Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 21

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1993 Cl II The Ckdls played angels Saturday while winning their eighth straight I C2 Win over Chiefs is 8th straight Eagles-Saints, Bills-Oilers previews of todays games I C3 Alabama gets its trophy and lets its No. 1 tag soak in C4 Chargers have come together: Can they get better? SAN DIEGO -Blaise Winter didnt even see the ball. The Chargers defensive lineman heard the slap of leather and felt the sting on his arm. As he tumbled to the ground, he looked up just long enough to see Leslie ONeals huge paws reaching up to grab the ball. Then came the sweet roar of the Jack Murphy Stadium crowd.

In an incredible defensive effort that typified everything that has been right with the Chargers this season, it was the play of the game. Maybe the play of the year. Winter tipped Kansas City quarterback Dave Kriegs pass, ONeal intercepted it and the Chargers went on to kick a field goal, all but icing their 17-0 triumph over the Chiefs Saturday in the first round of the AFC Please see LEONARD, C4 WALDO NILOSf tiff photographer from the Chargers 17-0 playoff win. Chargers Leslie ONeal and Burt Grossman hit Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg, popping the ball loose during action Bootttts cootis bach aganinisti acQveirsircy Humphries turns cold shoulder to Chiefs GEOFFREY QOLEY Staff writer SAN DIEGO Alex Spanos was dancing on the sidelines. But then, he had been waiting nine years for this moment.

Most of the 58,278 fans who had nearly filled rain-soaked Jack Murphy Stadium were still there and doing the same. But then, some of them had waited even longer. They all had just watched the Chargers overcome all the odds the Kansas City Chiefs, the bad weather, injuries to key players and the Chargers own mistakes to get their first playoff victory since 1983. In the process, the Chargers (12-5) recorded the first shutout victory in NFL wild-card playoff history, a 17-0 win Saturday over the Chiefs (10-7). Another first for a Chargers team that keeps doing what no NFL team has ever done before.

No wonder the 70-year-old Spanos was dancing and leading cheers. He had waited for this win since he bought the team in 1984. Now I know the feeling, said Spanos. Its the greatest feeling in the world and I have it today. Not even the chilly rain that Please see CHARGERS, CS at Jack Murphy Stadium.

The only thing we may have been missing at times is leadership, running back Marion Butts said. Stan is a leader. Humphries showed that this week. He was knocked out of last weekends regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks but missed only one practice. He didnt ask the coaches to adjust the Chargers offensive scheme to provide him with extra blockers.

He didnt take any pain-killers. All he did to concede the injury was wear a protective harness. Then he went out and played. Please see QB, C9 even better in college sports when Miami captured another national football championship and Christian Laettner powered Duke to its second consecutive basketball crown. Not all of our idols fared so well.

Mike Tyson was convicted of raping a beauty contestent and sent to prison. smile lit Olympics. Redskins Bowl best got CHARGERS: Running back breaks loose from mediocrity to spark offense SHAUN ntcr SAN DIEGO For 2'2 quarters Saturday, Marion Butts was the player hed been all season. He was the player who was always good for a few yards through the middle but not a whole lot more, the player whose knee injuries kept him from being a game-breaker. But with 5:53 to go in the third quarter, Butts did break open the Chargers AFC first-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

He broke it open with a 54-yard run that opened the scoring in the Chargers 17-0 victory. In a game like this, any play could change things, Butts said. Indeed. Neither the Chargers nor the Chiefs could get any momentum going as they battled to CHARGERS: Playoff win eases the quasi-injured quarterbacks pain SHAUN ONEILLSfa riter SAN DIEGO Sure, his shoulder still hurt. Sure, he didnt know how it would react to a hit.

But that didnt matter. Nothing was going to keep me from this game, quarterback Stan Humphries said. Humphries started the Chargers AFC first-round playoff game Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs despite a separated left shoulder. And he completed 14 of 23 passes for 199 yards to lead the Chargers to a 17-0 victory a halftime tie. But after Butts gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead, things started falling in the Chargers favor.

On the series after Butts run, Leslie ONeal intercepted a pass deflected by Blaise Winter and the Chargers went up 10-0 minutes later. The Chiefs never threatened to get close again. The big run by Butts and a couple other plays made the difference, said Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas. As the first half unfolded, I thought whoever made the first strike had a good chance of winning. The Chargers strike came when H-back Alfred Pupunu and tight end Derrick Walker opened a huge hole on the left side of the line.

Butts was five yards down field before he faced his first potential tackier. The offensive line did a great job, Butts said. All I had to do was beat one guy. After that, it Please see BUTTS, C9 to AFC West champs. Marshall Faulk provided the most spectacular individual thrills when he made a strong bid for the Heisman Trophy.

Gary Sheffield took a swing at winning baseball's Triple Crown. And Escondido High's Vu Dang inspired us with his recovery from a coma after suffering a serious head injury. there as After which fell second In their first meeting, It was the Chiefs defense that dictated the action. But In Saturdays game, it was the gars defense that called all the shots, see C8. Graphics, charts, game summary and the Good, Bad and the Ugly, see C9.

The Chargers (12-5) travel to Miami (1 1-5) for a divisional playoff game at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Dolphins, AFC East champions, had a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Marion Butts is on his way to a 54-yard WALDO NILO Staff photographer touchdown run in the third quarter. Unfortunately, were nearly many lows.

a season in the Padres apart in the half and fired manager Greg Riddoch, the owners moved to lighten their wallets by scorning the club's free agents Olympics were Magic in year of repeat It was a dreamy two weeks during the Olympics when America's best basketball players dominated the rest of the world to capture the gold medal. Magic Johnson, playing despite having the AIDS virus, solidified his status as an interntional hero. and the open market. The Sockers won their 10th championship, but lost a league when the MSL folded. And an Aztecs football season that held so much promise became a disaster when SDSU was embarrassed tw'o weeks in a row on national television and failed to qualify for a bowl game.

In team sports, it was a year of firsts and repeats. The Blue Jays made all of Canada proud by winning the country's first World Series. The Bulls and Michael Jordan won their second straight NBA title and the Penguins came back for another Stanley Cup. Mark Rypien was the MVP in 0 1 992 ac b-Ul Big feats and forgettable finishes When San Diego's sports fans looks back on this year, it will be memorable for the amazing range of highs and lows. GM Joe Mcllvaine slashes payroll.

Magic's up the The Chargers grabbed the biggest headlines with their transformation from division dormats the Super victory. The.