European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 stars and stripes wednesday March 19, 1986 Thomas 2nd in women s figure skating Geneva a soviet Alexander Fadeev continued to Zero in on his second world figure skating title tuesday winning High Marks for a fast High flying Short pro Gram while compatriot Kira Ivanova took an Early Edge in the women s Competition. Ivanova 23, who placed second at last year s world championships skated the cleanest compulsory figures in the opening women s event. . Champion and Chal Lenger Debi Thomas 18, of san Jose Calif., arrived second ahead of defending world titlist Katarina Witt 20, of East Ger Many. Fade cd 22, maintained his Lead in the men s singles but had to confront stylish upstart Brian Orser 24, the six time Ca Nadian Champ who skated away with the night s Short program by reeling in the most 5.8s and 5.9s for five of the nine top scores. It s hard to predict about thursday men s finals said Orser at ringside afterwards. But i feel Good and i feel conf shortened event won by Johnson Glendale Calif. A it took three Days for Chris Johnson to play 18 holes of Golf but the wait was Worth it. Johnson played just 5 /2 holes monday completing the third and final round of the rain shortened Gna Glendale Federal classic with a 5-under- 67 that gave her a two shot Victory Over Jane Geddes. It was weird for one round to go Over two Days said Johnson who had completed the first 12 holes of the third round saturday before rain halted play that Day and completely postponed it the next. When i left the 13th Fairway in the rain saturday i was facing a 3 Iron shot to the Green. When i went Back out to finish the round the conditions were very Good so it was a 4  Johnson who collected $37,500 for the Victory in the Lyga tournament that was shortened from 72 holes to 54, won what turned out to be a six Hole showdown with Geddes. The two shared the Lead at one under through 12 holes at Oakmont country club when play was sus Pended saturday. The 27-year-old Johnson parred the 13th Hole then birdied the 14th and 15th As Geddes fell three shots behind with a bogey at 15. Johnson then went   before rolling in another Birdie putt on the final Hole. Geddes closed with two birdies for second place and $23,125. Although the $250,000 event was Cut to three rounds the full purse was paid. Johnson who joined the tour in 1980, finished with a 54-Hole total of 212, four under . Her rain interrupted 67 was two strokes better than any previous round in the two years the tournament has been played at Oakmont where Jan Stephenson won with a 2-Over- total for 72 holes in 1985. I m really thankful that we were Able to finish the tournament said Johnson who went two years without winning after she posted consecutive victories in Lyga events in Arizona in 1984. Although it had rained heavily three of the four previous Days the course was in Good condition and skies were sunny for monday s wrap up. Dent and i be been practising Well All week. Ivanova 23, earned 0.6 Points after the three figures while Thomas emerged with 1.2 and Witt with 1.8. In fourth position was 1985 . Champi on Tiffany Chin 18, of Toluca Lake Calif., while Canadian National titlist Tracey Wainman also 18, garnered fifth place. The third . Skater Caryn Kadavy of Erie pa., was seventh at 4.2. The 20-year-old Witt who has won Over judges and the skating Public alike in strik ing Harmony Between Grace and technique is the favorite at the ernets sports Center where she seeks her third consecutive world Crown. She d have to make a big error not to win conceded Alex Mcgowan Thomas coach. Tuesday s Strong performance was an unexpected Bonus for Thomas who had expressed concern about her performance the Affer season of scandal Day before. I m a bit worried because my figures Haven t been up to where they be been since i came Here Thomas said after practice monday. But Thomas grabbed the National championship after weathering the flu a crash diet and arduous premed studies that Cut into training and says my Strong will gets her through a lot of Tough times. Borrowing the sentiments of baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra she notes it s not Over until it s All  on monday soviet skaters Ekaterina Gore Eva and Sergei Grinkov skated a Sassy and skillful Short program to stake an Early Lead in the pairs Competition while defend ing Champion Fadeev went ahead in the men s singles in taking the Low score in the compulsory school figures. The 14-year-old, 4-foot-10 Gordeev who barely meets her partner s shoulder seemed to spin on air As she and the 19 year old Grinkov wearing Matching mid night Blue Tuxedo tops tallied mostly 5.8s and 5.9s. Whether they were strutting Down the ice Arm in Arm to the strains of Scott Joplin s ragtime or flawlessly executing the seven required moves the 77-Pound Gordeev and Grinkov were the Clear Choice of the audience and the judges. Five out of nine judges awarded them first place in the two minute compulsory Short program while defending titlist Elena Valova and Oleg Vasiliev won the top scores from the other four judges in Captur ing second place. In third place were last year s second place finishers Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makarov appearing in their first International Competition since being injured. In the men s figures european Champion Jozef Sabovcik of Czechoslovakia followed Fadeev in the standings while West Ger Man Heiko Fischer was third. Or. To Holland Hopes for comeback fort Lauderdale Fla. A Al Holland spent part of the off season watching old movies of himself two and three years ago. They were certainly better times. In those Days Holland was baseball s or. To pitching for the National league Champion Philadelphia Phillies an All Star left handed reliever with a fiery disposition and a 92 Mph fastball. That was before his name was linked to drugs and failure. To go Back and grab a piece of the past gave me a warm feeling he said. I was Able to remember All the Good things that i be done. On a subconscious level i guess i took it All for  last season Holland pitched for three teams Philadelphia Pittsburgh and California and managed a 1-5 record with five saves in 56 appearances. He fought against a weight problem a pulled hamstring muscle a sore left shoulder the disruption of the two trades the distraction of being named in a drug trial and the growing suspicion that he was losing his fastball and relying too much on his Slider. And so at the age of 33, Holland finds himself in the Spring training Camp of the new York Yankees in the insecure position of coming off a bad year and vying for one of 10 spots against 15 pitchers with major league experience. Last year was a Fluke and i have to prove that to the Yankees As Well As to myself said Holland who signed a one year non Guaran teed contract for $400,000 As a free agent this Winter. All i wanted was a Chance. I m looking to redeem myself this  the six year Veteran claimed that his difficulties began in August 1984. "1 was overworked and lost some velocity off my fastball. Management immediately started talking about my weight. They said 1 was fat and out of shape. I upset a lot of people with my  the following season in the midst of Shuf fling from one City to another Holland was named in the Pittsburgh cocaine investigation. He reportedly was on the list of prospective witnesses in the trial against Curtis Strong but was never called to testify though he earlier appeared before the grand jury. The whole thing Tore me apart he said. I d think about it be asked about it read about it. It really brought me Down. But i m clean. I be always been clean. I never had a problem with drugs. In fact i m embarrassed by it embarrassed for my family and friends. Now i just wish everyone would Stop talking about it. Let it go away. I know i be Learned a lesson or two. I know i m human and i make mistakes. And i should be careful whom i associate with and talk  but according to commissioner Peter Dpi photo Yankee Pitcher Al Holland and his son Al or. Losing weight and ready to prove himself Ueberroth s recent edict because of hol land s limited use or involvement with drugs he will serve a 60-Day suspension unless he donates 5 percent of his base salary to drug abuse programs contributes 50 hours of Community service each year and submits to random drug testing for the rest of his career. Holland has said he will accept the terms. I m a Battler he said. Ill come Back from everything i endured last year. I want to pitch. I want to show people what i  the films he said indicated that he is the same Pitcher that went 8-4 with a 2.26 Era and 25 saves in 1983. Nothing mechanically different he said. Only i had no injuries Back  he weighed 210 pounds that season 25 pounds less than he was this january. He reported to Spring training at 228 and with the Aid of a fruit and vegetable diet combined with running is losing weight daily. At last Check he was 217. Ill get there he said. I m a Winner. I be never enjoyed taking a backseat to anyone. I m just itching for the season to Start. Give me the Ball rain sleet or Snow and i la give you the Best i have. No excuses. No complaints. Just a Guy who can get hitters