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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2002)
SPORTS THE BATTALION _ 3B Tuesday, September 3, 2002 Strahan will not leave Record sack leader signs new deal with Giants EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Michael Strahan, who set the NFL’s single-season sack record last season, agreed to a new contract with the New York Giants Monday, ending specula tion that this might be his last season with the team. Details of the deal were not immediately available, but the Giants called a 4 p.m. news conference. Strahan and the Giants came close to reaching agreement this spring on a seven-year, $56 mil lion contract. The deal fell apart when Strahan balked at talking a $17 million signing bonus split over the first two years. When the deal fell apart, run ning back Tiki Barber criticized Strahan and that led to a rift between the two players, one that both now say is old news. Strahan, the NFL’s defensive player of the year last season, is in the final year of a $32 million contract that he signed before the 1999 season. He got a $12 million signing bonus and was to make $8 mil lion this season. Tony Agnone, Strahan’s agent, had talked with Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi over the past few days about a new contract, but even Strahan seemed unaware after practice on Monday that a deal was imminent. Strahan earned every penny of his contract last season, set ting a single-season record 22.5 sacks, breaking the mark of 22 set by Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets in 1994. Strahan’s record-setting sack last season was somewhat con troversial with Green Bay quar terback Brett Favre seemingly falling down in front of Strahan in the final game, on a naked bootleg that wasn’t called in the huddle in the final minutes. Strahan, who will turn 31 in November, is entering his 10th season in the league. The four time Pro Bowl selection enters the season fifth among active players with 84.5 sacks, includ ing 9.5 in 2000 when the Giants played in the Super Bowl. Strahan downplayed his sacks on Monday. “You guys are caught up on one person,” Strahan said. “What I do does not matter. What the team does matters, and I think everybody loses sight of that. My 22 1/2 sacks mean nothing because we went 7-9. If we can have a better record and make the playoffs and have a chance to go to the Super Bowl 1 could care less.” Teams set for golf competition SPRINGFIELD, 111. (AP) — Emilee Klein played her way onto the U.S. Solheim Cup team Sunday and captain Patty Sheehan completed the squad by adding Kelly Robbins and Pat Hurst. Klein shot a 3-under 69 to tie for fourth in the State Farm Classic, the final event in the points competition for the Sept. 20-22 matches against Europe at Interlachen in Edina. Minn. “I've worked very hard this week and this just proves that hard work pays off,” said Klein, one of five first-time Solheim Cup players on the 12-play er team. Klein, who began the week 13th in the race for the 10 automatic sp>ots, jumped to 10th. with the top 11 on the list earning spots because No. 5 Dottie Pepper is sidelined by a shoulder injury. “She showed a lot of moxie out there,’’ Sheehan said of Klein. “She hit a lot of clutch shots, and she showed me she really wanted to be on the team.” U.S. Women’s Open champion Juli Inkster topped the automatic qualifiers, followed by Laura Diaz. Rosie Jones, Michele Redman, Cristie Kerr. Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel, Wendy Ward and Kelli Kuehne. Robbins, who began the week 1 1th but did not play in the State Farm Classic, dropped to 12th when Klein moved up. “She’s a unique individual, sort of laid back,” Sheehan said. “She felt confident she was going to be one of the picks, but she would have accepted being picked or not being picked. That’s just Kelly.” Hurst was 14th in the standings after tying for ninth Sunday. “I’m elated and relieved.” Hurst said. “It’s a goal to achieve making the team. Right now I don't care how I made it. Being a captain’s pick is the sec ond best thing.” Sheehan selected Hurst, 5-2-1 in two previous Solheim Cup appearances, over 13th-place Dorothy Delasin. who will serve as the traveling alternate. “I felt we needed some leadership,” Sheehan said. “I felt we needed experience, so that’s the way I went.” The European team was set last week, with Annika Sorenstam joining Raquel Carriedo, Karine Icher, Paula Marti, Sophie Gustafson, Suzann Pettersen, Iben Tinning, Maria Hjorth and captain’s picks Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson. Carin Koch and Mhairi McKay. Europe won the 20()0 event, beating the United States 14 1/2-1 1 1/2 at Loch Lomond in Scotland. The United States leads the biennial series 4-2. /a 7 MSC Film Society’s Afifiie Cinema presents: 8:30pm in Rudder Theater Only SI with wristband Build your own HERO sandwich starting at 9pm Create wax molds of your own hands on the first floor at midnight win $250 Come play with Master Trick-shot firtist Jack White in the basement from 9nm till 11 pm In the basement ALL NIGHT LONG Free Bowling Free Billiards Free Dance Dance Revolution Free Popcorn &soda Dance the night away in the up stairs hatfrooms tiff f am Win Door Prizes all night long For more information contact 845* ISIS Must Show A&M (D at Checkin locations around the MSC Friday, September 6 ' ^Spm * I am In the MSC TEXAS A&M^ FOOTBALL Walk-on/12th Man ^ Informational Meeting Wednesday, September 4, 2002 4:30 p.m. ) j The Football Team Auditorium on the NW Corner of Kyle Field Mandatory Attendance Must be Enrolled in 12 Hours at Texas A&M University at College Station Must have Started College No Earlier than the Fall of 2000 PfPM k -k V-'-Nk Breakaway Tonight!! Reed Arena at 9 pm FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 20 Weekend Warm-Up Rudder Plaza • 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Free Food Games Live Music Performance Martin Short with special guest Mark Curry Reed Arena • 8:00 p.m. Opening performances by the Singing Cadets, Percussion Studio and the Aggie Wranglers Midnight Yell Practice Kyle Field SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Cook-Off Classic “BBQ” Rudder Plaza* 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Featuring Live Music from Honeybrowne and Owen Temple Texas A&M vs. Virginia Tech Kyle Field • 2:30 p.m. Brought to you by: 12iMAN FOUNDATION First Yell September 20-21, 2002 The Yell Leaders and MSC Town Hall present Martin Short with Mark Curry Reserve student tickets on sale Wednesday, Sept. 4' I th £M s C_ - (i|pr Tickets on sale now.... Reed Arena MSC Box Office Ticketmaster or call (979) 845-1234 http://yell.tamu.edu