The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 28

'w" The Tamna Tribune. Wednesday, December 5, 1990 6-C ominant defense swayed struggle to 49ers rJt- second-quarter throw to John Taylor that provided all the points the Niners needed. Why was seven enough? Defense. The Giants, who rely on a grind-it-out ball-control offense, were limited to 75 yards rushing. Quarterback Phil Simms was sacked four times and had 146 yards passing.

"DEE-FENSE, DEE-FENSE" as a 49ers' record home crowd of 66,092 chanted throughout the night "This was the kind of game where you say, 'If you love football, you'll love Millen said. "It was Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears." New York entered the meeting between once-beatens as the team best known for its defensive superiority. And there is no reason why that reputation should change. The Giants held the high- "After a game like this, you sit around, have a couple of beers and talk about it." 49ers linebacker Matt Millen By TOM FORD Tribune Staff Writer SAN FRANCISCO When that post-game conversation finally took place late Monday night, at whatever Fisherman's Wharf pub Matt Millen and his teammates decided to visit, the subject was defense. Old-fashioned, rock-solid defense, the stuff referred to nowadays as "smash-mouth football." That's what won it for the 49ers Monday night at Candlestick Park.

That's what assured their 7-3 victory over the New York Giants. Defense. Not one of those spectacular Joe Montana-to-Jerry Rice touchdown passes. Rice had one catch for 13 yards and Montana was 12 of 29 for 152 yards and one TD, a 23-yard powered 49ers offense to 240 total yards, and put plenty of pressure on Montana, despite the fact he was not sacked in a game for the third time this season. But the 49ers' defense was even stronger.

New York managed just 221 total yards. Twice the Giants were inside the San Francisco 20. They got three points on a 20-yard Matt Bahr field goal in the second quarter. They failed to gain a yard on four pass plays from the 49ers' 9-yard line late in the final period. "In that type of situation, you have to get the football into the end zone," Giants receiver Mark Ingram said.

"That's what lost the game for us." Many people expect the 49ers (11-1) and Giants (10-2) to meet again in the NFC Championship Game. Both teams have clinched playoff spots San Francisco as the West Division champion, New York as at least a wild card. Postseason or not, it might be difficult to equal the intensity of Monday night. There were several shoving matches and just as many dares between players, such as when Simms and 49er Pro Bowl safety Ronnie Lott tried to stare each other down late in the game. It may not have made for classic sports television, but if you were there in the middle of it you came away with a special feeling.

"It was like a tug of war, and at no time did either of us ever let down," 49ers offensive tackle Bubba Paris said. "There was just one little second when we managed to get an inch ahead and then we battled the rest of the way until time ran out. "This was like one of those old-time prize fights, where it just went on until somebody dropped. This could have gone 70 rounds." Associated Press photograph 49ers lineman Dennis Brown strips the ball from Giants QB Phil Simms (11) as Charles Haley (94) moves in. Perkins departs without excuses 5 -v 1 1 Ci Gibbs, Spurrier squash rumors A Staff, Wire Report TAMPA The search for Ray Perkins successor already has the rumor mill churning, with Washington coach Joe Gibbs caught in the middle.

Although The Washington Post reported Tuesday From Page 1C jhj. that a high-ranking source within the Bucs' organization said Gibbs heads the list of coaches owner Hugh Culverhouse would most like to hire, Gibbs said he was not interested in the job. "My contract is the only thing I've managed to keep secret around here," said Gibbs, who was Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator in 1978. "I'll be here as long as Mr. Cooke (team owner Jack Kent Cooke) wants me." Another coach rumored to be a Gibbs said that interim coach Richard Williamson likely will be dismissed at the end of the season.

"I think they'll take somebody from the outside," Perkins said. "They won't take somebody on the staff. It hasn't been too good before." Perkins, 49, made no excuses for failing to post a winning season in four years. He didn't give any explanations, either. "There are always a lot of reasons," Perkins said.

"When the media prints what they think is the problem, and the people making their decision based on that information, they figure they know why a team is losing. There are a lot of reasons for us to start out strong and then go into a six-game losing streak. I won't deny that I was part of those reasons, because I was." At the peak of the losing streak, Perkins started to receive indications that his tenure in Tampa Bay was coming to an end. "I felt very strongly on Friday that the decision had already been made," Perkins said. "That was my gut feeling.

I had no basis on that except 49 years of 100 percent being right gut feeling. However, after we won the game, I wasn't so sure." If Perkins was bitter about being fired, he didn't show it Tuesday. Dressed in a crisp, patterned jacket, tie and dark slacks, he was cordial and thankful for the opportunity to coach the Bucs. "I have a great appreciation to Mr. Hugh Culver-house for giving me a great opportunity four years ago," Perkins said.

"I'd like to thank the members of my staff for the long hours and dedication that they've shown and given. They're all fine people, good men. Football is No. 1 in their life. That's what makes them the coaches that they are." Perkins admitted his program didn't work but never second-guessed himself.

"I feel badly that we didn't have the success I thought we could and would," Perkins said. "I do be- A candidate for the Bucs job, Florida coach Steve Spurri- er, also took himself out of the running Tuesday. "No one has contacted me. No one needs to. No one will.

I have the best job in the world," Spurrier told The Tampa Tribune while attending the College Football-; Foundation Hall of Fame banquet in New York where his former coach, Ray Graves, was inducted. 2 Meanwhile, former San Francisco coach Bill Walsh, now an analyst for NBC, said he was flattered to be considered for the Tampa Bay job but did not see him- self working for the Bucs. "If they are considering me, then I thank them for the compliments," Walsh said. "But I don't think I'll be coaching next year. I love what I'm doing with NBC." Asked if he would consider a return to coaching in 1992, Walsh said, "That's something I would have to seriously think about.

But I don't know if I have the-, energy to go through another rebuilding process like I did with the 49ers." Tribune staff writers Nick Pugliese and Chris' Harry contributed to this report. United Press International photograph Ray Perkins has an emotional moment with WRBQ's Pat Brooks during his final news conference. lieve this team has a real good core of players. I think it's got the nucleus of a really good football team. I'd like to be able to stay throughout the remainder of my contract to show that it would work.

I still believe in my plan, or our plan. "I felt very strong that it would. Being the head coach and being the guy who makes all the decisions, I have let our players down. I have let our owner down. "I don't think too much about the community or fans, because my support and loyalty are to the people that actually do the work.

To put on the field as far as the form of entertainment for our fans." Expos owner Bronfman issues salaries warning I Baseball to the California Angels for minor-league pitchers David Martinez and Mike Hook. In other free-agent signings: The Kansas City Royals inked veteran reliever Dan Schatzeder to a one-year contract. Relief pitcher Edwin Nunez signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. SO MUCH FOR DEADLINES Zane Smith continues to be a most valued commodity in what has suddenly become an exploding seller's market for free agents. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, the White Sox and the Cubs are finalists for his services or, as agent Joe Sroba put it, those teams "are up to our threshold." The threshold? At least $10 million over four years with a seven-figure signing bonus.

The Reds, in need of a left-handed starter to take Danny Jackson's place, backed off a threat to withdraw their offer by 5 p.m. Tuesday unless Smith signed with them. Instead, General Manager Bob Quinn said he'd have to ask owner Marge Schott for more money so the Reds could stay in the race. They also rescinded a similar deadline they had imposed for second baseman Bill Doran. QUINN, STEWART HONORED Reds vice president and GM Quinn was named the major-league executive of the year by The Sporting News.

He was selected in a poll of general managers and executives from the 26 big-league clubs. He is the only figure associated with the world champion Reds to win a significant postseason honor. Meantime, Oakland pitcher Dave Stewart won the Joe Cronin Award for significant achievement. He won 22 games this year his fourth consecutive season of at least 20 wins and had his first no-hitter. ETCETERA A's manager Tony La Russa said the team is close to learning whether ailing slugger Jose Canseco will require surgery to repair a back problem.

You may have missed it, but Atlanta declared itself officially out of the George Bell sweepstakes. Were the Braves ever in? JOE HENDERSON, TRIBUNE WIRES WHITE SOX ACQUIRE SNYDER FROM INDIANS The Chicago White Sox, looking to add some pop in their outfield, traded pitchers Eric King and Shawn Hillegas to the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night for Cory Snyder and a minor-leaguer. Snyder, 28, batted .233 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI last season. He has hit 115 home runs in five seasons and has one of baseball's strongest arms in the outfield. King, 26, was 12-4 with a 3.28 ERA last season.

Hillegas, 26, spent most the year at Triple-A Vancouver, where had a 1 .74 ERA. "We felt pitching was our strength, and we had to give up some of it to get a player who could help us," White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler said. RED SOX SIGN LEFT-HANDER YOUNG In a move to help rebuild their pitching staff, the Boston Red Sox signed 18-game loser Matt Young to a three-year contract for $6.35 million. The Red Sox's rotation was damaged when 17-game winner Mike Boddicker signed with Kansas City and came to the meetings looking for pitching help. Young, 32, pitched for Seattle in 1990 and was 8-18 with a 3.51 ERA in 34 games.

He is 51-78 lifetime with Seattle, Los Angeles and Oakland. SAX CASHES IN ON SPENDING SPREE Steve Sax, the subject of several trade talks, signed a contract extension that will keep him with the New York Yankees through 1995 and pay him $12.4 million. The Yankees had been approached by at least five teams, including Oakland, about Sax. The second baseman had one season left on a three-year, free-agent contract. Sax, 30, is a career .284 hitter in nine years.

He dipped to .260 last season and was second in the American League with 43 stolen bases. In two minor trades made Tuesday: The San Francisco Giants traded utility infielder Ernest Riles to the Athletics for young outfielder Darren Lewis in a move to bolster both benches. Riles, 30, batted .200 in 92 games last season. The Baltimore Orioles traded veteran outfielder Dave Gallagher A Staff, Wire Report ROSEMONT, 111. The topic of salaries has become an alarming issue for baseball, with players of even modest accomplishment landing contracts that as little as a year ago would have appeared unthinkable.

The issue took a new twist Tuesday when Charles R. Bronfman, majority owner of the Montreal Expos, issued an impassioned statement to his fellow owners and players to stop the escalation before it ruins the game. Bronfman is selling the Expos to a group headed by Claude Brochu, but before the sale is finalized Bronfman wanted to leave a legacy. "I am profoundly disturbed, as are many of you, at what has become a seemingly endless war," he said in a statement distributed throughout the meetings. "I refer, of course, to the ongoing and rancorous battle between ownership and the players association.

"I have always believed that owners are stewards of this great game, that players with their enormous talents are what make the beauty of baseball bigger than life. But at the end of the day, baseball belongs to the North American public. If we, owners and players alike, respect that public which has revered baseball for well over a century, we must end this war!" He pointed to the NBA's arrangement, which calls for a team salary cap that escalates on a percentage basis as club revenue increases. He called for a public opinion poll on the issue, to give fans input into the process. He found a lot of agreement among the other owners.

"It was very interesting. The entire ownership was moved by his remarks and we had them read into the minutes of our meeting," Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Douglas D. Danforth said. Astros have rejected Miami investor's offer HOUSTON The Houston Astros have rejected a $135 million offer from a retired Florida banker in which the team wiuld have at- tempted to move to Miami, accord- ing to a published report. The Houston Post reported Tues-t; day that the team in down the offer from a group headed by Lou Poller, 83.

Poller told the newspaper he began talking with the Astros two years ago, when of a possible sale first sur- faced. Bonds' win produces 1st father-son Gold Glovers ROSEMONT, III. Barry became part of the first father-son pair to win Gold Glove awards; leading a list of nine newcomers be honored as the best fielders in baseball. Bonds, the National League's" MVP, joined his father, Bobby, as the only father-son recipients in 34 years. Barry tied for the league lead with 14 assists as Pittsburgh's left, fielder.

The award is voted on by major-league managers and coaches and; presented by Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. St. Louis' Ozzie Smith, the all-' time leader in Gold Gloves at short-; stop, won his 11th consecutive honor. Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs tied the record shared by Bill. Mazeroski and Frank White as the" all-time winner at second base with his eighth award.

Reds agree to reimburse Davis for medical flight CINCINNATI Outfielder Eric: Davis, who accused the Cincinnati Reds of appearing to forget about him when he was hospitalized after a World Series injury, has been re--imbursed for the cost of his medically equipped return flight, Davis-" agent said. Eric Goldschmidt said Reds-owner Marge Schott authorized reimbursement of about $18,000 for the specially equipped airplane that carried him from Oakland, to Cincinnati after the World Series. Tribune staff writer Joe Henderson contributed to this 'report. Danforth comments mean area on NL 'short list' From Page 1C may have to be settled by Commissioner Fay Vincent. Danforth repeated his stance that the AL clubs will not get a share of the expansion fees, since all initiation money has traditionally gone to the expanding league.

However, AL President Bobby Brown said that the NL has long understood that his league would share in any expansion money. "We said it consistently in 1977 when we expanded it was recognized by both leagues that there was a dilution factor involved," Brown said. "The National League insisted at that time that they be given extra consideration because of that and they were given consideration for that over the next 12 years, until the amount of funds cotaing out of the central funds were equalized by Commissioner (Peter) Ueberroth. "In 1993, when the two extra teams are added by the National League, the dilution factor will again be noted and the American League has recognized that, just as the National League recognized it in 1977. Those "considerations" meant that revenue from the central fund money from television and licensing fees was split 50-50 between the leagues, which meant the AL had to divide its money among 14 teams instead of 12, like the NL.

Danforth said AL owners made a counterproposal Tuesday morning sources indicated it called for the NL to get 75 percent of the expansion money. "We'll study it and get back to them," Danforth said. "It's really an internal matter, not related to expansion. Our position is that there is no reason (to share). The commissioner may view it differently." Danforth backed off his plan to give a date for the release of the short list, saying that owners could not agree on it.

He did not specify why. Danforth added that the list will include one ownership group per city, with one exception. "There is one city that will have two groups," he told reporters. "I'll let you choose which one it is." Tampa Bay, Miami and Washington are the only areas with multiple ownership groups. Tampa Bay and Miami have three groups, while Washington has two.

Englebert, lobbying here on behalf of Tampa Bay. "It's just great to finally realize we're on the short list." Added St. Petersburg city council member David Welch, "We'll pick (Danforth) up in Naples in a limo, if that's what It takes. We'll charter a plane. Whatever.

This is just great news." It was about the only cheery expansion development on a day otherwise clouded by an increasingly hostile rift between the National-and American leagues. The Issue of sharing the $190 million windfall expansion clubs will bring to the game has brought both leagues near the1 point of a confrontation that.