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.

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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.

CAPTION(S):

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.

Take me out to the movies: The Daily Mail sports department picks its top 10 baseball movies of all time - Charleston Daily Mail

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

Football has the game-winning drive capped by the last-secondpass.

Basketball relies on the buzzer-beater.

At least baseball offers the viewer more choices for a clicheclimax.

A man might hit a home run that travels with the force of a B-52in his final at-bat, or he might lay down a drag bunt on a squeezeplay.

Teams might call on an ace flamethrower, a crafy left-hander or agirl in a training bra.

The on-mound conference is just as likely to revolve aroundappropriate wedding gifts as what pitch to throw in a particularsituation.

Befitting this country's oldest professional team sport,baseball's war chest of movie themes, twists and turns is thedeepest.

To get in the swing of the season, here are the consensus choicesof the Daily Mail sports staff as the genre's 10 greatest of all-time.

1. Field of Dreams

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Written by Robinson and W.P.Kinsella. Starring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster,Ray Liotta (1989).

'If you build it, he will come.'

Just a simple film about a farmer who hears voices, mows down mostof his crop, constructs a baseball stadium, travels the country,abducts a famous reclusive author and a supernatural doctor in orderto ease Shoeless Joe Jackson's mind, and then plays catch with hislate father.

While the plot outline sounds shady, the finished product toppedour list as the best baseball film of all time, rising above the packalmost purely on nostalgia.

Ray Kinsella (Costner) is approaching middle age and losing hiszest for life when he starts to hear voices in his cornfield. Whilethe town mocks him for destroying his livelihood to build a vacantball field, he begins to see visions of Jackson (Liotta) and more ofthe disgraced 1919 Chicago White Sox, along with other old-timeplayers.

Unable to decode future messages, he sets off for Boston to kidnapTerence Mann (Jones), based on J.D. Salinger. Then, after ascoreboard vision at Fenway Park, they head to Minnesota to findMoonlight Graham (Lancaster) and deliver him to the field just intime for the emotional climactic game of catch between father andson.

The studio built the baseball diamond on an actual farm inDyersville, Iowa. After the filming was completed, the family owningthe farm kept the field where visitors are free to come and playbaseball at their leisure. It's become a predictable touristattraction in an area without very many.

Robinson has directed very rarely in the 13 years since hismasterpiece, but he's in theaters again this summer with Tom Clancy's'The Sum of All Fears,' starring Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan.

2. Bull Durham

Written and directed by Ron Shelton. Starring Kevin Costner, SusanSarandon, Tim Robbins, Robert Wuhl (1988).

The quintessential movie about the minor leagues, it stars Costner(again), this time as aging catcher Crash Davis, who continues hisquest to become the minors home run king at Class A Durham whiletrying to rehabilitate pitching phenom 'Nuke' LaLoosh (Robbins).

Problems arise when team groupie Annie Savoy (Sarandon) seducesboth players and creates team turmoil.

But the jewels of 'Bull Durham' come not in the major plot pointsbut in the relatively insignificant instances in between: Costner'simpassioned speech to Sarandon about all of the things he 'believes';Wuhl as the pitching coach recommending 'candlesticks' during a tenseon-mound meeting; players breaking into the field to create a rain-out off day; Robbins convinced by Sarandon to wear a garter beltbeneath his uniform when he pitched.

Shelton, formerly a minor leaguer in the Carolina League, spokefrom experience with perhaps one of the best film narratives of anykind ever.

3. The Natural

Directed by Barry Levinson. Written by Bernard Malamud, RogerTowne and Phil Dusenberry. Starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close,Robert Duvall, Kim Basinger, Wilfred Brimley (1984).

Mythology meets the diamond when former prodigy Roy Hobbs(Redford) finds stellar success late in life after crafting his bat,Wonder Boy, out of a lightning-felled tree. He had nearly given uphis dream after being inexplicably shot by a woman as a youngpitcher.

Hobbs destroys all pitchers, outfield lights and scoreboardsduring his rampage in leading the 1930s Knights from obscurity toplayoff contention. The climax comes when Hobbs decides to bat onelast time despite doctors warnings that he could be killed by theexertion - and, of course, he homers in his final at-bat.

The plot line combines the King Arthur myth of Sir Percival withthe true, bizarre shooting of former Philadelphia Phillies firstbaseman Eddie Waitkus by Ruth Ann Steinhagen in Chicago's EdgewaterBeach Hotel on June 14, 1949.

4. Bad News Bears

Directed by Michael Ritchie. Written by Bill Lancaster. StarringWalter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Jackie Earle Haley (1976).

This California Little League team has become the overusedmetaphor for every bumbling-but-lovable group since.

Starring Matthau as drunken, child-hating manager MorrisButtermaker and O'Neal (fresh off an Oscar for 'Paper Moon') aspitcher Amanda Whurlitzer, it's also the film that made Chico's BailBonds famous.

It also spawned a decent sequel ('Bad News Bears BreakingTraining' when they take the then-new-and-wondrous Astrodome) andseveral bad ones (we need not mention them going to Japan or thebrief TV series).

Originally thought as a vehicle for O'Neal, it turned into amemorable ensemble performance with characters like rebellious KellyLeak (Haley), loud-mouthed Tanner Boyle, overweight catcherEngelberg, funkdafied Ahmad Abdul Rahim (played by the guy who is nowCharlotte Hornet Baron Davis' personal DJ), and, of course, TimmyLupus.

5. Major League

Written and directed by David S. Ward. Starring Charlie Sheen, TomBerenger, Wesley Snipes, Corbin Bernsen (1989).

Remember when the Cleveland Indians were the laughingstock ofprofessional sports and the punch line to every other Jay Leno joke?

'Major League' is the embodiment of the woeful Indians, whosevillainous owner wants to strip the team bare in order to facilitatea move to Florida. A crew of has-beens and retreads is assembled forwhat's believed to be one final season, including Willie Mays Hayes(Snipes), Jake Taylor (Berenger), 'Wild Thing' Ricky Vaughn of theCalifornia Penal League (Sheen) and stuffy Roger Dorn (Bernsen).

Bob Uecker as announcer Harry Doyle gets most of the best one-liners ('Just a bit outside'), but the dialogue is among the most-quoted anywhere in the past decade. Hey, bartender, Joboo needs arefill.

Ward, a writing Oscar winner for 1973's 'The Sting,' never againapproached such heights. He followed this film with such clunkers as'King Ralph,' both 'Major League' sequels and the heinous KelseyGrammer Navy movie 'Down Periscope.' His current project is thescript for the non-anticipated 'Jumanji 2' later this year.

6. Eight Men Out

Directed by John Sayles. Written by Sayles and Eliot Asinof.Starring John Cusack, D.B. Sweeney, Charlie Sheen, John Mahoney(1988).

The dramatic re-telling of the 1919 Chicago White Sox gamblingscandal that continues to bar Shoeless Joe Jackson (Sweeney) from theHall of Fame to this day. Gamblers took advantage of players, angrywith owner Charlie Comiskey, to throw the series, although mostdidn't participate and few were paid the promised amounts.

Jackson and Buck Weaver (Cusack) renege at the last minute to tryto win, and the Sox nearly come back from a 3-1 deficit. Two yearslater, the Sox are found innocent by a jury, but commissioner KenesawMountain Landis suspends eight players for life, and Weaver spendsthe rest of his life trying to clear his name.

Sayles, who plays sportswriter Ring Lardner in the film, alsowrote and directed 'Matewan.'

He was contractually obligated to bring 'Eight Men Out' in undertwo hours, and showed the cast old films of James Cagney to try tocopy his fast-talking style. It comes out 16 seconds under the two-hour limit.

7. A League of Their Own

Directed by Penny Marshall. Written by Kim Wilson and KellyCandaele. Starring Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis (1992).

With most of the Major League stars fighting in World War II,bitter, bloated manager Jimmy Dugan (Hanks, based on Jimmie Foxx)must steer a roster of women for the Rockford, Ill., team toentertain the country.

That includes a star catcher (Davis), a loud-mouthed outfielder(Madonna) and a cast of others to which Hanks implores memorably,'There's no crying in baseball.'

Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky, plays one of the opposingplayers.

8. Pride of the Yankees

Directed by Sam Wood. Written by Paul Gallico. Starring GaryCooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth as himself, Walter Brennan (1942).

Cooper plays the immortal Lou Gehrig as he rises to stardom,dominates baseball and then grapples with a terminal disease thatwould later bear his name. Gehrig is followed from his childhood inNew York until his famous 'Luckiest Man' speech at his farewell dayin 1939.

Since Cooper was right-handed and Gehrig was left-handed, andsince Cooper's athletic skills were barely passable right-handed letalone left-handed, the close-up baseball scenes were shot withuniforms in reverse type. Cooper would hit the ball and run to third,and the prints would be reversed.

9. 61

Directed by Billy Crysal. Written by Hank Steinberg. StarringThomas Jane, Barry Pepper, Anthony Michael Hall (2001, TV).

In one of the most athletically convincing films of all-time,Crystal captures the summer of 1961 and the home run duel betweenMickey Mantle (Jane) and Roger Maris (Pepper) before Maris eventuallysurpasses Babe Ruth as the single-season home run king.

The intense, plain-spoken Maris is the bad guy: sports writersbait him and minimize his talent while fans cheer Mantle, theleague's golden boy, and baseball's commissioner announces thatRuth's record stands unless it's broken within 154 games.

Any record set after 154 games of the new 162-game schedule willhave an asterisk. The film follows their friendship, the stresses onMaris, his frustration with the negative attention, and his desire toplay well, win, and go home.

10. The Sandlot

Written and directed by David M. Evans. Starring Tom Guiry, KarenAllen, James Earl Jones, Denis Leary (1993).

Scotty Smalls (Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood with his mom(Allen) and stepdad (Leary), and wants to learn to play baseball. Theneighborhood baseball guru takes Smalls under his wing, and soon he'spart of the local baseball buddies.

They fall into adventures involving baseball, treehouse sleep-ins, the desirous lifeguard at the local pool, the snooty rival ballteam and the travelling fair. Beyond the fence at the back of thesandlot menaces a legendary ball-eating dog called The Beast, who thekids must ultimately face.

During a pool scene in which they ogle the lifeguard, thedialogue, 'She don't know what she's doing,' and the answer, 'Yes shedoes, she knows exactly what she's doing,' is the same as in a verysimilar scene in 'Cool Hand Luke.'

SPORT ON TV; PICK OF THE WEEK.(Features) - Daily Mail (London)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Arsenal v Manchester Utd Tuesday, 7.30pm, ITV1

(Kickoff 7.45pm) Ahead of Wednesday's other semi-final, between Chelsea and Barcelona, the Gunners and Red Devils meet in this secondleg clash at Ashburton Grove.

Ten years on from claiming his first Champions League winner's medal, United winger Ryan Giggs will be hoping that his team can make it to another final, at Rome's Stadio Olimpico..

BOXING Ricky Hatton v Manny Pacquiao Saturday, 10pm, Sky Box Office

Ricky Hatton puts his IBO and The Ring magazine light-welterweight titles on the line at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Taking on the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, the Hitman can expect to be given a real test by Pacquiao, despite the Filipino moving to a new weight division for this fight..

HEINEKEN CUP Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers Sunday, 2.30pm, Sky Sports 2

(Kickoff 3pm) The second of the weekend's European Cup semi-finals kicks off at the Millennium Stadium.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAMES; Scotland's top sports team pick the classics that lit up the season.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

This was more than the game of the season. This was the match that breathed life back into Scottish football.

Remember it? You must.

The doom and gloom merchants had been dooming and glooming their heads off after a string of disasters for our clubs on the Continent.

And then, all of a sudden, the two super powers of the Premier League gave us all something to be proud of. Ninety minutes of magic.

As we said at the time, it was the six goals that put the smile back on the face of Scottish soccer.

It turned out to be even more than that though. This Old Firm classic kick- started the most thrilling title chase in donkeys.

When Andreas Thom's pile driver bulged in the back of Andy Goram's net after just nine minutes you just knew you were about to witness something special.

Brian Laudrup's leveller just before the break merely confirmed it.

John Collins made it 2-1 from the spot, then Ally McCoist squared it up at the other end.

Even Oleg S*l*nk* got in on the act. Somehow he escaped two mistimed challenges inside the box before screwing a ball across goal for Tosh McKinlay to stab into his own net.

By now it was simply breathtaking stuff.

But there was more to come.

Celtic stormed back and Pierre Van Hooijdonk's point blank volley produced the save of the season from Goram.

Some said it was a Gordon Banks - I had it down as a David Copperfield.

But then in the 72nd minute Van Hooijdonk did net the leveller with a glancing looping header - and McKinlay played his part by providing the cross.

No one could have scripted it better.

And I'll never forget the look on the face of this Danish press bloke as he struggled to catch his breath afterwards at the bar in the interview room at Ibrox.

As he clutched a massive whisky he turned and said: 'After such a game you need a good drink.'

He couldn't have put it any better and Parkhead boss Tommy Burns also summed it up perfectly when he said: 'People will look back and say I was at that game.'

Hot ticket T-shirts; Sport your pick for president on your chest.(CNY) - The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)

Byline: Dionne Walker The Associated Press

*******************Political T-shirts - particularly those supporting presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama - are emerging in a big way this season, transformed from the uniform of campaign workers to a definitive statement of youthful, progressive cool.

********Paired with jeans as sported by Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden at Coachella, or dressed up with a seersucker jacket and khakis for a night on the town, the shirts are turning up on city streets and retail shelves like never before.

********Fashion insiders attribute the trend to an emerging young, casual voter - one ready to mix politics with sneakers - as well as professionals who've embraced the campaign and are slipping into Obamawear to make a statement as much about their political leanings as their hipness.

********Obama, says one provocative tee, is the new black.

********'There's no question at all, the Obama campaign has crossed over to popular culture,' says Brian Kirwin, a Virginia Beach, Va. political consultant who also advises would-be lawmakers on their image.

********T-shirts for Republican rival John McCain, including those saying 'Nobama,' have cropped up in Web retailers such as Zazzle.com and CafePress, but don't seem to have caught on in the same way. That may reflect Obama's greater appeal among younger, T-shirt-wearing voters.

********Kirwin says years past saw such shirts more or less limited to the most politically plugged in.

********'I've seen candidates give away T-shirts for their campaign,' Kirwin says, 'I've never seen (consumers) from the bottom up latch on.'

********Now spots like Brooklyn, New York's custom T-shirt house, Neighborhoodies, sell Obama high school throwback jerseys - an homage to the lawmaker's younger years, and if you know anything about throwbacks, a major statement of one's cool factor.

********Tees stamped with red, white and blue images of the Illinois Democrat sell for $28 at Urban Outfitters, significant for a fashion chain targeting the trendiest 20-somethings.

********Kirwin says voters are seeking a way to express themselves apart from the more conservative, old guard pins, which he says are 'kind of on the way out.'

********The same voters are frequenting social networking sites like MySpace, where people can easily market their own homegrown T-shirt designs, and an image can rapidly morph into an icon.

********Shepard Fairey, a graphic artist and head of Los Angeles-based Obey Clothing, says that's exactly the phenomenon that landed his shirts, which feature an Andy Warhol-inspired image of a pensive Obama, in Urban Outfitters.

********'The image got out on the Web and traveled virally,' says Fairey, who says he's seen people sporting the shirts at televised rallies.

********Kirwin and Fairey agree the trend is driven as much by voters interested in more dressed-down political statements as the candidate himself: Multiethnic, handsome and full of modern, progressive thought, Obama's a rock star candidate who's become his own brand.

********'He has a different type of cultural currency,' Fairey says. 'Last election, would you have wanted to wear a T-shirt with either Bush or Kerry on it?'

********The Obama camp has zeroed in on the power of branding, according to Michael Bierut, partner at graphics firm Pentagram, in New York.

********He points to Obama's logo, a set of stripes positioned with a letter 'O' in a design that seems to mimic the rising sun.

********Bierut says his campaign has tapped into the natural American response to icons, building a level of loyalty that could pay off this fall.

********'His graphics do exactly what good graphics are supposed to do - they expand the appeal of a particular to the broadness of a movement. If you wear the Nike logo, you're aligning yourself consciously or not, with a whole bunch of ideas,' he says. 'People who put on an Obama shirt are supporting the candidate, as well as pledging allegiance to a larger movement.'

CAPTION(S):

SPORTS FOUNDATION PICKS FERRIS COACH - The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)

Stacey Ward, who led Ferris to the 1997-98 State 4Avolleyball championship, has been selected as one of threerecipients of the 1998 Women's Sports Foundation Budget Car Coachof the Year Award.

It honors female coaches not coaching a national,professional, major-league or NCAA Division I or II team.Selection criteria include sportsmanship, ethical conduct andcontribution to the sport.

[3] THE BEAUTIFUL GAMES; Scotland's top sports team pick the classics that lit up the season.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

People say things tend to happen when I'm about. Well, Tannadice on December 2 didn't exactly contradict that theory.

Season 1995-96 blessed me with several corkers and a game which genuinely left me convinced a manager had died in the dugout.

I remember the two classics involving Celtic and Aberdeen at Pittodrie and the Eoin Jess-inspired crushing of Rangers in the Coca-Cola Cup semi- final.

In contrast there was the numbing Paul Sturrock collapse, also at Tannadice of all places, during the Dundee United-St Johnstone Tayside derby.

In 11 years of covering football I've never experienced anything like it. Seriously, for a split second, I thought we'd lost Luggie.

Mercifully, he recovered and, with a revived outlook, dragged the nine- to-five Saints to the verge of promotion with footie as pleasurable as inhaling fresh air.

But to the remarkable Craig Brewster execution of Sons. He hit four with a display of finishing as good as I've seen.

Two left-footers, a right-footer and a bullet header. The complete package.

Incredibly, but for two blinding Ally Maxwell saves, United could've been two- nil down within the opening five minutes.

Rookie Sons keeper Peter Dennison, looking as vulnerable as you've ever seen a 17- year-old, suffered dreadfully.

[2] THE BEAUTIFUL GAMES; Scotland's top sports team pick the classics that lit up the season.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

Jim Leishman was insistent. Get there early, he stressed, or you'll be lucky to get near the ground.

Yeah, sure, Jim. A Third Division game between Livingston and East Stirling

But guess what? Queues snaked back from the turnstiles as the citizens of Livingston jostled to catch a first sighting of their new club in their brand new ground, Almondvale Stadium.

The programmes were sold out within 20 minutes, the pies were devoured by 1.45, car parks were overflowing and the huge crowd caused a 10 minute delay.

It was one of those rare days which anyone involved - player, official, fan or fan with laptop - will recall with affection. A day when the smile returned to the face of football. A day which left you with a warm, inner glow.

The game? I don't remember much about it. If memory serves me correctly, it was pretty insipid stuff.

But that's not the point. When it comes to feeling good about our national game, I couldn't have felt any happier driving away from a ground than I did that Saturday. Declared the Bard of Lochgelly, Mr Leishman: 'Football is about history and memories. This is a memory I'll cherish forever. I am so proud.'

He wasn't alone. Just being there was important. Livingston, the team, had united Livingston, the community.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAMES; Scotland's top sports team pick the classics that lit up the season.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

I saw Paul Gascoigne, Scotland's Player of the Year, loads of times last season.

And I was lucky enough to watch Eric Cantona, England's star performer, twice.

But just once did I witness a performance from George Weah - the best player in the world.

He took centre stage in the spectacular setting of the San Siro in Milan.

Around 80,000 baying AC fans were trying to turn it into a Christians v Lions epic.

And for a while it looked as if visitors Juventus were going to be sacrificed.

Weah was at the heart of all Milan's moves and every time he touched the ball the locals expected some magic.

Marco Simone put Milan ahead, then Weah produced a goal only the best could deliver.

Showing masterful skill and invention, he left the Juve defence trailing before sliding the ball home.

Juve didn't play well until the last half hour - and then they looked awesome.

The Turin club were due to entertain Rangers in the Champions League three days later and my first glimpse of Alessandro del Piero left me fearing the worst for Walter Smith's side.

Led by big names such as Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli, they began to get their act together.

Del Piero pulled a goal back, but Milan held out to win a glorious Serie A encounter 2-1.

Smith, who was sitting beside me, saw enough to know what he would be up against a few days later.

Juve duly won 4-1 and followed up with a 4-0 stroll at Ibrox.

Sports fans to pick top feat. - New Zealand Herald (Auckland, New Zealand)

It could be Winston Reid's last-minute equaliser against Slovakia that ignited the All Whites' World Cup campaign or All Black Israel Dagg's winning try in Soweto with 30 seconds left on the clock.

Then again the Kiwis, who didn't even get a look-in at last year's Halberg Awards despite being crowned World Champions in 2008, could be in with a shout after taking this year's Four Nations title.

Or Brendon McCullum's 117 off 56 balls against Australia in February, The Silver Ferns' thrilling double-overtime victory against Australia in the Commonwealth Games or Eric Murray and Hamish Bond's white-knuckle win in the coxless pairs final at the World Rowing Championships at Karapiro.

All rate at least a mention in a good year for New Zealand sport.

Controversy over what was New Zealand's top sporting moment for 2010 should be put to be bed when the matter is decided by public vote _ a first for the Westpac Halberg Awards.

The Halberg Trust executive board this week gave the go-ahead for the Sparc-sponsored initiative, which they believe will stimulate greater public awareness of the work the trust does in linking disabled people to sport and active leisure in their community.

``We know how much New Zealanders care about their sport and each year the Westpac Halberg Awards generate considerable debate,'' said Halberg Trust chief executive Steve Hall.

The criteria for the nation's favourite sporting moment are ``the most exciting, remarkable or compelling sporting moment, game or series during 2010'' involving New Zealand sporting teams and individuals both at home and abroad.

It will involve both on-line and text voting, with the public selecting from up to 10 of the most compelling and special sporting moments involving New Zealand teams and individuals this year.

Sports Illustrated writer picks Huskies.(Seattle Sports Blog) - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This could be good news. Or it could be really bad news.

Remember the SI jinx, after all.

But SI.com's college football guru, Stewart Mandel, is picking the Huskies in an upset over USC. He has the UW winning 27 to 24 and expects a USC letdown.

It's not exactly a confidence booster that he is 8 and 12 with his picks so far.

And if he's wrong, you always have the 1991 season. You can remember it in this Sports Illustrated story.

WIN THIS CAR; SPORT STARTS HERE: PICK YOUR GRAND PRIX DREAM TEAM AND... - Birmingham Evening Mail (England)

THE race is on for a SEAT Ibiza Cupra Sport in the 1999 BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix!

The world's top 22 Formula One drivers are speeding towards the sport's ultimate prize - the World Championship.

And now here's your chance to pick your own dream team and win the classy sports car?

Play the BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix and make your selection of eight from the cream of the world's best drivers.

One thing is for sure, with eight drivers to select you need to think about those who can regularly bring home the points and not just in the top three places.

The season opens Down Under in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday March 7 and is followed by 15 further Grand Prix races right up to the final at Suzuka in Japan on Sunday October 31.

The magnificent top prize for our overall winner is a SEAT Ibiza Cupra Sport - just like the one that won the Formula 2 World Rally Championship for the last THREE years.

The prize car can be seen at John Dryhurst (SEAT), The Radleys, Sheldon, Birmingham, (0121 742 1142).

There are 11 teams competing in the 1999 Formula One World Championship: McLaren - Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams-Mecachrome, Jordan-Mugen Honda, Benetton-Supertech, Sauber-Petronas, Prost-Peugeot, Stewart-Ford, Arrows, Minardi-Ford and new boys BAR-Supertech.

HOW TO ENTER

WE have listed the details of 22 Grand Prix drivers in FOUR different groups (A to D).

Using your skill, judgement and Grand Prix knowledge, we want you to put together a winning team of eight and complete the details on the entry form here.

Then you need to dream up a title for your team. That team name is the one your drivers will be racing under all season.

A point system will be applied to reward drivers with a race score after each of the 16 Grand Prix races - 22 points for the driver who crosses the line first, down to 1 point for the last man in.

Points will be awarded to non-finishing drivers (i.e. those who do not complete the race), these will be determined by the number of laps they have successfully completed prior to their race retirement.

For example, a driver who stops after completing 18 laps will earn more points than a driver who pulls up after 17 laps.

Drivers who fail to qualify for the race after the time trial practice laps for grid positions will also receive one point.

In the event of one or more of your selected drivers being replaced during the season, points will be awarded to the driver who replaces him and that replacement driver will automatically be put in your team.

Your team tally will be determined by adding together the points scored by each of your eight drivers after each Grand Prix.

The person with the highest accumulated total of points at the end of the season will win the fabulous Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport.

In the event of more than one person in pole position of the BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix table at the end of the season - a final decider event will be called.

Usual Mail rules apply. There is no cash alternative.

Opposite is a list of the 22 Grand Prix drivers for 1999, we have split them into four groups and you need to pick TWO from each group (2 for Group A, B, C and D = 8 in total) and complete the details on the entry form here - don't forget to give your team a name.

IN the BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix Constructors Championship, BMTR, sponsors of our Fantasy Grand Prix game and the region's leading tyre and alloy wheel supplier, is making this year's game even more attractive!

The Constructor's Championship, a new game within the Fantasy Grand Prix game, offers you the chance to join in the Grand Prix fun and win some fabulous prizes such as: sets of four tyres, sets of alloy wheels, VIP Race Day tickets, exclusive steering wheel sets plus many others. You could even end up winning the incredible overall Constructor's Championship prize of tyres for life!

Next week we'll start printing a BMTR FANTASY GRAND PRIX Constructor's Championship entry form, on it will be a space for you to write any two digit number between 10 and 90 - plus your own details.

Each Grand Prix car has it own number printed on the front of the car (for example: Hakkinen is number 1, Schumacher is No.3 etc).

If the numbers on the first four cars to cross the line at the end of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, add up to your number, then you're in the hat to win four tyres plus automatic entry into the end of season draw for tyres for life.

WIN THIS CAR SPORT STARTS HERE: PICK YOUR GRAND PRIX DREAM TEAM AND... - Birmingham Evening Mail (England)

THE race is on for a SEAT Ibiza Cupra Sport in the 1999 BMTRFantasy Grand Prix!

The world's top 22 Formula One drivers are speeding towards thesport's ultimate prize - the World Championship.

And now here's your chance to pick your own dream team and wintheclassy sports car?Play the BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix and make your selection of eightfrom the cream of the world's best drivers.One thing is for sure, with eight drivers to select you need tothink about those who can regularly bring home the points and notjust in the top three places.The season opens Down Under in Melbourne, Australia on SundayMarch 7 and is followed by 15 further Grand Prix races right up tothe final at Suzuka in Japan on Sunday October 31.The magnificent top prize for our overall winner is a SEAT IbizaCupra Sport - just like the one that won the Formula 2 World RallyChampionship for the last THREE years.The prize car can be seen at John Dryhurst (SEAT), The Radleys,Sheldon, Birmingham, (0121 742 1142).There are 11 teams competing in the 1999 Formula One WorldChampionship: McLaren - Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams-Mecachrome,Jordan-Mugen Honda, Benetton-Supertech, Sauber-Petronas, Prost-Peugeot, Stewart-Ford, Arrows, Minardi-Ford and new boysBAR-Supertech.HOW TO ENTERWE have listed the details of 22 Grand Prix drivers in FOURdifferent groups (A to D).Using your skill, judgement and Grand Prix knowledge, we want youto put together a winning team of eight and complete the details onthe entry form here.Then you need to dream up a title for your team. That team nameis the one your drivers will be racing under all season.A point system will be applied to reward drivers with a race scoreafter each of the 16 Grand Prix races - 22 points for the driver whocrosses the line first, down to 1 point for the last man in.Points will be awarded to non-finishing drivers (i.e. those who donot complete the race), these will be determined by the number oflaps they have successfully completed prior to their raceretirement.For example, a driver who stops after completing 18 laps will earnmore points than a driver who pulls up after 17 laps.Drivers who fail to qualify for the race after the time trialpractice laps for grid positions will also receive one point.In the event of one or more of your selected drivers beingreplaced during the season, points will be awarded to the driver whoreplaces him and that replacement driver will automatically be putinyour team.Your team tally will be determined by adding together the pointsscored by each of your eight drivers after each Grand Prix.The person with the highest accumulated total of points at the endof the season will win the fabulous Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport.In the event of more than one person in pole position of the BMTRFantasy Grand Prix table at the end of the season - a final deciderevent will be called.Usual Mail rules apply. There is no cash alternative.Opposite is a list of the 22 Grand Prix drivers for 1999, we havesplit them into four groups and you need to pick TWO from each group(2 for Group A, B, C and D = 8 in total) and complete the details onthe entry form here - don't forget to give yourteam a name.IN the BMTR Fantasy Grand Prix Constructors Championship, BMTR,sponsors of our Fantasy Grand Prix game and the region's leadingtyreand alloy wheel supplier, is making this year's game even moreattractive!The Constructor's Championship, a new game within the FantasyGrand Prix game, offers you the chance to join in the Grand Prix funand win some fabulous prizes such as: sets of four tyres, sets ofalloy wheels, VIP Race Day tickets, exclusive steeringwheel setsplusmany others. You could even end up winning the incredible overallConstructor's Championship prize of tyres for life!Next week we'll start printing a BMTR FANTASY GRAND PRIXConstructor's Championship entry form, on it will be a space for youto write any two digit number between 10 and 90 - plus your owndetails.Each Grand Prix car has it own number printed on the front of thecar (for example: Hakkinen is number 1, Schumacher is No.3 etc).If the numbers on the first four cars to cross the line at the endof the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, add up to your number,then you're in the hat to win four tyres plus automatic entry intothe end of season draw for tyres for life.TYRES FOR LIFE

Sports group urged to pick outsider to lead - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

JEAN RIMBACH and GREGORY SCHUTTA, STAFF WRITERS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
07-13-2005

Sports group urged to pick outsider to lead
By JEAN RIMBACH and GREGORY SCHUTTA, STAFF WRITERS
Date: 07-13-2005, Wednesday
Section: NEWS
Edtion: All Editions

The governing body for New Jersey's high school sports - already under fire for its spending practices - is considering an insider as its next executive director, a move that one legislator is trying to stop.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a critic of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, said in a letter Tuesday to members of the group's executive committee that 'one notable first step' the group can take toward reform would be to postpone action on the new executive director and associate director.

The nearly 50 voting members of the executive committee are now casting ballots on a replacement for retiring Executive Director Boyd Sands; they've already chosen a second-in-command.

'It strikes me as entirely inappropriate for the NJSIAA to make such promotions while the organization fails to purge itself of the misguided notion that it can operate as an independent fiefdom accountable to nobody,' Burzichelli wrote.

The ballots that went out to executive committee members this week had just one name: that of Assistant Director Steve Timko. Ten people applied for the post, and eight were interviewed by an 11-member search committee.

Burzichelli, a Gloucester County Democrat who has authored a bill to force NJSIAA to cut ticket prices, doesn't think the group should be hiring from within while its spending habits are being questioned. The Record recently detailed how the organization provides its executives with generous salaries, retirement packages and cars, pays for spouses to travel to conventions and has allowed its top executive to pick up the tab for numerous pricey meals.

'I don't think it's healthy,' the assemblyman said. 'I don't think it's in any way a step to restore public confidence by parents who have their children in high school sports.'

Bert Ammerman, a member of the executive committee, said he, too, thinks it's wrong to elevate a current staff member.

'All the people I have spoken to in the last couple of days are asking me, 'What's going on in your organization?' and whatever they do, they better not hire from inside,' said Ammerman, principal of Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest. 'I'm afraid the perception will be, 'There goes the arrogance of the NJSIAA again.'-'

Ammerman - who also applied for the executive director post - said Timko is a 'very good person. This is not about him.'

'When you have something like this take place, politically you would want to bring in a person who is not connected to what's happening and is perceived to have a positive image,' he said.

The association makes rules and runs tournaments for 33 sports, raising and spending millions each year. It has six top executives who, when they leave the association, will add NJSIAA pensions to the state pensions they already receive as retired educators. Its two top officials also expect to cash in a combined $180,000 in sick and vacation time when they retire next year.

In addition to the six directors who earn $83,435 to $142,755, the NJSIAA has 12 other people on the payroll.

On Monday, Burzichelli asked the State Commission of Investigation to probe the sports group. The same day, the state's top education official, through a spokeswoman, called some of the reported spending 'disturbing and problematic.'

Acting Governor Codey acknowledged Tuesday that change is necessary.

'He believes there are some changes that need to be made,' Codey spokeswoman Kelley Heck said. 'But he also believes the association has acknowledged that as well, and he hopes those changes will be made soon.'

The NJSIAA's attorney on Monday spelled out some of its plans: limiting to $15,000 the amount of sick time that can be cashed in upon retirement, reducing its contribution to the pension fund, ending the practice of paying for spouses to accompany executives on trips and seeking ways to return more money to member schools. The group also says it will cut ticket prices for senior citizens and students at high school venues and reduce the fees schools pay to enter tournaments in at least one sport.

Citing The Record's reports, Ammerman said he's 'truly disappointed and embarrassed.'

'There have been some serious poor judgments made here,' he said.

'There has got to be a major overhaul process in the allocation of funds, in expenses, in the fees. It's not a happy time to be the NJSIAA or to be a member of the executive committee.'

Timko's current salary is $83,435. He spent 25 years in the Hopewell Valley School District, most of that as director of health, physical education and athletics. His main duties at NJSIAA are overseeing the growing corporate-sponsorship program, wrestling, baseball and boys soccer.

'I'm sure whoever gets the position will receive a lot of scrutiny, which I think is a good thing,' said Rona McNabola, a member of the search committee. 'Because the questions are out there now. People want to know the answers.

McNabola, a Glen Rock school board member, said it was reasonable to hire from within the organization.

'If somebody brand new who is not even from the state of New Jersey is chosen, then there is going to be a huge learning curve as they get to know high school sports in New Jersey and the workings of the association,' she said.

It is not unusual for the NJSIAA to chose from among its own to fill vacancies. Timko, Sands and Assistant Director Bob Baly all served on the executive committee before being hired as full-time staffers.

Associate Director James Loper and Assistant Director Carol Parsons both had seats on the controversies and advisory committees before being hired. Loper announced in April that he will leave the $121,475-a-year post in January. The executive committee quickly announced Parsons would be promoted into his job.

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What's next

Today: The nearly 50 executive committee members prepare to vote on elevating Assistant Director Steve Timko to executive director.

Thursday: The ballots will be counted, with Timko needing the approval of the majority. An announcement from the NJSIAA could come as early as Thursday.

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E-mail: rimbach@northjersey.com and schutta@northjersey.com