Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • 27

Members oSandia High 's girls track team have been featured on Team -i Cheerios cereal boxes A1 Dallas' Jason Garrett, and other NFL reserves, have stepped up their games Sports Today 2 Section DeathsWeather 17 Hockey 18 3 WAG Mis Show New Mexico Second Twice fT7 XV I flow jrhe Lobos' pew conference )s close to gaming a commissioner B7 Men, Women Both Highly Ranked By Mark Smith Journal Staff Writer LAS VEGAS, Wev. The University of New Mexico- got plenty of respect during Wednesday's opening day of the annual Western Athletic Conference media meetings. Both the men's and women's basketball teams were ranked second in their respec place votes among the media while Utah had the other 23 in the Pacific. Texas Christian edged Nevada-Las. Vegas for the top spot in the Mountain, getting 14 first-place votes to the Rebels' 13.

Tulsa picked up the remaining No. 1 vote. The Utes, who lost to Kentucky in last year's NCAA Tournament championship game, were picked as the overall favorite to win the WAC title. Utah head coach Rick Majerus, as always, downplayed the ranking. He See NEW on PAGE C7 But it is a measure of respect." The women's team was strong last season, winning the WAC Tournament and a first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament The Lobos received five first-place votes while Hawaii had 10 and Utah got the other vote.

Colorado State was tabbed No. 1 in the Mountain Division, grabbing all but one first-place vote. The Rams were also chosen the favorite to win the overall crown. The UNM men received five first- tive preseason polls. The men's poll done by the media, UNM second in the Pacific Division behind Utah.

The women's polL consisting of the league's coaches, tabbed the Lobos second behind Hawaii in the Pacific. "We appreciate the respect," said UNM women's head coach Don Flanagan! "But as far as polls go, I don't place much emphasis on polls. What we want to do, is be No. 1 at the end of the year. And I certainly dont care where we are in someone's opinion.

At Mdms orai I 1 National League Best-of-7 series Game 1 I 1 AARON.WILSONJOURNAL HE'S BACK: Coach Garry Unger, SO, can skate with his Scorpions In practice again after successful surgery to treat prostate cancer. Unger Has Feeling Of Renewal Scorpions coach Garry Unger joins list of cancer survivors and can get back on ice in practice By Glen Rosales For the Journal The pain gnawed at Garry Unger's insides for some time. It grabbed him in the groin area and throbbed daily, and incessantly. "It was like a constant toothache that just would never go away," sayst, Unger. "It was like somebody kicked me down there.

Every day." After skating through practices with his New Mexico Scorpions, the 2(10) Li. I Padres Braves Game 2 I ff aV'T'- 1 3 Padres Braves Game 3 I Is I Padres Braves Gam 4 I I Braves Padres 8 I 3 Game 5 I 50-year-old head coach and longtime Padres NHL iron man who played through 11 ken noses, two broken cheek bones, numerous twisted ankles Game 6 I 1 0 Padres Braves San Diego wrenched knees i Today and even a dislo- New Mexico at THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REVELING IN THE MOMENT: The San Diego Padres celebrate winning the National League pennant following their 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. The Padres travel to New York to play the Yankees In the World Series beginning Saturday. Hiteticock Takes Suspense Out of Series rv while amassing i Amarillo, an amazing I 6 of 914 Radlo: consecutive reg- AM (610) ular-season games, would have to lie down for several hours just to recuperate. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong, and, as the Scorpions went through the Western Professional Hockey League playoffs last spring, it was decided a biopsy was needed as soon as the season ended.

That he's back behind the Scorpions bench is, in of itself, an amazing thing once the diagnosis came back. Unger and the Scorpions open the WPHL season today at Amarillo to start a five-game road swing before the home opener Oct. 24 at Tingley Coliseum against Monroe. "Going in, they told me there was no way it could be cancer," Unger says. "There was no way, they said." They were wrong.

Unger's prostate was ravaged with cancer cells. "The doctor told me that on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive, mine was a nine," he says. "When you first hear it, it's a shock. The first thing that crosses your mind See UNGER on PAGE C18 sixth inning on six hits and a two-run error by left fielder Tony Bautista. They sent 11 batters to the plate, chasing Atlanta starter Tom Glavine and deflating a tomahawk-chopping crowd of 50,988.

Following his proven formula, Bochy summoned three relievers to hold the lead for dominant closer Trevor Hoffman. In a non-save situation, Hoffman retired the side in order in the ninth to help the NL West champions win their second pennant in franchise history, and the first since 1984. San Diego thwarted the Braves' efforts to become the first team in baseball history to win a championship series after trailing, 3-0. NL East champion Atlanta established a franchise record with 106 victories and played in its seventh successive championship series. See PADRES on PAGE C4 continued his inspiring postseason run by pitching five-plus shutout innings on three days of rest Hitchcock won his second game in the series, and his third in three playoff starts, as San Diego nailed down the best-of -seven series 4-2.

The Padres earned the right to represent the NL in the 1998 World Series against the AL champion New York Yankees, beginning Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. "It's hard to describe the feeling you have at this moment, for the guys who worked so hard, for your family and for your friends," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. series I don't know if it can get any better than that Both teams played incredible basebalL" San Diego played a little better. The Padres broke the game open by scoring all their runs in the By Jason Reid Los Angeles Times A TLANTA Unable to complete their task in a comfortable setting, the San Diego Padres were forced to go on the road again in the National League Championship Series. The Atlanta Braves went home in an attempt to make history, and momentum was seemingly shifting.

San Diego had reason to be concerned. anymore. Lading the Braves' season in the heart of Georgia, the Padres clinched the pennant with a 5-0 victory in Game 6 of the championship series Wednesday night at Turner Field. Padres left-hander Sterling Hitchcock selected the championship series most valuable player HITCHCOCK: Won two games In NLCS, Including the series clincher on Wednesday In Atlanta CLOSING THE DOOR: Padres reliever Trevor Hoffman reacts after getting the final out against the Braves on Wednesday. ct Freshman Tight End Climbs Ranks Financially Strapped Geckos Give Up, Head to Sacramento Johnson came to UNM as a walk-on; now he's a starter Soccer Franchise Wasn't Success in Albuquerque Saturday New Mexico vs.

San Diego State, University Stadium, 6:07 p.m. Radio: K0B-AM (770) teams," Johnson says. "New Mexico was a school that accepted me academically, and they had a pretty good team. So I came here." Being a walk-on, he had no complaints; he just wanted to contribute. He did earning honors as the most valuable offensive scout team player.

His Saturdays in the fall of 97, however, consisted of standing on the sidelines and watching tight ends Tony Doran, Tommy Hemphill and Jonathan Burrough help the Lobos to a Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division title. Doran was a graduating senior, but he was more of a blocking tight end. See TE CLIMBS on PAGE C7 By Greg Archuleta Journal Staff Writer It doesn't happen very often, but once in a while an academic casualty can turn out to be a blessing for a college football team. This was the case for Brian Johnson. His emergence as the starting tight end for the University of New Mexico is a feel-good story for a team desperately in need of some positives after a four-game losing streak.

Johnson came to UNM in the fall of 1997 as a 195-pound freshman walk-on, just looking for a chance to play. He did on the scout team. "All the offers I had were from Division mento Knights and become a year-round operation named the Sacramento Geckos. Details haven't been finalized. "Well know more Friday," USISL spokesman Chad Harmon said.

Fisher said the deal is all but done. "We're just waiting for it to be ratified, he said. The USISL board is meeting today to discuss the issue. The Geckos, after winning the Division HI championship in 1997, moved up to the A-League. The organization had high expectations and little capital The Geckos finished the 98 season at 5-23, one of the worst records in the A-League.

"I was really looking forward to the season ending," said coach Rod Underwood, who guided the Geckos in both of their sea- See GECKOS on PAGE CIS By Glen Rosales For the Journal lr The Albuquerque Geckos' roller-coaster, two-year reign isibver, and another professional soccer team is about to bid adieu to Albuquerque. 1 The A-League team moving to Sacramento, a United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues spokesman said Wednesday. "There have been no other cities discussed," said Terry Fisher, one of the Geckos' owners. The Geckos organization is expected to merge with an indoor team called the Sacra JOHNSON: Has pulled In 12 receptions for 170 yards end two touchdowns this season.