Show C6 SPORTS The Salt Lake Tribune Monday February 9 1998 Baseballs Winter Olympics: Marlins Fastest in Downhill BY JAYSON STARK THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER We interrupt PHILADELPHIA the Nordic Combined for this important reminder: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in six days And unlike those Norwegian skiers theyre not going away in three weeks But if youve got Olympiads on the brain we understand So were going to review the winter baseball developments in a fashion even you luge fanatics can relate to Get ready for the On Baseball Winter Games coming up in exactly one paragraph: The downhill Olympic event requirements: Barreling down slopes at speeds faster than Allen Iversons Mercedes Our events requirements: Barreling over the side of the baseball cliff at speeds faster than Alien Iversons Mercedes Gold medal The Marlins Nobody whooshed downhill faster than they did this winter They jettisoned players who represented 42 of their 92 wins (not even counting 17 more by Alex Fernandez who is out for the year) They also lopped 59 of their 136 homers And their auction isnt mieniecki Good thing they didnt reseats might sign Randy Myers or box Yancost 200 bucks Silver medal kees (Estimated payroll: about $61 million not even counting the $126 million they tossed in to finish off deals for Knoblauch Hideki Irabu Kenny Rogers and Charlie Hayes) Braves (Estimated Bronze medal payroll: $60 million to $62 million) n bobsled Olympic event requirements: Two men in a tube sliding downhill Our events requirements: Two men in a lineup sliding downhill White Sox They still Gold medal have Frank Thomas and that lovable Albert Belle Thats the good news The bad news is these are this teams winter offensive additions: Benji Gil (224) Ruben Sierra (232) Charlie OBrien (218) Silver medal Expos even over yet Yeesh Silver medal Expos (Hasta la vista Pedro) Bronze medal Twins (Sayonara Chuck) Ski jump Olympic event requirements: Small skis big leap Our events requirements: Big wallet big leap Gold medal The Yankees Up up up they go Now that theyve add- ed Chuck Knoblauch every one of their projected starting eight has either hit 20 homers scored 100 runs or driven in 100 in the past Silver medal Padres (Kevin Brown changes the j Two-ma- en- tire NL West race) Bronze medal Cubs (Since that 4 start last year theyve added Mickey Morandini Jeff Blauser Kevin Tapani Mark Clark Lance Johnson and Henry Rodriguez So theyd better improve) Moguls Olympic event requirements: Freeacstyle skiing requiring lots of robatics Our events requirements: Freestyle spending event requiring more cash than Donald Trump Gold medal Orioles Meet the best team $70 million can buy They committed $79 million this winter just to Doug Drabek and Scott Ka- - (Mark Grudzielanek and Rondell White remain But who are the rest of in-a- ir Mets these guys?) Bronze medal (Still have John Olerud and Butch Huskey But youd think theyd have added power with Todd Hundley gone for the year Nope All the Mets offseason acquisitions combined hit 13 even including homers last year one by pitcher Dennis Cook) Blues Hull Suddenly Changes Tune BY RB FALLSTROM THE ASSOCIATED Mark LennihanThe Associated Press dunks over the Detroit The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant playing for the West NBA Tim Game Duncan Hill Antonio the and the San Pistons' Grant during Spurs' All-Sta- rs All-St- ar and won the game's MVP award for the third time and Bryant scored 18 points for the West despite sitting out the final 15 minutes Everybody is looking at it as a comparison said Malone Kobe is Kobe and Michael is Michael Thats the way youve got to leave it There wont be another Michael and everybody should let Kobe be Kobe because Michael is Michael and theres not going to be another one Malone said he and Jordan spoke a bit but that Jordan did not discuss his plan to retire if the Bulls do not Coach Phil Jackson He also repeated his similar vow with regard to Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan though team owner Larry Miller has said he plans to extend ence even worse than usual for Malone who says he has dreaded going to Games since about his third one Malone played the first eight minutes of the first quarter and the first nine of the third He did not hit his C-Continued from l first basket until the 7:22 mark of the third quarter from the and finished field with three rebounds said Malone in Everytwo assists and two steals body was going I went to set a pick for a guy He has never attempted and he told me to get out of fewer shots nor grabbed Like I said Im not fewer boards in an there Game and matched last cut out for games The most popular player years point production that in the Western Conference was the lowest of his career in balloting among the fans Only in Phoenix in 1995 did Malone was voted to his 1 1th Malone play fewer minutes team with 16 consecutive In his first five (he did not play in the 1990 game because of an injury) Games Malone averaged 21 but was virtually along points In the next five beamong the stars with whom ginning with the 1993 game he has traditionally shared in Salt Lake City in which he shared the Most Valuable the stage The Bulls Michael Jordan Player award with Stockton was there of course but vet- Malone has averaged only erans like teammate John 86 Still Malone was not deStockton Houston's Hakeem Ola ju won and Chica- prived of the opportunity to gos Scottie Pippen did not watch Jordan battle the Kobe Bryant in make the team because they Lakers missed much of the first half what was probably Jordans Game Jordan of the NBA season with inju- final ries That made the experi- - scored 23 points for the East Malone Not Happy In New York All-St- one-on-o- All-St- All-St- e All-St- All-St- SUMMARY ALL-STA- R beer FT FG 407 Percentages 423 Goals 818 (Bryant 23 Payton RichDuncan 174 Garnett Van Exel Jones mond Team Blocked Shots Turnovers Robinson 18 Kidd 2 3 (Robinson 2 Garnett) (Payton 4 Garnett 3 0 Neal 2 Duncan 2 Van Exel 2 2 Bryant) Steals Payton Garnett 2 Bryant Robinson 2 Baker) 2 13 (Malone Jones 2 All-St- 2 2 For-bus- FG - Percentages Goals Miller 523 FT A Kemp 769 440 Smith T Hardaway Blocked See Bryant Steal Show H Continued from C-- Game history and one of four Lakers on the team Come out play hard nothing less Just acquire some more knowledge not only from Mike but from s As far as the other carrying the torch for years to come I dont know I just want to be the best basketball player I can be If that happens that will be fine Eddie Jones of the Lakers and David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs added 15 points each off the bench for the West while four players Charlottes Glen Rice Detroits Grant Hill Atlantas Steve Smith and Indianas scored at Reggie Miller least 14 for the East The Jazzs Karl Malone scored only four points the same as he did last year and the fewest in his 11 consecutive appearances in free-thro- l nervous and though he claimed otherwise Bryant seemed intent on upstaging Jordan Bryant guarded Jordan much of the time and tried to match each of Jordan's shots with baskets of his own Bryant made shots and grabbed six rebounds and his most astonishing play came with 4:26 left in the third quarter Grabbing a pass that Miami's Tim Hardaway intended for one of his East team- - right-hande- d 91-7- 6 fourth quarter The victory was the third straight for the East I looked at the game as a said learning experience Bryant the youngest starter All-St- All-St- UNLV pounded LAS VEGAS Utah pitchers for 21 hits as the Rebels 20-took a college baseball win Sunday at Earl E Wilson Stadium The Utes led after four innings before UNLV rallied Brad Beasley had four hits for the Rebels while seven teammates had at least two hits each Jared Larsen had three of the Utes 12 hits including his first homer of h the season Chad Truby and Nate had two hits and two RBIs each Forbush hit his first homer of the season Lance Ericksen started for the Utes and Brad Seare the third pitcher took the loss He gave up a run and a hit in IV3 innings Toby Harris got the win in relief for UNLV Mike Goff and Ryan Johnerson each hit homers for the Utes in a win over UNLV on Saturday Sean Cawley got the win allowing four runs in five innings (Rice Jordan M Walker 0-- Hill Hardaway 5 3 (Smite 2 Mutombo) Shots 15 (T Hardaway 6 Kemp 4 JorTurnovers dan 2 A Hardaway Rice Walker) Steals 10 (Kemp 4 Jordan 3 Hill Miller Walker) West 25 33 33 23 East 33 34 34 34 A -1- 8 323 Officials - 114 135 7-- 5 204 (19763) Hue Hollins Benue Flyer Bob Delaney Sundays Game After the game even Bryant had to take a back seat to Jordan who became the e leader in All-Sta- r Game steals (33) and moved into third place on the Game scoring list with 234 points in spite of fighting off an illness the past few days It was a good battle said Jordan It was fun He came at me pretty early which I would if I was him If I see someone thats maybe sick or whatever youve got to attack him He attacked You know I like his attitude Coach Insists No 1 Lady Yols Need g to Prove Their Worth Road-Testin- Utah UNLV Ericksen Hams THE ASSOCIATED HOW TOP 25 FARED PRESS The No 1 KNOXVILLE Tenn Tennessee Lady Vols now have beaten the three teams most likely to challenge them in the NCAA tournament and done it by an average of nearly 18 points NCAA So the two champions should breeze through the tournament field right? Don't say that to Coach Pat Sum-mi- tt 85-6- 1 fret about because other teams haven't put up much of a fight a veteran and Old Dominion (19-2- ) tournnent-testedid give the tea d 15 beat Providence West Virginia 3 Old Dominion ) beat George Mason lost to No 1 Tennessee 4 Louisiana Tech (16-- beat Lamar beat No 18 i Kentucky 5 North Carolina (194) beat Florida State beat Georgia Tech Stanford (IS 5' beat California ? Ter Tech (164) beat Texas beat Bavtor 8 Artzona beat ) tot to No 21 Washington 6 10 11 did not plav tot to No beat Arkansas beat Mtstssipi beat Mmsstppi State ) tot to nhnots beat did not play beat Honda Atlan- 4 lost to Indiana Utah ) lost to Brigham Young 7564 beat Bn lost to 18 Western Kentucky ) heat New Orleans No 4 Lotratana Tech 7 lost to Northeast Lomnana 19 Stephen F Anstm ) OT beat Northwestern State La beat UNLV 20 Hawaii beat San Dtego State 16 Wisconsin 17 Washington ) beat No 8 Araona beat Anaona beat No I Clemson (174) lost to No 13 Virginia North Carohna State In beat Drake 4 23 Southwest Missouri State (16-OT Creighton loat to Alabama 24 Georgia ) bent South Carobna M LSU 25 ) ) 22 5746 12 Florida International State 2 Florida Vanderbilt tic 21 State 9 North Carotma State (184) ) 55 6 g All three victories against Louisiana Tech Connecticut and Old Dowere at Knoxville minion We havent been on the road in a hostile environment" Summitt said Saturday after Chamique Holdsclaw scored 33 points in leading the Lady in Vols past No 3 Old Dominion a rematch of last years championship game Well get that when we get to Nashville against Vanderbilt and in the SEC tournament" Summitt is looking for something to 25 minion 2 Connecticut beat No 22 Clemson beat Wake Forest 78 55 beat Georgia Tech 55 18 Virginia 14 Dnke(16-6-) the top teams in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll fared last week 1 Tennessee beat No 3 Old Do) beat Mississippi How Nebraska ) beat Missouri 1 lost to Iowa State Minnesota Lady Vols (25-0- ) a scare for a while Saturday before Holdsclaw and freshman Semeka Randall blew it open late as Tennessee won its 31st straight game Holdsclaw scored 24 points in the second half including 13 consecutive Tennessee points during a stretch I was working the baseline V Holdsclaw said I got open and got the hot hand And Tennessee got the ball there Everybody in the bouse knows we want the ball in her hands This team understands that" Summitt said The beauty of this is Chamique will let everybody else do their thing but when it comes time she knows shes our go-t- o player" McDermaid (6) (4) (8) and Thornton (7) Haycock J Smith (U) Campbell (N) or(N) Seare (5) Forbush 122 300 000 013 222 73x-- 20 Beckman Scheffete and Beasley (U) Johnerson (U) 8 (6) Page (7) McCulloch (4) (9) Wood (N) 3 (N) Adolph Forbush (U) Pry Ludwick (U) Beasefy (N) Saturdays Game 110 041 000--7 Utah UNLV Cawley 000 211 100--5 Clinton Campbell Page and Forbush Barker McDermaid and Campbell Ludwick (N) Maraale (U) (N) (U) (U) Johnerson 2 (N) GYMNASTICS The Utah MINNEAPOLIS State womens gymnastics team fell short to Minnesota on Saturday 194000 to 189875 Lyndsey Gaustad won the allround for Utah State with 38550 points for the Aggies lone vic- tory Mtaoewta 19400 Utah 181879 Stole Lndaey Gaustad Utah State 38 550 2 Amber Jamison Utah State 37 550 Vault 1 Knn Sveum Mm 9750 2(be)KnstiSetuigerandMindy Knaebte Mm Amber Jamison USU 9 675 1 1 BY TOM SHARP COLLEGE ROUNDUP 8-- 6 Team Rebounds mates as he was falling out of bounds Bryant dashed across midcourt and found hmself on a fast break against Atlantas center Dikembe Mutombo As he drove to the right of the line Bryant dribbled the ball around his back toward the middle of the court and Mutombo too not toward the sideline and flipped up a running hook shot that sailed through the net and drove the crowd crazy That cut the East lead to but Bryant left the game for good about two minutes later and Jordans team led by as many as 27 points in the UNLV Rallies Past Utes in Baseball 8 3) All-Sta- rs Hull planned to offset the lack of creature comforts by immersing himself in the Olympic experience Athletes are able to attend all events and Hull is looking forward to seeing downhill skiing and luge Im just going to go in with a wide- - tage Hull amended that slightly giving Team USA a slight advantage because its nearly the same team that beat Team Canada in the 1996 World Cup This will be Hulls first visit to Japan but not his first trip to an Olympics He attended the Calgary Games in 1988 with teammate A1 Maclnnis when both played for the Calgary Flames Maclnnis also is back at the Olympics playing for the Canadian team I know his moves a little Maclnnis said Its no different for him Maclnnis has noticed that newspapers in Toronto are stoking the flames for the rematch Thursday against Team USA The hype is starting Maclnnis said After going through Toronto and reading the newspapers I think were just getting a shot of reality about the pressure put on the Canadian team to win gold Maclnnis is putting enough pressure on himself Its going to be a thrill of a lifetime he said This is the only opportunity Im going to get to play in the Olympics and I want to take full advantage of it 8 Rebounds Sloans contract beyond next season Like Michael said if Coach Jackson isnt going to coach him then hes not coming back to that team said Malone You cant fault him for that Thats the way I am about my team If Coach Sloan is not my coach in Utah Im not going to be there Ill be somewhere else without a doubt PRESS ST LOUIS Never mind what Brett Hull said a week ago about dreading the Olympic experience Now the St Louis Blues' star cant wait I was just having fun with you guys Hull told reporters Nobody seems to understand it Hull who left Saturday night for Nagano Japan still wasnt excited about the flight But hed softened on one of his complaints the spartan accommodations When the Blues are at home he likes to go home plop on the couch and watch TV Ill miss things like that being able to go through 80 channels Hull said Thats why they invented books and crossword puzzles and CD players and eyed open mind and just enjoy evhe said I want to go see erything the skiing because I don't think you can get an appreciation for it watching on TV Hull already has an appreciation for the skill level Ive skiied before but I couldnt imagine going 100 mph he said I was on a sled once and got 40 stitches over my eye He was looking ahead to playing on the wider Olympic surface which puts more of an emphasis on skating ability and should cut down on the hooking and holding that Hull has complained about all season Im looking forward to playing that style of hockey he said Thats me over there Its wide open Its freewheeling Its going to be great Hull doesn't know what to think of Team USAs chances He is convinced it wont be just a United States vs Canada showdown considering those arent the only teams stocked with NHL talent Id say were in a dead heat with every other team that you would consider capable of winning Hull said 1 dont think anyone has an advan Judy Cavazos Ban 2 Hagan Skokut 9 825 Minn Minn (be) 1 Mm and Melissa Chang Stacey Knaeble Mm Lyndsey Beam Mm 9 850 Betza 9 2 Gaustad 9 725 USU (be) Cathy Keyser and Mindy 825 (20-poun- Vault 1 Mindy Knaeble Mm 9 900 2 Judy Caverns 3 (be) Melissa Chang and Minify Nyhre Mm Gaustad USU Minn 9 800 and Lyndsey 8 625 The BYU Wins Big: PROVO since the instead of top five scoring (22695) and a d New Mex-ci- o win over (22185) and club power Arizona State (20745) wasnt quite enough to satisfy BYU mens gymnastics Coach Mako Sakamoto after a Saturday Oh that high bar Sakamoto said after four of the six Cougars on the event fell We did pretty well overall weve just got to catch that high bar highest BYU score NCAA went to top-fou- r 13th-ranke- sixth-ranke- d and 200) Kristen Barnes (mile) Dixie Williams (400) Melinda Hale (high jump) Kristel Berendsen (long jump triple jump) Tara Haynes (mile Invite) and Treva Bryant (55 (800) The TENNIS Idaho POCATELLO Idaho State beat Utah State 4 in a womens tennnis match Saturday USUs winners in singles were: Mindy Nelson (No 3) Jackie Ellis (No 5) and Tiffany Bullock (No 6) Heather Grass and Ellis teamed for the Aggies only dou' bles win 5745 VOLLEYBALL Calif Brigham Young mens volleyball team lost to Pepperdine on Satur1 5 The day 15-- 8 15-- 9 two after Cougars straight losses are 2 this season Ryan Miller had 31 kills and eight blocks and Shane van Beest had 19 kills and 14 blocks for BYU The Cougars will be home Friday at 7 pm to face Southern Cal at the Smith Fieldhouse 15-1- 11-1- hurdles) er (55-met- Cougars scored 3815 on floor still rings and vault and 380 on parallel bars 379 on pommel horse and faltered only on high bar (366) Individually sophomore Guard Young hit a new personal best to title with a win the MALIBU ny Lott Windy Jorgensen For the men Felix Andam (55 and 200) and Marek Samseli (triple jump) were winners The BYU teams will compete in the Husker Invitational this weekend in Lincoln Neb Utah State got wins from Corey Murdock (55 hurdles) for othe men and Colleen Walsh (3000) for the women tri-me- The TRACK AND FIELD POCATELLO Idaho BYUs women won 12 events in the Mountain States Games at Idaho State and the men won thrfee Womens winners for BYU d were: Amy Christiansen weight and shot put) Tiffa- 3-- 9 750 3 5-- WRESTLING AMES Iowa The BYU wrestlers came away with one win and one loss in dual meets against MisIowa souri and eighth-ranke- d 1 State on Saturday John Kelly (126 pounds) and Chris Miller (heavyweight) were able to pin their opponents and lead the Cougars to a 25-2- 2 victory over Missouri Iowa State beat BYU 31-1- 0 Rivers Late Spree Carries Utah Valley Silester Rivers scored 10 late in the game to lead Utah Valley to a win over Salt Lake in Scenic West Athletic Conference play Saturday night He Rivers played big in a big game said Utah Valley Coach Jeff OREM of his 21 points 82-7- 3 Reinert three-point- 73-7- first-plac- 5 7-- 5 Fifth-ranke- d 80-6- 9 93-7- half-gam- 95-8- 80-6- Ricks Eastern Utah split its games beatand losing ing Treasure Valley 6 to Southern Idaho In women's play Utah Valley held Salt Lake scoreless for more than four minutes late in the second half and went on to post a 6 win Kellyann Duckworth and Tirzah Church led Utah Valley with 14 points Abbey Hjorth and Laurie Crocker each had 12 for SLCC It was a matter of pride for our team and our post people said Utah Valley Coach Cathy Nixon We got beat pretty bad on the inside the last time we played them in Utah Valley improved to league and 18-- overall Salt Lake fell 77-7- 5 Eddie Gill led all scorers with 30 points for SLCC Gill hit a with 53 seconds left to trim Utah but Rivers hit Valleys lead to 0 several clutch shots down the stretch to preserve the win Ben Lindquist had 14 Nate Chap-pe- ll 11 and Nate Pugmire 10 for Utah Valley Casey Smith had 14 and Jason hastings 12 for SLCC The loss dropped SLCC out of a e tie in the conference SLCC and 19-- overall Utah Valley is in league play and 18-- 6 improved to for the season 9-- 3 to North Idaho 1 and Ricks e ahead of Southremain a ern Idaho in the mens division 9 Snow defeated North Idaho in overtime following a 6 loss to Dixie swept past T 93-8- to and 13-Ricks grabbed a pair of wins as the and Dixie Vikings edged Snow Southern Idaho beat Eastern Utah Dixie topped North Idaho and Snow fell in overtime to North Idaho Eastern Utah defeated Treasure Valley 7-- 5 9 68-6- 6 69-6- 2 64-5- 0 81-5- 0 85-7- 5 70-4- 7 MEN SALT LAKE (IBS) 4 44 11 Hrtmp Neboh 1 M 0eterM9 Enctaa2246 UTAH 63-5- 8 6-- 6 I VALLEY 2 Gill 8 Totai 30 23 Smith 73 4H it (184) 21 Puptire 3 44 10 Bart 1 34 8 Rmai 8 Chappell 4 FromptonltWl MnlfoniJm wkmM434H Derla 2 Viltef 6 Wheeler 0 8 (Chappell Tolali 25 ! 82 Salt Lslro 9 'Oil! 5 Smith 3 Geiirot 1 3 i WOXSX SALT LAKE (li t) H(0rtt 4 4 12 Miller J Whitten 2 34 8 Ctmngtc 1 56 4 lheh 19 UTAH VALLEY 8 M Crocker 4 2 Bonham Shota hf 1 (Dadnrorth) It kj 04 6 Sorensen i Noel 3 11841 I I Mixer 4 14 9 Nrffeler 2 6 Roberta 14 Ducrrorth 4 54 14 MrRwem JtMU 9 14 1 TriaM 24 1422 63 Three-M- Utah I Knbcmi 2) Lhtdqut Salt Lake 2 -- c Oran ta iHjurth Whtka) 6 24 Terrort Utah YlL |