FAMILIAR FACES MAKE THEIR PICKS.(Sports) - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

It's time again for that annual gridiron spectacle - no, not the Super Bowl, but the Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll. Personalities from the worlds of entertainment, politics, and sports make their picks for Sunday's game between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR, legendary actress: I'm for the Rams because I once had a boyfriend who played for the Rams, Glenn Davis, one of the greats who was an All-American when he played at West Point.

FAITH HILL, country singer, will sing National Anthem at Super Bowl, has been at all three of the Titans playoffs games and picked Tennessee to win each time. She also sang the national anthem at the first Titans' preseason game this year: Tennessee, 34-27.

STAN MUSIAL, legendary St. Louis Cardinals Hall-of-Famer: I'm picking the Rams. I've gone to several of the games. It's my hometown team.

BOB COSTAS, sportscaster who lives in St. Louis: Rams by a field goal in a high-scoring game.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-Ariz., presidential candidate: St. Louis, because it's been a great comeback story for Dick Vermeil and all those other schmaltzy reasons. I'm an eternal optimist and maybe the Arizona Cardinals will do it sometime this century.

BILL BRADLEY, Democratic presidential candidate who grew up 30 miles from St. Louis: When asked for a prediction, he looked at the reporter and walked away.

GREGORY PECK, screen legend: I believe the Rams will take it. Once I lived in St. Louis, and in spite of the fact that Georgia Frontiere took the Rams away from L.A., I guess I'll go for them out of some maybe misplaced loyalty to a town.

SAMMY BAUGH, NFL legend: The Titans because I used to coach for the Houston Oilers.

JOHN ELWAY, NFL legend: I'm an AFC guy. Go Tennessee.

MICHAEL JORDAN, NBA legend: Whoever scores first will win.

JOHN WOODEN, legendary UCLA basketball coach: You know if I ever thought a game was a tossup, this is it. Because of my acquaintance and friendship with Dick Vermeil, I'm pulling for the Rams. But I'm worried. I'm afraid it's going to be the Titans. Both teams defensively are very strong, but I don't think it will be 11-6.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, III, son of the slain civil rights leader and president of the Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference: I would like to see Tennessee win because I'm fond of (Steve) McNair. I was hoping to see the Falcons. I was hoping they would break history: No team that has ever hosted the Super Bowl has ever been in it.

SEN. FRED THOMPSON, R-Tenn.: I was embarrassed that I only picked the Titans to beat the Jaguars by 3. This time I'm predicting a 24-17 Titans win. And I need a ticket.

HALEY JOEL OSMENT, child actor, ``The Sixth Sense'': The Rams. They've shown through excellent play execution on both sides of the ball that they have what it takes to win. The stats also affect my choice. The Rams have the lowest penalty average, and all their players' stats are top notch. The Titans just can't cut it against a team like that. Sorry, Nashville, maybe next year. Rams by 14.

GENIE EASY, astrologer with Astronet.com: We're pretty much going with Tennessee. We believe they will be more much emotionally empowered, especially Steve McNair. We believe it will go into overtime. Tennessee and McNair are astrologically in better position to make the adjustments because of the sun connecting with Uranus.

GEORGE TENET, CIA Director: Tennessee Titans. The reason for the pick and the point spread are secret.

PETER KRAUSE, actor, Casey on ``Sports Night'': I'm pulling for the Titans. I like the underdog.

DAN REEVES, Atlanta Falcons coach: St. Louis 20, Tennessee 17. The Rams have too much speed, and you can't scheme against speed.

DAN ISSEL, Denver Nuggets coach: `I'd like to see the Rams win, only because I can't imagine how much (coach) Dick Vermeil will cry if he wins the whole thing. I like that kind of stuff.

MERV GRIFFIN, entertainer/producer: Does this mean if the Rams win, they'll come back to L.A.? Tennessee by a touchdown.

GOLDBERG, WCW pro wrestling superstar and former NFL player: Rams.

CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW, WNBA star: Tennessee all the way! Jevon Kearse is a great defensive player and I like Eddie George, they're my two favorite football players. I'm a big fan of Jevon Kearse, I think he's going to be great, he's going to be the next Lawrence Taylor. And Eddie George is just a good running back. I think Tennessee, once Steve McNair came back and started getting back into the flow, they started getting better.

DICK SCHULTZ, executive director, U.S. Olympic Committee: Even though I will be pulling for Dick Vermeil and the Rams for their great comeback this year, I am going to pick the Titans. They are obviously a team of destiny and they are really playing very well right now. I think they have better balance. However I think this has the potential of being one of the better Super Bowl games.

DICK SCHAAP, sportscaster and author: I love the fact that a quarterback from Northern Iowa (the Rams' Warner) is going head-to-head with a quarterback from Alcorn State (McNair). But I go with Northern Iowa.

JOE FRAZIER, former heavyweight boxing champ: I love the Rams because they are a small piece of leather well put together. Dick Vermeil remembered my career very well when he came to play Philadelphia and said I was an inspiration to him. I'll remember that and root for him.

BOB DENVER, actor, Gilligan on ``Gilligan's Island'': I don't know. I watched both playoffs. I thought the Rams were going to run over (Tampa Bay), but they just barely made it. The announcers, I love when they have to eat crow. I'll probably go with St. Louis. I think Vermeil has just probably got them wired, I think since he brought them from nowhere.

AL LEWIS, actor/politician, Grandpa Munster on ``the Munsters'': The Winner: St. Louis. Coach of the Year: Dick Vermeil. No question about it.

AL FRANKEN, author/performer: Boy, I don't know. I'm a Vikings fan. I guess I'll go with the Rams, the team that beat my team. That way it makes us look less bad. Think how bad Miami is.

ROBERT STACK, actor: The Rams, 21-0. We're neighbors of Georgia Frontiere.

DONNA SHALAHA, secretary of Health and Human Services: She demurs that she hasn't followed the Titans and Rams closely enough this season to make a Super Bowl call, but forecasts ``the Cleveland Browns will take it next year.''

3 top list of likely No. 1 picks.(Sports) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Byline: DENNIS WASZAK JR.

By Dennis Waszak Jr.

The Associated Press

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays know exactly who they want to select with the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft.

Their top choice is Vanderbilt lefthander David Price. And Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters. And California high school third baseman Josh Vitters.

'I wish we had the first three picks in the draft,' Devil Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said. 'I'd like to have all three of these guys.'

And so would every other major league team. All three are considered can't-miss prospects in a draft filled with outstanding talent.

'I think it's deep,' said Kansas City scouting director Deric Ladnier, whose team selects second today. 'There are probably more high school players as a pool, quality high school players, than there are college players.'

Baseball fans will be able to watch the first round of the draft on television for the first time . The opening round will be broadcast on ESPN2 from the event's site at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., and the network will provide analysis of other picks from subsequent rounds. In previous years, the draft was held exclusively by conference call.

Tampa Bay will pick No. 1 for the third time , and first since selecting outfielder Delmon Young in 2003.

'The biggest thing for us is we're going to take who we believe to be the best player in the country,' said Andrew Friedman, the Devil Rays' executive vice president of baseball operations. 'From that, we're going to try to sign him and get him into our system and get our player development folks on the same page and try to accomplish the things that we want them to accomplish.'

The Royals will pick after the Devil Rays, marking the third straight year they've had one of the first two selections.

'We're just looking at the best player,' said Ladnier, echoing Tampa Bay's strategy. 'We just want to take the best player we feel like is the best fit, the best talent, and go from there.'

The Chicago Cubs pick third, followed by Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, Milwaukee, Colorado, Arizona and San Francisco to round out the first 10.

Price has made scouts drool since his freshman year at Vanderbilt and he was the best pitcher in the nation this season as a junior. Many believe Tampa Bay will take the dominant 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefty with the first pick, and the Devil Rays certainly sound as though they'd like to have him in their rotation.

'We just think that he has everything we're looking for in a front-line major league starter,' Harrison said. 'He's big, he's strong, he's athletic, he's lefthanded. He has two-plus pitches and we believe that the changeup is not far behind.'

Others who could go in the first 30 picks include: Missouri State's Ross Detwiler, Clemson's Daniel Moskos, Rice's Joe Savery and Arkansas' Nick Schmidt.

If the Devil Rays opt for a position player, Wieters might be their guy. The 6-foot-5 switch-hitting catcher is considered an outstanding defender with a strong, accurate arm.

Vitters also excites teams with his compact, powerful swing. He hit .360 with nine HRs and 29 RBIs for Cypress High School - despite missing two weeks with pneumonia.

Other players who could go early: New Jersey high school righthander Rick Porcello, Lewis-Clark State third baseman Beau Mills, California high school infielder Mike Moustakas, Canadian righty Phillippe Aumont and North Carolina State righthander Andrew Brackman.

CAPTION(S):

dave martin [bar] the associated press

Christmas Sport: Mark Dye picks the highlights on TV.(Features) - The Mirror (London, England)

Byline: Mark Dye

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Indianapolis Colts v New York Jets Sunday, C5, 1.20am. Grid Iron action presented by Mark Webster.

CRICKET

India v England Saturday and Sunday, Sky Sports 2, 6am. Third Test from Bangalore.

World Cricket Centre Saturday, Sky Sports 2, 4pm and 10pm. Highlights of the day's play between India and England.

World Cricket Centre Sunday, Sky Sports 3, 3pm and 7pm. The final day's action between India and England.

Australia v South Africa Christmas Day to Friday, Sky Sports Extra, 12am. Coverage of the second test between Australia and South Africa.

World Cricket Centre Boxing Day, Sky Sports Extra, 3pm. Highlights of the first day between Australia and South Africa.

World Cricket Centre Thursday, Sky Sports Extra, 10am and 7pm. All the action from the Second Test between Australia and South Africa.

World Cricket Centre Friday, Sky Sports Extra, 3pm and 7pm. Highlights of Australia v South Africa.

FOOTBALL

Soccer AM Saturday, Sky Sports 1, 9am. Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain present the show for early rising football fans.

Gazzetta Football Italia Saturday, C4, 10am. James Richardson looks back at two rounds of Serie A action, including Fiorentina's clash with Juventus.

Derby County v Aston Villa Saturday, ITV Select, 11.30am. Coverage of this Midlands clash from Pride Park.

Gillette Soccer Saturday Saturday, Sky Sports 1, noon. Jeff Stelling and studio guests analyse the football action as it happens.

Football Focus Saturday, BBC1, noon. Ray Stubbs looks ahead to a mouthwateringly busy Christmas football programme.

On The Ball Saturday, ITV1, 12.30pm. Gabby Logan with the weekly round- up.

The Goal Rush Saturday, ITV1, 4.20pm. Soccer round-up.

Aberdeen v Celtic Saturday, Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm. Celtic visit Pittodrie to try and extend their runaway lead at the top of the SPL.

Spanish Football Saturday, Sky Sports 1, 8pm. Live action from La Primera Liga.

The Premiership Saturday, ITV1, 10.30pm (repeated Sunday at 9.25am). All the day's goals and action, with Des Lynam.

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers Sunday, ITV Select, 1.30pm. Premiership newcomers Bolton travel to big-spending Chelsea. Live.

Liverpool v Arsenal Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 3pm. See Pick Of The Week.

Coventry City v Bradford City Sunday, ITV Sport, 6pm. Live First Division action from Highfield Road.

Spanish Football Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 6.30pm. Live action from La Primera Liga.

Soccer AM Xmas Special Christmas Eve, Sky Sports 1, 8.30am. Presented by Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain.

Football Special: Sven's England Christmas Eve, Sky Sports 1, 11am. A look back at how Sven Goran Eriksson has transformed the fortunes of the England team, securing qualification for next year's World Cup finals.

Arsenal v Chelsea Boxing Day, Sky Sports 1, 11am. Passionate London derby, live from Highbury.

Everton v Manchester United Boxing Day, ITV Select, 2.30pm. United go in search of three much-needed points at Goodison Park.

Gillette Soccer Special Boxing Day, Sky Sports 1, 2.30pm. Keep track of the action as it happens with Jeff Stelling and guests.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Preston North End Boxing Day, ITV Sport, 5pm. Coverage of the crucial Division One match at Molineux.

Hibernian v Rangers Boxing Day, Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm. Rangers will need three points here if they are to maintain a challenge for the title. Live.

The Premiership Boxing Day, ITV1, 10.30pm. Des Lynam presents all the Premiership action.

GOLF

Times Morgan Fleming Golf Challenge Saturday, Sky Sports 3, 12.30pm. The final from La Manga.

HORSE RACING

The Morning Line Saturday, C4, 9am. Racing news and turf tips and a look ahead at the day's action.

Racing From Ascot Saturday, BBC1, 1.20pm. Presented by Clare Balding.

Racing From Warwick And Uttoxeter Saturday, C4, 2pm. Live races presented by Derek Thompson and Mike Cattermole.

Racing From Kempton Park And Wetherby Boxing Day, C4, 12.30pm. Alastair Down presents the traditional Boxing Day spectacular, the Pertemps King George VI Chase.

Racing From Kempton Park And Wembley Thursday, C4, 1pm. A five-race card hosted by Alastair Down.

RUGBY UNION

Harlequins v Leicester Saturday, Sky Sports 2, 1.30pm. Live action from the Zurich Premiership.

Bath v Bristol Saturday, Sky Sports 3, 1.30pm. Live action from the Recreation Ground as these local rivals fight for the play-offs.

PICK OF THE WEEK

LIVERPOOL v ARSENAL Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 3pm.

TODAY'S PICKS.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

TIM FARKAS Sports editor (2-0, 156-108-1) The Raiders have experience and star power: league MVP Rich Gannon, the greatest receiver of all time in Jerry Rice, his not-too-shabby sidekick Tim Brown, and Super Bowl savvy linebacker Bill Romanowski. The Bucs have the NFL's best coach (Jon Gruden), a clutch fullback (Mike Alstott), and a loudmouth-but-talented defensive lineman (Warren Sapp). But experience and the Raiders' mystique will be the difference. Pick: Raiders STEVE CAMPBELL Columnist (1-1, 175-89-1) Cover your eyes, America. Raiders will cover the spread, sending the silver and black, the toothless and tattooed, into celebration. Don't believe all the things you've been hearing about parity in the NFL. The best teams in the NFC are no match for the best in the AFC. The Raiders are the best in the AFC, which makes them the best anywhere. Pick: Raiders PETE DOUGHERTY Columnist (1-1, 151-113-1) This has the feel of the Super Bowl from two years ago, when a one-dimensional Ravens team smashed the Giants. The Raiders appear to be the better team, but the Buccaneers are good where it counts -- on defense. Pick: Buccaneers LISA STEVENS Copy editor (1-1, 170-94-1) How to choose between the league's No. 1 offense (and MVP Rich Gannon) in Oakland and the No. 1 defense (and defensive MVP Derrick Brooks) in Tampa Bay? The Bucs have loads of ex-Giants -- a good thing in my True Blue mind. The Raiders have loads of experience -- a better thing. So, Gannon, Rice, Brown, Woodson, Romo ... Pick: Raiders DOUG SHERMAN WRGB, Ch. 6 (1-1, 162-102-1) The Raiders will win this year's Super Bowl. I think Tampa Bay has already achieved its goal. Where the Raiders, with their veteran cast of characters and future Hall of Famers, are primed to win it all. Plus, Oakland was the team I rooted for as a kid. How can I go against that? Pick: Raiders DAN MURPHY WTEN, Ch. 10 (1-1, 160-104-1) We had a disappointing season (being unable to defend last year's co-championship), but we'll finish with a bang. The Eagles made the Bucs look dominant last week. They aren't. Oakland is bigger and badder on both lines and has more than enough weapons to shred the Tampa ``D.'' The ``real'' Brad Johnson will stand up and get knocked down. MVP: Charlie Garner. Pick: Raiders RODGER WYLAND WNYT, Ch. 13 (1-1, 165-99-1) Tampa Bay's defense is clearly the best in the league, and in this game defense will beat the best offense. The Bucs will control the Raiders offense. Count on a low-scoring game. Pick: Buccaneers RICH BECKER WXXA, Ch. 23 (2-0, 157-107-1) After poring over stats comparing the interception-hungry Bucs' defense against the Raiders' passing game, the power attack of the Bucs vs. the Raiders' front four, and many other strategic areas usually reserved for NFL Films, I said the heck with it, scooped a bowl of ice cream and flipped a coin. Pick: Buccaneers

Speak Up! Bailey, Mobley, Wilson among best No. 1 picks.(Sports) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: Sam Adams, Rocky Mountain News

Yahoo Sports released a list of 'Best No. 1 Picks All-Time' in the NFL. Charles Robinson presented a list of the top first-round picks, from one to 32, since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, who was picked No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1983, was selected as the best No. 1 pick overall. Fellow Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor (1981) and Barry Sanders (1989) were picked as the best No. 2 and No. 3 overall selections. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey was selected as the best seventh pick overall (1999 by the Washington Redskins).

Former Broncos linebacker Al Wilson made the list as the best pick at No. 31. Receiver Jerry Rice, who announced his retirement as a member of the Broncos in 2005, is the best pick at No. 16.

Former Broncos linebacker John Mobley was tabbed the best pick at No. 15. No disrespect, but Mobley wasn't the best 15th pick overall in Broncos history - how about Dennis Smith at No. 15 in 1981? Smith went to six Pro Bowls and played in three Super Bowls during his 14-year career. Mobley played on the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl winning teams but never was elected to a Pro Bowl. . . .

Former Major League Baseball player/manager Dusty Baker is the celebrity guest for Volunteer of America's benefit Legends Golf Tournament, Aug. 9 at Sanctuary Golf Course. Call Denise Robert (pronounced Ro-bear) at 303-368-5208 for registration information . . . . Former Denver-area hoopsters-turned-comedians Jon Laster (Denver East High and Colorado State) and Shedrick Garrett (Montbello High and Northern Colorado) will be on stage for a night of laughs at the Holiday Inn-DIA on Saturday (15500 E. 40th Ave.). Call 303-918-0915 or 303-503-9408 for more information. . . . If the Rockies played with a 'we don't want to get swept' mentality every game - see Wednesday's 11-5 win over the New York Mets - the haters in town might back off.

* Register to Speak Up! on these topics and others at Rocky MountainNews. com/sports.

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MEDIA PICKS.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Bill Callen

Executive sports editor

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 148-118 (.556).

First, let's do away with the notion that this game rests on Rex Grossman. The conventional wisdom is that as Grossman goes, so go the Bears. But unless Grossman plays the game of his life, the Bears are overmatched. Any of the AFC's top four seeds would've been a heavy favorite, and I'd be shocked if the Colts fail to deliver on those expectations. Pick: Colts

Pete Dougherty

Staff writer

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 148-118 (.556).

Johnny Unitas, Fran Tarkenton, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly never won Super Bowls. Jeff Hostetler, Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson did. It's not always about the quarterbacks; it's usually about the defense. As long as Rex Grossman doesn't give the game away, the Bears can stay with Peyton Manning and the Colts. Pick: Bears

Lisa Stevens

Copy editor

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 155-111 (.583)

It's time for nice guys to finish first. Tony Dungy proved against New England he can change plans, and with Peyton Manning finally shedding the 'big game loser' tag, look for a 49ers-like offensive show. Indy's defense is playing rabid football, and Chicago's Rex Grossman has been too inconsistent. Pick: Colts

Doug Sherman

WRGB-6 sports director

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 153-113 (.575).

More than any other NFL team, the Colts boast five former Syracuse stars on their roster. So for Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney, Josh Thomas, Ryan LaCasse and James Mungro (injured reserve), I pick the Indianapolis Orange to crush the Bears. Pick: Colts

Joe Calderone

Capital News 9 sports anchor

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 155-111 (.583)

I'm a big 49ers fan, and when Indy beat New England it reminded me of the 1990s rivalry between San Francisco and Dallas. For two seasons the 49ers just couldn't match up against the Cowboys. It was a huge monkey on the back of Steve Young. Once the Niners beat the 'Boys in the '94-95 NFC title game, the pressure was off, and they dominated the Chargers in the Super Bowl. I think it's the same thing here with Peyton Manning. Pick: Colts

Brian Sinkoff

WTEN-10 sports director

Conference championships: 0-2

Season record: 157-109 (.590).

Defense wins championships! Don't you just hate those cliches? Anyway, Chicago's defense has gotten the Bears to the big dance or the big show or the big game. But it will be special teams that will give Chicago its first championship in 20 years. Return man Devin Hester is the best in the NFL, and he'll show you why. Pick: Bears

Rodger Wyland

WNYT-13 sports director

Conference championships: 1-1

Season record: 161-105 (.605).

Peyton Manning got one monkey off his back when the Colts won the AFC title. He will remove the other when Indianapolis beats the Bears. The Bears will keep it close. But in the end, Manning will win the MVP and get the ring he desperately needs. Pick: Colts

Rich Becker

WXXA-23 sports director

Conference championships: 0-2

Season record: 157-109 (.590).

Dilemma for Kenny ahead of big day Send sport@; Final pick is such a tough call.(Sport) - Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)

Byline: Reds legend

GETTING to Cup Finals might be every footballers' dream, but take it from me, Kenny Dalglish will have a nightmare decision to make ahead of Sunday's Wembley appearance.

Kenny has to decide who's going to run out at Wembley on Sunday - and even more agonisingly he has to choose who isn't.

I've been in that position when I took Tranmere to the Worthington Cup Final in 2000 and it's not a pleasant decision.

John Achterberg was the man I had to disappoint, when I told him Joe Murphy was getting the nod in goal.

I think he forgave me, eventually, but goalkeeper is probably about the only position Kenny won't have to think long and hard about on Sunday.

Pepe Reina will be the first name on the teamsheet, but after that Kenny has some serious thinking to do.

The two full-backs will probably be Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique, with Martin Kelly unfortunate to miss out - but the central defenders will be all about Jamie Carragher.

He's played in so many of the earlier rounds this season and has been such an inspiration for so many years - but he will have to wait to see if he gets the nod ahead of Agger and Skrtel. That's a tough, tough call for Kenny.

Steven Gerrard will be skipper and Craig Bellamy will definitely start on the left - but it's perm any one from three down the right, with Dirk Kuyt, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing all in contention, and a toss up between Jay Spearing and Charlie Adam for the other central midfield role.

But where I wouldn't expect Kenny to spend too long deliberating is up front.

For me Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez have to start.

Both are playing well, both had the confidence boost of a goal on Sunday and both are players Cardiff will have their hands full trying to contain.

The only stipulation I would make is that Luis has to be kept away from any penalty kicks!

He's had his chance now - twice - and fluffed them each time.

Stevie is our penalty taker - and if he's not on the pitch Dirk Kuyt and Charlie Adam can argue it out amongst themselves, but hopefully not as publicly as they did on Sunday, until Kenny stepped in and ordered Luis to take it.

I've been on the receiving end of one of those Kenny orders before - and I was delighted! He sent me on to take a penalty in my final match for Liverpool against Crystal Palace, and fortunately I put it away to sign off with a goal.

But we were winning 5-0 at the time. I wouldn't expect anything like that on Sunday at Wembley, just as I wouldn't expect Kenny to have an easy decision to make with his team selection for the weekend.

Good luck, Kenny!

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Second sport helps Metz pick college - Post-Tribune (IN)

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION

Metz(PHOTO)

Jeff Metz got a taste of football and just couldn't give it up.Metz, a standout goalkeeper for the Portage boys soccer team, punted for the first time last fall as a member of the Indians' football team. He enjoyed it so much he'll put on the pads next season and also continue his soccer career at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne.

'After the season, Coach (Craig Buzea) thought, if I worked on my technique, I could (kick) at the college level,' Metz said. 'When I was talking to St. Francis, they saw it on my resume and asked if I'd be interested.'

In choosing St. Francis, an NAIA school, Metz turned down Division I soccer programs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Eastern Illinois. But at those two schools, he would have been limited to just soccer.

It ultimately came down to St. Francis and IPFW. And the chance to play two sports was too much for Metz to turn down.

'It took a long time (to decide),' Metz said. 'It was probably the hardest decision I ever had to make, deciding what to do the next four years of my life.

'I had to tell St. Francis and IPFW I needed more time.'

Metz averaged about 34 yards per punt last season and said he may also take on some kicking duties at St. Francis.

In the goal for the soccer team, he was regarded the past two seasons as one of the area's best and helped the Indians advance to the Final Four last fall. In 23 matches, Metz allowed 23 goals, had eight shutouts and made 214 saves.

The St. Francis soccer team finished 15-5-1 last fall, while the football team went 10-2.

The Gridiron goes HOLLYWOOD: ; Daily Mail Sports staff picks best pigskin flicks - Charleston Daily Mail

EXTERIOR: Crowded stadium, daytime. Closeup: Quarterback's steelyeyes squinting into the hot sun, sweat trickling down his brow.

Grunt, heft, squeeze, thrust.

Closeup: Ball spiraling through the air. Cut to crowd waitingbreathlessly, mouths agape.

Dolly shot: Receiver catches ball, shakes defender, strides intoend zone for game-winning score. Crowd erupts.

Closeup: Scoreboard. Home team wins.

Hollywood reverts to the formula more than the Pythagorean.

The gutsy, game-winning, last-second play: The miracle run. TheHail Mary. The freak deflection.

The names, the faces, the times and places are the onlyalterations when football hits the big screen.

The hero is a pro quarterback-turned-convict. Or a gritty blue-collar Iron Belt high school kid trying to earn a scholarship. Or aterminally ill martyr. Or a mule.

Ever since Harold Lloyd's 1925 silent comedy classic 'TheFreshman,' directors and actors have been infatuated with capturingthe sport on film. They have mixed in women coaches, pass-catchingpooches and reincarnated Rams.

Here are the consensus choices of the Daily Mail Sports staff asthe genre's 10 greatest of all-time.

1. The Longest Yard (1974)

Directed by Robert Aldrich. Written by Albert S. Rudy, TracyKeenan Wynn. Starring Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, James Hampton.

Football player-turned-convict Paul Crewe (Reynolds) organizes ateam of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. His dilemmais that the Warden (Albert) asks him to throw the game in return foran early release - the same crime for which he's imprisoned, andwhich the other inmates won't let him live down.

The words 'Mean Machine' stitched across Reynolds' jersey capturethe setting for our landslide choice as the greatest football movieever. His seemingly never-ending last-play scramble - metaphors forhis mental ambivalence abounding - hasn't been matched in a quarter-century of knockoffs.

This film is equal parts drama, comedy and star vehicle forReynolds, a former Florida State letterman. The players cheat, butthey aren't hokey. Signing up real All-Pros can tend to add thatlegitimacy to a film. After all, what other picture allows us RayNitschke busting heads for Burt?

Watch for a young Bernadette Peters as Albert's secretary.

2. North Dallas Forty (1979)

Directed by Ted Kotcheff. Written by Peter Gent. Starring NickNolte, Mac Davis, Charles Durning.

A semi-fictional account of life as a pro football player,loosely based on Gent's time with the Dallas Cowboys. The 'BallFour' of football brought to the big screen.

Perhaps the most realistic, pro-style playing action of anymovie. Nolte stars as aging receiver Phillip Elliott, with Davis ashis free spirit buddy, quarterback Seth Maxwell. They make like theCowboys of Hollywood Henderson to Michael Irvin, keeping alive the'North' Dallas party reputation. Naturally, it all comes down to theBig Game.

3. Brian's Song (TV movie, 1971)

Directed by Buzz Kulik. Written by William Blinn, Gale Sayers, AlSilverman. Starring James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Shelley Fabares.

Gale Sayers (Williams) joins the Bears and is befriended by BrianPiccolo (Caan), an over-achieving running back. Although incompetition, and despite racial differences, they become roommateson the road and very close friends through Sayers' injury, withrehab aided by Piccolo. Later, they must deal with Piccolo'smalignant testicular cancer.

The tearjerker was breakout hit for producer Paul Junger Witt,who went on to huge sitcom fame. Some consider this the greatest TVmovie ever. Our staff voters agreed, heaping on the sentimentalityand the strong performances from Caan and Williams. (And in his pre-'My Two Dads' and 'Hang Time' days, Dick Butkus played himself.)

The story stands so strong because, with some touch-up, it's non-fiction. In fact, Sayers was slated to play himself until trainingcamp conflicted with filming. Being remade for TV this year.

4. All the Right Moves (1983)

Directed by Michael Chapman. Written by Michael Kane. StarringTom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson.

Sensitive study of headstrong high school football star StefDjordjevic (Cruise) who dreams of getting out of his small WesternPennsylvania steel town with a football scholarship. His equallyambitious coach (Nelson, installing himself as 'Coach') aims at acollege position, resulting in a clash which could crush theplayer's dreams.

Filmed in the Steel Belt town of Johnstown, Pa., where the sportis truly king, Cruise is in full teen heartthrob glory, released thesame year as 'Risky Business' and 'The Outsiders,' the trio of whichcemented his star status. Action and plot are credible as he triesto escape his father's future in the plant. Watch for Cruise tomention that one of his teammates accepted a scholarship to WestVirginia University.

5. Rudy (1993)

Directed by David Anspaugh. Written by Angelo Pizzo. StarringSean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Charles Dutton.

Rudy Ruettiger (Astin) only wanted to play football at NotreDame. However, his grades were low. The only thing lower was hisathletic ability. But his drive, spirit and heart prevailed inmaking his dreams come true.

The movie has the feel that helps its classic story of overcomingobstacles jump off the screen. Likely one of the few movies thatgrown men will admit can make them cry.

The real Rudy Ruettiger can be seen as a fan in the stands at theend of the movie. The crowd scenes were filmed at halftime of a realFighting Irish game against Boston College in 1992. You can seeEagle fans in the stands.

6. Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Directed by Warren Beatty, Buck Henry. Written by Harry Segall,Elaine May. Starring Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, JackWarden, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon.

Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is preparing to lead the Los Angeles Ramsto the Super Bowl when he's in an accident. But an eager angelplucks him to heaven only to discover that he wasn't ready to die,and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, andthat of a recently murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife,accountant and murderers, are confused when he buys the Rams to playfor them.

Another tearjerker. A remake itself of 1941's 'Here Comes Mr.Jordan' (Joe was a boxer back then), 'Heaven' was remade last yearas 'Down To Earth'starring Chris Rock. He was a comedian named LanceBarton in that one.

It airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on ESPNClassic.

7. The Waterboy (1998)

Directed by Frank Coraci. Written by Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler.Starring Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler, Fairuza Balk, JerryReed.

Bobby Boucher (Sandler) is a dimwitted waterboy for a powerfulLouisiana college team. After being ridiculed by the redneck coach(Reed) and fired, he becomes the water technician at a nearby schoolwhere the football program is as disgusting as its water. When hisnew coach (Winkler) taps into Bobby's anger, Boucher becomes thebest linebacker ever. But he has to keep his gridiron career asecret from his overprotective mom (Bates).

It's silly, completely unbelievable and over the top. But it'salso very funny.

As with all of his films, Sandler uses a lot of his friends inthe movie. The climactic Bourbon Bowl game was filmed at theUniversity of Central Florida, and the crowd was moved around tomake it seem as if the stadium were full.

8. Remember The Titans (2000)

Directed by Boaz Yakin. Written by Gregory Allen Howard. StarringDenzel Washington, Will Patton.

Herman Boone (Washington) is hired as the first black coach atT.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., with racial tensionbecause of integration at an all-time high. Boone and former headcoach Bill Yoast (Patton) work together to make the black playersand white players come together as a team.

Based on a true story, the movie is sometimes overly sentimental.But the underlying message of unity makes it a winner. MarshallCoach Bob Pruett coached against T.C. Williams during his prepcoaching days.

9. Semi-Tough (1978)

Directed by Michael Ritchie. Written by Dan Jenkins, WalterBernstein, Ring Lardner Jr. Starring Burt Reynolds, KrisKristofferson, Jill Clayburgh.

Marvin 'Shake' Tiller (Kristofferson) and Billy Clyde Puckett(Reynolds) share their girlfriend 'B.J.' (Clayburgh). Along the way,the script, adopted from Jenkins' best-seller, mocks '70s self-helpand numbered-step programs ... as well as pro football.

Burt removes all doubt about his status as the movies' greatestfootball star with his second starring role in our top 10. Post-'Bandit' but pre-'Cannonball Run,' he shares screen time with theunlikely duo of Paul Hornung and Brian Dennehy. Oh, and Ed 'TooTall' Jones gives a much better performance than his later role in'Necessary Roughness.'

10. Any Given Sunday (1999)

Directed by Oliver Stone. Written by Daniel Pyne, John Logan.Starring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, JamesWoods, LLCool J.

Veteran Coach Tony D'Amato (Pacino) struggles with his personaland professional life while trying to hold his Miami Shark teamtogether. Star QB Cap Rooney (Quaid) has been knocked out and cockyWillie Beamen (Foxx) takes his place and becomes an instant star.Tony is in a constant battle with the team owner (Diaz) to keep theteam in Miami.

A rough look at modern pro football, it gets the typical Stoneover-the-top treatment.

CITY SPORT TODAY'S PICK WALL OF FAME - SPG honours cricketing heroes - Hindustan Times (New Delhi, India)

MUMBAI, Aug 6 -- IT WAS an occasion to honour the heroes of club cricket in the city. And former Test cricketer Sunil Gavaskar made a celebration of the biggest rivalry of them all while inaugurating the Shivaji Park Gymkhana's Wall of Fame on Sunday.

'This is the biggest win for Dadar Union (DU) that one of their members has been asked to inaugurate the SPG Wall of Fame,' joked Gavaskar, who played for DU and waged many cricketing battles with SPG.

The SPG Wall of Fame has been built at the entrance of the gymkhana and has photos and statistics of their players who have gone on to serve the country. There are 20 Test players, one ODI player and one Test umpire featured on the Wall.

Gavaskar suggested that SPG players Padmakar Shivalkar and Sudhakar Adhikari too should have found a place on the wall, even though they had not represented India.

'Both were as good as any Test player. I feel they deserve the honour and SPG should include them also in the Wall of Fame.' Recalling the days when the club rivalry was at its peak, Gavaskar said that the competition did not create animosity between the players. 'There were many players from the SPG in the Indian team and they were very cordial and helpful to me when we played together.' Former India skipper and SPG player Ajit Wadekar said: 'It is a very emotional moment for me that I have been featured on this wall. The feeling is very special because this club is where my cricketing journey began.

'Unfortunately, nowadays the club rivalry is almost dead because most of the players don't play for club honour but to get into the state team.' 'Also, I find that the younger generation switch their clubs and teams often. I hope this wall will inspire them to be loyal to their clubs.'

Sports Commentator Picks Super Bowl Contenders - NPR Morning Edition

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BOB EDWARDS, Host: The Super Bowl is still 10 days away, but the pro football action this weekend could be just as interesting. The two conference championship games on Sunday decide who plays in the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys for the National Conference title; in Buffalo, the Bills host quarterback Joe Montana and his Kansas City Chief in the American Conference championship game. Commentator and pro football player Tim Green says the Chiefs and Bills better get ready for more brutal weather.

TIM GREEN, Commentator: [on telephone] I was out last weekend doing some goose hunting before the Bills and the Raiders played, and I had mixed feelings because I thought to myself, `Well, it would be great to still be in the mix and be in the playoffs.' On the other hand, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have to play a football game in those frigid temperatures. I mean, I was covered from head to toe with just a little bit of space between my hat and my scarf that I could see out of. But, I don't think that the weather is gonna have the effect on Kansas City that it had on the Raiders last week because Kansas City, it's just as cold there, and they're used to playing outdoors on that frozen kind of turf. So I don't think it's gonna be quite the shock as it was for the boys from California, being the Raiders, last weekend.

EDWARDS: Well, these are both comeback teams. Maybe if you tuned in in the last quarter you'll see all the action.

GREEN: That's the truth. I mean, these guys both have put on great shows at the end. And when you look at the Bills, throughout the playoffs they never really panicked. This will be their four straight AFC championship this weekend, and throughout the playoffs they've just kind of had this air about them that, you know, they're always in control, almost like they have this destiny that can't be overturned by anyone else. And last weekend they held that confidence and brought themselves back at the end to win the game.

But I think when you talk about comebacks, I mean, I don't think Bill Clinton is the comeback kid, I think Joe Montana's the comeback kid. I mean, when you look at the way he has pulled things out, I almost get the feeling when I watch him that Joe Montana likes to let the other team get out ahead, you know, just to make it interesting, because he seems to just get this thrill out of having everything on the line, having to operate, you know, like a surgeon or like some kind of magician where he's just gonna pull things out of his hat at the end to win the game. He has done that so well for so many years that I think if I was on the Bills defense, and there was a minute left, and I saw Joe Montana trotting out on to the field, and I knew he was gonna be working down the field against me, I think I'd have this sinking feeling in my stomach, you know, like a gambler whose luck had run out.

EDWARDS: We should see a lot of running maybe in San Francisco and Dallas. You got Emmitt Smith and Ricky Watters.

GREEN: You know, you look at their offenses, both of them, and you just start going down the list. You start with Emmitt Smith for the Cowboys, and Watters for the 49ers, and you say, `Well, they can run, but they can catch too.' And their quarterbacks, you know, Troy Aikman and Steven Young, they can throw the ball, but they can run. The fullbacks, they can run and they can block, and they can catch. The tight ends, they can block like linemen, catch like wide receivers. The wide receivers catch, and then Rice for the 49ers and Irvin for the Dallas Cowboys, they'll run a reverse on you as well.

Then you got their offensive line. They're not only big, they're mean. And they can probably sing and dance as well. I don't think there's anything that these guys can't do. And when you face them defensively, you just have this kind of sense of being overwhelmed.

EDWARDS: Well, crawl out there on that limb. Who do you like?

GREEN: Oh, I like Kansas City and I like Dallas.

EDWARDS: The comments and predictions of Tim Green, a defensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, and author of the novel, Ruffians. This is NPR's Morning Edition.

[production credits]

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[The preceding text has been professionally transcribed. However, in order to meet rigid distribution and transmission deadlines, it has not been proofread against audiotape and cannot, for that reason, be guaranteed as to the accuracy of speakers' words or spelling.]

Fox Sports lullaby spot. (Pick of the Month).(controversial new ad features Mike Tyson)(Brief Article) - Creative Review

FROM CLIFF FREEMAN & PARTNERS, NEW YORK

The knockabout humour of Cliff Freeman's Fox Sports campaigns has won the agency many awards and huge acclaim over the past few years but some of that lustre looks to have been dulled by a recent spot featuring former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson. In the film, Tyson is seen cradling and singing a lullaby to a baby. John Kruk, presenter of Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period, then enters the bedroom with his wife: they are off out for the evening, Tyson is their babysitter. Cue endline to the effect that athletes will do anything to get on Kruk's show. The spot caused a huge, media-led, outcry in the US, so much so that Fox pulled it only three days after it aired. 'Using Tyson in this way was perhaps more provocative than anticipated,' a Fox spokesman was reported to have said. But, given Tyson's current status as bogeyman supreme, what on earth were they expecting? Written by Rob Carducci and Dan Kelleher. Directed by Hughes Brothers, Oil Factory, Hollywood

WESTLAKE'S TWO-SPORT STAR PICKS UP TOP AWARD.(NEWS) - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Westlake High School's Steve Aylsworth is known for his style - whether making acrobatic catches on the football field or fancy passes on the basketball court, he gets things done with a flair.

Aylsworth knows how to go out in style, as well. The graduating senior was honored as the Ventura County High School Male Athlete of the Year on Saturday at the County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at the Doubletree Hotel in Ventura.

The Female High School Athlete of the Year was Thousand Oaks High School's Kim Mortensen, whose distance running accomplishments this year were the best in the country. Mortensen is headed to UCLA next fall.

In college athletics, California Lutheran University's Mark Ellis was selected the Male Athlete of the Year. The junior from Camarillo won the NCAA Division III singles title this year and completed his season with a 33-0 record. The Female Athlete of the Year went to Ventura College basketball standout Marina Torres.

For Aylsworth, the award caps a brilliant four-year run at Westlake High School.

``It was really a nice surprise,'' said Aylsworth, who will attend Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., next year. ``It's like the ending mark for me, and it's a great way to end my high school career.

``It's probably the last award I'll get for what I've done in high school, but it's definitely the best one. Now I just hope to go on from here and do my best in college.''

Aylsworth, whom many consider one of the best athletes to come from the area in quite some time, was a two-sport star for the Warriors during a stellar four years.

In football, he was selected to the All-Southern Section team two years, and in basketball he made the All-Southern Section team a school-record three straight years.

His best sport? That's hard to say since he dominated equally in both.

Last season in football he started the year at quarterback, then moved to wide receiver after four games. At that position, he was better able to use his outstanding athletic ability. The Warriors, who finished in third place in the Marmonte League, turned it up a notch in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the Southern Section Division III semifinals, where they were beaten by cross-town rival Newbury Park.

Just a few days after that loss, Aylsworth was starring for Westlake's basketball team, which eventually won the Marmonte League championship for the second straight year. Incidentally, the two league titles were the first in school history. Aylsworth was a big factor in both championships.

He figures to step right in at Lehigh University, where he hopes to contribute right away on the football team as a slot back and punt returner. He should also get plenty of time at point guard as a freshman.

``I'll get an opportunity to play early, and that's a big reason I decided to go there,'' said Aylsworth, whose older brother Bob and father both attended Lehigh.

His brother was Lehigh's starting quarterback last year but has since graduated. That shouldn't affect Aylsworth's chances of touching the ball often, though. Lehigh threw the ball about 40 times a game last year.

``They've got a pro prospect coming back at running back,'' Aylsworth said. ``So they might run the ball a little more. But they still like to throw the ball and I'm looking forward to that.''

Aylsworth will leave for Lehigh sometime in early August. Between now and then he'd like to add more weight and get stronger. He's been working out in the weight room five days a week recently and added 10 pounds already.

WESTLAKE'S TWO-SPORT STAR PICKS UP TOP AWARD - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Westlake High School's Steve Aylsworth is known for his style -whether making acrobatic catches on the football field or fancypasses on the basketball court, he gets things done with a flair.

Aylsworth knows how to go out in style, as well. The graduatingsenior was honored as the Ventura County High School Male Athlete ofthe Year on Saturday at the County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony atthe Doubletree Hotel in Ventura.

The Female High School Athlete of the Year was Thousand OaksHigh School's Kim Mortensen, whose distance running accomplishmentsthis year were the best in the country. Mortensen is headed to UCLAnext fall.

In college athletics, California Lutheran University's MarkEllis was selected the Male Athlete of the Year. The junior fromCamarillo won the NCAA Division III singles title this year andcompleted his season with a 33-0 record. The Female Athlete of theYear went to Ventura College basketball standout Marina Torres.

For Aylsworth, the award caps a brilliant four-year run atWestlake High School.

'It was really a nice surprise,' said Aylsworth, who will attendLehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., next year. 'It's like theending mark for me, and it's a great way to end my high schoolcareer.

'It's probably the last award I'll get for what I've done inhigh school, but it's definitely the best one. Now I just hope to goon from here and do my best in college.'

Aylsworth, whom many consider one of the best athletes to comefrom the area in quite some time, was a two-sport star for theWarriors during a stellar four years.

In football, he was selected to the All-Southern Section teamtwo years, and in basketball he made the All-Southern Section team aschool-record three straight years.

His best sport? That's hard to say since he dominated equallyin both.

Last season in football he started the year at quarterback, thenmoved to wide receiver after four games. At that position, he wasbetter able to use his outstanding athletic ability. The Warriors,who finished in third place in the Marmonte League, turned it up anotch in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the SouthernSection Division III semifinals, where they were beaten by cross-townrival Newbury Park.

Just a few days after that loss, Aylsworth was starring forWestlake's basketball team, which eventually won the Marmonte Leaguechampionship for the second straight year. Incidentally, the twoleague titles were the first in school history. Aylsworth was a bigfactor in both championships.

He figures to step right in at Lehigh University, where he hopesto contribute right away on the football team as a slot back and puntreturner. He should also get plenty of time at point guard as afreshman.

'I'll get an opportunity to play early, and that's a big reasonI decided to go there,' said Aylsworth, whose older brother Bob andfather both attended Lehigh.

His brother was Lehigh's starting quarterback last year but hassince graduated. That shouldn't affect Aylsworth's chances oftouching the ball often, though. Lehigh threw the ball about 40times a game last year.

'They've got a pro prospect coming back at running back,'Aylsworth said. 'So they might run the ball a little more. But theystill like to throw the ball and I'm looking forward to that.'

Aylsworth will leave for Lehigh sometime in early August.Between now and then he'd like to add more weight and get stronger.He's been working out in the weight room five days a week recentlyand added 10 pounds already.

Edwards proves pundits wrong; Sports media pick driver for first; he finishes last.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: JAY HART The (Allentown, Pa.) Morning Call

Carl Edwards, the driver Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and ESPN The Magazine picked to win this year's title, finished dead last, but he wasn't the only big name to run into trouble.

Jeff Gordon (26th), Greg Biffle (31st) and Kurt Busch (38th) all found trouble in a race with 11 cautions.

'Guys just started getting anxious out there,' said Gordon, who won this race a year ago. 'I was a little bit anxious out there. I feel our deal could have been avoided - a lot of them could have been avoided.'

Edwards got the worst of it. His day ended on Lap 79 after Jeff Green got turned around. Kyle Petty slowed to avoid the wreck when Edwards slammed in the back of Petty.

'I should have been more worried about stopping my car than people from behind running into me, and I ended up being that guy that got Kyle,' said Edwards, who won four races last year, his first full season of Nextel Cup racing.

Gordon's day turned long when he traded paint with Tony Stewart less than 50 laps into the race.

-6

Some cheaters suffer: Last week, post-qualifying inspections found the No. 96 car to have an unapproved modification to the carburetor, thus disqualifying Terry Labonte's qualifying time. When asked about the incident, Troy Aikman, who along with Roger Staubach, owns the No. 96 car, said, 'There's a part of me that feels like we've caught up to this sport pretty quickly.'

Labonte, who qualified for the race as a past champion, finished 17th.

-6

Rookies' year: Clint Bowyer finished tops among the seven rookies in the field. Boyer wound up sixth. Martin Truex Jr. was next-best at 16th.

-6

Help for driver: Kirk Shelmerdine, who crew-chiefed for the late Dale Earnhardt in the 1980s, is a one-man team with no sponsor, no pit crew and no money for tires. He didn't find a sponsor, but he did find a pit crew and received a donation for the tires from a random family in the infield.

Earnhardt's former boss, Richard Childress, flew Shelmerdine's son, who had never been to Daytona, on his private plane. In turn, Shelmerdine put Childress Vineyard on the hood of his car.

Shelmerdine not only finished on the lead lap, but wound up 20th.

'We couldn't keep up with the other cars, but I guess we beat all the wrecked ones,' he said.

-6

Celebs in the house: Bon Jovi performed a three-song concert prior to the race. They were joined on stage by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. Fergie from the Blackeyed Peas sang the national anthem. Others celebrity sightings included Roger Clemens, Kid Rock in a Tony Stewart jersey, snowboarding gold medalist Hannah Teter and silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, Chipper Jones and Marcus Giles of the Atlanta Braves and actor James Caan, the Grand Marshal.

CAPTION(S):

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Unlike pro sports franchises, hunters pick up most of their tab.(SPORTS) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

A few weeks ago, you might recall, I jumped atop my Sunday newspaper soapbox and gnashed and gnawed over the increasing prices of non-resident hunting licenses compared with the fees a resident pays for the same privilege.

In case you forgot, the most outrageous case of fee-gouging is found in Montana, where a resident is guaranteed an elk hunting license for $16 while the same guarantee costs a non-resident a tidy $835.

My only reason for repeating this nauseous example of legalized tourist mugging is that the scenario has overtones to Minnesota's Great Stadium Debate of 1997.

Consider: In Minnesota, the Twins want the Legislature to finance a stadium while in Montana the Legislature wants the non-resident to finance the state's Fish and Wildlife Department.

As we're experiencing, this idea of having other publics pay the tab isn't exactly stable public policy. Minnesota might lose its Twins if the public says no stadium deal; Montana could lose its elk program if non-residents quit buying licenses.

Frankly, and I'll be honest, I'm not as concerned about losing a baseball team as I am about losing elk.

Let's switch a few words. What if it was Minnesota hunters (instead of the Twins) asking the Legislature for $250 million for wildlife habitat (instead of a stadium)?

Imagine the debate: Pay for your own wildlife habitat, we don't hunt! All hunters want are more targets! Rich hunters should buy their own habitat. There's enough wildlife weeds; we need more golf courses!

My only reason for creating this preposterous debate is to remind us that the policy of user-fees isn't so bad. America's wildlife achievements, which are the best in the world, are founded in the user-fee system. Most Americans don't know it but the abundance of wildlife all of us are enjoying these days hasn't cost the taxpayers much more than a dime.

Who picks up the wildlife tab? Hunters, mostly.

In state after state, wildlife programs are funded largely by dollars collected from licenses and taxes for hunters and anglers.

At the same token, most Americans say they want more wildlife but only pennies of general tax revenues are spent on critters.

In other words, it's a good thing hunters pay or there would be fewer critters.

Yet, this successful user-pay system is threatened and endangered today.

There are fewer hunters, which means fewer license sales.

Programs to introduce young people to hunting are inadequate or non-existent.

Wildlife agencies, including Minnesota's DNR, seem to be disinterested in bolstering the ranks of licensees. A case in point, the growing shortage of rifle ranges in the metro area. Every ethical deer hunter knows it's important to pre-check a firearm's accuracy. Are there any DNR shooting ranges to encourage hunter responsibility and attract new hunters? Nope. Just talk, no gunfire.

There's also a growing shortage of firearm safety courses. Why? Volunteer instructors no longer are able to use public school facilities to teach hunter firearm safety because Congress passed a law: No firearms in schools.

Just another gun control law with a lousy aim.

But these are not the greatest of threats to state wildlife budgets. There are others: Loss of private hunting land, animal rights protests, single-parent families and spreading urbanization are slowly changing wildlife economics.

Athletics: SPORTS WIRE - The Pick of the bunch.(Sport) - The Mirror (London, England)

CRAIG PICKERING opened the door to selection for the European Cup later this month after winning the 100m at a rain-soaked Norwich Union Grand Prix in Glasgow.

Pickering led from the start to record a personal best of 10.22secs ahead of favourite Mark Lewis-Francis, with Tyrone Edgar in third.

Golf: MONTY: I'M SICK OF RYDER PICKS.(Sport) - The Mirror (London, England)

Byline: TONY STENSON

COLIN MONTGOMERIE has urged Ryder Cup bosses: Don't make the captaincy race a job for the boys.

The Scot feels there is too much 'old school' in the selection for next Europe skipper and believes in one criterion: 'If you are good enough you get it.'

He wants an end to the cartel days of assistant managers being automatically appointed, as in the case of Mark James and then Sam Torrance. 'Americans pick the right man for the job. There's no 'he was No.2, so he should get it next time'. We should not have a bidding war. If egos get hurt then so be it.'

Welshman Ian Woosnam is favourite because he was Torrance's right-hand man last September.

Monty insisted: 'Best man gets the job. I am not comfortable with losers. If Ian, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer miss out, what happens then? Do they bid again? I am a white smoke kind of guy. Announce and move on.'

Monty spoke on the eve of his debut in the pounds 1.5million Wales Open at Newport's Celtic Manor.

'This is the 2010 venue for the Ryder Cup. It's in a marvellous part of Wales. Frankly, I have missed out on this course,' he said. The Scot's new caddie, Steve Rawlinson, will be with him this week.

'He's a real character and I think you'll see me smiling a little bit more than I have done on the golf course because he is funny,'' said Monty. 'I am looking forward to a week with Stevie.

'What keeps me on my toes? A little joke. Come out and see me.'

Defending champion Paul Lawrie has dropped out with a bad neck.

TV TIMES: Sky Sports 1 from 10.30am

CAPTION(S):

Des comes off bench with more questions of sport; BRIAN McIVER'S PICK OF THE DAY DAYTIME MOVIES.(Features) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

Byline: BRIAN McIVER

Sports Mastermind

BBC Two, 8.00pm

AT this time of year, we'll take anything going sports-wise, what with the quiet spell until the football kicks off again in earnest.

Des Lynam is the Magnus Magnussona-like who asks the tough questions of contestants brave enough to climb into the big black chair.

River City

BBC One Scotland, 8.00pm

AS Gina's family rally round her during Archie's court trial, the accused makes it clear he is indeed back to his usual old self and his alter ego Douglas has well and truly vanished.

Gina is furious and can't hide her contempt for Liz when she realises that she was in on the secret that her son's memory had returned.

As the verdict grows closer, it is clear that whatever the outcome, many bridges have been burned within this family.

Meanwhile, when Ruth realises that Nicki is looking for advice, she seizes the opportunity to poison the young girl's mind against not only Iona but also Zoe.

Britain's Missing Top Model

BBC Three, 9.00pm

THE seven remaining would-be models face their second assignment - a Fifties pin-up inspired photo shoot - as the search for Britain's Top Missing Model continues.

The girls, who are all disabled, are sent to find out how comfortable they are with their bodies.

Mentor Jonathan Phang asks them each to pick an outfit from an underwear shop and then pose in the window as real-life mannequins.

For some contestants, it would seem that the girls with a less visible disability appear to have an advantage over the others.

Imagine

BBC One, 10.35pm

THE death of director Anthony Minghella shocked the movie world. The creator of films such as Cold Mountain and The English Patient passed away at the age of 54 this year.

This special edition of Imagine looks back at his career and work, and features contributions from his actors and fellow directors including Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Ralph Fiennes.

LA Story

ITV2, 11.05pm

BEFORE watching this film, have someone hide your credit cards and unplug your internet connection, because after watching it you will have the uncontrollable urge to hop on the first plane to Los Angeles.

This is a beautiful, funny and intelligent comedy starring and written by Steve Martin.

It's basically a love letter to the Californian city.

Steve plays a whacky weatherman who falls in love with an English journalist (Martin's reallife wife Victoria Tennant) and enjoys an affair which brings out the best in him, and the city.

But there is so much more going on than just the romance, and you'll love this.

Sarah Jessica Parker plays a crazy young lover, back when she was actually young.

Escapade In Japan

BBC Two, 10.30am

ADVENTURE starring Teresa Wright. A six-year-old boy, stranded by a plane crash, embarks on a colourful journey across Japan, while his distraught parents wait to hear what has become of him.

The Ghost And Mrs Muir

Channel 4, 12.30pm

FANTASY starring Gene Tierney as a lonely widow who realises the spirit of a dead sea captain is haunting her new home, and gradually falls for his spectral charms. With Rex Harrison.

Love's Abiding Joy

Five, 3.15pm

THE fourth instalment of Janette Oke's best-selling series of books is brought to life in Michael Landon Jnr's Western about a couple who journey farther afield to locate a suitable home for their children. With Logan Bartholomew.

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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: THE SPORTS EDITOR'S PICKS.(VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Byline: LEE TOLLIVER

It's high school football time once again and with that comes the ever-popular task of predicting who is going to win the game.

Over the years, it has been surprising, almost shocking, the amount of attention paid to the picks made by those represented on these pages - reporters, guests - supposed experts and those who have no idea.

More comments are made on Friday nights about certain choices than are made about nearly everything else written on these pages.

People care, I guess, about who's supposed to win.

What they don't understand is that it's all speculation. Sure, one team should beat its opponent based on the talent and the past.

But it doesn't always go that way.

And one of the biggest reasons - and one often forgotten by both the media and the public - is that those playing high school football are still kids.

And kids often do, based simply on their youth, make mistakes.

Hey, this isn't pro football. And even with the NFL, predicting who is going to win is difficult at the least. So the fact that we're dealing with youngsters here makes it even more so.

Basically, these picks are for fun - a way to drum up interest. And it seems to work in those regards.

Last year saw a remarkable comeback for this reporter - a guy who won the prognostication contest between himself and his two peers way back when the Beach office had three writers. Since that victorious season, I slipped and slipped and slipped - even one year losing to the guests.

Well, last year saw me back at the top and hopefully that can continue. Last year I posted a pretty impressive 41-12 record through the Eastern Region championship.

There will be no guest this opening week, but we'll start that back up again next week when the schedule gets into full swing.

So with all that, here we go with the 1996 Beach District football season and the picks of the week:

Cox 21, Granby 20: The Falcons have the makings of bettering last year's 5-5 record. But the Comets could be pretty good this year as well. This one might just come down to the kicking game and Cox again has a good one.

Kellam 28, Great Bridge 0: Could it be? Another season-opening victory. Darned right. Kellam will field its best team in 10 years and the Wildcats don't have what it takes to stop the Knights - a team that is obviously on the upswing for the first time in a long time.

Maury 21, First Colonial 14: The Commodores are predicted to be pretty good this season, and while the Patriots should improve over last year, this will be a tough one to open the season on.

University sport: Queen's pick up two sport honours - Belfast Telegraph

There men's Gaelic Football Club won the Two Day Event Award fortheir running of the Sigerson Cup.

Queen's Seidokan Karate Club also picked up an award for the OneDay Event for the inter-varsities.

The awards took into consideration the amount of organisation ofthe events and the delivering of inter-collegiate programmes bystudent sports clubs across Ireland.

Cathy Gallagher, who is the Devolpment Manager of Queen's StudentSport said, 'Organising club sport at university provides studentswith invaluable personal skills which can be used for future careersor sporting goals.

Last year our university hosted a total of 10 inter- collegiateevents. We were represented in all three categories and aredelighted to have won two of the titles.'

This year's Sigerson Cup took place from March 1-3 and ruing thetwo days, Queen's also hosted the finals of the Trench Cup, the Cornna Mac Leinn and the Further Educations College Championships. Fiftyseven teams took part in the competions throughout the year.

This year the Queen's Men's Gaelic Football Football Club iscelebrating its 75th anniversary.

The chairperson, Miceal Finnegan said, 'When the University wasawarded the hosting rights for the Sigerson Cup, we put in placestructures and systems deliver the best event yet.

'We not only involved students from our own club, we also broughtin a group of committed and enthusiastic volunteers from other clubsaround Queen's.

'It was very much a student-led event and it showed everythingthat is great about sport at university level.

'I'm delighted that our hard work has been recognised with thisaward.'

Matthew Leebody from the Organising Committee of Queen's SeidokanKarate Club welcomed their achievement saying, 'Queen's have set newstandards for the karate Inter-Collegiate events in terms ofparticipation and delivery. It was challenging at times to balancethe organisational issues with our own preparation for participatingin the competion, but this is what is unique about student sport.'

THIRST ADES SPORTS DRINKS CAN'T PICK YOU UP IF YOU CAN'T GET THEM DOWN: A TASTE TEST - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

Let's talk sweat replacement. For most of us, tap or bottledwater rehydrates the body adequately and costs far less than anysports drink.

So the most important consideration in choosing a particularsports drink is not its carbohydrate source and sodium level, orits team endorsements or slick packaging. On the playing field ofsports beverages, taste is paramount.

If your current drink has you wondering from which nuclearplant it flowed, it is time to shop around. It's simple: The betterthe flavor, the more you will drink.

So we tasted every brand and flavor we could find fromsupermarkets and health-food stores -- a mission akin to, if notquite the equal of, cruel and unusual punishment. Salty Kool-Aidoften came to mind. And now and again we wondered as we sipped whydedicated athletes -- health nuts, right? -- would happily consumeso much artificial coloring.

But if you feel they work for you, here are our flavor findings:

All Sport Body Quencher: Pepsi wants you to know that its'body-quenching' All Sport has 33 percent more carbohydrates thanGatorade (most sports drinks do). Of all drinks sampled, only AllSport is slightly fizzy. No losers here: Orange, Fruit Punch, Grapeand Lemon-Lime have adequate fruit flavor and a clean finish.

Carbo Force: The 'power tools' made by American Body BuildingProducts have a dozen different names and formulas. But its CarboForce falls best into our lineup. We'll pass on Lemon-Lime. FruitPunch is a peach color instead of bright red -- we like that -- andthe flavor is right (it may be good with vodka). Of all orangeflavors tested, this has the most appeal.

Cytomax: Champion Nutrition wants you to 'beat the burn' withCytomax, a powder you mix with water, popular with bicycle racers.Tangy Orange reminds us of a watery version of Tang -- but theflavor fades quickly. Tropical Fruit is moderately sweet with alight cherry taste. Our favorite is Apple. It's pleasant and notoverly sugary.

Gatorade: The King of Sports Drinks, endorsed by the NFL, NBA,NHL, NASCAR and Major League Baseball, does not taste like 'oldsweat socks,' as so many have written. Fruit Punch reminds us ofHawaiian Punch diluted with water. Watermelon may be an acquiredtaste. But Lemon Ice is a refreshing, light lemonade with nounpleasant aftertaste. Citrus Cooler has a ripe-tangerine tang.

Powerade: The official sports drink of the Olympic Games is aCoca-Cola product with 'gulpability.' Fruit Punch is a dead ringerfor cherry cough drops. Orange and Lemon-Lime are watery withlittle fruit flavor. Grape is pleasant. Our favorite is blueMountain Blast. It's berry nice.

Powerzone: Ever hear of Km made by Matol? No Marin County,Calif., kitchen would be without a bottle of this New Age elixir of14 botanicals, used daily by believers as a 'balancer.' Matol'ssports drink, called Powerzone, is a powder that comes in just oneflavor, Fruit Punch. It's sweet and has a pleasant mixed-fruittaste. (Not sold in stores: Check the Yellow Pages under Health andDiet Food Products for a distributor near you.)

Recharge: Fruit-juice bottler R.W. Knudsen's 'thirst quencher'Recharge has 45 to 47 percent real fruit juice and no added sugar,preservatives, artificial color or flavoring -- the all-naturalniche. Lemon has a good citrus smell but tastes like lemons beyondtheir prime. Orange is no better. Tropical is the best of the trio,with a light mix of berries. All three have a salty aftertaste.

'Danny is good enough to pick up my relay baton' - Bath Chronicle, The

Danny Talbot will need to benefit from a revamped Team GB 4x100mrelay line-up if he is to follow in Jason Gardener's goldenfootsteps.

The Bath Bullet kicked off Britain's successful quartet in Athenseight years ago and now hopes to see fellow University of Bathtrainee Talbot bag Olympic glory in London - if he can force his wayinto the team.

The 21-year-old is not an established figure in the nationalrelay set-up and his failure to earn a place in an individual eventat the Games could also hamper his chances. Performances at therecent European Championships, however, could force the selectorsinto a rethink. Talbot won his first major medal by finishing thirdin the 200m in Helsinki, while the relay team of Christian Malcolm,Dwain Chambers, James Ellington and Mark Lewis-Francis failed to getthe baton around in their final.

'Danny's been doing well over the 200m, so he has to look at oneof the spots on the bend and you'd hope that the EuropeanChampionships would work in his favour,' said Gardener, who won goldalongside Lewis-Francis, Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish. 'Ayear ago Danny probably would not have expected this to happen andit was just a dream for him to be at London 2012 but he has gotgreat potential and has earned his place on merit.

'It will probably be difficult for Danny to make it into theteam, though, as the guys who are in the individual events have thechance to impress through the rounds.

'He has maybe run faster times than some of those guys this yearbut others have got the experience which counts for a lot.

'But he's got a great coach in Dan Cossins and I'm sure Dannywill go in with a professional attitude and do his all to impress.'

Team GB's selectors have plenty to pick from, with eight men allvying for a place. Young sprint sensation Adam Gemili looks certainto be among the chosen four, while Simeon Williamson and JamesDasalou are also in contention.

And although relay results have taken a backward step since hisheyday, 36-year-old Gardener still believes there is time for theBritish team to come good - whoever gets the nod on the startline.

'Whichever four the selectors pick will be the best people forthe job - they won't leave anything to chance,' said Gardener. 'Allof the guys who are in the squad will know their role within it andwill be working to get the best possible result for the team.

'The thing about our four in Athens was that we worked togetherfor so many years and we knew exactly what we were capable of.

'This is a relatively new team and they've had a few difficultiesbut which teams haven't? It's a global sport and they are competingright at the top level.'

Meanwhile, Talbot's coach also believes he stands a great chanceof being selected for tomorrow evening's relay heats. 'Training wentreally well in Portugal and the feedback I have got is that Danny'schange-overs in relay practice have been the fastest in the group,'said Cossins, who hails from Bathampton.

'Whether that will be the criteria by which they pick the teamfor the relay, I don't know. Obviously the 100m guys look in goodshape as they all reached the semi-finals so I guess it depends onwhat our 200m sprinters do.

'It will be interesting and exciting to see what happens and Ireally hope Danny gets a run in the team in the heats.

SANDY GORDON FORMER RAMAPO H.S. THREE-SPORT ALL-BERGEN COUNTY PICK Sandy Gordon has experienced the good side of college athletics. She earned a basketball scholarship at Manhattan College and spent t - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

JOHN MAYER, Correspondent
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
09-18-1993
SANDY GORDON FORMER RAMAPO H.S. THREE-SPORT ALL-BERGEN COUNTY PICK Sandy Gordon
has experienced the good side of college athletics. She earned a basketball
scholarship at Manhattan College and spent the past five years on the coaching
. . .
BY JOHN MAYER, Correspondent
Date: 09-18-1993, Saturday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Two Star B, Two Star P, One Star
Column: WHERE'S WHAT'S-HER-NAME

SANDY GORDON
FORMER RAMAPO H.S. THREE-SPORT ALL-BERGEN COUNTY PICK

Sandy Gordon has experienced the good side of college athletics.
She earned a basketball scholarship at Manhattan College and spent the
past five years on the coaching staff at St. Bonaventure University.

Gordon, 27, a native of Franklin Lakes, recently experienced the
negative side of college athletics. She wasn't rehired for the 1993-94
season as an assistant women's basketball coach and was not considered
for the vacant head coaching job.

'We recently got a new athletic director and he wanted his own
people,' said Gordon, who has remained in Olean, N.Y., while
job-hunting. 'I was hired by the former coach and wasn't even given
consideration to stay on.'

Gordon first went to St. Bonaventure as a graduate assistant. She
spent two years in that capacity while she earned a master's degree in
education. She was made a full-time assistant in 1990 by Mary Jane
Telford, who, Gordon said, was forced to resign this spring after 17
years at the helm.

'It's disappointing because we definitely had things going in the
right direction,' said Gordon, a 1984 graduate of Ramapo High School.
'Two years ago, we had 16 wins, the most in the history of the
program.'

Telford has decided to stay in the upstate New York area even
without a job. Gordon said it is likely she will head back to her New
Jersey roots sometime next month while she continues to look for
employment.

'I'm pretty much leaving all my options open at this point, but I
would like to coach again on the college level,' Gordon said. 'I've had
several offers but none that I thought were advantageous.'

Gordon was a finalist for an assistant's job at Rutgers University.

'It's doubtful that I'll get something this late, and I'm not sure
if I want to wait till next March or April, when jobs start opening up
again,' Gordon said. 'Maybe I'll make use of my physical education
degree and teach.'

Gordon would certainly be a high school athletic director's dream.
She has a solid coaching background and was an outstanding all-around
athlete. As a high school senior, Gordon was a first-team All-Bergen
selection in soccer, basketball, and softball, only one of a handful to
achieve the three-sport feat.

'I always liked soccer, but basketball was my favorite and, at the
time, that is where my best opportunity for scholarship money was,'
Gordon said of selecting Manhattan College.

She wound up as the school's all-time assist leader with both the
single-season and career marks. In her junior year, the Jaspers captured
a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and an NCAA tournament bid.

Gordon said she still plays basketball occasionally and even
participated in the newly formed summer league in Maywood. She also used
the time off to take up golf and to get back into running, a passion
that inspired her to complete the New York City Marathon three years
ago.

Illustrations/Photos: PHOTO - Sandy Gordon, who was not rehired as assistant
women's basketball coach at St. Bonaventure, is looking for another college
job.

Keywords: BASKETBALL. COLLEGE. WOMAN. COACH

Copyright 1993 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

Madison firm gets stadium job; Hammes Co., the sports authority's pick to oversee construction of Vikings stadium, served similar role in other NFL stadium projects.(NEWS) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

Byline: RICHARD MERYHEW; STAFF WRITER

So much for border battles.

The public board teaming with the Minnesota Vikings to build a nearly $1 billion downtown Minneapolis stadium turned to a Wisconsin firm Friday to bird-dog construction.

Hammes Co., based in Madison, was selected by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority from more than a dozen applicants to serve as the authority's owner's representative on the project.

In that role, Hammes will help oversee project design and development, making sure the authority's -- and the public's -- best interests are represented at every turn.

Hammes has served a similar role in the construction or renovation of several NFL stadiums over the past decade, including the $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which opened in 2010 as the home for the New York Giants and New York Jets.

The firm also was involved in the $430 million Ford Field development in Detroit, home of the Detroit Lions, and the expansion and renovation of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, home of the Green Bay Packers.

Hammes has pledged to commit 45,000 work hours to the Minneapolis project at a cost not to exceed $7.8 million.

Scott Stenman, who was Hammes' point man on Ford Field and was on site daily, will serve as the firm's project director for the Vikings development. Stenman also worked the Lambeau Field renovation.

Stenman's primary responsibilities will be to help keep the project on schedule and on budget. He will work on site with Jim Cima, who will serve as the team's senior project manager. Cima served similar roles in the building of an NHL arena for the New Jersey Devils and a NFL stadium for the Philadelphia Eagles.

'He'll be our eyes and ears on the project,' said Jeff Anderson, a Vikings spokesman.

Stenman and Cima begin work immediately.

The five-member stadium authority is the public watchdog on the $975 million development, which will receive nearly $500 million in public financing.

The stadium, to be built on the Metrodome site, will seat 65,000 people, but could be expanded to accommodate 72,000 fans. It is expected to open by the 2016 NFL season.

In other action Friday, the stadium authority hired Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. to conduct an environmental impact study on the 33-acre stadium site. The firm will be paid no more than $747,096 for work to be completed by July 31, 2013.

Board members also gave the authority staff the go-ahead to solicit bids for architectural services and construction management services before they next meet on Aug. 24.

TV gets the sport treatment; PICK OF THE BOX.(Pick of the Box) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

QUIZ

A Question Of TV (BBC1, 7.00pm)

THE winning format of the long-running A Question Of Sport gets a televisual makeover.

Gaby Roslin takes over the Sue Barker role as quizmistress with regular team captains Lorraine Kelly and Rowland Rivron.

Like QoS, there's rounds such as what happened next? and the picture board, but there are also TV specifics, including spot the cameo appearance.

Guests on the first show are Angela Ripon, Bradley Walsh, telly vet Trude Mustoe and Brookside's Steven Pinder.

Steven, who plays the beleaguered Max in the Scouse soap, sends himself up nicely as he struggles to recall just how many times his character split from/ reconciled with screen wife Susannah.

Gaby's badly in need of a telly hit after her most recent attempts failed to bring in the viewers.

Hosting a quiz show is probably the right way to get back in favour with the bosses at the Beeb.

And it's nice to see Lorraine Kelly freed from the constraints of talking diets early in the morning.

The bubbly Scot's personality is just right for this kind of light-hearted viewing.

DRAMA

A&E (ITV, 9.00pm)

CONSULTANT Robert Kingsford has suffered enough humiliation in this series of the medical drama.

Demoralised by failing to impress the management consultants brought in by his work - and love - rival Jack, Robert (Martin Shaw) decides to resign.

His decision shocks former love Christine (Niamh Cusack) and delights trauma surgeon Jack (Michael Kitchen), who can't wait to see the back of him.

Jack immediately lines up Christine as Robert's replacements and she has to decide where her loyalties are.

She may finally be about to see Jack in his true colours when he misreads one of her X-rays, an error which could prove fatal to his own career.

FACTUAL

Hell In The Pacific (Channel 4, 9.00pm)

THE final episode of this fantastic series tells of the last dramatic months of the horrific conflict in the Pacific.

The Allies had become used to the atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese, but nothing could have prepared them for kamikaze raids.

The desperate Japanese air force began the suicide raids in October 1944, their pilots sacrificing their own lives to fly bomb-laden planes into Allied ships, sinking 30 of them.

On land, the Allies were making slow, tortuous headway towards Japan itself, capturing tiny islands such as Iwo Jima.

These brutal campaigns are described by one veteran as 'like going through the gates of Hell'.

Meanwhile, the Americans were frantically preparing the weapon they expected to end the war - the atomic bomb.

The horrific consequences of dropping it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are recalled by one of the pilots and by a survivor.

Hell In The Pacific has been documentary film-making at its very best, bringing to shocking, vivid life one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Second World War.

REAL LIFE

Airport (BBC1, 8.00pm)

HEATHROW is swarming with secret service agents as the staff prepare for a real VIP

Former US President Bill Clinton is on his way through the airport, so the air is crackling with the sound of walkie-talkies as the security staff await his arrival.

Meanwhile, John from Qantas is investigating a strange buzzing sound emanating from the first class section of one of their planes.

And paramedics Eric and Jane have to make a life-saving dash away from Heathrow.

BEST OF SATELLITE TV

SCI-FI

THE X FILES

(Sky One, 9.00pm)

A DOUBLE-LENGTH episode of the cult drama will soothe any fevered fans bereft at the end of the current series.

A mysterious telephone call and an apparent suicide lead Scully (Gillian Anderson) to Emily, a young girl she suspects is the daughter of her dead sister, Melissa.

With Emily's health failing fast because of a mysterious illness, Mulder (David Duchovny) sets out to discover a cure.

CHAT

MRS MERTON

(Granada Plus, 9.00pm)

SHE may have given up her telly career for a quiet life, but Caroline Aherne will always deserve our praise and thanks for two things - The Royle Family and this, her spoof chat show hostess.

The beauty of Mrs Merton was that nobody - neither the guests nor the studio audience - initially had a clue that the wee white-haired granny was really twentysomething Caroline.

Tonight's guests include Jo Brand, Lorraine Kelly and - set your videos because this makes magnificent television - a very pompous Chris Eubank.

COMEDY

OPEN ALL HOURS

(UK Gold, 7.50pm)

CANTANKEROUS shopkeeper Arkwright (Ronnie Barker) takes extreme measures when his shop is broken into.

He gets himself a very large dog to guard the property.

Unfortunately, the beast proves too successful at keeping out customers instead of burglars.

David Jason stars as errand-boy Granville and Lynda Baron plays Arkwright's dream woman, nurse Gladys Emanuel.

FACTUAL

THE FBI FILES: CAT AND MOUSE

(Discovery, 8.00pm)

THE horrific abduction and murder of two young girls from neighbouring counties in South Carolina bear all the hallmarks of a serial killer, so the FBI immediately swings into action.

Cheers, jeers and tears From political corruption to high school sports, reporters pick top news stories in Lake County.(Series: A Look Back 2002)(Neighbor) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Russell Lissau Daily Herald Staff Writer

Diverse is a good description of the Daily Herald's annual top 10 list of Lake County news stories.

This year's version features quite a few political stories, including the deaths of some notable officials and criminal convictions of two others. It also recaps the success of a local football team, an unusual narcotics investigation and a local school district's ongoing financial and personnel troubles.

Yes, it definitely was a diverse year.

These are our choices for 2002's biggest stories, according to an informal newsroom survey. They are not listed in any particular order.

Grever convicted

Former Ela Township Supervisor Robert Grever was sentenced to six months in jail in November for concealing a $205,000 debt owed the township by his wife.

Grever - who also served 10 years on the Lake County Board, including two years as its chairman - was convicted of 12 counts of official misconduct. Under the terms of his sentence, the 67-year- old Kildeer resident will be freed from custody to work and perform public service. The sentence also called for fines and probation.

The scandal stemmed from his former mother-in-law's time as a resident at Winchester House, the county-run nursing home, in the 1990s. Under the system used at the time, the center billed townships for their residents' care, then left it to the townships to collect from estates or relatives of patients. But instead of paying the bills, Grever's ex-wife spent the money on herself, her husband, their home and their children, she testified at his trial.

Wells pleads guilty

Former Antioch Village Administrator Tim Wells also had legal problems this year. Wells pleaded guilty to felony forgery and perjury in August after being accused of forging the name of a former mayor on a document and lying about it.

Wells, 51, of Antioch, was indicted after prosecutors learned he mishandled a $1.5 million gift to the village. The money - which was given to the village in 2000 - was to be used for a local senior center, but instead was spent on other village matters.

Wells forged the signature of then-Mayor Marilyn Shineflug on a letter regarding the senior center, prosecutors said. He lied about the signature during a grand jury hearing in January 2002.

Wells, who was Fox Lake's village administrator when the charges were filed earlier this year, was sentenced to two months in the county's work-release program.

Patriots go to finals

The varsity football team at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire became the first North Suburban Conference squad to play for the state title in November. The Patriots also were the first Lake County team to reach the finals since Deerfield made it in 1984.

Although Stevenson lost to Lockport High in the Class 8A final 35-14, the players were welcomed back from Champaign as heroes. Students, parents, local politicians and other fans cheered the team during a brief rally a few days after the game at the school.

Notables pass away

Lake County was saddened by the deaths of several community leaders this year.

State Rep. Tim Osmond of Antioch died earlier this month, Waukegan Mayor Dan Drew died in January and Grant Township Supervisor Gordy Kiesgen died in October. All three men suffered heart attacks.

The county also lost conservationists George Ranney Sr. and Dorothy Donnelley. The Libertyville Township residents - and siblings - fought against the development of wildlife and donated land to projects including the Liberty Prairie Reserve.

Donnelley, 92, died in her sleep in February. Ranney, 90, succumbed to pneumonia in June.

District 116 problems

The turmoil in beleaguered Round Lake Area Unit School District 116 continued in 2002.

Five of the district's seven board members resigned this year: Jim Hult, Sandy Miracle, W. Guy Finley, Deanna Ruiz and Gordon Rogers.

Finley, Rogers and Ruiz had joined the board in 2001 as members of a Clean Slate ticket promising reform in the district, which is $7 million in debt. But infighting on the board later split the running mates and led to some of the resignations.

The district's financial picture improved this year, but its money woes are far from solved. A five-member state panel was appointed in September to govern the schools' finances. That team now is searching for a chief executive officer to run the district. Additionally, the board has approved a new levy that allows them to raise taxes, circumventing the state tax cap.

Bust at Burger King

Four Lake County residents were arrested early this month and accused by police of operating a cocaine ring at a Mundelein Burger King restaurant.

More than nine months of police surveillance culminated when authorities bought 1 kilogram of cocaine - with an estimated street value of $300,000 - from a night manager, his wife and two former employees at the franchise, which is on Midlothian Road south of Route 60-83.

Employees stashed the drugs in clear plastic bags next to coffee creamers, milk and condiments in small refrigerators in the drive- through window area, police said. Drug customers either phoned orders ahead or asked for certain employees at the drive-up ordering station, officials said.

During the police investigation, 'hundreds' of drive-through drug deals were observed, with customers ranging from casual users to suspected dealers, authorities said.

Six Flags settles suits

Lawsuits cost the Six Flags Great America theme park a bundle this year.

In March, Six Flags Inc. agreed to eliminate or modify a certain type of ride in all of its parks as part of a lawsuit settlement with a McHenry girl who was injured at the Great America theme park in Gurnee.

More than $50,000 in damages was sought from Six Flags in the suit filed on behalf of Kati Konstantaras. As part of the settlement, neither side revealed the amount of cash she received because of a confidentiality agreement.

Konstantaras was on the Cajun Cliffhanger when her right foot became trapped between the ride's floor and wall in July 2000. Her foot was crushed and she lost part of a toe on the ride, which has since been removed from the theme park.

A Six Flags Great America executive blamed the Cajun Cliffhanger's operator was to blame for the accident.

Also in March, the theme park agreed to pay $1.9 million to the family of a Danville man who died after suffering an asthma attack at Six Flags Great America in 1997.

Kenyon Lewis died after the amusement park's in-house paramedics failed to provide the teen with proper medical care during the asthma attack.

The suit alleged the in-house paramedics failed to provide Lewis with inhaler medication, failed to properly treat him with oxygen and failed to transport him to an adequate health-care provider.

Face-off in Antioch

Antioch Community High School faced off against village and police leaders over a request to allow a police officer and specially trained dog to patrol the campus and search for illegal drugs.

Police and village officials say the random patrols would deter students from bringing drugs and other illegal substances to school. But school board members are concerned the patrols would violate the privacy of students and protections guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment.

District 117 officials will allow police searches if probable cause exists, which meets U.S. Department of Education policies for random weapon or drug searches.

The issue heated up in November and had not been resolved as the year drew to a close.

Democrats win seats

Democratic candidates scored some big victories in Lake County in the November general election. Despite the county's reputation as a Republican stronghold, local Democrats picked up three seats in the General Assembly and retained two other legislative seats.

The victories helped give the Democrats majorities in both state legislative houses.

In the race to represent the new 59th House District, Democrat Kathy Ryg of Vernon Hills defeated Republican Roger Byrne, also of Vernon Hills.

In the 29th Senate District, former state Rep. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest unseated Republican incumbent Kathy Parker of Northbrook. And Democrat Eddie Washington of Waukegan was elected Lake County's first black state legislator when he defeated Republican candidate Susan Tenzi in the 60th House District.

Two local Democratic incumbents retained their seats, too. State Sen. Terry Link of Vernon Hills defeated Lake Bluff Republican Charles 'Chuck' Fitzgerald in the 30th District, while Karen May of Highland Park defeated Marc Brown, also of Highland Park, to keep her 58th House District seat.

City kills work-release project

Lake County officials thought they had found a temporary solution to the overcrowding problems at the county jail. They thought a vacant building in downtown Waukegan would be ideal for a relocated work-release program, which would free up space in the jail for other prisoners. The county board approved the purchase and renovation, hired an architect and set up a construction timetable to open the facility in 2003.

But the Waukegan city council killed the plan in September by refusing to grant two permits necessary for construction. Some aldermen said the separate work-release facility wasn't appropriate for the site, while one voted 'no' as political payback for what he said were previous slights by the county against Waukegan.