Johnson City Press from Johnson City, Tennessee • 15

yfr Ml iiT --f -jt 4MV i 1 i ffd Monday July 10 1989 Graf spoils Martinas record bid y-yyi I i 2: The Associated Press WIMBLEDON England -Martina Navratilova lost and laughed Steffi Graf won and cried It was hard to tell the victor from the vanquished Sunday after Graf again foiled Navratilovas bid for the ultimate Wimbledon record Graf overpowered Navratilova in the final set to win her second straight womens championship 6-2 6-7 6-1 on a history-making day at the All England Club After halting Navratilovas try for a record ninth Wimbledon singles title for the second year in a row Graf sat in her sideline chair on Centre Court bowed her head and sobbed It was a highly unusual display of emotion for the 20-year-old West German who came under fire for her icy reaction after sweeping the four Grand Slam titles last year But after losing to teen-ager Arantxa Sanchez in the French Open final last month Graf was determined to crush all challengers I 'nuiiwvw iiiculiy 1 put a little more pressure on myself than usual Graf said "Its an overwhelming feeling No one wanted another trophy more than Navratilova who once again was stymied in her attempt to break a tie with Helen Wills Moody and become the all-time leader in Wimble v-: VJMc' -rv 7 1 WIMBLEDON England -About the only thing Boris Becker fumbled Sunday was the winners trophy Becker blasted passing shots down both lines to beat defend ing champion Stefan Edberg in straight Bets in a rematch of the 1988 final claiming his third Wimbledon title in five years The 21-year-old West German regaining the title he won in 1985 and 1986 defeated Edberg 6-0 7-6 64 in the most one-sided final since John McEnroe allowed Jimmy Conf nors only four games in 1984 Becker volleying flawlessly and returning serve so well the Swede never had opportunities to take control with his vaunted net play made few mistakes and won almost every crucial point The championship trophy was the only thing he couldnt handle As he strolled around Centre showing off the glittering cup to the crowd he light-heartedly juggled the trophy and fumbled it allowing the top to pop off and onto the grass court He quickly scooped the top up and tried to replace it but could not get it to fit Tournament referee Alan Mills came over and finally helped Becker put the' lid in isesf Inn Cue iuirvm Hiul ul trophy Becker said this triumph was a serious matter "The early victories were more like a fairy tale Becker said "Over the last two or three years I had to work much har- Please see BECKER Page 18 -1 3 Jt yc3" ''-5 7 i Met 7'v 4 i -r -y v-' 1 4 V' i -i y' -'7 -j- --j -'-w I -V 4 '7 7 7 'y "Basically 1 got served off the court Navratilova said "I just couldnt get the ball back in that last set Boris Becker completed the first West German double at Please see GRAF Page 18 -V 7 AP LaserPhoto Steffi Graf and Boris Becker show off their trophies after the pair of West Germans won championships Lowe making his mark with Martinsville i-w 7 s' i 7 Wij not looking too far ahead He plana to concentrate on todays games in Cardinal Park then hope for the best tomorrow "I feel great Fm just going out every day and playing hard said Lowe whose father Ixmnie is general manager of the Johnson City Cardinals "Youve got to play hard every day and hope things fall in place Johnson City Night: Because of Sundays postponement Johnson City will host Martinsville tonight for a pair of seven-inning games starting at 6:30 Chris Lowe and Calvin Talford a basketball standout at East Tennessee State University will be in action for Martinsville Lonnie Lowe has proclaimed the double-header "City Night and admission is free to the public Something else has helped Lowes batting average soar above last years 253 which he acquired in just 25 games Lowe is switch-hitting for the first time in his 12-year baseball career "I started switch-hitting in extended spring training and its coming along OK Lowe said "Im still learning the left-handed swing but I feel pretty good with it Speed has always been Lowes forte He runs the 60-yard dash in 63 seconds He gets down the first-base line in 37 38 or 39 seconds from the left side and makes first in 39 or 4 seconds from the right "Were looking at Chris for the future Martinsville manager Rollie DeArmas said "He runs real well and if he learns to switch-hit hell improve that much quicker Said Lowe: "Ive learned to stay back and hit to the left side then use my speed Thats my biggest asset Lowe 18 was scheduled to start in center field Sunday and bat in the leadoff spot He also plays left field but has spent most of his 15 games this year in center The past two extended spring trainings have been just that extended extensive training for Lowe He has hit against major league pitchers and has been coached by professionals in the Philadelphia organization "Last year I was pleased with the season I had he said "As a 17-year-old I thought I swung the bat pretty well But Ive learned a lot since then and this is still a learning experience This is a lot different from high school" While his career is looking up Lowe is By Dave Link Press Sports Writer Chris Lowe knows hes still a long way from the major leagues But hes a lot closer today than he was a year ago In his second season with the Martinsville Phillies Lowe has jumped off to a quick start and has earned a regular spot in the outfield The former University High standout has the 'highest batting average on the team and ranked 11th in the Appalachian League at 313 through July 6 "Ive been more aggressive at the plate Lowe said after Sundays game with the Johnson City Cardinals was postponed due to wet grounds "I learned a lesson last year You cant go up there and watch fastballs and strikes go by you Youve got to hit -'SW STifKx 77v 7 r- Chris Lowe All-Star game developing western flavor Courson telling tale of chem ical i lemma Steve Courson wrote this poem on a cocktail napkin in a Tampa Fla bar about 2Vt years ago after starting work on his autobiography He plans to include the poem in the book I woke up this morning after a night of killing pain I went to the practice field to deal with it again My coach he tells me "Fight hard and be a man! But with his chalk board theories we all wonder if he can? So knock em down block em hard and strive to win the fight I wonder why theyre so concerned is it economic plight? The battle in the trenches won and lost and who does realize but the gladiator in its midst whose soul in anguish cries The battle fought the game is won and victor duly glorified But the sad fact businessman is the sporting soul has died In the end in retrospect whats glorified and gained but the almighty dollar not the spirit of the game The Associated Press WEXFORD Pa Every day while he waits and hopes a suitable heart has been found Steve Courson scribbles furiously into spiral notebooks He is wrapping up more than three years of work on an autobiography that includes a long chapter on the hazards of anabolic steroids He also is churning out letters and editorials on what he calls the sports worlds "chemical dilemma "This health demise of mine is not something that Im really thrilled about having to deal with But indirectly it gives me a platform to get my message across to young people he said Courson 33 doesnt worry when or whether a heart big enough to fit his 6-foot-lVi 255-pound body will turn up "I worry about not getting my message out and not having the time and health to do it Thats what I worry about So Courson writes at his apartment in Wexford a 20-minute drive from Pittsburghs Allegheny General Hospital his destination once a heart is found The Associated Press ANAHEIM Calif Kevin Mitchell Bo Jackson and Dave Stewart signal baseballs new sign of the The All-Star game is strictly a West Coast affair For the first time since 1975 the American and National Leagues each are represented by more players from the West Division than the East No longer do the Gary Carters Dave Winfields and Steve Carltons dominate the roster Now its newcomers like Ruben Sierra Benito Santiago and Chuck Finlev And thatrs the trend throughout the major leagues The AL West which has not won the season series against the East since 1977 leads 180-157 in inter-divison games this year Only Baltimore is solidly over 500 in the East while the West has four cqmfortably above the break-even point "For years the AL East had the more established flayers the people everyone had heard of said 'inley a first-time All-Star pitcher for California "The AL West had young talent but it was still developing On Tuesday night at the' Anaheim Stadium there will be 17 players from the AL West and just 12 from the East The NL West has 16 to the Easts 14 its first edge 6ince 1983 Jackson Mitchell and Stewart the fans know But Jeff Russell Devon White and John Smoltz? "I think a lot of people around the country might be watching the All-Star game this year and saying 'Who are those guys? Ive never heard of them Finley said Please see STARS Page 18 someone else Despite all thats happened Courson doesnt regret choosing football as a career "I played two Super Bowls I had some great moments in my athletic career But that doesnt mean I still dont politically disagree with certain things that go on "I have not been mesmerized by the NFLs propaganda machine At one time I was But after you experience it and you were there you understand what its all about Youre an Please see COURSON Page 18 Girlfriend Lisa Michalak 24 who works in sales for a metals distributor types his notes into a portable computer Hes shopping a draft of his book around to New York pub- lishers In the meantime hels revising and updating the 400-page-plus manuscript and scheduling school speeches to let young athletes coaches and everyone else know "what time it is "No ones talking about steroids and pain-killers and what it takes to play Id just like to prevent this from happening to AP LaserPhoto Kevin Mitchell heads the switch in power.