East Valley Tribune (Mesa, AZ) articles from October 2001

East Valley Tribune (Mesa, AZ) archives from October 2001

D-Backs waste Lopez's brilliant outing; righty allows only one run but Dodgers score vs. bullpen.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE Albie Lopez didn't deserve his 20th loss Sunday, and he didn't get it. The Arizona Diamondbacks took Lopez off the hook but eventually lost, 2-1, to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Bank One Ballpark. Other than the end...

Cardinals suffering major malfunctions.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW Listen, and wonder what planet the Arizona Cardinals are living on. "We came out very flat," said Jake Plummer. "Maybe we were expecting it to be easy. Maybe we were thinking, it's Atlanta, they didn't look too...

Blowout in the desert; Arizona offense looks flat in loss to Atlanta.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban The sounds of Billy Joel's "Keeping the Faith" blared from the Sun Devil Stadium sound system as the Arizona Cardinals left the field Sunday. After a 34-14 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the question might...

Hardaway to Suns fans: Trust me.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow PHOENIX _ Penny Hardaway wants you to believe in him. To trust him. He knows there's nothing he can say that will change your mind. His reputation has been bloodied. Words won't do. "To get my respect I have to...

Popular Majerle not a star anymore in return to Suns.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Mike Tulumello FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. _ Most likely, there won't be a schoolteacher driving across northern Arizona 100 miles or so this week, to try to meet Dan Majerle. There won't be fans lined up in the hotel lobby or sports...

`New-look' team may not see playoffs.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Jerry Brown| PHOENIX _ Since the day the team arrived in Arizona in 1996, the label of "underachiever" has been attached to the Phoenix Coyotes' jerseys as snugly as the crest on their chests. But after five years of...

The Avs . . . and have nots; Money big difference in quest for Stanley Cup.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Craig Morgan The meek may inherit the earth, but the Stanley Cup is nearly out of reach. As the NHL steams toward a new collective bargaining agreement following the 2003-2004 season, the payroll gap between its teams...

Hardaway still hurting.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Mike Tulumello FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. _ After practicing one day, Penny Hardaway has left training camp complaining of a sore knee. For now, the Suns are saying the injury is merely tendinitis and unrelated to the May, 2000...

Arizona State shows a name change.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Bob MORAN Arizona State cornerback Emmanuel Franklin is going by the name Franklin-Archie. The redshirt freshman explained that he wanted to honor his father, with whom he has been living since 1997, when he was a sophomore in...

Cardinals hobbling before Eagles game.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Dan Zeiger In the NFL, one of Dave McGinnis' favorite sayings goes, they don't pay you to get hurt. And they certainly don't wait for you to heal, either. So, although facing the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Donovan...

Coyotes all tied up in the opener.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Jerry BROWN LOS ANGELES _ So many of the names and faces of the Phoenix Coyotes have changed from last season. But their modus operandi in Thursday's season opener was pretty much a carbon copy of many games last year. Goalie...

Diamondbacks determine rotation.
October 7, 2001... Byline: Ed Price MILWAUKEE _ Some playoff-roster decisions remain to be made, but manager Bob Brenly has decided on the Arizona Diamondbacks' pitching rotation for the Division Series that begins Tuesday. Albie Lopez got the nod as the...

Gugliotta appears ready to go full tilt.
October 7, 2001... Byline: Mike TULUMELLO At least one of the Suns' two fragile players made it through training camp in Flagstaff. Tom Gugliotta may never be worth the $58.5 million investment the Suns made in him. Might not have justified the contract...

Plummer, McNabb on opposite ends of the spectrum.
October 7, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban PHILADELPHIA _ With his mobility and playmaking skills, Donovan McNabb was the man the Philadelphia Eagles used to prop up their less-than-effective offense when they drafted him in 1999. He was a player they felt...

Coyotes fall to Oilers.
October 7, 2001... Byline: Jerry BROWN EDMONTON, Alberta _ There will be nights when the Phoenix Coyotes youth, inexperience and unfamiliarity with one another won't allow them to hold back opponents once they get rolling. Those are the nights coach Bob...

Fantastic finish in Philly; Cardinals see streak end with shocking road victory.
October 8, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban PHILADELPHIA _ Arizona Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis told his players in the week leading up to their road game against the Eagles that no one was expecting them to win, that an 0-3 start was a foregone conclusion. ...

Hardaway defiantly says his career isn't over.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Mike Tulumello Saying, "It's not over until I say it's over," a defiant Penny Hardaway returned to practice without any apparent problem Monday, then suggested speculation that his career could be nearing an end is greatly...

Cardinals finally enjoy a day after Sunday.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Jim Richards It had been quite some time since Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis could enjoy the Monday morning videotape session the way he did this week. "It was a lot of fun, looking at it again when you know what the outcome...

Coyotes win first, defeat Flames in overtime.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Jerry Brown CALGARY, Alberta _ The Phoenix Coyotes, in whatever form, just can't lose in Calgary. Even when they give the Flames 10 chances on the power play and run their penalty-kill unit into the ground. Even when they allow...

Schilling shines in postseason spotlight.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW Curt Schilling pushed back the black cap that said God Bless America and rubbed at his sweaty forehead. A small smile creased his face. The best game he's pitched all year? Schilling thought about it for a...

Schilling thrilling in Game 1; Brenly's move pays off in pitching masterpiece.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE Before Tuesday's NL Division Series opener, one member of the Arizona Diamondbacks confided Game 1 was "pivotal." If the St. Louis Cardinals had won, they would have gone home with no worse than a perfectly acceptable...

Cardinals' running game key to victory over Eagles; McGinnis says offensive line made difference.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban It may have been the pass that gave the Arizona Cardinals the win last week, but it was improvements in the running game that gave them the chance. Specifically, it was the 28 running attempts the Cardinals ground...

Diamondbacks better hope for better luck in St. Louis.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow The brave words resonated from every corner of the Arizona Diamondbacks' clubhouse. "I expected this to go five games," said Mark Grace. "As we've said all year long, there is no carryover value from one day...

Split not to good for Diamondbacks.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Ed Price One can discuss Randy Johnson's postseason value, Bob Brenly's managerial moves and the Arizona Diamondbacks' sloppy defense. But the underlying truth is that the D-Backs have scored two runs in two NL Division Series...

Flowers expects good game against hometown USC.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Bob MORAN J.R. Redmond always got especially motivated to play USC when he was a tailback at Arizona State. A Carson, Calif., resident, Redmond's trip to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was very special. The Sun Devils (3-1, 0-1...

Russell Davis will give Bears a different look this time.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Darren URBAN It was a Sunday late last August when Russell Davis was cut by the Chicago Bears, and he was grateful for the gentle support wife Ivana gave him as he tried to recover from the shock. It lasted a couple of days,...

Hardaway passes one exam.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Mike Tulumello The Suns were encouraged to see Penny Hardaway play 27 minutes on Tuesday night in their 88-80 exhibition win over the Houston Rockets in Albuquerque, N.M. But the real test was to see how he felt the next day,...

Coyotes no match for Blackhawks.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Jerry Brown CHICAGO _ Such is life in the National Hockey League. In the first three stops of this season-opening road trip, the Phoenix Coyotes collected fewer shots, produced fewer chances and generated little optimism for...

`Little man's' gem has nice ring to it for Counsell.
October 13, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW ST. LOUIS _ It was mid-July and Craig Counsell was walking around the visitors clubhouse at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners. Noticing that the lockers of Matt Williams, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and...

Backs in business; Counsell's home run delivers Game 3 to Arizona.
October 13, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE ST. LOUIS _ Baseball's playoffs make for unlikely heroes. Craig Counsell proved so four years ago, scoring the winning run of the World Series just three months removed from the minor leagues. Friday there was also...

With one swing Womack, Williams are forgiven.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't know where to run. Some took off for second base. Others raced to home plate. They leaped in the air like little boys celebrating the final day of school. They embraced and...

Schilling delivers a masterful game for Arizona.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Slim Smith PHOENIX, Ariz. _ Curt Schilling entered the interview room as Tony Womack was finishing his press conference. Schilling sat down at the long table and put his face in his right hand, as if to hide his face from the...

Mistake-prone Cardinals fall to Bears.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban CHICAGO _ The wind was blowing a little bit harder and the venue was Soldier Field instead of Veterans Stadium, but the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Jake Plummer had practically the same opportunity for late-game...

Pittman puts Cardinals in a hole with fumble.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban CHICAGO _ Maybe the Arizona Cardinals should have been worried how their game was going to go on offense Sunday when their best running back suffered a concussion on the first play of the game. Michael Pittman...

Diamondbacks in search of hits.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW An Arizona Diamondbacks hit parade: One float and some fat guy playing the tuba. Can you get to the World Series treating home plate like it's a land mine? The Diamondbacks certainly are trying. Their 10 runs...

Glavine gets it done for Braves.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Dan ZEIGER The Atlanta Braves needed a solid pitching job done in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, so they turned to a guy with one of the most impressive postseason resumes around. Tom Glavine made his record...

Batista does his part for Diamondbacks.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Craig MORGAN Maybe now Miguel Batista knows how Randy Johnson felt for seven consecutive postseason losses. For 6 2/3 innings of Wednesday's National League Championship Series, Arizona's Game 2 starter was brilliant....

Womack no match for Glavine.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE The calf did not get Tony Womack as much as the computer did. Womack sat out Wednesday's Game 2 of the National League Championship Series after starting at shortstop in the Arizona Diamondbacks' previous six playoff...

Diamondbacks blasted by Braves.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE PHOENIX _ For the first time in print, the following sentence: Now Miguel Batista knows how Greg Maddux feels. Like Maddux against Randy Johnson the night before, Batista pitched well Wednesday at Bank One Ballpark...

Diamondbacks' bullpen beaten and battered.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Slim Smith PHOENIX _ Step right up, fans, and test your Baseball Knowledge. Today's topic: Baseball Acronyms. The acronym BP stands for: A. Batting Practice B. Bullpen C. Both If you answered C, you are...

Cardinals' Vanden Bosch pessimistic about return.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Darren URBAN When Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil was asked Wednesday morning during a conference call what he thought about the Arizona Cardinals' defense, he said he thought it needed to get defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch...

Rob Moore back on the field.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Darren URBAN Arizona Cardinals receiver Rob Moore was back on the practice field Wednesday for the first time in exactly one month. But he didn't do all that much before feeling a twinge in the hamstring/tendon that has been...

Coyotes meet Stars.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Jerry BROWN It's not as if Teppo Numminen doesn't make a mistake. Teammate Shane Doan remembers the night Numminen tripped and fell down in a heap while defending Vancouver's Russ Courtnall, allowing a breakaway and an easy goal....

Diamondbacks' Garagiola earning deserved admiration.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow Atlanta It didn't take long for the sharks to circle around Joe Garagiola Jr. Soon after Garagiola became the Arizona Diamondbacks' general manager, his cell phone started ringing. Some GM was on the...

Vanden Bosch out 6 to 8 weeks with knee injury.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Craig Morgan The Arizona Cardinals' worst fears were confirmed Thursday when defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch was diagnosed with a completely torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He is expected to be out a minimum...

Vermeil finds hard times in Kansas City.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban Once, the tears flowed from Dick Vermeil when the noted emotional coach won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. Now, he might not be blamed for wanting to cry again _ wondering why he ever walked away from the...

Young Coyotes fall to old Stars.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Jerry Brown DALLAS _ It's hard to tell what's colder right now, the temperature in the new $420 million American Airlines Center, or the Coyotes offense. But the boiling frustrations of the Phoenix players? That's running at a...

Diamondbacks to the World Series in the fast lane.
October 22, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow There was no champagne. Major League Baseball wouldn't allow it. So as the Arizona Diamondbacks raced into the visiting clubhouse at Turner Field, they reached into a cart, grabbed a can of beer and popped the...

Bautista, Durazo give Diamondbacks a lift.
October 22, 2001... Byline: Scott BORDOW ATLANTA _ Mark Grace was leaning on the dugout rail a couple of hours before Game 5 Sunday, talking about the Arizona Diamondbacks' bench. "I've never been on a team that's this deep," Grace said. It was a...

Diamondbacks win NLCS.
October 22, 2001... Byline: Ed Price ATLANTA _ Three years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Randy Johnson as the linchpin of their plan for instant championship contention. It wasn't instantaneous, but Johnson has pitched the D-Backs to the World...

Cardinals turn back the Chiefs.
October 22, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban PHOENIX _ The talk in the Sun Devil Stadium press box with just a few minutes to go in Sunday's Arizona Cardinals-Kansas City Chiefs game revolved around the last time the Cards had actually won a game by more than 14...

4-man rotation likely to stay.
October 23, 2001... Byline: Ed Price PHOENIX _ Bob Brenly said Monday he is leaning toward keeping the Arizona Diamondbacks on a four-man pitching rotation for the World Series, although a change seems likely at the back end. Brenly, the D-Backs'...

Anderson back in Diamondbacks' rotation.
October 24, 2001... Byline: Ed Price Brian Anderson, who began the Arizona Diamondbacks' season as the No. 3 starter, will be back in that role for the World Series. Manager Bob Brenly said Tuesday that Anderson and Miguel Batista will pitch Games 3 and...

Diamondbacks have no fear.
October 24, 2001... Byline: Ed Price| The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the three-time defending champions in the World Series, and their feeling: Bring it on. "If you're going to win your first World Series ever, who better to try it against than the...

Showalter comes home with Diamondbacks, Yankees.
October 25, 2001... Byline: Ed Price Buck Showalter played and managed in the New York Yankees' organization for 18 years. He was hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks more than two years before they ever played a game. With those teams meeting in the...

Seven-game World Series would be a windfall for Diamondbacks.
October 25, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow The bottom line for the Arizona Diamondbacks should the World Series go seven games? About $14 million. That's how much revenue the Diamondbacks could generate if the series goes the distance, managing general...

Albie Lopez happy to be here.
October 25, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE When Albie Lopez looks at the big picture, he can't complain about being removed from the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation for the World Series. "I just want to win," said Lopez, who started Game 4 in the Division...

Marbury finding a different way.
October 25, 2001... Byline: Mike TULUMELLO Stephon Marbury's reputation precedes him. To some, his name is ME-bury, a guy who _ by choice _ left a winning situation in Minnesota to be a loser in New Jersey. And once there, according to his detractors, he...

The View From Arizona: Here's picking the Yankees in five.
October 26, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow Time to put on the flame retardant suit, change the home phone number and send the wife and kids to grandma's house. Four reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks won't win the World Series: 1) Starting pitching....

Rivera leaves them in awe.
October 26, 2001... Byline: Dan Zeiger In a World Series where the focus is on the differences between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the biggest lies in the resumes of the men who protect late-inning leads. Arizona's Byung-Hyun Kim...

Jake snakes his way back into winning form.
October 26, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban It has been less than a month since Jake Plummer was hearing the boos. In the three games that the Arizona Cardinals quarterback has been "operating the offense" just like coach Dave McGinnis wanted, the Cards...

Linebacker Thompson out for Sunday's game against Cowboys.
October 26, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban Arizona Cardinals starting left linebacker Raynoch Thompson won't play Sunday in Dallas after getting in a car accident early Thursday morning and getting cited for driving under the influence. Thompson was also...

Velarde has had success vs. Big Unit; No word on whether backup infielder will start Sunday's game.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Dan Zeiger Before the start of the World Series, Joe Torre was asked if Randy Velarde has left him post-it notes with his career statistics against Randy Johnson on them. "No, I already know them," the New York Yankees manager...

Diamondbacks pay no attention to Yankees' history.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow They said they wouldn't be overwhelmed by the event. The opponent. The dream. We've heard that before, of course. From the Braves in 1997 and 1999. The Padres in 1998. The Mets last year. What do the Arizona...

Snakes strike first; Schilling, bats carry D-Backs past Yankees.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE Now that they have come out and punched the holder of the championship belt right in the face, the Arizona Diamondbacks have either stunned the New York Yankees into action or warned them they're in for a brawl. Who...

Schilling may still pitch Game 4.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Ed PRICE Through the postseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks have basically planned to use aces Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson on three days' rest only if facing elimination. But in the World Series, with no next round of...

Diamondbacks' bats come alive Gonzo leads Game 1 offensive outburst.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Craig MORGAN Two games and eight at-bats into the 2001 postseason, Luis Gonzalez was on the defensive. Following an MVP-caliber season in which the Diamondbacks' left fielder hit .325 with 57 homers and 142 RBI, Gonzalez fell into...

A hero by any other name is not the same.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Slim SMITH Does your teenager struggle in math? Does your dog sometimes chew on your best dress shoes? Does your significant other forget your birthday. Well, folks, we have a solution to your problems. Change their names...

Thompson's DUI charge costing him on the field, too.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban Raynoch Thompson made a bad mistake in the early hours of Thursday morning, not only costing him a chance to play Sunday in Dallas but also costing the Arizona Cardinal his starting left linebacker job indefinitely....

Can core group offset Avalanche's defections.
October 27, 2001... Byline: Craig Morgan The Colorado Avalanche has created a $136.5 million question. The club hopes to unveil the answer after the Stanley Cup Finals in June. The rest of the league hopes to find it sooner. Faced with the possibility of...

By George, Garagiola Jr. remembers Yankee office.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Jerry Brown PHOENIX _ You know you always wanted to know so I asked him. And the answer is "Yes." When he worked as general counsel to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr....

Suns' Skiles sets a lineup.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Mike TULUMELLO Phoenix Suns coach Scott Skiles has decided on his opening night starting lineup vs. Denver on Tuesday. He's just not telling anybody. "I don't want to tip Denver off," he said Sunday. But he's often gone...

Deja vu for Burton in Arizona.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Richard Gray AVONDALE, Ariz. _ Sometimes deja vu takes a while, but it happened again Sunday. Jeff Burton's victory in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway was the first back-to-back NASCAR Winston Cup...

Decisions, decisions; World Series or NASCAR in Arizona.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Jim Richards The World Series or NASCAR? As a season-ticket holder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Scottsdale resident Richard Luby didn't have to pay the high prices charged by ticket scalpers so that he could attend Sunday's...

Arizona State can't handle close call.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Bob Moran Close only counts . . . well, you know. So after taking nationally ranked Washington to the limit, Arizona State football coach Dirk Koetter wasn't seeing silver linings in the last-play loss on Saturday night. ...

Arizona State falls to Washington on field goal as times expires.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Bob MORAN TEMPE, Ariz. _ Somehow you knew the Arizona State-Washington football game would come down to the fourth quarter, the last series, good gracious, the last play. That's exactly what happened at Sun Devil Stadium on...

Same 'ol story for Cardinals in Big D.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Darren Urban IRVING, Texas _ The Arizona Cardinals could have been in first place of the NFC East today. But that wouldn't have been the proper place, not for a team so determined to hurt itself so often. First place isn't...

Cowboys paying for their past.
October 28, 2001... Byline: Darren URBAN IRVING, Texas _ They were once America's Team, winning Super Bowls and earning the title of an NFL dynasty. For that, the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones knew there would be a price. Whether they knew the...

Diamondbacks' winning hand? Aces are trumping Yankees.
October 29, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow PHOENIX _ That's what I said. Diamondbacks in four. Is this nuts, or what? The New York Yankees eliminate the Oakland A's, baseball's best team the second half of the season. They barely break a sweat in shoving...

Big Unit quiets Yankees; other half of D-Backs' duo earns 2-0 lead.
October 29, 2001... Byline: Ed Price PHOENIX, Ariz. _ Maybe it wasn't oversimplification. Before the World Series began, the most basic analysis said the Arizona Diamondbacks could win simply by getting two wins each from Curt Schilling and Randy...

Williams' three-run homer turns boos into cheers.
October 29, 2001... Byline: Jerry BROWN PHOENIX, Ariz. _ Three weeks ago, when he was in the midst of an 0-for-15 slump and his team was struggling in the National League Division Series, Diamondbacks fans treated Matt Williams as if they never wanted to see...

Big Unit peels off postseason label as loser.
October 29, 2001... Byline: Slim Smith PHOENIX, AZ _ The ball came off Derek Jeter's bat, a soft liner that Arizona's Craig Counsell gobbled up for the game's final out. Randy Johnson raised his arms and clinched his fists in triumph, a three-hit shutout and...

Cardinals' offense falls flat on its face; lack of run game hurts.
October 29, 2001... Byline: Darren URBAN IRVING, Texas _ The Arizona Cardinals dumped millions into their offense in the offseason. Then coach Dave McGinnis made sure those players knew why, leaning the team's hopes on the ability to protect a weak defense....

No question, Schilling gets Game 4 start.
October 31, 2001... Byline: Scott Bordow NEW YORK _ Bob Brenly's press conference following the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday was only two questions old when a reporter popped the question: Who's starting Game 4...