The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 12

Sports The Leader-Post Regina Friday, January 19, 1996 Dougins aifi toonglft) ft ffDIw L.J Tuning In city. Now that were here, we might as well curl well and see how it goes. Im really happy were here. This is great for us. This is in fact a young team, with Inglis the elder stateswoman at 24.

Inglis and McNabb (23) have provincial experience, and Sherry (20) and Shannon (21) have junior experience, and everyone knows them, so they wont be sneaking up on any unsuspecting rinks. I dont think its a huge surprise were here, Inglis said. I dont think were a heavy favorite. Thats the beauty of curling at any given time anyone can win, even an Inglis. Weve got the Inglis factor.

Results in Scoreboard. By ARDITH STEPHANSON L-P Sports Writer SHAUNAVON Family ties are starting to pull at Nancy Inglis. Inglis, the third on Sherry Lintons Callie foursome, is the only daughter of Bruce and Joyce Inglis who hasnt won a national curling championship. Linton, Inglis, Sandi McNabb and Shannon Linton are trying to get a step closer during the southern womens curling playdowns, which began Thursday and run through Sunday. Four of the 16 rinks here advance to the provincial championship, Jan.

25-28 in Tisdale. Nancys three sisters have won provincial and national titles Cathy Trowell (nee Inglis) and Karen Inglis won the Canadian mixed championship with Randy Bryden on Sunday, and Joan McCusker (nee Inglis) won two Canadian and world titles with Sandra Peterson. Everybody at work calls me a loser, Nancy joked after Linton won her opening game Thursday, beating Weybums Pamela Haupstein 5-3. Mom keeps telling me Im the youngest, Ive got time to catch up to their national titles. I think its wonderftil that they could win.

We were all together watching Joan when she won her championships and the support was great It was wonderful to have more of the family to celebrate that type of thing (the mixed championship). Now the pressures on me to pull through with some sort of national title. Peterson is also at the southerns. Peterson who is curling out of the Callie with Jan Betker, Marcia Gudereit and Pamela Bryden as McCusker takes a year off beat Glentworths Elaine Kennedy 10-3. Reginas two other representatives both from the Callie lost Thursday.

Michelle Schneider was beaten 7-5 by Marilyn Tighe of Moose Jaw Hillcrest. Leanne Whitrow lost 11-6 to Maryfields Barb Swallow. Nancy Inglis competed at the last two provincial championships with Renelle Brydens Saskatoon rink. Bryden, a Regina product and Randys sister, lost in the final at last years provincials. Inglis was attending the University of Saskatchewan but is now working in i i Regina.

This season she joined Sherry Linton, who moved up to the womens ranks after winning three straight provincial junior titles. McNabb spent the last two seasons with Schneider, a former four-time provincial champion. Shannon Linton, Sherrys older sister, won the provincial title with her sister in 1993 but is in her first season of womens playdowns. Weve surpassed my personal goal, Inglis said. Were a young team and we thought this would be a building year, wed break Sherry into the ladies playdowns.

It started to click and weve been curling really well. This was my goal to get out of the Banksa By ARDITH STEPHANSON L-P Sports Writer SHAUNAVON Shannon Linton is so involved in curling, it cost her a job. Linton is curling lead with her sister, Sherry, at the southern Saskatchewan womens curling playdowns. The day after the Callie rink qualified at the Regina playdowns, Shannon approached her manager at the Bank of Nova Scotia to ask for time off for the southerns. When her wish wasnt granted, Shannon quit.

There are other factors why I quit, Shannon said. That was the last straw. Sherry, who also works for the Bank of Nova Scotia but at a different branch, was able to get time off. Curlers can have cresting at this years Scott Tournament of Hearts playdowns, thanks to a resolution passed at the conclusion of last season. But curlers, who asked for a change to the old rule which didnt allow any cresting, are allowed the crest of just one sponsor.

Curlers are permitted a four-by-four-inch crest on the front of their jackets and a 12-by-15-inch crest to shoot for. The combined mens and womens championships run Saturday through Jan. 28. Saskatoons Sheila Rowan is the provinces representative on the women's side. Rowan is curling with Lee Morrison, Jean MacLean and Card Jorgenson.

Kehler is confident heading to the championship. His confidence was boosted when his team swept all three events at the SaskTel Saskatchewan senior mens championship. Kehler beat Prince Alberts Glenn Pryor In all three event finals. Pryor was the defending ciple to buy the Cudas from Art Williams for $700,000 US and shift them to Shreveport in time for the 1996 season. Williams opted to sell the Barracudas after claiming to have lost nearly $10 million in 1995, the teams first season intheCFL Shreveport lost its team, the Pirates, after the 95 season.

Owner Bernie Glieberman is trying to move the two-year-old franchise to Norfolk, but that move has itself run into trouble. The majority of the Ark-La-Tex groups money was to have come from four investors in East Texas, but two of those individuals have dropped out. Parker said the other two investors are still on board, as are a number of Kehler keen on success at '5 a By Ardith Stephanson Revolutionary puck doesnt scare CBC The Fox television network is being a bit of a puckhog with it latest sports innovation. Fox will use its new illuminated puck during Saturdays telecast of the NHL all-star game. CBC is carrying the game in Canada, but wont be using the technology that lights up the puck for viewers.

Thats because Fox isnt sharing its technology. Fox is available in Canada, so anyone with access to the network will probably be flipping over to see the puck. It will hurt our viewership on Saturday, but so what? John Shannon, the executive producer of CBCs Hockey Night in Canada, said from Boston, site of the contest Its only an all-star game. I think thats great I hope everybody in Canada has an open mind about it." Use of the puck requires computer chips embedded in a puck, infrared lights and sensors around the build ing, and a specially equipped TV truck. The chip insida is the only difference between the old puck and the new one its even made by the same company.

On Fox youll see the shiny puck; on CBC youll see the same old black puck with an NHL logo. According to Shannon, Fox has invested about $3 million in the technology. Its still in a very early form, Shannon said. They havent perfected it At this point, they arent prepared to share it. Weve had enough talks' with them that if it got to the point where hockey couldnt live without it theyd be more than happy to share it For now, however, Fox hasnt offered to share.

Thats fine with CBC, according to Shannon, because the viewership is different in Canada. As far as Shannon is concerned, if the puck helps viewership in the United States and increases the appeal of hockey, it would be good for the sport in the long run. I really dont have a problem with it Shannon said. They have a great viewership that doesnt know hockey and doesnt know how to follow the puck. We dont have that problem.

Our viewership knows the flow of the game and where the puck goes. Im not really concerned in the long run or the short run that they have something we dont have. Shannon said the complaints they receive from viewers have nothing to do with following the puck. Fans complain, often rightly, that they want more out-of-town scores and highlights, more replays and more stories. But Shannon isnt convinced the luminous puck is a flash in the pan, or on the ice.

The amount of time and respect it has been given shows its not a gimmick, Shannon said. But its still got a long way to go. Give them a lot of credit. Theyve put a lot of money and a lot of time into it and theyre not guaranteed results. Theyre still not guaranteed results.

There are too many ifs, ands and buts. It will be very interesting. NETWORK NOTES: CBC-TVs telecast of the all-star game begins Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The SuperSkills competition is at 3 p.m. Fox begins its coverage at 7 p.m Radio station CJME 1300 has all-star game coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

By the way, because of incorrect information given to The Leader-Post, the CJME schedule that ran in this space a few weeks ago had some errors in the starting times for games. It reappears in its correct form today Viewers in some areas of Regina who are paying for Fox can switch over to see the luminous puck. CBC cant simulcast because the telecasts arent exactly the same. STV, however, can simulcast its NFL football telecasts with Fox, inserting Canadian commercials on the cable channel Whats next, a pink football? After all, picking up that brown ball when the Cleveland Browns are playing can be tricky. Lucky for Fox there wont be any Cleveland Browns next season Dave Hodge interviewed Fox visionary David Hill on Thursday on TSN Inside Sports.

It was worth watching, especially since Hodge had the guts to ask him about critics claims that Fox is all style, little substance. Wonder if Ron MacLean will do the same to NHL commish Gary Bettman during Saturdays first-intermission interview session? (Tuning In appears Fridays.) NHL GAMES OH CJME 1300 Data, Tima Saturday, 6:45 p.m. Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. Feb.

3, 9:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 7 p.m. Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 24, 9.30 m. March 9, 6.30 p.m. March 15,6:30 p.m. March 23, 9.30 p.m.

March 29, 8.30 p.m, April 6, 6:30 p.m. AJ 13, 8.30 p.m. Teama All-star game, at Boston Dallas at Calgary Los Angeles at Calgary Winnipeg at Calgary Calgary at Montreal Boston at Calgary Calgary at Toronto Calgary at Buffalo Calgary at Vancouver Los Angeles at Calgary Calgary at Winnipeg Calgary at Vancouver By MURRAY McCORMICK L-P Sports Writer Af Kehler and his Callie crew have a tough act to follow at the CIBC Canadian senior curling championships. Kehler heads to Medicine Hat for the mens championship less than a week after clubmate Randy Bryden won the Unitel Mixed Canadian championship. At first I thought it was a lot of extra pressure, says Kehler, who Is backed by Greig Manwaring, Lome Leader and Robi Ford.

After I gave It some more thought, they have given us something lot for on the backs, but it must be a single sponsor and cannot conflict with Scott Paper. Sandra Petersons rink members have four sponsors on their jackets, so they taped over every one but SaskPower, which is on their sleeves and backs. Michelle Schneiders team had to cover two sponsors on the front, leaving Husky on the back. If it werent for sponsors, we wouldnt travel as much as we do, said Peterson, who thought curlers were allowed any cresting and was left scrambling for black hockey tape before Thursdays draw. Anderson off By L-P SPORTS STAFF Sherry Anderson, the two-time reigning provincial womens curling champion, took another step toward defending her title Thursday.

Anderson began the northern Saskatchewan womens playdowns in North Battleford with a victory. Anderson, who curls out of Prince Albert with Kay Montgomery, Donna Gignac and Elaine McCloy, beat Gail Deighton of Porcupine Plain 8-1 in Saskatchewan champion, who finished second at the 1995 Canadian senior mens championship. They did awfully well In the Canadians, especially placing first in the round-robin, says Kehler, who opens Saturday (3 p.m.) against Quebec's Wayne Byers, "it also gave me die idea that I know we have the calibre to com-' pete with other rinks at the nationals. It gave me some confidence. i This senior championship marks the first appearance at the nationally sane- tioned event for Kehler, Leader and Ford, Manwaring qualified for the 1977 site for Shreveport residents who are putting up money.

The league has said it wants its owners to have at least $5 million in the bank. As of right now, thats not a problem, but you never know whats going to happen from one day to the next, said Parker, who runs an industrial supply company in Shreveport. Theres one man from Shreveport whos in pretty deep. Well take what East Texas has got and well build on that. We did a budget study the other day and we figure we can draw anywhere from $3.9 million to $6.7 million and those are minimums.

The Ark-La-Tex group also plans to sell 10,000 shares in the club at $1,000 games could increase to as many as 30 per team per season. On the final day of their winter meetings, owners also approved the proposed purchase of 25 per cent of the California Angels by the Walt Disney which will take over operation of the team from Gene Autry, its founding owner in 1961. The deal is contingent on the Anaheim City Council approving within 60 days the reconstruction of Anaheim Stadium. If that doesnt happen, Disney could either pull out or attempt to move the team. Owners also unanimously approved their US, five-year television contracts with F)ox, NBC, ESPN and Liberty and their licensing agreement with Major League Baseball Properties.

They said they would discuss at their March meeting a plan to partially implement a new revenue sharing formula for the 1996 season. The first response of the players association to the owners new bargaining offer isnt positive. The proposal does not appear to differ significantly from the owners proposals of last March, Fehr said in a nothing Peterson and her third, Jan Betker, have nothing but fond memories of Shaunavon. In 1987, the last time the town played host to the southerns, Peterson and Betker were curling with skip Kathy Fahlman. The rink advanced to, and won, the provincial title that year.

In 1993, Shaunavon held the provincial championship. Peterson, Betker, Joan McCusker and Marcia Gudereit won the provincial title, and went on to win back-to-back Canadian and world titles. Peterson, Betker and Gudereit have returned this season with new lead Pamela Bryden. and running Thursdays opening round. Four rinks advance from the northerns to the Scott Tournament of Hearts provincial championship, Jan.

25-28 in Tisdale. Regina product Renelle Bryden also won her opening game, beating Prince Alberts Melina Lavoie 7-3. Brydens Saskatoon rink includes Dilke product Amber Holland, the 1992 Canadian junior champioa The playdowns run through Sunday. Results in Scoreboard. seniors Canadian mens championship as a third with Les Rogers.

Ford bps three Canadian Firefighters championships and Leader has won two. Kehler has won five Canadian Legion championships. It's still different going to a CCA championship. We always curled hard in those because we knew we had a Kehler says, There was probably more socializing in those. The seniors is one more people follow.

There are only seven sanctioned events and this Is one of them. It makes it pretty special Rosters, draws in Scoreboard. Cudas each to raise additional fUnds. Parker said 200 shares have been sold so far. So whats holding up the transaction? First, the papers for creating the limited liability corporation which would own the team are being filed in Austin, Tex.

Second, the groups members are scattered throughout the southeast U.S. and cant always meet on the spur of the moment Parker said other matters have already been settled, including corporate sponsorship, a lease at Shreveports 40, 000-seat Independence Stadium, and a practice facility. The Pirates failure to succeed in Shreveport doesnt deter Parker, who said he has never worked so hard to make something succeed as I have this. memorandum sent to players Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press While the tone and style that has accompanied this proposal are certainly an improvement over the past, we are looking carefully to determine if there is a significant improvement in substance as well, Fehr wrote. Owners made their proposal Nov.

15. The union is expected to give a formal response this month. Managements plan, which calls for a luxury tax that rises and falls depending on industry revenue, was its first response to the unions proposal of March 30, made the night before a federal judge issued a court order that caused players to end their strike after 232 days. The unions last proposal, made March 27, called for a lesser luxury tax. We hope to be in a position to resume negotiating very soon, at the latest prior to the beginning of spring training, Fehr said in the memo.

Neither side expects a work stoppage in 1996. Players appear to lack the will to strike, and owners dont appear to be anywhere close to a lockout, which re- quires approval from 21 of the 28 teams. Shreveport likely i i i i i i 'i i i I i owners OK interleague play By IAN HAMILTON L-P Sports Writer Boyd Parker cant wait to go fishing. Parker, the co-ordinator of the Ark-La-Tex Professional Football Association, said Thursday that almost all the details have been worked out to allow his group to purchase the CFLs Birmingham Barracudas and move them to Shreveport I would like to be in Birmingham on Monday with a cheque, Parker said from his Shreveport office. As soon as the papers (for incorporation) come back, well be on our way.

The Ark-La-Tex group named for Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas has already reached an agreement in prin Baseball LOS ANGELES (AP) Baseball owners broke with more than a century of tradition Thursday, unanimously approving the start of interleague play in 1997. Each team will play 15 or 16 interleague games that year, the first to count in the records other than the all-star game and World Series. We have the greatest tradition in the world, but tradition shouldnt be an albatross, acting commissioner Bud Selig said. This will be a tremendous success. There isnt a doubt in my mind.

Owners arent worried that the two eventual World Series teams may play each other during the regular season. Theres nothing in the Constitution of the United States that forbids that, Selig said. I remember sitting at the Super Bowl last year and watching San Francisco play San Diego, and somebody said they played last November. There was no less interest In 1997, each team in the AL East will play a three-game series against each team in the NL East and every AL Central team will play a three-game series against every NL Central team. AL West teams will play four games against NL West teams, but they might be split into a two-game series in each city.

The Major League Baseball Players Association must approve the idea, and owners said they werent worried about union rejection. The concept of interleague play in major-league baseball is certainly intriguing, worthy of serious consideration, union head Donald Fehr said. As we look for new ways to grow the game and make it better for our fans, interleague games deserve a hard look. Selig predicted that the designated hitter, used by the American League since 1973, wouldnt become a sticking point NL president Len Coleman and AL president Gene Budig said that in 1997, the DH probably will be used in AL ball parks only. Owners said they anticipated interleague games will rotate by division, meaning that every major-league team will meet every other one at least once every three seasons, but they didn't formulate specific plans beyond 1997.

After the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays join the majos in 1998, the number of interleague.