The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 101

A MS UL SECTION THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1988 Mmm to Ketarffl for '89 Season jMark 5 Bradley Nixon's Record Year Team W-L Pet 1962 Cincinnati Reds 27-43 .386 1983 Cincinnati Reds 74-88 .457 1988 Atlanta Braves 27-48 .360 Total 128-179 .417 season, so we can't do it with the manager," Cox said. "But Russ is the guy. We're not changing." Nixon's record (27-48, .360) is slightly better this year than previous manager Chuck Tanner's (12-27, Tanner was fired on May 22, and Nixon was brought up from his managerial position with Greenville, S.C., in Class AA for the remainder of the season. "When you look at the record, you can't see much of a difference," said Cox. "But NIXON Continued on9E on would be offered more than a one-year contract "That's something we'll have to talk about after the season," he said.

Nixon, 53, had read "strong words" from Cox indicating he would return as manager. "But I've had strong words before (in Cincinnati) and got fired," he said. Cox said the club will not negotiate with Nixon until after the season. "We wouldn't do anything right now because we have a team policy that we don't negotiate contracts with players during the By Chris Mortensen StaffWritrr Russ Nixon will be offered a contract to return as manager of the Atlanta Braves in 1989, general manager Bobby Cox said Thursday. "Russ is definitely coming back," said Cox.

"He's the guy we want managing this ballclub. We're high on him." Nixon said he has not been told by Cox that he will be invited back. "That's great news because nobody's said anything to me," said Nixon when in- formed of Cox's comments. "And it's not my place to say anything to them." Cox was noncommittal on whether Nix Gilder's 66 Leads Assault on Oak Tree Wwf I mm. i Wimi- Low Scores Dominate; Beck Tied for Second The PGA Report, Page 7E Azinger's PainM Experience Over, Page 7E ByTomMcCollister StaffWriler EDMOND, Okla.

The best golfers in the world took on one of the toughests course in the nation Thursday, and it was no contest. Score a technical knockout for the players over the Oak Tree Golf Club in the first round of the PGA Championship. Bob Gilder struck the hardest blow with a course-record 5-under-par 66, which left him one stroke in front of Paul Azinger, John Cook, Nick Faldo and former University of Georgia star Chip Beck. They also bettered Danny Edwards' record 68, which came in a noncompetitive round. Two back at 68 are Greg Norman, Jay Overton, Peter Senior, Craig Stadler, Rocco Mediate, Raymond Floyd and Mike Reid, while Hal Sutton leads a group of six at 69.

Defending champion Larry Nelson is at 70 with a dozen others. Pretournament favorite Severiano Ballesteros is at even-par 71. Thirty-one players broke par, tying the PGA Championship record for most sub-par scores in an opening round. It's been set several times, most recently in 1985 at Cherry Hills. By contrast, only 10 did it a year ago at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The average score of Thursday's field was 73.5, compared to a course rating of 76.9. In defense of the Oak Tree course, it never had a chance under the conditions. "Before anyone says we brought Oak Tree to its knees, they need to understand that conditons could not have been better for scoring," Stadler said. "There was no GOLF Continued on 7E The Associated Press Seve Ballesteros of Spain shot 36-3571 and trails leader Bob Gilder by Ave strokes. PGA Scoreboard Miller's tlie Right QB Something about Chris Miller tells you this is the guy at last Something tells you he'll be the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback not for a year or three but for the next decade.

It isn't just the way he throws the deep ball or how adroitly he maneuvers, though those are obvious factors; mostly, the something is his demeanor. A quarterback cannot be humble, and Chris Miller isn't. In his heart, a quarterback must believe he can take his team 99 yards in two seconds with no timeouts. At the same time, a quarterback can't be a yapper, a Hollywood Henderson or a Dexter Manley. Come the crunch, who'd trust a loose cannon? A quarterback must be a gunslinger, assured yet attentive, icy yet appropriately fiery.

A pro for 2Vi regular-season games and one exhibition, Chris Miller already seems all of that. You drop names: Elway, Marino, Montana, Kosar. Hearing those, does Miller think his would be out of place in such a line? "No," he says. "I think I can be as good as those guys. Down the road, I see myself being one of the prominent quarterbacks in this league," No Chance for Grooming Of late, the NFL trend has been to find a grizzled space-holder to play ahead of the gifted kid for a few months, Gary Danielson in front of Kosar, Steve DeBerg before both Elway and Vinny Testaverde.

The Falcons, who've spent the decade seeking just owe decent quarterback, haven't the luxury of saddling up a warhorse until the colt Miller finds his legs. The job's his now, no quarterback controversy about it To this woebegone franchise, Miller represents both the present and the future. And he likes that fine. "I feel confident," he says. "I know the job's mine.

I don't say that to put down the quarterbacks here, but I know the things I'm able to do, like moving around back there, and I know I've been able to do those things in games." He speaks these words, admittedly brash, and somehow his steady voice and level gaze make them seem less boastful than matter-of-fact Ain't bragging if you can back it up. Some kid quarterbacks dance the soft-shoe. They say they're only one guy on a 45-man roster. They say no one man can turn a team. They say they're just looking to contribute.

Miller doesn't dance. "True, it's an 11-man game," he says, "but it's also true that a quarterback can make an offense look good. I know I'm gonna make mistakes, throw interceptions. But I'm also gonna do my job," To Miller, the New England exhibition traced a line of departure. Pressed into service at halftime against the Rams last December, he started the season's final two games and played in a fog.

Owing to a bitter and protracted holdout, he hadn't joined the team until after the strike, by which time the wretched Falcons were about to pack it in. Not until after the Rams' game did Miller even work with the first team in practice. His two starts, against the 49ers and Lions, were too much too soon. He threw 72 passes, 29 completions, eight interceptions. Looking Good Against Patriots "I spent way too much time thinking," Miller says, f'l knew the blocking schemes, but I didn't You know? Detroit showed me so many different looks, and the 49ers didn't show me the same thing two plays back-to-back.

I'd think I'd have blitz problem on the right side and be looking for it, and it'd never come, and I'd end up not looking for the primary receiver down the left side. What a quarterback has to do is see about problems and still get along with the play." Last week in Foxboro, this quarterback did. Statistics (10 of 17, 122 yards) weren't the half of it Miller simply looked good out there. He kept his team moving, didn't get frazzled. "I was pleased how we reacted," he says.

"We played very hard, we executed and we played with enthusiasm and excitement. When we made a mistake, we made it full-speed. I thought I did some good things. I was pleased with the way I moved the offense, especially on third down. I'm still a first-year ballplayer, but I think things are starting to come together." When they ultimately do, the Falcons will have something.

More than merely a snap-taker, they'll have a quarterback, a leader, a winner, Been a long time since we've seen such a guy around here. Says Chris Miller, the guy at last: "I think I can do good things. I'm hoping to do great things. That's my plan, I know I'm the person for this team." LEADERS FOLLOWERS Bob Gilder 66 Ben Crenshaw 70 John Cook 67 Larry Nelson 70 Paul Azinger 67 S. Ballesteros 71 Nick Faldo 67 Jack Nicklaus 72 Chip Beck 67 Tom Watson 72 Jay Overton 68 Larry Mize 73 Peter Senior 68 Andy North 74 Craig Stadler 68 Arnold Palmer 74 Raymond Floyd 68 Fuzzy Zoeller 74 Rocco Mediate 68 Hubert Green 74 Greg Norman 68 Lee Trevino 77 Mike Reid 68 Andy Bean 78 United Press International PGA leader Bob Gilder is in a dancing mood after making a birdie putt on No.

16. Pete Smith Defeats Padres 2-1 With Help From Blocker Triple HI! striking out eight. He improved his record to 5-11 and helped ease the pain of Cox's trade two years ago that sent Steve Bedro-sian and Milt Thompson to Philadelphia for catcher Ozzie Virgil and Smith. The irony of that deal was evident Thursday night. Braves manager Russ Nixon is not letting Virgil catch the 22-year-old Smith; instead, Bruce Benedict again drew the assignment.

"Benny and I work great together," said Smith, who has lasted at least six innings in six straight starts. "Tonight was really good." Blocker, the center fielder promoted July 28 from the minor leagues, gave birth BRAVES Continued on 5E The Braves Report, Page 5E Reds On Deck, Page 5E By Chris Mortensen StaffWriter Atlanta Braves general manager Bobby Cox strolled through the clubhouse like one of those proud daddies. Come to think of it, Pete Smith and Terry Blocker are his babies. Smith's seven-hit pitching and Blocker's seventh-inning triple lifted the Braves to a 2-1 decision over the San Diego Padres Thursday night before a sparse twilight crowd of 7,053 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Smith went the distance, allowing six singles and a double, walking none and Falcons 'Trim' 344-Pounder Rouse Released After Missing Practices With Heat Cramps Bruce to Be Ready for Opener, Page 6E DE Camp Joins Club, Page 6E By Glenn Sheeley StuffWrilcr Exhibit An Atlanta Falcons front-office man, noting that 344-pound offensive lineman Curtis Rouse had missed two practices due to heat cramps, said, "He's going to be on the next forklift out of here." Exhibit One dried-up, half-eaten pizza, ordered the night before by Curtis Rouse, Room 126, Falcon Inn, Suwanee, Ga.

Exhibit Rouse checking out of the Falcon Inn Thursday, released by the Falcons after only three practices. Yes, the Falcons have big needs for 1988, but apparently not this big. "Oh, well, that's life," Rouse said Thursday morning. "I've been down this road before." Concerned that the 6-foot-5 Rouse was a health risk while practicing in high heat and humidity, coach Marion Campbell was unwilling to wait for the weight to come off. He cut the seven-year veteran, obtained last week from San Diego for "past considerations." "We just don't have time for that project," Campbell said.

"I couldn't see him getting down any time in the near future." Rouse suffered cramps during practice Tuesday and then sat out both Wednesday sessions. Campbell wanted Rouse to reduce. his weight to 325 pounds but decided the ROUSE Continued on 9E 3 Marks Fall in Swim Trials Georgians Fail to Qualify in Women's Breaststroke Event v.1 l( stroke prelim in 2:13.74, nearly five seconds faster than his previous personal best. In the evening finals, he confirmed his earlier result to the hundredth of a second. He captured the finals and earned one of the two Olympic berths in the event with the same clocking.

Two more American records fell Thursday. Tracey McFarland, a 22-year-old native of Canada who was granted SWIMMING Continued on 9E By Roy S. Johnson SiaffWriter AUSTIN, Texas Mike Barrowman, who had never distinguished himself in international competition, set an American record Thursday morning in preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, then provided an instant replay with an identical effort in the evening finals. Barrowman, a 19-year-old from Rock-ville, swam the 200-meter back BILLY DOWNSStaH Curtis Rouse, a seven-year veteran of the NFL, says he may try to play again.

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