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Show The Summer Chronicle - l'jjje Sports Six SLC is buzzing over the Sting By Janice Osborn Chronicle Sports Writer With this year's World Cup, people all over the globe are Everybody in the basketball Jazz made a great move in acquiring sharpshooting guard Jeff Malone from Many Washington. commented that the deal brought the Jazz one step closer to an NBA title. Jeff's presence on the cons of creating a professional soccer team in Salt Lake City, finally coming to a conclusion to go for it. In November they wrote a press release announcing the arrival of the Sting to the American Professional Soccer League as well as Salt Lake perimeter of the sometimes stagnant Utah offense will extend and stretch defenses freeing the inside for the more the familiar Malone, Mailman. No longer can teams like Phoenix back off the Jazz outside men and dare City. The name was taken from a Chicago indoor team that went bankrupt in 1988. With Utah known as the Beehive State, the name "Sting" seemed to fit perfectly with staff members' idea of getting the public more involved in the sport. them to shoot while they pack the middle. Another player named Assistant General Manager of Marketing John Stein and Dave Baggot, director of operations, Together they began to build a team that now, halfway through the season, holds a 6 record, which isn't too good but isn't bad for a first-ye6-- ar soccer team. "We're all still learning at this point. From the front office to the announcers, refs, coaches, fans and even players. It's going to take a little time and a lot of patience before everyone gets settled," commented forward Dominic Militello. But compared to all of the other APSL soccer teams, the Sting seems to be settling in just fine. Salt Lake is ranked first in the league in attendance. Last Saturday night's game brought in 6,233, bringing the average attendance up to 5,300. The New Mexico Chilies come in second with a 5,000 average, but teams like the L.A. Heat and California Emperors average only 700 fans per game. After the first two games of the season, the Sting was in second place in the league, with wins over New Mexico and Arizona, only to lose their next game to the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. Some of the players feel like they've been a bit unlucky attendance wise. "We've had great attendance, but I think we would've done a lot better if there weren't all of those other things going on like What the Jazz need is one more Malone world agrees that the Utah first discussed. The Derks Field no coaches, no Matthew Coles championship? office staff weighed the pros and players, no refs, no nothing. -- Question: How many Malones does it take for Utah NBA to an win catching soccer fever. Although the U.S. team didn't do so well in the Cup, the Salt Lake Sting has managed to raise some eyebrows as Utah's newest professional team. It all began last July when the idea of a pro soccer team in Utah was started from scratch Tuesday. July 3. 1990 i id l 1 Malone is probably going to confuse Hot Rod Hundley and the rest of the sports media, but so far everyone P o nE ft agrees ; Chronicle 1'Ikxo by JikIiI K. Iliilnun The Salt Lake Sting, Utah's newest professional sports franchise, has proven to be head and shoulders above the other teams in the APSL in attendance. The 6 Sting is averaging about 5,300 fans at home. 6-- participation and show them they're havin' fun. Unlike other countries, soccer needs to be promoted in the NBA draft and the state high school soccer tournaments. We've also had a couple of storms during the games that probably affected the attendance," stated forward Derek America because it's such new sport," he said. Now that Utah has a professional Sanderson. The Sting Management has organized many different ways to get people out to the games and get them involved. Almost every game so far has had some kind of promotion on ticket prices. For instance, if fans brought in a full newspaper one night, they got in for just $1. "Most of our crowd is made up of kids who play soccer and their parents, so we try to think up ways for everyone to be able to afford to come out and see a game," said John Stein, assistant general managerbusiness. "After each game we always , ask ourselves two questions: did we get a lot of people out to the game and did they have fun?" Rumor has it that most of the people do have fun. "The staff dresses really casual, makes jokes on the loud speakers, dance in the press box, and so on to create more crowd soccer ' team, youth soccer enrollment is expected to increase over the next few years. Most of the players teach soccer camps and clinics for some of the youth soccer organizations in the valley. Some of them also do radio interviews where the kids get to speak with the players. A fan two Malones are better than one. The Jazz now look solid all the way around almost. John Stockton is the ideal point guard, Karl is the model power forward, Thurl Bailey is a consistent offensive threat at the small forward spot and Jeff can provide involved in youth soccer will get in on a discount. During the national anthem, all of the youth soccer players wearing their uniforms will be on the field to sing. There will also be a fireworks display. After a four game road trip beginning Wednesday against the Portland Timbers, the Sting play the Seattle Storm July 21 to begin a three game homestand. Sting management is currently trying to get the U.S. National team under-2- 0 to play the Sting August 4. the front office boys who make the decisions really want to see the Jazz become the next world champions, they need to add still another Malone Moses. Moses is getting on in years (he is now 36 years old) and will begin his 16th season in the pros. Malone, a perennial rebounding leader, still can play. If Utah wants to topple the Detroit dynasty and start its own, the Jazz need to trade Eaton, draft picks, Eric Johnson, Delaney Rudd or somebody for Moses now. Prior to the 1982-8- 3 season, the 76ers Philadelphia win the title with Julius seemingly had all the tools to Erving, Bobby Jones, Darryl Dawkins, Doug Collins and the rest of the gang but every year the 76ers bowed in the playoffs. Not until the Doctor teamed with Moses were they led out of playoff bondage to the promised land. Malone might come at a great cost to the Jazz but what he could do for the club is impressive. He's a solid defender and can clear the boards and get the quick outlet pass for the break. He could be the first offensive offensive fireworks and is not a defensive liability. Isn't that everything? Everything but the big hole in the middle. Mark Eaton has been an incredible force in., the defensive paint but when the Jazz have the ball, Eaton usually just gets in the way or rebounding threat the Jazz have had since Adrian Besides an occasional jump Eaton is hook or tip-i- the Stars of the American stands out near midcourt. n, appreciation night is scheduled for July 28. Anyone Adding Jeff was a very smart move by the Jazz but if offensively powerless. The Jazz will never win the championship with a center that can't hit a jumper. ot Eaton can't even jump, let alone shoot from five feet out. Defensively, Eaton has become less and less a threat to the other teams' offensive game plans. His blocked-sho- t totals plummeted last year and many teams have figured out how to avoid Eaton's presence, completely rendering him ineffective. Dantley. And most of all, his ability to score would thwart any efforts to double team either of the other Malones. Moses graduated from high school in Peterburg, Virginia and went straight to the pro ranks right here in Utah with Basketball Association. How fitting for the man to finish his illustrious career a championship in the same city where he began it all as a shy, skinny teenager. with The three Malones could definitely cover it all for the Jazz. Jeff hitting from the perimeter, Moses powering in the key and Karl everywhere in between. A Jazz fan's dream come true. Answer: Three Malones are just enough to bring Utah the world championship. SUMMER STORAGE NEAREST TO "U" 10 off for all U. students and staff! I I mJl J If a I 3 I CITY SraT" CENTER CYSTITIS STUDY f Women between the ages of 18 to 65 who are experiencing discomfort during urination andor frequent urination, are urged to contact the Utah Women's Health Center. Treatment will be free for those who qualify to participate in our Cystitis Study currently underway. For more information call531-919- 2. Just 3 blocks west of the Salt Palace 230 South 500 West, S.L.C. Call and Reserve Now! 533-090- 0 MJWFY 4T5J OIF JULY Have a safe end sane holiday RUNNIN' UTE PLACES AT NATIONALS: Despite suffering from tendonitis, John Schiefer placed fifth in the 1,500 meters at the National Track and Field Championships last weekend in Fresno, Calif, with a time of 3:52.28. Schiefer, who will begin his sophomore year at the U. in the fall, is now awaiting word as to whether he will be asked to participate in the Junior World Championships in Bulgaria this August. UTE HOOPSTERS WIN GOLD: Runnin' Utes Jimmy Soto and Josh Grant led Metalcraft Technologies to the gold medal in the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City Saturday. Soto led the team with 29 points, while Grant scored 27 in a victory over JB's, a team made up of current and former SUSC players, in the championship game. Del Rowe Law, a team that included Jeff Judkins, Keith Chapman and Craig Rydalch, finished third in the men's Former Lady Ute Donna Holzworth scored 22 points to help the Rebels bring home the gold in the women's division. 93-8- 1 n. open-divisio- In the three-on-thre- e Roundball Ruckus at the 49th Street Galleria over the weekend, a team of ex-Ute- including Mitch s, Smith, "Boo" Singletary and Jimmv Madision, placed third. |
