The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 90

2C THE SUN WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 19Sfe THE ARENA PRO FOOTBALL Air Jordan is grounded, but NBA ratings still soar mm for early practice sessions llTrenlmJ I Read. I Read. I Read. Bing. Bing.

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Pimlico Pimlico Pimllco Plmlico Pimlico Pimlico 'liAW I s'cast 1 1 11 1 gfffej only I 111 Let's finally put to rest any notion that the uptlck in NBA ratings Is solely Michael Jordan-driven, as the national overnight ratings from the Memorial Day weekend are in and healthy. NBCs three games this weekend scored an 8.6 average, a 16 percent boost from the same set of contests last year, namely the third and fourth games of the conference each day, rather than use the taped packages it was sending back to the United States last year. "I don't think anybody, ultimately, was really happy with the condensed version last year," said Gordon Beck, USA's vice president and executive producer. "Even though we thought that doing a large chunk would work out well, clearly we didn't get great ratings. Everybody at By Gary Lambrecht Sun Staff Writer The Baltimore Football Club veterans are due for physicals tonight and will report to practice tomorrow.

But four veterans quarterbacks Shawn Jones and Len Williams, linebacker Greg Tucker and defensive halfback James Bullock are working out with the team's 44 rookies atTowson State. Jones and Williams join rookie quarterbacks Matt Rodgers and Home Road NOTE: Orioles schedule can be found on Page 6C championships. Games 3 and '4 of the Eastern series between Orlando and Indiana were up 11 and 12 percent, respectively, from the same games last year between the Pacers and Knicks. The biggest rise came from Expansion Panthers get injury-prone RB Foster MILTON KENT ON THE AIR SPORTS BRIEFLY BFC NOTEBOOK Towson State alumnus Dan Crowley. They are competing for the two backup positions behind Tracy Ham.

"I got here early and I figured I might as well get to work," Jones said. "I have a little advantage, because I know the system, I've played for a year and I know what to expect" Jones must win the top backup Job or find another place to play. Coach Don Matthews has said he will not carry Jones as his third quarterback. Matthews said he favors "a young guy" as the final backup, which could open a door for Crowley. He has looked better since a nervous, mistake-prone workout on the first day of camp.

The overall talent among the rookies is better than it was last year," said Jones, who has thrown well. "Last year, there were a lot of guys who were overachievers. This year, there are more good athletes here. It makes practices more intense." Culver stands out A handful of rookies are catching the eyes of the coaching staff. One of them wide receiver Shannon Culver isn't exactly unknown.

Culver made the team last year and returned a missed field goal 91 yards in the season-opening victory at Toronto before quitting the team in a dispute with Matthews over his role. Culver, 5 feet 10, 165 pounds, SOOTHING TOUCH MASSAGE. by Assoc. Inc. rlubMtalHKSlIU (410)653-0994 IMfcM MWoonw Fin ndoor Ptriung S3 the Western series, as this year's fourth game between Houston and San Antonio had a 3 1 percent larger audience than last season's Houston-Utah series.

Comes to its senses For once, the NHL, which has been known to pull its share of bone-head moves, has avoided another, by scrapping a plan to make the four remaining playoff teams wait a week or more to start the conference championships to accommodate television. After Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and then New Jersey clinched their series last weekend, the league was prepared to have them wait until this weekend to ensure that Fox, ESPN and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. received favorable telecast dates. Thankfully, the NHL re-thought its position, and will open the Detroit-Chicago Western series tomorrow. The Philadelphia-New Jersey Eastern series will still start Saturday, so that the CBC can get Flyers center Eric Llndros for its "Hockey Night in Canada" series.

Lobs and croissants For its second year of French Open telecasts, the USA Network is trying a new approach. The cable channel, famed for titillating movies and reruns by the score, will broadcast live from Paris The Marymount women's team has received a commitment from Lisa Rutledge, a 5-8 guard from Dulaney. Rutledge averaged 18.5 points as a senior. Et cetera Navy All-America diver Nate Smith is one of the 10 selected to the Academic All-America Team from District n. Smith, a Junior from Lagu-na Niguel, was seventh on the 1 -meter springboard and fifth on the 10-meter platform at the NCAA Division I Championships.

Smith has a 3.29 grade-point average in aerospace engineering. An amateur boxing show will be held tonight at 8 at the Arbutus Fire Hall in the 5200 block of Southwestern Boulevard. Tickets are priced at $10 and may be reserved by calling (410) 789-4411 or (410) 247-0340. Ray Evernham, crew chief for NASCAR star Jeff Gordon, was fined a record $60,000 for using improper suspension parts during last weekend's Coca-Cola 600. We invite you lo Bring in our Competitors Coupons! starting as low as $39.95 $99.95 5SS Buaineaa Man Special 10 OFF 10am 1pm 10 OFF ALL NEW GIRLS Hrs.

10-10 Weekdays 12pnv8pm Sat. Sun. CALL Dodge Dacota Get a great lease rate right now. Vp To 897 The Baltimore Football Club's two-a-day practices (9 a.m. to noon, 4 p.m.

to 7 p.m.) at Towson State are open to the public Today: Veterans report for jr physicals. Tomorrow; Veterans report to camp. Sunday: Roster must be cut to 65. i June 19: Roster must be cut to 55. June 25: Final 37-man roster must be set Ticket information: (410) 554-1040 i known as "Skinny" to his teammates, has displayed the most impressive mixture of athleticism and good hands among the nine receivers.

Besides veteran Chris Ann-strong, the receiving positions appear to be wide-open. "He needs to hit a maturity status, and he knows it," said assistant general manager Jim Popp. "Theres more to football than being an athlete. He can be something special if he puts it all together. Only he can do that Slotback Chris Beatty East Teri-nessee State's career receiving yardage leader, has drawn praise for his excellent routes and sure hands.

Other rookies sticking out include running backs Chris Wright and Willie Latta, fullback William Pollard, rush end Grant Carter, defensive end Jock Jones, linebacker Jason Bryant, defensive lineman Robert Davis, and offensive linemen Todd Shara and Mike Withycombe, 30. Withycombe, 6-5, 300, who played at Fresno State and was tb fifth-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 1988, looks like a good bet to make the team. He has played for three NFL teams and was an All-World League tackle when he played for Matthews with the Orlando Thunder in 1991. Soft Touch Massage For A Relaxjiie Fiiu Bddy Swedish Massagi You Would NotWantTo Miss WrtfrtsTiiFirtsi Hmltua DaiDuKtan 'Ml Huuc iitra! jmCmlHn i current Caravan owners), plus 1 32-860 air offer based on s860 24T pkg. -f USA agreed that going live would be looked upon more favorably by the people who are going to watch the event" USA will have three hours of live coverage each weekday at 10 a.m., with replays at 1 a.m., through next Wednesday, when the start time moves to 9 a.m.

Its star-studded analyst team includes Tracy Austin, Virginia Wade and John McEnroe, who also will work for NBC when it takes over on the weekends. The barbell set Admit it: Ever since Kiana Tom left ESPN's "BodyShaping," the midday exercise show in which perky people with unbelievable physiques stretch and flex in the Hawaiian sun, you've managed to do all the curls and squats, but your heart Just hasn't been in it Well, just as you drooled the drool of regret into your own personal pillow of remorse, your fears that reps without Kiana would never be the same have been relieved. Fresh from her book tour, Kiana is on her way back to the ESPN airwaves. Starting June 12. ESPN2 will broadcast "Kiana's Flex Appeal," a twice-daily, Maui-based fitness show that, according to a network news release, will "take a lifestyle approach to fitness," combining weight-training, cross-training and, of course, target-training.

In addition, Kiana will be a hosMiommentator for the "Extreme Games," the network-sponsored series of competitions that are just a bit off the beaten path. The televised venue matters not a whit. It's Just good to have Kiana back on the air. the Seattle Manners ace has by himself. Be- fore the California Angels' Chuck Flnley struck out 15 on May 23, who was the last er other than Johnson to strike out 15 or more? (Answer, IOC) TODAY IN HISTORY 1942 Sam Snead won the PGA Championship, beating Jim Turnesa In the final round, 2 and 1.

1949 Sam Snead won the PGA Championship, defeating Johnny Palmar In the final round, 3 and 2. 1983 The Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA championship with a 115-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, completing a four-game sweep. 1987 The Edmonton Oilers won their third Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-1, In the seventh game. 1964 The Mets and Giants played the longest doubleheader by time In major-league history 9 hours, 52 minutes with the help of a 23-inning game In the second game that was won by visiting San Francisco, 8-6, on run-scoring hits by Del Crandall and Felipe Alou off Galen Cisco. The second game took 7:23 to play.

Today' birthday Jo Oraulak, 33. From Staff and Wire Reports Barry Foster, the former Pro Bowl running back whose big contract and lack of durability made him expendable, was traded yesterday from the Pittsburgh Steelers. to the Carolina Panthers for future considerations. The Steelers, who shopped Foster around the NFL for months, are expected to receive two mid- to low- round draft picks for their all-time single-season rushing leader. Aware of Foster's Injury history.

Panthers president Mike McCor-mack said the ex-Steeler won't often get FOSTER his customary 25 to 30 carries a game. Foster carried a club-record 390 times while rushing for an AFC-leading 1,690 yards and an NFL record-tying 12 100-yard games in 1992. The owner of the Calgary Stam-peders wants to sell the Canadian Football League club, preferably to a local Duyer. btampeders owner Larry Ryckman estimates he has lost $13 million since buying the team in 1991. The 50-year-old franchise was community-owned until Ryckman took over.

Pro basketball: Heat Interviews Calipari University of Massachusetts coach John Calipari interviewed for the Miami Heat coaching Job, the Palm Beach Post reported. Calipari, who built Massachusetts into a national power, met with Heat executive vice president Dave Wohl early last week at an unspecified location outside Miami, the Post said. Wohl declined to comment on the report, but said he may complete initial interviews of six or seven candidates by the end of this week. Calipari, who was unavailable for comment, has said he doesn't want to leave UMass, where he has coached for seven seasons. The NBA and Top Rank of Louisiana have settled lawsuits against each other stemming from Top Rank's failed bid to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves and move the team to New Orleans.

The NBA rejected the proposed sale last June, saying the deal was inadequately financed, and filed a lawsuit in Minne- apolls to prevent the Timberwolves from being sold to Top Rank. Top Rank sued the NBA in New Orleans, accusing the league of interfering with the sale. In a statement yesterday, the NBA said the dispute had been settled but neither side admitted any wrongdoing. Commissioner David Stern said the league still considers New Orleans "an attractive, viable potential home for an NBA franchise." He also said Top Rank "may pursue future opportunities to attempt to purchase an NBA franchise or relocate an NBA team to New Orleans." A 1994 assault charge against idled Houston guard Vernon Maxwell will be dismissed, authorities in San Antonio said. The disgruntled star, whom the Rockets have given a leave of absence, was charged last June with assault resulting in bodily injury, officials said.

Maxwell, 29, was accused of hitting another patron with a bottle during a March 8, 1994, fight at a San Antonio nightclub. Bexar County Court-at-Law Judge Tim Johnson said he will dismiss the charge because prosecutors were unable to obtain the testimony of the alleged victim. College basketball: St. Mary's signs 5 Coach Bob Flynn's first recruiting class for the St. Mary's men's team Includes three starters from Hagerstown's St.

Maria Goretti, a team that went 25-1 1: 6-foot-5 Kenny Logan, a first-team All Catholic League selection, 6-5 Kevin Robinson and 6-0 Doug Walker. Flynn also signed 6-8 Jared Marmen, a first-team Conference center from John Carroll, and 6-4 Matt Macgrane, the Carroll County Player of the Year. Bowie State has landed two big men: James Parker, a 6-9, 220-pound forward from Suffolk, and Bobby Collins, a 6-9 power forward from the Bronx, N.Y. SPORTS ON TV TRANSACTIONS Ba.eb.ll 1:30 p.m. San Diego at New York WWOR Milwaukee Brewer Placed Mike Fetter.

2 p.m. Atlanta at Chicago WGN on the 15-day DL. Recalled IF Tim Unroe from 2:15 p.m. Atlanta at Chicago TBS Tripled New Orleans. 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Philadelphia. New York Met Recalled OF Ryan Thomp- 10:30 p.m. Orioles at California HTS ton (Chestertown) from Triple-A Norfolk. Returned 10:30 p.m. New York at Seattle ESPN Kevin Lomon to the Atlanta Braves organization, 2 a.m.

Orioles at California, (rerun) HTS college 8:30 a.m. Orioles at California, (rerun) HTS Blg Solrth Accepted East Car-Pro basketball: NBA playoff olina and Nofth Carolina-Wilmington as associate members for Softball, beginning in 1996. 9 p.m. Indiana at Orlando tE BS IB, Northeast Conference Named Or. J.

Bf- a ton Luedeke president; Dr. Rebecca Stafford vice p'cyc" racmB president; Rev. Christian Oravee, T.O.R., second 6:30 a.m. NORBA Nat'l Series, ESPN2 vice president. Furman Announced the resignation of Ray College lacrosse Partial, athletic director, effective June 30 or when 3:30 a.m.

NCAA championship game: Mary- a replacement is named. land vs. Syracuse, (rerun) ESPN ImiWana state Announced the retirement tium cam of DeWayne Ba asslstant baseball coach, to Drag racing become athletic department administrator. TTTT i UMBC Announced that women's soccer 1 p.m. NHRA Mid-South Nationals.

(rerun)ESPN payers Aml, Forgatch, Jacqueline Saunders Rugby World Cup st- Mary's). Nicole Smith (Dulaney), Amle Stone 5 (Perry Hall), Carolyn Van Coverden (Bowie) and 2 p.m. Romania vs. South Africa, HTS Kathy Zonk (North Hagerstown) have signed na- TennU tional letters of Intent. Football 10 a.m.

French i Open. USA Uon, Traded LB HaocK t0 1 a.m. French Open, (rerun) USA Jacks0nville Jaguars for CB Corey Raymond. Women' college golf 0rean Bav Packer Signed 0T Paul Hutch- In to a one-year contract. 7 p.m.

NCAA championships, (rerun) HTS Jacksonville Jaguar Released WR Kelvin Martin and RB Marcus Wilson. Pittsburgh Stealers Traded RB Barry Fo-tar to the Carolina Panthers for future consider- PORTS ON RADIO Washington Redskin WR Michael Wet- brook hired Chicago-based agent Steve Zucker to Baeball replace Joel Segal, who was fired by Westbrook 7A2l inSt0n-Sa'em FreJeriCk WQS' l8SLra F.otb.1, Club (CFl) 0L Jade i. i Dubta, WR Camell Henderson, WR Cedrle Tillman 6 81 Herstown WJEJ and WR Charle A.h voluntarily left training (1240 AM) camp. Signed David Vertln (Minnesota), OL Jon 7:05 p.m. Trenton at Bowie WMJS Kerr (Illinois), WR Brian Oliver (Ball State), WR Re- (92.7 FM) melr Martin (Bowling Green) and WR John Javl 10:35 p.m.

Orioles at California WBAL (Howard). (1090 AM), WTQP (1500 AM) Hamilton Tlger-Cat (CFL) Traded LB Mare Dm hakathii "lib 10 OTe Ottawa Rough Riders for future consid- mKmoan erations. Signed CB Kelno Taylor. 9 p.m. NBA playoffs: Indiana at Orlando Hockey WWLG (1360 AM) 0a)at stm slgne(J Lw B()t 0Hchritt Sport talk and RW Pant rot en to multi-year contracts.

New York Islander Agreed to terms with 6 p.m. Sports Forum with Nestor Apancio mH, M.rfh.i. WWLG (1360 AM) Mark McArthur. 8 p.m. Sports Line with Josh Lewin WBAL 1090 AM) 8:50 p.m.

Winston Cup Today WXCY (103.7 FM) Tlir nillT 10 p.m. Sports Exchange with Stan Charles int. yui. WWLG (1360 AM) During the past 10 years all of baseball's left-handers not named Randy Johnson have as many 15-strikeout games combined (six) as America's only true midsize pickup, Dakota really delivers with more interior and cargo room than a comparable Ranger or S10. Off, xv including up to 500 cash back to use toward your down payment From its cab-forward design to an incredibly long list of standard features, save as never before on Dodge Intrepid, the car that changed everything.

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