Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 46

8D DETROIT FREE PRESSTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1988 Trade winds swirling toward talent-rich Wings Keith yiJ Gave NFL COACHES ON ICE: Rookie coach Pat Burns is making a big difference in the Montreal camp. Burns is almost the exact opposite of the departed Jean Perron, a cool technocrat. A former police officer, Burns is not immune to joking with his players in the dressing room from time to time. But he's also quick to blow up as he did during one practice, breaking his stick over the crossbar of the goal post when he wasn't happy with the way his players performed during a drill. Burns also should be fun to watch as the Battle of Quebec heats up this season.

He and Quebec coach Ron Lapointe are bitter rivals. They once fought at center ice as their junior teams brawled. The opposing benches at the Montreal Forum have been moved side-by-side, separated only by glass, which Lapointe warns "won't be high enough" to keep him away from Burns. Burns' response: "He's starting it again, eh?" Jocelyn Lemieux, traded from St. Louis to the Cana-diens in the off-season, is enjoying hockey again.

He hated it in St. Louis. Now he's playing with his brother, Claude, on a line centered by Bobby Smith. FINALLY SATISFIED: Brent Ashton finally got in Winnipeg what he had been trying to get for almost two years in Detroit a new contract. He signed a three-year deal with the Jets just before reporting to camp.

Ashton had irked the Wings with almost constant pleadings for a new contract. household accident in the off-season. The Rangers are desperate for help at center. No offense to former Wing Kelly Kisio, one of the finest men in the game, but when he's your No. 1 guy in the middle, you're in trouble.

HOLDOUTS: Trevor Linden, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft behind Westland's Mike Modano, hasn't signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks. But unlike Modano, a holdout from the Minnesota North Stars camp, Linden is working out with his team. "My dream was always to play in the National Hockey League," Linden said, "not to sign a contract." Stars rookie general manager Jack Ferreira says he feels no pressure to sign Modano even though Minnesota finished last overall. Not so with Devellano when Detroit finished 21st and drafted Joe Murphy.

"I felt a lot of personal pressure to deliver Joe Murphy," Devellano said. Murphy's agent, Don Meehan, held the hammer during negotiations with Devellano because Murphy could have opted for the Canadian Olympic team or to return to Michigan State. He won a four-year contract worth nearly $1 million. Modano, who apparently is seeking similar dollars, has few options. He could return to his junior team, Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League.

Other than that, he can only hope for a trade, which isn't likely. "We have no interest in trading him," Ferreira said. Look for the Red Wings to make a deal before the season starts. Trade winds are beginning to swirl, and they soon could make Hurricane Gilbert feel like a soft summer breeze. The Wings have too many players, and general manager Jimmy Devellano knows that if he doesn't move some of them, he could lose them in the Oct.

3 waiver draft, which allows the NHL's poor to take from the rich. The Wings are among the league's talent-rich these days. Each team can protect 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Players who have played less than two professional seasons such as Steve Chiasson, Jeff Sharpies and Doug Houda are exempt. But the Wings still have too many, so Devellano has been working the phones trying to arrange a deal.

"We're going to have to leave a couple of guys unprotected," he said, "unless I make a pre-draft trade. And I'm trying. "We could put a nice package of players together for a nice two-for-one deal, or maybe for a draft choice." Whatever happens, coach Jacques Demers does not anticipate that the Wings will get a lot of help. "Our lineup is pretty well set. But what we would trade, I don't think we would get a player that would make that much of a difference on this team," Demers said.

Several teams have been scouting the Wings during preseason games, among them the New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers. Among those Wings who could be left vulnerable to the draft are defensemen Jim Pavese, Doug Halward and Mike O'Connell and right wings Jim Nill and Tim Higgins. Pavese might be among the safest of these players. A trade also could involve such prospects as Dale Krentz, who has drawn interest from other NHL clubs because of his performance in the minors. "We've never had this kind of depth before," Devellano said.

"Until now, everybody who was an NHL player we had to keep." In the past six years, the Wings have lost only one player in the draft. Edmonton took center Mark Lamb last season. Devellano never has taken a player in the waiver draft, which rarely involves anyone but fringe players and veterans past their prime. He won't this year, either. The five teams that didn't make the playoffs draft twice before the rest of the teams choose in reverse order of their overall finish.

The Wings were fifth overall last season. "There won't be anything left," Devellano said. HELP AT CENTER: A deal that would send Rangers goalie Bob Froese to Los Angeles for center Bernie Nicholls is on hold, pending the healthy return of Detroiter John Van-biesbrouck, who suffered a severe arm laceration in a King's toughness beginning to pay off Hawks have talent, even bigger egos Clifton Brown i NBA -y il I fit I I 1 i. BY KEITH GAVE Free Press Sports Writer Red Wings rookie Kris King appreciates the nice things coach Jacques Demers is saying about him. But it will take more than words to win a job at left wing this season.

King has excelled in the Wings' two exhibition losses. He showed the kind of hard work and character that had Demers comparing him to Gerard Gallant. After two games, King led the Wings with 27 penalty minutes and three fights, though he has not scored. He was not in Monday night's lineup against Toronto. But, he savored the thrill of playing at the loud and raucous Chicago Stadium in Sunday night's 4-1 loss.

"My knees were shaking and my heart was going 1 00 miles an hour," he said. "This place is unbelievable." King, 22, led Adirondack with 307 penalty minutes last season, and he understands what's expected of him in Detroit. "The big boys are a little bigger here," he said, "but I don't feel out of place. "There's a lot of guys around with more talent, but if what he (Demers) is looking for is an up-and-down winger that comes to play every night. I just try to do the little things, grind and play the body.

And I try to keep in the back of my mind that I've got to do something every shift to get them (coaches) to notice me." Defenseman Bob Wilkie also learned lessons in his first NFL game. He made a nice play to set up Detroit's only goal, but made costly errors that led to two Chicago goals. The Atlanta Hawks have no excuses this season. If they don't advance to the Eastern Conference final or farther, they can't blame lack of talent, experience or offensive firepower. They can only blame themselves.

Atlanta, which acquired center Moses Malone and guard Reggie Theus during the summer, was the most talked-about team during last weekend's league meetings. Atlanta now has as much depth as anyone in the NBA, and the pressure falls on coach Mike Fratello to mold the Hawks into a championship team. As the graying hairs at his temples suggest, Fratello's task is difficult. Atlanta will self-destruct if Malone, Theus, Dominique Wilkins and the other Hawks can't coexist happily with just one basketball. But if egos are put aside, the Hawks have the talent to win it all.

"The expectations are high, but no team has ever won a championship on paper," Fratello said. "We've never gotten past the second round of the playoffs. You can talk about talent alone, but there's all the other stuff that goes with it. The work ethic, the concentration, the unselfishness, egos being put aside all the other things that separate some teams from the others. That's what you need to win a championship.

All those questions about us can only be answered when we get into the season and try to function together as a unit, as a family." The Pistons' success last season forced Atlanta to make changes. Not only did Detroit dethrone Atlanta as Central Division champion, the Pistons UPI "I was nervous my first couple of shifts," Wilkie said. "But I definitely learned a lot out there. I've learned more in two weeks here in camp than I have in two years in juniors." His biggest lesson: "You can't do a lot of things you can do in junior. The guys are too quick and too smart.

You've got to take the make all the time." NOTEBOOK: Detroit native Dennis Smith, destined for another season in Adirondack, was in Monday night's lineup against the Leafs. Demers said it was a tribute to Smith's hard work during training camp. The Wings used the following lines Monday, listed from left wing to right: Gerard Gallant, Steve Yzerman, Kory Kocur; Mats Lundstrom, Adam Graves, Dave Barr; Petr Klima, Joe Murphy, Paul MacLean and Jim Nill, Murray Eaves, Joe Kocur. The defensive pairings were: Doug Hal-ward-Gordon Kruppke; Smith-Doug Houda; and Yves Racine-Gilbert De-lorme. Greg Stefan and Tim Chevel-dae split time in goal.

IN CHICAGO: The Red Wings (0-2) dropped a 4-1 decision to the Black-hawks Sunday night. Adam Graves scored Detroit's goal. The Wings managed only 15 shots on goal. Chicago had 31. Denis Savard, Dale Marquette, Dirk Graham and Dan Vincelette scored for Chicago.

With the addition of center Moses Malone, the Atlanta Hawks are expected to be Eastern Conference contenders. beat the Hawks, 4-2, in their regular-season series, including two late-season whippings at the Omni. Even when Atlanta was at its best, it was clear the Pistons were better. So Hawks general manager Stan Kasten acted. He signed Malone, 33 a free agent and former NBA most valuable player who spent the past two seasons in Washington to a three-year, guaranteed contract worth $5.86 million.

Atlanta also traded starting guard Randy Wittman to Sacramento for Theus, a consistent outside scorer who never has been bashful about shooting a lot. With its nucleus intact, the Pistons remain the team to beat in the East. Malone and Theus have slipped some the past two seasons, and Atlanta will miss the defense and leadership of longtime center Tree Rollins, who signed as a free agent with the improving Cleveland Cavaliers. Without question, the Hawks are dangerous. Atlanta now has a starting frontcourt of Wilkins, Kevin Willis and Malone, plus an abundance of young talent in Doc Rivers, Cliff Levingston, Antoine Carr, Spud Webb, John Battle and Jon Koncak.

Malone showed up at his press conference in Atlanta last month weighing a svelte 252 pounds, declaring his intention to gather a few more championship rings before he retires. Neither the Pistons nor the Boston Celtics are shaking in their boots. But at the very least, the Hawks have gotten the rest of the league's attention. PRICE IS COSTLY: Cleveland general manager Wayne Embry and coach Lenny Wilkens are furious at Bob' Ferry, the Bullets' beleaguered general manager. Ferry signed Cavaliers point guard Mark Price to a free-agent offer sheet last week worth $5 million over five seasons.

Cleveland didn't want to pay Price $1 million a season, but the Cavs couldn't afford to lose him to Washington. So Cleveland decided to keep Price by matching Washington's offer. Ferry could afford to offer Price big money because the Bullets' payroll is well below the NBA's salary cap of $7,232 million. The Bullets haven't even reached the required league minimum payroll of $6.69 million, so Ferry is going after free agents. Clearly, the Bullets are in trouble.

If the season opened today, Washington's starting center would be journeyman Dave Feitl. The Bullets traded 7-foot-6 backup center Manute Bol to Golden State for Feitl, then let Malone go to Atlanta and got nothing in return. Football on IV Finger-pointing over, MSU, Perles move on Winless Wolverines (0-2) still ranked in AP Top 20 Saturday noon Iowa State at Iowa. 12:30 p.m. QED Georgia at South Carolina.

12:30 p.m. fW) Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati. 2:30 p.m. (D) Tennessee at Auburn. 3:30 p.m.

Oklahoma at Southern California or Louisiana State at Ohio State. 3:30 p.m. Louisiana State at Ohio State. 4:00 p.m. (SEE) Michigan State at Florida State.

7:00 p.m. (MS) Arizona State at Nebraska. 7:00 p.m. (TUT) Navy at Citadel. 8:00 p.m.

(Wi Hawaii at Colorado State (taped) Sunday 1:00 p.m. 53) Chicago at Green Bay. 1:00 p.m. NFL: To be announced. 1:00 p.m.

Cleveland at Cincinnati. 4:00 p.m. Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants. 4:00 p.m. San Francisco at Seattle.

Monday 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles Raiders at Denver. AP Top 20 Listed with first-place votes In parentheses, records, points and last week's ranklnB. last w-l pts 9 12 11 10 4 13 15 20 14 19 18 8. Notre Dame 9.

Florida Stale 10. West Virginia 11. Nebraska 12. Clemson 13. Penn Stale 14.

South Carolina 15. Pittsburgh 16. Alabama 17. Washington 18. Florida 2-0 2- 1 3- 0 2-1 2-1 2- 0 3- 0 2-0 1- 0 2- 0 3- 0 3-0 411 303 288 248 180 142 112 111 87 45 35 22 21 1 2 1.

Miami (Fla.) (52) 2-0 1171 2. UCLA (3) 3-0 11M 3. Oklahoma (2) 2-0 10)6 4. Auburn 2-0 900 Bobby McAllister. Some want to know if someone else couldn't produce more than one touchdown in eight Some want to know if there aren't better players to man the defense that had no answer for Notre Dame's running game Saturday.

"When you lose, there isn't any glory for anybody," Perles said, insisting he will stay with the people he has been using at least until offensive tackle Tony Mandarich is freed from the shackles of the NCAA's three-game suspension. Coach or player, Perles understands, in the eye of the fan, you are only as good as your last game. "If you win, they cheer. If you lose, they're bad," he said. The tragedy, if that is the proper word, of the twin 02 records owned by Michigan State and Michigan, is that so much was expected of this season.

Perles understands that as well probably better than anybody else. "This past weekend we had an opportunity in this state to make a big splash in two games," he said. "It would have been nice on national TV, and we laid an egg." Perles has said that to the media and he has looked into the camera and said it on his television show. Each Thursday during football season he speaks to a couple of hundred Michigan State boosters, "and on Thursdays after a loss, it is the hardest thing I do," he said. "A lot of people in the crowd are my friends and I've told them in the past, 'It hurts to see the sadness in your eyes and to know that I've been a part to make you "Every win is like a wedding and every loss is like a funeral." And there's been no dancing in East Lansing lately.

Charlie Vincent, from Page ID He has dealt with Saturday's mistakes the only way he knows and now he would rather not look back. But he knows he must, because reporters ask and fans ask and he will not close himself off to either, though he advises his thinner-skinned players to do exactly that. At Michigan State, Sunday is the day the only day given to dwelling upon past errors. Perles' style is to confront it head-on. Some might call it finger-pointing, but it is done only in the presence of other team members and never, ever will Perles criticize players in public.

On Sunday, though, he spares no one. "I don't go in for general criticizing," he said. "1 hit 'em right between the eyes 'Charlie Vincent, you were offsides! Charlie Vincent, you missed that "But once it's done, we don't nag." Sometimes the media does, though. And sometimes the public does, too. And sometimes coming on top of back-to-back soul-crushing defeats it is a cross too heavy for youngsters to bear.

"I tell the kids, if they can't handle it, to stay out of public," Perles said. "To stay home. To stay in their rooms. I tell them, 'Remember, you've got some loved ones out there right now trying to think of excuses for A lot of us don't want to hear excuses, though. We want a donkey to pin the tail on.

We want a fall guy. Somebody we can blame our frustrations on. Some want to know if there isn't a better solution at quartefback than 859 by Steve kornacki Free Press Sports Writer AXN ARBOR Michigan's football team has entered Never Never Land: The Wolverines had never started 0-2 and remained in the Associated Press Top 20, but they are No. 19 this week after losses to Notre Dame and No. 1 Miami (Fla.) U-M is the second team in 30 years to be ranked after losing its first two games, said AP college football editor Herschel Nissenson.

Auburn, the pre-season No. 1, was 0-2 and ranked No. 19 after losing to Miami (Fla.) and Texas in 1984. Southern Methodist was 0-2 but No. 18 in 1958.

SMU was boosted by a first-place vote. "Michigan got consideration because it lost to two tough teams by a total of three points," said Nissenson, who tabulates the votes of 60 sports writers from around the country. The Wolverines began the season No. 11 and dropped to No. 15 after losing, 19-17, at Notre Dame.

They lost, 31-30, Saturday to Miami. Bo Schembechler had never started 0-2 at U-M, but did lose his first two games in 1965 at Miami (Ohio). "Anybody who is 0-2 has got problems," Schembechler said. "And I don't care if you played the New York Giants and Washington Redskins in back-to-back games and came close and lost. It does not matter." The Wolverines haven't been 0-3 since 1937.

They host Wake Forest (2-1) Saturday. Michigan had never scored 30 points and lost before Saturday. That stretch covered 946 games, dating to their first game in 1879. CORNERBACKS ON CALL: Schembechler said starting cornerback David Key (ankle) is questionable and said his backup, Anthony Mitchell (thigh bruise), is out for Saturday's game. "It's conceivable that Key will play," Schembechler said.

"But if he doesn't, we'd look at switching Tripp Welborne to cornerback and Williams at strong safety." Fullback Jarrod Bunch (right shoulder) and middle guard Mike Teeter (head, elbow) are expected to play. Schembechler said defensive tackle Warde Manuel (neck) remains questionable, as do running backs Allen Jefferson (lower leg) and Leroy Hoard (ankle). SILVER LINING: "At least with both schools (Michigan State and U-M) at 0-2, the fans can't make fun of each other's record," Schembechler said. "Both sides will have to keep their mouths shut." GILLETTE OFF: Mike Gillette hadn't missed back-to-back field goals until his 58th and 59th attempts at U-M. Those were 46- and 34-yard misses in the first quarter against Miami.

"The results just are not (typical of) him," Schembechler said. "He's been wide right from the left hash mark all fall. Maybe it's that he's punting now, too. I always thought that if we had a guy do both, he would be the guy to do it. It may not be fair to him, though.

We may have to reevaluate that." Gillette is 4-for-7 on field goals, averages 46.5 yards per punt and kicks off. Schembechler said walk-ons J.D. Carlson and Gulam Khan could be considered for placekicking duties, and Carlson also could punt. Recruited punter Eddie Azcona likely will be redshirted. AlR SCHEMBECHLER: U-M passed for 245 yards against the Hurricanes, exceeding 190 for the first time since Jim Harbaugh threw for 261 against Ohio State in 1986.

NOTEBOOK: Wake Forest returned 500 tickets for Saturday's game, and they are available at the Michigan ticket office. The Demon Deacons lost their only previous game with Michigan (31-0, 1976) Schembechler said Demetrius Brown would play quarterback only if Michael Taylor were injured. Brown threw the last two passes of the Miami game when Taylor was out because of cramps. Starting times for U-M's games with Michigan Stat(e and Iowa remain uncertain because of television scheduling. 19.

Wyoming 5. Southern Cal (2) 2-0 6. Georgia 3-0 7. Louisiana Stale 2-0 8. Notre Dame 2-0 20.

Oklahoma Slate 1-0 9. Florida State 2-1 4 i i 7 9 8 10 11 12 3 13 14 16 10. Nebraska 2-1 11. West Virginia 3-0 1' Clemson 2-1 13. Alabama 1-0 14.

South Carolina 3-0 15. Penn State 2-0 16. Pittsburgh 2-0 802 794 753 739 439 609 577 455 417 354 230 89 Others receiving votes; Arlrono Stale, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Houston, Indiana, Michigan and Oregon. Dlv. I-AA Top 20 Listed with first-place votes In parentheses, records, points and pre-season 17.

Washington 2-0 229 17 18. Oklahoma Stale 1-0 175 20 19. Michigan 0-2 19 15 229 175 169 ranking. last w-l pts 20. Florida 3-0 5 13 10 12 9 6 13 Other receiving votes: Wyoming 74, Indiana 44, Arkansas 38, Oregon 37, Brlgham Young 32, Colorado 30, Duke II, Arizona Slate 8, North Carolina Slate 8, Houston 6, Hawaii 5, Texas 4, Vanderblll 4, Washington Stale 3, Air Force 2, Baylor 1, Ohio Slate 1, Western Michigan 1.

1. North Texas St. (4) 2-0 80 2. Appalachain Stale 2-0 73 3. Marshall 3-0 67 4.

Western Illinois 3-0 65 5. Idaho 2-0 64 5. Georgia Southern 3-0 61 5. New Hampshire 2-0 61 8. Eastern Kentucky 1-1 51 9.

McNeese State 3-0 50 10. Northern Iowa 1-1 35 11. Boise Stale 3-0 34 12. Lalavelle 2-0 33 12. Easlern Illinois 3-0 24 12.

Howard 3-0 24 15. NE Louisiana 2-1 21 16. Montana 3-0 20 17. William Mary 2-1 17 18. Furman 2-1 14 19.

Maine 1-1 12 20. Middle Term. SI. 2-1 UPI Top 20 Listed with first-place votes In parentheses, records, points and last week's ranking. w-l MS 745 I.Miami (Fla.) (45) 2-0 2.

UCLA (5) 3-0 3. Oklahoma 2-0 14 15 616 last I 2 3 5 7 8 6 4. Southern Cal 2-0 516 Others receiving votes: Jackson Slale Nevada-Reno and Nichols State 5. Auburn 2-0 6. Louisiana Slate 2-0 7.

Georgia 3-0 459 438 r- 'i -1 a tftn.