Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 19

'Eht (gazette Monday, June 20, 1994 Page 17 World Cup debuts with little bit of everything Strawberry gets shot with Giants Continued from page IS chael. The Giants also said that Michael Strawberry would live with his brother once he joins the team and would also accompany him on the club's road trips. "He's going to be his constant companion," Quinn said of Michael Strawberry, also a former Los Angeles police officer. Strawberry has not played since admitting he had a substance abuse problem on April 4, the day before the Dodgers opened the season. Strawberry was supposed to be paid $3 million this season and $5 million in 1995 under a million contract he signed -with the Dodgers on Nov.

8, 1990. Under a contract settlement reached earlier this season, Strawberry will be paid $4,857,143 on July That is the remainder the Dodgers owe him for 1994 and half of his 1995 salary. i the Giants did not disclose how much they will pay Strawberry, it-is possible they got him for the niajor league minimum. That total is! $109,000 for an entire season. Because the Giants signed him for less than a year, they could've gotten him for about $63,000.

Strawberry, who grew up in Los Angeles, established himself as one of baseball's top sluggers in eight seasons with the New York Mets before moving to the Dodgers. In 1991, he hit 2B homers and drove in 99 runs for Los Angeles despite missing 23 games because of an injured left shoulder. However, he was limited to a combined 75 games, 10 homers and 37 RBIs in 1992 and 1993 because of back problems and other ailments. Strawberry said in spring training his back was better and he was expected to play left field and bat fourth. But he skipped the team's final exhibition game April 3 and admitted the following day he had a abuse problem.

He was placed on the disabled list and paid during treatment. Strawberry has a .259 lifetime batting average and hit at least 26 home runs every season from 1983-1991. Strawberry's Stats The comr itai'ulks of Oarrfj Strawberry, who wta signed by the Sot Francisco Gionb on Sunday World Op USA94 iter wc him Stanford, and the Netherlands against Saudi Arabia at Washington. Norway, which already has had a great year after staging a superb Olympics and leading the medals count, to boot, returned to the World Cup for the first time in 56 years. For nearly a half-hour after it won, thousands of Norway fans cheered, waved flags and danced in the aisles.

The players, meanwhile, barely had enough energy to make it into the air-conditioned dressing room. "Some of the players couldn't stand on their feet after the game," Norway coach Egil Olsen said. The Belgians also complained about the beat, but, like the Norwegians, they survived and prospered in the standings. Degryse knocked in an outstanding header, then goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme made it hold up with a bit of help. In the 69th minute, Ahmed Bahja's pass from the left wing found Mohammed Chaouch open in the middle of the penalty area.

Chaouch's header forced the 35-year-old Preud'homme to dive to his right, knock the ball with his left hand off the crossbar, and collect the rebound. (CAR A KraxEYnrit By BARRY WILNER AP Sporti Writer Already, the World Cup debut in America has a big edge on its predecessor. During one of the busiest sports weeks in recent memory, the world soccer championship came to the United States for the first time. It brought passion and precision, controversy and celebration, great goals arid spectacular saves. So much of that was missing in Italy four years ago, when teams went into defensive shells almost from the outset.

Sunday's action emphasized the to open up the game. Al. though the scores were 1-0, 1-0 and 2-2, there was almost-continuous action and little of the reticence by ultraconservative coaches that plagued Italia '90. The crowds, sizzling almost as much as the players in the 90-plus temperatures, certainly seemed to like it. And that rubbed off on the players.

"The crowd was said Francois Omam-Biyick, who scored one of Cameroon's goals in a 2-2 tie with Sweden at the Rose Bowl. ''There are not too many people from Cameroon who came to the United States. But the people here appreciate good soccer." As they did in Washington, where Norway edged Mexico 1-0 on a goal in the 85th minute by Kjetil Rekdal. And as they did in Orlando, where Belgium's Marc Degryse connected in the 11th minute and his team barely held on against Morocco. The roars in those stadiums were nearly equal to the din at Giants Stadium on Saturday, when the Irish fans chanted, sang and vigorously rooted home their team in a 1-0 upset of Italy.

The Italians were supposed to have the home-field advantage in New Jersey, but they were outnumbered 3-to-l by the Irish. "We were expecting an all-Italian crowd, but it felt as if we were playing in Dublin," said Ray Houghton, who scored the Irish goal. The United States felt right at home, too, under the dome in Ponti-ac, Mich. Eric Wynalda's perfect free kick into the left corner of the net gave the Americans a 1-1 tie with Switzerland for their first World Cup point since 1950. Using the Silverdome as a tournament site apparently went over well.

"This was a fantastic atmo-. sphere," said Georges Bregy, who scored for Switzerland. "I think it was just great to play in here and I enjoyed it very much." In the other weekend game, Romania stunned Colombia, a prelour-nament favorite, 3-1 on Saturday. Today, two other favorites were on the schedule: Brazil vs. Russia at Cameroon's Smile Mbouh Mbouh battle aunng me World Cup.

(8) and Sweden's Martin Dahlih (AR photo) Mizerock to manage in Midwestern all-star game Punxsutawney native John 'Sarge' Mizerock will manage the Midwestern League All-Star team in that Class A loop's annua all-star game, which will be played Monday night in Fori Wayne. Ind. Mizerock earned the honor ot managing the all-star team by leading his Rockton 111. club to the first-half championship in the Midwestern League. In his second year of managing in the Kansas City Royals organization, Mizer-ock's Rockton team wrapped up the first-half title last week by a five-game margin over the second-place team.

Among those who will be in "I was looking at the ball hitting the crossbar and thinking, 'Why don't you come back into my I was fortunate that it did," Preud'homme said. In other World Cup news; The tournament might have ended for Miguel Nadal of Spain and Marco Etcheverry of Bolivia. They will be sitting out the rest of the first round. Spain's captain and Bolivia's top scorer were suspended Sunday for two games in a continuing crackdown on rough play. Nearly 400 Irish fans were stranded without game tickets and, in some cases, without hotel rooms in a scam by a London travel agency.

Sportex, the agency that sold the tour packages to the Irish, ripped off about 300 fans who flew to Florida and 78 who were in Massachusetts. Paul Mills and Roy Price of Sportex disappeared shortly after checking the smaller group into a Saugus, hotel. With the help of New York police, Saugus police tracked Mills to a hotel in New York City, where it was believed he was scalping tickets. U.S. a hit on TV NEW YORK (NYT) The U.S.Switzerland World Cup game Saturday on ABC produced a surprisingly high overnight rating of 5.8, which surpassed the 5.0 for the third round of the U.S.

Open golf championship, and more than doubled the 2.8 for the U.S.-Germany soccer game that ABC aired a year ago, on June 13, 1993. For each half-hour of the U.S.Switzerland game, the rating increased, starting at a 4.5 from 11:30 a.m. -noon and ending with a 7.2 from p.m. One overnight rating point is the equivalent of 472,100 TV households. Get Set For Summer Driving! Engine Rebuilds Transmission Rebuilds Exhausts Brakes Tune-Ups Slate Inspection Drums Rotors Turned 479-2264 8-6; Sat.

8-3 Rt. 119 Homer City (Beside Bullseye Firearms) Occhuizzo. Jay Bell of the Front row left to right: OFF i A Complete Front and Rear Brake Job OFF Front or Rear Brake Job Somebody always loses U.S. Open am una nauwr 3 men AB It 20 63 108 HR RBI Avg 26 74 .257 26 97 .251 29 79 277 27 93 .259 39 104 .284 39 101 .269 29 77 .225 37 108 .277 28 99 .265 5 25 .237 1983NYM 19WNYM 1985 NYM 19B6NYM 1987 NYM 1988 NYM 1989 NYM 1990 NYM 1991 LA 1992 LA 1993 LA Totals 146 86 134 12 14 5 12 .140 710 1210 290 169 .259 Ploy of ft AB 8 HI IN Avg 1986, Hou 22 4 5 2 5 .227 19B8, LA 30 5 9 1 4 .300 Totali 52 9 14 3 11 .269 WwMSarlai Yrar.Opp HR RBI Avg 24 4 5 1 1 .208 Smith masters Cards again Continued from page 16 of a sudden, boom, boom." "I think he hung a pitch on me," said. "He was probably frustrated and I just happened to hit it good," King said.

Palacios (1-5) pitched in the Mexican League last year and is accustomed to the heat, even wearing long sleeves. He didn't know what happened. "He said he felt good going out there, and we had every reason to believe he did," manager Joe Torre "He seemed to run out of gas without knowing it." Palacios allowed three runs on four hits, including a run-scoring single to Al Martin in the sixth, in losing his third straight start. Rick White allowed a home run to Jefferies with one out in the eighth, but Ravelo Manzanillo worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by striking out pinch hitter Ray Lankford and getting Terry McGriff to foul out. Alejandro Pena worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Jefferies' home run was one of the few bright spots for the Cardinals. It extended his hitting streak to 12 games (16-for 46, but St. Louis lost for the fifth time in six games and fell to the .500 mark. "We shouldn't be in this position right now," Jefferies said. "The only thing we're doing well right now is defense.

Our pitching and hitting aren't good enough. "We don't have any clutch We wish to thank all the good folks who came to McGregor Motors on June 11 to meet Jay Bell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He obviously took your good wishes support to hean that night, going 4-for-4 with a home run agairist Florida! "Way-To-Gojay!" JAY BELL attendance at Fort Wayne on' Monday night will be Mizerock's father John, his uncle Ken Neal and George Senott, a family friend. Neal also reports that his Punxs'y Hotel team, leading the Indiana County League, will be playing in the Central Pennsylvania Invitational Tournament at Howard this weekend. Neal's strong lineup will be bolstered by several players from ICL-rival West Lebanon, including J.T.

Yard. Dave Hoff and Ernie Peter-man. The team is slated to play two games today and one on Sunday. someone asked him what kind of thoughts were running through his mind at that time, Montgomerie replied: "Pretty negative ones." There is no need to recount any more of the horror from Sunday since the three of them are virtually guaranteed to repeat them several times during today's reunion over the punishing Oakmont layout. "We have all won tournaments, hut this Is very different," Montgomerie said, speaking for the trio.

"You have to accept that there are going to be more mistakes made than there are birdies." The last day of an Open, whenever it happens to finish, is gag time, like a visit to the dentist or a Tetter from the IRS- The pros like to say that nobody really wins an Open; instead, somebody always loses it. And not just journeymen, like the 38-year-old Roberts; or stars-in-thc-making, like the 31 year-old Montgomerie; or even the latest "next Nicklaus," like the 24-year-old Els. Indeed, the last Nicklaus, Jack himself, claimed four Opens, but he also finished second four times and clearly let one slip away. Trying to nurse a lead in 1975, he bogeyed the last three holes and missed a playoff that was eventually won by Lou Graham. Sam Snead never won an Open, but he definitely lost one in spectacular fashion.

At Spring Hill, outside Philadelphia, in 1939, he needed only a par at the 18th to win. He made eight. Ben Hogan, who won four Opens, lost at least one. Tied going to the 18th in a playoff with Jack Fleck at the Olympic Club, he ripped a driver into the hay and needed three hacks just to get back to the fairway. Three years ago, Payne Stewart beat Scott Simpson in a playoff at Hazeltine by shooting 75.

The year before. Hale Irwin beat Mike Donald in sudden death on the 19th hole after both carded 74 in their playoff at Medinah. The phenomenon is so well known that it was a topic of conversation on Saturday. "I think somebody said yesterday that Opens usually aren't won, somebody usually backs into them," Roberts said. "I guess that means." he added, brightening, "that this is a classic Open." McGregor Is proud to sponsor a local Little League baseball team.

Pictured below is Pittsburgh Pirate Jay Bell with some of the team members. By JIM LITKE AP Sporti Writer OAKMONT After giving lessons and doubling as the short-order cook to pay the rent, after going back to qualifying school five times to secure his playing privileges, after four days of often-brilliant golf in blast-furnace heat over one of the world's toughest courses. Loren Roberts' future came down to this: Roll a ball true over feet of manicured lawn and win the U.S. Open. Become rich and famous beyond your wildest dreams.

He couldn't do it. His nerves wouldn't let him. "I'm not going to lie to you," Roberts said after missing a putt of that length on the 18th green Sunday to set up today's playoff. "I had trouble getting the putter back." Roberts was not alone. Ernie Els and Colin who also completed regulation at 5-under and joined Roberts for the eighth three-way playoff in the history of the national championship, choked on their chances as well.

Els admitted afterward he was so jittery that he couldn't force himself to look at the scoreboard as he stood on the 18th tee. Mistakenly thinking he needed a birdie to tie, he eschewed the safe play throw a 2-iron safely into the fairway and pulled out the driver instead. He crashed it into the deep left rough, had to pitch back into the fairway and barely made bogey from there. Montgomerie actually gained entrance to the playoff while watching television. Good thing, too.

Because after taking sole possession of the lead with a 33 on the front, the Scotsman promptly spit the bit by bogeying Nos. 11-13. And when LATROBE The LatrobeDerry Teener League (ages 13-15) will sponsor an all-Mar tournament beginning Friday, July 22. For more Inform a lion, call EM-M73. Entry deadline to Wednesday, July W1LKES-DARRE Wrestlers interested In participating In the ISM Keystone State Summer Games are to register no later than Sunday, July II.

No walk-Ins will be accepted. Beth folkstyle and freestyle wrestling are open to wrestler ages 19 and older. The competition Is iet far Friday-Saturday, Aug. W. For an application, caB SM) 4454SS9.

ST. MARYS The third annual McDonnkTi Junior Tennis Tournament will be held on Jane 17-Jaly 1 al St. Marys Memorial Park. The USTA-tanctioned tournament fsapeu to boys and ghis ages IS-1S. The age divisions are Itcnder, 12-wader, 14-under, 1 bonder and Il-ondcr.

For more information, phone Dermy Posleraro S14) 6U4H. The deadline Is Jne 23. CALENDAR Back Row left to right: Ken Shildt, Jarrod Tanweer, Matt Pittsburgh Pirates; Kevin Deptola, Ryan Doak, Ken Shildt II, Mgr. Adam Ritts, Daniel Kramer, Ryan Renz, Kenny Schroecfer. PUNXSUTAWNEY The Weather Capital Classic 3K bike rice will be held Saturday, Jane IS, beginning al 11 a.m.

Awards will be given (he first three finishers overall ind the lop three ia each division. Entry fee is $11 bofore June IS and SIT thereafter. All entrants will receive a 3-pocket shirt For more Information, contact tbe Punxsutawney Recreation Department al PUNXSVTAWNEY The Groundhog IK ami K-mile ran will be held, Saturday, Jane M. beginning at a.in. For the SK participants, wards will be given to the top three finishers In each di vision and each nmiwr irill receive a hwg sleeve shirt.

Entry fee for the SK Is 110 before Jane Is and $12 thereafter. For the 2-mile ran, ribbon will be awarded to the top three male and female Hrrishers each diriikm and each runner will receive a short Sleeve ihfrt Entry fee for the t-mlle ta before June IS and $8 thereafter. For nwre information, contact the Panxsiitawney Recreation Department at 114-BMfiM..