The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 70

Sunday, December 6, 1992 Sports 2 The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution 1 Expect flood of Shaq cards as Classic loses exclusivity si Costas tells booster group he's quitting 'NFL Live' Less than a year ago, NBC's Bob Costas hinted that he was growing weary of hosting "NFL Live." At a sports booster function in Litchfield, Friday night, Costas announced he has had enough. Costas said he won't be back after this season as host of the pregame show because he "wants more of a challenge than reading the scores in three minutes during the halftime." Costas, in 910 fey James E. Smith ball cards to reach kids by Entries should be sent to SkyBox Contest, 1790 Broadway, Suite 410, New York, N.Y. 10019. They must be received by Jan.

31, 1993. LOS A RAMS LOS ANGELES RAMS DARRYLASHA10RE KELVIN HARRIS I his ninth year as host of "NFL Live," said the decision to leave was a mutual one with NBC. He also indicated he would SIGN HERE: Falcons quarterback Chris Miller will sign autographs Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Rich's Perimeter MalL Braves prospect Mike Kelly will be the autograph guest next Saturday at the Lilbura Crossing show. Kelly will sign from 1 to 3 p.m.

for $5. On Sunday at Lilbura, it's Mark Lemke ($9) from 2 to 4 p.m. Lilburn will have Ron Gant on Dec. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. ($12 flats and balls, $25 bats and jerseys).

Falcons linebacker Darion Conner ($5) will appear at the Piedmont Village show on Dec. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. Former Georgia Tech baseball player Gary Newsom ($2) will sign at the Griffin Holiday Inn next Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. 7 7 I i KzS or WRITER When is a rookie card not a rookie card? 9rtl One of card collecting's perpetual questions ill be back on the burner in January when Classic Games loses its stranglehold on Shaquille 'O'Neal. 'Classic pulled a coup last summer when it signed O'Neal to an exclusive contract, which prevented him from appearing on any other trading cards until 1993.

Essentially, the league uot caught with its pants down. Once a player 3 'signs a contract with an NBA team, his likeness can be legally reproduced by any company that has a licensing agreement with the league, qj. Classic does not have an NBA license and cannot produce cards of players in NBA uni-rms. Its first cards of O'Neal, showing the Orlando Magic center during his college days at LSU, have become hot items and are selling lo-Really for $10. Some dealers, however, believe the thrice will tumble once the Shaq cards of NBA li-b tfensees Fleer, SkyBox, NBA HOOPS, Topps and 'Upper Deck hit the market The bloom is going to come off the rose," Jfsaid one card company insider.

"As soon as fleer. Topps and Upper Deck come out, Classic 'will be as dead as yesterday's news. It's not an 8 honest NBA card." The Classic cards of O'Neal may always hold value to collectors who recognize them as 0 jiis first issue. But today's collectors pay close 2r attention to price guides, and Beckett the bible of price guides does not list Classic in its basketball issue. Beckett does include prices for minor-league baseball issues and draft pick sets in its Future Stars guide, but that's usually not enough to keep an issue in the -Collectibles mainstream.

Beckett's definition of a rookie card is "the fljTplayer's first appearance on a regular-issue card -horn one of the major card companies." Al- 'though this may include draft pick sets, apparently it doesn't in the case of 1992 Classic Bas-ia Ketball Draft Picks, in which the O'Neal card can "be found. "It's not a rookie card under our current said Rich Klein, a price guide analyst forBeckett Publications. like to do things "outside the normal sports stories and look at the issues." NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol, who lives in the Litchfield, reportedly was in the audience when Costas made his announcement that was surprising only in the sense of its timing. Neither Ebersol nor executive producer. Terry O'Neil could be reached for comment Saturday.

Since it is- unlikely NBC will go outside its current staff for a replacement, Jim Lampley appears to be the heir apparent. Questioned about the prospects of becoming host of "NFL Live," Lampley said the position was not discussed when he was hired this year by NBC. The network has already named Lampley as the host of its golf telecasts in 1993, and it is not far-fetched to suggest NBC was looking ahead to the possibility of life without Costas with the hiring of Lampley, Costas's contract expires in 1993, and he has made no secret that he plans to announce baseball next year. So if NBC does not acquire some type of major league baseball package when contract talks begin on a new deal in 1993, Costas may only want to work for NBC part-time. Leaving the network altogether also is a possibility.

AROUND THE HORN: Lime Rock planeafa-bricarpostalitas del beisbol invernal. Or, if you're not up on your Spanish, Lime Rock plans winter baseball trading cards. The company will produce cards of Dominican winter league players, hoping that the next Juan Marichal will make his first cardboard appearance on Lime Rock. The cards are due out in March. Action Packed, which produced a special three-card boxed set featuring the Allison racing family, is revving up for some serious stock car racing.

The company will produce an 84-card set featuring 21 drivers and six subsets, including a six-card tribute to Richard Petty. There's also a Young Guns subset (Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Kenny Wallace) and the sport's first braille card (honoring Dale Earnhardt's five Winston Cup championships). Prime-Time's late release time allowed the company to capture 46 of its 71 rookies in NFL uniforms, including Troy Vincent of Miami, Tommy Maddox of Denver and Dale Carter of Kansas City. Make way for yet another new football issue. Playoff makes no bones about being a premium issue: It will offer eight-card packs with a suggested retail of $2.49.

Release date for the 150-card issue is Dec. 21. Playoff boasts that its production run will be one of the lowest in the history of the industry. IDS ANGELES RAMS LOS ANGELES RAM? JOE CAMPBELL I ST urn 8 4inllnt mfmt-M: The use of quad cards has enabled GameDay football to feature more rookies in Its 500-card set. Today at Piedmont Village Shopping Center, Piedmont Road and Canton Highway in Marietta, 11 a.m.

-5 p.m. Free. Information, J.D. Carr at 435-3179 or 419-1129. Today at American Legion Hall No.

77, 1-20 and exit 42 in Conyers, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. J.D. Carr at 435-3179. Today at the Shoney's Inn in Stockbridge, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission children under 10 free. Information, Al Dingier at 961-4949. Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Lilburn Crossing Shopping Center, Beaver Ruin Road and Lawrenceville Highway. Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission children under 6 free.

Information David Bradford at 923-5557. Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Piedmont Village Shopping Center, Piedmont Road and Canton Highway in Marietta. Friday 5-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Information, J.D.

Carr at 435-3179 or 419-1129. Next Sunday at the Hilton Inn, 1-75 and Windy Hill Road (exit 110), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission children under 6 free. WHAT'S HOT: Here's what collectors are asking for at metro Atlanta shops: 1. 1993 Donruss baseball; 2.

1992-93 Upper Deck basketball; 3. 1992 Fleer Ultra football; 4. 1992 Classic Four Sports; 5. 1992-93 Fleer Ultra basketball; 6. 1992 GameDay football; 7.

1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille O'Neal; 8. 1992 Upper Deck hockey; 9. 1992-93 Stadium Club basketball; 10. 1992-93 SkyBox basketball. I I LOOKING FOR A HOOPS NUT: Who is Amer-ias best kid basketball card collector? SkyBox wants to find out.

The company has an essay contest for col-llclors 14-and-under who submit a photo of them-selves with their collection and complete a 100-word essay which begins: "I love collecting SkyBox NBA basketball cards because jj Top prize includes tickets for the winning child and his or her parents, with airfare, to a playoff game 4s guests of San Antonio center David Robinson. Five Regional winners will receive basketballs auto- SHOWTIME: Here's a listing of area card shows: Today at the Lilburn Crossing Shopping Center, Lawrenceville Highway and Beaver Ruin Road, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission children under 6 free. Information, David Bradford at 923-5557. Today at the Holiday Inn, Georgia 400 and Hoi-comb Bridge Road (exit 4B), 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Admission children under 6 free. Today at the Outlets Ltd. Mall, 1-75 and Chas-tain Road (exit 117) in Kennesaw, noon-5 p.m. Information, Jon White at 924-3491.

A REMINDER: The recorded Collectors' Hotline (222-2032) is not a free appraisal service. It is designed for you to call in information as well as offer you a forum to express your views on collecting. If there is a topic you want to read about, let us know. raphed by Robinson. There's also a contest for adults who use cards to ach.

That essay begins: "I use SkyBox NBA basket PLAYOFF-BOUND As the pic-, ture for the NFL playoffs begins to come into focus, the same could be said of announcing teams that will work those games as well. The decision-making shouldn't be too tough for CBS vice president of production Rick Gentile, primarily because he brought in three new analysts this season. With the top team of Pat Summerall and John Madden set, Gentile's call comes down to Verne Lundquist and Dan Fouts, who were in the playoffs last year, and Dick Stockton and fast-rising analyst Randy Cross. Given the NFC schedule, there may only be room for one. O'Neil's call could be tougher.

Although NBC has a strong lineup from top to bottom, it will boil down to three teams. And if O'Neil repeats last year's pattern, two of them will get playoff assignments along with the lead team of Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy. -t After some early-season struggles, Bill Par-cells, who is working the Jets-Bills today with Marv Albert, has improved from week to week. Look for this Parcells-Albert team to make the playoffs. That leaves Charlie Jones and Todd Chris-tensen or Don Criqui and Paul Maguire.

Jones and Christensen made the cut last year and have not dropped off a bit. Criqui's voice is distinctive, but Maguire is such a colorful personality that he would be more effective than Christensen in other roles of the postseason coverage. Thus, give the nod to Jones and Christensen for an encore playoff performance. Today's TV programming Bisher: Fans, SEC get money's worth fiilldogs, Tech showcased Tickets are available for the Dec. 19 Kunnen- jheimer Classic college basketball doubleheader ht the Georgia Dome (Georeia Tech vs.

I-niiis. yille at 12:30 p.m., followed by Georgia vs. UCLA). Tickets are $25 (unoer-level courtside Maybe years down the road people could say they were at the first SEC Championship game 25 years ago. It could he as historic as the first Super Bowl seats or lower-level corner) and $18 (upper aseline).

Tickets may be purchased through TickCtmaster. For information, phone (404) 249-5400. For $70 VIP tickets, phone (404) 881-881 1. I PEACH BOWL: Tickets are available for the Jan. game at the Georgia Dome.

Individual tickets are 35 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster. For Channel 1 1 I p.m. Football: Jets at Bills. nformation, phone (404) 249-6400. For ticket package nformation, phone (404) 586-8499.

HAWKS: The next home opponents at The Omni pire Chicago on Tuesday, Denver on Friday and Philadelphia on Saturday. All games start at 7:40 p.m. Sin-gle-game tickets range from $10 to $30 and are avail able through Ticketmaster. For information, phone '(404) 249-6400 or 827-3866 (season tickets). a drive with a four-yard pass to Willie Jackson.

They moved into the fourth quarter still in overdrive, with the help of the Alabama punting game, which suddenly went sour. From midfield, the Gator quarterback had his team in the end zone in nine plays, and the score was tied at 21, just the kind of electrical finish the hierarchy of the SEC had in mind. Eight minutes to play, plenty of time to get back in the end zone, Florida stayed with the passing game. As someone has said, go to the well one time too many and the well will go dry. From his own 21-yard line, Matthews threw a pass into the flat that Antonio Langham, a junior from Town Creek, clutched to his chest and rambled in for a touchdown, eluding along the way the man who had thrown the ball.

You throw that many times, and every time you throw it the risk of interception rises. "A big play waiting to happen," Errict Rhett, the Florida running back, said. "We had the game where we wanted it," Steve Spurrier, the bereaved Florida coach, said later. "To win a game like this, you can't make bad plays, and we made a lot of bad plays." The first official SEC champion has been crowned in a playoff, fair and square. True, the team with the best record had beaten only a three-time loser, but everybody knew the rules in advance.

Now it remains to be seen what effect this monumental event has on all the outlying precincts. Continued from Fl schools had to approve it and the commissioner, Roy Kramer, formerly a coach in Michigan, later athletics director at Vanderbilt, had to bring it off. They envisioned a return of about $7 million, $800,000 to each member, especially welcomed by under-budgeted members. This was to be realized by outrageous ticket prices, ranging from $30 to the common folk to $780 to the outrageously wealthy. Alabama won one division, an outcome warmly received in Birmingham.

Florida won the other, also widely and warmly received in Alabama, Florida was a three-time loser, a pigeon. Nothing the rough-and-ready Tide couldn't handle. Bring on the Gators. By geography, Birmingham might be known as a "neutral" site, but Legion Field is about as neutral as Bear Bryant's ghost. Legion Field is Alabama's second home.

This may turn out to be a pacesetter. The SEC Championship was closely watched by conferences around the country. Hoist the flag and see how it fluttered. Maybe years down the road people could say they were at the first SEC Championship game 25 years ago. It could be as historic as the first Super Bowl, which could have been seen for $15.

What the viewers got, both the outrageously wealthy and the freebies in the parlor, was a spectacle that fit the occasion. It had changing leads, funny bounces and strange thuds and 1 p.m. Football: Vikings at Eagles. Channel 5 2 p.m. Tennis: USA vs.

Switzerland. The Davis Cup final concludes with the last of the singles matches. ESPN 2 p.m. Basketball: Evansville at Notre Dame. Sport South 3 p.m.

Football: College Football Awards. Winners of the Maxwell Award, Outland Trophy, Davey O'Brien Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Doak Walker Award, Toyota Leadership Award and Coach of the Year Award will be announced. Channel 2 4 p.m. Football: Dolphins at 49ers. Channel 1 1 4 p.m.

Golf: J.C Penney Classic The final round of this tournament, which pairs top players from the PGA and LPGA tours, Channel 2 4:30 p.m. Tennis: ATP World Doubles. Taped replay of the championship match last week in Johannes-burg. South Africa. Sport South 6 p.m.

Skiing: World Cup. Same-day taped coverage of the women's slalom competition from Steamboat Springs, Colo. ESPN 7 p.m. Auto racing: Slick SO Sprint Car World Series. TNN I HOCKEY: The Knights' next home games at The Omni are against Milwaukee at 7:05 tonight and 7:35 Wednesday.

Salt Lake City plays in Atlanta on Saturday at 1 p.m. Single ticket prices are $8, $10, $12 and $16. For information, call (404) 525-8900. collisions, thrills and chills. Especially the latter.

The weather was cold enough to hang beef, and a brisk wind added to the discomfort. Florida scored first. Alabama tied the game, both on first possessions, and from that point on the first of a series intended to become a classic became one. Alabama took the lead in the second quarter, but only with the help of some Gator bungling. First, it was a penalty that gave Alabama splendid field position, followed by another penalty when Florida was caught with 12 players on the field on a fourth-down play when the ball would have been turned over.

The score came on a 30-yard pass from Jay Barker to Curtis Brown. When Alabama went 68 yards and scored again in the third quarter, it looked as though it had its pigeon in the bag. It only served to arouse the Gators. They went to the air now and Shane Matthews finished off Sports hotlines Booster Buzz: Booster dub Info 222-2075 Collectibles: Phone In Info on shows 222-2032 College recruiting: Football updates 222-2090 Fishing Hotline: Latest lake Info 222-2003 Scorephone: For late-game results 222-2030 Sound off: Phone In your opinions 222-203 1 Sportscene Items: For Glenn Sheeley 526-5764 Sports Doctor: Fitness questions 222-2988 7 p.m. Hockey: Northeastern at New Hampshire.

I Taped replay of Saturday game. SportSouth 8 p.m. Football: Rams at Buccaneers. ESPN Today's radio programming I p.m. Football: Vikings at Eagles.

680 AM 4 p.m. Football: Cowboys at Broncos. 680 AM 7:05 p.m. Hockey: Milwaukee at Atlanta. 680 rV iL.

Saturday's winning Lotto number! 33-11-36-20-13-47 640 AM 8 p.m. Football: Rams at Bucs..