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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1990)
' • :V ,: ;;t , v- ; . i 1991 The Battalion SPORTS 5 riday, July 6,1990 Sports Editor Clay Rasmussen 845-2688 ip«r. if hf tele- is you fwert street, r per- e tele- don't i ' asks, imber nstead ingto 'r did all the s to the Demo- lan 12 II Paso, ilectioti ifPasa- krthur ]hristi' Harm office “i —' nvas zuki dirt the <x- re- rom ■ild- re- his lain avis- that ■me nds- dis- was | seen cted Kyle Douglas Pils Sports Writer Sport soothsayer ponders All-Star voting, season l3trange choices, surprises and flops — it’s time for baseball’s annual parade of stars, the All-Star game. This year’s game is once again tainted with players having sub- par years, but the All-Star break at least provides a good preview of what to expect in late Septmember and October. The fans did a better job of selecting true All-Stars than in years past, but I still harbour some doubt as to their choices. A tip of the hat to the fans responsible for the selection of first-time starters like Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., Seattle outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Philadelphia outfielder Lenny Dykstra. But come on, there’s something wrong with a system that allows a .224 hitting shortstop like St. Louis’ Ozzie Smith to start ahead of Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who comes in at a .317 clip. Something amiss There’s definitely something amiss when the league leader in home runs, RBls and slugging percentage doesn’t get the starting nod. However, that’s exactly what happened to Detroit slugger Cecil Fielder. He lost out to the Oakland A’s first baseman Mark McGwire, who sports a .232 batting average and has seven less homers than Fielder. v , ,q ... Every year the fallacies of fan voting are clearly evident but no one ever comes up with a better idea. Surely a system could be devised where fans, players, coaches and the media could have an equal say as to who starts. While the three day break in the regular season breeds some controversy, it also gives soothsayers, such as myself, a chance to analyze the first half of the season and look to the future. Coast-to-coast Series The major disappointments of the 1990 season are the Kansas City Royals and the San Diego Padres. Both teams put together a group of overpaid players through free agency and blockbuster trades and both have failed miserably. Some surprises thus far have been the resurgance of the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. The Reds have been hot since day one and the Sox are coming on strong to challange the A’s in the American League West. Perhaps the biggest turnaround occurred in mid-season. The New York Mets have been on fire since giving manager Davey Johnson his walking papers. The team, winners of 21 of their last 24 games, has developed a winning attitude under new skipper Bud Harrelson. The Mets should give the Reds a fit in the National League playoffs and look for Oakland’s experience to take care of the young and feisty White Sox. A coast-to-coast World Series involving the Mets and the A’s could be in the works. If the first half is any indication of how the rest of the season will go it’s going to get even hotter this summer. West Germany seeks revenge Rematch of ’86 World Cup Sunday ROME (AP) — How confident is Franz Beckenbauer? So much so that he’s predicting his term as coach of West Germany’s national team will end in a World Cup title. Like his counterpart in Sunday’s final, Argentina’s Carlos Bilardo, Beckenbauer has led his team to a second appearance in the championship game in as many tries. In 1986, Argentina won 2-1. This time, Beckenbauer is certain it will be different. “We are now prepared to face Ar gentina and to try to avenge the 1986 defeat,” he said. “Argentina did not improve since then, while West Germany is much stronger. We are very confident this time.” The Germans are in a World Cup- record third successive final. “Italy was the best team in Spain and Argentina was the strongest in Mexico,” Beckenbauer said of the last two finals. “This time we want to show we are the best. We want the ti tle and we shall get it.” So, of course, does Argentina, which can equal two achievements of its South American rival, Brazil. It can win for the third time in four tournaments — Argentina also took the title in 1978 — and can become the only other non-European team to win the championship on Euro pean soil. Brazil did it in Sweden in 1958. “This is my last World Cup and I want to bid farewell in style,” said Argentine captain Diego Maradona, who has played 75 international games for Argentina, scoring 32 goals, including five in Mexico. But he has none here and knows he needs to come alive on Sunday. “I am too proud to give up my crown just like that,” Maradona said. “I feel flattered when they say that I am the best, and on Sunday I will do my best to deserve that title.” Argentina goes into the game un dermanned, with four players sus pended. The most important are forward Claudia Caniggia and de fender Julio Olarticoechea, who were particularly outstanding against Italy in the semifinals. “It is a concern, a major concern,” Bilardo said. “But there is nothing for us to do about it but find substi tutes and play our best. There are several moves that I am consid ering.” Regardless, the key will be having Maradona at his best. Not having Caniggia to help him increases the difficulty for Maradona. But it also heightens the challenge. “Maradona is a great player who is at his best in such games as these,” Beckenbauer said. “We must be pre pared for Maradona at his best.” West Germany probably will be at full strength, although Rudi Voeller left the semifinal against England in the first half with a calf injury. Garrison unseats Graf at Wimbledon WIMBLEDON, England (AP) —- Zina Garrison didn’t have a prayer against Monica Seles. Not a shot in the world of stopping Steffi Graf. Beat Martina Navratilova in Wimb ledon’s final? Get real. Maybe it’s time for the surreal af ter Garrison’s daring, acrobatic at tack on Graf, Wimbledon’s two-time champ, in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 semifinal victory Thursday, two days after zapping Seles, the grunt and grind teen machine, in three sets. Garrison is on a fantasy trip that not even Navratilova, looking re markably rejuvenated in a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal romp over Gabriela Saba- tini, may be able to derail. So what if Navratilova is salivating over the thought of gobbling up a record ninth Wimbledon singles ti tle. So what if Garrison has won only one match in 28 against Navratilova over the past eight years. If Garrison can beat Graf — win ner of 19 straight Wimbledon matches, a champion in nine of the last 11 Grand Slams and a finalist in 13 straight anything can happen on Saturday when she plays her first Grand Slam final, an all-American match, against Navratilova. The sun may even shine. So far it’s been mostly upset weather at Wimbledon, when the wind howls across Centre Court and dark clouds hover portentously after morning rain. Maybe Princess Diana knew something was up when she came for her first match this year and was treated to Garrison-Graf. Garrison, who once couldn’t find a way to win even at match point, now can’t seem to lose. She always had the talent, but too often yielded to pressure. Now with a new coach, a new trainer, a new husband, and a new relaxed attitude, Garrison, at 26, finally has made the leap into the elite. “She didn’t miss and she didn’t make mistakes, like she’s done be fore,” Graf said. “I mean, she was really playing a solid match. From her side, it was great concentration.” Graf didn’t blame her loss on her sinus problems, her father’s prob lems, her injuries, the weather, or the officials. “It was me who was playing bad, and nothing else,” she said. “Is it a tragedy? A disaster?” No, she added, it was just a loss. Navratilova and Ivan Lendl’s ob session to win Wimbledon made headlines, but Garrison had been going unnoticed until she beat Seles. “I’ve had a bit of obsession about this myself,” Garrison said. “I just worked on a lot of sprints, a lot of running, eight, nine miles a day, lifted weights, trying to get into top shape and be ready if I have an op portunity to do it.” Graf predicted the tournament was now Navratilova’s because “Zina doesn’t have the game to beat Mar tina.” Garrison’s response: “Oh, thanks. I like those compliments. They make me work harder.” Scott Gilbert, a senior animal science major from Raymondville, putts from off the fairway at the Putt-Putt Golf Course. Yankees fined for tampering NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees today were ordered to pay $200,000 to the California An gels and fined $25,000 by Commis sioner Fay Vincent for owner George Steinbrenner’s tampering with Dave Winfield after a trade in May. The decision was released while Vincent was holding a hearing to ask Steinbrenner about his relationship with gambler Howard Spira. Vincent found that comments Steinbrenner said during a meeting with Winfield on May 14, three days after the trade was made, were “clearly improper.” “Mr. Steinbrenner’s statement that Mr. Winfield would be wel comed back to the Yankees if he won the arbitration and should play on a full-time basis was clearly im proper,” Vincent said. “It follows, therefore, that Mr. Steinbrenner’s improper statements harmed the Angels’ bargaining position.” Aggie football team, fans march to Cotton for D-Day By NADJA SABAWALA Of The Battalion Staff It looks like Texas A&M’s Par son’s Mounted Cavalry might want to start packing the How itzer now because it’s New Year’s football in Dallas for the big boys in maroon. At least that’s what the annual poll of sports writers from Texas and Arkansas show in the 1990 is sue of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. Twenty-one of the 35 writers polled chose the Aggies to strafe Arkansas’ two-year occupation of the Southwest Conference title and the Cotton Bowl. “It’s simple enough: best backs, best linemen, best this, best that, best of just about everything,” ed itor-in-chief Campbell said in his article about A&M. Despite losing seven of eight starters from last year’s 8-4, John Hancock Bowl squad, the Aggies still have first strike capability. Conference foes will have a strenuous battle competing against the best one-two quar terbacks, one-two running backs and the best defensive player in the Conference, according to Campbell’s 1990 SWC Form Chart. And with the camp fortified on both offense and defense, A&M is sure to launch a successful as sault on the rest of the SWC. Veteran quarterback Lance Pavlas returns to the battle field, hoping to charge the Aggies past last year’s 31-28 loss to Pittsburgh in the John Hancock Bowl. Pavlas completed an impres sive 134 of 22/ passes last season for 1,681 yards — second-best in A&M history. To back up Pavlas in his cam paign is junior Bucky Richard- back after reconstructive surgery. The 6-1, 193- son, knee pound 1988 Cotton Bowl MVP was redshirted last season when he suffered an injury in the Ag gies’ 28-24 win over Texas in 1988. Tailback Darren Lewis and fullback Robert Wilson lead A&M’s powerful ground assault that also includes Keith McAfee, Doug Carter and Randy Sim mons. The five Aggie running backs have combined for 452 carries and 2,154 of 2,199 offensive yards. Lewis, a 6-0, 220-pound senior, started last year slow — failing to rush at least 55 yards-per-game — and fell behind in Heisman Trophy selection. Injured in the game against Arkansas, Lewis bypassed last A&M Tailback Darren Lewis is one of the SWC’s most talented players. The Aggie team and fans Battalion file photo hope he can help lead the team to a conference title and a 1991 Cotton Bowl berth. year’s NFL draft to pile up better stats for the future, not that his 961 yards wasn’t impressive. Wilson, at 6-1, 255-pounds, joins Lewis in the backfield as the team’s second-leading rusher, with 17 receptions and 125 car ries for 590 yards and 5 touch downs. Defensively, A&M has 6-3, 205-pound William Thomas, who may have never found his real tal ent as a linebacker — he’s a con verted quarterback. Moved from to LB as an exper iment, Thomas bombarded the opposing line for 87 tackles and 8.5 sacks last year and is a top choice for the SWC’s defensive player for 1990. In his sophomore year, Thomas led the Aggie secondary with 63 tackles as a safety and promises to return strong, filling a defensive gap left by NFL-draf- tee Aaron Wallace. Even with the most promising line up in the conference, A&M still has an uphill battle. Texas and Arkansas could still lay a formidible seige to our be loved Aggie troops. Facing the Longhorns in Austin’s Memorial Stadium and the Razorbacks on their home turf in Fayetteville, could conceivibly exhaust A&M’s front lines. “The bottom line is this,” Campbell said. “In what shapes up as maybe a crazy year in the (Southwest) conference, one that features teams that are long on uncertainties and unknowns, the team from Texas A&M has more pluses and fewer problems than any other.” So, if you want to take the ad vice of one of the most respected sports writers in the field, pack your duffle and fill your canteens — the Aggies will march to Dallas assuredly as an Allied victory. Icut herei DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS July 6 & 7, 1990 (6-10 p.m. & 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) STATE APPROVED DRIVING SAFETY COURSE Register at University Plus (MSC Basement) Call 845-1631 for more information on these or other classes D&M EDUCATION ENTERPRISES cut here AM/PM Clinics • Minor Emergencies • General Medical Care • Weight Reduction Program 10% Student Discount with I.D. Card (Except for Weight Program) 846-4756 693-0202 779-4756 3820 Texas 2305 Texas Ave S. 401 S. Texas (next to Randy Sims) (next to U Rent M) College Station (29th & Texas) Buy used Books AND SAVE! ^LOUPOT'S^P