| OCR Text |
Show Sports SUNDAY, May38, 1995 The Salt Lake Tribune HORSE RACING Page C-2 Florida Schools Play Great, DICK ROSETTA = Milk or Not, Simon Makes Indy Exciting Dick Simon has rarely had any dull pre-race at the Indi i He has never reveled in post-race hoopla where winners drive across a checkered-flag carpet, drink milk and kiss the queen after the world’s most famousauto race. But while A.J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford and the Unser clan won races and while Roger Penske money snuffed out the hopes of a long line of 500 wannabes, ex-Salt Laker Simon has always maneuvered himself into a slice of the Indy spotlight. Granted, Simon’s appearances have nearly always been in the pre-race limelight, if you discount 1973, when he was perchedat the top of the leader board nearly halfway through theillfated, rain-shortened race eventually won by Johneock. There was the year (1971) when he bumped his backup driver from the field; a year (1986) when he made the field as first alternate; a year (1993) when his driver Raul Boesel led the race for several laps, and last year, whena pit-lane violation against race leader Boesel likely cost car owner Simonthe checkeredflag. Ah,but there’s always another year. And 1995 has been vintage Simon. At 61, only four years removed from race competition, the former NCAA ski jumping All-American and hairpiece salesman has been oneof the pre-race focal points. Even 500 legend Foyt marvelsatSimon’s racing acumen: “Hey, the guy has four cars in the [33-car] field. Penske has none.Youtell me just who the smooth operatoris.”” Or, as Simon’s 26-year-old son,Rich, noted from Gasoline Alley prior to the last warmupsession: ‘‘Dad continues to amaze other crews. He amazes me.” Remember, we're talking about an auto racing anomaly here. Famous race teams have come and goneat the Brickyard in the past quarter-century. Once upon a time, Andy Granatelli was the “in” name. Penske usurped that designation with an unprecedented 10 victories in the last 26 tries. But Simon has endured. He has scrimped — including the early 1970s, when he and Salt Lake partner Fred Auerbachwerein the 500 with an outdated chassis and a tired motor, And he's splurged with recent multi-million dollar budgets. Still, he has never missed the “greatest spectacle in racing" in 25 years. Today might well be Simon's crowning achievement with Eliseo Salazar, Lyn St. James, Carlos Guerrero and Davey Jonesall qualified in the 33-car field. It would be folly to suggest any one of the four drivers will win. But last weekend, with a precious few hours left in practice time and qualifying opportunities at a premium, Simon linked hands with St. James, the 1991 Indy rookie of theyear, who had scrambled on opening weekend just to find cash enough to buy herself into a ride. “You had to follow every second of Lyn’s preparation to gain a true appreciation of what she accomplished,” said her chief mechanic Rich Simon, a graduate of Judge Memorial High School. “She had just 45 laps of practice time Friday and 30 minutes of green flag time Saturday, less than any other driver,” said Rich. Then, Dick Simon sent St. James onto the track. Four laps. Ten miles under the clocks. Well over 225 miles per hour necessary. A few minutes to coax the 750-horsepower Lola-Ford engine through four turns and two mile-long straightaways. When the checkered flag fell, revealing St. James’ four-lap qualifying average of 225.346 mph,the press converged on the Simonpit. This time, Dick Simon kissed his “queen.” Lights, action, cameras. ‘There's rarely a dull pre-race moment in Simon's 500 camp. NBAPlayoffs Indiana 105, Orlando 100 ea = L. NHL. Playoffs Ghitago ¢, Vancouver S107)ow Detroit 6, San Jose 2 American Léague Chicago 1, Detroit0__ GOLF Page C-5 Reece ’t Grad But They Don’t ° SECTIONC Utah’s Football Teams Are For freshmenstarting schoolin 1987 Graduate Doing Better in Classroom a3 All figures in 2 _3 By Steven Wine struggle of universities nation- percentagesbo THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Florida State linebacker Marvin Jones went to the NFL two years shy of a degree. Miamioffensive lineman Anthony Lewis went to graduate school without ever playing a down. Florida defensive back Michael Gilmore became a Rhodes scholarshipfinalist. And Miami defensive back Adrian Ellis becamea five-time felony suspect. With stories both inspiring and troubling, the 1990 football recruits at Florida, Florida State and Miami illustrate the wide to blend academic achievement with winning teams. In five seasons, the three schools — among the nation’s mostsuccessful college football University of Florida programs — won two national championships and produced 17 NFLdraftchoices. But an examination by The Associated Press also found that only 27 players there had earnedtheir college degrees by this spring’s commencement ceremonies. That's a graduation rate of just 48 percent for the <a 4% a7 | 54 63 Florida State} 53 | 51 61 University of Mia By Joe Baird raul Eaeel All Division. 5 Ischoots | | 57 | 96 TheAssociatedPress, @ See GRADUATION, C-6 are also noticeable Only 39 percent of USU’s 198485 freshman class graduated That rose to 55 percent in the ‘87-88 figures. Utah increased from 44 percentto 54 percentin ® See LOCAL, Page C-6 By Mike Lopresti GANNETT NEWS SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS — This is a clash not only of will but tempo andstyle. Between one team that wants to run and soar, and another that longs to stay in the * Pee creases Into Series By Gordon Monson THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The phenomis dealing with failure. The phenom had a starting pitcher’s position custom-fit, hanging on the rack for Buzz.Update his taking this ® Saturday: Colo- year with the fado Springs 12, Minnesota and 410th homers ure jumped to 69 percent among those who began in 198788. The Aggies’ and Utes’ in- Way Back But Hawkins Was Roughed Up In Big Leagues vey Pulliam hits 9th biggest strides. BYU graduated just 40 percent of the football players who entered school as freshmen in 1984-85. That fig- Pacers Plod SHOW’S NOT OVER 7ce ighlight: he Har bers aren't good The Cougars have made the THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Whenit comes to graduating football players, Brigham Young, Utah and UtahState are moving the chains. For WeberState and Southern Utah, it’s still third and long. According to the most recent NCAA report, football graduation rates have increased at BYU, USU andthe U. of U., while WSU’s has gone down. SUU hasn’t been an NCAA member long enough to determinetrends, but the early num- ee : smacked around over a mrauaeCaigiaas titee-week Today: Colorado Springs at Sait death march Lake, p.m. in the big B® Pitching: John leagues, servBurke (3-0) vs. Bil ing up an Wissier(4-0) earned-run average of @ Details C9 13.50 andarecord of 0-3. The phenom wassent to the Salt Lake Buzz to, as Twins general manager Terry Ryan says, ‘“demonstrate his ability to bounce back.” The phenom,so far, has been bounced mostly backward. Counting Friday’s win over Albuquerque, heis 1-1 in three starts with the Buzz, has an ERA of4.70, has given up 22 hits in 15% innings, and opponents are batting 349 against him. So the phenom wheels anddeals with failure in Triple-A. In temporary disarray. LaTroy Hawkinswill be a No.1, 2 or 3 starter in the major leagues one day. Everybody says so. It’s just that today is not that day. It might have been. Wouldhave, could have, maybe should have been. Hawkins, 22, was voted the top minor-league prospect in the Twins’ organization two years run- ning. In 1993, he hung a record of 19-4 in rookie league, including a winning stint of 13 straight games. Last year, at Class-A Ft. Myers, Steve Griffin/The Salt Lake Tribune Double-A Nashville and Salt Lake After getting roughed up to the tune of an 0-3 record and 13.50 ERA with the Twins this season, LaTroy Hawkins is pitching for the Buzz. @ See HAWKINS, Page C-9 trenches and win with grunts and elbow a CONFERENCE FINALS grease. Downthestretch Saturday, Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conferkets vs. Spurs ence final was not very Rocketslead series, 24 pretty, very gentle or very offensive. The Indiana Pacers breathe best in such air, and on San Antonioat Hoi this day they did again, “Thursday— “June 3 — Houston at San Antonio, 130 pm, out-slogging Orlando 105-100 to close the EASTERN CONFERENCE Magiclead to 2-1. Pacers vs. Magic Game 4 is here Monday. “It's not offense for us,” Reggie Miller said after his 26 points led the way for Indiana. ‘dune4Inciana offondo, § pm “Defenseis going to al- =f recessary All games tetevsod on low us to win this seSpurs Try to Get Even C-4 ries,”” Not only defense but i Barkley May Play On C-4 rebounding. Who is drawing the fouls and whois making them. Thegritty little necessary itemsof playoff basketball. “With these two teams,” ’ Orlando coach Brian Hill said, “it's going to come downto thosethings.” On Saturday, it did — from Indiana’s 38-26 dominance on the boards, to its 33-15 spread at the free throw line, to the defense that partially slowed a Magicshooting spree that had threatened to blow the Pacersright out of this series. Orlando shot 55 percentin the first two games. It shot 63.6 percent in the first half Saturday. The Magic went 7 for 22 in the last period The high-powered offense ran into mud, going five minutes without a point. Through this hole, the Pacers squirmed through. The Magic, despite Anfernee Hardaway’s 29 points and six players in double figures, had endured another bad dayin Market Square Arena, where they've lost seven straight times. “We play much better,” Miller said, “when our backs are against the wall.”” Which they were in the fourth period Saturday. nursing an 82-80 lead into the quarter. There was no ground left to give for Indiana. Another Orlando @ See PACERS,Page C-4 fa] Plenty of Indy Questions, St. James Will Take Shot AtSalt Flats After Indy 500 But Nobody Has Answers By Charley Hallman ST. PAUL PIONEER FRESS INDIANAPOLIS — For some folks, it must be boring traveling at only 225 mph. That's the speed Lyn St. James drove when the 48year-old racecar driver qualified for her fourth consecutive Indianapolis 500. St. James will start on the inside of the 10th row in today’s 79th running of the world's most famous motorrace. St. James and 32 other competitors will be running the 2.5-mile ovaltrying to collect the lion's share of a $7.5 million purse, But St. James bas always chased many goals. She holds 31 national and international By Jeff Olson DES MOINES REGISTER INDIANAPOLIS — Questions hound today's Indianapolis 500 like a used-car salesman on double commission. After Penske cars were too slow to make the field and two V-6s and a Honda sweptthe front row, everyone had questions. Trouble is, nobody had answers, The V-6s — rebuilt Buicks driven by pole-winner Scott Brayton and Arie Luyendyk — transformed extra turbocharger boost into frightening speeds and the first two starting positions. Scott Goodyear's Honda, one of just twoin the race, occupies the outside position on thefront row Toronto 3, Cleveland 0 Oakland 3, New York 0 __ speed records andplans to go for the biggest in mid-September. On Friday, St. James and her husband, Roger Lessman, will announce their intention to break the land-speed record for natural gas-powered vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah this summer. The record of 409.277 mph was set by Bob Summers in November 1965. St. James’ target speed of 450 mph in a piston-engine, wheel-driven streamliner would bury the record. “To me, there are two primary concerns;Is the car safe and is this doable,” St. James @ See ST, JAMES,C-10 chi P Ip Z nO ____ ‘Texas 3, Minnesota 1 Boston 12, California —_——_—| Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 4 Cincinnati5,St. Louis 2 Houston 3, Atlanta 2(10) K.C,at Milwaukee, ppd., rain PCh, ColoradoSprings 12, SaltLake 4 BaltimoreSeattle National League Montreal 2, Los Angeles1 Calgary 4, Albuquerque 1 ‘The Associated Prem At 48, Lyn St. Jamesis the oldest driverin ‘96 Indy 500. Las Vegas 6, Tacoma5 Vancouver 8,Tucson 3 In Action Today PCLBaseball: Buzz vs, Colorado Springs, at Franklin Quest Field, 2 CPSH) & a.m, — Motoreycle Racing, World Superbike Series C40 Behind them are 23 Ford-Cosworth engines, 12 established. well-funded teams, and about a dozen drivers with a legitimate chance to win. “There's more than 15 guys who can win it,” said Bobby Rahal, who won the race in 1986. “It's going to be a real hard race to win, the hardestI've ever been in. If you can run 215 to 218, you're going to be tough to beat.” ‘Thecuriosity, then, lies with the durability and speed of the cars on the front row. Will Brayton and Luyendyk have enough speed to lead the field into the first @ See INDY, Page C-10 Devils at Penguins (ZB) 1:30 pan. — NBAPlayoffs, m. =~ Auto Racing, India Spurs at 00 (4) 1:30 p.m. — Women's Golf, ) 11:30 a.m, — Soccer, U.S vs. Costa Rica (B) Noon — Boxing, Johnson vs Crofta _ : (WGN) Noon — Baseball, Marlins at Cubs IB TheStarting Lineup Rockets Skins Game (5) 1:30 p.m. — Golf, ColonialIn. vitational i :30 p.m, — Auto Racing, a 600 CESPAD 6 p.m. — Baseball, Dodg- |
