The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 42

D2 The Spokesman-Review Spokane Chronicle Spokane, Dec. 21, 1986 Spokane feasts oirn Thmumderlblirds again, 8-3 By Howie Stalwlck Staff writer The Spokane Chiefs would love to develop a big cross-state rivalry with the Seattle Thunderbirds, but the Birds cant make it fly. The Chiefs breezed to their fifth win over Seattle in as many tries Saturday night, overwhelming the game but undermanned T-Birds 8-3 in Western Hockey League action at the Coliseum. The young T-Birds suited up just 16 players, and the four missing parties are ail top veterans. The result was a 55-30 advantage for Spokane in shots on goal, as the Chiefs ptjlled away from a 2-2 tie early in the second period by ripping home six unanswered goals.

The last of those scores came on a blueline missle off the stick of Mike Berger. Spokanes all-star defenseman, just back from a tryout with the Canadian national junior team, split time between right wing and defense and played superbly despite a slightly pulled groin. Berger and hustling little center Rob Friesen both had a goal and three assists to lead the Spokane attack. Chief coach Peter Esdale hopes to play Berger extensively at both right wing and defense the rest of the season. Hell get a hell of a lot of ice time we know hes a hell of a player, General Manager Bob Strumm said.

I dont want to play just forward, because defense is my position, Berger said. But Ill do anything to help the club. Strangely, either team could have turned the game into a runaway in the first period. Spokane outshot Seattle 14-3 in the first 10 minutes, but Chief goaltender John Colvin had to make four sensational saves in the next 2Vt minutes to preserve Spokanes 2-1 lead. He kept us in the game when we needed it, Esdale said.

Their goaltender was unbelievable, praised Seattle coach Dan MacDonald. I thought Johnny played probably his best game of the Berger added. White-hot center Glen Goodall scored Seattles first two goals and knotted the score at 3:41 of the second period. The score should have been 2-2 at 10:34 of the first period, but Colvins left hand shot up like a bullet to rob Goodall on a breakaway. As a goaltender, you try to take the angle away, explained Colvin, who was yanked after giving up four goals in 6Vfe minutes last Saturday in his only other appearance the past three weeks.

Sometimes you can make them shoot wherever you want. Thats what I tried to do (against Goodall), and he put it in my glove. A couple minutes after frustrating Goo dall, Colvin made three splendid saves in a 31-second span on Larry Bernard. And in the third period, just to make certain the Birds were cooked, Colvin twice sprawled to make great stops on Rick Fry right in front. I thought I played pretty well for not playing much, Colvin said.

The game was not always played magnificently the shorthanded T-Birds were dragging in the third period but it was a wide-open, entertaining contest. You can say what you want, Esdale noted with a smile, but I know where their (players) minds are: going home for Christmas. Seattles defensemen played poorly, save for rookie Shannon Travis, who had a fine game. Veteran goaltender Greg Hubert was called on to make 47 saves against a Spokane team that has outscored Seattle 38-23 this season. Hockey purists had to cringe, but nearly all the 2,430 spectators gave the Chiefs a standing ovation after five fights broke out all over Spokanes half of the ice with 3:35 left to play.

More fireworks could be staged tonight, as the same two teams close out their pre-Christmas schedules in Seattle. Spokane star Grant Delcourt will break a single-season franchise record if he picks up a point tonight. Delcourt had three assists Saturday and has scored in 16 straight games. The Chiefs will go home for the holidays in third place in the West Division. Victoria does not play again until Jan.

1, and the Cougars 4-1 loss to New Westminster on Saturday dropped Victoria out of a tie for third. SPORTS DIGEST From staff and wire reports I-AA champs Ham it up in title game Collmisioini by owiraeirs? Morris agent says clubs not permitted to sign Tiger star Im getting the same answers over and over, said Morris, who had a 21-8 record during the 1986 season. They say Im worth the money, but that they wont pay it. Since Morris agreed to go to salary arbitration, he is considered a signed player. Had he declined, the Tigers would have had until Jan.

8 to re-sign him or lose that right until May 1. It means that Jack will be with us in 1987, Tigers General Manager Bill Lajoie said. Lajoie said he hoped to sign Morris before arbitration hearings begin Feb. 5. The hearings will continue through Feb.

20, but no date has been set for Morris and the Tigers. We will probably try to work out an agreement prior to that date, Lajoie said. Hes a big part of our team and we are pleased he will be with us in 1987. Pitchers David Palmer of the Atlanta Braves and Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals joined Morris in filing for arbitration Friday.

Among the others rejecting arbitration were outfielders Tim Raines and Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos, pitcher Ron Guidry and second baseman Willie Randolph of the Yankees, infielder Doug DeCinces, catcher Bob Boone and outfielder Brian Downing of the Angels, and first baseman Bob Horner and pitcher Doyle Alexander of the Atlanta Braves. club owners last year was responsible for the sudden freeze in the movement of high-priced free agents. Moss said the failure of Morris attempt to leave the Tigers was not surprising. We had been given some pretty good tipoffs that clubs would be offering substantially less than Jack deserves, Moss said. Were convinced that we never had a chance.

We made the most appealing offers we could. It was especially interesting that George Steinbrenner couldnt accept an offer like that because it would have meant so much to his team next year. The Yankees owner said he needed more time because of contract negotiations with three of his players. Minnesota, Philadelphia and California each rejected Morris proposal. Marvin Miller, the former executive leader of the players union, said Saturday on NBC-TV that if an arbitrator found the owners were acting in collusion in not signing free agents the arbitrator could void the current collective bargaining agreement, raising the possibility of a strike.

Morris, the winningest major-league pitcher during the 1980s with 123 victories, said he withdrew from the open market because he was convinced the owners were conspiring to drive down salaries spiraling salaries, his included. Associated Press NEW YORK Right-hander Jack Morris, this years No. 1 free agent pitcher, decided to stay with the Detroit Tigers because it became apparent the owners of other teams were not permitted to sign him, his agent said Saturday. Morris attempt to find another home ended in failure when he agreed to go to salary arbitration with Tigers five minutes before the Friday midnight deadline. I think only one conclusion can be drawn when you offer four teams an opportunity to do nothing more than what Detroit had offered to do with Jack.

No club was permitted to sign Jack Morris at this time, Dick Moss, the players agent said. Morris had offered to sign a one-year contract, with his salary to be set by an arbitrator, with the New York Yankees, California Angels, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. They all seemed to have found some excuse to say they were not interested," said Moss. The agent said he would not speculate who had blocked Morris from being signed before midnight Friday, when he had to make a decision on whether to agree on salary arbitration or take his chances on finding a new team. The players union has charged in a grievance that collusion by the Casper, Stephenson lead Mazda Abdul-Jabbar out ANGELES Kareem Ab- dul-Jabbar has suffered a painful disorder blamed on years eye jabs during basketball games, and will not be able to play until at least Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers said Saturday.

Apparently hes been poked in the eye so many times in his career that something like this is going to happen from time to time, team spokesman Josh Rosenfeld said. When his cornea dries up hes going to have a problem. The 39-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, the NBAs first 18-season veteran and all-time high scorer, has his right eye taped shut and patched Swede victor Swedens Thomas Eriksson won a 30-kilometer World Cup cross-country race in Davos, Switzerland, as the Swedes took four of the first five places. Runner-up Vladimir Smirnov of the Soviet Union prevented Swedish sweep of the top five spots. Christer Majbaeck, who was in the lead at the 24.5 kilometer mark, took third place, followed by Swedens top hope, Gunde Swan, and veteran Thomas Wass-berg.

In all, 130 from 20 na tions, including rld championship and the 10 top World sheis from last sea'- cc( in the race, held in a steady SP'' Svan, who has dominated earlier races, seemed to have slight difficulties in reverting from the skating to the classic style prescribed for this contest. Tulsa aide named University of Tulsa head football coach George Henshaw said he has hired Terry Bowden as an assistant coach. Bowden, 30, was quarterback coach at the Univeristy of Akron, Akron, Ohio, in the past season. Bowden is the son of Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden. Arizona Outlaws co-owner Bill Tatham Jr.

says his club will wait for the USFLrs court case to end before deciding if he and his father will try to buy an existing NFL team and move it to Phoenix. Everythings for sale for a price, said Tatham, who also is the Outlaws president and general manager. U.S. District Court Judge Peter Leisure rejected the USFLs motion for injunctive relief against the NFL Wednesday in New York. It could mean the end of the 3-year-old USFL, which suspended play last August until at least the fall of 1987.

An appeal by the USFL of its $1.69 billion antitrust suit against the NFL should be heard by mid-January. A New York jury ruled in favor of the USFL in early August, but awarded the USFL only $1 in damages. If we lose, then were just going to have to go another avenue, Tatham said. If that scenario develops, were going to find out very aggressively what the price (of an NFL franchise) is. And then well move very hard and very fast.

If anybody doesnt believe us, they dont know how much $20 million is. Terry Shea, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for high-scoring San Jose State this season, has moved to the University of California to handle the same jobs. Bears coach Bruce Snyder announced. Shea, 40, spent three seasons at San Jose State. His first coaching job on the major college level was under Snyder at Utah State.

San Joses Spartans were 10-2 this season and were college footballs No. 1 team in total offense, averaging 481 yards per game. dies on each side. Ferree-Akamoto combined for a 63, Littler-Pearson had a 64 and Crampton-Bradley, tied for the first-round lead, settled for 65. After the team settled for pars on the first two holes, Casper birdied the third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth holes.

After Stephenson chipped in for birdie on the 10th, Casper birdied the 12th, 14th and 17th. Owen and Geddes, in ninth place and four shots out of the lead after an opening 67, enjoyed an immediate change of fortune when Owen birdie the first hole and Geddes eagled the par-4 second. Geddes also birdied the par-5 fifth and her birdie on 17 dropped the team to 10 under for the day. Two strokes out were Arnold Palmer and Chris Johnson, who combined for a 64 on Saturday. Also at 129 were Bob Charles and Amy Alcott, who shot 65.

Miller Barber and Jane Dickinson, who shared the first-round lead, struggled to a 67 and fell three shots off the pace. Dale Douglass and Julie Inkster were at 132 after a 67, Don January and Patty Sheehan had a second consecutive 67, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Betsy King had a 68 for 135, two stokes better than Lee Elder and Mary Beth Zimmerman, who shot 68 on Saturday. Associated Press SANDY BAY, Jamaica The team of Billy Casper and Jan Stephenson combined to shoot a 9-under-par 62 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over four other teams after two rounds of the $750,000 Mazda Champions Golf Tournament at the Tyrall Golf Course. Final-round play is scheduled Sunday in the best-ball tournament, which matches 12 teams comprised of players from the PGA Seniors Tour and the Ladies Professional Golfers Association. The winning team will divide $500,000.

Casper, considered one of the games best putters during a career on the regular PGA Tour, flashed his old form Saturday by sinking eight birdie putts. Stephenson added the teams other birdie by chipping in from off the 10th green. The Casper-Stephenson team was at 15-under-par 127 after 36 holes, one shot ahead of four teams Charles Owen and Jane Geddes, Jim Ferree and Ayako Akamoto, Gene Littler and Becky earson and Bruce Crampton and Pat Bradley. Owen and Geddes established a tournament record with a 10-under-par round of 61 that featured five bir- with eye trouble and will be examined by doctors again Monday, Lakers spokesman Josh Rosenfeld said. Abdul-Jabbars eye began bothering him Friday during a flight to Dallas for Saturday nights game against the Mavericks, Rosenfeld said.

When he awoke this morning the eye was inflamed and watering, he said. The 7-foot-2 center, who for years has worn goggles to prevent eye injury, was treated by a Dallas doctor and told he had recurrent corneal erosion syndrome, Rosenfeld said. Abdul-Jabbar planned to return to Los Angeles Saturday and will be examined by team doctors Monday. Seattle Seahawks starting offensive tackle Mike Wilson and backup Curt Singer suffered knee injuries in Saturdays 41-16 NFL victory over the Denver Broncos. If the Seahawks get into the playoffs, both Wilson, a nine-year NFL veteran acquired in a trade with Cincinnati before the season began, and Singer, a first-year player, would not be available for an AFC wild-card game Dec.

28. Coach Chuck Knox of the Seahawks said Wilson would be out three to six weeks while Singer would be out three weeks. The Seahawks wound up using Jon Borchardt, a backup guard, at offensive tackle to finish Saturdays game. In addition, Seahawks strong safety Paul Moyer suffered strained abdominal muscles and Seattle kicker Norm Johnson broke a hand making a tackle. Broncos strong safety Dennis Smith sprained right knee ligaments and left the game.

Coach Dan Reeves said he was not sure if Smiths injury would require arthroscopic surgery. Tight end Orson Mobley of Denver played with a hyperex-tended elbow. Johnson fastest Sprinter Ben Johnson has been named the fastest man in the world by Track and Field News. The American publication ranked Johnson No. 1 in the 100-meter dash in its 1986 ratings, ahead of runner-up Chidi Imoh of Nigeria and third-place Carl Lewis of the United States.

Lewis, a quadruple gold medalist in the 1984 Olympics, beat Johnson for the top spot last year. Johnson beat Lewis three times in 1986. Im pleased," Johnson said of the 1986 rankings. About nine years ago, when I first came out for track and field, my coach said if you want to be No. 1 in the world, you have to practice every day.

At first I didnt take it too seriously. But I decided to come out to practice and found myself getting better. Sooner or later, I knew it (the No. 1 ranking) would come." Johnson also finished third in the publications balloting for Athlete of the Year. Long distance runner Said Aouita of Morocco won that honor, ahead of Soviet hammer thrower Yuri Sedykh.

Rebel cleared A judge dismissed a charge against a University of Nevada-Las Vegas basketball player convicted earlier this month of possessing stolen credit cards. In dismissing the case against Lawrence West, District Judge John Mendoza cited prosecutorial misconduct, vindictiveness and jury misconduct. District Attorney Bob Miller said his office will study the case before deciding next month whether to appeal the judges ruling. West, 21, already was free on his own recognizance. Lessons and Lifts $54.00 Lessons, Lifts and Rental $78.00 MORE INFORMATION Associated Press TACOMA Arkansas States vaunted defense met its match and more in Georgia Southerns All-America quarterback, Tracy Ham.

You watch films of Tracy Ham doing all those things to other teams, and then it happens to you, Arkansas State Coach Larry La-cewell said after his Indians were picked apart 48-21 Friday night, giving Georgia Southern its second straight NCAA Division I-AA foot: ball title. No way you can duplicate him. You cant tackle smoke. Georgia Southern, with 18 seniors, became the first team to win back-to-back titles in the nine years of the Division I-AA playoff series. Ham ran coach Erk Russells Hambone offense to perfection.

The 5-11 senior from High Springs, rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 306 more yards and another TD in the Tacoma Dome. Ham rushed 24 times and completed 12 of 21 passes, the last a 79-yarder to tailback Ricky Harris for a touchdown with 4:08 gone in the fourth quarter. It was the longest play from scrimmage in Division I-AA cham-; pionship games. It also was Hams last play as a college player. Russell gave him the rest of the night off.

I cant say enough in praise of our offense, Russell said. If we hadnt stopped ourselves with pidd-ly mistakes on those four field goals but Im not complaining. Ham had 509 yards of total offense in the 1985 championship game, when he played all the way in a 44-42 comeback win over Furman. I think the emotion was different, said Russell, whose Eagles finished with a 13-2 record. Last year we came out of nowhere to win this thing.

This year the element of surprise wasn't there. Georgia Southerns first-half offense was nearly as much junior kicker Tim Foleys as it was Hams. The Eagles, who had failed to score a touchdown from inside their opponents 20-yard line only twice in 63 previous possessions, stalled on the Arkansas State 4 on their first series. A nine-play, 62-yard scoring drive was followed by two more stalls, on the 13 and the 8, and Foley kicked field goals of 30 and 25 yards. BRITISH COLUMBIA INSWORTH CASTLEGAI CANADA -ROSSLANDV NORTHPORT UNITEOSTATFS SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Just 45 Minutes North of Metaline Falls Via the Newport Hwy Border Opens 8 AM OPEN DAILY STARTING DECEMBER 19th VILLA MOTEL $OQ INCLUDES ACCOMMODATIONS U.S.

FULL BREAKFAST PER PERSON LIFT PASS DBL OCC ALL TAXES (604)352-5515 PARTNERS IN TOURISM Blanchette KOOTENAY COUNTRY Our regions highest ski area 6700 Over 1 4 average seasonal base with dry, feather-light POWDER At the lowest lift prices 1 00 1 U.S. 1 NO HOLIDAY INCREASES! Adult Day Lift Ticket (Continued Raveling, who found he could come and go in a small town as he pleased. That pleasure was wiped out in Iowa, where he spent three sometimes tortuous seasons under a microscope. People here enjoy college athletics, but its not their life, he said. Its not a sickness.

So hes found another comfort zone, but incorporated a lot of WSU in it. Purple thats the 1-2-2 trapping press, Stevens said when asked if he recognized any features 679 PREC0R 825E NOW TUNTURI EXEC. ERGO. Reg. $349.

TUNTURI PROTRAINER Reg. $579. $299 549 We stock a complete line HOURS: 9:30 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 131 PARKADE PLAZA from page 1) of this new Raveling team. They do all the things we did here. It was hard for me to get them all across to my kids because all the stuff George runs, I still dont know all of it.

I told him one day when I was coaching with him, Dont you ever die of a heart attack, because I dont know all these offenses and defense yet. And we still dont know all the sides to George Raveling. But at least hes back where we can keep an eye on him. AVITA 950 ROWER Reg. $329 NOW 5289 UiWWiH -I PREC0R 612 Reg.

$299. now 5249 now 5279 M0NARK Reg. $299. V0IT RM4 Reg. $229.

$189 NOW of Ivanko free weights. 9:00, Sun. fINANCING AVAILABLE 624-8958 WraKfiater CENTRAL RESERVATIONS (604) 354-4944 ROOM AND LIFT PACKAGES AVAILABLE AT: ALPINE MOTEL From: PER PERSON pRDflv INCl LIFT TICKET CANADIAN DBL OCC (604) 3S2-550I HERITAGE INN $07 INCLUDES LI ACCOMMODATIONS U.S. FUEL BREAKFAST PE PERSON TIFT PASS DBL OCC ALL TAXES (604) 352-5331 Lessons and Lifts $60.00 Lessons, Lifts and Rental $84.00 PHONE 928-7575 FOR 4.