The Wichita Eagle from Wichita, Kansas • 33

Inside World Cup soccer 2C Gotf5C Wranglers TL notes 7C Outdoors 12C SeHHdiUa (Eagle SPORTS For scores: call atyim (3i6) 436-1200 Local: category 9250 Basebal: ciegory 6770 If you have a news tip question or comment about a story Contact Sherry Johnson 2686362 aio 'iftd rut iris iT) SUNDAY June 27 1999 77? Royals hang iO in eighth for victory over Geveland Kansas Qty overcomes its biggest deficit since 1991 Associated Press Christensen says? sorry again Ex-Shocker meets Chicago media to apologize to opponent he beaned 3 Sift ByWJausa Knight Ridder News Service CHICAGO Former Wichita State pitcher Ben Christensen the Chicago Cubs' first-round draft pick apologized again Saturday for throwing the ball that struck Anthony Molina in the eye causing serious damage Lawyers have advised Christensen not to talk about the incident because of expected litigation But Christensen 2L who signed with die Cubs on Friday held a news conference at Wrigley Field to explain his side of what he called an accident and to complain about coverage that be called up to now ahead for good 8-7 with his tworun double eight batters later did their job Ve took pilches and tried to mate (Orion) make mistakes We put the ball in play and put pressure on their Kansas City trailed 7-0 after three innings before scoring once in the seventh and 10 times in the eighth off four Cleveland pitchers The Royals fell one short of their record for runs in an inning last achieved Aug 21 1996 against Milwaukee The rally tied the secondbest comeback in Royals Mrtory accomplished three times KANSAS CITY Mo Bartoto Colon and the Cleveland Indians were nearly perfect for seven innings The Kansas aty Royals were nearly perfect for one The Royals scored 10 runs in the eighth Inning to overcome a seven-nm deficit and defeated the Cleveland Indiana 11-7 Saturday night for their best comeback victory in eight years is a prek-meup especially against said Jermaine Dye who started the rally with a single and put the Royals LmLI ImM Am knmii hm fauyin h)L)Im LuUa ills nuuwn Mil ym nssp ns irsm ijiiuss wos sno being Ben Christensen said Saturday going to hit a guy That's part of baaobalw See ROYALS Page 7C See CHRISTENSEN Page 9C I THE NBA FINALS Young still sees bright pro future j-7 rr -n Vi rJ 4 Jj Hie former owners felt they would win a tide in a few years after moving the team from Dallas they were a little off By Relay Shannon Associated Press SAN ANTONIO Red McCombs admits he was a little naive when he and a few fellow businessmen brought the Dallas Chaparrals to town to become the San Antonio Spurs in 1971 frit like we would probably win a national championship within three or four years' McCombs said Twentysix years later McCombs and the dty finally get to celebrate The Spurs defeated the -New York Knicks 7877 on Friday to win the NBA championship a feat long coveted by a former American Basketball Association franchise that always seemed to lag behind other teams in profits publicity and prestige To put San Antonio on the map like tbfs Just said Spurs center David Robinson Jubilant fans jammed downtown streets Friday night high-living strangers honking car horns and waving Spurs banners to cheer the first NBA title by an old ABA team It's been 26 long years This is the best thing to happen to San Antonio and the best thing to happen to the San Antonio team chairman Peter Holt said in New York Anticipating the victory local leaders planned the official championship party even before Friday's game A river parade and Alamodome pep rally are set for today The celebration is a long way bum the days of the old ABA TTie former East star played in just three games but impressed the Pistons with his work habits By Joanna Stammu The Wichita Eagle Over the past year Kbrieone Young has been on a roller coaster of emotions from elation to utter frustration But through it aU he has remained upbeat It began when Young the former Wichita East star basketball player was taken straight out of high school 40th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1998 NBA Draft That was elation But the lockout kept him off the court was frustrating said Young 6-toot-7 225 poundSL I- The lockout ended then he was sidelined by back spasms He finally made his debut on March 10 at Washington and scored five points but on March 17 he returned to the injured list once again because of bade spasms He returned to play in one more gama Young who played his senior year of high school ball at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham Va saw action in three games and averaged five minutes 4L3 points and 13 rebounds Still be allow the frustrations to keep him down Tm still he said Friday from Ms home in Detroit Tm really happy now A lot of people make it through their first year Most get the chance I got Tve had people say tome know you wanted to play That's true but I was happy because I had accomplished my goals halfway ft wasn't easy though times I'd wonder What does It take? he said was busting my tail so San Antonio's David Robinson holds up the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for winning the NBA (We wMe teammate Tim Duncan holds up the Most Valuable Player trophy Friday See SPURS Page 6C See YOUNG Page 6C 3 5 being built but will they come? Associated Prem biggest speedway is hopefully going to be the home of a Winston Cup race By Duane Frazier The Wichita Eagle WYANDOTTE COUNTY Construction on the first superspeedway in Kansas history ta well under way Earth-moving vehicles are working 20 hours a day on a 1250-acre site In western Wyandotte County in an attempt to bring majorteague mo torsports to the Kansas Qty area as soon as passible When construction completed in 2001 auto racing fans will be greeted by a $224 million complex as yet unnamed that will seat TSfiOO spectators In front of a Lfimlle paved oval racetrack TMs ta really exciting said Grant Lynch president of Kansas Speedway Corpi talking about a real stated- Omnay tirntraxm Construction is wdl under way on a speedway In suburban Kansas CKy The Back Is being fault on a l25fracra site to western Wyandotte County Boris Becker salutes the crowd after downing Ueyton Hewitt on Saturday Becker ousts teen from Wimbledon By Robin Finn New York Times News Service WIMBLEDON England Boris Becker'S Wimbledon swan song is showing signs of becoming an aria The 31-yearold German a decade removed from the last of Ms three Wimbledon titles continued to him back the dock and take control of Centre Court like a bully US not just Ms adoring fans a legion of flag-waving fhcepalnted zealots Ms opponents seem caught up in the spell as weft Saturday Becker the oldest warrior left on the men's side used Ms Intimidation tactics to achieve the desired effect against the youngest man in the draw Australia's Lieyton Hewitt the ponytailed prospect who predicted would be a buzz to abare Beckert turf dates since the Winston Cup schedule originated In 1972 Lynch who also president of Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama remains optimistic of more expansipa He believes Kansas City can KiSpeveJ? to A race ta Kansas Qty would offer NASCAR one of its few opportunities to See SPEEDWAY Page 4C the-art fodlity We certainly believe we television viewershlp has risen 33 percent win have a great place to host an since 19031 But one giant question still looms over Drivers such as Jeff Gordon Dale Jar-the new speedway Will the NASCAR Win- reft Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt ston Cup stock car series ever reach have become major celebrities in their Kansas City? sport The Winston Cup series ta the most sue- The rapidly soaring interest has gener-cessful racing series in motor sports and ated construction of new superspeedways Kansas Speedway Corpi wants to be a throughout the United States pert of It The Winston Cup schedule meanwhile More than 43 million people attended has grown from 29 to 34 dates in the past Winston Cup races tat 1996 and Its cable seven years Thai's the largest number of See WIMBLEDON Page 11C I I ntr 1 yJZ e'vyfr -s lyM.