Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 29

"TT" INSIDE: ENTERTAINMENT Also ihside: John Mackovic named athletic director at Jllinois. Page 2C. Saturday, Dec. 24, 1988 section Colleges, Page 2 NBANHL, Page 4 Horse racing, Page 5 Scores: 1-976-1313, Sports: 222-6660 Adroit 4ftcc )tess Blackhawks Happy Holidays Curt sylvester 1 S3 JAt- take it to Red Wings Fontes got his gift; here's the team's list By Keith Gave Free Press Sports Writer CHICAGO The Red Wings were caught looking up for reindeer Friday night. They found no Santa this time, and wound up getting dumped by the cellar-dwelling Chicago Black-hawks.

The game that seemed as though it would never end, finally did with the Wings on the wrong end of a 7-2, brawl-filled blowout in Chicago Stadium. The Hawks entered the game 21 points behind the Wings in the standings, and had lost 12 of their previous 14 games. The loss followed a gift-wrapped 4-4 tie in St. Louis Thursday night, the first of four straight road games before finishing 1988 at home against Hartford. Coach Jacques Demers offered no alibis for the loss, though he had many.

His lineup was missing six key players, and his team had just played its third game in three cities in OUT-POiHTED The Wings' Steve Yzerman, who scored a point in his 24th straight game Friday night against Chicago, has a long way to go before equaling the NHL's longest consecutive point-scoring mark. A look at the leaders, showing games and points scored during their streaks: GPTS PLAYER TEAM, SEASON 51153 Wayne Gretzky Oilers, '83-84 39108 Wayne Gretzky Oilers, '85-86 3076 Wayne Gretzky Oilers, '82-83 2863 Wayne Gretzky Oilers, '84-85 2861 Guy Lafleur Canadiens, 76-77 2859 Mario Lemieux Penguins, '85-86 2855 Paul Coffey Oilers, '85-86 Tt fl es, Wayne, there is a Santa Claus. And sometimes he wears a pinstriped suit and I hangs out on the top floor of the Ford World I I Headquarters in Dearborn. And now that Santa has given Fontes the gift he wanted most a three-year contract let's take a look at his list for the rest of the Lions: Another 1 0 years of football, each one just a little better than the one before, for strong safety Bennie Blades. A day without football whether he wants it or not for linebacker Chris Spielman.

A life preserver for punter Jim Arnold, so he won't have to sink or swim when nobody answers his Mayday call. A fire, to be lit under quarterback Chuck Long. A jar of stickum, so wide receiver Jeff Chadwick can make the easy catches as well as he makes the tough ones. A black eye patch for quarterback Rusty Hilger so he can maintain his Raiders image while he's playing in Detroit. A guided tour of the end zone, a place fullback James Jones hasn't visited in two seasons.

A gold watch for general manager Russ Thomas. A dose of the old intensity he had in 1987, before he signed a new contract, for offensive tackle Lomas Brown. A new lunch bucket for offensive tackle Harvey Salem, who really does carry one to work. Five passes a game and a round-trip ticket to Honolulu (for the Pro Bowl) at the end of the season for wide receiver Pete Mandley. A blocking dummy, so guard Joe Milinichik will have something his own size to play with on Christmas morning.

A 10-minute break for linebacker Mike Cofer, who hasn't taken one in six years in the NFL. An extra car phone for quarterback Eric Hippie. He has a way of losing them. A chance to kick more than one extra point a game for Ed Murray, whose exceptional accuracy in 1988 went virtually unnoticed because he got so few opportunities. A lifetime guarantee that his surgically reconstructed knee will hold up on every hit for free safety Devon Mitchell.

A lifetime supply of chili for cornerback Bruce (Chili) McNorton. tournignts. 3555 1 know why we Bryan Trottier Isles, '81-82 Bernie Nicholls Kings, '84-85 lost, out tnere won De 2540 2457 Steve Yzerman Red Wings, '88-89 any excuses, he said. "Give it to the Black-hawks. It was then-show tonight.

They came out and played man 1 hard. They deserved to win. See RED WINGS, Page 4C Evans signs with Braves Free Press Staff and Wire Reports Former Tigers slugger Darrell Evans, who made $885,000 last season, signed a minor league contract Friday with the Atlanta Braves. The contract, with Triple-A Richmond (Va.) of the International League, is loaded with incentive bonuses if Evans makes the major league team. No other details were released.

"I'm very excited about it," Evans said. "It's a nice opportunity to come back and play where I started." Evans, 41, led the Tigers in home runs the past four seasons, but slumped to a .208 batting average with 22 homers and 64 KBIs in 1988. The Tigers did not offer him a contract for next season. Evans signed a Triple-A contract because the Braves wanted to protect their current 40-man roster. The team promised him a fair chance to earn a major league spot.

"The situation is understandable," Evans said. "It's going to be up to me to see how good the contract is going to DICK MAYERDetrolt Free Press An ear (preferably William Clay Ford's) for some of Jerry Vainisi's ideas on bulldozing the Lions out of 30 years of mediocrity. A dozen naive rookies, so nose tackle Jerry Ball can pull the old Thanksgiving turkey scam again next year. A pair of roller skates for tight end Pat Carter so that he has an excuse for falling on pass routes. A subscription to the National Enquirer for tight end Rob Rubick, so he can keep up on all the gossip.

A rearview mirror for center Steve Mott, so he'll know where to find Lions quarterbacks on those shotgun formation snaps. A tape recorder for running back Garry James, so he can listen to himself talk even when he's run out of things to say (if that ever happens). A hardcover edition of his own witty sayings for defensive tackle Eric Williams, including the ever-popular: "Blocking Jim Dombrowski is like trying to catch a refrigerator falling off a roof." A movie role for linebacker Dennis Gibson, the strong, silent type. The olTensive MVP award for linebacker George Jamison, whose two touchdowns were more than the Lions fullbacks (Jones, Tony Paige and Scott Williams) scored (one) among them. An unsung hero award for defensive end Keith Ferguson, whose 24 sacks are only four fewer than Cofer has in the last three seasons.

A little more appreciation for Paul Butcher, who led Lions special teams players with 16 tackles, but missed the Pro Bowl again. A chance for Ford to explain the wisdom of choosing Fontes to coach the Lions when they're all at the Super Bowl three years from now. WHAT OFFENSE? Fontes campaigned hard on the exciting offense issue during his five weeks as interim coach. He brought in Lynn Dickey and From the Free PreSS SpOrtS Staff: Mitch Albom, Brad Betker, Bill Collison, Reld Creager, Steve Crowe, Joe Cybulski, Pat Cybulskl, Toni Cybulski, Bernie Czarnlecki, Owen Davis, Iffy the Dopester, Jim Dwight, Bob Ellis, Perry Farrell, Keith Gave, Gene Guidl, Tracee Hamilton, Johnette Howard, Jane Jankowskl, Steve Kornacki, Ken Kraemer, Joe Lapointe, John Lowe, Tim Marcinkoskl, Mick McCabe, Corky Meinecke, Gene Myers, Tom Dpre, Tom Panzenhagen, George Puscas, Janie Reilly, Dave Robinson, Jack Savior, Steve Schrader, Drew Sharp, Curt Sylvester, Charlie Vincent, Scott Walton. Artist: Dick Mayer.

Photo: Manny Crisostomo, William DeKay, Daymon J. Hartley, Pauline Lubens, Craig Porter, Marcla Prouse, Mary Schroeder. Part-timers: Kent Anderson, Bill Ballanger, Aimee Barkai, Paul Barrett, Dave Battagello, Tracee Calkins, Rod Coffee, Matt Fiorito, Dawne Fitzgerald, Wylie Gerdes, Rich Hava, Doug Hill, James Hill, Tammy King, Lynn Jung, Nick Llco, Chris Manoleas, Morrie Moorawnick, Gino Perri, Rich Perri, Guy Powers, Kyle Rlckard, Mike Rosenbaum, Keith Rosso, Marv Salter, Adam Schefler, Marty Strasen, Angelo Veneri. From the Free PreSS SpOrtS Staff: Mitch Albom, Brad Betker, Bill Collison, Reld Creager, Steve Crowe, Joe Cybulski, Pat Cybulski, Toni Cybulski, Bernie Czarnlecki, Owen Davis, Iffy the Dopester, Jim Dwight, Bob Ellis, Perry be." Evans hit his 400th career homer in September and finished with 403, ranking 22d all-time. He began his major league career with the Braves in 1969 and played the last five seasons in Detroit.

He is a career .249 hitter. "He's the kind of guy who can help us," said Braves general manager Bobby Cox. "I look forward to him being a big part of the Braves in 1989, both in the regular lineup at either third or first base and as a pinch-hitter." Hv, Don Strock will start for Browns Rose Bowl returnees 3 U-M offensive linemen get 2d trip to Pasadena BY Steve Kornacki Free Press Sports Writer ANN ARBOR The Michigan offensive line, more than any other part of the team, is a blend of past, present and future. Three of the five Wolverines scheduled to make their second Rose Bowl starts Jan. 2 against Southern Cal in Pasadena, are offensive linemen.

Center John Vitale, guard Mike Husar and tight end Jeff Brown also started in the Wolverines' 22-15 loss to Arizona State in the 1987 Rose Bowl. The other starters on the line tackles Greg Skre-penak and Tom Dohring and guard Dean Dingman have at least two years of eligibility remaining. This season, the veterans and apprentices were the See WOLVERINES, Page 5C a Mouse Davis for practical help but also for window dressing, to convince Ford and the public he would develop a big-play offense. And, after seeing Darryl Rogers' nickel-and-dime offense for four seasons, he undoubtedly realizes the need for something a little more potent. The real tip-off is Fontes' statement that the Lions' most pressing need in the 1989 draft is a pass rusher that "blots out the sun." Take a look at the last three Super Bowl champions Chicago, the New York Giants and Washington.

The really great teams build on defense, and regardless of what he says about a big-play offense that's what Fontes will try to do with the Lions. Wild Predictions: And now for the wild-card playoff games: Houston (10-6) at Cleveland (10-6): Oh, yes, the loveliness of Cleveland in the winter. The Oilers must be kicking themselves for losing the season finale last Sunday and they'll be kicking themselves all the way back to Houston after the Browns finish them off today. Los Angeles Rams (10-6) at Minnesota (11-5): The Rams were awesome in their finale against San Francisco. Or was it just the 49ers tuning up for their fourth annual playoff collapse? The Vikings still are the superior team and should be able to handle the Rams' pass-rush shenanigans.

K.J Free Press Wire Reports BEREA, Ohio Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar will watch today's AFC wild-card game from the sidelines. Kosar, whose left knee was sprained against Miami Dec. 12, practiced earlier in the week but did not participate in Friday's workout. Browns backup quarterback Don Strock will start against Houston. Strock completed 25 of 42 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns when the Browns beat the Oilers last Sunday to get into the playoffs.

Fullback Kevin Mark and corner-back Hanford Dixon also sat out last Sunday's game but should play today. Mack has missed all or parts of 10 games, including the last two full games, with various injuries. Most see NFL Playoffs, Page 5C jr. it ALAN KAMUDADetroit Free Press The Wolwrines' offensive line, led by No. 75 Greg Skrepenak, practices in their indoor facility Friday before heading to California for the Rose Bowl..