The Knoxville News-Sentinel from Knoxville, Tennessee • 45

easy to figure NFL pacesetters now NFL report from wtro report! After all the complicated tiebreakers which came into play to determine last season's National Football League playoff berths figuring out the leaders at the halfway point of 1985 is simple It is particularly so in the National Football Conference where a year ago an abacus and two computers were needed If for some reason the season were called off today Chicago (8-0) would be the NFC Central rfamp the Rams (7-1) would win the West and Dallas (6-2) the East The New York Giants and Detroit Lions both 5-3 would be the wild-card teams with the Giants getting the home-field advantage for their game on the basis of a better record within the conference (5-2 to Detroit's 4-3) to go so put that abacus away EVEN with Sunday's win over the Rams the 49ers are still 4-4 and questions persist about what's wrong Nobody can really say but coach Bill latest version: have to sacrifice a lot to put together an 18-1 season Then six months later it easy to come back and try to do it all over again It easy to get back in the right frame of mind after showing your mental toughness for 18 consecutive weeks You want to admit you have an attitude problem but you know it exists been THEN there are the Rams How did they win seven straight without an offense? How can they be 7-1 when the running game in general and Eric Dickerson in particular are playing with one foot in quicksand? not the crispness in the running game there was early in the season" said coach John Robinson whose team has averaged Just 101 yards on the ground in its last four games Los Angeles ripped off large chunks in the first two games when Charles White and Barry Redden were subbing for Dickerson who held out for 39 days in a contract squabble One problem is injuries on the offensive line which when healthy is one of the best Guard Dennis Harrah has missed the last six games and tackle Bill Bain missed two games and has been playing hurt KELLEN WINSLOW the San Diego All-Pro tight end made his first start Monday night after severely injuring his knee almost exactly a year ago against the Raiders It was a good enough night for Winslow who caught two passes for 14 yards in a brief appearance a week ago On Monday he had five catches for 48 yards and reported no ill effects although he left the game with a tired leg in the fourth quarter CINCINNATI strengthened its Injury-riddled secondary by signing former Pittsburgh Steelers corner-back Sam Washington Coach Sam Wyche said all the defensive backs may be able to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bins despite a litany of injuries sustained in a hard-hitting victory over the Steelers Washington was signed shortly after a tryout Tuesday afternoon The Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers would be out In the American Football Conference the division champions would be the New York Jets (6-2) in the East and 1 the Cleveland Browns (4-4) in the lackluster Central Denver (6-2) would win the West over the Los Angeles Raiders because the Broncos are 2-0 fan the division and the Raiders are 1-1 So the Raiders would get the home wild-card spot The Miami Dolphins last year's Super Bowl participant would sneak into the other wild-card spot on the basis of a 4-2 against AFC teams to 3-2 for New England Both teams are 5-3 overalL There is however a half-season UT FOOTBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE AT STOKELY ATHLETICS CENTER RUTGERS MISSISSIPPI TICKET OFFICE HOURS M-F (615)974-2491 NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED Cardinal Andujar suspended for 10 days baseball notes Toronto Blue Jays to their first American League Eastern Division title has been named Major League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News Cox who has resigned in Toronto to become general manager of the Atlanta Braves received seven votes to edge Whitey Herzog of the SL Louis Cardinals by one vote the game for arguing with the umpires during the title-clinching victory by the Kansas City Royals umpire in the National League so I represent the league and the Cardinals are my Williams said "They were a disgrace to the World Series and the National BOBBY COX who guided the Thedoorshave been locked to neiLcirgestSpprtingvgbods storeinEastTennesseeRobert remain Dean's will tremdinf closed -eiythi rigs has ordered from wire reports St Louis pitcher Joaquin Andujar will miss the first 10 days of the 1986 baseball season under a suspension imposed Tuesday by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth for the Cardinal right-hander's outburst against American League umpire Don Denkinger in the seventh game of the World Series actions are damaging to the game and cannot be Ueberroth said in announcing that he was fining Andujar 3500 the maximum amount he can impose Andujar will not be paid while under suspension Andujar was ejected in the fifth inning of Sunday's game in Kansas City won by the Royals 11-0 after he charged Denkinger to argue the ball and strike calls Ueberroth also said he plans to talk to Andujar soon concerning testimony at a drug trial in Pittsburgh Several major league players were implicated although none was charged in the investigation Concerning the Work! Series incident one of the National League umpires who worked the Series says the SL Louis final game petulance was a to the Worid Billy Williams who was the first-base umpire during the seventh game of the baseball championship series made the comments Monday saw that and I was ready to kill Andujar" Wiliams said "You come down off the mound and scream at an umpire not dogs to be hollered Andujar and Cardinals' manager Whitey Herzog were thrown out of iSSJSi FOR DETAILS INSKIP-NORWOOD TO HOLD BASKETBALL SIGN-UPS Basketball sign-ups will be held at the Inskip Ball Park on November 1 2 3 and again on November 8 9 10 Hours are from 12:00 4:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday and on Friday 4:00 7:00 PM Gris boys ages 7 thru 17 who are interested come by park sign up or call 688-1550 yAr A v-' wk SPORTS EMPORIUM DOWNTOWN WEST BLVD fl AT UNIVERSAL TIRE: SportsTalk sell WKGN cuts call-in show by KIM BOATMAN INTRODUCING THE NEW AFFORDABLE STEEL-BELTED RA ville radio listeners The primary audience for the show was men 35 and older was very difficult when it came down to saying going to cancel said Fred Jacob the station owner in the 18 months been here not 'specifically had anyone who bought SportsTalk a business got to pay our WKGN will continue to broadcast Central High football games Austin-East basketball games pro and college football and the Atlanta Braves Jacob said the live sports coverage sold welL "The nail that really sealed the coffin (on SportSTalk) was a recent conversation I had with one of the largest advertising agencies in said Jacob I even had a chance to sen him he told me he listened to SportsTalk every night He bought nothing He said he wouldn't let his personal feelings interfere" Jacob said SportsTalk might be resurrected in some format if listener response is overwhelming think it would only be worthwhile doing because I see it as such a need in this area Td have to get an awful lot of said hauQAifu eiMaSmaaStAa wbwi oenunw iponiwnwr Despite the cancellation of only sports talk show David Shirk says he will remain at WKGN WKGN 1340 AM completed the switch from a newstalk format to urbancontemporary Monday SportsTalk the two-hour call-in show hosted by Shirk was among the programs the 1000-watt radio station dropped The move left Shirk once the sports director at WTVK spinning records and continuing play-by-play work at high school football and basketball games now going to stay right here The thing I enjoy about this job is play-fay-play' Shirk playing records four hours a day is a lot more fun than listening to talk Shirk said he had expected the station to keep SportsTalk for an hour five days a week And while the program had no problem generating calls during football and basketball seasons advertisers were harder to come by According to the Birch Rating Quarterly Report for July through September this year SportsTalk drew less than 1 percent of Knox ALL-SEASON STEEL-BELTED RADIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE! 155K0R13 Agressive all-season tread pulls you through any weather Isolated full-depth shoulder grooves fora lifetime of all-season performance Two tough steel belts for strength and stability Polyester cord body for smooth ride Outline black serrated sidewall lettering SIZE PRICE Celebrity Steel-Belted Radial Charger Speed Rated All-Season Steel-Belted Radial Raised White or Outline Black Letters LINE WHITEWALL $37 $39 $41 $43 $44 $46 $48 $51 $50 $52 $54 $57 15580R13 16580R13 17580R13 18580R13 18575R14 19575R14 20575R14 21575R14 20575R15 21575R15 22575R15 23575R15 -v VTV vy Free Mounting Free Rotation Every 5t000 Miies Complete Under-Car Services: Wheel Alignment Shocks Disc Brakes And You Can Add Universal Exclusive Road Hazard Warranty to Protect Your Tire Investment A Jordan Travel ever everything from pavement te dirtte weed Smoother than ever before A leather hi top shoe with a cushioning system sa advanced it travels ever everything In ST- 5407 Middlebrook Pike at Mid-Park Lane 588-5165 Athletic Houe 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH AT UNIVERSAL TIRE WITH APPROVES CREDIT) KELLY TIRES FOR A XEILY-SPRINGFIEID RIDE.