The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 20

B2 THE EVENING SUN WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18. 1991 We've used all four leaves on our clover and now we're on the stem 1 Jets tackle Irv Eatman, whose team has lost two straight games but is still In the AFC playoff hunt with a 7-8 record MM veil Keltner deserved better than a throw-away line about DiMag Phil Jackman Reading time, two minutes: Something's definitely amiss when the obituary of a fine ballplayer such as Ken Keltner .276 average, 163 home runs, 852 RBIs over 13 years goes out over the Associated Press wire thusly: "Ken Keltner, the Cleveland Indians third baseman who made two outstanding backhand plays to stop Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak, etc." Keltner, while the Indians were winning a pennant in a playoff and capturing the World Series in 1948, hit .297 with 31 homers and 119 RBIs. He was 75 and died of an ap- parent heart attack in Milwaukee. One of the most tiresome cliches in sports is when a coach or manager says, "We're playing 'em one at a time." Wish that was the way it was in boxing. The reason George Foreman took on such a stiff (Jimmy Ellis) on a recent HBO show is he's marking time for his next big money strike.

Other name fighters are doing likewise, working deals beyond their next bouts, so they line up sure wins. Foreman has another $5 million bout with HBO and he's looking for one more crack at the heavyweight title so you know the opponent probably won't know how to assume a boxing stance. Next season's NFL 18-week regular season starts Labor Day weekend and doesn't wrap up until the weekend after New Year's Day. Seriously now, did you expect Ralph Sampson to have racked up 22 points after a dozen games in a Bullets uniform? If Rollie Fingers makes it into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and there's a good chance, casual fan visitors to Cooperstown might have problems figuring out why. The great reliever's won-Iost record is 114-118.

Definition of what the expression "what goes around comes around" means: The NFC West being represented in the playoffs by the Saints and Falcons, not the 49ers and Rams. Definition of a cheap shot: Home Team Sports hockey announcer Jeff Rimer expressing surprise disgruntled Pittsburgh Penguins weren't wearing dollar signs on their uniforms instead of numbers while passing on the fact Don Beaupre and Kelly Miller of the Washington Capitals have been pestering to renegotiate contracts all sea- word a bad name. Just think, on the same day Georgetown was edging UDC by 50 points and Ohio State was nipping -Howard by 61, a highly competitive and interesting game could have been going on between the victors. Mark Duffner's record at Holy Cross the last six season is something: 60-5. No wonder Maryland's interested in him.

But the strength of the 11-0 Crusaders' schedule this year was such that Pacific (5-7), Colorado State (3-8) and Cincinnati (4-7), 81-0 loser to Penn State, were among the 117 Division I teams rated ahead of them. You can get a 50 percent discount on tickets to the LPGA Championship at the Be-thesda Country Club next May until Jan. 31 by calling (202) 337-GOLF. New England Patriots owner Victor Kiam is living proof of the expression "Too soon old and too late smart" Forced into a low profile after last year's fiasco with woman reporter Lisa Olson and in the process of losing his team because of financial problems, Kiam went out and hired Sam Jankovich of Miami to run the Pats and the 1-15 disorganization is a respectable 6-9. While the Mets across time have moved continents and spent zillions to improve, the Yankees have maintained the sta--tus quo while laying the biggest ticket price increase in the history of the franchise on the fans.

Yo, the Orioles are already one spot up in the standings without so much as a fiery pep talk from owner Eli Jacobs. Reading about John Hilliard of Oak-! land Mills score 29 points (all in the second; half) as his team was winning after being down 16 with five minutes to play, reminded me of the first time I saw Skip Wise play. He was a junior, Dunbar was trailing Loyola starting the last period and Wise scored 16 points in four minutes to leave everyone dumbfounded. Usually nondescript Miami, new to Big East hoops, starts its conference schedule on the road against UConn, St John's, Setoni Hall and Syracuse, all in a nine-day span. And get this, it requested same.

I feel like a heel but I've got to go with my heart. Give me Ric Flair over Hulk Ho-'. gan for the WWF heavyweight title belt Dec. 26 (2 p.m.) at the Capital Centre. The semi-.

windup ain't bad either: Legion of Doom tak- -ing on the Natural Disasters for the tag i team crown. son. The Professional Spring Football League tickets are still available for the opener of the Washington Marauders Feb. 29 is very proud of the fact its average salary of $45,000 will be higher than that of the WLAF. Small wonder.

The PSFL is playing a 16-game schedule, the WLAF 10. When the Pittsburgh Steelers list 24,170 no-shows for a game in Three Rivers it becomes more and more apparent that maybe it would be best if Chuck Noll slipped out the back door. You can call Dexter Manley's departure from football a retirement, but after testing positive for drugs four times (at least) and other shenanigans it gives the Tfl The NBA I I Tonight's main event i UTAH at PHILADELPHIA Olympic teammates Karl Malone of the Jazz and Charles Berkley of the 76ers, the league's premier power forwards, match up for one of only two times this season. Yesterday's highlights 'V fv ruin 11 xmmumtmwmmek L- THE STARS: Dominique Wilklns, Hawks, scored 39 points to help Atlanta beat Indiana, 117-113. Jeff Malone, Jazz, scored a season-high 34 points to ease the absence of Karl Malone, who was serving a one-game suspension, and lead Utah over Charlotte, 122-102.

STREAKS: Baltimorean Reggie Lewis scored 23 points, seven of them in the final three minutes, as Boston defeated Orlando, 105-98, the Magic's eighth straight loss The Jazz have beaten Charlotte nine straight times James Worthy scored 25 points and Los Angeles handed defending champion Chicago only its second loss in 19 games, 102-89. The loss snapped the Bulls' home winning streak at eight. SPREADING IT AROUND: In Cleveland's record-setting romp of Miami, eight Cavaliers scored in double figures, led by Mark Price and John Battle, each of whom had 18 points. SUPER SUBS: John Starka came off the bench to score 27 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks beat the Nets, 102-94. Utah forward Mike Brown, Malone's replacement, scored a career-high 24 points and added nine rebounds.

STANDARDS: Chris Mullin scored the point of his NBA career as Golden State defeated Minnesota, 1 19-105. Mullin, the Warriors' leading scorer the last four years, reached the plateau with a 3-foot, hesitation bank shot with 7:32 remaining. Mullin has scored in double figures in 196 consecutive games. SWINGS: The Knicks erased a nine-point deficit with a 19-0 burst and remained the NBA's only unbeaten team at home by holding New Jersey scoreless for 7:40 In the fourth quarter. Golden State fell behind 43-25 in the second period, but rallied to beat Minnesota 119-105, the Timberwolves' ninth straight defeat.

SUPERB IN DEFEAT: Minnesota guard Doug West had 28 points on 1 2-for-1 7 shooting in a 1 1 9-1 05 loss to Golden State. Associated Press Magic Johnson's return to Chicago was highlighted by a standing ovation. Chicago gives Magic warm welcome, before surging Lakers stop Bulls cold The NHL Report Tonight's main event CI A A places sanctions on Bowie State From staff and wire reports The Central Intercollegiate Ath-." letic Association today announced sanctions against Bowie State stem-' ming from the use of ineligible student-athletes during the 1989-90 school year. With the exception of women's basketball, the entire Bulldogs' ath-. letic program is on probation for a year and all victories and awards Names and places from 1989-90 will be forfeited.

Bowie State won its only CIAA football championship in 1989. In addition, Bowie State will be fined $500 for each sport found in violation of CIAA regulations. The CIAA originally set down those penalties on June 24, but Bow- ie State went through an appeals process. An internal investigation at Bowie State discovered various CIAA violations. NBA The New Jersey Nets reportedly will have' former North Caroli-na State coach Jim Valvano at the helm next week.

A Nets source told The Record of Hackensack that Valvano worked out a deal Monday with the team's part-owner, Joe Taub, and coach Bill Fitch is on his way out. USA Today also reported vano is set to replace Fitch and has 'agreed to a five-year deal to be made official by the end of the week. Neither Taub nor any of thej oth-' er six Nets owners were available for comment last night. Pro football The Los Angeles Raiders might be without quarterback Jay Schroeder when they face the Kan-, sas City Chiefs Sunday in a game that will determine which of the AFC wild-card teams hosts a rematch. Schroeder was on crutches yesterday with two sprained ankles.

The Kansas City Chiefs re-' signed quarterback Steve Pelluer to back up Steve DeBerg and injured MarkVlasic. The NFL fined Seattle Sea-' hawks defensive back Eugene Robinson $5,000 for using the crown of his helmet to strike San Francisco receiver John Taylor in the chest in a game Dec. 8. Honors Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to their first NBA title in the franchise's 25-year history last spring, was named Sports Illus- trated's Sportsman of the Year. The International Tennis Federation named Stefan Edberg of Sweden and Monica Seles of Yugoslovia as its world champions.

Ian Woosnam of Wales, who won five events world-. wide including the Masters, has been named World Player of the Year by Golf Digest Alex! Lalas of Rut-. gers and Kristine Lilly of North Car-' olina were named the winners of the Herman Trophy as the nation's top collegiate soccer players. College football Northwestern University has selected University of Colorado of-. fensive coordinator Gary Barnett as its new football coach, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune and Chica-go Sun-Times both reported in to-day's editions that Barnett, 45, will replace Francis Peay, fired at the end of the season. EDMONTON at TORONTO The first meeting of the season between the teams involved in the seven-player trade Sept. 20 that sent goal-tender Grant Fuhr, right wing Glenn Anderson and left wing Craig Berube to Toronto for left wing Vincent Damphousse, defenseman Luke Richardson, goaltender Peter Ing and center Scott Thornton. Yesterday's highlights main on a presidential commission on AIDS as long as its work "is going to be followed through." Johnson also managed to squeeze in an afternoon chat with old friend and rival Jordan, who complained that he wasn't having fun this season. The two planned to meet after the game for dinner.

Otherwise, he was just Magic, dishing off waves and smiles as usual. "You look good," a friend told him as he left the news conference. "I feel fine," Johnson replied, squeezing his friend's elbow. Johnson spends his games, as he put it, providing "an extra set of eyes" for head coach Mike Dunleavy. He rose from his seat often last night, once to spread his palms in an appeal for a foul when Jordan stuffed an Elden Campbell layup.

"I'm like an assistant coach, a cheerleader, a fan, all in one," Johnson said. "It's just nice to be around the fellas." The season is only a quarter old, but the fellas have done quite well without Johnson they blew into town with a 15-7 record, and handled the Bulls easily, 102-89; Jordan only shook his head when asked what it would be like to play the Magic-less Lakers. "I figure he's going to have his own little way of being on the basketball court," Jordan said. "We're playing the Lakers with Magic. He might not be there physically, but he's passing on his knowledge to his teammates.

When I put on my uniform tonight I'm going to get ready to play Magic and the. Lakers." Johnson took the compliment with grace. "It's the Lakers now," he said. "But I'm still a big part of the experience." Johnson deflected speculation that he might become an even bigger part by rejoining his team for the playoffs. He said he'd like to play in the All-Star Game, just two months off.

But he insisted he'd join Jordan in Barcelona next summer. "The Olympics?" Johnson said. "What can you say? That's going to be my championship." Until then, though, Johnson plans to travel with the club, using his spotlight to push his message, a combination of safe sex and abstinence. By Andrew Bagnato Chicago Tribune CHICAGO The ovation began at 7:03 p.m. yesterday, rising out of the west end of Chicago Stadium as the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers eased through their pre-game layup drills.

The noise built on itself, like a roar at the front end of a fastbreak. A crush of television cameras and security men backed onto the court in front of the Bulls' bench. The players paused for a heartbeat, then resumed their work. Magic had arrived. No one needed the TV spotlights to confirm it.

The last time he was here, wearing the Lakers' No. 32 in Game 2 of the NBA finals last June, Johnson provoked a different reaction. Last time he came as Mr. Glitz, the leader of the Left Coast bad guys. This time he was a spectator in his first trip to Chicago since a positive test for the HIV virus forced his retirement Nov.

7. "You miss the games like this," Johnson had said an hour earlier. "I miss Michael Jordan and Chicago. I miss Larry Bird and Boston. This is when you really get up.

I'm sweating right now, and I've got the goosebumps, just like I would before a game like this." When he was introduced officially as No. 32, the warm, but not overwhelming, cheer lasted just 30 seconds. The boos of the finals had been replaced by politeness and, perhaps, pity. But by the time the teams with the NBA's best records tipped off, Johnson was wedged onto the Lakers bench, and the cameras were trained on the floor. "We wish and all pray that he could actually pick up and play and be OK, but the show must go on," Jordan said.

Said Johnson: "I'm ready for the battle, and I can't play. I want to take off this black suit and get out there." Johnson's black suit actually a black sweater with matching slacks and loafers hardly reflected his mood at a news conference in a cluttered hallway in the Stadium basement As animated as usual, Johnson spoke of his desire to play in the 1992 Olympics, clarified his position on mandatory AIDS testing for athletes (he's against it) and said he would only re THE STARS: Mario Lemieux, Jamie Leach and Bob Errey, Penguins. Each scored two goals in Pittsburgh's 1 0-2 victory over visiting San Jose. Benoit Hogue, Islanders, scored two goals including the game-winner in visiting New York's 4-2 victory over Hartford. Ron Stem, Flames, scored two goals in Calgary's 7-4 victory over visiting Winnipeg.

Garry Valk, Canucks, scored at 17:56 of the second period to give Vancouver a 2-1 victory over visiting Detroit. STATS: Pittsburgh scored a club-record eight goals in the second period to take a 10-0 lead in its 10-2 victory over San Jose. The Penguins' prevl-ous record was seven against St. Louis on Nov. 22, 1972.

Of the 18 skaters the Penguins dressed, all but defensemen Jim Paek and Peter Taglianetti had at least one point. The Penguins have outscored the Sharks 18-2 in two games. STREAKS: Buffalo has a four-game losing streak and is 0-8-2 since beating Chicago Nov. 22 Quebec is 0-12-2 on the road this season and has not won in 16 road games, dating back to last season Minnesota's 2-1 victory over Los Angeles ended its eight-game winless streak at the Forum. The North Stars were 0-7-1 at the Forum since Jan.

23, 1 987. SLAP SHOTS: Vancouver's 2-1 victory over Detroit was the Red Wings' second loss in 19 games. Detroit had won four straight and was 14-1-3 in its previous 18 games. SHOTS ON GOAL: Jarmo Myllys allowed 10 goals on 33 shots in the first two periods of Pittsburgh's 10-2 victory over San Jose. Brian Hayward played the third period.

SLUMPS: Los Angeles is 1-6-1 since coach Tom Webster began serving a 12-game suspension for throwing a stick at referee Kerry Fraser on Nov. 16 San Jose is 1-16-1 on the road Hartford is 2-7-3 in its last 12 home games. Wary Joe Gibbs is afraid of any foe Redskins may face in playoffs fourth-ranked Washington defense more trouble than any other team, scoring 31 and 24 points. Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith, second in the NFL with 1,403 yards rushing, has given Washington fits. Michael Irvin, the league's leading receiver, burned All-Pro corner-back Darrell Green badly on Nov.

24. Irvin had nine catches for 130 yards. Plus that Dallas has proved it can win with either injured Troy Aikman or backup Steve Beuerlein at quarterback, As for the Cowboys, he added, "You certainly don't want to play a team that's beaten you, like Dallas." Dallas, this year's entry in the "They're Hot, On A Roll and Playing Over Their Heads" category, is the team the Redskins may fear most. The Cowboys are the team that spoiled Washington's perfect season, and have won three of the last four games at RFK Stadium. That includes a victory in 1989, the only for Dallas in a 1-15 season.

And the Cowboys have gjyen the Rodney Peete to an Achilles' tendon injury, are beginning to look like a team of destiny. They hadn't won as many as 11 games in a season since 1962, and that 11th victory came last week, outdoors and on grass at Green Bay. Washington defeated Detroit 45-0 in the season opener, but the Lions were without star running back Barry Sanders that day. ''You don't want to play a run and shoot because that drives us all crazy," Gibbs said. fense, they are already thinking about a matchup with either the Lions whom they routed in Week 1 or the Cowboys, who dealt them their only defeat "I was sitting there.

trying to figure out one I wanted to play, and I couldn't come up with one," Gibbs said. "If somebody's coming, I've got a feeling I'm not going to like it I see the ghosts jumping out from all over the place." The Lions, who have kept winning despite the loss of quarterback HERNDON, Va. (AP) It takes the customary advanced degree in mathematical theory to figure out all the possibilities for NFL playoff matchups. But for the Washington Redskins, it's either Detroit or Dallas the first weekend in January. Coach Joe Gibbs says he relishes neither prospect.

The Redskins (14-1) play the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) on Sunday in their regular season finale. And while the Redskins aren't discounting team with the NFL's top de.