The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 13

frr TT 1 i THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Fridiy August 6 1 993 Jones signs with Jets Ervins ends holdout CAPITAL MORTGAGE 365-4840 15-YEAR FIXED RATE 6 Vi tn -1144 2 Pt 1 Pt Origination PURCHASE-REFINANCE-HOME EQUITY You Rata Wltti Capttal Mori gaga -Rataa Sublet To Cnanga ft PAPER D0UIL01MB K' 1 he Grand Daddy Offering Good 01 Southern Hospitality for 3IYcars Crawls with official and unofficial function and keep the media and spectators a safe distance away when the team is on the practice field The crew has been trained to deal with bomb threats medical emergencies narcotics and the language problem In addition the team has hired Duane Raboum a Berlin-based security consultant who is concerned about the possible actions of the anti-Olympic protesters Christian Okoye the leading contender for the starting fullback job in the new split-back offense was sent back to Kansas City on Thursday for closer examination of his sore left knee Okoye required arthroscopic surgery during the winter on his right knee serving Charlene 3221 Wilkinson Blvd Charlotte NX 28203 392-0647 BOBLEVERONEStatf Man on the move: Chris Poston has make its first Arena Football League playoff been one the reasons the Charlotte Rage will appearance Sunday night against Arizona Poston finds his focus place as a key contributor for Rage Wides UP TO $150 OFF! OfcMTVM NW SkTVtCM Florida State linebacker Marvin Jones the fourth player chosen in the NFL draft agreed to a five-year contract with the New York Jets Thursday Jones got a signing bonus valued at slightly more than $3 million and playing-time and performance incentives that could bring the total value of the package over $65 million Jones will fly from Miami in time to take a physical Friday then accompany the team on its charter to Pittsburgh for their exhibition opener Saturday He is expected to begin practicing Monday Third-year running back Ricky Ervins the only holdout this summer for the Washington Redskins reported to practice Thursday after agreeing on a one-year contract Ervins had sought a salary of $25 million after making $215000 plus incentives the last season He reduced his demand to $600000 last week but the Redskins would not budge above $450000 Including incentives Ervins said they came together "somewhere in the The NFL acknowledged Thursday that while steroid use has been reduced by stringent testing there may still be ways for players to bypass its random testing system The New York Times said an unnamed player talked to the league during its investigation that led to the four-game suspension of New York Giants offensive lineman Eric Moore Moore pleaded guilty in June to a misdemeanor charge of steroid possession The league was also told the tests do not deter steroid use Players have an idea of when random drug tests are to be given although the player did not say how they learn this All-Pro running back Barry Foster ended his 20-day holdout Thursday without the big-money contract he wants but with assurances the Pittsburgh Steelers will soon offer him a multiyear extension He initially wanted to throw out the two remaining years on the contract he signed only last year but the Steelers have a longstanding policy of never renegotiating They released Hall of Famer Franco Harris during a similar contract holdout in 1984 Foster ran for an AFC-leading 1 690 yards last season Given the uncertainties of travel in a foreign country plus the threat of protests from groups opposed to bid for the 2000 Olympic Games the Minnesota Vikings are imposing tight security as they prepare for Saturday American Bowl there against the Buffalo Bills Security workers attend every Wides UP TO 300 OFF! Wides UP TO 500 Wides UP TO 600 OFF! ii Like anybody in this league like to play in the NFL gotten some interest from Canadian (Football League) teams but to be honest this is where rather play close to home And getting paid to play football not such a bad thing is it? Chris Poston 10 OFF ALL OPTIONS See! NearestI DealerrorICa II 1372-48781 GASTONIA LEWIS FEED 6 TACK 861-1210 HOOVER BUILDINGS HWY 275 922-5873 jCffiLa HBrWd KANNAPOLIS CABARRUS BUILDERS MART 406 Cannon Blvd 938-5111 MATTHEWS HEARTLAND EAST 9136 Independence 847-6713 ROCK HILL SC MALLARD'S TRUE VALUE 1501 Cherry Rd 803-366-6197 CHARLOTTE HEARTLAND NORTH 7628 US Hwy 29 549-1661 INTERSTATE KITCHEN BATH 8200 South Blvd 554-6330 PLYWOOD MART 4717 Brookshire Blvd 394-6176 By RICHARD WALKER Staff Writer It would be easy for Chris Poston to be a little upset with what has happened to him this season as a member of the Charlotte Rage Poston was suspended from the team at the start of the season then got injured shortly after he returned But to Poston the chance to be part of the first Arena Football League playoff game Sunday night makes all the bad memories disappear The Rage faces the Arizona Rattlers at 10:30 pm at America West Arena in Phoenix is what worked all season said Poston a starting defensive back for the 6-6 Rage can you be Poston obviously as his strong play would attest Despite missing three complete games and a portion of another Poston is the third-leading tackier and top pass defender made 51 tackles 38 of them unassisted and intercepted four passes and deflected or broken up 10 others Poston also plays wide receiver on offense All this despite a suspension and two frustrating injuries According to position coach Shelby native Charlie Harbison Poston "just lost his focus during training camp" Because of it Harbison and head coach Steve Patton decided to suspend Poston for two games The suspension kept other teams from picking up Poston It also seemed to bring out the best in Poston who has racked up his big numbers despite battling knee and neck injuries this season Says Harbison: the suspension Chris has played like capable of playing And like one RESOLUTION TRUST CORPORATION RFC of the best defensive backs in this league" To develop into that caliber player Poston has had to rely on the abilities that made him an Observer All-Piedmont player at Crest High and an All-South Atlantic Conference player at Gardner-Webb in the 1980s Then he was a running back who used sheer speed and shifty moves to outrun the opposition Now 26 Poston is still fast but uses guile and quickness to try and outguess his opponent to make the big play Poston is also one of many players in the league who are too old or too small Poston is 5-10 178 pounds to get a shot at the bigger more-established NFL anybody in this league like to play in the NFL" Poston said gotten some interest from Canadian (Football League) teams but to be honest this is where rather play close to home And getting paid to play football not such a bad thing is Resolving The Crisis Restoring The Confidence Estat 1 NASCAR today Earnhardt is looking for first road-course victory Race Only once in 12 starts on the road layouts on the Winston schedule Sears Point and Glen has Earnhardt Omni Charlotte Hotel 222 East 3rd Street Charlotte NC Tuesday August 17 AM Registration begins at 9:00 AM This $3995 Seminar Will Cover: How To Select And Purchase Real Estate Loan Assets RTC Financing Opportunities RTC Property Auctions And Sealed Bid Sales Introduction To Available RTC Real Estate Affordable Housing Opportunities Contracting Includes Continental Breakfast Luncheon All Materials Major credit cards checks accepted for advance reservations Seating Is Limited Call Early For Reservations! Pre-payment With Registration Is Requested to Gurantee Seating Coordinated By: RTC Atlanta Sales Center For Seminar Reservations Call: Winston Cup track records: Qualifying 116882 mph Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet August 1992 90-Lap Race 98997 mph Ernie Irvan Chevrolet August 1991 Purse: The Bud At The Glen $755104 1992 winner: Kyle Petty Pontiac TV: ESPN Radio: First round qualifying WFMX 1057 Statesville The Bud At The Glen Motor Racing Network affiliates Ticket information: (607) 535-2481 Event: The Bud At The Glen Race No 19 (of 30) for Winston Cup cars Sunday 1:10 pm Where: Watkins Glen (NY) International Distance: 90 laps or 2205 miles on 245-mile 11 -turn road course Companion events: Trans-Am Tour Old Pro Series and Shelby Dodge Pro Series races Saturday 11:30 am and 3:30 pm Remainder of Winston Cup schedule: Today 10 am practice 3 pm qualifying for positions 1-20 Saturday 8:30 am practice 11 am qualifying for positions 21-38 2:15 pm practice (800)I8352246IeH908 two Cup Watkins failed to complete every possible lap He has been running at the finish of 952 of a possible 961 laps best showings at Watkins Glen have been two third-place finishes in 1986 behind the late Tim Richmond and Darrell Waltrip and in 1989 behind Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin course we want to win on a road course we want to win everywhere we said Earnhardt try for a 60th career victory Sunday after time trials today set the first 20 spots in the lineup not going to lose sleep over the road course thing running for a championship here and a lot of people seem to think we have a lock on it We even have the key yet racing to eventually win seven championships how many Richard Petty won 1 win 200 races like he did with the schedule reduced now to 30 races a year 1 live that long won poles at Watkins Glen and a good racer on that track I just haven't won the race yet" The way Dale Earnhardt has been going may be the key word Continued from page IB Harry four straight in September of 1991 and Bill four in a row of March 1992 And if Earnhardt can continue it this week then have only to answer for the 500 at Daytona we just went through this" Earnhardt said this week looking back to the Save Mart 300 at the Sears Point road course in California two months ago know why never won on a road course If I did fix it you sit around and dwell on it you can come up with all kinds of scenarios and questions about different drivers in racing Like why have I won eight races at Talladega (the superspeedway in Alabama where Earnhardt won the DieHard 500 July 25) and not the Daytona 500 on a track very similar? Who knows? "Do I think a good road course racer? opinion 1 know I embarrass myself" To the contrary Earnhardt has won three straight poles at Watkins Glen He also was the fastest qualifier in June at Sears Point THE All NEW Appearing 1IH 1 Exact computer generated views from the upper deck comer In section and the lower level of section Section PSL Deposit $2400 $800 Section PSL Deposit $2700 $900 to All other sections SOLD OUT PROUDLY PRESENTS SANDRA SCREAM AUG 2-AUC 7 if A in ftoyboy Owe 1W A Current Affair Newsweek USA Today IA Time Poor Open lunch MaHnee 4 Show NgbJ free Admission A Suffer 4-Spm (7pm 11pm taw) located In tfo Gig Show Gar AGria iSC 309 Old Ftmwlfla fid a 27000: Woodtewn I Tyvoia Opan M-F WtAM Serious football fans know the red zone is where the best action happens And right now excellent red zone seats are still available in sections and in Carolinas Stadium So if you ordered your NFL seats yet you are still in luck Pick up your color brochure with application now at Belk First Citizens First Union NationsBank or Wachovia And hurry this is one opportunity no NFL fan should miss Please be sure to include your second choice IN 95 635-4695 VtVrT-rrrTT-rrrTTTTrcrrrrrr 1.