The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 66

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 F2 Doing his best to separate real, unreal 111 The Boston Globe 7 folks BCS is just BS with a middle initial. 8:22: At this very moment, By Norman Chad GLOBE CORRESPONDENT It was so-called Separation Saturday, college football's attempt to separate the men from the boys, the CoUCh SloUCh truefresh- men from Vhe false freshmen, the top-of-the-line recruiting violators from Jhe run-of-the-mill recruiting Violators. Naturally, I separated I i I -t iti 'fag Maren Meinert after her second-half goal. Sad Swedes (right) consoled each other at game's en0- are jumping Ljungberg and Svensson kept the Germans off balance in the run of play. Germany appeared to be caught by surprise on a throw-in, Svensson sending Ljungberg in alone against goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg for the first goal.

But the Germans began the second half purposefully, concentrating on possession from the kickoff. Kerstin Garefrekes attacked from the right, the defense converging on her and Prinz, who held possession and laid the ball off to Meinert. Unmarked on the right side of the penalty area, Meinert took a not-very-precise touch and sent a low shot past Joensson 43 seconds into the half. "I had trouble getting the ball," Meinert said. "And I got a little bit lucky on the shot." Germany, though, certainly earned its good fortune.

Though the Germans were confronting a strong defense, they maintained their composure, and concentrated on accurate passing and possession. Sweden remained dangerous because of the quickness of Ljungberg and Svensson, but the Swedes mostly defended in the second half. That allowed Germany to press forward, the persistence nearly paying off several times during regulation. Garefrekes appeared to be tripped in the penalty area in the 58th minute; lonescu allowing play to continue, as former Breaker Bettina Wiegmann's shot was knocked out for a corner. "We talked about getting everyone more in the game," said Theune-Meyer, who became the first woman to coach a Women's World Cup champion.

"In the first half, one player was playing while the others were standing and i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 GERMANY 2, SWEDEN 1 Canon. Call. Germany 2 1 SwcdM. cmriiur c. i iunntorfi 3 41st minute: 6.

Mein ert 4 46th; Kuenzer 1 98th. Referee: Floarea Cristina lonescu, Romania. Attendance: 26,137. GERMANY Silke Rottenberg: Kerstin Stege-mann, Sandra Mlnnert, Ariane Hingst Stefan Gottschllch; Renate Lingor; Pia Wunderlich (Nia Kuezner 88th); Bettina Wiegmann; Kerstin Gare-frekes (Martina Mueller 88th); Birgit Prinz; Maren Meinert SWEDEN Caroline Joensson; Karollna Westberg; Jane Toernqvist; Hanna Marklund; Sara Larsson (Kristin Bengtsson 76th); Frida Oestberg; Malin Moestorem; Malin Andersson (Therese Sjoegran 53d); Anna Sloestroem (Linda Fagerstroem 53d); Hanna Ljungberg; Victoria Svensson. "She used to be a competitive high jumper." The Germans were pragmatic about the deciding play.

Even if the foul call by Romanian referee Floarea Cristina lonescu was incorrect, it seemed inevitable the Germans would convert. Kuenzer already had squandered two excellent opportunities in overtime. "The way we played in the second half we deserved to win," former Boston Breakers forward Maren Meinert said. "We were very strong and we had so many corners in the second half. I always had the feeling we would score." The Germans were the dominant team of this tournament, displaying a potent, skillful attack, and outscoring six opponents, 25-4, including a 3-0 victory over the US in the semifinals.

Germany relied not only on athleticism and power, but patience and technique. Despite the overwhelming goal differential, Germany twice had to rally for victories, yesterday coming back after surrendering a 41st-minute goal to Hanna Ljungberg. The quickness and speed of Mimimiiiiiimi there are five football games on simultaneously. But I'm sure we'll find bin Laden any day now. 8:41: Curiously enough, on TBS's college football studio show, I'm not sure Brian Bos-worth is even aware he's on TV.

8:43: Where are AOL's Popup Controls when you need them? 9:24: Maybe ifs just me, but believe that college marching bands are reaching critical mass. 9:46: Why would Ohio State even schedule a road game? 10:10: There's a little trouble with Craig Sager's audio on TBS's Nebraska-Missouri telecast; I dont think it's accidental. 11:43: Unbeatens Ohio State, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, and Arkansas all lose. Meanwhile, Division 3 juggernaut Mount Union of Ohio makes it in a row by beating Heidelberg, 68-13. 11:48: Good news for Frank Solich: The best thing about DirecTV is when you move, they'll move your satellite dish for you.

11:54: 1 got me a hankering foraYoo-hoo. 11:59: Sure, the term "Separation Saturday" conjures up bad marital memories, though, be truthful, I believe my first ex-wife walked out on a Sunday. Ask The Slouch Q. What's going on with "Monday Night Football" half-times? I couldVe sworn I saw Bill and Martin Gramatica singing with Santana. (Jerome Shaw, Terre Haute, Ind.) A.

You saw right it's part of Monday Night at the Mic, in which NFL players compete musically. (What's next, special teams coaches line-dancing?) Apparently, figuring out what to do with "Monday Night Football" at halftime is tougher than figuring out what to do with a Franciscan monk at Mardi Gras. Q. As a lifelong Yankees hater, on the football side of things, am I supposed to hate the Jets or the Giants? (Sean Murphy, Boston) A. Couch Slouch is not a hate- monger, but it doesn't hurt to root against the Jets and the Giants.

Q. When I first started reading your column, $1.25 would have bought me a gallon of gas here in Ohio. Would you consider sending me $1,659 to keep up with the times? (Bob Sammon, Seven Hills, Ohio) A. God, I love readers who know how to fill out my column. You, too, can enter the $1.25 Ask The Slouch Cash Giveaway.

Just e-mail asktheslouchaol.com and, if your question is used, you win myself from the outside world, sidled up on the sofa, and took meticulous notes: 12:08 p.m.: There appears to be a woman broadcasting Michigan State-Illinois on ESPN2. Then again, maybe I'm just hearing distant echoes of ex-wives asking me to turn down the TV. 1 12:48: ABC's Brad Nessler at Miami-Florida State game: "We've had about a six-minute delay to walk off 10 yards to re-kick another six minutes of Ipur lives well never get back." ey, I'm keeping track, too, pal, land at the appropriate time with The appropriate authorities, I'm asking for those minutes back. 1:03: Now, if Miami played Florida State in Jeopardy, you night get a low-scoring game. 1:16: Another thing about Ithat yellow, virtual first-down pine: It would greatly help me on iny morning commute.

1:40: You know, as it turns out, Chris Rix might be more comfortable pursuing the stu-1 dent part of his student-athlete 3:33: CBS's Todd Blackledge i before the Florida-LSU game: "They say that defense wins championships." I thought they say that paper covers rock. 3:39: 1 can't watch Oklaho-; ma-Texas because in my viewing it's only on something called ESPN Game Plan, which I believe involves pledging your i first-born to Lee Corso. 4:08: 1 dont care if he's call-j ing gerbil races, I never have a problem listening to CBS's Verne ilLundquist. 4:23: 1 sit on my remote and dops the Women's World Cup consolation game between the United States and Canada. With great alacrity, I charge the TV set and change channels manually, 5:40: All hell breaks loose at Yankees-Red Sox game.

I mean, I'm watching Oregon-Ari-j; zona State on ABC and Don Zim-i'mer comes hurtling onto my screen from another network. 6:08: When I hear ABC's Keith Jackson on an autumn Sat-'! urday afternoon, it feels as if I'm i luxuriating in an Athenian hot tub with Aphrodite feeding me red grapes. 6:09: Then again, sometimes when I'm listening to ABC's Tim Brandt do play-by-play, I am re-i minded of my failed root canal surgery in the summer of '86. 6:52: At this point, I assume Tit would take an act of Congress to stop televising Notre Dame games. 7:11: Yeah, you should think rbutside the bun, like Taco Bell suggests, but then, you should outside Taco Bell.

7:43: Always remember, SffiSCS Listen to Gil Gino's call of the game Radio Network (WBCN -FM 104.1) I 47 to C230 tarn to Joyous Germans (left) pfled on By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF CARSON, Calif. -Coach Tina Theune-Meyer said her team was 'lucky" after the Germans took a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden in the Women's World Cup final yesterday. But there was method, a combination of deception and pur-posefulness, to Germany's success. The deciding score, a header by substitute Nia Kuenzer in the eighth minute of overtime, resulted from a set play on a disputed free kick. Swedish coach Marika Domanski Lyfors protested the call against Victoria Svensson, who claimed she "took the ball fairly" directly in front of the Sweden bench.

Germany was prepared to capitalize on a dead-ball play after having an extraordinary corner kick advantage of 24-2. Renate Lingor launched the free kick from about 35 yards. As Birgit Prinz, voted the tournament's outstanding player, and several teammates decoyed, Kuenzer leaped up to convert over goalkeeper Caroline Joensson. Though it seemed a straightforward play, Kuenzer, who replaced Pia Wunderlich late in regulation time, was the second-shortest German player on the field at 5 feet 5 inches. "Wunderlich had been running up and down the wing all game and she was tired, so I wanted to put in someone who could defend and attack," Theune-Meyer said.

Few set pieces are conceived for the shortest of players to finish. Yesterday's golden goal was an exception. "Yes, but Kuenzer can jump very high," Theune-Meyer said. iiiiiiMiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiKiiittt IIIIMIMIIiltMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIXIIIKIHIIIIO TODAY'S SCHEDULE Pro baseball: AL Championship Series (Game 4) Red Sox vs. New York at Fenway Park, 8 p.m.

College field hockey: St. Michael's at Stone-hill, 3:30 p.m. Pro hockey: AHL Lowell vs. Worcester at Tsongas Arena, Lowell, 2 p.m. Road racing: Tufts Health Plan 10K at Boston Common, noon.

College soccer. MEN Fitchburg St. at Salem St, 1 p.m.; Mass. Maritime at Framingham 1 pm; Westfield St. at Bridgewater 3:30 p.m.; WOMEN Fitchburg St.

at Salem 1 p.m.; St. Joseph's (Conn.) at Curry, 4 p.m. Mr. Mrs. Ms.

Dr. State a Mercedes? Yes No model and year: Year: for joy -At watching the ball." jt The Swedes nearly regained the lead late on two shots by Ljungberg. First, she nearly whiffed an open volley, the shot going to Frida headed off the side of the net in the 81st minute. Two minuteslat-er, Ljungberg's shot was saved by Rottenberg. Ci Going all out for the win; Germany added athleticism and quickness as Martina Mueller replaced Garefrekes in the 76th minute and Kuenzer came on for Wunderlich in the 88th.

Kuenzer had two chances to score in overtime, once unwisely crossing, then her shot was blocked by Joensson. That-shot, though, led to the foul suffered by Kerstin Stegemann and the deciding free kick. "I was upset," Domanski Lyfors said. "It wasnt a free kick and everyone saw it. I dont know how the referee could give it Whafs done is done.

The way lost makes me sad. I am sad for the players because after fighting so hard, the result is decided on a free kick that wasnt a free kick." Germany, which also defeated Sweden in overtime to win the 2001 European Championship, will be without Meinert and Wiegmann during the Olympic Games next August in Greece. Both had been convinced to renounce their retirement announcements to perform in this event, but, both confirmed they would retire, after this victory. "We just won the World Cup and we are celebrating; no one has talked to me about it," Meinert said. "I have no second thoughts.

I am retiring. I am 30 years old, and I want to start a new life." L0 in illinium in i mm 1 1 mi in 1 1 in i mi in art Appleby birdied the first play off hole at the Las Vegas Invitational to beat Scott McCrfon for his first PGA Tour victorysjnce 1999. Appleby and McCjrton were tied at 31-under-par 328 at the end of the tournament 90 holes John Daly closed with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke aJtory at 6-under 282 in the Kan Open at Seoul Sophie Gutaf-son eagled the first hole and birdied eight others en route to an 8-under 64, then overcame a rules dispute regarding one of her putts to capture the LPGA Samsung World Championship at The Woodlands, Texas, with a 14-un-der 274 Hale Irwin shot a 5-under 67 to beat Tom Kite by two strokes and win the Champions Tour Turtle Bay Championship at Kahuku, Hawaii. Ill III! Illl MM I UN I IMIINI I III TRANSACTIONS BASKETBALL Cleveland (NBA): Waived Gs Chris Cajr and Tito Maddox and Geoff Owens. Philadelphia (NBA): Waived RobbDjyden and Jeff Myers.

FOOTBALL SL Louis (NFC): Signed TE Spencer Nead and RB Joffrey Reynolds from practice squad. Seattle (NFC): Activated Chris Terry; released DB Doug Evans. HOCKEY i Colorado (NHL): Recalled DJ. Smith1 from Hershey(AHL). Columbus (NHL): Activated LW Geoff Sander- son; assigned Sean Pronger to Syracuse (AHL); signed Anders Eriksson and assigned him to Syracuse.

I Florida (NHL): Placed Mathieu Biron tn injured reserve; recalled RW Jardslav Bednaijfrom San Antonio (AHL). Los Angeles (NHL): Placed Mattias; Nor-strom on injured reserve. Sports Log First-time marathoner Rutto leads Kenyans in Chicago 0 Evans Rutto adapted with ease and won the Chicago Marathon yesterday in his first try at the distance as Kenyans swept the top five places. Rutto pulled away after 20 miles and ran the rest of the way by himself. His time of 2 hours 5 minutes 50 seconds was a world best for a first-time marathoner.

Russia's Svetlana Zak-harova, who won the Boston Marathon in April, captured the women's division in 2:23:07 Michael Schumacher clinched a record sixth world title, but this one had an odd feel. He clinched the championship by finishing eighth in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The German driver held off Kimi Raikkonen for the title, getting a big lift from Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrlchello, who won the season-ending race sport enxer THE OPENING KICKOFF SWEEPSTAKES iiihiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 1 1 ii in AMES ahead of Raikkonen, Schumacher's closest rival A terrifying crash in which Kenny Brack was seriously injured marred the season-ending IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, stopping it five laps early, sending Gil de Ferran to victory lane in his last career start, and giving runner-up Scott Dixon the series championship. Brack's car hit the rear of a car driven by Tomas Scheckter, sailed high in the air, and smashed off a steel guardrail. Scheckter was not injured, but Brack was airlifted to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he was in serious but stable condition with multiple fractures Paul Tracy won the Mexico Grand Prix at Mexico City, building his lead for the CART series championship with just two races to go Stu- source told the Associated Press that Martina Navratilova, who turns 47 Saturday, will play for the United States in next month's Fed Cup semifinals in Moscow against Belgium, probably in doubles.

The US team will include Meghann Shaughnessy, Lisa Raymond, and Alexandra Stevenson, the source said Florida Panthers defenseman Mathleu Biron was placed on injured reserve because of a hand injury suffered in Saturday's 1-1 tie with the Bruins and is expected to be sidelined a week Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide will run in the Breeders' Cup Classic Oct. 25 and skip the $250,000 Empire Classic Oct. 18 at Belmont Park. ai Please check one: First Name: Last Name: Address: City: on the Patriots see if you are Bus. Phone: Home Phone: a 2003 E-mail address: MISCELLANY Clijsters triumphs and remains No.

1 this week's contestant. If New England returns the onenine kickoff for a touchdown (at the beginning of the first half or second half) you win Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Sedan compliments of the Boston Area Mercedes-Benz Dealers. Please note: By providing an e-mail address we assume that you are consenting to being contacted via e-mail by Mercedes-Benz USA, its affiliate companies and our authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers. If you don't wish to be contacted by e-mail, do not provide your e-mail information. Do you currently own If yes, please tell us the SOMERVILLE Champers Motorcars (617) 6664100 chambersmotorcars.com LYNNFIELD Flagship Motorcars (781) 596-9700 flagshipmotorcars.com WESTWOOD Mercedes-Benz of Westwood (781) HAVERHILL Smith Motors Sales (978) 372-2552 onlymercedes.com NATICK Foreign Motors West (508) 655-5350 fmwest.com HYANNIS Trans-Atlantic Motors (508) 775-4526 transatlanticmotors.com Kim Clijsters retained her No.

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