El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 22

4C El Paso Times Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 NFL hi- INBRIEF Ward, Owens return to respective camps The Pro Bowl wide receiver finally showed up at training camp, Cowboys desperately seek answers at tackle showcase game because of a toe injury, certainly hurt his resume. But Parcells recognized the last name. He knew Petitti's family Rob's dad went to his rival high school and a lot of other people in his New Jersey hometown. Parcells checked him out enough that he was willing to give him a shot.

Extra points: The Cowboys waived WR Zuriel Smith, DT Jermaine Brooks, LB Roger Cooper and TE Mike Gomez, and traded OT Sam Wilder to Tampa Bay for a conditional seventh-round draft pick. That trims the roster to 79. Although QB Drew Henson has been the third quarterback in the rotation all week, Parcells insists he's still even with Tony Romo behind starter Drew Bledsoe. Parcells said Patrick Crayton has the edge over Quincy Morgan in the battle for third receiver. RobPetitti HORSE RACING not time to panic.

If he's still flummoxed after the third preseason game, a week from Saturday, then panic or at least strong concern can set in. "I know somebody is going to step up and play that position," offensive line coach Tony Spara-no said. "When they do, it'll be the right person because they've won the job fairly and squarely." The competition seems to be mainly between rookie Rob Pe-titti and Torrin Tucker, the primary starter last season. Second-year player Jacob Rogers has blown his chance with slow-healing, seemingly minor injuries, while veteran Kurt Vollers has become a valuable backup. Petitti was Pitt's starting left tackle for four years and was All-Big East the past three.

So why was he drafted 209th, after 18 other offensive tackles? Weighing 361 pounds at the Senior Bowl, then skipping the HOME THEATER VIDEO CAR AUDIO Get the iz Design, SOJhDQUBT P4 i RUIDOSO DOWNS: ALL AMERICAN 1 Leading Spirit has sights on $5 million By Jaime Aron Associated Press OXNARD, Calif. Although the biggest drama at Dallas Cowboys training camp lacks the hysteria of the Terrell Owens saga, there is a bit of a soap opera feel about it. So far, there are four candidates at right tackle: a sixth-' round draft pick, a second-rounder from last year who hardly played as a rookie and the two guys whose performance last season sent the team looking for other options. There could be more candidates, too. Coach Bill Parcells has a list of out-of-work linemen who are only a phone call away.

He'd rather not, but he will if he can't settle on a starter sooa How soon is part of the drama. Parcells acknowledges that right tackle is his biggest question mark, yet he keeps saying it's FUTURITY because there is little room for error in such short races. But that has yet to stop Leading Spirit, who has earned $694,616 this year. "He does everything right, he just don't fire away from (the gates) every time," Wood said. Trainer Jack Brooks, who has won the All American eight times, said it will take "a big mistake" by Leading Spirit to keep him from winning his trial race and the futurity.

Wood said Leading Spirit has been eating "like an elephant" and has been working out well. "He has a little bit of racing wear and tear, but he's sound," Wood said. Leading Spirit won the Ruidoso Futurity at 350 yards and the Rainbow at 400 yards. The All American stretches the qualifiers out to 440 yards, and Wood said that distance should only make Leading Spirit tougher to beat. fife 6 r.

0 PiQi: Ci Associated Press RUIDOSO DOWNS Another win for undefeated Leading Spirit could set up the 2-year-old quar ter horse with a chance to earn up to $5 million in this year's All American Futu rity. Leading Spirit's next trip to the starting gates will be in today's trials for the All American. A total of 160 horses are entered in the 16 trials, and the 10 horses that post the fastest times in the trials move on to the futurity on Sept. 5. The All American this year has a purse of $1.9 million, with $1 million of that going to the winner of the 440-yard sprint.

But the stakes are much higher than that for Leading Spirit, who can earn a $4 million bonus by sweeping the three Grade 1 futurities run each summer at Ruidoso Downs. Leading Spirit won the Ruidoso BIG Sales, instillation BASEBALL 0(tE fifeHEB an apology to his teammates in hand, no longer a distraction or a source of con- cern to a team that went deep into the playoffs last season and expects to do so again. Ward There were smiles, handshakes and hugs, rather than whispers of resentment or questions about his sincerity, when Hines Ward resumed practicing Wednesday with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terrell Owens, this was not. Anyone looking for controversy or a sideshow needed to travel about five hours east in Pennsylvania to the Eagles' camp to find it.

If there was any hostility or un-happiness, Ward's teammates didn't express it a contrast to the Eagles' camp, where Owens' behavior and standoffishness before his one-week suspension clearly alienated some of his teammates before Owens also returned Wednesday. That didn't prevent Ward, who ended a 15-day holdout Monday, from going from dorm room to dorm room at St. Vin cent College, catching up with his teammates and, he said, apologizing for being away. Eagles In Philadelphia, Owens, again wearing camouflage and listening to oversized headphones, arrived at the Eagles' practice facility at 7:27 a.m. He was greeted by several dozen fans, some holding signs, including one that read "TO must go." Owens jogged onto the practice field shortly before the morning session began at 8:45.

He ran routes, caught passes and even interacted with teammates, a marked contrast from his reclusive behavior earlier in camp. It didn't appear he spoke to quarterback Donovan McNabb. They have feuded all summer. The disgruntled All-Pro wide-out met briefly with coach Andy Reid before practice. Owens had said he'll give his all to the NFC champions, but won't be happy because the Eagles won't redo his contract.

The Eagles also refuse to budge off their hardline stance: Owens can play for them under the seven-year, $48.97 million deal he signed last year, or he won't play at all. Dolphins Three days into training camp, Miami's first-round draft pick, Ronnie Brown, already is winning raves from Ricky Williams of all people. Brown reported Monday after ending a three-week holdout, and teammate Brown Williams likes what he sees from the rookie running back. "When he first got drafted, you hear people wonder why you'd take a No. 2 (overall) pick for a guy that didn't even start in college," Williams said.

"But seeing him out there, there is really nothing that isn't wonderful about him." Brown probably will start the opener Sept. 11 against Denver because Williams must sit out the first four games of the season for violating the league's drug policy. Bills Buffalo's Pro Bowl cornerback Nate Clements informally opened negotiations for his next contract with a very high asking price. "I'm the best and I don't settle for nothing less," said Clements, a four-year veteran entering the final year of his contract. "It's just like if you're the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position." Panthers Carolina agreed to a five-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Dan Morgan that will keep him with the Panthers through 2010.

Morgan was in the final year of his contract. He missed four games last season and most of a Morgan fifth because of a pair of concussions, but had a career-high 109 tackles along with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries to earn his first Pro Bowl trip. Times wire reports 'ft rrrJ 1 too Smsff9 Futurity in June and the Rainbow Futurity last month. Only one other horse, Special Effort in 1981, has won all three futurities, quarter horse racing's version of the Triple Crown. The $4 million bonus money was not in place when Special Effort swept the three races 24 years ago.

Leading Spirit won his first three races at Sunland Park, and it was after his win there in the West Texas Futurity in April that trainer Blane Wood realized the horse's potential. Leading Spirit won that 300-yard race in a time of 14.926 seconds, the fastest time ever posted at that distance by a 2-year-old. "I told my son Trey, I think we've got the real deal," Wood said Wednesday. Leading Spirit has shown a tendency to break slowly, normally a bad thing in quarter horse racing at 18 games Chris O'Meara Associated PRess Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell watched his team lose its 18th consecutive game Wednesday in Seattle. Philadelphia, Jon Licber pitched six strong innings, and Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double to lead Philadelphia past Washington.

Giants 3, Reds 2: At Cincinnati, Noah Lowry pitched a season-high 8'j innings, drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run as San Francisco beat Cincinnati. Braves 10, Dodgers 2: At Atlanta, Jeff Francoeur homered, tripled and threw out another runner from right field, leading Atlanta past Los Angeles. Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 0: At St. Louis, Mark Mulder threw a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season and John Mabry hit a two-run homer, helping St. Louis beat Arizona.

Brewers 2, Rockies 0: At Denver, Chris Capuano allowed six hits in seven innings and drove in both runs to lead Milwaukee. Capuano Dana Eveland, Jose Capel-lan and Derrick Turnbow combined for the 29th shutout in the 11 years Coors Field has been open. 1st ykmmrisdjii i I wni i cti iff '-V trti Mr get FREE Wet-N-Wild tickets! KG streak Associated Press SEATTLE The Kansas City Royals lost their club-record. 18th consecutive game, moving within three of matching the longest skid in American League history by falling 11-5 to the last-place Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. The Royals moved closer to the AL record of 21 consecutive losses set by the Baltimore Orioles at the start of the 1988 season.

The modern major league record for consecutive losses is 23, set by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies. In other AL games Orioles 5, Athletics 3: At Oakland, emergency starter Eric DuBose didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, and Baltimore sent Oakland to its fourth consecutive loss by completing a three-game sweep. Tigers 6, Red Sox 5: At Detroit, Craig Monroe's two-run double highlighted a five-run first off David Wells. Rangers 3, Indians 0: At Cleveland, rookie Chris Young allowed two singles in eight shutout innings, helping Texas snap an eight-game losing streak. Devil Rays 7, Yankees 6: At St.

Petersburg, Alex Gonzalez homered and drove in four runs, and Jonny Gomes snapped an eighth-inning tie when he scored on Tanyon Sturtze's wild pitch, lifting Tampa Bay past New York. Twins 5, White Sox 1: At Chicago, Johan Santana took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of first-place Chicago. In NL games Marlins 6, Padres 0: At Miami, Dontrelle Willis pitched a five-hitter for his fifth shutout this season, and Florida shook a hitting slump to beat San Diego. Mets 5, Pirates 1: At New York, Carlos Beltran scored twice in his return from a frightening injury, sparking Tom Glavine and New York. Cubs 4, Astros 2: At Houston, Nomar Garciaparra' homered one inning before leaving the game with a stiff lower back, and starter Carlos Zambrano homered and went 8'j innings in Chicago's victory against Houston.

Phillies 4, Nationals 3: At Want TWo Tickets? Extend your private party ad by three additional lines and you earn an extra ticket! Here's How! Place a 7 line9 day private party ad in the El Paso Times and get one ticket to Wet-N-Wild, a $19.43 value. Call 546-6200 today! elpasotimeJrJm 'Private party advertisers only. Prepay ads only. Ad must run a minimum ot one day. Limited time offer.

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