The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 22

C2 The Ottawa Citizen, Wednesday, December 1, 1993 SPORTS FOOTBALL BRIEFLY EBaBtimoire mroay not be CFL Bock pyrned By Rick Matsumoto SouthamStar Network The Canadian Football League lost Jacksonville as a potential franchise site Tuesday when the National Football League, in a surprise move, awarded its 30th team to the northern Florida city. The decision, however, may pave the way for Baltimore to join the CFL as early as next season. Baltimore, along with St. Louis and Memphis, the latter also a possible CFL expansion site, were left disappointed when the NFL owners made their decision in Rosem-ont, Illinois. Jim Speros, who once tried out unsuccessfully as a linebacker with the Montreal Alouettes, heads a group of Baltimore-area business based in Charlotte, North Carolina, were named the 29th franchise.

Smith said he was "a little surprised at first" that Jacksonville was awarded the bid rather than St. Louis. "But after I thought about it for a moment, maybe I'm not," Smith said. "I understand there's a legal battle going on down there (in St. Louis.) "The people in St.

Louis must feel awful. And what about Anheu-ser Busch (the St. Louis-based beer company)? They pay the NFL $46 million each year (as a sponsor). I wonder how they feel." Smith said he has never thought of St. Louis as a CFL site.

And with the possibility that St. Louis might be considered the next time the NFL is never going to go into Orlando now. They aren't going to have four teams in Florida." With Las Vegas already accepted to begin play in 1994, the addition of Baltimore would give the CFL its 11th team. Ideally, the league would like to add at least one more team in the East to give both the East and West divisions six teams. But after being stung by San Antonio's withdrawal two weeks after being granted a franchise last January, Smith appears to be in no hurry to add new teams simply to balance the divisions.

Other potential sites, besides Orlando and Memphis, include Portland, Hawaii and, yes, Montreal. Toronto Star NFL FOOTBALL engals-49ers game kit jv near-record point spread -f If By John Donovan The Cincinatti Post One win does not get you respectability in Las Vegas. Not when you're the Cincinnati Bengals and you're playing the hottest team on the planet, the San Francisco 49ers. Oddsmakers in the nation's gambling mecca have made the sizzling 49ers Steve Young, Jerry Rice, the NFL's best offence and all that a whopping favorite over the Bengals in Sunday night's game in San Francisco. The betting line favors San Francisco by as many as 24 points, and it's climbing.

That's the biggest spread in an NFL game in memory. In 1987, the Niners were favored by 23 points over Atlanta. Buffalo was favored by points against Indianapolis in 1991, and last season San Francisco was a 20-point favorite over Tampa Bay. "I'm not sure if it's a record, but it's right up there," said Vinny Magliulo, the sports book director at Caesar's Palace, which increased the line to 24 points late Monday. "It's certainly one of the highest lines we've seen in the NFL in a long, long time." i i i Hot Jets attempt to temper notion they're better than what they are Morris rink advances to provincial finals John Morris skipped his Ottawa Navy Curling Club rink to an 8-7 victory over Anandale's Wayne Warren in Bobcaygen to advance to the provincial finals in the hunt for the berth as Ontario's curling representative in the Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie, in 1995.

The five-member Morris rink, coached by the skip's father Earle, is comprised of Mark Homan, Mike Lilly, Craig Savill and Damien Boland. The six-rink Ontario championships are scheduled for Barrie on April 14. Lakusta, Stonewalker decide safe is better Heavyweights Ken Lakusta and Danny Stonewalker will be practising safe boxing, at least as safe as it gets, when they tangle in a heavyweight scrap in Edmonton Thursday. Both fighters, scheduled to meet in a 10-round bout, checked into an Edmonton clinic Saturday for voluntary blood tests for AIDS. Lakusta, 37, and Stonewalker, 32, will get the results today.

Testing for AIDS isn't required by the Canadian Professional Boxing Federation or the Edmonton Boxing and Wrestling Commission, but is mandatory in several other jurisdictions. Morin captures gold in junior event Gatineau's Jennifer Morin won the gold medal in the ju-; nior (age 12-14) category at a synchronized swimming competition in Toronto held this past weekend. Twenty-six swimmers from the Ottawa Synchro Swim Club competed in the first competition of the season. Kimberly Ilovey, from Greely, won the bronze medal in the junior division (15-17). Ireland forward may miss tourney Niall Quinn, a key player for Ireland during qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, may miss the soccer tournament because of torn ligaments in his right knee.

The 27-year-old for- ward could be sidelined for at least eight months, Quinn's club, Manchester City, said Tuesday. World Cup play begins in June in the United States. Boom Boom defends featherweight title Tom (Boom Boom) Johnson of the United States defended his International Boxing Federation featherweight title Tuesday by stopping France's Stephane Haccoun in the ninth round. Johnson. 29.

dominated the fight from the start. He used his superior speed, reach and ability to pile up scoring punches. Wadkins expected to be named captain When the PGA of America announces the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain at a news conference today, a familiar swagger will come through the door. Lanny Wadkins, winner of 21 tournaments in 23 seasons on the PGA Tour, will guide the U.S.

team in the 31st Ryder Cup Matches in 1995 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, sources close to the PGA said. It has been speculated for more than a month that Wadkins would likely be the next captain in the biennial matches between the United States and Europe. Basketball coach's lawsuit dismissed A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a former Central Michigan University basketball coach, fired after using a racial slur in a speech to his team. U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland denied Keith Dambrot's claims that Central, based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, violated his free speech and due process rights by firing him.

Dambrot was fired in April after a black player. Shannon Norris, complained about the coach's language. Dambrot. who is white, had told his team after a loss that they needed to play like "niggers." No Turkish delight for Manchester fans A Turkish court in Istanbul ordered the release of six Manchester United soccer fans who had been jailed for nearly a month on charges of ransacking a hotel. The six Englishmen, taken from jail to a criminal court under tight security, were accused of disorderly conduct and vandalism.

Judge N'ecati Ascioglu ordered their release for lack of evidence that any particular defendant caused the property damage. Citizen staff and news services men who have already put down a $50,000 U.S. deposit on the $3-mil-lion CFL expansion fee. He will be in Winnipeg on Friday to make a formal presentation to the league's board of governors. However, CFL commissioner Larry Smith confirmed Tuesday night that the governors will not make a final decision on Speros's application until early in the New Year.

There has also been talk of wooing one of the California teams to Baltimore the Rams or Raiders. St. Louis was seen as the front-runner to get the next NFL team after the league delayed the awarding of a second expansion franchise five weeks ago. At that time, the Carolina Panthers, to be bsrM v. CP photo Inside, about 2,000 people jammed the main lobby to fete the CFL's 81st Grey Cup champions.

The crowd welcomed the players and coaches to a make shift stage adorned with green and gold balloons with wild cheers of: "We're No. Christensen, who was cut by the team at training camp but recalled after injuries to other receivers, said the win was just starting to sink in. "I didn't really get that feeling we won the last couple of days," he said above the din at city hall. "There's been a lot of hugging and closeness among the players, but when I got here and they (the crowd) were going nuts like that I said: 'Holy Cow! We did win the Veteran offensive lineman Rod Connop, who won Grey Cups with Edmonton in 1982 and 1987, said this win felt better than the others. "This is so sweet," he said.

"I don't know to explain it to you, I've been here for 12 seasons but, for some reason, this one feels better than all of them. "I think maybe because 10 weeks ago, we had people calling for our heads. But we believed in our coach, our quarterback, we believed in each other and the end result is, 10 weeks later, we're Grey Cup champions." pioneer Woolf ball players Jim Plunkett, Raghib (Rocket) Ismail; and hockey players Jim Craig and Derek Sanderson. Woolf also formerly represented Ottawa Rough Rider defensive end Dexter Manley during Manlcy's NFL career. In addition to sports, Woolf represented media personalities who included Larry King, Gene Shalit and the late Pete Axthelm.

He also was the agent for the music group New Kids On The Block, and said two years ago that they brought in more money that any other client. "Bob Woolf was an even better friend than he was an agent, and he was a terrific agent," King said. Known for remaining pleasant even in the toughest negotiations, Woolf WTote the book on the sub NFL expands probably not before the turn of the century St. Louis would not be high on his list. Smith expressed caution about considering Baltimore a sure thing for a CFL franchise.

"Nothing is a shoo-in," the commissioner noted. "Until everything that has to be done is done, nothing is certain. We have to analyse the situation and see if (Baltimore) is still a potential NFL market." However, he believes the NFL has sent "a clear message" to Baltimore and Memphis that those cities are not viewed by the league as NFL sites. "(Memphis) could now turn into a pretty good opportunity for us," Smith said. "And the decision nails down Orlando as a CFL city.

The If football fans truly love an underdog, the Bengals will be everybody's favorites Sunday night. "The (49ers') offence is so potent. They go into L.A. (against the Rams) as a 14-point favorite and I have to think L.A. is a better team than Cincinnati and win the game by 25 (35-10).

And now they're going against an AFC team," said John Avello, the race and sports book manager at Bally's Las Vegas. "They could win the game 54-0." The Bengals, who won their first game in 11 tries Sunday, have not been favored in a game this season. They've faced margins as big as I5lk points (in Kansas City) and as small as two (at home against Indianapolis). But three touchdowns, and then some? "The reason it's so high is here's a team that can pretty much score at will," Avello said of the 49crs. "When they're playing well, I can't make the number high enough." And the 49ers (8-3) are playing well.

Young, last year's league most valuable player, threw for 462 yards against the Rams. Two weeks ago, the 49ers beat the New Orleans Saints (74), 42-7. Oddsmakers don't necessarily AP photo ESIASON: Stay hungry But Esiason admits parity is evident more than ever in the NFL this season. The San Francisco 49ers may be the hottest team at the moment, "but I don't think they strike fear in anybody," Esiason said. "I don't think there's a team that strikes fear in anybody right now." Referring to the Miami Dolphins (9-2) and New York Giants (8-3).

he said, "We've got two teams there with a combined record of 17-5. and three of those losses have come at the hands of the New York Jets. I mean, go figure: Maybe that's an indication of how good this football team is." Esiason isn't the only Jet ready to acknowledge the team is thinking very big thoughts. "Shoot, we're continue to benefit players." In 1971, Woolf closed his law practice and began to represent athletes and celebrities exclusively. He maintained offices in Boston and Miami.

In addition to negotiating contracts, Woolf managed clients' finances. Some athletes, including Barnes and Erving, fired Woolf because of his refusal to renegotiate for more money in the middle of their contracts. "He always had the athlete at heart when he represented you," said Havlicek, who was represented by Woolf from the time he signed his first contract with the Boston Celtics. "He created a set of ethical standards that very few of his col 1. V.

Vr PRIZE ACQUISITION: Eskimos Jed Roberts (left) and Henry Williams escort the Grey Cup through Edmonton CFL FOOTBALL Eskimo players, fans bask in Cup celebration creates think the margin of victory will be that high for the 49ers. What they are trying to do is draw enough bettors into the game so everyone won't pick San Francisco. "The function of the line is (to) try to get the balanced action," Magliulo said. "And if it takes moving the line, we'll do it." Bally's started the line at 2OV2 and it's already up to 2Vk. Harrah's is at 22'k.

Caesar's Palace started at 22 and is now at 24. Though they've been underdogs in every game this season, the Ben gals have been coming close enough to beat the spread. The Bengals are 4-7 against the spread this season, according to the Las Vegas Sports Consultants. The 49ers have covered the last five spreads and are 7-4. The question for the money-makers in Las Vegas is whether this is a game that people will bet.

or one they won't touch. "It's a bit of a novelty in the NFL to have a line this high. And come game time, who knows where it will be," Magliulo said. "But the interest is certainlv there." not in this just to be playing around," right guard Dwayne White said. "Our aspirations are to get to the Super Bowl.

If we keep plugging and get some help, we'll be sitting peachy keen." Running back Johnny Johnson added: "We have so much talent on this team. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but I feel with a couple of breaks here and there, the sky's the limit." Of course, this isn't the kind of talk Bruce Coslet wants to hear. "We're not there yet, believe me," the coach said. "We're not even close to being as good as we can be. or as good as we need to be.

I don't think we're the best football team and I certainly don't think we're the worst football team. "We're a good solid team right now. We'll be the best team when we win the Super Bowl. I don't think we can consider ourselves in that category yet. What have we done? We're in third place in our division, for crying out loud." Coslet need not be reminded the Jets were all but written off at 24.

"We remember our past. Just like then it was wrong to assume we were a crummy team, it's wrong now to assume we're anything other than what we are." And that is? "In third place, with a winning streak going." Coslet said. "Let's keep it going and see what happens." As for the concern over players looking ahead. Coslet said: "What's the big picture? The What's it take? Next week's win. It's simple.

Don't make it hard. We won November, now it's on to December. The most important week is the first week, and here come the Colts." leagues in the business were adhering to," said Richard Lapchick. director of the Center for Sport in Society at Northeastern University. "It was a very murky enterprise that really ended up derailing the life potential of so many pro athletes who have littered the land scape with horrible tales of financial bankruptcy." Lapchick used Woolf as a case study in his book Vie Rules of tlie about ethics in sports.

"He really was a lover of sports, as opposed to simply using it to gain his livelihood." Lapchick said. "Bob Woolf was a paragon of the sports representation field," said Steve Ortrnayer, the director of football operations for the I-os Angeles Rairiers of the NFL. By Paul Needed The New York Daily News EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey Until now, the New York Jets were hesitant to publicly declare themselves legitimate Super Bowl contenders. But this five-game winning streak, extended in the muck and mire of Sunday's 6-0 whitewash of the New England Patriots, has left the 7-4 Jets feeling mighty good about themselves in what appears to be a wide-open battle for supremacy in the AFC this season. Could a stop at the Georgia Dome for Super Bowl XXVIII be in their future? Not a laughing matter anymore, is it? "Well, I hope it takes us all the way to Atlanta," quarterback Boomer Esiason said Monday, leaning against a wall inside Weeb Ewbank Hall.

"The whole thing is that old cliche, 'Take it one at a because if we don't, Atlanta's a pipe dream. We have to beat Indianapolis (Sunday), no ifs, ands or buts about it. We've got to stay desperate. Stay hungry." Funny thing, though. When Esiason referred to the Super Bowl, eyes did not roll.

"Now, are we overpowering? I don't think so," Esiason said. "But as far as offence and defence, we are probably the most balanced team in football. I don't think there's one part of this team that's shouldering the load for another part. "And that, in my mind, is the true mark of a championship football team. But I'm not going to pat anybody on the back, man, because it all goes out the window if we lose next week" By Reg Curren The Canadian Press EDMONTON It wasn't a traditional motorcade, but that didn't matter to Henry (Gizmo) Williams and the thousands of Edmonton Eskimos fans who lined a parade route through the city's downtown malls Tuesday.

A dixieland band led the way, followed by a beaming Williams, who carried the Grey Cup aloft as the rest of the CFL championship team strode briskly behind. The Eskimos defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 on Sunday in Calgary to return the Grey Cup to Edmonton its 11th championship for the first time since 1987. "I've never been in a motorcade and I was a little disappointed at first when I heard we were going to walk through." said slotback Jay Christensen, who's celebrating his first Grey Cup. "Your expectation ever since you start playing is to be in the back of a convertible and waving. "But being in those close confines and packed as it was, it was quite moving.

Everybody was so close and so loud, it was a lot more personal and a lot more fun." After marching through the malls, which are connected by indoor walkways, the team headed for city hall. OBITUARY Sports agent BOSTON (AP) Bob Woolf, who pioneered the role of the sports agent in the late 1960s and represented stars from Larry Bird to Carl Yastrzemski, died of a heart attack Tuesday on his boat off Fisher Island. Florida. He was 65. He died in his sleep and was pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida, the Dade County Medical Examiner's Office said.

His best-known clients were basketball stars: Bird, John Havlicek. Julius Erving. Marvin Barnes and Robert Parish. Baseball players he represented included Yastrzemski. the late Thurman Munson.

Mark Fidrych, Ken Harrelson and Ruben Sierra. He also was the agent for foot brought integrity to the negotiation table ject, Beitind Closed Doore. "I know every contract of every' professional ballplayer in America." Woolf said in 1983. Woolf became one of the nation's first sports agents when Boston Red Sox pitcher Earl Wilson asked him to handle offfield activities, including product endorsements and speaking engagements, in 1965. In 1966, Woolf represented Wilson in contract negotiations, at the time an unprecedented role for a player's lawyer.

"He was one of the first people in what is now known as sports law," said Peter Roisman, an agent who represented the late basketball star Reggie Iewis. "He was a trailblazer and what he did benefited players immensely, and will.