Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • 35

Wednesday, May 1 1 2003 D3 Albuquerque Journal Jaramillo Knows How To Connect SPORTS SPEAK fed! Boxing Friday: Sandia Casino, IBA junior featherweight championship, Danny Romero vs. Trinidad Men-doza, six other fights. First bout, 6 p.m. Tickets: available at Sandia box office and A $5 discount coupon is available at Mac's Steak in the Rough restaurant. TV: Telefutura 5 South Valley boxer mixes with some of the top names in her sport By Mike Hall Associate Sports Editor If up-and-coming women's boxer Stephanie Jaramillo of Albuquerque is half as good as the company she keeps, a world title should be just around the corner.

Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Don King some of boxing's biggest names roll off Jaramillo's tongue as easily as naming most of her relatives, who seemingly all live in a one-block area in the South Valley. in for the May 2001 Felix Trinidad-William Joppy fight Stephanie met Mayweather in Las Vegas, simply walking up, introducing herself and asking if he would take her on. His first response, according to Jaramillo, was: "He told me he didn't train women. He'd had one, and that was enough." However, Jaramillo persisted, and Mayweather gave her his home number, saving he would give her a shot. Not long afterward, Annette Jaramillo called Mayweather.

"He said he didn't remember," Annette says. "But if he told me, a promise was a promise." A few days later, Stephanie was in Mayweather's -Las Vegas home. Mayweather, she says, doesn't treat her "like a girl." He'll punch her to get her attention. That's the trainer's style. In Big Bear, Stephanie saw him pop De La Hoya a few times.

That put her father, Rick, at ease. "My dad says, 'He hit Stephanie says. "That's what (Mayweather) does to you." DAN SALZWEDEL WAS at the NMAA to interpret the rules and regulations set by the AOs and superintendents of the schools in the NMAA. He never made a rule, only enforced them. He was a good fund-raiser.

He was a good man. He'll be tough to replace. Joe, Albuquerque I'LL TELL YOU what's wrong with Annika Sorenstam playing in the men's game. It's the double standard women always get They have all-women's colleges but no men's-only schools. Women reporters go into men's locker rooms, but male reporters are barred from women's locker rooms.

Now, we have a woman ROBERTO E. ROSALES JOURNAL HEAD ON: Albuquerque's Stephanie Jaramillo and her mother Annette's assertlveness have helped them gain an audience with boxing Icons Don King and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hoya that not only was he training the Golden Boy but also the Golden Girl, Jaramillo's moniker since turning professional after a 30-plus bout amateur career, including a spot on the USA team. Jaramillo's brush with promoter King almost landed a promotional contract, but King never came up with anything solid. Jaramillo's mother and manager, Annette, set that up simply calling King, talking to' him directly and sending a promotional package.

King flew both Jaramillos to New York Jaramillo (2-0, 1 KO) will be fighting Denver's Allegra Smith (0-1) at 145 pounds on the Danny Romero-Trinidad Men-doza IBA junior featherweight championship card Friday night at Sandia Casino Jaramillo fights straight on with power in both hands. Coincidentally, straight on is how she met King and May-weather, although she received something of an introduction to boxing's biggest star De La Hoya, Jaramillo had trained with Mayweather, who also handles De La Hoya, in Las Vegas, and then locked up with him in Big Bear, home of De La Hoya's training camps. "I thought I'd faint if I saw (De La Hoya)," recalls Jaramillo, who turned 21 on Sunday. She followed Mayweather into one of the plush cabins in Big Bear when he suddenly started saying, "There are some people here who flew a long way to see your butt. I don't know why." Jaramillo suddenly looked at a man on a couch, acupuncture needles coming out of his shoulder, and realized Mayweather was talking to De La Hoya.

Mayweather also told De La Win Reds Blow Big Lead, Rally for a Yankees Lose 7th in Nine Games golfer who wants to play with the men. But if a man wants to play on the women's tour, he can't. Dan, Albuquerque WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING golfers have in common? David Duval, Mark O'Meara, Sergio Garcia, Rich Beem, Brad Faxon and Jim Furyk. Besides being some of the best players in the entire world, they all missed the cut at last year's Colonial. It's just the way golf works.

Too bad it's the only excuse the Vijay Singhs of the world will need to say, "I told you so" if Annika doesn't make ft. Carl, Albuquerque I UKE CHRISTIAN'S thought from last week: just have one tour for men and women. If the women can compete, more power to them. But they'll probably shoot themselves in the foot if they fail and perhaps not have an LPGA to fall back on. But do it right, no special treatment.

After all, we want equality, don't we? Don't be like tennis' Battle of the Sexes In 1973 with the 30-year-old Billie Jean King playing 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. David, Albuquerque IN RESPONSE TO Tracey and LeAnn, I agree that Annika Sorenstam is a terrific golfer. However, for her to compete against the men in the PGA, she has a long way to go. Her average drive is 275.4 yards (this is No. 2 in the LPGA) and wouldn't make the 150th spot in the PGA (Jeff Maggert is 277.5 average yards and No.

150). Charles, Albuquerque I JUST WANT TO SAY thank you to Henry Tafoya, the voice of high school athletics in New Mexico. On Saturday, he did all the state championship (baseball) games from Farmington on radio. Ruben, Albuquerque I KNOW YOU CATCH flak for stories about La Cueva sports. But when was the last time that one school won boys 5A championships in track and field, soccer, team tennis, golf and baseball in the same academic year? It's a story worth telling.

JC, Albuquerque BILL, THE REASON La Cueva gets put in the spotlight is because its teams win. The Journal is only reporting the fact that La Cueva athletes win. It's the same with all the other high schools. When they win, the Journal reports it. Dorft take it out on those kids just because they're exceptional athletes.

Patricia, Albuquerque I JUST RETURNED from watching the high school state Softball tournament in Las Cruces. I want to congratulate all the teams that went. I also want to congratulate the city of Las Cruces for that great facility, the Held of Dreams. I wonder how a city that size can spend $2 million and Albuquerque can't find the money for one good park, Ted, Albuquerque eight innings as the Athletics beat Minnesota as both benches cleared twice during the game. MARINERS 7, ROYALS 4: In Seattle, Randy Winn hit a two-run homer, and Bret Boone and Mike Cameron doubled off the wall as the Mariners rallied to defeat Kansas' City.

ANGELS 7, ORIOLES In Anaheim, Troy Glaus homered twice, and Scott Spiezio tripled and scored the winning run in the ninth as the Angels rallied to win. RANGERS 5, DEVIL RAYS 2: In Arlington, Texas, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer, and Joaquin Benoit pitched seven strong innings as the Rangers beat Tampa Bay. WHITE SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 1: In Chicago, Bartolo Colon won his third straight start, allowing nine hits and getting a great catch from left fielder Carlos Lee, to beat Toronto. INDIANS 6, TIGERS 4: In Cleveland, Brandon Phillips hit a three-run homer with one out in the ninth inning, rallying the Indians over Detroit, which has lost six straight. Notes YANKEES: Charlotte Witkind, who became a limited partner in the team when George Steinbrenner purchased the team, has died in Columbus, Ohio, at 83.

Jose Contreras has rejoined the team after working on his mechanics and confidence in four minor-league pitching appearances. Reliever Steve Karsay has had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. METS: Matthew Barnes, a 27-year-old Brooklyn man, has been charged with stalking general manager Steve Phillips after a series of alleged tirades at Shea Stadium. Catcher Mike Piazza will miss at least six weeks, and possibly the rest of the season, after tearing his right groin muscle last week. PHILLIES: First baseman Dave Hollins has left Triple-A ScrantonAVilkes-Barre and might retire.

Hollins, 37, is hitting .204 with two homers and 12 RBI in 29 games. MARLINS: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez is expected to miss a three-game series in Montreal after flying to Puerto Rico to tend to his ill mother-in-law. ROYALS: Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez was scratched from his start against Seattle to give his sore elbow a few more days of rest. RED SOX: Pedro Martinez is listed as day-to-day after missing his start against the Yankees with a mild strain of a back muscle. POSTPONED: The Cubs' game in Pittsburgh was postponed by rain and will be made up as a twinight double-header Sept.

19. ASTROS: Third baseman Geoff Blum has been hospitalized with severe headaches and a fever. The Associated Press CINCINNATI The crowd of 24,076 let out a nasty, collective "boo" after Vinny Castilla's second homer of the game tied it in the eighth inning. They should have known it was nothing more than a setup. Jason LaRue hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-8 victory Tuesday over the Atlanta Braves.

The late comebacks have become commonplace. "It's every day," manager Bob Boone said. "We keep clawing back. We never hang our heads, which is easy to do in that situation." Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first homer since returning from a dislocated shoulder, and Austin Kearns drove in four runs with a pair of singles off Greg Maddux as Cincinnati led 7-2.

Castilla then hit a pair of homers, including a three-run shot in the eighth off Scott Sullivan (5-0) that tied it at 7 and brought a harsh reaction from the fans. The late innings usually belong to the Reds, who've gotten 11 of their 23 wins in their last at-bats. Roberto Hernandez (3-1) took the loss. Scott Williamson finished it off for his 11th save in 12 chances. Maddux lasted only four innings and trailed 7-2.

ASTROS 3, CARDINALS 2: In Houston, Wade Miller hit a two-run double and allowed only three hits over seven innings to lead the Astros over St. Louis. He improved to 2-5. GIANTS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5: In Phoenix, Barry Bonds homered, and Kirk Rueter threw seven scoreless innings as San Francisco beat Arizona. DODGERS 3, ROCKIES 1: In Los Angeles, Kevin Brown allowed three hits in seven innings, and Adrian Bel-tre's tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh led the Dodgers.

PHILLIES 11, METS 7: In New York, Pat Burrell hit a solo homer in the sixth and a tying shot in a seven-run seventh as Philadelphia rallied to defeat the Mets. EXPOS 6, MARLINS 4: In Montreal, 'Brian Schneider homered, and Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run double to key a four-run fourth inning to lead the Expos over Florida. BREWERS 8, PADRES 7: In Milwaukee, John Vander Wal homered in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Brewers handed San Diego its seventh consecutive loss. American League RED SOX 10, YANKEES 7: In Boston, David Ortiz's two-run double in a five-run seventh put Boston ahead to stay and sent New York to its seventh loss in nine games, i ATHLETICS 4, TWINS 1: In Oakland, Tim Hudson allowed five hits in TOM UHLMANTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS LAUNCH SITE: Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. watches his two-run homer off Greg Maddux sail out of the park Tuesday.

The Reds edged the Braves 9-8. Rosario Blows Away Isotopes 1 and three runs, although only one of the runs was earned. The Zephyrs (27-18) took advantage of an Albuquerque error to score one run in the third inning. Another error in the fourth helped New Orleans get two runs for a 3-0 advantage That really was all Rosario needed, although the Zephyrs put together a three-run rally in the eighth inning to give him a little added insurance. Tripp Cromer and Raul Chavez led New Orleans' nine-hit attack.

Each went 2 for 4, with Cromer picking up an RBI and Chavez scoring twice. From Journal Reports METAIRIE, La. Rodrigo Rosario pitched a two-hit shutout Tuesday night as the New Orleans Zephyrs cruised to a 6-0 victory over the Albuqerque Isotopes in Pacific Coast League baseball. Rosario, who evened his record at 4-4, struck out 10 while walking none and hitting one batter. Center fielder Gerald Williams and shortstop Kevin Hooper managed the only hits for Albuquerque (19-25), each going 1 for 4.

'Topes starter Scott Sanders (0-1) went 3 innings, giving up five hits Tuesday New Orleans 6 Albuquerque 0 Today Albuquerque at New Orleans, 6:05 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610) Salzwedel Hoping To Continue Serving NMAA enough to get the association back on track financially, he said. When Salzwedel's contract expires, i he plans to start a small business in the "hospital from PAGE D1 ketball coach Jim Hulsman, "because every decision he makes is going to make at least 50 percent of the people mad. But the rules are the rules to Dan. He applies them to everyone, and you have to admire that" However, many also felt the NMAA was due for a leadership change.

"Regardless of the job you executive session, the board came to no resolution and tabled the matter until its June meeting. Martinez said board members were divided about whether to extend the executive director's contract. On Monday, Salzwedel took the decision out of their hands. Salzwedel, 55, has been in the hot seat numerous times during his tenure sometimes over his own rulings, on other occasions over board decisions. The latest firestorm centered around economic shortfalls that required the NMAA to hit member high schools with a one-time assessment.

The assessment, which totals more than $176,000, is due June 6 and will cover NMAA operating expenses. Salzwedel said Tuesday the economic shortfall has been building for several years. He cited increased NMAA services, litigation and poor attendance at state-level events among the mitigating factors. The assessment, coupled With a previously approved dues increase, should be athletic director at Fort Sumner, who serves on the NMAA's commission and board of directors. "After a while, the enemies start to outnumber your friends.

"Dan has done a great job and put his heart and soul into the NMAA, but I think he's started to get to that point" The NMAA's board of directors was expanded, this year. One of its first orders of business was to consider extending Salzwedel's contract during a January board meeting. After a. two-hour NO CLASS. Two words that describe Rudy Davalos (UNM's athletic director).

Rather than explain that overscheduling games is done by every NCAA baseball team In the nation because of cancellations due to weather (as everyone here knows, we've had little rain this Davalos elects to criticize a fine man. What coach Rich Alday has done with the UNM baseball program with no support from Davalos Is commendable. Mike, Albuquerque I ity area. He also wants to continue serving the NMAA in a lesser capacity. That service has yet to be determined, but Salzwedel said he hopes to work on project? such as the "Dream Center," a multimillion-dollar athletic facility that has been in the planning stages for several years.

do, every year you're gonna make a few enemies," said Mario Martinez, a coach and I.