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Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Sports
Page 3
THE BATTALION
!nn Sports desk Zeroes vote for All Star Heroes
Battalion writers bicker their way through choosing the 2001 MLB All Star Teams
Mark Passwaters, Matthew Thigpen & Michael Balhoff
The Battalion
Baseball experts around the nation are deciding on their choic-
s for next month’s All Star Game. While hardly experts, The Bat-
alion sports desk has also selected who they think should be play-
ng in the midsummer classic and have made their cases as
ogically as possible.
National League:
First base: Todd Helton, Colorado (.343 average, 24 home runs,
’9 RBI). His statistics for this season dominate all other NL first
aseman. This is a no-brainer,
n lateJuneanB Protest vote: Ryan “Beertruck” Klesko, San Diego (.295,15 HR,
dants in the ;j*8 RBI). His single-handed thrashing of the
nent, except Vjlkstros made him deserveing of the vote.
face possikB But who does not thrash the Astros pitch-
if convicted •■ng staff?
I Second base: Craig Biggio, Houston (.307,
noney-laundt-flp HR, 3 1 RBI). He is having another quality
ainst MamMeason after coming back from a devastating
carry’asenterMnee injury.
sin prison, j Shortstop: Rich Aurilia, San Francisco
indictments,:■354, 11 HR, 25 RBI). He does not have the
ortray ToitSashy glove of Rey Ordonez of die Mets, but
1 Pardre Oi|bis batting average is a little better. Nearly
lobile,astir 200 points better.
I Third base: Chipper Jones, Atlanta (.292,
iclieve thea: |ig 48 RBI). Simply the best third base-
rrequent ■ ian j n baseball. And he wears those sexy
mV
Bonds and Gonzalez are both givens, considering their home
run totals. Larry Walker is simply electrifying.
Protest votes: Moises Alou (.348, 11 HR, 44 RBI) and Lance
Berkman (.333, 16 HR, 53 RBI), Houston. Alou is a great player
who never gets any credit, and Berkman may look like a pizza de
livery man but is becoming an offensive force.
Designated hitter: Sammy Sosa, Chicago (.303,21 HR, 64 RBI).
If you have to ask why, you do not watch baseball.
Pitcher: Curt Schilling, Arizona (11-2, 2.76 Earned Run Aver
age). It is tough to choose anyone over Randy Johnson, but this is
one guy that is deserving of the honor. It was even tougher not to
listen to the Jose Lima voting block, but we persevered.
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Protest vote: Phil Nevin, San Diego (.330,
17 HR, 52 RBI). He may not have Chipper’s
1 lame-recognition or good looks, but his stats
speak for themselves.
I Catcher: Charles Johnson, Florida (.284,
12 HR, 41 RBI). Even though Mike Piazza
|| ill be the voter’s choice, we hate him. There
fore, our selection goes to Johnson, who is a
Better defensive catcher and actually has com
parable offensive numbers this season.
I Outfield: Barry Bonds, San Francisco
(.320, 36 HR, 64 RBI), Luis Gonzalez, Ari
zona (.356, 28 HR, 62 RBI) and Larry Walk
er, Colorado (.346, 21 HR, 67 RBI).'
American League:
First base: Jason Giambi, Oakland (.342, 17 HR, 54 RBI). He is
just good. If he is on the cover of Triple Play 2001, he must be All-
Star material. Oh, he was the 2000 AL Most Valuable Player too?
Second base: Bret Boone, Seattle (.326, 16 HR, 70 RBI). He is
having a career year, and is one of the big reason’s for Seattle’s
great start.
Protest vote: Roberto Alomar, Cleveland (.337, 6 HR, 42 RBI).
He is the spitting image of a hall-of-famer. Literally.
Shortstop: Alex Rodriguez, Texas (.327, 20 HR, 80 RBI). Next.
Third base: Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore (.210, 4 HR, 25 RBI). Yes,
it is a sympathy vote. So what? Yes, the editor threatened to fire the
other writers if they voted for someone else. So what?
Protest vote: Troy Glaus, Anaheim (.265,18
HR, 46 RBI). Yes, I saved my job by voting for
Ripken, but Glaus is the better player. Catch
er: Ivan Rodriguez, Texas (.286, 13 HR, 33
RBI). Jorge Posada of the Yankees has similar
offensive numbers, but his defense pales to the
skills of “Pudge.” Besides, we hate the Yankees.
Designated hitter: Edgar Martinez, Seat
tle (.315, 10 HR, 53 RBI). He is the best des
ignated hitter of all time. Besides, he does not
own a glove anymore.
Outfielders: Manny Ramirez, Boston
(.357, 21 HR, 66 RBI), Juan Gonzalez,
Cleveland (.343, 16 FIR, 57 RBI) and Ichiro
Suzuki, Seattle (.351,3 HR, 23 stolen bases).
How can anyone argue with the statistics of
these players?
Well, someone can.
Protest vote: Raul Mondesi, Toronto
(.295, 12 HR, 39 RBI). He is a great player
and he suffers through playing in Canada.
This should count for something.
Pitcher: Pedro Martinez, Boston (7-2,2.01
ERA). Someone in the hallway was muttering
about Seattle’s Aaron Sele. We ignored him.
After much arguing, debate and threats of
termination, these are the teams The Battal
ion sports desk has chosen. The annoyed and
embittered can still vote at any ballpark or
RUBEN DELUNA/rHf Battalion Online at MLB.COm.
Cal Ripken to retire at the completion of the season
d . from [°lBaltimore’s 40-year-old third
red the night a s
administration' BALTIMORE (AP) — Iron Man Cal Rip-
Ten Jr. will retire at the end of this season to
spend more time with his family and teach
youngsters how to play the game that has been
y whole life.”
“The last couple of years I’ve been noticing
tfiat I miss being away from home,” the Balti
y'ears of no fed
; by having tv
week. On June
>ecame the first
e put to death
za, the second
baseman played in 2,632 consecutive games, wants to spend more time with family
to sit down because he feared his Iron Man run breakable record of 2,130 consecutive games on “I guess it was not unexpected,” sa
:d dead at 7:0 (| more Orioles’ third baseman said Tuesday at a
his administn news conference at Camden Yards. “I miss my
doubt that the; kids’ activities and it seems like the passion — I
rly in favor of was getting into other things.”
re death penal: Injuries were not a factor, said Ripken, who
ran doing amt has been plagued by back problems in recent
tee to correc: seasons.
iarza attorney^ “I’m as healthy now as at any time,” he said,
•cioch said. “It feels good to come to a decision not forced
be monthsorf hut really from your feelings.”
ire there is anf. The 40-year-old Ripken, a two-time Most
at the Ferre ft Valuable Player, said it was the start of another
me of the only phase in his career.
row. No exect ■ “j don’t see this as an ending so much. I’m
• been set foran stopping something. I’m just moving on,”
.er men therein®, said.
.ences. ■ “The reality is that players can’t play forever,”
penalty oppoii; ^ said _
former Justice® Ripken holds the major league record for con-
to sit down because he feared his Iron Man run
was a distraction to the Orioles
His passion for the team he grew up rooting
for, and the one his father once managed and
coached, also played a role in Ripken’s decision
to retire after his 21st season, all with Baltimore.
“The Orioles have been my whole life,” he said.
He was reduced to a part-time role this year
because of the team’s transition toward youth
Ripken, an 18-time All Star whose 345 home
runs as a shortstop are a major league record, has
‘7 accomplished
what my skill set
and my determina
tion and my ability
allowed me to do.”
RIPKEN
officials havec
)f racial
as in the waycaj
secutive games, playing in 2,632 from May 30,
1982 to Sept. 20, 1998, when he voluntarily end
ed the streak. At the time, Ripken said he chose
nt is imj
'hether Garza'
American bort
ad States —
' b^eiT whitened Montreal Canadiens sold to an American
:d his crimesso' The sale of the Montreal Canadiens to a Colorado busi-
aer than Texas, nessman was unanimously approved Tuesday by the NHL's
the 18 /nenui' B° ar d of Governors, with the condition that the team not be
iath sentences' 1 moved.
1 in Texas; 16 George Gillett Jr., bought an 80 percent controlling interest
:s, in the Canadiens and 100 percent of the Molson Centre for
ot a suspected Si 78.3 million. Canadian beer maker Molson retains a 20 per-
Thomas Rumb cent interest in the Canadiens.
, dragged hinh A Wisconsin native who does not speak French, Gillett has said
a field and shot repeatedly that he has no plans to shift the franchise elsewhere.
>ur more times Gillett, 62, is a former minority owner of the Miami Dolphins
-red the death 1 a nd the Harlem Globetrotters. He failed in a bid last year to pur-
t ' tqhase another NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche.
| Gillett struck the deal in late January, but it was not until Tues
day's 30-0 vote that the sale became official.
I "It was a six-month process and we move on," said Canadi-
'ens president Pierre Boivin. "There's nothing like closure in any
transaction. It takes away any uncertainty or any doubt that may
have remained."
Said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman: "It was a complicat-
y during the fan andspn = ed transaction, but we worked our way through it and everyone
'motostmastcr^ ' s comfortable. Sometimes these transactions take awhile."
,tx 77843-1111. The Canadiens failed to make the playoffs for the third straight
eed McDonald Bulldinl 1 year, the first time that has happened since 1920-22.
Boivin said last year's player budget of $36 million to $37 mil-
^ing.call845°569 *7 |j on w j|| rema j n about the same for next season.
nday through Fnday. Fa 10
tlC'schooTAuM^ Goosen recovers, wins U.S. Open playoff
: by Visa, MasterCard! ^
For Retief Goosen, the tortuous ordeal lasted just one day.
been a part-time player this year. He is hitting
.210 with four homers and 25 runs batted in.
“I tried to love every minute I was on the
field,” Ripken said. “I accomplished what my
skill set and my determination and my ability al
lowed me to do.”
Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s seemingly un
breakable record of 2,130 consecutive games on
Sept. 6, 1995. In the days leading to that day, he
was honored in baseball cities throughout the
country. When he broke the record, the cele
bration became a national event.
Ripken spoke this spring about his disdain for
a possible farewell tour, but that now appears
inevitable.
He is defined by his consecutive games streak,
but Ripken is also one of seven players in major
league history with 3,000 hits (3,107) and 400
home runs (421).
Ripken’s final chance to play at home will be
Sept. 23 against the New York Yankees. The
Orioles finish the season Sept. 30 at Yankee
Stadium.
He said he did not realize until Tuesday that
his final major league game would be in the sta
dium where Gehrig played.
“Yankee history is very rich,” he said.
By 9 a.m., 75 people were in line at Camden
Yards hoping to buy tickets for Ripken’s final
home game. At 9:30 a.m., an announcement
over the public address system alerted those in
line that tickets for the final two games at Cam
den Yards were completely sold out. Only stand
ing room tickets remained.
Fans, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for Rip
ken’s longevity.
“I guess it was not unexpected,” said Bob
Hahm of Westminster. “What he did for base
ball is truly amazing.”
Hahm, stopped on the street in Annapolis,
where he works, said he was not saddened by
the news.
“This is one of those things in life. Life goes
on,” Hahm said.
Ripken was American League Rookie of the
Year in 1982 and was selected league MVP in 1983
and 1991. He won a World Series championship
with the Orioles in 1983.
In 1990, Ripken set a record for shortstops
with a .996 fielding percentage, making just
three errors in 161 games. He moved to third
base in 1997.
In 1999, Ripken and Ernie Banks of the Chica
go Cubs were selected as the shortstops for base
ball’s “All-Century” team.
Ripken, who regularly signs autographs before
games at home and on the road, has often spoken
about his love for fans of the game.
They love him back. Despite his poor batting
average and part-time status, Ripken leads all AL
third basemen in voting for the All-Star game.
He said he would be honored to play in anoth
er All-Star game.
“It would be very special to say goodbye that
way,” he said.
Sports in Brief
When given a chance to atone for one of golf's most embar
rassing moments, the soft-spoken South African made sure he
would not have to go through life as the guy who missed a 2-
foot putt to win the U.S. Open.
No, he will be remembered as a U.S. Open champion.
"I felt like I needed to win this because of what happened,"
Goosen said Monday, savoring a 2-stroke victory over Mark
Brooks in the first Open playoff since 1994. "When the putt
went in, it was great relief. In a way, I was a little bit shocked
that I won it."
That's understandable, considering what Goosen went
through Sunday evening. Just 12 feet from his first major
victory and given two putts to make it happen, he needed
three.
Suddenly, a golfer who was barely known on this side of the
Atlantic at the beginning of the tournament was linked with
Jan Van de Velde, Scott Hoch, Ed Sneed and Doug Sanders —
all the victims of unspeakable collapses that let major victories
slip away.
The others also had a chance to make amends, only to
stumble under the weight of bitter disappointment. Goosen
was different, responding with rock-solid play in the 1 8-hole
playoff to beat 40-year-old Texan Mark Brooks, the 1998
champion.
With the trophy in his hand, the new champion could even
poke fun as his misfortune.
"(Sunday) was quite funny, actually," Goosen said. "I sort of
laughed to myself when I missed that short putt to win, like I
couldn't believe what just happened."
A day later, Goosen walked to the final hole with a 3-stroke
lead over Brooks, having erased all memories of the Sunday de
bacle. He even pulled out that dreaded putter while still 100 feet
off the green, taking a conservative approach.
'I knew this time I had it in the bag," Goosen said.
He could afford a 3-putt from 25 feet to clinch a belated
victory, but needed only two, rolling the second try into the
middle of the cup from 6 feet for bogey and an even-par round
of 70.
Sampras, Hingis top seeds at Wimbledon
Pete Sampras will open his bid for an eighth Wimbledon ti
tle Monday against Francisco Clavet, a Spanish clay-court play
er ranked 53rd.
The 29-year-old American has won four straight Wimbledon
titles and was last beaten on the grass at the All England Club in
the 1996 quarterfinals by eventual winner Richard Krajicek.
In the draw Tuesday, No. 2 Andre Agassi of the United States
was paired against Peter Wessels of the Netherlands in the open
ing round. Wessels defeated top-seeded Marat Safin last week in
the Queen's Club tournament, the traditional grass-court warm
up for Wimbledon.
In the women's draw, top-seeded Martina Hingis will open
against Virginia Ruano Pascual, a Spaniard ranked 84th. Sec
ond-seeded and defending Wimbledon champion Venus
Williams of the United States will open against Shinobu Asa-
goe of Japan.
Fellow American Jennifer Capriati, seeded fourth and halfway
to a Grand Slam sweep after winning the Australian Open and
French Open, begins against Maria Alejan Vento, a Venezuelan
ranked No. 110.