4B
Wednesday, October 30,1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Albert Belle seeking higher salary
Cleveland outfielder's agent scheduled to talk with other clubs
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Despite all the numbers,
Albert Belle still comes with a disclaimer:
Buyer beware.
The statistics say he is the most valuable free agent of the off-season, maybe of the '00s. Still, there are questions about his attitude, his temper, his frequent transgressions involving fans, media, even teammates.
The controversial slugger filed for free agency Monday, the second day of the filing period, which lasts until Nov. 10.
Belle's agent, Arn Tellem, is scheduled to meet with the Cleveland Indians this week. Though Belle could just be using free agency as a bargaining chip against the Indians, Tellem said he expected to talk money with other clubs.
"At this point, our goal is to talk to the Indians and in two weeks talk to the other teams as well." Tellem said.
Belle, in the prime of his career at 30,
rejected a five-year, $38 million deal in March
that would have made him the second highest-
paid player in baseball after Ken Griffie Jr.
"The last time we really talked in great detail was a week into the season," Tellem said. "Everything's been an hold since then."
Indians general manager John Hart said he had known that Belle would test the free-agent market.
"We are looking forward to negotiating with Albert and his representative in the very near future in hopes of keeping him a member of the Cleveland Indians." Hart said.
In 1995, Belle became the first major league player in history with 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season, leading the Indians to their first AL pennant in 41 years. This year, Belle batted 311 with 48 home runs and 148 RBIs as the Indians repeated as AL Central champions.
From 1991-96, Belle led the majors with 234 homers. Barry Bonds, the last free agent with offensive numbers even close to Belle's, was second with 217 home runs.
Hart and Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove acknowledged this season that controversy about Belle's collision with Fernando Vina distracted the team.
ALLSPOR
There also were incidents in which Belle refused to give autographs to fans. And the record $50,000 fine Belle received for screaming at reporter Hannah Storm during last year's World Series carried into this season and coincided with Belle's decision to stop talking to the media.
For every good statistic about Belle (.538 with the bases loaded this season, AL RBI leader for the second year in a row), there is a bad one to match. The most telling one concerns Belle's suspensions: five in six seasons.
Tellem was not ready to reveal the short list of teams Belle would like to play for.
"I don't think we really can say at this point until we hear back what the Indians' position is." Tellem said.
The Indians started preparing for this back in July, when they traded Eddie Murray and Carlos Baerga. Eric Plunk, a relief pitcher, also is a potential free agent.
Albert Belle, Cleveland Indians outfielder, filed for free agency Monday. Belle rejected a five-year $38 million contract in March. His agent is scheduled to meet with the Indians this week.
Redskins quarterback treats his offense to dinner
The Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. — Gus Frerote, who makes the minimum NFL salary, happily is learning that winning can cost a lot of money.
For the past seven weeks, the Washington Redskins quarterback has taken the entire offense — including the 300-pound linemen — and their guests out to dinner at a local restaurant every Monday night.
"We lose, we don't eat out," said Frerotte, who'll undoubtedly get a huge raise to help foot the bill when his contract expires in January. "I don't think they expected us to come back seven weeks in a row."
Frerotte handles the check alone on Monday, but everyone has been chipping
in on game days. Eight players caught passes in Sunday's 31-16 victory against Indianapolis, a rearranged offensive line allowed one sack, and Terry Allen ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns as he continues on a pace of historical proportions.
"He's maybe one of the easiest guys in the league to block for, because you know he's going to give 110 percent," lineman Joe Patton said of Allen. "This guy has speed, not quick speed, not real burner speed. But this guy can run away from you. Terry takes a lot of hits during a game, too."
Allen has rushed for 13 touchdowns and is on a pace that would break Emmitt Smith's record of 25 in a season. He is the first player in 11 years to have back-to-
back games with three rushing touchdowns. He has rushed for 803 yards and, barring injury, should obliterate John Riggins' club record of 1,347.
"That's been a trademark of this organization for an awful long time," coach Norv Turner said. "You go back to the real good Redskins teams and, shoot, the one thing you knew, you're going to run the football. And Terry Allen gives us that opportunity, and it carries over to every other player."
They're going to block a little bit harder because there's a guy back there that's going to bust his tail every single time he touches the ball."
credit with the tight ends and offensive line, who survived the absence of guard Tre Johnson to blow the Colts off the line of scrimmage. Rookie backup Shar Pourdanesh took Johnson's place.
So Allen, who received treatment for a mildly sprained wrist Monday, must share
"A year ago, when we lost Tre Johnson, our running game came to a screeching halt," Turner said. "This year, when we lose Tre Johnson, we move Joe Patton to guard, Shar goes in and we rush for over 200 yards."
The Redskins (7-1) have been averaging 28 points in the last six games of their seven-game winning streak.
Halfway through the season, they have already exceeded last year's victory total. Yet, they are perhaps the quietest 7-1 team ever.
Harding revives elderly woman at bar in Oregon
The Associated Press
PORTLAND. Ore. — Tonya Harding credits God for persuading her to stop at a neighborhood tavern to play video poker.
Alice Olson credits the bad girl of figure skating for saving her life.
The deposed U.S. figure skating champion, reviled for her role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, used mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive Olson, 81, after the elderly woman collapsed while playing video poker.
"She was breathing a little, and then all of a sudden it was gone." Harding said.
Harding and her godmother, Linda Lewis, had just arrived at the bar Sunday afternoon when Olson tumbled from her stool onto the floor.
While Lewis started to give CPR, Harding called 911 on her cellular phone. Then Harding took over for Lewis in the resuscitation effort.
"It was very, very scary," Harding said. "I kept my calm and cool and knew what I was doing. I had to do this. I thank God that I was there. Nobody else in the bar knew what to do. This lady was literally dead for probably two minutes."
Kim Ip, owner of the Lost and Found Saloon where the incident occurred, confirmed Harding's version of events.
"The lady came to in a couple of minutes," Ip said. "I'm grateful that Tona was here."
Harding comforted the woman until paramedics arrived. In said.
"Once we got her back and I had her head in one hand and her hand in the other and was talking to her and trying to make her smile," Harding said. "I said, 'So, have you ever been kissed by a woman before?' She said she hadn't and I said, 'Well, I guess there's a first time for everything.'"
Olson, who suffers from heart problems and diabetes, was hospitalized overnight and released on Monday.
Hospital officials said that Olson's aliments really wasn't life-threatening and that she would have come to on her own. But they still credited Harding for doing the right thing.
Harding said she and Lewis were on their way to Harding's nearby home when they decided to stop at the bar.
"I really believe that God had me there for a reason, because we weren't going to stop because I'm trying to sell my house and somebody was going to come look at it and I had to get home to clean it," Harding said.
Harding said she remembered CPR from a class she took in school.
"I passed the course at the top of my class," she said.