From St. Louis Sports Online #44

November 5, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (11.5.95)

Mistakes continued to haunt the Rams as they lost their third in a row to New Orleans, 19-10. Quarterback Chris Miller was intercepted in the end zone at the end of the first half, and tight end Troy Drayton was called for an offensive pass interference that cost the Rams a TD in the third quarter. Two touchdowns there give the Rams 21 points rather than 10. In addition to the mistakes, which hopefully can be corrected by the coaching staff, the offensive and defensive lines were manhandled by the Saints. Guard Dwayne White didn't even touch Wayne Martin on several passing plays, and the right tackle combo of Clarence Jones and Darryl Ashmore was once again summarily whipped by the left side of New Orleans' front seven. Disturbing on the defensive side was that safeties Toby Wright and Keith Lyle led the club with six tackles each. The Saints runners ran right through the Ram defensive line, with DRE Sean Gilbert registering just one tackle. If the Rams are to close strong, they must get better play from their big people...because right now, their big people are being whipped.

Team Turmoil, aka the Blues, went through another tumultous week, losing three in a row. Former captain Brett Hull sustained a groin injury, presumably because of the bad Kiel Center ice, and will be out until later this week. Esa Tikkanen was traded to New Jersey, stunned that he could be moved for a third round draft pick. Tikkanen told me that Coach/GM Mike Keenan is indeed frustrated by the financial restrictions place upon him by the Kiel Center partners...and players are bewildered as to how such a popular, smooth running operation could go downhill so quickly. Not long ago, quality free agent players would call the Blues to inquire about their interest. Now, it appears the Blues will never sign another free agent. Don't believe any rumor you see about Hull being traded. With his contract status (four more years at $14 million), it's unlikely a team would gamble on the last few years of that deal. Former Blues goalie Curtis Joseph signed with the Las Vegas Thunder of the IHL during the week. Perhaps my memory is short, but I don't remember Joseph giving up seven goals in a game as often as Grant Fuhr does.

The Cardinals revealed their plans for the renovation of Busch Stadium, adding three rows of box seats, decreasing the amount of foul territory, adjusting many box seats down the lines to face home plate, and adding a picnic area in left field. About a third of the left field bleachers will be removed for the picnic area, and the bullpens will be placed in left, as well. Additionally, the Cards reduced ticket prices for those fifteen years old and under, so that a youth can get into the ballpark for as little as two dollars. On the field, players began filing for free agency. GM Walt Jocketty tells us not to expect much movement from the Cards until after December 7. That's the date that teams have to either offer arbitration to a free agent or receive no compensation. The Redbirds would prefer to pursue free agents that don't require compensation, so that they can keep their high draft choices. There might be some trades made in November, but it seems unlikely at this time. Jocketty is still talking with several organizations about power hitters.

The St. Louis Ambush opened defense of their NPSL title with an 18-15 loss Friday at Wichita. Ironically, they started last season's championship campaign with a loss to the Wings at the Kansas Coliseum.


Mark Lamping: Job Well Done by MARK BAUSCH (11.5.95)

You remember Fred Kuhlmann. Or maybe you remember Stuart Meyer. In1989, Kuhlmann succeeded August Busch Jr. as President of the St. Louis National Baseball Club, Inc. Then, in 1992, Meyer succeeded Kuhlmann. Can you imagine Kuhlmann or Meyer, fine gentlemen that they are, granting interview after interview...seeking out the media in an attempt to put a positive spin on A-B's intentions to sell the Cardinals?

Such a scenario just doesn't have the ring of truth to it. Mssrs. Kuhlmann and Meyer earned their leadership stripes in a different era, an era during which adept PR skills were not an essential part of a baseball team's chief executive's job description.

My how times have changed.

Last week, anyone within 100 miles of St. Louis who owned a functioning TV or radio couldn't help seeing (or hearing) current Cards president Mark Lamping persuasively explaining the reasons for A-B's sale of the Cardinals.

It seems likely that A-B's leadership, intelligent men that they are, knew what was coming down the pike regarding the eventual sale of the Redbirds. It also seems likely that those same men knew that someone with Lamping's skills would be desirable during such a transition. So it stands to reason that A-B had the sale of the Cardinals on its collective mind for the past several months (if not longer).

In the wake of A-B's announcement, Lamping repeatedly told the media that the baseball business had changed, that the beer business had changed, and that the best interests of the Cardinal franchise (and Cardinal fans) would be served by a non-corporate ownership team.

What Lamping didn't say was that the impending sale of the Cards and Busch Stadium indicates that A-B was unable and/or unwilling to change along with the baseball business.

So be it. Instead of changing with the times, A-B has decided to sell off what many midwesterners look at as kind of a religion: the St. Louis Cardinals. It's a free country, and A-B is certainly within its rights. There will be no shortage of buyers for one of America's most storied sports franchises.

But will the sale of the Cards to new owners be good for the ballclub? Lamping insists that it will...that private ownership will be able to respond to the rapidly changing sports marketplace in ways that publicly held companies (such as Anheuser-Busch) cannot.

St. Louis-area baseball fans want to believe Mark Lamping. But then again, what other choice is there?


RON JACOBER's View of the Cards Sale (11.5.95)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Prior to its publication, KMOX's Ron Jacober was asked to read and comment on an early draft of the "Mark Lamping: Job Well Done" commentary. Jacober weighed in with the following commentary.
-----

On the surface, A-B's decision to sell the Cardinals was (and still is) shocking to many observers. The timing of the announcement was a bit surprising--in the same breath with record sales and profits--but it not something that most observers (myself included) didn't expect to happen sometime. This is a big story in St. Louis and a fairly big story in baseball.

But in the corporate picture at A-B, it's not a big deal at all. People in St. Louis have a hard time understanding that the Cardinals were just a fly on the wall at A-B--just a paragraph in the annual report. They were not even a big player in the entertainment arm of the Brewery. In the overall corporate picture, the Cardinals were small potatoes.

Most people do not realize how big A-B is. The world's largest brewer, they made something like 90 million barrels of beer last year. Their net income was over a billion dollars. Even if it's true that the Cardinals lost 12 million dollars last year, it is probably only a slight exaggeration to say that they probably waste more than that on paper at A-B.

But that's not the reason they are selling the team. I don't think there's any passion for baseball at One Busch Place. And that's been the case for a long time. I do believe that the Cardinals brought an inordinate amount of attention to A-B relative to their corporate contribution. For many years, it was a great PR tool for A-B--especially locally. But in recent years, everything surrounding the Cardinals and baseball has been negative. And I suspect they spent far too much time on baseball relative to its financial importance to the corporation. At least too much for them.

I chuckle when I read and hear people say Gussie Busch was probably rolling over in his grave when he heard they were going to sell the Cardinals. Gussie would have done the same thing had he been in the middle of this situation. And, maybe done it sooner. He didn't have a lot of patience with losers. People say that Gussie had a passion for baseball. That's simply not true. People close to the situation tell me that he didn't know a damned thing about baseball. He got involved to keep the team in St. Louis. He realized it was a good thing to do and he enjoyed the attention he and A-B got because of it. And, he enjoyed being around some of the players like Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst.

I will come to the defense of Stuart Meyer to some degree. Stu was a labor negotiator for A-B. That was his background. He was also a baseball fan. He was also a good soldier and ran the team the way they wanted him to run it. I had a number of interviews with him (on and off the record) and found him to be a dedicated, sincere man who honestly felt he was doing the right thing. But, he was corporate through and through and was never cognizant of the need for good public relations. I don't think he knew how or thought it was necessary because it never had been before.

Just some opinions from watching this team for more than 20 years!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ron Jacober, a fixture on the St. Louis-area sports media scene for over two decades, is Director of Sports Operations at KMOX. In addition to hosting KMOX's venerable "Sports On a Sunday Morning" show, Jacober also does color commentary on Blues radio-only broadcasts.


In Cuba, Castro Gets 99% of the Vote... (11.5.95)

Prior to a recent Blues home game, a news release was distributed to the media that publicized the fact that Shayne Corson, Brett Hull, and Al MacInnis are listed on the NHL's All Star ballot. The ballot is the standard punch card in which fans poke in hole in the box adjacent to the printed names of the players that they wish to vote for.

Blues PR staffers were kind enough to staple an actual ballot to the news release. Curiously, three players had already been voted for.

Can alert StLSO readers guess which three?


In Mike We Trust by RANDY HU (11.5.95)

Mike Keenan is a contradiction in terms these days. He is trying to win a Stanley Cup, yet keeps erasing key elements in the equation.

Taking the pulse of Blues fans, you'd think he was behind the atrocities in Bosnia, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Simpson murders, and the script of Dumb and Dumber.

Blues fans: take a deep breath and relax. Things don't heat up until the day after your taxes are due.

Less than a month into the season, Team Turbulent have endured numberous controversies. Keenan has dumped fan favorites, uses Velcro for the "C", and gets his players plenty of frequent flier miles to Worcester. Safety first has never been his forte, anyway. Take the easy route and you'll be fitted for a collar and leash in his crowded doghouse. Nevertheless, he remains focused and motivational, by his standards.

Sure, I disagree with some of his decisions, but if you don't make mistakes, you're not taking enough risks. In part, he overspent the salry cap set by the Kiel Partners and now has the unenviable taske of giving out pink slips.

Trying to deal with the post-lockout season, parity in the NHL, prima donna players, injuries, suspensions, and waning fan interest, are a PR challenge in itself. If anything, he has you and your buddies talking hockey in Nobemver.

The crisis to date:
*Brett Hull losing his captaincy ain't no big thing. Huyllie still self-acknowledges himself as captain. And squash those trade rumors--he's not going anywher.
*Keenan grossly over paid for some aging free agents: Dale Hawerchuk, Geoff Courtnall, Brian Noonan, Greg Gilbert, and Adam Creighton. This led to the clearance sales of Steve Duchesne, Esa Tikkanene, and Rick Zombo
*Ian Laperriere, a Rex Hudler-type with talent, was a casualty of the new obstruction rules and must change his game accordingly. Proceed with caution here: you can take the dog out of the fight, but not the fight out of the dog
*Grant Fuhr and Chris Pronger promise to watch ESPN's "Getting Fit" regularly
*Been losing lately? Teams are so bunched up, win a couple games in a row and you go from last to first.

Crisis, what crisis?


StLSO Media Watch: Sportstalk and Shrubbery by MARK BAUSCH

One depressing way to spend a few minutes (and a few dollars) is to stop into one of the sports-oriented chat rooms on America Online. Try it sometime. If your experience is similar to mine, you'll be inundated with what appear to be the rantings of adolescent males run amok. The cursing. The boasting. The sexual innuendo. It's a rather un-cute electronic version of Beavis and Butthead...there for all to see. Oh, the horror of it all.

The thing is...I LIKE Beavis and Butthead. But the chat rooms are like B and B to the tenth power. The jokes aren't funny. And the meanness seems real. Trust me. It's really ugly.

Anyway, part of my job as Editor of St. Louis Sports Online is to listen to some of the sports talk shows emanating from the St. Louis metropolitan area. It's a tough job...but hey, someone's got to do it.

Recently, it has occurred to me that some (but not all) of the most popular sportstalk shows in St. Louis are slightly sanitized versions of the despicable online chat rooms. And yes, at times, the sportstalk shows are so bad...that I turn on the G-Man (that would be G. Gordon Liddy) for a humorous respite.

It's not the repetitive nature of the sportstalk shows...or even the fact that I can now recognize some of the callers' voices. What is so darn irritating is that so many callers act as if they know EVERYTHING about sports (much like a certain Kansas City Royals publicist-turned national talk show host acts as if he knows everything about...well...just about everything).

Which is why I have a new favorite radio talk show. During the occasional hour that KMOX's weekend programming doesn't involve sports, listeners tuning in to 1120-AM are often treated to a show that features none of the offensive characteristics of sportstalk radio.

I'm referring to the KMOX Gardening Show. That's right. A gardening show.

No. I don't have a garden. No. I don't have a green thumb. I haven't punched a seed in the ground in...well...never! Then why do I find the gardening show so interesting?

It's the callers. They're cheerful. And they ask sweet questions...questions that the host (whose name I cannot remember) answers in even a more cheerful tone of voice. The callers ALWAYS seem satisfied with the advice offered by the host, who, I believe, has his own gardening store and also works in some capacity with the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Callers hang up feeling refreshed with the knowledge that their tree, or flower, or shrub, or lawn...is in good hands. Whether their question was about fertilizer or watering...I can envision them smiling, feeling good that they've done their part to keep the earth green.

Contrast that feeling with what the sportstalk callers generally seem to leave with. A word synonymous with fertilizer comes to mind. The oddball trade proposal...the carping about management...the complaining about player salaries...the total lack of knowledge about the economics of intercollegiate athletics...you get the picture.

One more thing. I think I can make an educated guess about today's run-of-the-mill sports columnist (or sportscaster). Here it is: if today's columnists were an adolescent in the 1990s, he (or she) would be online with the rest of the know-it-alls, trying to shout down anyone with an opinion that differed from his.

Frankly, that sort of thing serves as decent training for the rough-and-tumble world that is professional sports in 1995.

From St. Louis Sports Online #45

November 12, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (11.12.95)

The Cardinals were disappointed by Pittsburgh's signing of Jeff King and San Diego's of Ken Caminiti, for two years each. Those were the two power hitting third basemen the Redbirds had at the top of their list as far as potential free agents were concerned. Now, unless the Cards want to gamble on someone thirty-five plus, such as Tim Wallach, Gary Gaetti or Wade Boggs, they may once again turn their attention to filling their power void with a first baseman. If that is indeed the case, there may not be money left in the budget to shore up the middle infield, which Walt Jocketty hoped to do by getting Caminiti or King at a more affordable price. Tony LaRussa made a good move in not retaining anyone from Joe Torre's staff. Although Bob Gibson, Gaylen Pitts, Chris Chambliss and Mark Riggins are all excellent baseball men, they were associated with a team that had no concept of fundamentals. LaRussa will be able to walk in, tell the players that certain coaches have certain responsibilities, and allow the coaches, if necessary, to exercise their authority. Some of that authority may have been lost with the old staff.

Mike Keenan says the Blues will slowly break out of their slump...that it won't happen overnight. Brett Hull says it happens fast, all the team needs is a fortunate call here, a lucky bounce there. Who is right? Probably both. The Blues ARE slowly rounding into the form Keenan prefers, which includes great defense and intense forechecking. In three straight games, they allowed a total of four goals and came up with a couple of wins. The break the Blues need is forHull himself to recover from a groin injury to pick up the offense. Hull had never suffered a groin injury before, and came back too soon...getting hurt in his first shift against Winnipeg Friday night. He says he will sit out longer this time...and make sure the injury is fully healed before returning. That's a smart move on Hull's part, because all this club needs is for him to tear the muscle and miss the rest of the season.

The Trans World Dome is magnificent. The sightlines are great (there really isn't a bad seat in the house, aside from the $4,500 PSL's right behind the players' benches. The chairs are comfortable and provide plenty of leg room, the heat seems to work well, and the turf looks outstanding. What a perfect backdrop for the Rams as they took on Carolina Sunday. On Saturday night, special teams coach Wayne Sevier made a great point, saying "every bit of motivation a team needs is there for us. We're playing for first in the division, we've lost three in a row, we want to knock off the team that's won four straight, we have the new stadium. It should all be in our favor, as far as motivation goes. That motivation manifested itself in six turnovers as the Rams beat the Panthers, 28-17. Although the Rams didn't play exceptionally well, they did find themselves tied for first in the NFC West at the end of the weekend. A balance was reached offensively and the pass rush and run stopping were passable. A win over Atlanta next week would put St. Louis a game ahead of the Falcons, with the 49ers on the horizon Thanksgiving weekend. It appears at the very least that the Rams will be in the playoff hunt until the final weekend of the season.

By the way, take the time to blast any media member that complained about the height of the pressbox. Not only was it fine, but these media members were sitting right next to people that paid $1,000 apiece for PSL's. If they wanted the perfect seat, they should have coughed up the money for one of the premium seats


Cardinals News (11.12.95)

The Cardinals announced Friday that manager Tony La Russa filled out his coaching staff for 1996 by naming five new coaches.

In addition to Dave Duncan, who was named pitching coach on October 23, the Cardinals have added the following coaches: Mark DeJohn (bullpen coach); Ron Hassey (bench coach); George Hendrick (hitting coach); Dave McKay (first base coach); and Tommie Reynolds (third base coach).

La Russa said that "We all realize the key to the success of our club is to have a roster of players that come together as one, and for the fans to become excited as this happens. Part of making this become a reality is to have a coaching staff that understands what is necessary to help our players perform at their very best. From a list of qualified people, we were pleased to have the ability to assemble a coaching staff that offers what I feel is the necessary combination of talent, experience, and personality."

Cards Vice-President/General Manager Walt Jocketty added the following comments. "I'm excited about this group and the vast amount of experience and coaching they lend to our ballclub. Coaches are often-times the unsung heroes of winning organizations, and Tony recognizes the extreme importance of his coaching staff and how they can help in developing a winning attitude."

In related news, Jocketty also announced that Cardinals' Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst will serve as a Special Assistant to the GM and that former bullpen coach and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson will remain with the team as an Instructor.


Blues News (11.12.95)

*Brett Hull aggravated his groin pull injury early in the first period of the Winnipeg game. "[The groin] felt fine in practice. But games are different than practices, I guess. I'm going to sit out longer this time."


RamNotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (11.12.95)

*Besides being the first win in the Trans World Dome, this was the Rams' first indoor victory this year. Just in time since they head to Atlanta in the Georgia Dome in a clash of first place teams. Well, two of the three. The NFC West has three teams at 6-4 (Rams, Falcons, 49ers) and two at 4-6 (Panthers, Saints).

*OT Jackie Slater has played more games (259) than any other offensive linemen.He has blocked for seven 1,000-yard rushers (among 36 different running backs), played in seven Pro Bowls, and is the only active player to have played with Joe Namath (among 23 different QBs).

*The new dome? Beautiful. There was no evidence of any unfinished work, although a few seats were missing armrests. (The wrong ones were shipped.) Everything was shipshape ahead of time and the staff seemed very pleasant.

*Parking was not as big a headache as feared. Well, at least finding parking. Paying was another matter. At Busch, the closest parking (the Stadium garages) charged seven bucks. The garages nearest the Dome were raking it in at 15 skins a pop. Some surface lots were getting a sawbuck. The Stadium garages? A slim four. The Laclede's Landing area seemed to be the place to park. Might make it easy to find a place to wait for traffic to clear out.

*Lots of tailgating going on, but no wide open spaces of smoldering meat. One corner traffic cop, who was standing downwind from several full grills, found it hard to resist. He laughed at a suggestion to shake down some of the revellers for a sample or three. "You know, it'd be a shame if something happened to your grill..."

*Inside the dome, it was a balmy 72 degrees. The signs let every one know that, at game time, it was 37 degrees outside. A half hour before game time, it was 29.

*In a very classy move, the signs over the exit tunnels showed the names of the Rams whose jersey numbers have been retired. (We're working on getting a list from the Rams PR staff.)

*The field itself is, of course, artificial. But it's a temporary artificial. The green turf is on a one-inch thick pad over concrete. The turf/padding can be rolled up for any convention center event. The lighting can be lowered to 55 feet over the floor for closer lighting.

*The gutsiest job in the dome? The guys on the catwalks in the lighting fixtures. There were four or five of them. They were responsible for the pre-game fireworks and the post-TD concussion explosions.

*Not that this is of major interest to most readers, but the press box is a huge upgrade from that slums at Busch. OK, relative slums. They actually provided us some tasty food besides hot dogs and enough chili for the first 10 or so in line. The most important upgrade: beer. But no one drank any until after the game and even then it was only by those who had finished their work. Second best upgrade: servers.

*The Dome operators love their new sound system, blaring music between every play. (On third down for the opponents, the song of choice was "Pressure" by Billy Joel.)

*Speaking of noise, the crowd didn't exactly blow the roof off the dump. Even with the scoreboards telling them when to clap, stomp, yell, etc. This was the opinion of more than a few observers. Maybe they just need a few more games to work out the kinks and break in the stadium.

*The first pigeon was spotted in the third quarter as it flapped around the rafters. Actually, those are bar joists, not rafters.

*Whatever happened to the gun that signalled the end of a quarter, half, or game?

*CB Torin Dorn's fumble return for a touchdown was the team's fifth defensive TD of the year, tying a team record. In a great human interest story, Dorn became a daddy for the first time at 6 a.m. on the morning of the game. He was hurrying through the locker room to catch a plane back home - to Carolina! One reporter suggested he hitch a ride with the Panther's charter plane. Dorn actually took part in the Olympic torch run in 1984, carrying for a half a mile in downtown Detroit where he was a sophomore at Southfield High School.

*A couple of firsts from the game: Rookie OT Zach Wiegert got his first start of the year. And fellow rookie WR J.T. Thomas caught his first pro pass


StLSO Quote of the Week (11.12.95)

After the Rams victory over Carolina Sunday, StLSO's Randy Karraker and Jack Buck were hosting the KMOX Rams Post-Game show from Mike Shannon's restaurant. At about 4:20 pm, Buck was talking about the Rams special teams effort.

"You know, I think the kicking game was better with [Dean] Biasucci and [Sean] Landeta. The kicking game is in good hands," said Buck.

Just then, an unlucky Shannon's employee dropped what sounded like a huge tray full of plates onto the floor. The clang-clang made quite a racket.

"Randy, I think the kicking game is in better hands than that tray was," said Buck.


StLSO Headline of the Week (11.12.95)

From the 11.12.95 Post-Dispatch: "Morgan Is No. 1 Free Agent On Cards' Shopping List". Details in the Rick Hummel-authored story, including quotes from GM Walt Jocketty, indicate that the Cards are very interested in re-signing Mike Morgan, the righthander obtained from the Cubs in exchange for Todd Ziele.


News From the North: Sandberg Gives Another Twist to Bizarre Sports Year by BRIAN CRAWFORD (11.12.95)

CHICAGO--It's a good thing I've been paying attention. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't believe that the following things have rocked my sports world in the last 18 months:

• Michael Jordan plays professional baseball,
• Michael Jordan unretires from basketball,
• Ryne Sandburg abruptly retires,
• 1994 World Series is cancelled,
• Rams move to St. Louis,
• Cardinals announce plans to put natural grass in Busch Stadium,
• Cubs nearly go to postseason,
• Sox stink,
• Bulls sign Dennis "The Worm" Rodman,
• Northwestern beats Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State...in the same decade!
• Anheuser-Busch wants to sell the Cardinals,
• Bears win on Monday Night Football,
• I decide I really like Dennis Rodman,
• Ryne Sandberg unretires from baseball.

Frankly, the move by Sandberg surprised me, but did not shock me. How could it? Not in the context of everything else going on around here.

Besides, it figures that one of the all-time Cardinal killers would reenter the picture just now, at a time when we least need another Cardinal killer.

Sandberg quit the game at a time when his personal life was in upheaval, when Larry Himes was in the Cubs' General Manager's office, and when his skills seemed to have noticeably slipped.

Sandburg was hitting in the low .200s when he retired last June, about the same place Todd Zeile finished the '95 season.

His former wife, Cindy, filed for divorce exactly seven days after he announced his retirement; Ryno said he never saw it coming, even though it was no surprise to those around him. A Chicago Tribune article on Sandberg earlier this year made him out to be a sad, Forrest Gumpish fool who was such a great baseball player because he had so little else on his mind.

He may be smarter than we thought. After retiring, he restructured his $7+ million contract into a personal services agreement for just $500,000 a year. That's the salary that his divorce settlement from Cindy is based on. Under the terms of the contract he just signed last week, Sandberg stands to make over $2 million in 1996. His former wife won't see a penny of it.


From the High Post by EVAN PEDERSEN (11.12.95)

"We have two players whose names I know, the rest I don't care to know because they don't play very well," said a tongue-in-cheek Charlie Spoonhour at the first annual Conference USA tipoff banquet in Memphis. And while Spoonhour with his southern wit stole the show at the banquet, his Billikens may be in for a rough season if his jest proves the least bit true.

The 1995-96 Billikens are a team starting from scratch This is not a new situation for Spoonhour. Example 1: at Southwest Missouri State, Spoonhour began a year with 11 new players. SMSU went on to win twenty games, a conference title, and receive an NCAA tournament bid. Example 2: In his first year at SLU he inherits a team that went 5-23 the year before. In what for him is a completely new squad, the team goes 12-17 and doesn't show many signs of competitive life until an upset of Marquette and a near miss against Memphis St. in the Great Midwest tournament.
Which brings us to this year. The positives? Lots of athletic ability. A big man in the middle. Spoonhour on the bench. 18,000 fans at Kiel. The negatives? Only one returning starter. Nine first year Bills, eight of whom are in their first year of Division 1 NCAA basketball. A murderous new conference. Just open any major national college basketball publication to the C-USA section and one of the first things that will pop into your head is, "Who the heck are these Bills going to beat?"
Well, if they do figure out how to "play right" and beat a few teams, here's how they'll do it.
Jeff Harris and Jamal Johnson will form a rugged tandem of inside scoring and rebounding and will start at the 4 and 5 positions, respectively. They will help neutralize the height of teams like Memphis, Cincinnati, and Louisville, in addition to creating havoc on the offensive boards. Junior Sekeue Barentine and Tyrone Caswell will get their opportunities to play and their minutes will be a direct reflection of how effective they prove to be.

Carlos McCauley will start at the point guard position and will provide the leadership and savvy that Spoonhour expects from his seniors. While McCauley doesn't have the flair or scoring ability of the departed H Waldman, he did average 35 minutes a game his freshman year and is always a tenacious defender.

Joining McCauley in the backcourt will be former Charleston high school teammate Corey Frazier, who sat out last year due to Prop 48. Frazier haslegitimate 3-point range, great leaping ability, and a nose for how to finish off a fast break. He shows much of the same potential that Erwin Claggett showed when he was a freshman.

Depth at guard will come from two freshman, Jamall Walker from Wichita, Kansas, and J.J. Halliburton, who Spoonhour stole from under Larry Finch's nose in Millington, Tennessee. Both will push McCauley and Frazier for minutes.

At small forward there are several bodies but lots of question marks. 6'8" red-shirt freshman Ryan Luechtefeld seems to have the inside track to start. His year of practice under Spoonhour has helped him learn the system, improve his outside shooting, and pick up lots of advice from Scott Highmark. Others that could see action at small forward are 6'9" Paul Nondas, the tallest Billiken this year, 6'4" freshman jumping jack Donnie Adkins, or 6'4" freshman Virgel Cobben.

The key to this season will be how fast this new crop of Bills start believing the gospel according to Spoonhour. The team will have a solid starting five, but with almost all of the depth being provided by freshmen, there will be little margin for error.

Spoonhour also didn't pick the best year to have his toughest schedule since he came to SLU. With their first three games against LSU, Hawaii or Dayton, and Pennsylvania, it is conceivable that the Bills could be 0-3 heading into a must-win game against a senior-dominated Bradley squad wanting retribution for the drubbings the Bills put to them the last two years.

SLU will field a talented, competitive team this year, but like Spoonhour also said at the C-USA banquet, "Somebody could have a pretty good basketball team and still finish last."


Figuring Out Iron Mike (Part One): Dancing the Keenan Three-Step (11.12.95)

After a recent Blues game, Blues C&GM Mike Keenan said that he often was able to determine, sometimes even before the start of a game, whether or not his hockey club (or individual players on that hockey club) was going to be "on" that night. Keenan also said that it was "unreasonable to expect that every player is ready to play, and mentally prepared, for each and every game of a long regular season."

When asked what he as a coach can do when such a situation arises, Keenan replied that there was nothing he could do about it, except to mix-n-match his players, "putting those who are playing well on the ice together at the same time".

I believe Keenan when he says that. And in a way, knowing that these ideas form at least part of his coaching philosophy makes it a bit easier to understand some of his moves as general manager. As Brian Stull wrote in a previous issue of StLSO, Keenan wants all of his players to be interchangeable parts. Clones, if you will...all of whom are able to play the up-tempo style that Keenan employs.

Thus, the Blues have, up front, players such as Brian Noonan, Greg Gilbert, Denis Chasse, Geoff Courtnall, Ian Laperriere, Shayne Corson, Roman Vopat, and Peter Zezel. Interchangeable parts, right?

And, after watching the St. Louis version of Mike Keenan for sixty games of so, it seems that he has a three part behavioral modification system when persuading players (Craig Janney, Brendan Shanahan, and Dale Hawerchuk come to mind) to modify their style of play.

To review--Iron Mike's scheme requires that each forward's style of play blend in with the other eight or nine forwards...since he expects to be switching lines each and every game.
Keenan's behavioral modification system (we'll call it the Keenan Three-Step) goes something like this--
(1) First, the player's ice time is substantially reduced
(2) Second, the player is asked to watch a few games from the press box, with (eeh-gads) sportswriters (Keenan probably thinks that's the worst punishment of all...)
(3) Finally, the player is traded or practically given to another team

Keenan's trades of Craig Janney and Brendan Shanahan thus begin to make sense, at least from Iron Mike's point of view. The playing styles of Janney and Shanahan do not mesh with Keenan's notions of what 1990's-style hockey should be. They were never going to be "interchangeable parts" in the Keenan scheme.

Looking back on things, maybe Keenan was right about Janney and Shanahan. Heck, even Brett Hull found it difficult to play (at even strength) on the same line with either of those two guys.

But Keenan's trades of Janney and Shanahan do not necessarily mean that neither are good players. Rather, Iron Mike simply believes that they would never fit in with the system that he wishes to employ.

And Keenan should be admired for sticking to his guns. It seems that he has no fear of subjecting the most super of stars to the Keenan Three-Step. It is quite likely that Wayne Gretzky, if he were to play for Iron Mike, would be asked to modify HIS Hall-of-Fame style of play.

Finally, players doing the Keenan Three-Step often mutter that Keenan seems to dislike them personally. Generally speaking, Keenan denies that, and I believe him. But only up to a certain point.

Blues hockey players, human beings that they are, logically believe that they dependent on Keenan's personal opinions for their livelihoods. They probably find it difficult to make the distinction between Mike Keenan the man and Mike Keenan the C&GM.

It is therefore easy to imagine a Blues player, in the midst of the Keenan Three-Step, believing that Keenan's dislike of his style of play indicates an attack on that person's very essence. In that case, Iron Mike has literally succeeded in getting under the player's skin (for an example, see Craig Janney).

And after he has "accomplished" tearing down the player, one unintended result is the near-complete obliteration of the player's trade value. GM Keenan probably wishes that Coach Keenan didn't have that particular trait.

But there is one more thing. For what seems like an eternity, countless sports fans, sportswriters, and sports announcers have been railing about spoiled out-of-control athletes that care only about themselves.

Here in St. Louis, Iron Mike is in charge of everything Blue (save the budget). The Keenan Three-Step is the exact prescription that many onlookers often call for when a player doesn't do what the coach asks.

There's an old lesson here, sports fans. Be careful what you wish for...


More on Tony La Russa by MARK BAUSCH (11.12.95)

So what exactly does Tony La Russa bring to the table as the Cards manager?

First, a view of Tony La Russa the manager from a statistical perspective.

The new Cardinals manager ranks second among active managers in wins (with 1320). Only Tommy Lasorda has amassed more victories among active major league managers (with 1558).

La Russa's teams have won five American League West Division titles, two AL pennants, and one World Series.

Examination of the 1995 AL season statistics is also revealing.

*La Russa appears to eschew the bunt as a strategic tool. In the 1995 season, only three AL teams (Cleveland, Minnesota, and New York) had fewer sacrifice bunts that La Russa's A's

*La Russa does not order his pitchers to intentionally walk opposition batters very often. In 1995, only four AL teams (Cleveland, California, New York, and Minnesota) had fewer intentional walks than La Russa's A's

*Finally, it is also comforting to know that statistics don't lie (insert Brock Hanke/Geronimo Pena joke here). La Russa is a devotee of what Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon refers to as "good ol' fashioned baseball" when it comes to pitching inside. Not HIGH and inside, mind you...just inside.

Specifically, La Russa's hurlers have long been known (both in Chicago and in Oakland) as a group of men who aren't afraid to stand up for their teammates, if they believe that opposition pitchers are taking unfair liberties with the far inside part of the strike zone (i.e. teammates' ribs).

In 1995, A's pitchers LED the AL in hit batsmen. And in 1994, only Cleveland and California pitchers hit more batters than the A's.

Over the years, La Russa's definition of "inside but not high and inside" has been contested by opposition players and managers. Million dollar ballplayers don't fancy having their livelihoods threatened by some unwritten code of honor known only to a select few...situations that have led to an occasional scrap (or war of words) that sometimes even involves the managers.

Second, some impressions of La Russa and his Oakland team gleaned from a single 1995 mid-summer visit to Comiskey Park to watch the Athletics tangle with the Pale Hose.

*La Russa's coaching staff, both before and after the game, seemed to have a well-defined schedule as far as what they were supposed to do and when they were supposed to do it. And La Russa's coaches did not deviate from that schedule, as their pre-game routine looked to be extremely organized

*La Russa's aura permeated the A's locker room, and his players generally had a healthy respect for him as a manager

*A's pitchers seemed to worship pitching coach Dave Duncan, who is following La Russa to St. Louis

*Finally, in his post-game meeting with the (mostly) Chicago media, La Russa was an intimidating presence, fending off some questions while rewording others

Third, yours truly was cleaning out the office the other day and came across a weathered copy of the The National. Page 35 of the Wednesday, June 5, 1991 edition contains a column written by Norman Chad, The National's media guy.

In what is probably just one of life's pleasant little coincidences, Chad's column provides a link between two of the items mentioned previously in this column. Specifically, hit batsmen/beanballs and media relations, La Russa-style.

That day, Chad wrote about an interaction between La Russa and an Associated Press stringer, Bob Glass, that occurred in the wake of Terry Steinbach's 1991 beaning by Chisox reliever Bobby Thigpen.

Verbatim excerpts from Mr. Chad's column are between the lines:
-----
La Russa...lost his genius cool in the clubhouse Saturday night when answering questions from AP's Glass about the beaning of Oakland catcher Terry Steinbach.

La Russa: "I don't want to talk about that moment."
Glass: "OK, but don't yell at me."
La Russa: "I'll [a bad word] yell if I want to."
Glass: "Yeah? Well, I'll yell back, too."
La Russa: "Well, get the [a bad word] out of here. The interview's over. (He starts to walk out.)
Glass:"...Be a man!"
La Russa (charging back toward Glass): "Be a man??? [A bad word] [A bad word] [several more bad words] You've got about as much sense as [a bad word] bunch of [a bad word] [a bad word] [a very bad word] kid who was just born."

It's no wonder La Russa has that law degree--when you study torts, you also learn retorts.
-----
Nothing like fun at the ol'ballpark. Cardinals fans are in for a treat come 1996.


Waiting For Walt (Part II) by MARK BAUSCH (11.12.95)

The first shot has been fired in the upcoming battle between labor and management, baseball-style. The Chicago White Sox recently declined their option to sign centerfielder Lance Johnson for the 1996 season. The price? $3.15 million. No thanks, said the Chisox.

Johnson led the American League in hits (with 186), was second in triples (12), and tied for third in multiple hit games (54). The decision by the Sox means that Johnson becomes a no-compensation free agent on November 13.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Sox GM Ron Schueler hopes to sign Johnson to a multi-year salary...probably at a lower annual salary than the $3+ million option year figure agreed to when baseball's economic future seemed a bit brighter.

Lance Johnson, welcome to the economics of baseball, 1995-1996 style.

But what does Johnson's situation have to do with the Cardinals and GM Walt Jocketty?

In the middle of the 1995 season, Ken Hill's contract presented Jocketty with a major contract-related decision. In his return to St. Louis, Hill, whose $4 million 1995 salary meant that he was expected to be the Cards stopper, compiled a 6-7 won-loss record and an ERA of 5.06 before he was dealt to Cleveland for David Bell and a couple of additional prospects.

In the view of most observers, Jocketty made the proper move.

Now, in the second week of November, another major contract-related personnel decision is staring Walt Jocketty in the face. What should the Cardinals do about their own center fielder?

Should Ray Lankford (a 5+-year veteran one year removed from free agency under the current (but expired) labor agreement) be "tendered" a contract to ensure that he will remain a Cardinal for at least the 1996 season?

Keep in mind, should Jocketty and the Cards decide to "tender" Lankford...but then not reach agreement on contract terms, then Lankford will file for arbitration. While no one knows what exactly will happen during this round of arbitration cases (in part due to the fact that the market hasn't been set...very few players have signed contracts for the 1996 season), players generally come out ahead in the process.

Here's the deal. In 1995, Lankford's salary was $2.8 million. Lankford, 28, was the Cardinal team leader in several statistical categories, including home runs (25), RBIs (83), doubles (35), walks (63), and stolen bases (24). It wouldn't be unreasonable for Lankford to expect that those numbers, coming from a center fielder, would persuade an arbitrator to rule in his favor...even though he might ask for a yearly salary in excess of $4 million.

Remember, though, that late in the 1995 season, the Cardinals signed Brian Jordan to a three-year contract that will pay him $10-11 million over the course of the agreement. From this vantage point, it seems unlikely that the Cards would agree to compensate any current Cardinal at a greater level than Jordan.

So Jocketty, well in advance of the deadline date regarding arbitration, may attempt to get Lankford to agree to a long-term (3-year) contract that offers Lankford a bit of financial security in exchange for a slightly reduced yearly salary. In other words, Lankford will be offered a contract with Jordanesque terms andconditions.

Should Lankford refuse such an offer, perhaps the Cardinals will "non-tender" Lankford, making him eligible to negotiate with any team. Recall that the Cardinals non-tendered Bernard Gilkey during the previous off-season before re-signing him to a contract that had a substantially reduced base salary.

In the current off-season, expect Lankford to be treated similarly if he rejects Jocketty's long-term offer. And if another team offers Ray the dough he wants, expect the home-grown Cardinal to fly the Redbird coop.

Would that be so awful? Picture a starting outfield (from left to right) of Gilkey, Jordan, and John Mabry...with Mark Sweeney, Allen Battle, and Terry Bradshaw available as reserves.

Jordan is a natural center-fielder, while Mabry's arm (perhaps the best of any in the Cards organization) is ideally suited for right. Gilkey is a proven commodity in left field who will not command Lankford-size salary numbers. Finally, Mabry, Sweeney, Battle, and Bradshaw all are at the bottom end of the baseball salary totem pole...a fact not to be forgotten in baseball's current economic climate.

Furthermore, in a scenario in which Ray Lankford leaves St. Louis, the dollars that would have gone his way could then be used to acquire the infield help that the Redbirds so desperately need. Who helps the Cardinals more in '96...Craig Biggio...Fred McGriff...or Ray Lankford?

In a sense, the answer to that question depends on Lankford's '96 numbers. Will he finally fulfill the expectations St. Louis baseball fans have had for the past several years? Or will he continue to frustrate observers with what sometimes appears to be an undisciplined hitting style, less-than-adequate baserunning, and inconsistent outfield play? The latter seems more likely, in the view of this observer.

Finally, there is one significant difference between Jocketty's Hill and Lankford decisions. Jocketty now has Tony La Russa in place as his manager. The effect that La Russa has on Jocketty's thinking is unknown...although it seems likely that the new Cards manager would relish the chance to nurture Lankford, a player possessing immense (but largely untapped) skill and talent.
Continue tuning in to "Waiting For Walt".

From St. Louis Sports Online #46

November 19, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (11.19.95)

The St. Louis Rams appeared outmanned, and appeared to know it, in their 31-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Although they didn't make any egregious mistakes, the Rams still were hammered. It's one thing to lose to San Francisco while turning the ball over with four interceptions. It's another altogether to get bounced by Atlanta while playing pretty much as well as you can. The realization is that the Rams will probably finish 8-8, and will deserve to be a .500 team. The youngest squad in the NFL will need a running back, a good young cornerback and a mean linebacker to improve. That mean linebacker could very well be Hardy Nickerson of Tampa Bay, East St. Louis native Bryan Cox of the Dolphins, or Chris Spielman of Detroit, all unrestricted free agents. The draft likely will provide a running back and DB. With all this being said, if the Rams can pull an upset of San Francisco, Buffalo or Miami, and beat the Jets and Washington as they should, they can still make the playoffs in their first year in St. Louis.

Rumors persist that the Blues will send David Roberts and a young winger (Patrice Tardif, Craig Johnson, Denis Chasse?) to Calgary for holdout center Joe Nieuwendyk. Although that deal wouldn't seem to fit the current Blues profile, because of Nieuwendyk's salary and the Blues desire to build with youth, it would be a solid move in the short run. With Brett Hull out of the lineup, and Shayne Corson and Geoff Courtnall able to provide 25-30 goals at best, the Blues offense is woeful. Nieuwendyk would provide a legitimate 40 goal scorer that could help win a few games while Hull is out, and supplement Hull's scoring when he returns. Although the offense has been bad lately, the defense has been terrific. Mike Keenan's system has taken hold and Grant Fuhr has been surprisingly brilliant. Players used to talk about the Canadiens' ability to win with mediocre talent because of their system, and perhaps Keenan can do the same thing in St. Louis.

The Cardinals...along with most of their cohorts in Major League Baseball...have been quiet so far. Don't expect them to do much until around Christmas. Talks with Walt Weiss about a free agent contract broke down (he signed with the Rockies)...the team has also had discussions with several teams about trading for a shortstop. It now appears that the Braves will go all-out to sign 1B Fred McGriff, so the power-hitting talent on the free agent market is thinning. We can assume that the Braves will get what they want, so that leaves Ron Gant and Jose Canseco as the two most impressive hitters out there. Look for the Cards to shore up their middle infield and bullpen before heavily pursuing a power-hitter.


Cardinals News (11.19.95)

*Some statistics from the Arizona Fall League (through games of November 12):
--Alan Benes (Sun Cities Solar Sox):
4-1 W-L; 2.09 ERA; 7 starts; 38.2 IP, 27 hits, 2 HR, 12 BB, 43 SO
--David Bell (Peoria Javelinas)
.275 AVG; 80 AB; 22 H; 2 2B; 1 HR; 12 RBI; 5 E at second and third base
--Mike Gulan (Peoria Javelinas)
.233 AVG; 90 AB; 21 H; 3 2B; 2 HR; 13 RBI; 2 E at third base
--Aaron Holbert (Peoria Javelinas)
.378 AVG: 74 AB; 28 H; 3 2B; 1 HR; 8 RBI; 7 E at shortstop
--Mark Sweeney (Peoria Javelinas)
.206 AVG: 97 AB; 20 H; 5 2B; 1 3B; 11 RBI; 7 E at first base
--John Frascatore (Peoria Javelinas)
1-0 W-L; 2.30 ERA; 14 G; 3 saves; 15.2 IP; 14 H 5 BB; 26 SO

*Cardinals first baseman John Mabry has been named to the 1995 Topps Rookie All-Star Team. Mabry led all NL rookies with a .307 batting mark and just missed (by 25 plate appearances) qualifying for the NL's Top-10 in batting.

Mabry's selection to the Topps All-Star team places him in the company of 13 other Cardinals that have been named to the team, including Julian Javier, Fred Whitfield, Dwain Anderson, Bake McBride, Garry Templeton, Dane Iorg, Willie McGee, Terry Pendleton, Vince Coleman, Tom Nieto, Todd Worrell, Felix Jose, and Ray Lankford.

Others named to the '95 squad were RHP Hideo Nomo (Dodgers), LHP Carlos Perez (Expos), 2B Ray Durham (White Sox), SS Orlando Miller (Astros), 3B Chipper Jones (Braves), C Charles Johnson (Marlins), and OF Garret Anderson (Angels), Shawn Green (Blue Jays), and Marty Cordova (Twins).


Blues Banter by BRIAN STULL (11.19.95)

*Tornado Warning for the NHL, the "Twister" is about to be unleashed. The cast is gone and Tony Twist hopes to be back on the ice before the end of the month

*Before the mishap in Boston, the Blues had only allowed six goals in their last five games Goaltender Grant Fuhr played marvelously during the stretch and is now only two wins away from his 300th career victory

*Last season the Blues recorded 36 power play goals, this year they already have 20

*Would someone please tell the video trivia guy to change the question every now and then? At last count, the "Who is the Blues career leader in shorthanded goals?" trivia question has been used four times and there can't be too many fans left that don't know the answer is Larry Patey (23)

*Have you noticed that Murray Baron has toughened up his game? The old knock on Baron was that he didn't utilize his size (6'3", 215) to move opponents from the front of the net. Not true anymore, Baron has picked up his physical play as well as a team leading 69 penalty minutes, a stat inflated by three misconduct penalties

*If last year Brendan Shanahan was supposed to be the "true" captain of the team, and this year Brett Hull is supposed to be, will Shayne Corson will be the "true" captain next year if someone else is given the "C"?

*Condolences to Dallas Eakins and his family; his mother passed away Wednesday in Ontario after battling liver cancer.


RamNotes by JIM HUNSTEIN (11.19.95)

*The Rams are now 1-3 in domes this year with three more remaining, although all are at the Trans World Dome, where they are a perfect 1-0.

*The Fox network must have some insider trading information. They put up a graphic comparing the size of Rams and Falcons running backs. But they labeled St. Louis's Jerome Bettis and Leonard Russell with little Falcon logos and Craig Heyward and Jamal Anderson with Ram helmets.

*Falcons CB Darnell Walker is a product of Sumner High School.

*In a particularly gutless move, Atlanta QB Jeff George decided to taunt and otherwise scream at the Rams sideline after his fourth touchdown pass late int he game. Of course, he knew he was finished for the game and they Rams would not have another shot at him this year. Such cheap acts are not long forgotten.

*The fact that there were about 20,000 empty seats in a first place match-up doesn't seem to bode well for attendance figures at next summer's Olympics in Atlanta.


StLSO Quote of the Week (11.19.95)

"He's elite," said Blues C&GM Mike Keenan when asked to evaluate Grant Fuhr's play after the Blues victory over San Jose. "More than 55 to 60," Keenan said when asked how many games Fuhr would play this season.


StLSO Headline of the Week (11.19.95)

From the 11.19.95 Post-Dispatch: "Youngsters' Spark More Important To Blues Than Nieuwendyk Deal"


StLSO Voice Mailer (11.19.95)

As part of its mission to serve St. Louis-area sports patrons (in light of ticket prices and PSLs, "patrons" seems more appropriate than "fans"), the staff at St. Louis Sports Online has compiled an up-to-date list of St. Louis-area sports-related telephone voice-mail numbers. The aim of the StLSO sportsphone list is to make it possible for anyone with a touch-tone phone to keep in touch with their favorite St. Louis athlete and/or sports executive.

Ten verbatim Blues-related examples from the StLSO voice-mail list--

*Members of St. Louis' bachelorette community can relieve their feelings of loneliness by calling 1-(800)-BRENDAN, extension XXXOOO

*All media inquiries concerning Blues goaltender Grant Fuhr should be directed to Blues C&GM Mike Keenan at (314)-TOLDUSO. All other Keenan-related messages should be left at 1-800-KNOWALL.

*Out-of-the-loop Blues executive VP Ronald Caron can be reached by dialing (314)-LEFTOUT

*Former Blues chairman Mike Shanahan's number has been changed from (314)-THEBOSS to (314)-FORGOTN

*Ex-Blues forward Igor Korolev (now starring with the Winnipeg Jets) rings at 1-800-WAIVERS

*Recent Keenan acquisition Chris Pronger takes calls at (314)-BENNING

*Inquiries regarding tickets to upcoming Blues games should be directed to Blues Vice-President Bruce Affleck at (314)-DISCOUNT, extension 4000

*Brett Hull's number [(314)-CAPTAIN] has been disconnected

*Questions about the Kiel Center Club's menu? Call (314)-2PRICEY

*Questions about the Kiel Center itself? Building manager Fred Corsi can be reached at (314)-SOFTICE


StLSO readers are invited to contribute. Cards and Rams lists will appear in future issues.


From the High Post by EVAN PEDERSEN (11.19.95)

Ever seen the look on the face of a deer in your headlights? Well for the good part of a couple of exhibition basketball games, this year's not quite ready for prime time Billikens had that look.

On Tuesday night the Bills defeated an undermanned and clearly inferior Arkansas Express team 61-38. The Bills held the Express to a paltry 24% shooting in the first half and opened up a 24-4 lead at one point. The Express shot 32% for the game but Spoon's troops weren't much better, hitting only 39% and missing half their free throws. The defense was good. But the offense looked at times like a game of hot potato because none seemed to want the ball.

There were some encouraging moments. Midway through the first half, redshirt freshman Ryan Luechtefeld collected two steals, dished two pretty assists, one of them a well executed alley-oop to senior Jamal Johnson, and hit a three pointer. Freshman Vergil Cobbin, who started at the small forward position, played solid defense and finished with 11 points. Johnson led the team with 19 points and 9 rebounds and showed inside scoring ability not seen since someone named Bonner.
"I honestly didn't know what we would do," said Spoonhour. "Early in the game when our legs were fresh, the defense was good and the offense was a little ragged. That's how it should be."
On Saturday, the Bills got a stiffer test from a competitive team from Zagreb Croatia who had previously defeated SIU Carbondale, Western Illinois, and Eastern Illinois on their exhibition tour. Saint Louis prevailed 56-45, but not without a fight. The Bills led midway through the first half by a score of 24-11 after a Jeff Harris jumpshot, but failed to score the last 7 minutes of the half and went into the locker room clinging to a one point lead, 24-23.

Sophomore Corey Frazier shook off some of the rust accumulated from his year off and finished with 16 points including 4 of 5 from 3 point land as the Billsput the Croatians away in the second half. Spoonhour left his starters in for the first 8 minutes of the second half, a sure sign of things to come as the season begins. Johnson muscled his way for 17 points while Harris finished with 11 and 8 rebounds. "We just weren't really ready to play," said Luechtefeld after the game. "We stood around an awful lot."

Since most of these Bills didn't play with Highmark, Claggett, Waldman, Turner and company, most don't know what they were missing. Jeff Harris and Carlos McCauley did. Harris said he was tentative in deciding when to crash the boards for an offensive rebound since he wasn't sure who would shoot. McCauley agreed, "Last year, if I would drive, I knew Claggett would be out there behind the 3-point lind and I could always pass it off to him, now we have to learn where people will be."

10,799 showed up for the Arkansas Express game and a few more (10,893) came out for Croatia, but the fans will have to be patient with these Bills. Ready or not the team leaves Tuesday for Hawaii and a date with a potent LSU squad. Spoonhour has his work cut out for him.

From St. Louis Sports Online #47

November 26, 1995

News and Notes by RANDY KARRAKER (11.26.95)

Now that the Rams have fallen to .500, and still failed to win a big game this season, one has to wonder about the winning ability of quarterback Chris Miller. The four interceptions in the first San Francisco game were his first bad performance of the year...but other items lead me to believe the Rams should look for someone else. Miller's interception into the end zone in Indianapolis cost the team a victory...as did an interception into the end zone in New Orleans. Miller's fumble in Philadelphia provided the final nail in the coffin there. And his two interceptions Sunday at Candlestick park led directly to fourteen 49er points. That's five losses (both San Francisco games, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Indianapolis) out of six that can be attributed to Miller mistakes. Whether it's the supporting cast or Miller himself is difficult to figure out, but it's certainly easier to replace one quarterback than an entire supporting cast.

The Blues have proven to be incredibly boring, even when they win. Last week when I asked Brett Hull if he could foresee the offense coming around, he said "no, if you aren't a scorer, it doesn't just come to you." The Blues have been hurt by the inability of Shayne Corson to score, and the inability of their youngsters to put the biscuit in the basket. If the Blues could get one goal a game from among Ian Laperriere, Roman Vopat, Craig Johnson, Denis Chasse, David Roberts and Patrice Tardif, they would be fine. Unfortunately, that isn't happening, and nothing much else is at Kiel Center, either.

It'll be interesting to see how the Cardinals operate now that it appears the Braves will re-sign Fred McGriff. Although they have interest in Mark Grace, he isn't a prototypical number four hitter. So far, the Cards have shown no interest in Ron Gant, although that could change. Mark Lamping and Walt Jocketty REALLY want to keep their outfield intact, so they would prefer to get a cornerman rather than an outfielder. A deal that would bring Mark McGwire and Mike Bordick to the Cards is a possibility, but Jocketty would have to part with at least two of his young pitchers and perhaps John Mabry. Did you read what Walt Weiss said was one of his reasons for staying in Colorado (rather than coming to St. Louis)? Weiss said that he didn't want to play in front of Ozzie Smith. It is apparent that the image of Smith as a bench player is one of a brooding, unhappy soul. We'll have to find out if Ozzie would indeed come back as a utilityman.

Go Ambush. They beat Canton Saturday night...and Sunday night defeated the Detroit Rockers 14-10 in front of 6,419 at Kiel Center. Good luck to Daryl Doran and the boys.


Cardinals News (11.26.95)

*Some statistics from the various fall baseball leagues:
--Alan Benes (Sun Cities Solar Sox):
5-1 W-L; 2.27 ERA; 8 starts; 43.2 IP, 31 hits, 2 HR, 15 BB, 51 SO
--David Bell (Peoria Javelinas)
.314 AVG; 102 AB; 32 H; 2 2B; 1 HR; 14 RBI
--Terry Bradshaw (Hermosillo)
.232 AVG; 69 AB; 16 H; 1 2B; 1 3B; 7 RBI
--John Frascatore (Peoria Javelinas)
1-0 W-L; 2.37 ERA; 16 G; 4 saves; 19.0 IP; 15 H; 9 BB; 29 SO
--Mike Gulan (Peoria Javelinas)
.225 AVG; 102 AB; 23 H; 3 2B; 2 HR; 14 RBI
--Aaron Holbert (Peoria Javelinas)
.367 AVG; 90 AB; 33 H; 4 2B; 1 HR; 8 RBI
--Elieser Marrero (West Oahu)
.271 AVG; 85 AB; 23 H; 3 2B; 1 3B; 4 HR; 14 RBI
--Domingo Martinez (Aguilas)
.267 AVG; 45 AB; 12 H; 1 2B; 1 HR; 9 RBI
--Mark Sweeney (Peoria Javelinas)
.209 AVG; 110 AB; 23 H; 6 2B; 1 3B; 11 RBI
--Dmitri Young (Hermosillo)
.303 AVG; 66 AB; 20 H; 6 2B; 1 HR; 11 RBI

*The Cardinals have purchased the contracts of pitchers Manuel Aybar, Mike Busby, Steve Montgomery, and Jay Witasick, and catcher Elieser Marrero from their minor league system.
Aybar, a righthander, was 2-5 (3.35 ERA) in nine starts with St. Pete, with 43 Ks and 16 BBs in 48.1 innings pitched. He also had 18 starts with Savannah, racking up 99 strikeouts and allowing 82 hits, in 112.2 innings pitched.

Busby compiled a 9-8 won-loss record to go along with a 3.29 ERA in 26 games split between Arkansas and Louisville. The 6-4, 210 pound righthander led the organization's minor league pitchers in innings pitched (172.1) and was among the leaders in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. In addition, he averaged 6.2 innings per start. Busby, who was the Cardinals' 14th round selection in the 1991 free-agent draft, began the season at Arkansas and was promoted to Louisville on July 31.
Montgomery led the Texas League in saves (with 36), while compiling a 5-2 W-L record with a 3.25 ERA.

Marrero, the Cards third round selection in the June 1993 draft, was among St. Pete's leaders in HR (10) and RBIs (55).

Witasick, the Cards second round choice in 1993, was 7-7 with a 2.74 ERA in 18 starts for St. Petersburg in 1995, totalling 109 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched. After a mid-July promotion to Arkansas, he was 2-4.

*The Cardinals released pitchers Rich Rodriguez and Vicente Palacios.


Blues Banter by BRIAN STULL (11.26.95)

*INJUSTICE: The NHL released early totals in All-Star balloting this past week. No surprise, Brett Hull leads all players with 23,684 votes. Shayne Corson is second in voting among Western conference wingers with 13,866 votes and AlMacInnis is the leading defenseman with 18,593 tallies. Noticeably absent from the goaltender list is Grant Fuhr. Despite leading the league in minutes played and near the top of the league in several other categories, Fuhr wasn't even among the top 10 in balloting for the goaltender position--which isn't a concern for Grant. "It makes no difference for me. We gotta worry about getting this ship (the Blues) turned around and get some wins here," said Fuhr after Saturday's game with Toronto. In case you're looking, Fuhr was left off the ballot but can be written in

*TOUGHNESS: After the Blues loss to Vancouver, several media members were critical of the lack of physical aggressiveness from the team. Coach Mike Keenan, when questioned about the subject after the game, responded,"I happen to agree with you and I've let the team know that, and there's nothing more I can say about it." It was mentioned that Ian Laperriere and Denis Chasse were the focus of opposition tough guys. Keenan agreed, adding Roman Vopat to the group. "Vopat is nineteen years old and a fella who came to the forefront in a physical game, so it doesn't say much for the rest." While it was obvious the Blues could've used Tony Twist or Basil McRae in the lineup, St.Louis did receive five fighting penalties vs. the Canucks (Chasse 2, Creighton, Laperriere, and Vopat) and some players didn't echo the sentiments that they were pushed around. "I don't think there's anyone in here that's intimidated or backs down," said Brian Noonan when asked about the team's toughness. Noonan went on," I know some of you in the media felt that way, but we had some guys who did fight, but lost. That happens some nights." Captain Shayne Corson pointed out that"...we were trying to get on the board and that's tough to do when you have someone sitting in the box." To his credit, Corson was able to draw an elbowing penalty against Vancouver. However, the Blues power play couldn't capitalize.

*TOUGHNESS (VOL. II): The Blues did look like a different team with Twist, Eakins, and Sawyer in the lineup vs the Maple Leafs. Twister stated that he hadn't actually practiced throwing punches while doing a somersault and landing on his back but, "It was kind of acrobatic, I don't know, it just, if you wouldn't of told me I wouldn't of known what happened, you kind of draw a blank."

*SCORING: The Blues snapped a string of 0/21 on the power play with 2 against Toronto on Saturday. When asked how long he can show patience with players not scoring, Mike Keenan responded," As long as they're working and they show drive and intensity, I can accept the fact that they're not scoring goals. It's a measure of their competitive values is what you look for more than anything else."

*THE BARN IS BACK?: In recent games, the fans have become more and more vocal cheering the Blues on and the players have noticed. While acknowledging you don't want to see any injuries, most players weren't bothered by the fans recent pelting of the ice with cups after a goal was disallowed. "It was great the support they were showing for us, they way they got behind us," said Jeff Norton. "It really makes you want to work harder to deserve it, they've been great."


Turkey Day Football: Webster Tops Kirkwood For The Bell by JIM HUNSTEIN (11.26.95)

The Webster Groves Statesmen defeated the Kirkwood Pioneers 36-35 in one the closest and highest scoring Turkey Day games in the 88-year history of the rivalry. The victory gave Webster bragging rights to the Frisco Bell, which Kirkwood had held for the last two years. Both teams came into the game with identical records of 4-5.

Kirkwood set a school Turkey Day record with their 35 points and the 71 total points is the most since 1916 when Webster rung Kirkwood's bell 76-0. The last one-point game was a 15-14 Webster win in 1975.

Statesmen QB Stephan Rhodes was overcome with emotion at the victory. "I don't know what to do. This is the biggest game of my life. I've been dreaming about this game. I'm just glad we got the bell. It's about time." Rhodes is only a junior and will have the chance to defend the bell next year at home. His sentiments were echoed by Webster head coach Ken Manwarring, who said it's been too, too long since they played and won this big a game.

"It was a great football game," said Kirkwood coach Mike Wade. "We knew they couldn't stop us. The question I had going is was if we could stop them. We didn't. I can't give Webster enough credit."

In fact, both teams moved the ball all day at will. Webster took the opening drive deep into Pioneer territory before the Kirkwood defense held firm. The Statesmen settled for a 23-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. Kirkwood then mounted an eight-play, 78-yard touchdown drive scoring on a five-yard run by senior RB Greg Drummond, his first of four TDs on the afternoon. Webster came right back on the first play from scrimmage as junior RB Antwian Davis took the ball 71 yards for the score and a 10-7 edge.

The teams exchanged fumbles and Kirkwood reclaimed the lead 14-10 on a 13-yard off tackle run by Drummond. Webster would fumble again on its next two possessions. Kirkwood punted after the first one but Drummond scored again on an eight-yard run to cap the series after the second one. The Pioneers took the 21-10 lead into the locker room at half time.

Manwarring was not ready to give up. "The way we looked at it at halftime was that we were stopping ourselves," he said. "We had a couple backs with a hot hand. We were confident that we could come back."

The Statesmen tried an onsides kick to open the third quarter, but senior TE Brendon Corbett of the Pioneers recovered the ball. But Kirkwood couldn't take advantage and had to punt. Webster started their next series at their own 17. Six plays later, junior RB Latrelle Yancey scored on a 38-yard run to bring the Statesmen to within four at 21-17. Kirkwood answered with another scoring drive that included three clutch third down conversions, two of which were Kirkwood's first completions of the day. On first down from the Webster 20, junior QB Derrick Whithorn made his third connection, a one-handed reaching grab by 6'5" junior TE Alvin Morrow, who broke two tackles for the touchdown and a 28-17 Pioneer lead.

On the second play for Webster, Yancy rambled 51 yards to the Kirkwood 11 before being run out of bounds by Drummond, who also plays defensive back. Davis took the ball in on the next play for the TD. Webster opted for the two-point conversion but it failed as Rhodes's pass flew long. It was his first attempt all day and the Statesmen trailed 28-13 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Kirkwood fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and Webster recovered on the Kirkwood 32. The Pioneer defense held and regained possession on downs after another incomplete pass by Rhodes on fourth down. He barely overthrew Earl Lawrence who appeared to stop running as the ball came near. Kirkwood called Drummond's number almost exclusively on the next series and he took them all the way highlighted by his fourth TD run of the afternoon, a 17-yard blast up the middle. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Pioneers were up 35-23.

But Webster came right back with a 78-yard, 11-play drive capped with an eight-yard reverse from senior FB Tim McGowan to Davis for the score. The kick was good and Webster trailed 35-30 and everyone in the stadium knew an onsides kick was coming. "We had to do it," said Manwarring. "There was no doubt we were going to do it. And it's one of those plays if you're successful and a good football team, you just have to get the job done."

And they did. Sophomore kicker Chris Budzinski's kick traveled 10 yards but no Kirkwood players went near it and the Statesmen's Reggie White scooped the ball. "The guys didn't go for the ball," said Wade. "That's why it's high school.That's why they're 15- and 16-year olds."

So Webster took over at midfield with 4:35 remaining. They ate up the clock as they ate up the field on a steady march toward the Kirkwood goal line. The big play was a six-yard pitch to Yancy, who took it around the right end for the touchdown and the lead. Webster again tried for the two-point conversion,but Rhodes's pass was tipped by McGowan and dropped by senior TE David Brader. But Webster had the lead 36-35.

Budzinski's kickoff sailed into the end zone and Kirkwood had 1:22 to go 80 yards. They mixed up their plays and got to the Webster 24, where they faced fourth and two with 21 seconds left. Wade said he thought about a field goal, but it was beyond the range of his kicker. He also chose to ignore Drummond, who had gained 174 yards up until then on 17 carries. "I just wanted the ball on that last play," Drummond said. "I don't know if it was a lack of confidence or everyone was keying on me. But I feel confident that even if everyone was keying on me, I could have made two yards."

But his number wasn't called. Wade preferred to keep the ball in the hands of his QB on a sweep to the right. But Davis was there for the stop. "I anticipated it," he said. "They kept running the bootleg out all game. I was telling the team to watch the bootleg. And he came bootleg to my side. The coach said the big play was going to win the game. I just thank God I was one to make the big play."

Webster came in for one snap and then ran over the take the bell back to their side. It went to their school in the back of a truck driven by none other than Kirkwood principal Franklin McCalley. "This is not the must fun thing I do as principal," he said driving away. "But it is in the tradition of good sportsmanship."

After the game, Manwaring said, "It's been three years since we won this game. And this makes it a good year."

Wade said, "It's just a hard loss. The kids worked hard all year. We just didn't do what we needed to do when it came crunch time." And he added both coach's feelings; "There shouldn't be a loser in a game like this."

Webster now leads the series 43-32-5.


The 49ers Deliver a Haymaker by JIM HUNSTEIN (11.26.95)

The Rams continued their downward spiral toward mediocrity with another thumping at the hands of the 49ers 41-13. San Francisco moved into sole possession of first place after the Falcons lost in overtime to the Cardinals. The Rams fell to .500 at 6-6 and seem to be trying to get below the expansion Panthers.

The defining moment for the Rams season thus far came near the end of the first half. The Bighorns, trailing 21-7, had a quality drive going to keep the game close. On second down from the Niner 23, QB Chris Miller dropped back and let fire to a barely open WR Alexander Wright. But Wright slipped and CB Eric Davis read the play and intercepted the ball on the run and headed back the other way. The only man with a chance to stop him was WR Todd Kinchen, who appeared to have the angle for the tackle. He wrapped up Davis, but was thrown loose as the Niner cornerback scored and basically crushed all Ram hopes.

The Rams started the season very well, showing a lot of promise and raising expectations. But then they slipped a couple times and teams that appeared better prepared stepped in and apparently have erased some hopes for a comeback. And those teams were capitalizing on untimely Ram turnovers. And while the Rams have had a few opportunities to keep games from getting away from them, they haven't been able to seize them well enough to gain control.

Turnovers were the story of this game. The Rams turned the ball over five times, which led to 24 points, including the TD return by Davis. The 49ers gave up the ball three times.

QB Steve Young made his first start for the 49ers since October 15 and, after a somewhat rough start, settled in and looked every bit the NFL MVP before being lifted in the fourth quarter after getting hit a couple of times. Young finished the day with 21 completions on 32 attempts for 226 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Miller, on the other hand, had a subpar outing. He completed 12 of 24 passes for only 70 yards. He had one touchdown and two interceptions before he was taken out of the game with a scratched eye.

Miller wasn't the only Ram who struggled all day. RB Jerome Bettis had only 20 yards on six carries. But he had one run that went for 14 yards, which makes his stats even more pitiful (five carries, six yards). WR Isaac Bruce was once again barely used. He had only two catches for 24 yards and one was a 21-yard TD from QB Mark Rypien. The first half stats for B & B? Bettis had four carries for five yards and Bruce had one catch for three yards.

Yet despite Bettis' anemic production, the Rams actually outgained the 49ers on the ground. The Bighorns had 81 rushing yards led by newly activated RB Greg Robinson with 28. The Niners had only 79 yards on the ground behind RB Derek Loville's 34 yards.

The Rams defense managed to keep WR Jerry Rice in check. Rice caught seven balls for only 67 yards, snapping a four 100-yard game streak. The key receiver for the Niners was WR J.J. Stokes, who had five catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns, the first (and second) of his career. Credit CB Anthony Parker with a much-improved performance over last week when he was benched for being ineffective. Parker led St. Louis in tackles with eight solos.

Parker also had a key interception of Young on the first play of the 49ers first possession. That came after the Rams rather ignominious beginning of a three and out. On Young's first play from scrimmage, he called WR John Taylor's number on a quick out. But Parker read it all the way, broke as the ball was thrown, and dived in front of the receiver for the INT at the San Francisco 41.

But the good fortune was wasted as Bettis coughed up the ball on the very next play and 49er DT Bryant Young recovered. The teams traded three and out series until the Rams managed a drive with a first down. But that series also ended with a punt, but a dandy. It was downed by CB Dexter Davis at the one yard line. After a procedure penalty moved the ball half the distance, Young connected to Rice over the middle. But he was drilled by S Keith Lyle and the ball came loose to be recovered by LB Shane Conlan at the seven yard line. After two runs by Robinson, Miller found Kinchen in the end zone for the first score of the game. Kinchen promptly went to the goal post pads and did a very poor impersonation of Niner LB Ken Norton, Jr. Or rather, Norton's father boxer Ken Norton, Sr. Neither Norton would have kicked and kneed an opponent. In any event, the Rams led 7-0.

Once St. Louis showed it could be done, San Francisco began to drive. They went 69 yards on eight plays and scored on a 16-yard pass to Stokes for the tying TD. The first quarter ended with the game knotted 7-7 and the Rams punting.

The 49ers came right back with another scoring drive covering 66 yards on seven plays. They again scored on a pass to Stokes, this one good for 19 yards. The Bighorns had blitzed, but no one got near Young as Stokes put a great outside fake on CB Todd Lyght and then cut a post to the end zone.

S Tim McDonald intercepted Miller's first pass and returned it 35 yards to the Rams two before being brough down by Bruce. But that tackle just delayed the inevitable as Loville scored on the second play and the 49ers led 21-7.

As the second quarter was winding down, the Rams were marching and appeared ready to get back into the game as they got deep into Niner territory. But that was when Miller's pass to Bruce was picked off by Davis, who brought it all the way back for another Niner TD and a 28-7 lead. The Rams opted to let the clock run outon the half rather than risk another turnover and get further buried.

But that's exactly what happened on their fist possession of the second half after forcing a takeaway of their own. The Niners took their first series to the Rams 11 on only seven plays. That's when Young was intercepted by S Toby Wright at the goal line. QB Mark Rypien came in for the injured Miller and proceeded to get the Rams out of trouble. But on third and 15 from his own 35, he took his turn to get intercepted. But it was not his fault as the very catchable ball went through the hands of his receiver Wright and into the arms of CB Tyronne Drakefield, who brought it back to the St. Louis 12. After scrambling for a first and goal, Young found Rice in the end zone for a two-yard strike and a 35-7 lead.

The Rams got great field position on the ensuing kickoff as Johnny Thomas took the return to the San Francisco 48 where he was tackled by the kicker. Bettis broke loose for his 14-yard blast. Two plays later, Rypien hit Bruce on a fly pattern in the end zone. It was Bruce's second and last catch of the day. The point after was blocked and the Rams trailed 35-13.

The third quarter ended as the 49ers were driving once again for a score. This time they settled for a 35-yard field goal. They added another, a 19-yarder, on their next possession after Drakeford intercepted Rypien for his second pick of the game. The 49ers led 41-13.

They could have had more, but on their last possession, they opted to take a knee on first and goal from the St. Louis one. They figured a 41-13 drubbing was enough.

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