Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 5

Oct 10. f- Sports Bengals put Jets, ghosts of '87 to rest Cincy overcomes miscues, buries New York, 36-19 Ickey hop, hop, hops to 2 TDs he difficulties we 'T I endured were a microcosm of the GARY NUHN SPORTS COLUMNIST adversity we faced last year, but the way we overcame those difficulties clearly demonstrates the difference between the Bengals of '87 and the Bengals of Reggie Williams Bengals linebacker i 1 aH BBBB jMfljferl VE mkr INCINNATI It went some thing like this: Hod left foot, right foot. left-right, left-right, left-right By Marty Williams STAFF SPORTS WRITER CINCINNATI The new-look Cincinnati Bengals shrugged off mistakes that used to drive them to distraction and defeat, and thundered to a 36-19 victory over the New York Jets in Riverfront Stadium Sunday afternoon. On Cincinnati's first two offensive plays, Boomer Esiason was sacked for a safety and Stanley Wilson lost a fumble at his own 7-yard line, giving the Jets an easy touchdown. "We dug a hole for ourselves," wide receiver Tim McGee said, "but we didn't stay in it long enough for anyone to start shoveling dirt on us." Or as eloquent linebacker Reggie Williams put it, "The difficulties we endured were a microcosm of the adversity we faced last year, but the way we overcame those difficulties clearly demonstrates the difference between the Bengals of '87 and the Bengals of 88." Even with running back James Brooks on the inactive list with a broken hand, the Cincinnati offense cranked out 402 yards, 206 on the ground and a net of 196 through the air.

Esiason completed only 10 passes, but three went for touchdowns, two to Eddie Brown (60 and 8 yards) and one to McGee (38). The NFL's leading passer also contributed 61 yards on three scrambles of 23, 14 and 24 yards. Many of the big plays came when the Bengals were in their hurry-up or attack offense. "When we were studying their (the Jets') game films," said Coach Sam Wyche, "we noticed they made a lot of changes in their defensive line. You don't usually do that unless you've got people who need a rest.

We went to the attack so they couldn't rest." But while Esiason's scrambles helped, the man who did most of the running was rookie fullback Ickey Woods. After Wilson fumbled on his first carry, Woods played the rest of the game and pounded the Jets 30 times for 139 yards. The second-round draft choice from Nevada-Las Vegas scored twice, from 5 and 17 yards. "We put Stanley back in (as a second big back) to help him regain his composure," Wyche said, "and he made some big blocks and picked up a key first down on our last TD drive (on fourth-and-1 at the New York 22). But once you find a guy with hot feet like Ickey had, you don't take him out." In his first five games, Woods had carried only 31 times for 125 yards.

"I didn't realize I was going to play as much as I did (Sunday) and I was getting a little tired toward the end. I'm going to have to run a few more gassers (40-yard sprints) after practice this week." In winning, the 6-0 Bengals remained the only unbeaten team in the league. More importantly, they stayed two games ahead of Houston and moved three ahead of Cleveland in the AFC Central Division. Entering Sunday's game, the Jets ranked second to Cincinnati in total offense in the AFC, but the Bengal defenders said the early 9-0 deficit caused no despair in their ranks. "Our offense may not be the kind that is going to move down the field on every possession," linebacker Carl Zander said, "but we've got guys who SEE BENGALS2B And then No, Ickey, No.

Please, Ickey, Plea Hop right foot, right, right, right. Spike. It's the Ickey Shuffle II. It's bad, which you may take in either the street or the literal translation. Elbert "Ickey" Woods came to work Sunday wearing a Superman T-shirt and did nothing to undercut its authenticity.

When he and his Cincinnati Bengal playmates were done with the AFCs best defense, that of the New York-New Jersey Jets, he had done Supermannish damage 30 carries, 139 yards and two TDs as the Benpls won, 36-19. He'd done even more damage to the evolution of touchdown dancing in the NFL. This one will not be stamped, footprint by footprint, on cardboard, and sold through NFL Properties Inc. It looked like something Howdy Doody might do after a touchdown. "I saw him over there before the game working on it," Bengals' offensive guard Joe Walter said.

"I was trying to figure it out, but I couldn't." Team patriarch and linebacker Reggie Williams said: "Ickey is part of the hip-hop generation. In my capacity as a public servant, I have to get in touch with this generation, so I'm learning its vocabulary and nuances." Yes, Reggie, yes, but do you know this thing's name? "No." How about you, Cris Collinsworth? "I've got no idea," the wide receiver said. Tackle Anthony Munoz? "It's uh it's next question." Could you do it? "I'd probably fall on my face if I tried," the big man said. BILL ARLOWSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Bengals' David Fulcher saved a Jets touchdown by tipping this pass away from Al Toon Browns' 3rd gun goes down in loss to Seahawks "We are not going to rush Bernie Kosar back," Schottenheimer said. Browns right tackle Cody Risien refused to use the word jinxed after Pagel went down, following Kosar (strained elbow in Week 1) and Gary Danielson (broken ankle in Week 2).

"Snakebit, anyway," Risien said. "In the middle of the game you can't think about that kind of stuff, but now, what can you say? This is bizarre." SEE BR0WNS3B hind Strock, had to be getting the butterflies, especially when Strock ran five yards for a first down with 3y2 minutes to play. Cleveland Coach Marty Schottenheimer was so stunned that he didn't know after the game whether the team would look for another backup. But he was certain of one thing. Although the 3-3 Browns are three games behind undefeated Cincinnati in the AFC Central, Schottenheimer said first-stringer Bernie Kosar would not be activated this week from injured reserve, even though he is eligible to return.

He will be sidelined for an estimated four weeks. No kidding. So pardon the Browns if they seemed a bit shellshocked after a 16-10 loss to the Seahawks before a sellout crowd of 78,605 at Cleveland Stadium. After all, they were down to their fourth signal-caller, 37-year-old ex-Miami Dolphin Don Strock, and the only other quarterback on the roster, rookie Steve Slayden, was on the inactive list: Wide receiver Brian Brennan, next in line be By Maria Ridenour STAFF SPORTS WRITER CLEVELAND Today the Cleveland Browns may still be shaking their heads in disbelief. With only six games gone in the National Football League season, they lost their third quarterback to injury Sunday, this time against the Seattle Seahawks.

Mike Pagel suffered a separated shoulder while making a touchdown-saving tackle on a blocked field goal early in the second quarter. SEE NUHN2B Mets lead LA, Athletics finish sweep of Red Sox Eckersley nabs playoff MVP award 4-2 in 7th inning A balk and wild pitch advanced Shelby to third but Mike Scioscia struck out, ending the inning. Sax walked to lead off the third and stole second and third but was stranded when Gooden struck out Kirk Gibson and Marshall. The two steals in one inning and three in one game tied playoff records and pushed Sax' total for the series to five, tying the record set by Davey Lopes in 1981. The Mets threatened against John Tudor in the second when Darryl Strawberry reached on an error by first baseman Hatcher and Gary Carter singled.

But Tim Teufel and Kevin Elster BULLETIN The New York Mets led the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 through six innings of Game 4 of the National League playoffs Sunday night. NEW YORK (AP) John Shelby drove in two runs with a two-out single in the first inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-0 lead over the Mets. Steve Sax opened the first by beating out an infield single and stole second. When Mickey Hatcher walked, the Dodgers had two on and none out against Dwight Gooden. The runners advanced on an infield out and after Gooden struck out Mike Marshall, Shelby dropped his hit to right field for two runs.

filed out, stranding the runners. great team and be done with it," Jackson said. "It's the Year of the A's, so go on to something else. What's coming up, baske'ball? Everyone else should just say, 'Let's play for Boston's AL East champions can't argue the point. Oakland's domination was a season-long trauma for the Red Sox.

Oakland won all eight games this season in the Coliseum, 10 in a row since last year and 16 of the last 17. For all games this season, Oakland won 13 of 16, outscored the Red Sox, 78-54, and outhomered them, 20-3. "They're probably the best team In baseball," Boston second baseman Marty Barrett said. To Boston fans, the A's are the best baseball team in mankind's history. The final game epitomized Oakland's season antiseptic pitching by starter Dave Stewart, complemented by unblemished relief work from Rick Hon-eycutt and Dennis Eckersley, power from Jose Canseco, crucial hitting from Walt Weiss, Dave Henderson, Carney Lansford and Mark McGwire and near flawless defense.

"They have one of the best pitching staffs in the league," Boston outfielder Mike Greenwell said. "The bottom line is they shut us down, they deserve SEE ATHLETICSSB By Hal McCoy STAFF SPORTS WRITER OAKLAND As the Brotherhood of Bash, also known as the Oakland Athletics, participated in batting practice under a warm California sun Sunday morning, the song Almost Paradise boomed over the Oakland Coliseum sound system. Three hours later, it no longer was almost. The A's were back in paradise, the World Series, for the first time since 1974. The A's completed a four-game American League playoff sweep Sunday, laying the Boston Red Sox soundly to rest, 4-1.

It was the first four-game sweep in postseason play since Sparky Anderson's Cincinnati Reds plundered and pillaged the New York Yankees in the 1976 World Series. Reggie Jackson was part of Oakland's American League domination in the early 1970s, three straight pennants in 1972-73-74, before eccentric owner Charlie O. Finley dismantled the team with garage sales. Jackson, now an ABC-TV commentator, says they can cancel the World Series, that the New York-Los Angeles National League playoff is for runner-up in the World Series. "Just go say they (the A's) are a A relief ace Howell suspended for 3 days that long.

"While there must be no doubt as to my view of the seriousness of this infraction in the course of the League Championship Series, I have attempted to balance all the elements of the decision," Giamatti said in a press release. "I do not want to see a championship ultimately decided for fans and teammates if the LCS goes seven games by the accident of one man's mistake. Therefore, Mr. Howell would be NEW YORK (AP) Jay Howell, the Los Angeles Dodgers' relief ace who pleaded guilty to using pine tar on his glove, was suspended for three days, National League president A. Bartlett Giamatti announced Sunday.

Howell was ejected in the eighth inning of Saturday's NL playoff game against the New York Mets for having the substance on his glove. The suspension began Sunday and will continue through Tuesday. It means Howell would be available only for Wednesday's seventh and final game of the playoffs, If the series goes ASSOCIATED PRESS see HOWELL4B The A's mob pitcher Dennis Eckersley (center) after Sunday's win jK.1t. mi LT.