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Show B Scoreboard B3 B Business B4 Q Opinions B6 The Daily Herald Monday, September 9, 1996 Cowboys overwhelm poor Giants By FRANK LUKSA The Dallas Morning News ro IB t 0.8. iratf 0. nnlnnifl mattered not that the Cowboys cuffed an undistinguished opponent. What did matter was how they did it and what the season g victory might portend. Two observations are necessary to capture the flavor of an as an event that was as one-wa- y avalanche. New York's offense isn't as bad as it looked, although it's possible to be wrong about a unit that netted a mere 93 yards running, passing and breathing hard. The Cowboys defense can't be as good as it looked or can it? There are people who think it is. One of them is the coach, Barry Switzer. "Our defense is playing better now than it did last year," he said. This was a collision of peak and punk. The Cowboys on defense were alert, agile and aggressive. The Giants offense suffered a Brown-oof such dreary proportion that their coach, Dan Reeves, indicted himself. "There's no one to blame but : myself for the performance today," said Reeves. "There is no blame on the players. It is all preparation and that falls directly back to me." ' The admission by Reeves shook accepted NFL dogma that Switzer can't a pine cone. Hence the upset aspect of conceding that he'd been The play of Reeves' quarterback, the unfortunate Dave Brown, produced the most underwhelming example of poor planning. The Cowboys didn't read Brown's mail. They wrote it. Brown had two chances to find his hot receiver none and none whatsoever. The Cowboys secondary stayed closer to the New York guys running routes than their kin. Brown only had time to look downfield once and then it time for the Cowwas look-orush. boys pass Brown completed 10 passes that netted 38 yards and his average of 1.7 yards on 19 attempts equates to the same distance as a His first pass was interpitch-ou- t. cepted by Kevin Smith. His longest completion spanned 1 yards and no wide receiver caught a pass until 2:23 remained in the third quarter. Lesser results of note found that the Giants came no closer than 48 yards to the Dallas end zone. Brown was sacked thrice, fumbled once when drilled in the pocket, and wondered whether Reeves or Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Campo had called plays for him. "They did a good job of covering our routes," Brown said. "At times it looked like they were in our playbook." Chad Hennings plays defensive tackle so he doesn't cover e, but he knows anyone who did to frustrate Brown. "Our secondary was on their guys like glue." he said. "That allows our guys up front to get the sacks, get in his face and frustrate him. . "Those were team sacks," Hennings went on. "Brown had to check off to his second receiver. Any time he has to do that, you should get sacks." Oh, the Giants couldn't run either. They made 55 yards and Rodney Hampton can claim to have contributed the game-lon- g gain. He raced as far as nine yards, but only once. Immediate results for the Cowboys were plentiful. The sour 22-- 6 taste of a season-openin- g is loss o Chicago gone. short of conceit is restored. shy of swagger is back. home-openin- ut out-coa- ch d. ut 1 one-on-on- . -1 Self-estee- in titles Chang can't stop Sampras : 4 're-Pet- e' v. By TERRY EGAN In a IRVING display of muscle, the Cowboys on Sunday overturned the New York Giants at Texas To be resolved Stadium, 27-was whether they kicked sand in the face of a weakling. Resolve the question this way: Who cares if the Cowboys shut out the Port Lavaca Sand Crabs? They beat someone on an occasion when anyone would do. So it petm The Dallas Morning News NEW YORK Considering how difficult it was for him to get to the final of the U.S. Open, winning it Sunday was surprisingly easy for Pete Sampras. With a dominant serve and impressive forehand groundstrokes, Sampras beat No. 2 seed ), 6 Michael Chang, to defend his U.S. Open title. It was the fourth time Sampras has won the Open, and he is the fifth man to repeat as champion. But his run to this particular championship will long be remembered by New Yorkers and the tennis world. Sampras' friend and coach, Tim Gullikson, died earlier this spring of brain cancer, a devastating blow to Sampras. All of the earlier Grand Slam championships eluded Sampras this year, and he covets those tournaments more than any other. And then in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, battling stomach illness and Spain's Alex Corretja, Sampras got sick during a fifth-sand still managed to win the match. "I've never been a big believer in fate or destiny," said Sampras, who will retain his No. 1 world ranking Monday. "But maybe this is fate. This year has been very difficult at times. This leaves a very happy thought and very good memories here." The title Sampras' eighth in a came on the Grand Slam event day Gullikson would have turned 45. "I was thinking about him all day," Sampras said. "I still felt his spirit out there. He's still very much in my heart. "But I'm glad it's over," Sampras said. "I didn't feel like playing another set. These past two weeks, I've played great tennis and I've played poor tennis. I got through the Corretja match and I never thought I'd be here as the winner. Then I played my best tennis against Michael. This definitely saved my year." Sampras and Chang have been playing one another since they were in junior tennis, as 7- - and As professionals, they have met on the court 18 times. includSampras has the edge, 1 ing nine of the last 10 matches. mm top-seed- 7-- (7-3- A - ' jA i f o y kC: y$ " ) et - -- It W ( ; H 1 I er (See SAMPRAS, Page B2) A -- Z: u " ", fr 7f M J ill A AP Piiolos Pete Sampras holds his U.S. Open trophy aloft Sunday after defeating 6 ). Michael Chang in straight sets. Sampras won 6-- 1, 6-- 4, 7-- (7-3- Steffi Graf exhults after defeating Monica Seles women's final of the U.S. Open Sunday in New York. 6-- 7-- in; firs 4 -- : Graf continues reign over women's circuit By ' MERI-J- The O cloud turned the sky so dark, the stadium lights came on. The participants sponsors, players, were stuck tournament officials, standing in the pouring rain. "I don't think I felt the rain at all," said Graf, who won her 101st career singles title. "So I wasn't bothered too much." But Graf, troubled by her father's trial on charges of tax evasion that started last week in Germany, and by a host of physical ailments over the past year, didn't notice, didn't rush her final game. The tennis court had always been her personal Biosphere, a retreat against her troubles. Last year, Graf fled the interview room in tears when asked about her father, imprisoned on charges of avoiding taxes on $13 million of his daughter's income. This year, she smiled and laughed her way through the press conference. That doesn't mean the past two weeks have been a joyride. "Last year was extremely difficult," said Graf, now 70-- 8 at the U.S. Open. "I don't think this year was any easier. I was really struggling during the tournament just to stay focused. That BORZILLERI Miami Herald flag-beare- rs A storm cloud was bearing NEW YORK down on Louis Armstrong Stadium, one so large it blotted out Manhattan and stopped an NFL game being played nearby. Serving for her fifth U.S. Open title in the stadium, Steffi Graf bounced the ball once, twice, six times in all. A few moments later, after her volley clipped the netcord and fell for a winner, Graf took a long look skyward. 6--4 Graf beat the rain, but her victory over Monica Seles in the U.S. Open finals was much more impressive Sunday before a crowd of 19,883. Not only because it was her Grand Slam tournament victory (she missed this year's Australian Open with an injury). Not only because she has now won 21 Grand Slam titles, second of all time. Not only because she proved 1 the women's ranking with Seles a fraud. But because she is good now and getting better. Graf, who collected a $600,000 winner's check, got rained on during the most bizarre h ceremony she's been in. The storm 7-- 5, sixth-straig- ht co-N- o. post-matc- is why to be sitting here in this kind of posit iitn is incredible." ; ; Said Seles, $300,000 richer after Sunday: "She is a great player and great athlete. VVIini you have that combination, it is tough to play against anybody like that." final between llie While last year's three-se- t same two players included what many coniidi-the best first set ever played in women's tennis, this year's title match had little of that high drama. That's because Graf, whose most 1'earc.d stroke has been her forehand, showed her serve has reached weapon status. h Her fastest in the final was in the low zone, 23 mph less than tour leader Brendu but her placement kept Seles from stepping in and taking charge. Graf ' had 10 aces to Seles' two. is "I shouldn't look over at how fast she servlor ing, but I always do," said Seles, runner-uthe second straight year. "She had tons of 95 mpji first serves in and ... close to the line. It is tmiji to return that, so she definitely served well." ; r te 100-mp- Schultz-McCarth- Press Dallas and Pittsburgh, last season's Super Bowl teams, rebounded from season-openin- g losses with victories that befitted their status as defending conference champions. Troy Aikman threw three touchdown passes in the first half Sunday as the defending champion Cowboys shut out the New York Giants 27-Rod Woodson, coming back from a severe knee injury, scored on an interception return and recovered a fumble as the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens The Cowboys, who lost their finally opener to Chicago 22-offense got their going against the Giants at Texas Stadium. Aikman threw scoring passes of 9 yards to Deion Sanders, 19 yards to Kevin Williams and 5 yards to Emmitt Smith as the Cowboys : built a 21-- 0 halftime lead. --"v 1 "So much for the demise of 7Dallas," coach Barry Switzer said. "This was a big confidence game. The defense was dominant and Troy was throwing rockets. AP Photo We played very well." Smith rushed for 94 yards on return Sunday in San Diego. The Chargers went San Diego's Darrien Gordon flips over Cincin25 carries and showed no signs of nati's Marco Battaglia during a first quarter punt on to beat the Bengals 27-1a neck injury that forced him out Mike Tomczak, promoted to of the game against the Bears. Tonight, Philadelphia is at Gilbert put steady pressure on ), and Stanley the Bears "I'm still a little sore, but starting quarterback after Jim Green Bay. fumble to lead a Richard forced 20 Saints Smith in the Steelers' Panthers Miller went 22, OK," struggled everything At New Orleans, John Kasay Washington's defense. Terry said. "It was good to get that 24-- 9 lo5S to the Jaguars, completAllen scored the only touchdown Chicago game off our backs. You ed 18 of 25 passes for 198 yards kicked five field goals tor the secrun. guys (the media) are good about ?nd two TDs against the Ravens. ond straight week, including the on a with 2:09 left. In other NFL games, it was winning Oilers 34, Jaguars 27 overreacting." At Jacksonville, 1995 Heis-ma- n Woodson had a similar reaction trailed four times Carolina 22, New Orleans 20; Carolina (2-in back the the Housbounced Steelers after and gained only 54 yards Trophy winner Eddie Washington 10, Chicago 3; from their opening loss to Jackfirst half, but got strong play from George rushed for 143 yards, ton 34, Jacksonville 27; Indirun that set sonville and season-endin- g injuries anapolis 21, New York Jets 7; its defense and special teams to including a to Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd Minnesota 23, Atlanta 17; Buffa- overcome the Saints ). up Chris Chandler's third touch). down pass for Houston and pass rusher Ray Seals. lo 17, New England 10; Kansas Redskins 10, Bears 3 At Washington, the Redskins The Oilers' defense forced two "Everything was blown way City 19, Oakland 3; Detroit 21, out of proportion," Woodson Tampa Bay 6; San Diego 27, (1-held an opponent without a turnovers in the final three minsaid. "We lost one game and one Cincinnati 14; Denver 30, Seattle touchdown for the first time utes to preserve the victory over great player, but we still have 20; San Francisco 34, St. Louis 0; since 1993. Ken Harvey made a some good players here." sack, Sean and Miami 38, Arizona 10. (See NFL, Page B2) key fourth-quart- ( 0. 31-1- 7. 6, much-criticiz- it. m m Ton, ., 4 - 'ft 4. (1-1- 28-ya- rd er 0) 76-ya- rd (0-2- (1-1- er y, p Cowboys, Steelers enter win column By The Associated si' I I I i P U.S. dumps Russia at World Cup The KANATA, Ontario (AP) Americans say it's time for a com ing-obash. And they couldn't have picked a more appropriate party partner than Canada. Brett Hull scored two goals Sunday night as the United States dumped Russia 2 to advance to the finals against Canada in the World Cup of Hockey. "For USA hockey to have a chance to play against Canada in the final, well, if we win it's the best possible thing for hockey in the States," said the Canadian-bor- n Hull, sporting a necktie. Team USA also faced Canada in the 1991 Canada Cup final, the predecessor to the World Cup, but lost in two straight game's. This time around there's a new confidence among the American players. "A lot of guys here want to get the monkey off their back," said defenseman Chris Chelios. "This is the best chance we've had since I've been involved in international hockey. Canada's the team to ut 5-- beat." Canada and the United States final Tuesday open the best-of-- 3 at CoreStates the Spectrum night in Philadelphia before playing the next two games, if necessary, in Montreal on Thursday and Saturday. The United States outplayed Canada in winning 3 in rouiul-robi- n play, but looked far more error-pron- e Sunday despite out; shooting the Russians 33-2"Overall, we're just happy, to be in the final," said Mathieu Schneider, whose goal late in the third period ended any hopes of a Russian comeback. "We can definitely outplay the Russians physically. Canaduv. another story." 5-- 5. |
