The Bradenton Herald from Bradenton, Florida • 29

fe -S i i WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9 2002 wwwbradentoncom THE HERALD "3P BASEBALL games played (145) Yankees Luis Scjo agreed to a minor-league contract and was Invited to spring train- tag as a non-coster player Also the Yankees are expected to announce today the signing of David Wells Sellgloan Vv Bud Selig and a company controlled by -Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad arranged Air a $3 million loan to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995 a deal being called a possible vio- lation of baseball rules 1 7' IshllWd The Yakult Swallows reportedly have accepted a bid to sell the rights to left-" hander Kazuhisa Ishli to the Los Angeles Dodgers1'' 1 ASSOCIATED PRESS Fbrmer Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora listens to a question during a news conference to announce his firing Tuesday The outspoken Mora went 3234 in four seasons with the team career list He led the Colts from back-to-back 8-13 seasons to the AFC Eastern Division championship In 1999 with a 158 record and the greatest one-year turnaround in NFL history The Colts were 158 toe next year the first tone the Colts posted double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons since 1978-77 Draft order Despite a record losing streak the Carolina Panthers will only get the second pick in NFL draft This first goes to expansion Houston which will begin play next season! The Panthers 'the first team ever to lose 15 straight games in a single season finished 1-15 Normally that would have given than the Nalpick But the arrival of Houston in the league gives that choice to the Texans with the Panthers second and Detroit (2-14) getting the third Picks are determined on reverse order of record When' teams have the same record the team that played toe easier schedule gets toe higher choice with that pick rotating In future rounds After Detroit Buffelo will be fourth San Diego fifth Dallas sixth Minnesota seventh Kansas City eighth Jacksonville ninth and Cincinnati 10th 1 Earty entries Lombardi Trophy winner Julius Peppers and Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Bryant the first All-American in 15 years passed up their senior seasons and ASSOCIATED PRESS Jim Mora stood by defen-five coordinator Vic Fangio to the very end with the Indi- anapolis Colts It ended up costing Menu his Job Tuesday with team president firing the 66-year-- old head coach after four sea-v sons including a 6-10 record In 2001 "There are a number of rea- sons I got fired but the main one Is that I was asked by Bin Pollan to fire Vic Fangio and I do Mem said during his 45-minute neats conference was not the only one I was asked to Mora would not say how many assistants he was asked to fire Pollan said aU the -assistants- except Fangio would be under 1 the final year of their con- for now Mora said Fangio insisted he should not give up his Job as head coach to save Fan- Job Mora said Fangio who has worked at each of his head coaching stops already has been offered the defen-: sive post with the expansion Houston TcxflnSe said Tf it comes down to you or me sacrifice your position tor "Mora said It came down to in my mind was what was right and what was wrong" Mora thanked Colts owner Jim Irsay for the opportunity to coach in IndlannpnlU and many of the people within the 1 organisation fbr their sup-J port He also thanked his players for their effort Mora doses this chapter in his 15-year NFL career with 125 victories 18th onthe BUCS FROM ID 7 Dungy returned to Tampa late Monday night after attending the Amend of his mother Cleomae 81 on Mon- day in his hometown of Jack-son Mich Mrs Dungy died Thursday after a lengthy illness After coaching the Bucs in Sunday 17-18 loss to the Eagles he flew to Michigan and back again But other simultaneously" 7 The 6-foot-6 285-pound Peppers is expected to be among the top four or five players chosen in the draft Seahawks His team eliminated from the playoffs Seattle coach Mike Holmgren is thinking about offering Trent pilfer a new contract and a chance to dislodge Matt Hasselbeck as -toe starting quarterback -The Seahawks 9-7) were eliminated from playoff contention Monday night when the Baltimore beat the Minnesota Vikings to claim die last AFC wild-card berth in the final game of the regular season A Minnesota victory would have put team In the playoffs -1 difficult emotionally but fortunately for me" I know my situation and what her faith was ASSOCIATED PRESS Free-agent outfielder Juan Gonzalez who turned down two-year offers from the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles rejoined the Texas Rangers on Tuesday the' team he started his major-league career with The deal with Texas calls for a 82 million signing bonus $10 million this year and 12 million in 2003 The Rangers will defer $4 million of his salary this year All-Star first baseman Sean Casey and Cincinnati agreed to a 84 million one-year contract Casey 27 hit 810 with IS home runs and 89 last season and led the Reds in 0ZZIE FROM ID my going in is going to rein-force the defensive aspect of sure hands will be put to use right away On 1 Tuesday night be was to carry the Olympic torch as the relay made Its way to St Louis Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots To be elected players had to be listed on at least 75 percent of the ballots of 10-year members of the Baseball Association of America Carter got 848 votes (727 percent) and fell 11 shy of election The former catch- ers totals have dramatically Improved over the years going from 84 percent in 1999 to nearly 497 percent in 2000 to 65 percent last -year the anticipation is so high and if being talked about so much a Carter said this dose you want It to at the threshold watting for them to open the he said Just excited for next Jim Rice (55 percent) was third in the voting followed by Bruce Sutter (50 percent) i first-jime candidate Andre I Dawson (45 percent) and Goose Gossage (43 percent) Luis Tiant (18 percent) fell off the ballot in his 15th and final year of eligibility Ron Guidry Dave Stewart and Frank Viola were among the players who failed to receive the required 5 percent to remain on the ballot Smith 47 was a 15-time All-Star He will become the 254th person enshrined in the Hall during ceremonies at Cooperstown NY on July 28 Smith won Gold Gloves from 198582 set shortstop records for most assists (8875) and double plays (1590) The Cardinals retired his No 1 While playing Smith said he never had time to admire his prowess But after watching himself in highlight reels since retiring he playftilly proclaimed: know what? I was Smith was not known for his offense He batted Just 1282 in his career with 2460 hits' 28 homers and 793 RBIs He also stole 580 By the time his career ended Cal Ripken had already ushered in the era' of top-hitting shortstops Alex Rodriguez Nomar Gai ciaparra Derek Jeter now carry that mantle hitting 40' or 50 homers you have to give up something If if a middle infielder that usually means Smith said will always be room for the prototypical shortstop" Smith will go into the Hall a year after former Pittsburgh Second tampmim BUI Mazeroski made it Mazeroski a career 260 hitter was a stellar defensive player and his election a clear message I had a good Smith said Mazeroski was selected by the Veterans Committee which has since been drastically revamped The 15-man panel has been replaced by a 90-man group two-thirds of them HaU of Famers and can elect players only mice every two years beginning in 2003 Smith broke into the majors with San Diego in 1978 Smith played four years with the Padres then than looking a little tired and: really not much you can say rubbing his eyes once Other than exhibited his usualfcaim Dungy chuckled a bit when demeanor asked if all the rumors about been a tough tone to be Bill Parcells or Steve Spur-Tony Dungy In addition to rier replacing him made him the death of his mother there 4 angry 1 1 are the rumors that Dungy it's really Just the way will be fired after six years it Dungy said sat part never really changes Fortunately I have my dad and siblings that were able to handle most of the funeral arrangements and that kind of filing 7 -v- difficult emotionally but fortunately for me I know my situation and what her felto was I have that same and doing fine not the type of thing where my heart is weighed down or anything That's probably the biggest blessing that we Notes -s-i'-sM-i Kicker Martin Gramatlca Is expected to return Saturday after missing the patt two games with a strained right hamstring should be Dungy said actually wanted to kick and probably could have in' last DE Marcus Jones (sprained shoulder) and RB Rabih Abdullah (sprained foot) are considered questionable for Saturday Jha Brsdnaa sports writer am be reached at 745-7017 of Gator football High school recruits are scheduled to visit Gainesville this weekend as the recruiting period heads into its final four weekends It would have been tough to land any blue-chippers without a head coach In place Also those players who wanted to commit to Florida were told to wait until Foley found his man And now it appears he has Staff writer Roger Mooney contributed to this report declared themselves eligible for the NFL draft Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth Pitt safety Ramon Walker and tight ends Randy McMichael of Georgia and Darnell Sanders of Ohio State also declared for the draft Tuesday a Underclassmen have until FYlday to declare themselves eligible for the April draft with Michigan State running back Duckett set to announce his decision Thursday He ran for 1466 yards and 12 touchdowns as a Junior Peppers the twoeport star at North Carolina also said he would not play basketball this season upon toe difficult reality of balancing academics basketball and preparing for the NFL draft of his mother Cleomae room for some humanity called me a couple times about my Dungy said talked mostly about that something that you really appreciate a very classy individual appreciate everyone's support The NFL other orga- nizatlons everybody has' been real Dungy has stayed on the same even keel through it all a man who admittedly loves routine the ordinary One look at his fece 30 seconds after a game ends and you have no ldea whether the Bucs have won or lost He has resolved to keep himself and the Bucs on a steady course regardless of what tomorrow holds for my situation been pretty much just zeroing in on getting ready to Dungy said over the weekend then changed his mind He did however meet briefly with Stoops in Norman Okla on Monday before reboarding the Jet and flying to Denver His pursuit of Shanahan might have been fruitless from file beginning It appears now that Shanahan was never really interested in returning to Gainesville 1 For Foley time was quickly running out on what seemed to be a seemless transition from Spurrier to the next era investor-operator Negotiations continue-regarding acquisition of operating rights of the Dallas Burn and San Jose Earthquakes with the league hoping to conclude both deals before the season The league would then achieve its goal of having an investor-operator for every team The fete apparently was sealed when the Glazer family which owns file Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned down a proposal to take over the team Hie Mutiny which finished with a Major League Soccer-worst 4-21-2 record averaged 10479 fens for 14 games at Raymond James Stadium an 11 percent increase from the 2000 season average of 9452 Tampa Bay ranked 11th in attendance ahead of only league champion San Jose were looking at a 20 percent Increase in season-ticket sales and flexi-passes ASSOCIATED PRESS Ozzie Smith rounds the t' bases after he delivered a gamewinning homer to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers In Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series 2002 VOTING 472 votes east 354 needed Ozzie Smith 433 Gary -Carter 343 Jim Rice 260 Brupe Sutter 238 Andre Dawson 214 Goose Gossage 203 Steve Garvey 134 Tommy John 127 Bert Blyleven 124f Jim Hast 109 Jack Morris 97 Don Mattingly 96 Luis Tiant 85 Alan Trammell 74 Dale Murphy 70 Dave Parker 66 Dave Concepcion 56 Keith Hernandez 29 Ron Guidry 23 Dave Stewart 23 Mike Greenwell 2 Frank Viola 2i 7 Lenny Dykstra 1 Tim Wallach 1 Mike Henneman 0 Jeff Russell 0 Scott t': Sanderson Robby Thompson 0 -r was traded for shortstops Garry Templeton in February 1982 and finished with 15 years in St Louis Hardly any non-pitchers in the HaU have fewer homers than Smith Johnny Evers and Ray Schalk are tied for the least with 12 Smith however could deliver in the clutch A' switch-hitter the first left-handed homer of his career came in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 1965 NL Championship Series lifting the Cardinals over Los Angeles The Cardinals went on to win the series in six games and Smith was voted as MVPoftheNLCS Smith and St Louis won the World Series in 1982 and lost in seven games in 1985 and 1987 Carter an 11-time All-Star was on the ballot for the fifth time He was picked on 42J percent of the ballots in his first appearance in 1998 His parentage dropped to 338 the following year then increased to 497 in 2000 and 649 in 2001 Carter hit 824 homers with 1225 RBIs His 296 homers as a catcher are toe sixth-most Rice on the ballot for the eighth time was fourth in last voting at 579 per cent The eight-time All-Star and 1978 AL MVP had a 298 career average with 382 homers and 1451 RBIs Sutter and Gossage were bidding to Join Hoyt WU-helm and Roliie Fingers as the only relievers in the Hall Alan TrammeU got 16 percent in his first year of eligibility He hit 285 with 185 homers and 1003 RBIs as shortstop Aram 1977-96 and won four Gold Gloves Bucs coach on the death But it affect us or the guys in the locker room We have a Job to da what everybody In our organlza- torn is focused in on down and the read the newspapers before when It was about other places and other situations That's toe But even the No-Fun-League has a little bit of heart here and there Take coaches for Instance Dungy and Eagles 'head coach Andy Reidhave known each other for years With Jobs and championships at stake time is still a little no commitments beyond that first choice was Stoops who helped Spurrier win fiie 1996 national title Stoops took over the 'Oklahoma program in 1999 and led the Sooners to the national title the following year Though he had a clause in his contract that allowed hlm to leave Oklahoma if offered file Florida Job he decided to stay with the Sooners Foley denied reports that Stoops had accepted the job hope to return to the state of Florida when the league expands in ftiture The announcement expected for several weeks followed an unanimous vote FMday by the MLS board of governors The league has spent more than 8250 million and has yet to turn an annual profit investors have made a' number of strategic decisions that will better position MLS in the short and long Garber said know many out there think this Is the end of Major League Soccer and that be further from the truth something we feel Is a new strong beginning be a much stronger more viable league in the MLS also announced that Anschutz which took over operations of DC United last February exercised Its option to become with the Bucs There are Just as many rumors out there about where Dungy will coach after that All of which Dungy seems to have in perspective taking it all in with an extra-large grain of really Dungy said you can call it that the Am thing about the NFL There are going to be rumors and speculation GATORS FROM ID Shanahan mid how the hire will go over in Gainesville is hardtoknow The first people Zook must convince however fens but quarterback Rex Grossman and a handflil of teammates who have wavered on their decisions to return In the wake of sudden resignation Grossman the Helsman Trpphy runner-up said he would love to return if Shanahan were the coach but made MIS FROM lb 7 YorkNew Jersey Lamar Hunt operates two other teams Columbus and Kansas City MLS cited poor support for file Fusion and the lack of an owner tor the Mutiny as reasons tor dropping file franchises The Mutiny have been operated by file league since their inception in 1996 A dispersal draft will be held this month to assign Tampa and Miami players to other teams decision to leave both cities tar the 2002 MLS season was extremely commissioner Don Garber said can assure all of our fens that we worked tirelessly to find a plan that would have allowed us to remain In both markets We simply could not find a solution that was economically 'feasible at this time and we for 2002 and corporate sales were up 80 percent even with all the rumors (about con-' traction)" said Mutiny director of communications Tracey Judd sales staff members are able to hold their heads Miami was ninth in the league in attendance with an average of 11177 DC United led the league averaging 21518 for 12 home dates The Fusion Joined the league as an expansion team in 1998 Last year they had the best record and readied the semifinals but they also had the lowest revenue including corporate support Garber said Attendance improved nearly 50 percent to 11177 per game In 2001 but that was still below the league average of 14J161 Herald staff writer Mike Henry contributed to this report i -W.