Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 17

TIMES ADVOCATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6. 1994 QHigh school Honor Roll I Baseball players get together to reaffirm their vows 10 John El way expects to play this Sunday vs. Raiders S.r.W'"r 'nin-f--nr- Ww S-. A' ife- 3s v. RAIDERS 24, CHARGERS 17 COMMENTARY Chargers miss clinch as Raiders play role ofGrinch SAN DIEGO Skunk the baby blues.

Toss those throwback jerseys right into the garbage disposal. Monday Night Football? Tell Al, Frank and Dan to stay home next time. Keep your half-dozen eighteen-wheelers and 872 miles of 1 cable and head east, young i men. ESPN? Make Chris Ber- man, A) ditch the maroon blazer, and, B) enjoy the winter season in Bristol, i Conn, next time. And next time the Char-.

gers play for the AFC West title, tell them youre math was off a few hundred decimal points and the game really doesn't decide the ti-- tie. You thought we said i this game was to clinch, Mr. Ross? No, Bobby, we said Grinch. You know, as in the little green guy who Btole Christmas? I That little guy must have been in ack Murphy Stadium Monday night because the Chargers had a Christmas gift and had it stolen away by a bunch of mean Raiders from the north. With a win assuring i them the division title, the Chargers managed to get outplayed in almost every facet of the game by the Raiders a team still fighting for a playoff spot.

After three hours and 13 minutes, the game thankfully, mercifully ended with the Raiders winning 24-17. The Chargers had it made going into Monday night. They were the talk of the Monday Night Football kingdom. They were poised to clinch the division over their hated rivals. People packed the house with the largest crowd (63,0 12) ever for a Charger game at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Blue and yellow balloons were released, fireworks were exploding, free towels were given away and those ba- Please see Raider defensive lineman Nolan Harrison, left, and Anthony KARRIE UN CARLSONortA Tunes Advocate quarterback Stan Humphries Monday night. Rocket blasts off for two key TD catches Passinggame keys win over Chargers Smith, right, try to track down Chargers LENNY IGNELZI Associated Press Raiders' Raghlb Ismail celebrates his secomkquarter touchdown catch against the Chargers. Mi MtTli a ways going to Tim. But hes our leading receiver; hes our Pro Bowl guy. When Tim and Hoss come to camp, theyre already on the same page.

Theyve got that great combination, and I realized its something more than I have with Hoss. I just started talking to him: How are you looking at things? What do you want me to do? I was like that for every play for about two or three weeks. In practice, I just kept asking how I could get to his level." There was no single answer. But with each question, Ismail learned more about Hostetlers way of thinking. Then Monday, he had sensed enough to anticipate a game-winning play.

When the Raiders had a sec-ond-and-2 on the Chargers 7-yard line, Ismail was one-on- Please see ISMAIL, C4 the Raiders ahead for good. The win kept the slim playoff hopes of the Raiders (7-6) alive and meant the Chargers (9-4) will have to delay their title-clinching celebration. We missed out on a golden opportunity," coach Bobby Ross said. Thats for sure. The Raiders stunned the big crowd by scoring on their first play from scrimmage.

Hostetler connected with wide receiver Alexander Wright on a 7 6-yard pass play. It put the Raiders ahead 7-0 just 1:10 into the game. One-for-one, were a better team than they are, Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith Baid. This game means a lot. You never know who is going to win the division." Hostetler completed 22 of 29 Please see CHARGERS, C4 SHAUN VHtWU Times Advocate SAN DIEGO Sometimes, it just clicks.

Such was the case Monday night at Jack Murphy Stadium for the Los Angeles Raiders in their 24-17 victory over the Chargers. More specific, such was also the case for Raghib Rocket" Ismail. For weeks, he watched blame for the Raiders inconsistent offense fall on quarterback Jeff Hostetler or a weak running game. But Ismail had another solution in mind: He wanted to join Tim Brown as a go-to" receiver, a guy Hostetler looked for first when the game was on the line. Ive really been working hard the past month to get on the same page with him," Ismail said.

A lot of people have blamed our passing game for al GEOFFREY OOIXV Timet Advocate SAN DIEGO Leave it to the Raiders to spoil a good party. The Chargers were all set to clinch their second AFC West title in three years on Monday. The VIPs who crammed into Jack Murphy Stadium included the governor, the mayor, the NFL commissioner, ABC's Monday Night Football telecast crew, a prime-time national TV audience and a team-record crowd of 63, 012. The Chargers even broke out their lucky throwback uniforms for the occasion. Unfortunately, somebody also invited the Los Angeles Raiders.

They spoiled the Chargers plans with a 24-17 victory, in part thanks to a Jeff Hostetler-to-Raghib Ismail 6ix-yard touchdown score with 7:23 left in the fourth quarter, that put frmm ported. But those agreements might become moot if the owners bring their contentious luxury tax to the table when talks pick up Tuesday. We keep hearing that the league will bring out some kind of tax," said Bob Goodenow, NHL Players Association executive director. "Weve been negotiating for weeks as if there is no tax. If there is, it will be very difficult to get an agreement.

The tax, which would punish teams that sign free agents and which the union considers a salary cap, hadnt been part of recent negotiations. But it has re- Please see HOCKEY, C3 If was a big change NHL talks showing signs of movement for Smalley Al Sma'Jey Fallbrook Warriors Sport: Boys basketball. Year Senior. Helghtwelght: 6-foot, 162 pounds. Position: Point guard.

Favorite food: Steak and potatoes. Favorite hobbies: Watching football and playing whifhettall. Favorite TV show: New York Undercover. Favorite movie: Jasons Lyrics. Where do I want te be in 10 years: Td love to be playing pro wm rrf frill PAULI.

SamnJD Times Advocate Fallbrook point guard Al Smalley has reason to smile as he embarks on his senior season. frliPM PREP OF THE WEEK: Life has been good for Warriors point guard since moving from New ersey TERRY MONAHAN Tmes Advocate FALLBROOK Watching Al Smalley play basketball at Fallbrook High School, youd never suspect anything was wrong. In fact, nothing is now. The easy-going, smile that seems to be there most of the time hardly gives a hint of what kind of an environment the 6-foot, 162-pound senior point guard was living in before arriving three years ago midway through his freshman year. Smalley, by his own accounts.

was going downhill back in Newark, N.J., when his grandmother, who raised him, decided it was time for a change. He was sent to Fallbrook to live with his aunt, Deirdra Melton. Td never even heard of Fallbrook," said Smalley, laughing a little. I was hanging with the wrong crowd and not paying attention in class. "It took about a year to feel comfortable.

I thought no one liked me. I asked my aunt if I could go home once, but she said to try it a little longer. I think she knew there was nothing for me back there. "If Id gone back, I would have gotten into trouble and proba- Please see PREP, C2 HOCKEY: Sources say sides getting close to agreement on rookie salary cap and free agency issues MIKE NAOEL Associated Press CHICAGO Though no mail jor issues were resolved when NHL labor negotiations re- sumed Monday, there were signs that significant move-g ment and not all of it favor's able in terms of saving the sea-4 son could be forthcoming. I The sides appeared ready to 1 compromise on rookie salary 1 cap and free agency issues fol-j lowing six hours of talks Mon- day.

The Canadian Press re.