The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 65

TV highlights Men's basketball: UMass-Temple Noon, ESPN Women's basketball: UConn-BC 4p.m.,FSNE NHL: All-Star Saturday 7p.m., ESPN Racing EI Scoreboard 13 THE BOSTON GLOBE SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1999 7 tainfc joeopte toe missed the sport. You'll find a few disgruntled people because that's the nature of the beast; you'll find that all the time. I don't think the fans are going to stay away. I honestly don't. I'd be shocked if they RED AUERBACH to air Red Soi JCS group gets a two-year deal By Howard Manly GLOBE STAFF The Red Sox ended a year-long gotiation with several major media players yesterday and agreed to a two-year television deal with Kevin Dunn and Gene F.

Jankowski, chairman of the recently formed JCS New England Television Network. The games will air on Channel 56 hi Boston. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Red Sox stated that th deal provides the team with "a slight increase" from its previous contract with Channel 68. Industry officials esti; mated the deal to be worth $10 million per year. The team's over-the-air rights became available after Channel 68, the Boston University-owned station that carried the Sox the last three seasons, declined to pay $14.5 million to renew its contract The Red Sox entertained offers from several major media players, including Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller, but chose to go with JCS New England because Channel 56 had enough clearance to air as many as 75 games and the ability to attract younger viewers.

The remainder of the games will continue on New England Sports Network, the premium 'cable channel owned in part by the "We had a number of competitive RED SOX TV, Page E5 7 7 Club rates support politicians GLOBE STAFF PHOTO BARRY CHIN It's safe to assume the Celtics' practice facility in Waltham isn't a "smoke-free environment" at least when Red Aiierbach is around. IT WAS THE '--I spring of 1967, and a troubled Tom Yawkey sat behind Not iust moke his desk at Fenway Park. His team had lost 90, 100, and 30 1 games the previbus! three years. Red 1 Auerbach speaks his mind on young Celtics hopefuls, NBA By Michael Holley GLOBE STAFF to adjust. Auerbach decided to walk over to a 6-foot-9-inch Celtic and hand him a gift.

"He gave me a cigar," Antoine Walker said of the legendary coach. Earlier, Walker had signed a six-year contract extension worth $71 million. Auerbach has seen many things in his career, but he has never seen a contract like that in Boston. You CELTICS, Page E4 Sox attendance thej prevous six years never reached 1 mil-J lion, and in 1966, it dropped to a pa- thetic 652,000. "I need a new ballpark," the Red Sox owner said.

"I'm losing too money. I'm not trying to make money, but I don't want to lose any, either.3 told general manager Dick O'Conhell-to put everything we take in back infrf the ball club, but I can't keep on gomg like this." ivj Six months later, Yawkey forgot his More than 50 years ago, Auerbach helped deliver an infant known as the NBA. He is 81 now, so you can imagine he has spent plenty of time watching basketball. And smoking. His former players tell stories of the ultimate Red tribute: a flick of ashes in your direction after a good game.

Auerbach was in the mood for tributes yesterday, too. But since there were no games to play only the second day of the Celtics' double-sessions training camp he had WALTHAM Red Auerbach leaned against a gymnasium wall yesterday and smoked a cigar. Of course. Some people choose visual logos to represent them. Not Auerbach.

His logo is the scent of cigar smoke, hanging over a basketball court wm UConn vs. BC women may be depth match Movin' on up: Chiefs pro- mote defensive coordinator i Cunningham. E2. Ready for battle: UMass takes on archrival Temple today in Philadelphia. E6.

Double dip: BU, Northeast ern suffer America East losses. E6. By Susan Bickelhaupt GLOBE STAFF For updated scores and news: Globe Online at bttpwww.bostM.coM. Keyword: (Mmpofte. yesterday, noting that guard Svet Abrosi-mova is scoring a team-high 18.2 points per game, even though she averages only 23 minutes.

In other words, if one UConn player is missing, there is a deep bench to back her up. No such luck for BC, which is feeling the absence of guard Cal Bouchard entering this Big East showdown. The. Eagles (14-3, 6-3) vaulted into the national polls for the first time in their history three weeks ago, being ranked No. 25, then moving up to No.

21. But BC-UCONN WOMEN, Page E6 When the University of Connecticut women's basketball team comes to Conte Forum today to face Boston College, the Huskies will be without freshman starters Sue Bird and Swin Cash, plus veterans Shea Ralph and Amy Duran. But it's doubtful that will change the odds that weigh heavily in second-ranked UConn's favor. Just ask Eagles coach Cathy Inglese. "I know they're down some players, but th still go very deep," Inglese said GLOBE STAFF PHOTO MARK WILSON GOING DOWN Jon Cameron is sent to the ice.

by BC's Blake Bellefeuilte) but Providence got the last laugh tuitfa 3-0 upset. "JS. GLOBE STAFF FILE PHOTO JONATHAN WIGGS Despite its injuries, second-ranked UConn gets little sympathy from BC cojj( Catby Inglese..