Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from October 2001

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from October 2001

A's have no defense for defeat.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn SEATTLE_As meaningless as these final regular-season games appear, A's manager Art Howe can't be comforted by what he is seeing from his suddenly sloppy defense. The A's were beaten Sunday, 6-3 by the Seattle...

Bobby Bonds not surprised by what son's done.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick SAN FRANCISCO_Barry Bonds rarely has revealed his innermost secrets to the public as they pertain to his pursuit of baseball's most coveted record, and he's never brought up the subject to his father, Bobby, who hit...

Giants again lose a chance to gain ground.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick SAN FRANCISCO_With September faded away, Barry Bonds still has six games left to erase Mark McGwire's home run record from the history books. For the Giants, the team that employs Bonds, their season could be over by...

Ringing send-off to Gwynn.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes SAN FRANCISCO_The sellout crowd of 41,669 at Pacific Bell Park gave San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn a standing ovation when he was honored before Sunday's game against the Giants. The fans stood and cheered...

Rickey Henderson still on search for records.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick SAN FRANCISCO_Rickey Henderson sat out the final two games in Colorado last week for an opportunity to break the runs-scored record and attain his 3,000th hit in front of friends and family at Pacific Bell Park. ...

Record-breaking takes day off for Bonds.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson SAN FRANCISCO Sunday was a break-even day for Barry Bonds. He hit one pitch, and one pitch hit him. It was a bad day for the Giants, who inched closer to the time Bonds' pursuit of the home run record is...

Warriors' Cowens looks to share wealth.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND_Antawn Jamison might be among the NBA's leading scorers this season. Danny Fortson, if healthy, could be the league's top rebounder. Adonal Foyle always is going to be among the most effective shot-blockers...

Rookie Murphy takes Blaylock to school with a dazzling play.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND_Yes, it's only training camp and, no, it doesn't mean a whole lot, but Troy Murphy made a play during practice Sunday that drew double-takes and raised eyebrows from even the veteran Warriors players. ...

PG&E's chromium 6 payees may wait.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Rick Jurgens ia Follow-ups to the case that inspired the film 'Erin Brockovich' may not be resolved for 10 years PG&E's plan to rearrange its finances and emerge from bankruptcy sets aside $160 million for people who...

49ers ready to step onto center stage.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J._Oh yeah, Hank, they're ready for some football, for a Monday night party. Banished from "Monday Night Football" last year, the 49ers return to that coveted stage tonight when they visit the New...

Three bottom feeders are pulling NFC East down.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Samuel Chi Is there a worse division than the NFC East? Sure, the Eagles and Giants are solid, playoff-caliber teams. But the rest of the division sure drags down the whole thing. Three of the league's six winless teams reside in...

Defenders strive to forget the drive.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Samuel Chi OAKLAND _ It'll take the Raiders' defenders a little while to forget that final drive in Miami. But now they have plenty of other stuff_good stuff_to think about. The Raiders defense caused three turnovers, sacked...

Treu can snap it short, too.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran OAKLAND_Adam Treu's first game starting at center proved uneventful in the Raiders' 38-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. "Just call me Mr. Anonymous," Treu said. Which translates into Treu doing...

Injuries cast long shadow over game.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran OAKLAND_The Raiders' convincing 38-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday did not come without a steep price. Defensive end Trace Armstrong sustained a ruptured right Achilles' tendon midway through the...

Raiders lose Armstrong for season.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _Tests confirmed defensive end Trace Armstrong ruptured his right Achilles' tendon during the Raiders' 38-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, coach Jon Gruden announced Monday. ...

Holmgren Way looking more like dead-end street.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Samuel Chi OAKLAND THERE'S A STREET in Green Bay named Mike Holmgren Way. Located in the shadows of Lambeau Field, it was a tribute to Holmgren's achievements in reviving a sagging Packers franchise. Don't expect a similar...

Rice's bowl runneth over; Black Hole latest stop on receiver's road to Canton.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran OAKLAND_The Raiders finally played their regular-season home opener Sunday. At least that is what we were told the game was called. They can call it what they want. It long will be remembered as wide receiver...

Anti-terror Costs Add Woe to Already-Dim Picture for California Budget.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Andrew LaMar Oct. 2--SACRAMENTO, Calif.--As concern grows about the state's shaky finances, a legislative leader said Monday that lawmakers may raid the budget to pay for counter-terrorism initiatives to ease public fears and to...

Start-Up Companies Have Difficult Time Finding Financing.
October 2, 2001... Byline: George Avalos Oct. 2--Fledgling companies are discovering that their prospects for getting financing have suddenly gone from bad to worse. The markets for both venture capital funding and public stock financing for new...

Even Pet Supply Industry in California Is Flooded with Patriotism.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Jessica Guynn Oct. 2--The national spirit spanning the continent has unleashed another buying spree: stars-and-stripes accessories for patriotic pooches. Take Muffin, a 12-year-old cockapoo. She and her owner, Chelle Schauben,...

Some Walnut Creek, Calif.-Area Travel Agents Throw in Towel after Slowdown.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy Oct. 2--After 11 years as a travel agent, Robert Lowery wants to close his agency. Twenty-five clients have canceled trips since Sept. 11, and hardly anyone's booking new ones. Recent cuts in the commission airlines...

California Utilities Official Fears State Water Accord.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Mike Taugher Oct. 2--SAN FRANCISCO--Public Utilities Commission President Loretta Lynch said a key part of the governor's plan to solve the state's electricity mess could lock in higher electricity rates and make it more difficult...

A's Mulder emerging star.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Ann Tatko The day Mark Mulder signed a contract extension with the A's, he didn't exactly act as if he were $14.2 million richer. He played golf with fellow A's pitcher Tim Hudson and a mutual friend. He had lunch with his...

Game balls go to people of NYC.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Eric Gilmore EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ It wasn't exactly a battle of good vs. evil or heroes vs. villains. But if Monday night's game between the 49ers and New York Jets at the Meadowlands were a movie, you knew which team would have...

New York can't stop 49ers' tag team.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ The 49ers didn't get too swept up in the emotions of a patriotic, 30-minute pregame ceremony. They didn't get discouraged when center Jeremy Newberry departed with an ankle injury. And their...

Newberry's injury puts scare into Niners.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Jose Cortez's 49-yard field goal sent the 49ers into halftime with a 13-7 lead Monday night, but the mood on the 49ers sideline was soured four plays earlier. Center Jeremy Newberry injured his...

Refinancing Homes Looks Like a Good Deal in Walnut Creek, Calif.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Chris Metinko Oct. 3--With yet another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve on Tuesday came the same question uttered by thousands of homeowners: "Should I refinance?" Mortgage brokers have heard it often this year. ...

California Groups Want to Ensure Pacific Bell Gets Competition in Phone Market.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Ellen Lee Oct. 3--Consumer advocates and Internet service providers on Tuesday released a study saying California consumers stood to lose $368 million in local and long-distance charges if Pacific Bell's application to offer...

Hot A's continue to leave mark.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes OAKLAND, Calif. _ The A's kept their baseball information staff busy during their 9-4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Network Associates Coliseum on Tuesday. There were a couple of historic moments. First, it...

Mulder will open playoffs.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes OAKLAND, Calif. _ Tim Hudson and Barry Zito each pitched well at Yankee Stadium during last year's American League Division Series. But Mark Mulder, the A's most consistent pitcher this season, will get the ball for...

Giants get job done vs. the Astros.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick HOUSTON _ The Giants' to-do list was pretty much complete by the end of evening, though they failed to pick up any ground on the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks and remained two games behind with five to go after a...

Miller may yet announce history.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick HOUSTON _ Giants announcer Jon Miller missed a chance to call Mark McGwire's historic 62nd home run by one game in 1998. Fate may be on his side this year with Barry Bonds making a run at breaking McGwire's record. ...

Warriors in tough spot with Jackson.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Warriors finally got that offer sheet from the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, the one restricted free agent Marc Jackson signed for $24.375 million over six years. The Warriors now have 15 days to...

Protest denounces proposed moratorium on student visas.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Carrie Sturrock SAN FRANCISCO _ A moratorium on student visas would not stop terrorism and would hurt the United States, said University of California-Berkeley student protesters Tuesday outside U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office....

Longhorns long recall whooping.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Jay Heater Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was discussing the importance of the 96th Red River Shootout_the nickname given to the Oklahoma-Texas football series that will be played Saturday in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl_when he noted that...

Carolina is next on 49ers' list.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Ann Tatko SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Monday night's narrow road victory put the 49ers on course toward reaching two of their three "big picture" goals for the season. Now comes No. 3 _ beating the Carolina Panthers. The 49ers...

Russell's return stressed after Raiders' injury bug.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran Coach Jon Gruden and defensive tackle Darrell Russell last spoke with each other after the Raiders' final exhibition game Aug. 31. Russell's four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy...

Study: Iron-deficient children at greater risk of lead exposure.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Curtis L. Esquibel BERKELEY, Calif. _ Iron-deficient children are at a greater risk for having high levels of lead in their bloodstream than those with normal iron amounts, according to results of a UC Berkeley and state health...

Lighter Apple Spice Dump Cake.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Elaine Magee Q: This cake is an all-time favorite of the family! I was hoping you could lighten it up without changing the wonderful flavor too much. It is delightful fresh from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A: If...

Racial Divide Widens in San Francisco-Area Home Loans Market.
October 4, 2001... Byline: George Avalos Oct. 4--The racial divide in the home loan market widened in 2000, according to a report on minority home loan trends released Wednesday. That was the main conclusion in a national survey conducted by the...

California Braces for Altercation on Power Bailout.
October 4, 2001... Oct. 4--Gov. Gray Davis' administration and two high-profile Democrats are locked in a high-stakes staring contest in which neither side appears ready to blink. At issue is the ability of the state to repay billions of dollars worth of...

Safeway Sues over Union Voting Procedure, Wants Revote.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy Oct. 4--Safeway filed a lawsuit Wednesday that accuses its store workers' union of voting irregularities that the grocer says warrant a revote. The Pleasanton-based grocery giant said the United Food and Commercial...

Southwest Airlines Says It's Hiring in California as Rivals Cut Jobs, Flights.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy Oct. 4--As the rest of the nation's major airlines explain job cuts and flight cancellations, Southwest Airlines fielded questions from analysts Wednesday who wanted to know whether the carrier would be expanding. ...

Don't erase towers or our memories.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Mary F. Pols If you step into a new movie that is set in New York City anytime soon, you will likely find yourself confronted by the strange phenomenon of visiting a netherworld in which the World Trade Center still exists. Not in...

A's notebook: Tejada coming through as No. 2 batter in order.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_Miguel Tejada may have found a home in the A's batting order. Tejada continued to show manager Art Howe he's capable of batting second, homering for the third consecutive game in that slot as the A's...

A's keep their flagship station on hold.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Cecil Conley The A's have hustled this season to sign two of their key players, left-hander Mark Mulder and left fielder Terrence Long, to long-term contracts. When it comes to getting a radio contract for next season, however,...

The making of a lineup card.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Neil Hayes OAKLAND_It's three hours before the A's final regular-season game at Network Associates Coliseum, and the ballpark is beginning to stir. Mist hovering over the field lends a ghostly pall to groundskeepers setting up...

Giambi's two homers help A's extend home win streak.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_The 81-game schedule at Network Associates Coliseum could not have come to a better conclusion for the playoff-bound A's. Cory Lidle sharpened up for the postseason by throwing seven solid innings and...

Will Dodgers deny Bonds? It's possible.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick HOUSTON_Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia, who has hit in front of Barry Bonds throughout the left fielder's historic season, said it wouldn't surprise him if the Los Angeles Dodgers don't pitch to Bonds during a...

Bonds' merchandise under lock and key.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Curtis L. Esquibel SAN FRANCISCO_Hidden away inside the bowels of Pacific Bell Park sit the first souvenirs to commemorate Barry Bonds and his swing into history_that has yet to happen. "The items are in a very safe and secure...

Record might be in reach but enough pitches aren't.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson HOUSTON_Pitcher Tim Redding said before Wednesday's game that he wasn't going to hide from Barry Bonds. And for five pitches, the kid was as good as his word. Bonds saw five fastballs his first time up, 95 mph gas...

Richardson not bad, not great.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND_Let's start this way: Jason Richardson is not having a bad training camp for the Warriors. But... Through five days of training camp_nine practices_Richardson is no different from most other...

49ers' Smith suffers torn knee ligament.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Linebacker Derek Smith's dazzling debut season with the 49ers came to a screeching halt Thursday when the team announced he'll likely be sidelined at least the next two games with a knee injury. ...

49ers notebook: Schulters exacted revenge in Monday's victory.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA_Strong safety Lance Schulters said Wednesday he exacted some personal revenge via the 49ers' 19-17 win Monday night over the New York Jets. "I knew we needed a win. I had some payback on my mind. I was...

When going gets tough, Cowboys' Smith keeps going.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes ALAMEDA_While the Dallas Cowboys have spent the past couple of seasons imploding, there has been one strong constant: No. 22 in the backfield. Running back Emmitt Smith was one of the biggest contributors to...

Raiders notebook: Cooper exceeds expectations.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA_The Raiders drafted defensive tackle Chris Cooper in April with the hope the rookie one day would develop into a productive player. It took only a few weeks in training camp for the Raiders to realize that...

Blackout averted; tickets still available.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes ALAMEDA_Although 1,500 tickets remained unsold Thursday night, the NFL has agreed to lift the local television blackout for the Raiders' game against the Dallas Cowboys at Network Associates Coliseum on Sunday,...

Robbins cashing in on Amanuma's withdrawal.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Jill R. Dorson VALLEJO, Calif. _ Kelly Robbins is no fool. "When you play for the kind of money you play for and there's only 20 of you, it's a pretty good idea to try to take advantage of it," Robbins said Thursday. The...

Delasin, Pak head short list under par.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Jill R. Dorson VALLEJO, Calif. _ At least her hands were warm. The chilly wind at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club was nothing new for South San Francisco's Dorothy Delasin, but it was unexpected. She was sorry she'd worn shorts. Even...

Sharks say it's time to complete their climb.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Rick Hurd SAN JOSE_They began this trek up the mountain 5 { years ago. Dean Lombardi was given the reins as general manager. A year later, Darryl Sutter was brought in to stand behind the bench. From there, the Sharks started...

PacifiCare to Drop Thousands of California Seniors from Medicare HMO.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Yvonne Condes Oct. 5--More than 10,000 seniors in Contra Costa County will be dropped from their Medicare HMOs by the end of the year. The announcement by PacificCare Health Systems that it will drop more than half its Contra...

A's speeding toward 100 victories.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn ANAHEIM _ Johnny Damon's first three at-bats Thursday night exemplified what he brings to the A's lineup_speed_an ingredient they could have used in last year's division series. Damon singled to lead off the game,...

Rodriguez has game_just ask him.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn ANAHEIM _ Alex Rodriguez wants to make it clear to baseball fans. He knows the game. During the A's horrible April start, Rodriguez said Oakland still would win 100 games. Entering Thursday night's game against...

Giants take it down to wire in NL West, wild-card races.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick HOUSTON_The Giants headed home after Thursday night's 10-2 win over the Houston Astros with Barry Bonds needing one homer to set the single-season record. As colossal as that pursuit is, there is something even...

Record tying homer puts Bonds in 70th heaven.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick HOUSTON_It happened at 9:21 p.m. CDT Thursday, with another of his patented vicious swings that sent the ball headed to the upper deck at Enron Field. Barry Bonds knew in an instant that it was destined to be a home...

Giants' fans swarm ticket lines.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Karl Fischer SAN FRANCISCO_There were fast friends and high hopes. There was cutting and bickering. And there were anxious moments. The baseball game at Pacific Bell Park didn't begin until after 7 p.m., but for the swarm of...

Bonds gets a pitch _ and he delivers.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson HOUSTON FOR TWO DAYS and eight innings the Houston Astros ran and hid from Barry Bonds. He came up 14 times, drawing eight walks and getting hit by a pitch once. Astros manager Larry Dierker kept saying he...

Life in prison for hacking too stiff.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Yael Li-Ron WALNUT CREEK, Calif._A new bill being considered in Congress calls for life in prison without a possibility of parole for people who engage in computer trespass (also known as hackers). Obviously, the Anti-Terrorism Act...

Sharks stunned by Red Wings.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Rick Hurd SAN JOSE_They have made no qualms about their quest this season. Ultimately, the Sharks have said to a man, they see no reason why they shouldn't hoist the Stanley Cup. One game into the regular season, the Sharks...

Jillson isn't in awe of Red Wings.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Rick Hurd SAN JOSE_For Jeff Jillson, real life produced a scenario that he couldn't have drummed up in his best script. Jillson, a University of Michigan product, made his NHL debut Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, a team...

Decorating Dilemma: Victorian sofa can be focal point.
October 5, 2001... Q. Have we got a challenge for you. As you enter our 25-year-old 1,500-square-foot home, you immediately see the 12-by-8-foot wall of our living room. There is an 8-by-5-foot west-facing window to the left. The room measures 12 by 16 feet. Here...

Sept. 11 Attacks Make Job Market Tougher.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Jessica Guynn Oct. 6--Not long ago Susan and Jeff Dunn were living the high-tech life: successful careers, a million-dollar waterfront home and a social calendar full of expensive meals and nights at the opera. Then Susan lost...

Walnut Creek, Calif.-Area Travelers Are Less Inclined to Go Abroad.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy Oct. 6--Ada Dempsey had planned to celebrate her 22nd birthday in November by touring the cathedrals and museums of Vienna. But then she read a newspaper article last Sunday that said the U.S. State Department had...

Air Force tankers critical to overseas operations.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Greg Cannon IN THE AIR OVER EUREKA, Calif. _ From the cabin of an Air Force KC-10 Extender _ call name Gucci 50 _ five miles above the California coast, you can't see the identical fuel tanker flying just above and slightly ahead...

Hudson helps hot A's reach 100-win mark.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn ANAHEIM_Improvement involves adjustment, and Tim Hudson has made arduous adjustments in the past few weeks. Hudson's start Friday night at Anaheim, his final of the regular season, was as much a showcase of his...

A new mark: Bonds reaches 72 to pass McGwire.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick SAN FRANCISCO_Barry Bonds not only passed Mark McGwire, he did so in a manner reminiscent of McGwire shattering Roger Maris' single-season home run record three seasons ago. McGwire hit five homers in the final...

Home run catch likely worth up to $2 million.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Karl Fischer SAN FRANCISCO _ Jerry Rose says he wasn't thinking about the value of the ball as it arced toward the right-center field wall Friday night at Pac Bell Park. "I was just thinking about one more run to beat the...

Giants notebook: Park replaces Pavano atop list.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick SAN FRANCISCO_Just over three years ago, Montreal Expos pitcher Carl Pavano etched himself ignominiously in the record books and highlight reels throughout the country by allowing Mark McGwire's record-breaking 70th...

Astros indeed San Francisco fan-friendly.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Eric Gilmore SAN FRANCISCO _ Hold the hate mail. Giants fans should send Houston Astros manager Larry Dierker and his band of timid pitchers thank you notes by the ton. They should thank the Astros for treating home plate as if...

Seifert returns to his roots.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA_Carolina Panthers coach George Seifert hasn't forgotten his San Francisco roots. "Watching San Francisco play, it's an interesting emotion on my part. I've got a lot of my blood in that deal there," said...

Dip in rushing average not bothering Gruden.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The Raiders led the league in rushing in 2000 with an average of 154 yards per game. They have averaged only 96.3 in their first three games this season. That doesn't mean Oakland now is a...

Spartans, Jackrabbits finally to settle who's No. 1.
October 6, 2001... Byline: Joe Stiglich When Saturday night's football game with Long Beach Poly High School was announced back in January, De La Salle lineman Derek Landri wasted little time beginning his preparation. The Spartans senior broke out film...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Bankruptcies Column.
October 7, 2001... Oct. 7--The following businesses filed for legal protection from creditors in the federal bankruptcy court in Oakland. Companies most commonly file for protection under three chapters of the bankruptcy code: Chapter 7, which involves...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Business Bulletin Column.
October 7, 2001... Oct. 7--MONDAY (Columbus Day) Strait Talkers Toastmasters meets, 12:00 Noon at the Contra Costa Federal Credit Union, 1111 Pine St., Martinez. Call Tevis Thompson at 925-228-0120. TUESDAY Experience Unlimited of Pleasant Hill, a...