2B
Quick Looks
Wednesday November 3, 1999
HOROSCOPES
Aries: Today is a 6.
The workload is heavy, and you're being watched. Don't worry about it — you can perform brilliantly under pressure. Besides, the person who's watching may be a talent scout. Prove that you have the right stuff.
Taurus: Today is an 8.
When you have love, nothing else matters. When you're coming from love, you always have it. So, how about you and a loved one figure out what to do next, together? How long has it been since you've had a romantic vacation? You can make it happen.
Gemini: Today is a 6.
You may be worried about whether you'll have help when you need it. Don't limit yourself to a few options. Give yourself a backup and an escape route, too. It's OK to hire somebody. It's smart and could even save you money. Don't hesitate.
Cancer: Today is an 8.
You're learning quickly, and you have the support of loved ones. Trust their advice. You're stepping outside your old boundaries a little bit, but that's OK. Go ahead and spread your wings. You may surprise yourself.
Leo: Today is a 6.
Have you been thinking about putting your home on the market? Maybe you could sell something in your home, instead. Don't worry about money anymore; make some. Get rid of something you've outgrown at the same time, and win twice.
Virgo: Today is a 9.
You either have the experience you need or you know somebody who does. That's your key to success today. Don't venture into unknown territory without taking along somebody who's already been there, done that.
Libra: Today is a 7.
You need to finish up something so you can get on to the next project. Do the quality control inspection, the follow-through. If everything that can be done has been done, you're ready to check that one off your list.
Scorpio: Todav is an 8.
Sagittarius: Today is a 6.
Watch for a big opportunity. You'll have to be bold, daring and outrageous. The rewards should be enough to tweak your interest, however. When you take a risk, it's always well-calculated, so enjoy!
Capricorn: Today is a 9.
Keep a low profile, do your job and try not to attract attention. The pedant patrol is out cruising, trying to find a nit to pick. A little of that goes a long way with you, so give them a lot of room. Hide out!
Aquarius: Today is a 5.
Your friend point you toward the good deals. You've been good to them in the past, and you've earned their respect. It's OK to let them do something nice for you now. Graciously accept the compliments and the opportunities.
You may feel rather cramped. You're trying to do something, but you don't have enough time, money or influential friends. It may seem like you're invisible. Go back to the drawing board. Present your new improved idea later.
Pisces: Today is an 8.
You should be in close collaboration with your favorite partner today. You may not be able to get what you want right now, but with planning, you can soon. Find out what the requirements are and get started.
BASEBALL
SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr., wanting to play closer to his home in Florida, has rejected the Seattle Mariners'
Griffey rejects offer wants out of Seattle
eight-year contract
give your contract offer and the team said yesterday that it would try to trade the 10-time All-Star The Mariners presented Griffie a po
contract proposal on July 17 — a deal that would begin next season. The contract was thought to be worth $1.35 million, which would have made Griffey the highest-paid player in baseball.
"This has been an extremely difficult decision for me." Griffey said in a joint statement he released with the team. "Mariners fans throughout the Pacific Northwest have been very loyal and devoted to me, I will truly miss them."
Griffey hit 48 homers this year after hitting 56 in consecutive seasons. The center fielder, who turns 30 later this month, has 398 career homers and is thought to have the best chance among current players of breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755.
NEW YORK — Jack McKeon, who came within one win of leading the low-budget Cincinnati Reds into the playoffs, was the overwhelming
McKeon chosen as Manager of the Year
choice yesterday for The
broadcasters. Jimy Williams, who led the Boston Red Sox to the American League wild-card berth and a first-
Manager of the Year award. McKeon received 43 votes in nationwide ballot by writers and
Associated Press Manager of the Year award
"It's real nice to receive this kind of award." said McKeon, who also managed Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego. "A lot of it goes to the players. You're only as good as your players, and we had good players."
round upset of Cleveland in the playoff, was second with 27.
SAN DIEGO — Ryan Leaf was suspended for four weeks and fined a week's salary by the San Diego Chargers today for conduct detritum tal to the team.
The Chargers would not disclose what prompted the disciplinary moves except to say the decision stemmed from something that happened Monday.
FOOTBALL
Chargers' Leaf fined suspended by team
"We cannot tolerate the undermining of discipline on this team," general manager Bobby Beathard said at a news conference.
Team sources, speaking on the
condition of anon-
nymity, said the troubled quarter-
back yelled at Beathard and members of the team's strength and conditioning staff. Several players apparently heard the outburst.
Leaf, who hadn't played this year because of surgery on his right shoulder July 26, will not return to the team until Nov. 29.
Safin, Enqvist move on in early Paris Open
PARIS — Russian teenager Marat Safin continued his domination of Gustavo Kuerten with a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) win yesterday in the second round of the Paris Open.
Kuerten in their two previous meetings, including the 1998 French Open when the Brazilian was the defending champion.
Sweden's Thomas Enqist won a final-set tiebreaker to beat Sebastien Grosjean in a first-round match 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Enqist will next play fourth-seeded American Todd Martin in the $2.55 million event.
Note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and should be read for entertainment purposes only.
TENNIS
The unseeded Swede, who leapt to No. 9 in the world rankings after winning last week's Eurocard Open in Stuttgart, Germany, overcame a determined Grosjean. In the deciding tiebreaker, the Frenchman fought back from 1-4 to 5-5 before finally losing.
Earlier, Frenchman Amaud Clement lost to Dutchman Sijeng Schalken 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), and Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, a "tucky loser" who replaced the injured Magnus Larsson, defeated South Africa's Wayne Ferreira 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win against Wayne Ferreira of South Africa.
The 19-year-old Safin had beaten
BASKETBALL
Knicks sign Sprewell to six-year contract
NEW YORK — Latrell Sprewell and the New York Knicks finally ended their long negotiations, with the star guard signing a contract yesterday that is believed to be worth $61.9 million for five years.
Sprewell, who joined the Knicks last season, decided to take the team's long-term contract instead of a two-year, $21 million offer.
"I think if I had taken the two-year, I would have been wondering if it was the right thing," Sprewell said earlier. "In the back of my mind I would have been thinking, 'Let's stay healthy.' I just want to go out and play and not worry about being healthy because my contract is up in a couple of years."
He will be paid $9 million this
season, the final year of the four-year deal he signed with Golden State in 1996. He was suspended for much of the 1997 season, after
choking coach P.J. Carlosimo. He lost more than $6 million in salary and was traded to the Knicks before last season. His new contract, believed to include an on-tout clause.
after four years, will take effect next season.
HOCKEY
ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez was traded from the Texas Rangers to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-piece deal yesterday.
Rangers deal Gonzalez to Tigers in big trade
Going with Gonzalez to Detroit were pitcher Danny Patterson and catcher Gregg Zaun.
The Rangers received pitchers Justin Thompson, Alan Webb and Francisco Cordero, outfielder Gabe Kapler, catcher Bill Haselman and infielder Frank Catalanotto.
Gonzalez is eligible for free agency after the 2000 season.
Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star outfielder, hit .326 with 39 home runs and 128 RBI this year. He led the Rangers to the AL West titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999, yet all three seasons ended in disappointment as each time they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees.
Gonzalez was considered a lock to be one of the reserves chosen for July's All-Star game in Boston, but he told reporters that he would not play in the classic unless he was voted in as a starter by the fans.
The Associated Press
Sports Calendar
**Women's tennis** Central Regions in Salt Lake City, Fri. - Sun.
**Swimming** Dual Meet Extravaganza in Champaign, Ill., Fri. - Sun.
Football Game vs. Baylor
tecn @ 7 p.m.
Men's Basketball
Exhibition vs. California
All-Stars @ 7:05 p.m.
Rowing Sunflower
Showdown @ K-State
Volleyball Game @ Texas
Tech @ 7 a.m.
Women's tennis Central Regionalis in Salt Lake City, Fri. - Sun.
Swimming Dual Meet Extravaganza in Champaign, Ill., Fri. - Sun.
Fans remember Payton as lifelong idol
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Flags at half staff whipped in the cold November wind outside Soldier Field yesterday following news of the death of former Bear's running back, Walter Payton.
"There aren't many players one can idolize as a child and still look up to them as an adult. Walter is one of the few," Sandy Fox of Chicago wrote in a message posted on the Chicago Bears' Web site.
Payton, the NFL's career rushing leader, died Monday of bile duct cancer that was discovered during treatment
for a rare liver disease. He was 45.
The Bears opened a gate at Soldier Field, and some fans dropped off bouquets and cards. More sent flowers to Payton's restaurant in suburban Aurora. At Mike Ditka's Restaurant, fans signed condolence cards and were encouraged to become organ donors.
Just north of Soldier Field on Lake Shore Drive, Mike Liberles brought his Crane High School class to the Field Museum's exhibit on Bears' history.
"I never missed a game when Payton was playing," Lersle said.
His students, too young to remember Payton the running back, spoke
of the man they knew through his charity work and the publicity surrounding his illness.
Payton brought glory back to a city that had gone more than two decades without a sports championship when the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986.
"You get disillusioned," said Mike Houllihan, a Chicago writer and lifelong Bears fan who remembers watching the team win the NFL championship when he was an eighth-grader in 1963.
"Somebody like Walter Payton comes along and you get reborn as a fan," he said.
Men's team takes top spot for third time
Continued from page 1B
This year marks the third time in four years that the media has selected Kansas's men's team as the preseason favorites. In 1996, the Big 12's inaugural year, and 1997 Kansas was picked to finish first. Both times the Jayhawks delivered, winning the conference crown. Last year, Oklahoma State, ultimately tied for fifth, was picked to win the conference. Kansas tied for second.
The Iowa State women's basketball team was an overwhelming favorite to win the conference in the media poll, followed by Kansas at second. Kansas received two first-place votes.
"It's not a big surprise," Washington said. "A number of teams could fit into the upper echelon, but it's good that we are predicted to be a part of the conference race. I just learn not to get caught up in the polls. Right now, I just want to focus on taking care of ourselves and putting ourselves in position where we can contend for the title."
Kansas women's coach Marian Washington said that she was not surprised by the results, which were almost identical to the coach's poll.
The media picked Stacy Freese of Iowa State as Big 12 Player of the Year. She was joined on the all-Big 12 Team by Lynn Pride of Kansas, Edwina Brown of Texas, Nicole
Kubik of Nebraska and Phylesha Whaley of Oklahoma.
As a junior, Pride led the team in scoring with 17.1 points per game, rebounds with 7.2, steals with 2.7, blocks 0.7 and minutes with 33.7. During the summer, she played a key role in USA Pan American Games as one of only two collegiate athletes, averaging 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
"Pride is one of the top players not only in the conference but in the country." Washington said. "It is good to see her recognized by the conference. She's a true Kodak All-American candidate."
— Edited by Chris Hopkins