The Sporting News articles from October 2000

The Sporting News archives from October 2000

Voice of the Fan.(Letters)
October 2, 2000... Choice voice `Dennis Green has many critics pointing out that he picked Daunte Culpepper over Jevon Kearse. If those critics shut their traps right now, the rest of us might forget what they said before Culpepper shows everyone what the...

Caught on the Fly.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be the new sheriff in town? * Buzz is that when Bobby V closed the clubhouse at The Ted last week he unloaded on many, but one supe'star in particular got the treatment. Sanitized version: Quit poutin' and stop...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Sports, brief news)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... 1 Bucs vs. Jets. I'm planning a little family vacation for next year. Can't decide between the Grand Canyon and Keyshawn's mouth. 2 The Mets. Is there something to be read into the fact that their September highlight video will star Kate...

DUSTBIN.(Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... October 4, 1955 The Brooklyn Dodgers finally tasted World Series glory after years of bitter defeat. Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres, the Series MVP, shut out the New York Yankees for a 2-0 victory in Game 7. Podres was 2-0 in the Series...

World beaters.(United States, Basketball team)
October 2, 2000... A carefully planned combination of defensive intensity, versatility and depth is propelling the U.S. men's basketball team Building an Olympic juggernaut isn't as easy as it looks. Right, you say. Take the 12th man off each of the 12 worst...

Greene's long journey ends in 9.87 seconds.(Maurice Greene wins the 100 meter race in the Olympics)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... He began at the finish line. Maurice Greene wandered on the track at Olympic Stadium when he first arrived in Australia. He kneeled at the line. He thought about the whole crazy journey that brought him here, all of it, the wild childhood...

Immeasurable strength.(Cheryl Haworth, weight lifter, United States team, Sydney 2000)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Do you understand the kind of strength it takes to be her? Do you have any idea? American weightlifter Cheryl Haworth stepped onto the international stage in Sydney on Friday, an extra-large woman living in a petite-minded world, and she had,...

GOLD HELMET, SILVER LINING.(Marc Houston, football player, Colorado State)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Freshman MARCUS HOUSTON has the talent to pull Colorado from the rubble of its rocky start As ugly as the figures (0-3) look in the parentheses, underachieving Colorado's stumbling start is a misleading measure of the Buffaloes' potential...

The call at quarterback? Decide on one and play him.(Mike DuBose, quaterback for the university of Alabama football team)
October 2, 2000... Mike DuBose created this, you know. Threw his Alabama quarterbacks into a pressure cooker and told anyone who asked that the seal was safe. Well, it's boiling over in Tuscaloosa. And it's piping hot in Austin, too. Alabama and Texas, two teams...

Washington at Oregon.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Why you should watch: Oregon suddenly has become a player in the Pac-10 title race after last week's impressive victory over UCLA. Had it not been for a huge game from Wisconsin TB Michael Bennett two weeks earlier, the Ducks would be 4-0....

TSN's Power Poll.(College sports statistics)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Rk. Team (last week) W-L Last week 1. Nebraska (1) 3-0 W, 42-13 vs. Iowa 2. Florida State (2) 4-0 W, 31-0 vs. Louisville 3. Florida (3) 4-0 W, 59-31 vs. Kentucky 4. Washington (6) ...

The art--and science--of the pin.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... California senior Nick Harris has a simple answer for why he was able to drop 10 punts at or inside the Illinois 14--and five inside the 5--during the Bears' near-miss September 16 in Champaign: Physics. "Force equals mass times...

CONFERENCE CALL.
October 2, 2000... THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Early-season surprises All those years as an assistant helped Chuck Amato get his priorities straight for his first job as head coach. First, get the best quarterback you can, and throw the ball all over the...

Inside recruiting/Running Backs.(college football)
October 2, 2000... Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton ranks the top 25 senior prospects. Town/High school 40 (schools player is Rk. Name Ht./Wt. Yd. ...

Flavor of the game.(college football)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Texas A&M Most traditions at Texas A&M are filled with the rich background of its Corps of Cadets, which for years made up the entire student body. An Aggie sampling: * The Twelfth Man. A&M students stand the entire game--ready to...

DiNardo's dismal legacy lives on in Baton Rouge.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Even Curley Hallman never let it get this bad. Then again, maybe this is nine years in the making at LSU. It may take Nick Saban another nine to clean it all up. After last week's loss to Alabama-Birmingham--the same Alabama-Birmingham...

MISSION STATEMENT.(NFL)
October 2, 2000... The goal is to reach the red zone. Like the thesis of a term paper, Denver's 15-play script sets the stage for how to do it. TSN takes you inside The Script for the Broncos' game against the Chiefs. It is last Saturday, 18 hours before...

Rams defense is by-product of its big-brother offense.(NFL)
October 2, 2000... The lesson at the Georgia Dome from the Rams' 41-20 victory over the Falcons was not that the Rams' defense is ready to dominate all comers. Rather, it is this: The Rams' defense, like the United States' surprising men's beach volleyball team,...

49ers and Cowboys differ on how to rebuild.(NFL)
October 2, 2000... San Francisco's surprising 41-24 victory over Dallas last Sunday sure didn't have the same feel it did a few years back. The uniforms were the same and Ken Norton Jr. still wore one, but that was about the extent of it. What had developed...

The spy in the sky.(NFL)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Two hours before kickoff, he finds his seat in the press box. Opening his briefcase, he removes a headset, stopwatch, binoculars, tape recorder and work sheets. Les Snead is ready to work. Snead is an advance man. As a pro scout for...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.(teams and players of the National Football Conference East)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Tampa Bay at Washington. This game will be another test of Bucs QB Shaun King's ability to win a big game--he came up short against the Jets. If the Redskins' ends can pressure King and produce a turnover or two....

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.(teams and players of the National Football Conference Central)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Minnesota at Detroit, The Vikings feature one of the NFL's most potent offenses, and the Lions rank near the bottom in offensive efficiency. There are All-Pro receivers aplenty, but the running game tells the story. Robert...

INSIDE THE NFC WEST.(teams and players of the National Football Conference West)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Dallas at Carolina. Only the winner can continue to harbor real wild-card hopes. The Cowboys should be able to successfully launch WR Rocket Ismail against his old team and its less-than-blazing CBs. But Dallas' secondary...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.(teams and players of the American Football Conference East)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Indianapolis at Buffalo, The division's two best teams of '99 meet for the first time in 2000, each hoping to keep pace with the surprising Jets. With the Bills struggling to run the ball, watch for the Colts' defense...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.(teams and players of the American Football Conference Central)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Baltimore at Cleveland Will the real Ravens please stand up? One week after blowing up at Miami, they blow out the Bengals at home. This game is a mismatch--if the Ravens aren't looking ahead to the following week's game...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.(teams and players of the American Football Conference West)
October 2, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Seattle at Kansas City, With both teams riding two-game winning streaks, this could be a great Monday night game. The Seahawks swept the season series a year ago, with Ricky Watters scoring three TDs in a 31-19 win at...

STATS.(National Football League: players and teams statistics)(Illustration)
October 2, 2000... RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. Garner, S.F. 77 423 5.5 1 Anderson, Den. 85 403 4.7 3 Barber, NYG 57 391 6.9 4 Davis, Was. 95 372...

NOT RAM TOUGH.(poor defensive record of the St. Louis Rams; includes related statistics)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Through their first four games, the Rams have allowed an average of 28.5 points per game. That's a whopping average for any team, but especially a defending Super Bowl champion, and it is a statistic the Rams will have to improve drastically to...

A summer spent wisely should pay off in the winter.(strange NCAA rule forbids athletes from having hands-on off-season coaching; four basketball players who could have used such coaching)
October 2, 2000... Of all the arcane rules NCAA members have inflicted upon themselves, perhaps none is more pointless and wasteful than the one denying athletes access to hands-on coaching during the offseason from men and women who, in many cases, are...

RISK MANAGER.(Art Howe, baseball team manager)
October 2, 2000... Manager ART HOWE's moves to spur on the A's have been even more surprising than the team's late-season rise in the A.L. West A host of little heroes keeps surfacing in the A's surprising drive toward the A.L. West title. They're like the...

Selig should be proactive in protecting pitchers.(baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, and the ongoing danger of having a pitcher seriously injured by a hit ball)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Commissioner Bud Selig says nothing can be done about pitchers getting smashed in the face by line drives, and almost everyone involved with Major League Baseball shares his opinion. That mindset must change, and change quickly, before a...

The book on ... Placido Polanco.(baseball player; includes other notes)
October 2, 2000... Cardinals, IF, 5-10/168, 3rd year Call the scouting report on Cardinals utility infielder Placido Polanco a work in progress. One National League starter recalls reading up on Polanco in his team's scouting report. "Backup infielder, and...

Kid Gloves.(candidates to baseball rooky of the year)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Plenty of youngsters (and a few not so young) enjoyed strong rookie seasons. THE SPORTING NEWS will name a rookie of the year based on votes of players, while the Baseball Writers' Association of America will pick its own. A look at the top...

TSN's Man in the Majors Jeff Huson.(brawling in baseball)(Brief Article)(Column)
October 2, 2000... If you have a question about baseball, we have the big leaguer who will respond. Jeff Huson, a 12-year veteran, is a utility infielder for the Cubs when he isn't researching your queries for THE SPORTING NEWS. This week's question is from Brian...

The N.L. champion will be ...(National League, baseball)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Based on a study of head-to-head statistics--or actually, head-to-head-to-head-to-head--TSN has figured out who will win the hotly contested race for the National League pennant: the Braves. They were the only team with a winning record...

Michael Knisley's Line Drives.(brief baseball notes)(Brief Article)(Column)
October 2, 2000... * It probably won't much matter to the standings or the playoffs, but you've gotta keep an eye on the Red Sox in Tropicana Field this weekend. Pedro Martinez's turn will come up. Remember what happened the last time he threw in--or at--Tampa?...

INSIDE THE A.L. EAST.(America League, baseball)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT SS Nomar Garciaparra, who despite nagging injuries was doing his best to keep the Red Sox in the wild-card chase. Starting with a 3 for-3 game on September 10, he went on a 28-for-58 spree (.482). He also ended a six-week homer...

INSIDE THE A.L. CENTRAL.(American League, baseball)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT White Sox LHP Mike Sirotka is heating up at the right time. Over his past eight starts, the lefthander is 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA. The only bad news is that as the White Sox enter the postseason, Sirotka is the only healthy pitcher...

INSIDE THE A.L. WEST.(American League, baseball)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT In a recent stretch, Anaheim's bullpen had three wins, six saves and a 1.33 ERA (six runs in 40 1/3 innings) in 12 appearances, allowing just one home tun During that span, relievers retired 25-of-28 first batters and stranded...

A.L. LEAGUE LEADERS STATS.(American League, baseball)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... AVERAGE Garciaparra, Bos 371 Erstad, Ana 356 M. Ramirez, Cle 354 Delgado, Tor 353 Sweeney, KC 340 Jeter, NY 333 Segui, Cle 333 Ja. Giambi, Oak 330 Thomas,...

INSIDE THE N.L. EAST.(Baseball statistics)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT SS Rafael Furcal is one reason the Braves are much more dangerous and complete this season. Because of his speed, they now can manufacture runs. Furcal recently had an 11-game hitting streak and has stolen 38 bases this season....

INSIDE THE N.L. CENTRAL.(Baseball statistics)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT In a seven-game homestand that ended September 17, Richard Hidalgo hit .577 against San Francisco and Pittsburgh. The Astros' center fielder went 15-for-26, keeping himself in the top eight in homers, RBIs and slugging percentage...

INSIDE THE N.L. WEST.(baseball teams)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Who's HOT A big reason the Giants have been so difficult to beat in the second half is closer Robb Nen, who had not allowed a run in his past 27 appearances until he gave up a garbage run last Thursday. He had given up one run since the...

N.L. LEAGUE LEADERS STATS.
October 2, 2000... AVERAGE Helton, Col 374 Alou, Hou 355 V. Guerrero, Mon 350 Castillo, Fla 341 Vidro, Mon 337 Hammonds, Col 335 Kent, SF 334 Piazza, NY 330 Alfonzo, NY ...

Referees are no longer just whistling in the dark.(Hockey)
October 2, 2000... Every time I turn on the television, there seems to be an awards program honoring the best video of the year. When all is said and done, however, the real winner might not be 'N Sync or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It might instead be the new...

Without Ewing, Knicks are a Greek tragedy.(New York Knicks trade Patrick Ewing to Seattle SuperSonics)
October 2, 2000... If there was a single picture that illustrated the mood of the skeptics, it was the vision of Spike Lee wandering around Madison Square Garden, where he was muttering to himself in a rumbling, agitated tone normally associated with the...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.(Basketball teams, evaluation)
October 2, 2000... ATLANTIC DIVISION BOSTON CELTICS: The Celtics who haven't come to town yet had better be doing a lot of working out on their own. Coach Rick Pitino is a maniac when it comes to conditioning, and he already has said this team will press...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.(Basketball teams, evaluation)
October 2, 2000... MIDWEST DIVISION DALLAS MAVERICKS: The team is keeping close tabs on the Olympics through assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who is an assistant for the Lithuanian national team. Nelson is issuing glowing reports on PG Steve Nash, captain of...

Just call him captain.(John Lynch, football player for Tampa Bay Buccaneers)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Imagine you're John Lynch, the Bucs' safety, 6-2, 220 pounds, a hitter, a thinker, the best at what you do. You're 15 yards downfield. What you do next depends on what you see in front of you. And what you see, at the snap of the ball, are...

Voice of the Fan.
October 9, 2000... Choice voice `I applaud the 49ers on their suspension of Terrell Owens. I am beyond tired of seeing the gridiron turned into a discotheque every Sunday. Start acting like professionals. Start acting like men.' Dan O'Brocta, Kenmore, N.Y....

Caught on the Fly.
October 9, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be a bronze long shot? * Hey-yo, before that insta replay in college football groundswell gets legs, know this: It ain't logistically possible, TiVo-breath. Fine whine by ol' State U.'s staff aside, you can't equip...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... 1 USA baseball. The victory by Tommy Lasorda's team raises a question: Which is rarer, the Cubans losing a game that matters or a Dodger winning one? 2 The major league postseason. "Can the Yankees threepeat?" is baseball's second-most...

DUSTBIN.(1971 World Series)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Octeber 13, 1971 It was the first World Series night game, but Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente seemed to have no problem with the lights. Clemente had three hits in Pittsburgh as the Pirates beat the Orioles 4-3 and tied the Series at...

ISLANDER IN THE SUN.(Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves)
October 9, 2000... At age 23, Andruw Jones has reached midday of what shapes up as a brilliant carrer. No longer on Caribbean cruise control, he's ready to shine in the postseason. Here comes Andruw Jones, strutting through the Braves clubhouse slick as an...

2000 season still lacks a moment with real punch.(reflection on regular season baseball)
October 9, 2000... The highlight of the 1995 regular season was Cal Ripken's breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games-played record. The '98 season produced the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home-run race and the Yankees' record 114 victories. What, then, is the...

Team reports.
October 9, 2000... Baltimore 74-88: 4th Age, injuries and chemistry doom club to poor finish WHAT WENT RIGHT: RHP Jose Mercedes, who was dumped by three teams in 1999, won 13 games.... SS Mike Bordick earned his first All-Star selection, joining C...

A.L. LEAGUE LEADERS STATS.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... AVERAGE Garciaparra, Bos 372 Erstad, Ana 356 M. Ramirez, Cle 349 Delgado, Tor 347 Jeter, NY 340 Ja. Giambi, Oak 334 Sweeney, KC 333 Segui, Cle 332 Thomas,...

N.L. LEAGUE LEADERS STATS.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... AVERAGE Helton, Col 372 Alou, Hou 355 V. Guerrero, Mon 345 Hammonds, Col 335 Castillo, Fla 335 Kent, SF 332 Vidro, Mon 330 Piazza, NY 326 Cirillo, Col ...

Identity crises.(Redskins and Buccaneers)
October 9, 2000... The Redskins and Buccaneers are incomplete teams still searching for their character--and their offenses. Until they find them, they won't challenge the Rams for supremacy in the NFC. Five weeks into this NFL season, we know this much about...

Culpepper proves there's no time like the present.(Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings)
October 9, 2000... The expectation was that Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper would have to be gone over with coarse sandpaper and fine sandpaper, given a couple of coats of stain, another coat of varnish and then polished. Then, he might be ready for display....

The Bears' offense evolves from feared to flawed.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Webster's Dictionary offers attention-getting device, anything that tricks and ruse as definitions for the word gimmick. After a 1-4 start, the Bears' offense deserves to be listed under gimmick in the dictionary. What was supposed to be...

Draft watch.(wide receivers)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... WIDE RECEIVERS The 2001 draft should provide waves of wide receivers, although the way it stands now it doesn't look like any will be chosen early in the first round. 1. Santana Moss, Miami (Fla.), 5-10, 175. Super athletic receiver...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.(team-by-team analysis)
October 9, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Washington at Philadelphia. In their last 10 trips to Philly, the Redskins are 2-8--and the Eagles were anything but a great team for most of the '90s, The Eagles' defense should handle Washington's passing offense, so the...

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.(Statistical Data Included)
October 9, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Tampa Bay at Minnesota. This is must-see Monday night fare. The game will feature two second-year quarterbacks; two solid ground attacks, a high-powered offense (Minnesota's) and a top-notch defense (Tampa Bay's). At this...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.(Statistical Data Included)
October 9, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Oakland at San Francisco. The 49ers actually have a chance to reach .500, And if they do it, it'll be because of late bloomer Charlie Garner and a surprisingly robust running game. The only way the 49ers can win is to...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.(Statistical Data Included)
October 9, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Buffalo at Miami. The division's best rivalry of the '90s kicks off the millennium sans some familiar faces. But unlike some of the classic, high-scoring Dan Marine-Jim Kelly battles of the past, both teams will struggle...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.(Statistical Data Included)
October 9, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Baltimore at Jacksonville. The Jaguars have a lot to prove. They have been embarrassed by the Colts and Steelers in the last two weeks. One of their two wins came against Cincinnati, and they blew a 16-point lead in a...

STATS.(football players' current ratings)
October 9, 2000... RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. Davis, Was. 123 513 4.2 4 Garner, S.F 98 500 5.1 3 Anderson, Den. 91 429 4.7 3 Faulk, St.L. 81 413 5.1...

SNAKE EYES.(teams that have led in rushing offense and rushing defense)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... The collapse of the Giants' running game last week at Tennessee shows just how difficult it is for a team to lead the NFL in rushing offense and rushing defense in the same season, something the Giants were doing after three weeks. Since 1970,...

THE GREAT unknowns.
October 9, 2000... You probably won't recognize their faces, but you should recognize their efforts College football is filled with people about whom we know almost too much. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is allergic to tough non-conference...

Pay up for replay--credibility must precede affordability.
October 9, 2000... And we all thought this was the technology age. Excuse me while I click this mouse and watch Anthony Thomas fumble--again. How's that for instant replay? Instant gratification. Instant controversy. But the instant response for college...

BIG GAME PREVIEW.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Florida State at Miami Why you should watch: The swagger is back. Now it's time to see if Miami can win a big game--this time against bitter rival FSU. For all that Butch Davis has accomplished as Miami coach (and considering the state of...

TSN's Power Poll.(college football team rankings)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Rank Team (last week) W-L 1. Nebraska (1) 4-0 2. Florida State (2) 5-0 3. Kansas State (6) 5-0 4. Virginia Tech (5) 4-0 5. Michigan (7) 4-1 6. Clemson (9) ...

CONFERENCE CALL.
October 9, 2000... THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Disappointing teams They're talking turnaround now, looking for something--anything--to shake off their unexpected slow starts. Alabama and Penn State, two of the nation's most storied programs, top that list....

Seeing Purple--again.(Northwestern Wildcats)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... This was the team Gary Barnett left barren, remember? The miscast misfits of Northwestern with no talent and no chance. Just a bunch of overmatched Mildcats playing in the big, bad Big Ten. Well, here's a little number to chew on: The last...

CLOSING ARGUMENTS.(Heisman Trophy candidates)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Can a running back win the Heisman this season? No--this QB class too good By Steve Greenberg Skeptics attributed Ron Dayne's 1999 Heisman Trophy win to the Wisconsin offensive system that enabled him to run for the record books....

SPECIAL METTLE.(Olympics gold medal winner Marion Jones)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Marion Jones, who won three gold and two bronze, fell short of her goal but proved her greatness in the way she pursued it OK, so Marion Jones didn't win five gold medals, but anyone who thinks she failed or even worse, was wrong to try...

ON DECK.(U.S. Olympic baseball team)(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... A look at some of the U.S. Olympic baseball players who may be heard from again in coming years The U.S. Olympic baseball team, a motley collection of players that in another time might have been put together by Walter Matthau, rode a wave...

Gold, American style.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Nowhere is the Olympic community's distaste for the American sports culture more evident than in men's basketball. But, in some ways, nowhere are we more American. Ray Allen screamed after scoring eight consecutive points in the second...

MEDAL HEADS.(Olympics 2000 winners)
October 9, 2000... A closer look at some of the winners in Sydney GOLD Stacy Dragila, United States, Pole vault Dragila has had a strange progression in her athletic career. As an adolescent she participated in rodeo goat-roping events, then began...

Her flame lingers.
October 9, 2000... These Olympics belonged to many people: Marion Jones, members of the U.S. swimming and baseball teams, wrestler Rulon Gardner to name a few. But in the end, they belonged most of all to Cathy Freeman because she came to belong to so many...

Hip check.(National Hockey League prices)
October 9, 2000... If they want to attend games, NHL fans are in store for a big hit to the wallet The puck has dropped on another hockey season, but prices sure haven't. The numbers are in, and some of them deserve a penalty for high-sticking. Folks in...

Stars, Devils still think they're the kings of the hill.(Brief Article)
October 9, 2000... Mike Modano laughs when he thinks about the sign the Stars passed just before the steep winding hill that took them from Denver to Vail, Colo. The sign read: Avalanche Area. "For the last two years we've buried ourselves in Avalanche...

Trojans need Clancy to get off on the right foot.
October 9, 2000... For the first time in about nine months, Sam Clancy's right foot is entirely organic, which means the Southern California Trojans once again may be whole. The screw that held together the bone in his foot through the course of its healing...