Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 33

TIMES-ADVOCATE Wednesday, July 10, 1985 Chair waive ooedbye to veteran Housecleaning in the defensive backfield By Jay Posner imes Advocate Sportswriter SAN DIEGO Rookies seem to be making most of the news in the NFL these days, with all but three of the 28 First-round selections remaining unsigned, but the Chargers made another type of news Tuesday by announcing the had placed seven veterans on waivers. Among the seven were four of the 23 defensive backs on the teams roster Ken Greene, Bob Gregor, Reuben Henderson and Andre Young. All but Henderson started at least one game last year. Also released were linebacker Ray Preston, tight end Ron Egloff and running back Jewerl Thomas. A report this morning stated that linebacker Cliff Thrift had also been waived, then claimed by Chicago for the waiver fee of $100.

The eight players released by the champion Earnest Jackson to a series of one-year contracts. Terms, as usual, were not disclosed. Also Tuesday, an attorney for Trumaine Johnson, the wide receiver the Chargers have been negotiating with for several months, said something will be resolved one way or another before July 19, the date rookies must report to camp. Added George Schreck: There isnt a specific holdup (to Johnsons signing with the Chargers). Theres just a lot of people involved.

We may have something worked out, but nothings definite. Ill be able to discuss it more next week. Johnson is currently under contract to the Arizona Outlaws of the United States Football League, but he is apparently going to buy his way out of that contract. Johnson did not play this past season for the Outlaws. Chargers had more than 40 years of combined NFL experience.

All of these players have contributed to our team, Head Coach Don Coryell said, but we feel that the move will allow our younger players a chance to gain more experience and allow the veterans a better chance of signing with other teams. Of course, for the younger players to make an impact they must first be signed to contracts. Eleven of the clubs 14 draft choices remain unsigned, including No. 1 pick Jim Lachey and three of the five defensive backs selected. Tuesdays move reduced the clubs roster to 105 with training camp less than two weeks away.

Rookies are due to report to UC San Diego July 19, with the veterans expected seven days later. The club also announced Tuesday it has signed AFC rushing Ken Greene Reuben Henderson Andre Young Bob Gregor Sandberg power pounds Padres CHICAGO (AP) You can call him powerful, or you can call him dangerous, or you can call him a long-ball threat. Just so long as you dont call him a home-run hitter. I dont think of myself as one. I think of myself as a line-drive hitter with power, Ryne Sandberg said with some modesty Tuesday after producing a pair of two-run homers to fuel a 14-hit attack that carried the Chicago Cubs to a 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

And a good example of why I dont is the early part of this season, Sandberg said. I started the season thinking I was a home-run hitter and I wasnt hitting much of anything. Sandberg, who hit 19 homers in 1984 after totaling just 15 in the two previous seasons, started this year by going 8-for-57 through the first 14 games. He didnt reach .200 until May 5, but after shortening his stroke and taking extra batting practice, he finished that month at .308, went .306 for June and is hitting at better than .320 through this month. In fact, half of his 28 runs batted in have come in the last 21 games.

And Sandbergs four RBI Tuesday were enough to stake left-hander Steve Trout to his eighth win in 12 decisions. Chicago took a quick lead off Padres starter Eric Show, 7-6, when Billy Hatcher opened the game with a double and Sandberg hit a 3-1 pitch into the leftfield bleachers. In the second, Trout singled and, with two outs, Sandberg hit his 12th homer of the season for a 4-0 lead. Please see Padres, page D2 The Associated Press Ryne Sandberg, 23, steals second as Bruce Bochys throw gets away from Padre Garry Templeton in the fourth inning. Dont look now, but the Dodgers are gaining Larry Weinbaum A Sportswriter Del Mar track gives bettors more space DEL MAR Two weeks from today, the gates will swing open on Del Mars 46th season.

But for the first time, there will be elbow room at the seaside racing emporium. Thats because you can now horse around on the seven infield acres open to the betting public. Included on the newly-sodded flower-bedded infield, accessible from the grandstand through a 635-foot tunnel, will be 64 new parimutuel windows, concession stands, shaded kiosks with mounted TVs, picnic tables with umbrellas, group areas plus restroom facilities. Del Mar officials estimate the roomy infield will accommodate at least patrons. But thats a conservative estimate, officials at the track privately admit.

Infield access will alleviate the crunch at the race track which attracted an average crowd of 18,494 a year ago with attendance exceeding 25,000 some weekends. Dont be surprised to see an opening-day (July 24) crowd greater than 30,000 lining up to bet at the tracks 389 parimutuel windows. The crowds were down a bit in 1984 attendance averaged 19,584 in 1983 but that was probably due to competition from the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Last years daily mutuel handle ($3.3 million) showed an increase for the 16th consecutive year. Del Mar spent $1.1 million to build the pedestrian tunnel plus another $500,000 to fix up the infield and fill in the eastern third of the middle lake.

The tunnel was built below sea level, and the 20-foot wide and nine-foot high structure took four months to complete. It was finished May 17, and then both the turf course and the main track were rebuilt on top of the tunnel. Finally, it will be comfortable to come to Del Mar, says Del Mar publicist Dan Smith. You wont be jammed in here any more. Youll be able to breath, and if you want an alternative there will room to sit on a blanket and bring a cooler in the infield.

You dont even have to leave the infield to bet. In the past, many race fans enjoyed sitting on beach chairs and blankets on the black-top area near the finish line. Because that area could only squeeze in about the idea of using the infield was a notion past due. Del Mar opened in 1937, but the facility was not built to comfortably accommodate large crowds. Since 1969, attendance has nearly doubled to the point where Del Mar is now ranked seventh nationally in patronage and fifth in betting handle.

We knew we had to do something to increase the capacity, says Executive Vice President and General Manager Joe Harper. We think the tunnel and the infield are big steps in the right direction. The tunnel and infield are the Please see Weinbaum, page D2 ed Rhoden for six runs and 12 hits over the first 5V5 innings. When I threw the ball good, they hit it, when I threw it bad they hit it, Rhoden said. Terry Whitfield and Scioscia had consecutive run-scoring doubles as the Dodgers made it 3-2 in the fourth.

Landreaux hit a run-scoring single in the fifth, and the Dodgers scored their final two runs in the ninth against A1 Holland when Mariano Duncan hit his third homer and Greg Brock lined an RBI single. The Pirates lost for the fourth time in six games and their 27-53 record is the worst in the National League. It seems were always falling behind early and its hard to play catch-up all the time, Tanner said. But weve got to ride it out, dont quit and dont give up hope gled in the early part of the season but the last 35 to 40 games, weve been playing good baseball. Tom Niedenfuer, who limited the Pirates to one run over the final 3 innings, agreed with Honeycutt after earning his seventh save.

Its been an uphill battle for us but were a little closer now, he said. The big thing has been our defense. We made an awful lot of errors early in the season, but now were fielding better. Pirates Manager Chuck Tanner probably wishes right fielder George Hendrick fielded his position as well as he fields the constant criticism hes been getting from Pirates fans. The fans showered Hendrick with boos as he went 0-for-4 and committed two errors, which led to three Dodger runs and Rick Rhodens ninth loss in 14 decisions.

Hendrick dropped Ken Landreauxs long fly ball in the first inning for a two-base error and Pedro Guerrero followed with a run-scoring single. In a two-run sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a 6-2 lead, Hendrick mishandled Mike Scios-cias routine ground-ball single. That moved up a pair of runners and allowed Steve Sax to hit a two-run single. Tanner rose to the defense for Hendrick, who refuses Wspeak to the press. He can handle it (the booing), Tanner said.

Ive talked to him about it and hes a pro. Hes a good player but he just hasnt played up to his capabilities. Hes our best right fielder and thats why hes out there. If I had a better right fielder, Id play him. The Pirates could have used a few more outfielders against the Dodgers, who rack PITTSBURGH (AP) The San Diego Padres would be well advised to heed Satchel Paiges legendary advice they shouldnt look back, because somebodys gaining on them.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who trailed the National League West-leading Padres by five games less than a week ago, closed to within 2 V2 games Tuesday night when they belted the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 with a 16-hit attack. The Dodgers, suddenly the leagues hottest team, have won eight of their last 10 games, 13 of their last 19 and 17 of their last 25. Were playing good baseball, championship-style baseball, said Rick Honeycutt, 6-7, after limiting the Pirates to two runs and four hits over 5'A innings. This clubs for real, he said. We strug The flag is up for Winslows football league ments in place.

The procedure took just 20 minutes and has not slowed Winslows rehabilitation process. He is still expected to return to game action some time around the middle of the season. Everythings going well, said Winslow, who is currently working out three or four times a week. Other than a few more kids who want to play flag football. Winslow said a total of 700 youngsters have participated in the past three years, but he has set a goal of 640 kids this year 40 teams with 16 players each.

I feel we need to give people a chance to experience football without the high risk of contact, Winslow said. Our game is much more wide-open, with an emphasis on finesse more than pure bulk. Which is why girls are able to 94 and 47th Street. Boys and girls ages 7-14 are eligible for the league, which begins practice Aug. 19 at four locations throughout the county, including an undetermined site in the North County.

The 10-game season begins Sept. 7. Coincidentally, thats the day before the Chargers open their regular season with a game at Buffalo. Winslow will not be ready to play by then, although his rehabilitation is continuing ahead of schedule. Winslow will report to training camp with the rest of the veterans July 26, and he said theres a possibility he may be able to participate in some non-contact drills by the end of camp.

Last week, Winslow underwent minor surgery to remove three screws that were fixing his liga ing peace treaties with Communists instead of firing exploding arrowheads at them. But before you think western civilization as we know it is coming to an end, lets give the Chargers tight end a chance to explain. Its ridiculous for 7- and 8-year-old kids, and even 12-year-olds, to run their heads into each other, Winslow said. Mentally, and especially physically, theyre not really ready for it. It would be easy to think Winslow only realized this fact when he suffered a serious knee injury last year, but that isnt the case.

Winslows flag football league is now undergoing preparations for its fourth season. Sign-ups continue this weekend at the Coca-Cola Bottling facility, located in San Diego at Highway Contact isnt needed, he says By Jay Posner imes Advocate Sportswriter SAN DIEGO When healthy, Kellen Winslow can be a punishing football player. Franco Harris may run out of bounds to avoid contact, but it often appears as though the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Winslow goes out of his way to try to run over opposing players. So, it was somewhat surprising this week to hear Winslow singing the praises of a youth flag football league, football without contact. Not only that, but the league is coed.

Girls? Playing football? Whats going on here? Why, next thing you know, Rambo will be negotiat play alongside the boys. I thought there might be a problem with machoism and all that, Winslow said, but the boys at that age understand some girls are more coordinated at that age than they are. There was a girl last year in the East County who carried her team. She was their best player. Winslow said the program is designed strictly for the kids to have fun.

If a kid signs up, he plays, Winslow said. Each kid has to play a certain amount of time in each game. Were out there to allow the kids to have fun, and also to teach them good, sound, basic fundamentals. Further information and signup forms can be obtained by phoning 483-7496. hi mim.