Pennsylvania's Amish Country. It was their dream. Now they are entering psychologically fragile territory: They are preparing to move into a retirement community. They will inhabit a cottage.

It's not much, but they feel it is time, and they know this is enough for them. A few days ago, after a late-night walk under a full moon, my mother stopped in front of the house. "I always wanted an enclosed entrance like that, where I could put a bench, some flowers, a wreath," she said. "I'm going to miss that." Maybe Mercenary Mike should study the story of Phillies star Scott Rolen. Not only did he sign a ridiculously low, four-year, $10 million deal last March, but he immediately called his parents and told them that their work was done.

Now they follow him around the country in a motor home. Do you want to be like Mike? Here's a guy who, after he was traded by the Dodgers, said he "just started laughing. It was funny." How precious it would be if he told them he'd like to come back. How precious it would be if they told him where to go. Write Sports, P.O.

Box 10, Fort Myers, 33902. Call 335-0557. Computer: e-mail NPLifeiiiaol.com DOLPHINS ..19 Redskins ....16 BUCS 13 Chiefs 17 .13 Steelers 24 Bears 14 Broncos 20 Ravens 19 Rams 13 Jaguars 27 Saints 7 Panthers 30 Packers ......31 Bengals 17 i Raiders 16 Giants 24 Cowboys 3 Air boaters, fans have good oP time 2 'wdUi it f. tr i MiiMiiiMnniimii -v. blow away the competition on a day with few complaints.

"It's a good sport," said fan David Baker, 15, of Inverness. "Water is fun. Airplanes are By BYRON STOUT News-Press staff writer OKEECHOBEE Set in a bermuda grass field beside a cattail-lined marsh on the shore of Lake Okeechobee, Saturday's National Airboat Racing Club airboat races were anything but pastoral. Before a sunburning crowd of 2,000 fans replete with foaming cups, Confederate flags, bikini tops and country-wailing loudspeakers, 54 boats and somewhat fewer drivers worked to literally BAKER U.S. GIRLS' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP I WHO: Brittany Straza vs.

Leigh Ann Hardin, in 18 holes of match play I WHEN: Tee time is 8:32 a.m. I TV: ESPN2 (3:30 p.m., tun. This is both. "It gets in your blood," said racer Jerry Cypert, 33, of Lake See AIRB0ATS 3C Results 3C ANDREW WESTNews-Press PULLING AWAY: Marshall Norman, right, races to a victory during the F-Class (361-470 cubic-inch displacement) preliminaries. Norman won the Modified 4-Cylinder and F-Class divisions at the N.A.R.C.

airboat drag races near Okeechobee. 1 I ft it- HMf I tiiimtirnnrrf Home run derby The four players chasing Roger Maris' home-run record (61 in 1961) and how they fared in Saturday's games: National League Cardinals 9, Cubs 8 (13) Braves 14, Giants 6 Mets 4, Rockies 3 Expos 5, Diamondbacks 3 Reds 4, Brewers 0 Astros 7, Phillies 6 Pirates at Dodgers McGwire sosa OUTDOORS BOCA GRANDE SPEED ZONE: Boaters will be greeted with new restricted speed zones on the Intracoastal Waterway at the Boca Grande Causeway until December, due to construction on the bridge. BASKETBALL USA FALLS IN SEMIFINALS: The American team's dream comes up short at the World Championships of Basketball, as Russia overcomes a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes to beat the USA 66-64. Story 11C BASEBALL American League Indians 6, Devil Rays 2 Mariners 9, Tigers 3 Blue Jays 6, Athletics 5 (10) Yankees 14, Royals 1 White Sox 7-4, Angels 5-3 Orioles 6, Twins 3 Red Sox 11, Rangers 1 DEVIL HAYS LOSE: Tampa Bay couldn't solve Cleveland starter Charles Nagy (10-7), getting just three hits in eight innings. Roundup 4C I 1 MARK McGWIRE (46 HRs) 1 -for-3, 1 RBI homer in fourth inning, but walked 4 times SAMMY SOSA (44 HRs) 1 -for-4, 3 RBI two-run homer in ninth inning tied game 5-5 KEN GRIFFEY (41 HRs) 1-for-5, 1 RBI GREG VAUGHN (39 HRs) team was idle Revered records 4C AROUND THE MAJORS NEXT HOME GAME: Monday vs.

Charlotte, 7:05 p.m. FSt standings 2C HERO: Serguei Panov scored the winning basket. wmmmTmmmtmimm MmSjMlMtMblN.