The Californian from Temecula, California • 19

No easy end for contraction issue Another ex-Bill in the fold Chargers sign Christie to replace Richey on FGs BRIAN HIRO Si Writir Yankees Torre makes pitch to Jason Giambi, C-5. Twins appeal of judges order opposed by state BRIAN BAKST imiuTri- baseball could eliminate the Twins before the start of spring training in February. Contraction is not some inevitable natural disaster that has thrown major league baseball into disarray, the MSFC said. This problem is entirely self-created and should not be thrown into the laps of the public and the courts to rectify. Contraction is a voluntary measure that can be taken off the table just as easily as it was so abruptly put on the table two days after the World Series.

Tlie Supreme Court has no deadline for deciding whether to take the case. Three of the seven justices must agree for the court to speed up a case, which has happened only 15 times since 1990. The extraordinary procedure of accelerated review is unwarranted, Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch said in papers filed with the court. The district court acted well within its discretion. In case the request is denied, the Twins and baseball have asked for an expedited hearing in the state Court of Appeals, which generally takes 6-to-8 months to rule.

Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump issued the injunction Nov. 16, 10 days after owners BASEBALL, C-5 ST. PAUL, Minn. The Twins landlord and the Minnesota attorney general asked the states Supreme Court on Wednesday to deny a quick appeal of a judges order that would likely keep the team alive for one more season. In New York, players and owners agreed to start hearings Tuesday on the unions grievance to stop owners from eliminating two teams before next season.

Lawyers for commissioner Bud Selig and the Twins last week asked the court to schedule an emergency hearing by Dec. 7 on the injunction that disrupted baseballs contraction plans by forcing the Twins to play home games next season in the Metrodome. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which operates the ballpark, filed its reply Wednesday, the deadline set by Chief justice Kathleen A. Blatz. If the Supreme Court declines the speedy review, it is unlikely Pumas open with a win SAN DIEGO For the first fall in who knows how long, Steve Christie wasn't kicking.

Try kicking back. lie described the life he had settled into since being released as the Buffalo Bills kicker in early October as semi-retirement. He was mulling a return to soccer, at which he excelled at Trafalgar High School in Oakville, Ontario, as either a player or coach. He and his wife were starting a Web site to promote his paintings (Christie was a fine arts major at William Mary College). I was just enjoying life, Christie said.

1 was getting pretty used to hanging back and exhaling. Then, from out of the blue, the phone call came Monday, and Christie inhaled. Two days later, hes back to doing what he does best: kicking an oblong ball through metal goalposts. Hes come to the right place. After a satisfactory morning workout, the Chargers signed Christie to a one-year contract Wednesday to serve as their field-goal kicker for the seasons final five games.

He will replace incumbent Wade Richey, who has struggled in his first season since signing as a free agent from San Francisco. Richey, as expected, will remain on the roster as the Chargers kickoff man and a possible option on long field goals. Terms of Christies deal were not released, but its believed to be for one year and $477,000, the veteran minimum. Calls to his agent, Gil Scott, were not returned. Christie said Scott had informed him of Richeys woes most recently missing two field goals of less than 30 yards in the Chargers 20-17 loss to Arizona on Sunday but that the Chargers interest nonetheless caught him off-guard.

You look at it, there are (five) games left, he said. CHARGERS, C-6 Six Chaparral grapplers pin opponents Padres sticking to business as usual ADRIAN POMERY Sr i i Wkiiik SHAUN O'NEILL Mui Wkiiik Lucchino joins group bidding for Red Sox, C-2. At 160 pounds, Billy Koscielak had an easy time with Stephen Wade, registering a pin in just 1 minute, 50 seconds. Teammate Josh Costello had to work a little longer to take care of Kevin Martin at 171 pounds, earning a pin at 5:29. Munley clinched the match by pinning Francisco Ruiz in 3:20 at 189 pounds, giving Chaparral a 35-10 lead.

I knew I had control once I got ahold of his wrists, Munley said. I thought I had him pinned in the first period, but I didnt get the call. I came back in the second period and did what I had to do. Secor, Koscielak, Costello and Munley all dropped down a weight class for the match. Chaparral coach Ric Campo said the move may have slowed Secor a little.

I thought he had a good opponent, Campo said. Its the first time Dana made the weight and he kind of gassed a little bit and didnt wrestle to his best ability. Once he starts making the weight class a couple more times, hell be fine." In a new twist, dual matches will start this year at a weight class randomly selected WRESTLING, C-3 TEMECULA It was just the first match of the season, but already Chaparrals wrestling team has done something it was unable to do last season top Rancho Verde. The Furnas not only won, but won convincingly, beating the Mustangs 52-22 in a nonleague dual match Wednesday night Six Chaparral wrestlers registered pins in the victory. Last year was really tough on us, junior Justin Manley said.

We lost a lot of matches we needed to win. We are working real hard and our goal is to be No. 1 in the Southwestern League. The Furnas (1-0) separated themselves from Rancho Verde (0-1) in the middle weight classes. Dana Secor pushed the teams lead to 17-10 with a 7-1 decision against Dietrich Zacher at 152 pounds.

After Secors decision, Chaparral recorded three straight pins. agers were advised there could be a dispersal draft as soon as Dec. 15. That, however, is unlikely to happen after challenges from the players union and a court injunction in Minnesota. The Twins and Montreal Expos, though not officially selected by owners, are the prime candidates for elimination.

Weve done our preparation, Towers said. If theres a draft tomorrow, well be ready. Towers said his crew of talent evaluators, led by director of baseball operations Theo Epstein, focused on ranking the players from the PADRES, C-2 SAN DIEGO Fadres officials are busy preparing for a draft, hut this has nothing to do with dispersal. With so much uncertainty surrounding how Major League Baseballs contraction plan could shake out, the Fadres front office instead is concentrating on the usual business, such as next month's Rule 5 draft of available prospects. Thats not our main focus right now, Fadres general manager Kevin Towers said of a dispersal draft.

We dont know if it will happen; we don't know when a dispersal draft will be. When owners voted Nov. 6 to cut the number of teams from 30 to 28, general man- This Army-Navy game means more TV: 8 a.m. Saturday, Ch. 2 Participants on field Saturday may soon head to war ROB MAADDI A-siVivnilKi-'N linebacker Brian Zickefoose said.

They are encouraging both teams, so its going to be a great atmosphere. Flayers and coaches realize the nation is distracted by war, fearful of terror. But they want to provide another distraction, if only for a few hours. Football is a great stress relief, Navy linebacker and team captain Jake Bowen said. While there are things going on of greater global significance, sports is still important.

Its a way to unite people. The tragedy affected Bowen a little more than some of his teammates. His cousin works in the Pentagon and his fiancees family lives nearby. None of them were injured in the Sept. 11 attack.

It truly is an emotional experience when you do pass by the Pentagon and see the big hole there, Bowen said. Its kind of like disbelief, but at the same time, it kind of renews your desire to serve your country. Since the attacks, Americans have rediscovered a sense of patriotism. People are proudly displaying flags, wearing red-white-and-blue ARMY-NAVY, C-3 Saturday at Veterans Stadium, the U.S. still will be fighting its war on terrorism.

The players on the field arent just linebackers and running backs playing another football game. hey are young men who soon could be fighting for their country. I think because of what happened, people will look at it and say, Hey, these guys will be (overseas) next year, doing what were seeing on television, and they respect that, which is good, Army Navy defensive end Brad Wim-satt (94) shakes off Army guard Dustin Plumadore to score on a fumble recovery during last year's 30-28 Navy win at Baltimore. PHILADELPHIA -Tradition. Rivalry.

Patriotism. The Army-Navy game has it all. But this year, the game represents much more. The terrorist attacks added new significance to the 102nd meeting between the two service academies. When the game kicks off A-MVIAn pPul-yi 1 NHLC-8 AT A GLANCE 1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL C-3 SV ESfitiO 1 Buffalo 5, Washington 2 Vancouver 3, Chicago 3, tie Edmonton 2, Anaheim 0 fft NBA.

C-3 New York 105, Atlanta 100 a Charlotte 104, Detroit 96 Washington 94, Philadelphia 87 San Antonio 94, Golden St. 83 Utah 112, Seattle 88 Indiana 99, Denver 85 Phoenix 104, Milwaukee 84 L.A. Clippers 94, Minnesota 75 NEWSWIRE Jeff Gordon was honored as driver of the year by The Sporting News on Wednesday after winning six times and captunng his fourth Winston Cup championship. In addition, Dale Earnhardt toughness earned him an award named after his father. He won three races after his father's death in January.

Community Sports, 02 College football. C-3 Preps, C-3 NBA. C-3 Briefs, 5 NFL.C6 Outdoors, C-7 College basketball, C-8 NHL, 08 BEST ms NFL Eagles vs. Chiefs, 5:30 p.m., ESPN NHL Penguins vs. Sharks, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 Oilers vs.

Kings, 7:30 FSN Ohio State QB Steve Bellisari pleads no corv test to a drunk driving charge and will serve three days in jail after the Outback Bowl. 4 A.