Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, October 31, 1989
13
Expos pitcher tops list of first-day free agents
Langston seeks $3 million deal
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Mark Langston ended his brief stay with the Montreal Expos yesterday when he was among 18 players who filed for free agency on the first possible day.
Langston, acquired by the Expos from Seattle on May 25, is seeking at least $3 million a season and is the most talented starting pitcher available among the 117 players eligible for free agency.
"The chances of him going back to the Expos are . . . Well, I wouldn't say never, but I would say very slim," said Arn Tellum, Langston's agent.
First baseman Nick Esasky of the Boston Red Sox was the first player to declare free agency, filing with the Major League Baseball Players Association at 9:06 a.m. Outfielder Hubie Brooks, Langston the teammate on the Expos, also filed yesterday.
Players Who Have Filed For Free Agency - 1989-90
George Bell of Toronto, who would have been eligible for free agency, had his option for 1990 exercised yesterday. He will earn $2.1 million next year.
Cleveland Indians Pete O'Brien, first base
Boston Red Sox Nick Esasky, first base
Detroit Tigers
Frank Tanana, pitcher
The remaining players eligible for free agency have until Nov. 13 to file.
Minnesota Twins
Shane Rawley, pitcher
Jeff Reardon, pitcher
New York Yankees Walt Terrell, pitcher
Montreal had traded pitchers Randy Johnson, Scott Holman and Gene Harris to Seattle for Langton, who made $1.3 million this season. The Expos had said they wanted to retain him, but last week they withdrew their offer.
Kansas City Royals
Floyd Bannister, pitcher
Crawford Cawfoot, pitcher
Texas Rangers
Rick Leach, outfielder
Toronto Blue Jays
Lee Mazzilli, outfielder
Cincinnati Reds
Dave Collins; outfielder
Houston Astros
Rick Rhoden, pitcher
"The door is open if he wishes to negotiate with Montreal at a future
Montreal Expos
Hubie Brooks, outfielder
Mark Langston, pitcher
New York Mets Tim Teufel, second base
$L. Louis Cardinals
Tony Pena, ticker
Ted Power, pitcher
San Diego Padres
Carmelo Martinez,
outfielder
date," said Bill Stoneman, the Expos' vice president for baseball operations.
Langston rejected a $7.1 million three-year deal with the Mariners before he was traded. He was 12-9 with a 2.39 ERA for the Expos after going 4-5 with a 5.56 ERA for the Mariners. He was 74-67 lifetime with Seattle, a team that has never had a winning record.
"Obviously he's interested in talking to all the California teams," Tellum said. "I think everyone knows that. But there are other teams out there like the Cubs, the Cardinals, the Yankees and others he'd like to talk to."
Langston was born in San Diego and has, at times, expressed a
desire to play in California.
Tony Pena, the top available catcher, has not been asked back by the Cardinals, who want to go with Todd Zelle as their starter next season.
The Associated Press
Baseball season seeks new pact
NEW YORK — Now that the World Series is over, the most important people in baseball are Donald Fehr and Barry Rona. They will determine when the next game is played.
Fehr, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, and Rona, head of the owners' Player Relations Committee, lead the two sides into a game for a new Basic Agreement in August 1985, agreed to in August 1985, expires on Dec. 31.
No one expects a new agreement to be reached by then. Collective bargaining in baseball always has its limits, but the strikes and one lockout since 1972.
"Our deadline, and I think it's a realistic deadline, is by the start of spring training, early February," Rona said.
But the owners have a strike fund that may reach $200 million by midwinter. The union will have withheld $70 million to $100 million in licensing fees by then as its own strike fund.
The owners have threatened to lock out players at the start of spring training or at the start of the season if a new agreement has not been reached. The union would have had the right would put the end of the season and postseason television money in jeopardy.
Negotiations start during the week of Nov. 13.
"The actual bargaining will start after the parties come back from their winter meetings and
consult their constituencies," said Eugene Orza, associate general counsel of the union and Fehr's deputy. "The most intensive discussions will begin in the middle of December, I guess. Then we go into January, February, March, until we reach an agreement.
"History suggests that it's difficult in this industry to do that quickly. There is a crisis mentality and the unforeseen until push comes toush."
The owners are again talking about trying to get a salary cap, but this time they are also thinking about proposing salary scales for players with less than six years of service.
"One of two things traditionally happens," Rona said. "You discuss the philosophy of the negotiations and the expectations you're going in with. And you generally try to exchange information so as you get more deeply involved and more specific. There are little or no surprises. A lot of this has been done already."
"The second early phase of negotiations is to get on the table all your proposals for revisions in the Basic Agreement. Sometimes the minor ones come first; sometimes the major ones come first. A lot of the discussion of the philosophy and building of the defining laws are, more extent, taken place already informally."
"One thing we'll see is if they (the owners) are going to bargain seriously from the beginning, instead of making ridiculous proposals in the beginning of negotiations and expecting the union to repond to them," he said. "You're better off bargaining seriously from the start."
Orza said that the union wanted to get into serious discussions in mid-December but that clubs have delayed in the past.
Big Eight selects players of week
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tackle Arthur Walker, who had a big hand in Colorado's 20-3 victory against Oklahoma, was the unanimous choice as Big Eight defensive player of the week.
Earlier, the same media panel named Nebraska's Gerry Gdowski, who set three school quarterback records in the 40-17 victory against Iowa State, the unanimous selection as offensive player of the week.
Gdowski had 176 yards rushing, scored four touchdowns and had a 74-yard touchdown run. He also passed for two touchdowns.
Walker had eight solo and four assisted tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.
Kansas hockey team skates by St. Louis
The Kansas ice hockey team on Saturday defeated Washington University of St. Louis 8-2.
By a Kansan reporter
Wing Brian Kane and defender Brian Farrell led the team with two goals apiece. Farrell also had two assists.
Giants sack Vikings without Simms' help
Turnovers key NY in 24-14 rumble
The Associated Press
Center Mark Levine scored one
center and added three assists,
and winked at his teammate.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pepper Johnson returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown, igniting a 17-point third-quarter burst that gave the New York Giants a 24-14 victory against Minnesota last night in a midterm test for two of the NFL's toughest teams.
The Jayhawks will play Eastern Illinois this weekend at Bodie Ice Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
The Giants, who improved to 7-1 while breaking a four-game Minnesota winning streak, won despite losing quarterback Phil Simms to an ankle injury on their first series of the game.
"The defense was very aggressive, but the offense has a long way to go," he said. "The key to the offense is that when I call a stant play, we should gain three losses low three yards. Right now, the execution is lacking."
Dikta singled out Richard Dent, Dave Duerson and Steve McMichael as being outstanding on defense and said punter Maury Buford "kept us in the game when we weren't doing anything on offense."
They made up for that by forcing turnovers. Besides Johnson's interception, Vikings' fumbles on consecutive kickoffs set up Jeff Hostetler's 11-yard touchdown pass to Lionel Manuel in the third quarter and Ottis Anderson's 2-yard touchdown run 12 seconds into the fourth quarter.
"I don't know if we turned it around, but yesterday's win was very satisfying to this football team," said Ditka, whose team broke its three-game losing streak. "Who did not play like they should have, heard about it."
Ditka names new starter, vows to take charge from sidelines
Ditka said Harbaugh, who came in and directed the consecutive scoring drives, gave the team a spark.
"Jim took the bull by the horns." Ditka said, "but
him the victim of other people's errors. That
happens."
Ditka pulled starter Mike Tomczak in favor of Harbaugh in the second quarter Sunday with the Bears trailing 9-0. He also took over the play-calling from assistant coach Great Landry.
The Associated Press
"My way," said Ditak after a 20-10 victory against
her opponent, and I don't care if there are hard
feelings by anybody.
LAKE FOREST, III., — Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka said yesterday that he was going to do things his way from now on. For starters, Jim Harbaugh will start at quarterback next week against Green Bay.
AP TOP.25
FOOTBALL POLL
Prodded as to what got the team going, Ditka said,
"Nothing got the team going. The Rams got the team
going.
1. Notre Dame (58) 8-0-0
2. Colorado (2) 8-0-0
3. Nebraska 8-0-0
4. Michigan 6-1-0
5. Alabama 7-0-0
6. Florida St. 6-2-0
7. Miami, Fla. 6-1-0
8. Illinois 6-1-0
9. Southern Cal 6-2-0
10. Tennessee 6-1-0
11. Arkansas 6-1-0
12. Auburn 5-2-0
13. West Virginia 6-1-1
14. Pittsburgh 5-1-1
15. Arizona 6-2-0
16. Penn State 5-2-0
17. Houston 5-2-0
18. N.C. State 7-1-0
19. Florida 6-1-0
20. Texas A&M 6-2-0
21. Clemson 7-2-0
22. Texas 4-2-0
23. Brigham Young 6-2-0
24. Virginia 7-2-0
25. Freno State 8-0-0
The Giants finished with six sacks against Kramer and Wade Wilson. Taylor, dormant for New York's last two games, had $2\%$.
Officials pick sides on lottery
That made it 24-7 and gave New York a run of 17 points in 2 minutes, 15 seconds against a team that hadn't played for four years. A period of it in previous seven games.
game. The touchdown was the first in a first quarter by the giants this season.
For Minnesota, which fell to 5-3 and into a tie with Chicago aton the NFC
The Associated Press
Central, it was a matter of failing to take advantage of chances after the loss of Simms, who was hurt when he was sacked by Al Noga.
First-place votes in parentheses
Tommy Kramer hit Herschel Walker with an 8-yard pass to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead 6:45 into the
.SALEM, Ore. — State Lottery Director Jim Davey said yesterday that he hoped state officials would mount a lobbying effort to kill a bill in Congress that would scuttle Oregon's "Sports Action" football betting game.
Davey made the comment as the Lottery Commission voted to postpone action on a plan to expand the Sports Action game by allowing players to bet on the outcome of National Basketball Association contests.
Davey asked for the delay so NBA officials would have a chance to voice their objections about the game. The issue again nov. 20, he said.
The NFL has argued that Sports Action harms the integrity of professional football because it causes fans to be more interested in point spreads than in how their favorite team is faring.
The bill to eliminate Oregon's Sports Action was introduced by Sens. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., and Orrin Hatch, R-Rutah.
Meanwhile, the Lottery Commission yesterday approved two new playing options for the football betting game.
Currently, wagers must be placed on a minimum of four NFL games, but the commission approved a rule allowing teams to select selected for a player to win.
Also approved was a new playing option based solely on the Monday Night football game. It would require players to pick the outcome of the game based on the point spread, plus an over-under pick on total points in each half.
Michael Roxborough, the Las Vegas oddsmaker who sets the point spreads for the Oregon game, will determine a certain number of total points for each half of the Monday night game. Bettors would pick whether the two teams will total more or fewer points than Roxborough predicted.
This fall, the Oregon Lottery became the first in the nation to offer a betting game tied to the outcome of National Football League contests.
Davey say he thinks the NFL and the NBA are behind legislation in Congress to prohibit state lotteries on professional sporting events.
For example, if Roxbode sets the point total as 20 for the first half and the teams score 21, those who bet on the first half would be correct.
Davey disputed that argument, and said he planned to confer with Oregon Gov. Neil Goldschmidt about the measures he effort to try to defeat the measure.
DeConciñ said a game such as Sports Action violated the intent of trust in the contract.
To win, the over-under picks for both halves and the game itself would have to be selected correctly.
KU sophomore adjusts to position of fullback
By Gene King Kansan sportswriter
He was sitting on the table getting his ankles taped for practice Oct. 23 like he does everyday.
"Coach Adamle came in and said, 'You're going to be starting this week at fullback.'" Douglas said. "Then he just walked away and looked back at me and started smiling. I didn't know what to think."
What sophomore Maurice Douglas didn't know was that when he was sitting there, he would go from backup tailback to starting fullback.
Vic Adamle, running back coach,
said he made the decision to switch
from Maurice Hooks to Maurice
Douglas before the coaches' meeting
Oct. 22, the week before the Kansas-
-Kansas-State game.
Douglas is 5-feet-10 and 185 pounds, not typical fullback dimensions.
"We wanted to give him a chance to show us what he could do." Adam said. "We needed to give him more playing time."
"I went in there and told them what I wanted to do." Adamle said.
Hooks started at fullback in six of the first seven games. He misled the start against Oklahoma because of John Henry, who played John Henry Johnson got the start.
As a backup tailback behind Tony
sand, he has carried the ball only
twice.
Before Saturday, Hooks had
advised his team second on the
team behind Saplin.
Adamle said he contemplated moving Douglas a couple of weeks earlier.
Douglas averaged more than 20 yards on kickoff returns. His longest return was a 67-yard run against Montana State.
He had been working hard at practice, Adamle said, and with a healthy Sands, Douglas' starting opportunities were limited.
He had also displayed his talent on Kansas' special teams, Adame said.
Sophomore Maurice Douglas dives for the ball trying to make a difficult catch
"He demonstrated that he deserved a chance to start," Adamle said.
As the starting fullback, in his first collegiate start, Douglas rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries in the 21-16 victory against K-State.
In the second quarter on a fourth- and one from the 5. Douglas got the call and picked up the first down. In the third quarter on a third-and-one. Douglas got the handoff and again made the first down.
"He did a pretty good job for us," Coach Glen Mason said.
"We had all the confidence in the world in him. The fullback is a good play in short-yardage situations." Adamle said. "We are pleased with the job he did, considering it was his first start."
Adamle agreed.
"He is not where he needs to be,
though." Adamle said.
Douglas needs to improve his feel for blocking, he said.
"How you run as a tailback is
“how you run as a howlful runs”
Andrew Morrison/KANSAN
Acâlem said. "As tailback, you run through the seats. But as tailback, you have to create your own seams." Douglas said he realized the areas
He has been a tailback "clear back to little league," Douglas said.
"Right now, I'm a tailback that knows how to block." Douglas said. "I guess I've got to become a full
back that knows how to run."
He has been a tailback "clear back
to little league, Douglas said.
But Douglas is still baffled about the decision that moved him into the starting fullback role.
"I'm not going to ask any questions," he said. "I'll do what ever is
best for the team."
Adamle said he expected Douglas would start this weekend against Oklahoma State.
"His attitude is very good. He will give you a great effort," Adamle said. "We know that he will give a 100 percent on every play."