Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 37

PENSACOLA TNews Journal SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 1999 SECTION To report a stone 435-8521 Faster and faster Jeff Gordon may have had his troubles this season, but he's still a threat. 3D 1 j- Auburn's Carter out for season because of grades the Montgomery Ad By Kelvin Sims and Jay G. Tate Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser AUBURN, Ala. The Auburn football team likely will be making a West Coast trip in its future. But starting tailback Demontray Carter of Pensacola won't make any trips this fall.

Carter, who likely was to be the starter under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville, didn't make the grades after spring semester to be academically qualified for the fall, er is quarterback Gabe Gross, who ran for 97 yards last year. Sophomore Heath Evans, who missed half of last season with a broken ankle, will be counted on to replace Carter in Tuberville's one-back set. The Tigers could also get help from touted freshmen Casinious Moore of An-niston, Michael Owens of Deshler High and Reggie Torbor from Lee High in Baton Rouge, La. "It's a good time to be a young player at Auburn University," Gran said. Carter, who was looking for a fresh start under Tuberville, has had his ups and downs with the program in his two seasons.

He was supposed to be Auburn's starter last year, but former coach Terry Bow-den dropped him to the second team in preseason workouts because of Carter's poor attitude in the classroom. Housel did confirm pub vertiser learned. Carter's has ab- sence would be a big blow coming on the heels of Carter the transfer of last season's leading rusher Michael Burks. Carter, a junior, rushed for 406 yards and two touchdowns last season. Tuberville was out of office I COLLEGE WORLD SERIES and Auburn athletic director David Housel was out of town Friday and could not be reached for comment on Carter, a former Parade Ail-American who has battled injuries his first two seasons.

"This didn't come right up and hit us in the mouth," said Eddie Gran, the Auburn running backs coach. "It wasn't a huge surprise we know he struggled (academically) last year." Now with Carter out, Auburn's top returning rush ran: A ws 1 1 Id to IF Ex-Wildcat pitches out of jam, beats Texas Saturday's Games Florida State 7, Texas 3 Stanford 9, Cal State-Fullerton 2 Today's Games Game 5 Alabama (52-14) vs. Miami (47-13), 2:30 p.m. I J- A i I 7 MIKE LOPRESTI Commentary Can Spurs beat destiny of Knicks? In San Antonio, the Spurs still wait. Eventually the NBA will get around to its Finals July is coming, after all and the Spurs can return to work, where prospects look good.

They have Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Fourteen feet of purpose. They have the Alamodome. Four games under the home roof if they need them. They have the tailwind of 10 straight playoff victories and a torrid 42-6 stretch run that has branded them the best team in this Michael Jor-danless league.

But there is a nagging question to deliberate. What good will any of it do against destiny? "We're going to show up," Marcus Camby said of the New York Knicks. Back in the dustbins of the Eastern Conference, the victims know what can happen next. The Knicks are coming, and most of them are not walking with a limp. Their healthy, truly usable players could all fit in a minivan.

The coach joked he may have to scrimmage himself, if he wants 5-on-5. "I'm going to get some time in practice," Jeff Van Gundy said. The odds1 would seem against them, but the odds can't do any better job of blocking out Camby than the Indiana Pacers could. So far the past month, when the Knicks needed a loose ball, they ran it down. When they needed a fortunate bounce, it happened.

When they needed a friendly referee's call, it came. When they needed to make a shot, they made it. Soft, villain, fired Camby was supposed to be soft. Latrell Sprewell was supposed to be a villain. Van Gundy was supposed to be fired.

This entire band of merrymakers was supposed to be long gone to summer. Now they are all in the NBA Finals. New York loves winners and worships underdog champions most of all. So these Knicks can stand alongside the Jets and Mets from 1969. At least until they lose.

"It's all about results in this business," Van Gundy said. "It doesn't drastically alter the way you live. You've still got to get the Honda checked." So while the Spurs look powerful enough to be champions, the Knicks look blessed enough to be champions. Which of those means more is what this NBA Finals will be all about. For the casual NBA audience, the Finals will probably be the first time to get much of a look at the Spurs.

Some handsome tales there. We could mention, for example, how Duncan was once a swimming phenom, how Mario Elie can speak Portuguese and French, how Robinson played only one season of high school basketball, before he bloomed seven inches at the Naval Academy. There is Gregg Popovich, surely the only professional coach who majored in college in Soviet studies, and on the hot plate himself when his team started 6-8. There are the two former Chicago Bulls on the bench, Steve Kerr and Will Perdue, like old coins from a past glorious civilization. Besides all that, this team is on a tear.

They should win, of course. But everyone thought that about Indiana, too. New York has done that to people lately, leaving them foggy and confused. The Knicks have defied too many obstacles to be dismissed. There is every reason the Spurs should be champions.

An old ABA city finally come of age. I am not sure, though, they fully realize what's coming. You play the Knicks right now, you play karma. Mike Lopresti writes for Gannett News Service. You can write him at 1000 Wilson Arlington, VA 22229-0001.

lished reports from California newspapers that the Tigers have contacted Southern Cal and several other West Coast teams about possibly playing in 2002, when the NCAA will allow schools to play a 12th regular-season game. The Tigers who have added Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Clemson as non-conference opponents over the next decade are looking for a home-and-home series with a 12th game opponent in 2002 and 2003. Dallas regains lead Associated Press BUFFALO, NY. No matter how many of their stars fall with injuries, the Dallas Stars always seem to find another scorer and another way to win in the playoffs. Joe Nieuwendyk, almost forced to score with Brett Hull out and Mike Modano hampered by a serious wrist injury, had two goals and the depleted Stars regained home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals by beating the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 Saturday night.

Nieuwendyk's goals were his 10th and 11th of the playoffs but his first in five games, and might have saved the series for the two-time defending regular season champion btars. The had Stars every STANLEY CUP FINALS Dallas 2, Buffalo 1. Stars lead series 2-1. Game 4: 7 p.m., Tuesday 1 (WALA-Fox) reason to lose but didn't, killing off eight Buffalo power plays one a two-man advantage while overcoming a groin injury that forced Hull to the locker room after less than three minutes of ice time. The Stars already were less than 100 percent with Modano, their leading regular season scorer, bothered by a wrist injury that forced him to take a painkilling shot before the game.

He wasn't a factor on offense and took three potentially costly penalties in the second period alone. GAME SUMMARY, 2D to finals to Mobile 35-14 Sherman Williams, who rushed for 147 yards in limit ed duty. "If they pay good, money to watch football, then that's what they should get." Five minutes into the game that proposition was in doubt. After Sean Liss pulled a 30-yard field goal try, Toledo's David Kennedy connected with Curtis Gordon for a 52-yard touchdown to put the Admirals (7-2) in an early fix. It didn't last.

Mobile's Tiger McMillon tied the game with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Seven min-i utes later, Frank Costa hit Rodney Brown for a 13-yard scoring strike to put the Admirals in control for good. Fans speak out The San Antonio Spurs will win the NBA Finals in five games because they deserve it more than anybody. Joe Royals, Pensacola TODAY'S TOPIC: What will it take for the New York Knicks to beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals? To comment, leave a voice-mail message at 469-8292 with your name, telephone number and hometown. Or you can fax comments at 435-8633 or e-mail at pnjsport gulfsurf.infi.net.

By Dana Heiss Gannett News Service OMAHA, Neb. It's a nightmare situation for any pitcher: Bases loaded, no-outs and a one-run lead at stake in a College World Series game at hitter-friendly Rosenblatt Kay Chavez left her seat and headed for the concession stand when Florida State coach Mike Martin took the ball from starter Nick Stocks and handed it to her youngest son, Chris Chavez, a former Washington High standout. Mom has a hard time watching Chris pitch anyway, let alone pitch out of this kind of dangerous jam. Fortunately for Florida State, the only nerves Chavez naa were wi those of steel, frf" struck out the first three Texas batters he faced to set f- out of the Diaz fifth inning unscathed, then allowed the Aggies just one ninth-inning single the rest of the way to lead FSU past Texas 7-3 Saturday in the College World Series opener for both teams. "I just wanted to throw strikes, get ahead of the hitters and get us back to the dugout," Chavez said.

"I was fortunate to get three strikeouts. It was a big momentum shift in the game to come in 1- is I I Game 6 Oklahoma State (46-20) vs. Rice (58-14), 6:30 p.m. NCAA panel wants aluminum bats to work even closer to the same as wooden bats, 5D Schedule, 2D Associated Press with teammates at the end of the College World Series. been going on all year.

It's a good league, but we've only been paid like four times. They just need to get things straightened out." Mobile, which will host RFL Bowl I against Houston at 6:30 p.m. next Sunday, didn't seem to be bothered by the late start. After waiting to storm the field underneath the stadium, the Admirals fell into a 7-0 hole before running off 35 straight points. "I don't think it affected us a bit," said Pace native Thad Busby, who saw duty in the final quarter.

"They don't play, we win by forfeit and play for a championship next week." "The only reason we wanted to play was for the fans," said Off the gridiron BOTHERSOME The off-season for the Florida Gators and football coach Steve Spurrier has not been a quiet one. The school Is dealing with allegations that a sports agent made Illegal induce ments to get some Florida football players to sign with him. Spurrier is unhappy with his former players' possible actions. Story, 6D Florida State pitcher Chris Chavez (10) of Pensacola celebrates their 7-3 victory over Texas on Saturday in the first round of Chavez allowed only one hit in five innings to get the win. TODAY'S MATCHUP The last three times that Alabama and Miami have played each other have come in JjA the College World Series.

They meet again today in the winner's bracket at 2:30 p.m. Both teams are MIAMI sending their ace pitcher to the mound. Preview, 5D and get three outs without them scoring." Four pitches after Chavez pumped his fists and ran off the field into a swarm of FSU teammates, Matt Diaz hit a solo homer, his second home run of the game off Texas Casey Fossum. FSU padded its lead to 6-3 in the same inning with Brett Groves' RBI single and completed the scoring with a run on two hits in the eighth. "We definitely had a little hop in our step after that," Diaz said.

The Seminoles (54-12), seeking their first College World Series championship in 17 appearances, will play Monday against Stanford, a 9-2 winner later Saturday over Cal State Fullerton. Jon McDonald (9-2, 3.24) will get See CHAVEZ, 5D ij A On the air 1 1 :30 a.m. Men's soccer, U.S. vs. Argentina, WEAR-ABC Noon NASCAR, Michigan 400, WKRG-CBS 1 p.m.

Senior PGA, BellSouth Senior Classic, WPMI-NBC 1:20 p.m. Baseball, Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, WGN 2 p.m. PGA, St. Jude Classic, WEAR-ABC 7 p.m. Baseball, Baltimore at Atlanta, ESPN Complete listings, 2D SCORELINE: Call 469-8290, then press code 3001 start slowly, zoom to forfeit for lack of pay, then falls Admirals Toledo threatens By Doug Haller News Journal staff writer MOBILE Once the game started, the march was simple.

The Mobile Admirals were never slowed, reaching next week's Regional Football League Bowl I with a convincing 35-14 win over the Toledo Cannon at Ladd-Peebles Stadium before 2,500 fans. Of course by game's end, the postseason flavor already had disappeared, drained by the growing pains of a first-year league struggling to survive. Make no mistake, the Admirals' performance never was in doubt Saturday night. No, the only thing in doubt was the actual contest. Because of financial dis- On the Tony GibersonNews Journal Mobile Admirals' running back Domonique Ross, left, cuts back across the field as Toledo's James Worthy follows in pursuit during the first half of their playoff game in Mobile.

agreements, Toledo refused to take the -field for the first-round playoff game. According to Admirals' offi cials, the Cannon had been promised $850 a player for making the postseason. They were given $200. Thirty minutes after the 6:30 p.m. starting time, a compromise was reached and Toledo was assessed two de-lay-of-game penalties for the charade.

"We were prepared to miss the entire game," Cannon defensive back Kendrick White said. "This kind of stuff has inside STRONG AGAIN New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens now has a one-game winning streak after beating the Florida Marlins 5-4 on Saturday in Miami. Baseball roundup, 40 Also Tom Lehman warmed up for this week's U.S. Open by taking a share of the lead in the St. Jude Classic.

Golf, 6D The San Antonio Spurs prepare for the surprising New York Knicks, while the Indiana Pacers search for answers. NBA, 7D 5 On the field INTERLEAGUE N.Y Mets 4, Boston 2 Baltimore 5, Atlanta 0 Chi. White Sox 8, Chi. Cubs 2 Oakland 4, Los Angeles 3 Philadelphia 7, Toronto 2 Tampa Bay 5, Montreal 3 Cleveland 4, Cincinnati 3 N.Y.Yankees 5, Florida 4 Pittsburgh 9, Kansas City 8 Minnesota 8, Milwaukee 6 Colorado 8, Texas 7 Detroit at St. Louis, (n) San Francisco at Seattle, (n) Arizona at Anaheim, (n) NATIONAL LEAGUE Houston 3, San Diego 2.