Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • 82

E2 Vhureday August 24 2000 Richmond Times-Olepatch QUOTE OF THE DAY "The position has changed I think I tiad ai lot to do wtth that I don't know wtiy they haven't even changed the name of ttw position yeL Instead of oontefback just call It Deion I'm serious Kids dwuld say 1 want to ptay quartertsck I want to play receiver I want to piay Deion" Washington's Dalaa Saadais on Ms affect on the fame STATOFTHEDAY On Diesday gainst AtlanUh Cokirado catcher BraaW ItayM (left) became the tint position player to earn a victory since outfielder Reeky Catafts threw 2 shutout limin for the New Ybrk Yankees agnlnst the Detroit Tlgns on Aug 25 1968 SPORTS FOCUS Fantasy Football A nmning start BACKUP PIAN Come Round 14 when scratching the bottom of the pool looking for some chop talent consider drafting the actual backup to your quarterback andor top running back Injuries to key players can crush you but having the fojured player's backup can ease the pain especially if the backup is any good So if you pick Titans QB Steve McNair grab Neil at And Chris Warren some nice insurance for Smith You get the idea coverage goes back back back T'houghta afterthoughts in between thoughts i Fox Sporta does some strange stuff trying to keep ahead of the orfiving up to ite own bizarre sense of bow games should be covered but no one can accuse the Foxies of following the crowd Their imaginations never sleep Otherwise how to explain what the network has come up with to create interest for game-of-the-week telecast of the Dodgers against the down-and-out Cubs? If ever there was a game to miss this is it except a light bulb went on aomewhere in the vast Fox empire As a result viewers will be taken on a 61-year journey that mercifully will make the actual competition seem inconsequential On Aug 26 1939 the first major-league baseball game was televised According to Fox research an estimated 40Oplus sets in a iXXmile radius of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn NY could pick up the Dodgers-Cindnnati Reds game To commemorate that modest beginnings Fox will use Saturday's matchup to turn back the dock and show how coverage has evolved For example the game will begin in black and white with only two cameras one behind home plate another behind third base and Joe Buck the only announcer The first analyst didn't appear until the 1950s ao Tiro McCarver woat join Buck until the fourth inning Instant replay developed until the '60s so that wont be used before the fifth inning: Not until the eighth inning will we get the modem touches which in-clude l5 cameras zoom lens graphics etc Backs the key to your success BY DANNY FINNEGAN TntEP-DuPATCH Stmt Warns uarterbackaget the glory and wide receivers make the great plays But if you want to win I your fantasy football leagueHua year you better concentrate on running backs when you ait down to draft Whether In a performance league or you live and die by the touchdown alone running back is the most important position to fill early There are a ton of good receivers out there and you can almost always find a serviceable quarterback late in the draft where do you think Steve Beuerlein went in your league last year? But drafting good running backs early is aa important aa sticking to your top-100 list in the middle rounds The top echelon of running backs will dominate the first round of any league where the owners are paying attention It's hard to imagine taking anyone other than Edgerrin James or Louis' Marshall Faulk with the first two picks in any draft and Eddie George and Ste-phen Davis are likely to go in the first five not to say there aren't a few nonrunning backs to consider early Colts QB Peyton Manning is likely to improve on last 26 TDs and 234 yards per game although it's interesting to note he had only two SOOyard games in 99 Everyone expects St Louis QB Kurt numbers to drop oft but if he reaches 75 percent of his 99 totals that would mean about 32 touchdown passes and ALREADY In case you been paying attention injuries have knocked these guys out for foe season Carolina WRs PStrick Jeffers and Jim Turner Arizona WR Rob Moore New Orleans TE Cam Cleeland and Carolina PK John Kasay Miami WR McDuffie San Frandaco RB Garrison Hearst and Green Bay WR Corey Bradford will miaa at least the first six weeks RECOVERS ON THE RISE Well since I said there are a ton of good receivers here are a few to check out the Amani Toomer New Troy Brown SL Tony Holt David Boston Peerless Price and Baltimore's Qa-dry Ismafl And the Tennessee tan-don of Kevin Dyson and Carl Pickens could have big seasons LAST-MINUTE ADVICE Pick up some good magazines the Sporting News fantasy guide fa good and make sure you have good fists to work with Then work the Web for last-minute info with stops at rotonewsxom the-huddlexotn sportslinexomand six SOOyard games Minnesota WR Randy Moss terrorized the defensive backs for a second consecutive yesr and likely to at least match last 1413 yards 11 IDs and seven lOGyard games Marvin Harrison favorite target also deserves early consideration After that a alight step down to other possible first-rounders such as St Louis' Isaac Bruce and Green Bay's Antonio Freeman So that leaves a lot of room for running backs in the rest of foe first round The next best may be ageless Emmitt Smith Don't be fooled by his age (31) or nagging leg juries that have kept him out of the preaeason Smith is expected to be ready for the opener after rushing for 1397 yards and 13 TDs last year while topping foe lOGyard mark nine times Jets RB Curtis Martin is certainly worth a look in performance leagues after rushing for 1464 yards last year and his TDs should go up with New limited options After that you might want to a gamble on aome of the big-name veterans returning from iqjuries But be aware that Denver's Terrell Davis Jamal An derson Green Dorsey Le-vens and Jacksonville's Frol Taylor all have been less than 100 per-cent in thepreaeason Levens and Taylor will misa the start of the season with iqjuries and Davis will lose carries to promising second-year back Olaodis Gary The other solid picks who shouldn't make it through two rounds are Mike Alatott Tampa TD machine Duce Staley Detroit's James Stewart and New Ricky Williams Oakland's Tyrone Wheat-ley Robert Smith and Corey Dillon are worth a look too and Chicago's Curtis Enia could have a breakthrough year At least three rookie runners are likely to have an impact the Ron Dayne Thomas Jones and Jamal Lewis back from a dislocated elbow Among the sleepers are Lamar Smith won the job in Miami Richard Huntley and Cleveland starter Errict Rhett If you really want to take a chance try Robert Chancey the starter by default in San Diego Of course he could lose his job to Jermaine Fa- xande ON TELEVISION THIS WEEKEND i IflliM'i H'r If' mtmmmm today awwswMfatti ri wt'Ht XGAMES 1-2 un FTOm San Francisco tapeX ESPN (AHll CCA) AUTO RACISM 7-630 ajn-Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium qualifying SPEED (ATT75 CC53) 54 pjn IRL Betterra Resort 300 qualifying (samMtay tapeX ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 730-11 NASCAR WC GoradngjHn 500 ESPN (Ami CCA) Seventy percent of the country including Richmond (WRLH-35) wiQ get the DodgerfrCubs game Fox Sports President Ed Gore told The Chicago Tribune the idea came from criticism that television was becoming annoying in its coverage There was almost too much When was enough enough? Tf people think we're lousing up the game maybe we should do a game to show them how it was bade then" Goren was quoted as saying This wfll tweak memories to the way it was dining the age1 of the and Lee Cano wQl be in Blacksburg on Sunday with crew for a one-hour eea-aon-opening special at 7 pm Virginia Tech fans love Corao a former Indiana coach Last year about this time he predicted the Hokies would land in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State for the national championship It was ao oft the wall and so true as it turned out" National runnerup Tech opens its 2000 schedule Sunday (8 pm) on ESPN2 in the Black Coaches Association game against Georgia Tech Corao is predicting a blowout saying the home team wiQ score at least 45 points agrinst what in recent years has been one of the worst defenses But the residents of Hokieland won't be pleased to hear what Corso has to say about the Heis-man Trophy Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick is considered the front-runner but Corao sees it going to Florida State QB Cbrts Wahika "after winning 32 straight games" That includes the Semindes going 12-0 this year Maybe follow "College GameDay analyst Kkfc Harbstralt and not Cono should try on the Hokie Bird head this time around Herbstreit a former Ohio State QB did a one-orvone with Vick that will be shown Sunday night He likes the redahirt sophomore's chances at the Heisman Said Herbstreit "His personality is what makes him unique He's not going to get Ron FraaUta and Mike Gottfried have the call of the Tech-squared game Adriae Karstee has sideline duty Other predictions from ESPN ahh experts: In the Orange Bowl this championship game Gottfried has Nebraska over Florida State Herbstreit sees Nebraska against Miami Fla Corso likes Florida State and Kansas State John Mackovte picks Nebraska over Florida State and Rodney GNmora predicts Alabama over Kansas State Clip and save Gottfried a former coach whose but stop waa the University of Pittsburgh on the Hokies bandwagon "East Carolina will beat Virginia Tech in the first upset of the year" he said Gees here's a surprise! final-round coverage of the PGA Championship did an rating up 28 percent from a year ago That'a the second highest PGA final round of afi time second only to 1971 (121) when lack Nkklaus defeated BlQy Casper by two strokes But 29 years sgo there nearly the number of TV households there are today (an estimated 101 million) For Sunday's three-hole playoff between flger Woods and Bob May CBS estimated more than 38 million people tuned in For the entire day the coverage averaged about 21 million Contact Jeny Lindquist at (804) 649-6323 or jlindquistWtifTiesdispatElLCom AUTO RACING 730-10 un Fdrmula One Grand Prix of Belgium SPEED (ATT7SCCS3) 1030 utb-1230 pjn Famuli One Grand Prix of Belgium (same-ifay tapeX HTS (ATT53CC2A) 1230-230 NASCAR Thick Chicago 175 ESPN (ATTll CCA) 230430 ML Beftetra Itosort 300 ESPN (Amu CCA) 3-530-ASA AC-DdcoTImit Warner Cable 200 TNN(ATT28CCS8) 14 pjn Los Angeles Dodgers at Cuds WRLH-35 (ATT5 CCS) A30-7 Uttie League World Series CC10) 2-5 pjn Baltimore Orioles tf Chicago White Sox WGN (ATT26 CC19) 5-7 little League World Series Intama-tionil Championship ESPN2(ATT62CC37) 7-10 Oakland at Cleveland Indians HTS (ATT53 CC24) 735-1035 -SL Louis Caidnals at Atlanta Braves TBS (ATT17CC17) 8-10 Utile League Worid Series American Championship Rum WWamsport Pa ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 130430 un Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Son (someday tveX HTS (ATT53CC24) GOLF 24 un WGC NEC Invitational first round USA (ATT15 CC14) 3-6 ILS Amateur Championship second round ESPN (ATTUCC4) 1235-1230 un WGC NEC Invitational first-round highlights (same-day tape) WTVR-6 (ATT9 CC3) NFLPNESEASON football pjn SL Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys ESPN (ATTll CC4) TENNIS 1-J pjn WTA Pilot Pen International quarterfinal ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 1230-2 ajn WTA Pilot Pen International quarterfinal (same-day tape) ESPN2 (ATT62CC37) WNBA PLAYOFFS S-10 pjn Houston Comets at New York liberty WNBA Championship Game 1 UFE(ATT20CC30) GAMES 1-2 ajn From San Francisco (same-day tapeX ESPN (ATTll CC4) 54 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cuba Game two of a douUebeader WGN (ATT26CC19) 6-7 Little League Worid Series Home Run Derby (same-day tape) ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 7-5 Little League World Series AB-Star Game ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 730-1030 Tampa Bw DevH Rays at Baltimore Orioles HTS (ATT53 CC24) 735-1035 SL Louis Cvdbuds at Atlanta Braves TBS (ATT17 CC17) BOXING 9-1 130 pjn -Friday Night Fights Contenders TBAE5PN2 (ATT62 CC37) GOLF 11 ajiL-1 pjn FleetBoston Senior PGA Classic first round ESPN (ATTll CCA) 24 WGC NEC Invitational second round USA (ATT15CC1A) 34 ILS Amateur Championship quarterfinals ESPN (ATTll CCA) ajn WGC NEC Invitational second-round highlights (same-day tapeX WTVR4 (ATT9 CC3) 1-3 Reno-Tahot Open etcond round (same-day tape) PAX (CC15) NFL PRESEASON B-ll pjn Pittsburgh Stealers at Washington Redskins WWBT-12 (ATT12 CC12) TENNIS 1-3 pjn WTA Pilot Pen International first semifinal ESPN (ATTll CCA) 11:30 pjn-! ajn WTA Pilot Pen International second semifinal (same-day tapeX ESPN2 IATT62 CC37) WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 1-230 ajn State Farm Tournament Penn State vs UCLA First semifinal (same-day tapeX E5PN2 (ATT62 CC37) XGAMES 5-11 pjn Bicycle StunL Street Luge (same-day tapeX ESPN (Ami CCA) 1-2 un From San Francisco (same-day tapeX ESPN (Ami CCA) 3-5 Bicycle Stunt Street Luge (same-day topeX ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 54 From San FTOndsco (same-day tapeX ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 5-7 pjn Babe Ruth Youth BasebaN Cal Rfefcen Worid Series HTS (ATT53 CC2A) 135-A3S pjn SL Louis Canlnils it Atianta Breves TBS (ATT17 CC17) Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs WGN CC19) B-ll Cleveland Indians at Anaheim Angels ESPN (Ami CCA) 1230-330 un Tampa Bay Devi Rays at Baltimore Orioles (same-day tapeX HTS (ATT53CC2A) COLLEGE FOOTBAU 23M pjn -Penn State vs USC Kickoff Classic WRIC4 (ATTO CC10) B-ll Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech BCA Classic ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) GOLF 24 pjn NEC Invitational final round WTVR4 (ATT9 CC3) A4 US Amateur Championship finN round WWBT-12 (ATT12CC 12) 530-7 FleetBoston Senior PGA Classic final round (samu-day tapeX ESPN (AHll CCA) HORSE RACING A3O430 pjn IseUn Handkap ESPN (Ami CCA) 7-10 Arizona Diamondbacks at New York Mats FNC(ATT3S) 9 pjn-midnlght Chicago White Sax at Seattle Mariners WGN (ATT26 CC19) ajn Tampa Bay Devil Rays Baltimore Orioles Game one of a doune-header (same-day tapeX HTS (ATT53 CC2A) BASKETBALL 11 pjiL-1 un Canada vs ILS Wom-erfs National Team ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) COLLEGE FOOTBALL 7304 ACC Football Preview 2000 WTVR-6 (ATT9CC3) 0-1135 pjn BYU vs Florida State Pigskin Classic WRIC4 (ATTO CC10) GOLF 34 pjn NEC Invitational third round WTVR4 (ATT9 CC3) A4 U3 Amateur Championship semifinal round WWBT-12 (AH12 CC12) 530-7 FleetBoston Senior PGA Classic second round ESPN (ATT11 CCA) HORSE BACHM A-S30 pjn Travers Stakes ESPN (Ami CCA) MANM LEAGUE SOCCER 7-9 pjn Cotumbus Crew at New England Revolution E5PN2 (ATT62 (X37) 7304:30 Miami Fusion it IXC United HTS (ATT53 CC2A) SWIMMHM 9-11 pjn U3 Otympic Trials (Tape) PAX(CCIS) TENNIS 1-3 pjn USTA Pilot Pen International final WTVR-6 (ATT9CC3) WNBA PLAYOFFS 1304 pjn New York Uberty at Houston Comets WNBA Championship Game 2 (Time tentative) (Live) WWBT-12 (ATT12 CC12) TOMORROW AUTO RACING 54 pin NASCAR WC Goredngxom 500 qualifying ESPN2 (ATT62 CC37) 7-5-NASCAR 8GN Food City 250 ESPN (ATTll CCA) Noon-2 pjn -USTA: Arthur Ashe Kids Day WTVR4 (ATT9 CC3) WNBA PLAYOFFS 1304 pjn New York Uberty at Houston Comets WNBA Championship Game 3 (if necessary time tentativeX WWBT-12 (ATT12CC12) 2-5 pjn Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cuba Game one of a douMeheeder WGN (ATT26 CC19) THIS EVENTS SATURDAY SEMIPRO FOOTBAU Jacksonville (NXJ Raiders vs Virginia Rav-es it Meidowhrook High 7 pjn Virginia Hornets it Baltimore Rams 3 pjn MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL Norfolk Tides vs Richmond Breves at The Diamond 7 un Cost SB $6 SS S3 (12-Md4nder and 60-and-overX mfomation: 359-4444 PREP GIRLS TENNIS JJL Tucker at Lk Davis 2 pjn Dinwiddie it Colonial Height 4 Prince George at HopeweS 4 Monacan at LX Bird PREP GOLF Goochiind Buckingham Cumberland: f-Najn Prince George at HopeweS 330 pjn Harley-Davidson 305: lINMip Late Model 40-lip Grand Stock 25-lap Pen Stock 2S4 Mini Stock 2S-iap Mini Stock 25-lap Legends Gates open 4 pjnj qualifying pjnj racing I pjn Information: 65S-RACE DRAG RACING Friday Night AED Street Shootout at Richmond Dragway MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL Richmond Braves it Charlotte Knights (2X 6 pja Information: 359-4444 SOCCER Richmond Rickers at Rochester 735 pjn PREP FOOTBAU (AS games 730 pjn) Armstrong at HopeweS Petersburg CJL Hylton Amelia at Northumberland King A Queen it Goochland Charles City Essex ON THE RADIO TODAY HQ ml SportsPhone wftfi Tory Stfsky WML (910) ltnoaa ESHft Tony Kornheiser Show WRNL (91IX Noon-3 Ite Jkn Ron Show WIN (91SX 34 The Sport! Huddle with BN McDonald Mid Guy CrtsweK WRNL O10X 5 NASCAR Today WSVS (BOO) t-7-ESPiri Dm PMrick Show WRNL 10X S-7 UftT feeing with Joe KeSy WXGI OSS) 64 Spam Fan Today with BN Lckn WIFE (990) WHAP (1340) 636 Mi Motor Spam WBSC-FM H1SX fctf-lS kinar league baseball ISchmond Bum vs Norfolk WRNt (5HX a OmkHght-Stew Sw Sports Pig WIFE (990X WIMP (1410X a IMiidniqM ESPN Gant M0L WRNL OIM a IMmght-6 am The Srick Home Witt (MX WHAP (1340X a Mutoght-I oat Sports Bytne USA wSi Son But WRNL Q1BX 1-6 Sports Owfi0 America WRM (111) AUTORACNM At VkgMi Motor Spcedwey: Lite Model 40 Virginia Sprint 25 Super Street 30 Charger 20 and Bomber 15 Information: 9594122 At Soutside Speedway: Grand Stock Legends Endures Modifierh Gates open at 2 pjn qualifying at 5 pjn racing begins it 7 pjn Tickets: adults $11 13-1S with school ID $6 kids 6-12 SL INNOMEAGUE BASEBAU Richmond Braves it Charlotte Knights 7:11 pjn PREP FOOTBAU Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot at Irnidwater Academy 2 pjn PREP GIRLS VOUEYBAU JJL Tucker in Hylton Tournament MRKHHEAGUC BASEBAU Richmond Braves at Chariotte Knights 5 pjn Information: 159 4414 SOCCER Richmond Kickers at Toronto 745 pjn h-formatjon: 6444425 RUNNtlM Bandy FleM 5K ran 5 un Registration 7 Bandy Field wkick Is located on Three Chop! Road a hatf-miie south of the Three Chop! end Patterson Avenue intersection AUTORACNM At Southampton Motor Speedway: (oMer.