Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 19

The Indiana Gazette Thursday, June 8, 1995 -Page 19 Anderson's misses give Rockets chance to take Game 1 Continued from page 16 Olajuwon ended up with 31 points. 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in another memorable performance. Smith, with his perimeter shooting, and Drexler, with his knifing drives, each had 23 points. Smith's play was most pivotal. Before series started, Smith was Anderson son By CLAUDIA COATES Associated Press Writer WARRENDALE To the fans, kicker Gary Anderson said good-bye and thanks.

To the Pittsburgh Steelers' last contract offer, he said no thanks and good-bye. Anderson, who played 13 years for the Steelers, said Wednesday he and the club could not reach contract terms, and the Steelers agreed. The Steelers said they would not sweeten their latest offer of at twoyear contract paying $550,000 a year. Anderson said the figure was $525.000. "It's very disturbing to me that my career as a Pittsburgh Steeler seems to have come to an end over a contract," said Anderson, his wife, Carol, sitting at his side.

He paused in mid-sentence, swallowing to open his choked-up throat. He and agent Leigh Steinberg said they are talking to two other NFL teams. On Monday, Steinberg told Steeiers assistant controller Dan Ferens, asked what it was like to' be in one of those shooting zones, when a 3-pointer resembles a layup. "The ball can't get to you quick enough," he said. Wednesday night when the ball reached his fingertips in the third quarter, it went up and went in five times from 3-point territory.

After trailing by 20 points late in says who negotiates players contracts, that the latest offer was too low. "Dan's response was that the Steelers were going to go in a different direction" and try to sign kicker Dean Biasucci of the Indianapolis Colts, Anderson said. Biasucci earned $620,000 last season with the Colts and has rejected their offer of $375,000 a year. The Steelers reportedly, offered him about $400,000 and signing bonus. An unrestricted free agent, Anderson asked for $750,000 per year.

The Steelers said they offered him that amount earlier this year, but do not have that money any more because they signed one other kicker, rookie Ty Stewart of Iowa State, and drafted yet another, Cole Ford. The $550,000 offer is everything in their budget for kickers. "You can shop your wares to any NFL team," Steelers spokesman Rob Boulware said. "There must not have been a number greater than what we were offering him." Before the 1993-94 season, the last season in his contract, Anderson the second quarter, the Rockets slots quicker, and my shot was shifted gears. when Smith threw it blessed and started going in," Smith into automatic transmission, mov- said.

ing in front 87-80 at the end of three The Magic's continual doubleperiods. Smith foiled Magic double- teaming of Olajuwon was questeams of Olajuwon with his perime- tioned, but Magic coach Brian Hill ter shooting. On one occasion, said it was needed. converted after Olajuwon passed out of a triple-team. "That was the gameplan coming "In the second half, I got into the in," he said.

"He proved quickly in good-bye to Steelers held out in training camp. He ig- turn south," Anderson said. nored an offer of $812,000, he said, He said at least eight other NFL but reports he was insisting on $1 kickers are making $700,000 or million were not accurate. more, and the Steelers' offer is about "I needed some concept that some in the middle for all NFL kickers. level of fairness is being The Steelers said other teams may he said.

have more money to spend. The Steelers refused to change Last season was one of Anderson's their offer and Anderson played out best. He made 24 of 29 field goal the final year of his contract for attempts, including two that won $445,000. games in overtime. Anderson recounted this year's He said the Steelers told him negotiations: during negotiations that kicking is Just before the playoffs, Ferens not crucial to their game.

called Anderson into his office and offered a three-year, $2.25 million "This is something have a I would contract. The kicker asked Ferens to tough time believing," he said. call Steinberg, whom he had recent- Anderson also complained that he ly hired. Ferens never placed the last learned week only that the through Steelers news imposed reports call. After Anderson the loss said.

San for the a Monday deadline for him to reto Diego AFC title, Steelers president Dan spared to their latest offer. Bill Cowher had wanted to play out his called Rooney Anderson and said they hoped career in Pittsburgh. and coach both sides could reach agreement. "It's the place I have my home. Later, Ferens made the $525,000 My wife is in Pittsburgh.

My church offer to Steinberg. is in Pittsburgh, and as you know, "It was disappointing to us, be- thousands of loyal fans," Anderson cause obviously they had taken a said. Challenger ger racers aim for Jersey Modifieds and pure stocks will participate in the Race of ChampiCons qualifiers this weekend at The Raceway. Saturday's qualifiers will be preferred starters in the Race of Champions at Flemington (N.J.) Speedway, to be held the third weekend of October. A regular show is also planned late models, micro-sprints and quads, as is the second demolition derby of the Damaging winds, lightning, and heavy rains caused Challenger to cancel races for the second time this season.

Rod Phillips sits atop the late models standings with one victory to his credit thus far. Dave Satterlee of Rochester Mills trails the leader by 80 points. Defending champion Carmen Perigo Jr. leads Jeff Hoffman in the modifieds by 135 points. Saltsburg's Jeff Taylor, who won the 1993 microsprints championship, is back on top, followed by 16-year-old rookie sensation Kevin Schaeffer.

Holben leads the pure "stocks and Jim Lender owns the top spot in the quads. Next Wednesday, Challenger will host the kickoff round of the third annual Western Pennsylvania AllStar Sprint SpeedWeek. This event opens five consecutive nights of racing, offering $122,000 in cash and prizes. The series moves to Hickory Speedway next Thursday and to Lernerville Speedway the following night. Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will host the event Saturday and Sportsman's Speedway is the final stop on Sunday.

A partial list of entries, includes former both previous champions at Chailenger, Donnie Krietz (1993) and Dale Blaney The field is also expected to include current defending All-Star point leader Frankie Kerr, plus Keith Kauffman, Kenny Jacobs, Tim Norman, Bryon Reed. Joey Saldana, Jim Farmer and Brian Carlson. Local stars include Rod George (Kittanning), Ed Lynch Jr. (Apol1o), Bob Felmlee, Mike Lutz, Jamie Smith, Mark Cassella and Tim Shaffer. Nearly 40 teams were on hand last year, and at least that many are anticipated this year.

The gates open at 5 p.m., with time trials at 7:15 p.m. Racing will immediately follow. Last Saturday night's scheduled racing at Marion Center Speedway was rained out, Consequently, the standard policy of a Sunday rain date was instituted for the first time this season. John Britsky won the late model sportsman mid-season championship. It was the Clymer racer's second win of the season, drawing him closer to division points leader Mike Blose (Dayton).

Several Challenger regulars were in the Marion Center field and all of them fared well, despite starting deep in the field. Rick Davis (Indiana) did the best, moving up to fifth. Creekside's Dennis Bothell won the pure stocks event. A spirited duel for second between Denny Walker and Gary Fulmer produced some good racing action for several laps as both drivers challenged each other. Walker held the second spot, Fulmer winding up third.

Cheyenne Reed and John Yanity shared the front row in the super stocks finale. Reed breezed to vietory after Yanity, who earned sixth place, was forced to pit. Dave Buchanan (Cherry Tree) captured the runner-up spot. The should move Reed into the top spot in division points. A downpour three hours before race time produced ideal track conditions at Lernerville Speedway and led to one of its most exciting four-division programs of the year.

Bob Felmlee led all 20 laps -to capture his fourth sprints feature of he season. The Oil City sprinter started from the outside front row and never looked back. Keith Zimmerman fought off stiff challenges from Lynn Geisler for his first-career victory, a photo finish, in the late models. Ohio's Lou Blaney used the pole position to his advantage in scoring his third modifieds win of the season. Jeff Hoffman (Franklin) wrestled the lead from Blaney as the green waved and led the first nine laps before Blaney grabbed the lead for good.

Charlie Holben, a successful racer at Challenger, finally reached victory lane at Lernerville last week. He advanced from a fourth-place start to take his first pure stocks win of the season at The North East Winners Series late models will make their first appearance Friday at Lernerville, carrying the standard $2,500 first prize. A second N.E.W.S. race this weekend will be run at Bedford Speedway on Sunday. It will post a $10,000 purse, with $2,500 going to the winner.

Tom Clise of Frostburg. claimed his first win of the season in the 25-lap late models feature Sunday at the Ebensburg Speedway. Scott Rhodes was second, followed by Rod Phillips and Dave Satterlee. After that race, Satterlee, and Rick Strong blazed a trail in the hopes of making Marion Center's late models feature. But they arrived too late as Marion Center has instituted a new policy to guard against such maneuvers.

"In order to make the feature you must either run a heat or consy or be broken down in the pit area before you're eligible to run a feature event," according to track rules. Aurie Weaver won his second late models feature of the season at Hidden Valley Speedway. Since Mercer Raceway was rained out. several of its sportsman modified racers ventured across Interstate 80 to the Valley. Three of them Randy Myers, Cal Hull and Skip Daugherty finished fourth, fifth and ninth, respectively.

Keystone Raceway Park West Virginian Jeff Stewart won the Big Money Challenge with an estimated time of 15.27 seconds and an average speed of just over 82 mph. Nathan Chadwick was clocked at 98.25 mph to win the Trophy Class. Clymer's Bob Martin had a very productive month in May, piloting his Battlestar Funny Car. His trips included a stop at the Beaver County Area Vo-Tech School for the third consecutive year. Martin deserves a big pat on the back for the special things he does on and off the track.

On the Asphalt Motordrome Speedway's presentation of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series was postponed last Friday because of poor weather conditions. The speedway will host Fan Appreciation Night tomorrow, with reduced general admission prices. Bob Senneker of Dorr, won the AC-Delco Challenge Series, Jennerstown 250 last Saturday. The race attracted drivers from 11 states. Four lead changes occurred between Mike.

Eddy, Kenny Irwin, Bryan Reffner and Senneker, resulting in an average race speed of just over 72 mph. The total time of the race was 1 hour, 48 minutes. Dutch Dekas posted his first career win in the regular 40-lap latemodels feature. Random Thoughts Dirt Late Model car counts last week included Ebensburg, 29; Lernerville, 20; Marion Center, 20; and Hidden Valley, 18. N.E.W.S.

late model point standings after the fourth event finds several of this area's better drivers among the top 10. Lynn Geisler leads the series, followed by Dave Satterlee, Mike Johnson, Andy Fries, Rod Phillips, Bob Salathe, D.J. Cline, Chub Frank, Carl Billet and Ron Davies. Johnson is the younger brother of nationally-recognized Davey Johnson. Jeff Geesey Inside Winston Cup Kyle Petty's winning effort last Sunday at Dover, marked his first NASCAR win in over two years.

He mastered a new concrete surface that had many other teams scratching their heads. Petty's Coors Light entry won the Budweiser-sponsored event. Hmmm! Jeff Geesey covers motorsports for The Indiana Gazette. His racing columns appear each Thursday throughout the racing season. Gelding beats long odds, stops four-year skid By JOHN CURRAN Associated Press Writer McKEE CITY, N.J.

After four years of losing, Gussie Mae seemed a more likely candidate for the glue factory than the winner's circle. In 85 races, the horse never won. Going into Wednesday's seven-furlong sprint at Atlantic City Race Course, the 6-year-old gelding was on a pace to set a modern thoroughbred racing record for consecutive losses. But a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line. Gussie Mae crossed it first.

The dark bay thoroughbred, who was abandoned by his sixth owner and bought as a pet by I CALENDAR Indiana High's summer basketball camp will be held throughout the month of June at Indiana Area Senior High School. Camps will be held for entering grades 3-5 the week of June 12, for boys entering 6-8 the week of June 19 and boys for entering grades 9-12 the week of June 26. boys Camp sessions will be held each data from 8 n. Registration is $50 before 27. $55 after.

Registrants will be accepted at the door. All participants will receive a camp shirt. Call 349-6716. The Center for Orthopaedies and Sports will offer an injury evaloation walk-In Medicine elinic each Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. during the fall sports season.

The clinic 12 will be Satorday mornings beginning Aug. and open ending Nov. 11. to 6:15 p.m. Call 676-5167 or 676-5007.

10 a Sunday 2 SALTSBURG. PA 15681 (9663) his current one, led wire to wire. He paid $20 to win in the claiming race for maidens. "This is a relief." said owner Kandace Affa, who had said she didn't care if he ever won. In 85 starts, Gussie Mae had finished second once and third five times for earnings of $9,082.

But as the losing streak grew, 50 did the legend: He has become something of a cult favorite among regulars at Garden State Park, his favorite place to lose. But he seemed determined to avoid the futility mark Wednesday despite odds of 9-1. He led by lengths after three eighths of a mile and by three lengths at the top of the homestretch. He finished in 1:24 3-5, ahead of Such A Zele lifts Luther Ford over Wolfendale's Luther Ford used two big innings to forge a 21-10 Indiana County Slo-Pitch League softball victory Tuesday over Wonfeldale's. Terry Zele stroked three home runs in his four trips, teammate Curt Thomas going 3 for 4 and adding a home run.

Lumpy Daskavich also went deep for the winners. After falling behind early, Luther Ford used nine- and eight-run innings to assume command. Call The Gazette With Outdoors News (412) 465-5555 the San Antonio series that if you try for traveling with 56.6 seconds to go. to play him 1-on-1, he pretty much When he fell, it seemed the Rockets has his way." would soon crumple too. The strategy backfired when An- But Anderson choked and resusciderson misfired, but the Magic still tated the Rockets at the same were in position to win.

Now it is. the Magic who must. It looked like the Magic were revive themselves in time for a suddenly in control after Olajuwon return engagement in Game 2 Fridropped to the floor and was called day night. FATHER'S DAY Sale at 700 SHOP Chaps by Ralph Lauren MEN'S SUITS Reg. 399.95 $21997 One Group Haggar Single and Reg.

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10-5 Prospect. "It's been a long time coming, but he did it," said trainer Robert Marchiano. "Seven-eighths of a mile, that's the difference. He's just been missing at and 6. We knew that at seveneighths of a mile, he'd be there." Last month, Gussie Mae equaled the futility record for thoroughbreds with his 85th race without a win, tying Really a Tenor, a gray filly who lost 85 straight in a 102-race career that included one win, 11 seconds and 13 thirds.

She was retired in 1991. There have been worse horses: Treboh Joe, a pacer at Pocono Downs, raced 247 times and won only once before he was retired last year. ONDURA RE-ROOFING SALE Corrugated Asphalt Roofing Fast, easy installation Goes directly over old roof Won't rust or corrode Reduces noise Provides added insulation Lifetime limited warranty $1179 GRAY GREEN 48" x79" BLUE Sheet STOCK COLORS The New in 26.3 aq. A. shesl At least 32 squares in stock HOURS: Located 1 mile West of Saltsburg on Rt.

286 Mon. -Fri 8am -6pm The LUMBER STORE And More Saturday 8 1 4 R.D. 3, BOX 836 639-WOOD ROBINSON The Laurel Valley, Golden hold classes each Monday WednesDragons day, Center. 8:30 to Peewee 8 p.m., classes are aiso available from at the Robinson Community to 6:15 p.m. Call 676-5167 or 676-5007..