The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 41

The Orlando Sentinel TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1997 Inside, D-6 Boston's Antoine Walker is named the NBA Star of the Week. Daseball, D-3 CENTSAl FLORIDA Leave it to baseball to foul up things again Mmic -the aseball had to deal with more ocy on Monday and it had nothing to do with Roberto Alomar By LC. Johnson OF THE SENTINEL STAFF BWHO: Orlando Magic vs. Milwau- kee Bucks. tft El WHEN: 8:30.

iluZc' WHERE: Bradley Center, Milwaukee. BROADCAST: TV WKCF (Ch. 18); Radio Magic Network 580 AM (WDBO) in Orlando. reporting back to second base for the Baltimore Orioles. Alomar was booed when he returned from his five-game suspension after spitting at umpire John stretch was March 22 against the New York Knicks.

This is not to say that the Magic (41-34) don't have their, own problems to worry -about. The HO-94 loss to the Chicago Biflls on Sunday marked the fifth loss in the last six games for Orlando. Four of those losses have come at Orlando Arena. The lone victdr ry was Friday at New York. Please see MAGIC, DUr hand in altering the Magic's late April travel plans.

The Bucks (29-45) are coming off a 1-6 West Coast trip. Then again, this detour down the long, winding road to loserville also known as the NBA Lottery began for them shortly after the midseason beak. Entering tonight's game at the Bradley Center, the Bucks have lost 18 of their past 22 games. One of the victories during that Heading into the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks were one of the teams that loomed as a possible threat to the Orlando Magic's playoff hopes. The Bucks since have fallen out of postsea-son contention, but they still could have a Hirschbeck last year, but no other peripheral repercussions developed.

That event was the least of Bud Selig's worries. Turns out that Selig, the acting commissioner, had to have a serious talk with, O-Rays bring out new look. THE SPORTS COLUMN By Rex Hoggard OF THE SENTINEL STAFF or The Orlando Rays make their debut at Tinker Field tonight, but despite the new name and new uniform, the team will look a lot like the old Orlando Cubs. The Rays (1-3), who opened on the road for the first time in 10 years, play host to the Huntsville Stars in a four-game series that begins at 7 p.m. It's the first game for the Class AA-team as a semi-affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Tampa Bay Managing General Partner Vmce Naimoli will be on hand to throw out the first pitch.

i The Rays will phase in farmhands until they take over the team In 1999. Currently, only catcher Cesar Devarei and pitcher Rick White are Tampa Bay players. The rest are Cubs property. Right-hander Kerry Wood, last year's Cubs' minor-league player of the year with Daytona Beach, will start tonight. It's also a chance to see how the new O-Rays caps and T-shirts will sell.

Mack Powell, who has sold merchant dise at Tinker Field for 25 years, says he expects the new look to be popular. "When we became the Cubs back, in 1992 we didn't do this well," Powell said. "People seem to really like this look." ST. PETERSBURG TIMES Put to rest Coach Tony Dungy (right) retires the Bucs' old colors to the possession of former-coach John McKay. Bucs push Bucco Bruce overboard uh, Selig, Milwaukee Brewers owner, in the press box in Milwaukee.

After Brewers fans interrupted the Brewers-Texas Rangers game by continuing to throw souvenir baseballs onto the field, Selig had to act on behalf of the best interest of the game. He had to warn his own fans to stop their behavior or the Brewers would have to forfeit Pretty embarrassing for Bud's team, as well as a P.R. black eye. Baseball has tried to put its best cleats forward, heal those old strike-inflicted wounds and win back customers. The actions of some numbskulls probably soured the Brewers and Rangers and any other players who will watch the sorry highlights.

The athlete-fan relationship is a two-way street in sports, as each party must respect the other's role. Brewers fans now have to win back the i Brewers. By the way, Alomar spent 10 minutes before Monday's game in Kansas City signing autographs, and was forgiven by several fans who were interviewed. NOT IN THE CARDS: Rivals who think St Louis manager Tony La Russa is too arrogant are getting a chuckle. La R-ussa, who predicted several times during the winter that his club would repeat as N.L Central Division champs, is watching the Cards flounder at 0-6.

It is merely the worst start in St Louis' 106-year history. The Cards are hitting a meager .190. Brian Jordan partially blames the slump on and I'm not making this up having to adjust from hitting in the clarity of spring training to cavernous domes. Not even Michael Jordan used that weak of an excuse. Sure, it's awful early to talk about managerial jobs at risk.

But that is no comfort to Jim Riggteman of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs and Cards were picked by many to battle for the division, but are baseball's only winless teams. And Riggleman does not have a La Russa resume to ward off impatient ownersfansmedia His Cubs also are winless after six starts. Batting just .178, they face the pitching-rich Marlins and Braves next Perhaps the most amazing stat of the young baseball season is this one: The Colorado Rockies are 5-2 after a 13-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, their first game at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Last year, the Rockies were just 28-53 on the road.

DROPPING THE GLOVES: Can't we all get along? The icy relationship between the Orlando Solar Bears and Orlando Predators has reached frostbite levels after yet another hassle over prime O-rena dates. The O-Bears are scheduled to begin the International Hockey League playoffs next week on Thursday night but had asked to swap dates with the Preds, who had been assigned Friday night by the city for their Arena Football League exhibition opener. The Preds agreed, only if the O-Bears I gave them step-aside money (to advertise the switch). Sounded fair. But after some haggling, with city officials acting as refer BWHO: Orlando Rays vs.

Huntsville Stars. at the St. Petersburg Pier. Tm going to miss the old thing, but it's time for a change," said former receiver Kevin House, who played in Tampa from 1980 to '86. "They've gotten rid of everything else old." The plumed, one-eyed pirate, who was bedecked in orange, was the brainchild of former Tampa Tribune illustrator Lamar Sparkman and debuted with the team in 1976.

He initially was referred to by some as Morgan after Sir Henry Morgan, a 17th century Welsh buccaneer, but eventually came to be known as Bucco Bruce. "I didn't know his name," said John McKay, the Bucs' first coach and the franchise's winningest with a 44-88-1 record. "I thought it was Errol Flynn all those years. But if he was the guy in charge of losing, let's get rid of him." Please see BUCS, D-2 Florida Citrus brings exhibition to Orlando TAMPA Florida Citrus Sports is expected to announce Thursday that it will play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' final exhibition game against the New York Jets. FCS had a handshake agreement to move the Bucs' exhibition opener against the Washington Redskins, but a scheduling conflict necessitated the switch that will see new Jets head coach Bill Parcells at the Citrus Bowl.

It will mark the Bucs' fourth exhibition game in Orlando. Tampa Bay lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 30-21, in 1977, beat the Buffalo Bills, 32-12, in 1993 and topped the Miami Dolphins, 24-17, in the 1995 finale. Last season FCS lost $750,000 on an exhibition finale that pitted the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys against the Houston Oilers. CHAREAN WILLIAMS Tampa Bay will reveal its new colors and logo Wednesday and hopes the change will bring the team better fortunes, too. By Charean Williams OF THE SENTINEL STAFF ST.

PETERSBURG Goodbye, Bucco Bruce. And good riddance. Come Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still will be called the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they will have a new mascot and new colors. The Bucs, along with several hundred of their most ardent supporters, bid their long-time mascot, Bucco Bruce, a fond farewell Monday at a ceremony aboard the Bounty, docked BWHAT: Orlando's home opener the Class AA Southern League. WHEN: 7.

I WHERE: Tinker Field, Orlando. I ADMISSION: Box seats $7, reserved grandstand $4, general admission $3. Call (407) 649-RAYS (7297). SportsChannel; BROADCAST: TV-Radio None. 4 I i no Augusta charms golfers in annual rite of spring "Si UlJ LiL Li From rookies to veterans, golfers feel a connection with Augusta National and the Masters.

By Jeff Babineau OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Hu i ees, the O-cears gave up ln msgusi. inn I Preds say the date was open when they scheduled it and a deal could have been made the O-Bears had just called them "irst Academy's Josh Ray, who has beaten cancer, has macle a remarkable comeback from a shattered ankle to hit .568 for the state's No. 3 -ranked Class A baseball team. eAfjnrSjw TttUM.MHtNY I -w AUGUSTA, Ga. Good thing Willie Wood doesn't believe in omens, or this might not be his week.

Heading to Augusta National on Monday to tune up for the Masters 61st Masters Tournament Thursday-Sunday Augusta (Ga) National GoSClub TV: USA and CBS TOM BURTONTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL ASSOCIATED PRESS By Scott Kauffman OF THE SENTINEL STAFF instead of working through aty interme- diaries. "It wasn't worth taking it to the next level," O-Bears GM Don WaddeU said, when asked if he involved Magic Bears owner Rich DeVos in the fray. Orlando's first two ML playoff games will be held Thursday and Monday nights, the worst two drawing dates possible, according to WaddelL The Orena is booked Saturday (Magic vs. Miami Heat) and Sunday (rock concert). Waddell is annoyed with city officials, whom he says were informed in January of preferences for home-ice dates.

Centroplex official Steve Cox could not be reached Monday. How about a WWF-like battle royale be-- tween the Preds and the O-Bears to decide it? "As long as it's not on ice," Preds media director Dan Pearson quipped. THE LAST SAY: Of Magic guard Brian Shaw's middle-fingered response to a heckler I say the only bird that fans should ever see at an NBA game is Larry. Columnist Brian Schmitz vxkomes ikyut Questions and suggestions. Regular Box 2833, Orlando, 32802-2833.

E-aaiososchmitzmocom or most of the season, First Academy baseball player Josh Ray has flirted with a .600 batting average, ranking him among Central Florida's Tournament, he drove right past the entrance to storied Magnolia Lane. Then again, Wood hadn't played at Augusta since he was an amateur in 1982. But once he arrived, put on his golf shoes, and stepped out the back door of the historic white clubhouse onto the sprawling fairways of Augusta, the old magic was back. Augusta has that power, be it on first-time players, players who haven't visited in a while, or players who make an appearance at Augusta each April a rite of spring. "It's probably the hardest tournament to get into," Wood said.

Tm pumped." Fuzzy Zoeller, who experienced cians that picked him up were amazed he didn't have a compound fracture. "My foot was way up there in the opposite direction, and they said they were surprised the bone wasn't breaking through the skin," Ray recalled. "My doctor said it was the worst ankle injury he's ever seea I ended up chipping a big piece off the ankle, and they had to put a screw through my ankle to keep it there. Then I had eight pins in my leg and a plate. "He Dr.

Charles Heard said don't be surprised if I have a limp. That scared me a lot And he said if Tm lucky, Til be walking in six months." Thanks to intense rehabilitation, Ray was walking Please see RAY, D-5 Back on line. Jose Maria Olaza-bal, the '94 champ, returns to Augusta National after foot problems. a the rare accomplishment of winning his first Masters in 1979, has not missed a start at Augusta since. Tm in awe every time I come here," Zoeller said.

"It seems it gets prettier and prettier each year." Two marquee international stars, Jose Maria Olazabal and Frank bilo, have arrived to Augusta happy just to compete again. Spain's Olaza-' bal, 31, who won the Masters' Please see MASTERS, D-2 best hitters. Hitting near .600 is hard enough, but it's remarkable that Ray is even playing baseball Or walking, for that matter. A year ago, Ray, a senior center fielder, shattered his left ankle and broke his femur while sliding into home plate in practice after his foot caught in a hole. The injury was so bad, emergency medical techni.