Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 26

2C WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1994 Detroit 4frcc BEST BETS Fralic ponders trim to fit Lions' pay cap To see: Warm up for the Big Dance with the first go-round of the National Invitational Tournament: DePaul at Northwestern at 7:30 p.m.; Vanderbilt at Oklahoma, 9:30 p.m.; and Southern Cal at Fresno State at midnight. ESPN carries all three. To do: It's back. Pull out those in-line skates and head for the Silverdome, where there's open skating tonight and Thursday, p.m. Call 646-7655 anytime.

Team-less soccer league lands TV deal hey don't have any teams yet. Or players. Or coaches. But that's beside the point. The important news is that their games, between yet-to-be decided teams in yet-to-be decided stadiums, will be on television.

Major League Soccer, the professional Division I league set to begin play in April 1995, announced Tuesday that ESPN will carry 35 matches and ABC committed to televising the league championship for at least three years. "In order for professional soccer to work in this country, it is very important to have the best possible television exposure," said Alan Rothenberg, chairman of World Cup 1994 and MLS. "This assures that the American sports public will have the opportunity to see Division I soccer on a consistent basis." Asked exactly what the networks are supporting matches plus six international games and a playoff format that ends in a championship match. Unlike the defunct NASL, which was flooded with foreign players, Major League Soccer teams will be allowed only three foreigners in an effort to showcase American talent. "We might petition to have four or five foreigners at the start, to make sure we have a top-quality league, but it will be predominated by Americans," said Rothenberg.

ESPN agreed to carry 10 games per season, and ESPN 2 will carry 25. The games will be on weekday primetime and on weekend afternoons. Like the television contract for the World Cup this summer, games won't be interrupted by commercials. Instead, sponsors' logos will appear on the corner of the screen during matches. By Michelle Kaufman because there are no franchises as of yet, ABC president Dennis Swanson said: "We're confident this league will take shape.

It's a chicken-and-egg thing. It really doesn't matter if the league comes before the TV contract." The league is expected to start with 12 franchises, which will be selected June 15 from a pool of 30 applicants. Detroit, site of four World Cup games, is among the cities being considered. Bidding cities have until May 15 to submit their proposals. "I think Detroit has an excellent chance," said Roger Faulkner, chairman of the local bid committee.

"We have the people and the market. The only question is the stadium. They're very strong on using natural grass, and they'd eventually like all the cities to have a stadium." Teams are scheduled to play 28 regular-season $4.9 million for three years. Lutz is going into the final year of a two-year, contract. If the players do not agree to the contract concessions, Schmidt must decide whether to cut costs in other positions or simply cut the more expensive offensive linemen.

"They've got to make the decision they've got to make," Fralic said. "They're going to say, 'Where do we want to be this year? Are we on the verge of doing something more than last Obviously, I'm not going to be there five or six years from now, but for the next couple years I think if they want to put the best product on the field they're capable of putting out, I think I fit into the picture. "So what I'm willing to do and have to do, and what they're willing to do and have to do, hopefully will all come together. Because I want to be a Detroit Lion for the next few years. I think we're capable of going all the way.

I know the players feel that way and, hopefully, all the decisions made will keep pushing us in that direction." With the signing of a left-handed No. 1 quarterback, Scott Mitchell, the right side of the offensive line Fralic at guard and Lutz at tackle becomes crucial in protecting Mitchell's blind side. "Obviously it puts more of a premium on that side of the line to protect the guy," Fralic said. "That's something the Lions need to think about. Whether it's good or bad for me, that's one of the things they should be taking into consideration." Fralic's backup, Shawn Bouwens, has one year (1992) of experience as a starter, but the backup tackles Scott Conover and Larry Tharpe haven't shown they're ready for full-time duty.

MORNING LINE NATIONWORLD Buser close to Iditarod victory and record Jr i I AD job at CMU liERBED CHIPS Nome Vv. 0 FINISH v' Be 1,081 I fk J-White Mountain Elim ALASKA "ll? START 1 By Curt Sylvester Free Press Sports Writer Bill Fralic isn't crazy about the idea, but the Lions' offensive lineman says he might be willing to take a financial hit for the good of the team. "I'm willing to work with the team, but I'm also going to do what's best for me," Fralic said Tuesday from his offseason home near Atlanta. Neither Fralic nor his agent, Tony Agnone of Baltimore, can be sure how much ol a concession the Lions will ask. But Agnone recently said he expects it to be as much as $800,000 off the $1.8 million Fralic is due to receive in 1994.

Lions chief operating officer Chuck Schmidt Bill Fralic wants to find out where he stands with the team's key unrestricted free agents such as linebackers George Jamison and Dennis Gibson and punter Jim Arnold before deciding which corners must be cut to fit the Lions into the NFL's new salary cap. But Schmidt has indicated he thinks the Lions have too much of their salary limit allocated to the offensive line. He expects to ask concessions of Fralic, Dave Richards and Dave Lutz linemen Schmidt signed to free-agent deals worth a combined $12.9 million last year. Fralic, whose first year with the Lions was his ninth in the NFL, is the highest-paid of the three with a three-year contract that included $2.55 million in first-year payments. Richards sipned for Deromedi takes CMU, from Page 1C week before practice.

Things will take care of themselves. Dick Flynn can stand on his own merits, and there is no concern about the situation." Deromedi replaced Kramer after 11 years as an assistant coach, nine as defensive coordinator. Deromedi's overall record is 110-55-10. His victory total is tied for 19th among active major-college coaches, and his .657 winning percentage is 15th among active coaches. He won MAC championships in 1979, '80 and '90, when he took the Chippewas to the California Bowl, and was named conference coach of the year in 1980 and '91.

Among his biggest victories were back-to-back upsets at Michigan State in 1991 and '92. Central went 5-6 last season. "To be honest, I was disappointed I wasn't given the opportunity to coach the 1994 season," Deromedi said. "I talked to people in the administration and said I'd like to coach and do both jobs. As we progressed in talks the administration expressed concerns that a decision would have to be made.

"I'm willing to sacrifice my interest in coaching to get involved with the total program." Terms of Deromedi's new contract were not released, but the coach noted, "I've never signed a contract here for more than one year, and that's what I have. I'm not concerned with the length of time of a contract, just doing the job." Deromedi said he applied for the athletic director's position. "I realize all the challenges that lie ahead, with budget, gender equity and such things," he said. "There are so "Celebrating 14 years of Hockey' 1980-1994 2817 Hiker $4999 Reg. 67.99 714 S-ATVj SCA99 2892 Gore i Learn with School, which hockey.

After in city-wide Once you mediate and Regional, and skates in over and Europe, hockey for FOR IT artin Buser set out early I Tuesday afternoon on the 77-mile stretch run to III Nome for what appeared II to be his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race win in three years. Second place also appeared to be determined. Rick Mackey held a four-hour edge on defending champion Jeff King with about eight hours of racing left in the race from Willow, near Anchorage, to Nome. Mushers are required to take an eight-hour layover in White Mountain. Buser and his team of 12 dogs left White Mountain at about 12:24 p.m.

Alaska time (four hours behind Michigan time) with only fast trail ahead of him and no bad weather in sight. Awaiting Buser on Front Street in Nome was a boisterous welcome from race fans and a top prize of $50,000. If he keeps the pace, Buser will shave about four hours off the race record of 10 days, 15 hours and 38 minutes set last year by King. TENNIS: Upsets eliminated Steffi Graf's three foremost challengers at the quarterfinals at the Lipton Championships in Key Biscayne, Fla. Two-time defending champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Gabriela Sabatini and Jana Novotna seeded second, third and fourth all lost.

Graf has won 29 straight matches and 51 sets in a row. Californian Lindsay Davenport, 17, beat Sabatini, 6-2, 6-1, but the big shocker came when second-ranked Sanchez Vicario squandered five consecutive match points and lost to Brenda Schultz, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. Novotna blew a 4-0 lead in the second set against Natalia Zvereva, who won 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4). Zvereva will play Schultz in Thursday's semifi- Herb Deromedi's coaching record at Central Michigan: YEAR MAC ALL 1978 8-1-0 9-2-0 1979 8-0-1 10-0-1 .1980 1981 7-2-0 7-4-0 1982 5-3-1 6-4-1 1983 7-2-0 8-3-0 1984 6-2-1 8-2-1 1985 6-3-0 7-3-0 1986 4-4-0 5-50 1987 3-4-1 5-5-1 1988 5-3-0 7-4-0 1989 5-2-1 5-5-1 1990 7-1-0 8-3-1 1991 3-1-4 6-1-4 1992 4-5-0 5-6-0 1993 5-4-0 5-6-0 TOTAL 90-39-9 110-55-10 CHARLES KEUYAssociated Press Spring training in the WWF? No, David Justice of the Atlanta Braves isn't demonstrating the latest wrestling hold, he's just having some fun in the sun oh, and preparing for the major league season by roughhousing with batboy Jason Pace, 13, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Swiss coach wants players wanting many factors.

I've had a great relationship with the football staff; I want to have the same relationship with the entire athletic staff. I'm excited to still be a part of CMU athletics." Deromedi, a 1960 Michigan graduate, posted a six-year record of 36-13-2 in high school coaching at Byron, Ann Arbor and Royal Oak Kimball before joining Central's staff in 1967. Free Press special writer Don Shell contributed to this report. he coach of Switzerland's World Cup soccer team wants his players to give up doing the wild thing this summer when his team visits the United States for the World Cup. Roy Hodgson, a Briton who has led Switzerland to its first World Cup appearance in 28 years, says his team's hotel will be off-limits to wives and girlfriends.

His idea of suitable replacements? Computer games and billiards. Hodgson, whose philosophy has prompted headlines such as "No Sex Please, The Manager's British," isn't drawing raves from players' significant others, either. "A sex ban? It's a joke, a kindergarten game," said 24-year-old Nicole Arm, the girlfriend of midfielder Ciriaco Sforza. Well, what can she expect from a guy whose only real worry is that he won't be able to light up? "Where will I be able to relax with a cigar in fanatical antismoking America?" said the 46-year-old coach known for his love of expensive cigars, fine wines and gourmet cooking. So local ladies beware.

Switzerland METROSTATE Junior Wings to open playoffs April ticket plan announced Detroit Free Press nals. Davenport will face Graf, who beat Kimiko Date, 6-1, 6-1. In men's play, unseeded Australian Patrick Rafter beat sixth-seeded Michael Chang, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2. Jim Grabb, ranked No. 185 in the world, beat 20th-seeded Aaron Krickstein, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

Also advancing to today's quarterfinals were top-seeded Pete Sampras, No. 2 Stefan Ed-berg, No. 4 Jim Courier, No. 5 Goran Ivanisevic, No. 9 Petr Korda and Andre Agassi.

NFL The Cincinnati Bengals signed safety Louis Oliver to a two-year, contract. Oliver had been a protected-transition player for Miami until the Dolphins lifted the designation this week when they signed Michael Stewart. Free-agent cornerback Albert Lewis, who played the last 1 1 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed with the Los Angeles Raiders. Lewis, 33, has been named to four Pro Bowls, most recently after the 1990 season. He missed a total of 17 games the last three years because of injuries.

Wayne State (5-4) beat Bridgeport (Conn.) Sacred Heart, 5-4, after losing, 2-0, to American International at Orlando, Fla PREP BASKETBALL: Forwardcenter Maurice Taylor of Detroit Henry Ford is Gatorade Circle of Champions Midwest Regional High School player of the year. Taylor is a finalist for national player of the year. TWO CENTS WORTH From our readers No more Morris would suit this baseball fan just tine To all Free Press sports writers: Spare us all this baseball season of the ramblings and ruminations of Jack Morris. We have overdosed on the Morris saga, and I'm sure most fans couldn't care less about the remaining days of his career. After Cleveland releases him sometime this summer, he should consider going back to school and taking a course in Loyalty 101.

Robert Swartz West Bloomfield Share your opinion by writing Two Cents Worth, Free Press Sports, 321 W. Lafayette, Detroit 48226. Or fax us at 222-5983. BEGINNER HOCKEY FOR ADULTS! other adult beginners in HNA Beginner Hockey has taught over 10,000 adults how to play graduation, you and your new teammates play Beginner Level competition and playoffs. have some experience, the League offers Inter Advanced Levels with Local, National Playoffs.

The League plays the United States on June 18 in the Silverdome. Ronald Reagan, a.k.a. the former president of the United States, offered more than his congratulations to his alma mater upon hearing that Eureka College was headed to the NAIA Division II championship game. After asking the Red Devils to "win one for the Gipper," Reagan, 83, offered his services in tonight's game as "a healthy, feisty and very mature right guard." Guess he would give a whole new meaning to "hitting from the ozone." SPORTSPEAK St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Rheal Cormier, a native French-Canadian-.

"A real good year for me would be to have 15 wins and pitch 200 innings. The only thing I can do is go out there and give 110 percent. Let's see, with the exchange rate in Canada, that's 134 percent." AREA EVENTS Detroit Junior Red Wings vs. Kitchener, 7 p.m., Joe Louis Arena 396-7600. HORSE RACING Sports Creek Raceway: 12 races, 7 p.m.

635-3331 Windsor: mtertrack at Gulfstream, 1 p.m.; 12 races, 7:30 p.m. 961-9545. TICKET UPDATE High school basketball: Boys state semifinals and finals, March 24-26 at the Breslin Center, East Lansing. Tickets are $5 for semifinal games, $18 for three-game final session; individual game tickets ($6) for finals wil be sold only on game day at the door; availability depends on whether schools turn in some unused tickets. Available at the Breslin box office; by ma), MHSAA Basketball Tickets, Breslin Center Box Office, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824; information and charge by phone, 517-336-1440.

$3 per-order charge (or phone and mail ticket orders. Maximum of two tickets per order. 40 cities in North America with full-slapshot, no-check players 21 and over. PRINTED INFORMATION CALL: 1-800-4-HOCKEY TODAY (3MTJ3JJIJ3M he Junior Red Wings an nounced Tuesday that they will open the Ontario Hockey League playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Wings, who get a first-round bye because they're Emms Division champions, will face the lowest-seeded remaining team after the first-round series are played.

Individual-game playoff tickets are on sale. All seats reserved and general admission are $12. Call (810) 645-6666 for more information. COLLEGE HOCKEY: Three players from regular-season champion Michigan are featured on the all-Central Collegiate Hockey Association first team, chosen by league coaches. Michigan goalie Steve Shields, who set an NCAA record for wins this season, is the only repeater on the first team.

Shields is Joined by Wolverines forwards David Oliver and Brian Wiseman. Oliver, who led the CCHA in scoring with 67 points on 27 goals and 40 assists, was the only unanimous selection. Rounding out the first team are defensemen John Gruden of Ferris State and Jeff Wells of Bowling Green and Michigan State forward Anson Carter. COLLEGE BASEBALL: Sophomore right-hander John Vandenbrlnk gave up seven hits and nine runs in 4Vi innings as University of Detroit Mercy (2-4) tost, 14-3, to Southern Illinois (4-1) at Miami, Fla. Titans soohomore outfielder Ed Gurtdry had two doubles and a single, with two RBIs.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Sophomore third baseman Andred Youna and iurnor second basemaaShannon Clark each homered as K578 Work Boot $7099 1 Rtg.101.99 2894 Sport Boot $5299 Reg. 69.99 Tor Gratiot Ave. 773-7390 Wayne Rd. 722-2040 Work end Smiet Shot Emm TV HIGHLIGHTS Complete TV schedule, Pages 4D-5D. noon QBD Bowling: World team challenge at Washington.

1:00 fRpiT) Tennis: Lipton Championships, quarterfinals. 7:30 (BS) College basketball: NTT first round, DePaul at Northwestern. 7:30 IW) NBA: Chicago at Boston. 7:30 QBD NBA: Atlanta at Charlotte. 8:00 (Ml Figure skating: European Championship medal winners exhibition.

8:00 IW) Boxing: Rght night at the Forum. 9:30 (EH) College basketball: NTT first round, Vanderbilt at Oklahoma 10:35 CEED NHL Los Angeles at Anaheim. 10:30 CEBD Bowling: World team challenge at FBrrt. midnight (TffjT) College basketbat NTT first round, Southern Cal at Fresno State. RADIO HIGHLIGHTS 7:35 NHL Vancouver at Toronto, CKLW-AM (800), CHOK-AM (1070).

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