European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 11, 1909 the stars and stripes Rouimi nary losing Knight May Cost mets dearly Over More than three decades from Johnny Podrow to Bret Saberhagen the Winner of the world series most valuable player award had always re turned to the tame team the next season. And usually for several seasons but on opening Day Ray Knight won t be wearing a mete uniform. "1 guess they la Send me my world series ring hews saying from his Albany ga., Home i Wear a size 13, but nobody had even asked me what i  knowing i won t be getting the ring with the rest of the Guys opening Day that  Only time will Tell How much the mels will be Hurtin their attempt to repeat As world series champions. Bui the Mela front office does t seem to knowhow to operate with or without a third baseman. And now the search for a third baseman is resumed. Jus when they found a third baseman Iti y could Trust after 80 had been used in 25 seasons they would though up the extra $200,000 it would have taken to sign him. Their top offer was $800,000 for one  would have settled for is million. I might be substituted $900,000 for i million i arbitration he said. But they would t go to arbitration. Thai s what shocked  Gary Carter the mets highest salaried player will earn nearly $2 million next season. Keith Hernandez will Cam si.8 million next season. As Good As Gary and Keith  Knight said it s hard for me to justify them making Mare than twice As much As i did. But in another sense i m no shocked. I be had a negative feeling All along that the front office did t want me  alter the mets won the National league championship series in Houston their manager Davey Johnson proclaimed thai Knight epitomizes then Els competitive spirit. But now the front office is looking to Howard Johnson Kevin Mitchell Tim Teufel and maybe the Rookie Dave Magadan at third base. Just As Case Stengel looked to Don Zimmer on opening Day in 1962, and so Many other mels managers have looked Clave Andersch to so Many other third  happened to Sandy Alomar Ken bos Well de Bressoud and Jerry Buchek Merop Hite Hough the search had ended no Leas for a while. In that classic 16-inning sixth game with the astros Knight s sacrifice Fly produced the tying run in the three run ninth and his single drove in the go ahead run in the three run rally in the i6lh in Ning. In the world series he singled and scored the winning run in the three run loth inning thai stole the sixth game and he hit a Homer to put the mets ahead to stay in the decisive seventh game. I d heard that if i Deall with Frank Cashen directly he d probably satisfy my needs Knight said. But their first offer was 1650,000, what amounted to a $5,000  knights base salary last season was$600,000, but bonuses for plate appearances added another $45,000. With a total of 530 appearances he earned 120,000 when he had 4so appearances an other $25,000 when he had 525.whatever happened to Elio Chacon Cliff Cook Sammy Drake and Sergio Ferrer soon after the met won the 1969 world series they changed third basemen. They released Decharles then obtained Joe Fay from the Kansas City royals in a Trade for a Young Center fielder am Sotis and one of their 80 third baseman Bob John son one of the worst deals in mels history. No that they be finally won the world series again they re changing third basemen  told Nancy Back in August hut i did t know if i wanted to slay Here Knight said referring to his wife Nancy Lopez the golfer i d won Over the fans and i loved it in new York but i did l know if the wanted me Back or  when the season ended Knight had hit .296 with76 runs batted in and 11 homers. And it was t As if he were an aging player. Hell Only be 34 years old i three weeks. But those number weren t enough to convince the mels1 front office that Knight was Worth another $200,000. Whatever happened to Leo Foster pumps Green Bob Heise and Ross jones7 in recent weeks Knight remembered Davey John son told him i want you Back 1 told Frank to gel it done you la be Back. He Abo remembered phone Calli from Bud har Clion the third base coach As Well As Carter and Hernandez. They All told me they be got to bring you Back " Knight said. And if they d offered 1825,000 at the end re have taken it now Knight will see what s out there As free agents like to say. He mentioned team he thought needed a third baseman Atlanta san Diego Balti More both Chicago clubs. As a georgian be would prefer the braves. Whatever happened to Joe Hooek Danny Napo Leon Bobby Focil and Amado Samuel but now that the mets search for a third baseman has resumed will Knight s departure Avreet the fragile chemistry that surrounds every world series Winner year i think i was a main cog i really do. I m not sure they would have won without me this  surely the mels would not have won the National league Pennant without him. And not the world series. And if they Don t win the world series next year the extra $200,000 they did l offer Ray Knight might be a haunting Mitt ave.  Bosworth Heads defensive unit Testaverde Palmer top Dpi team new York up Vinny Tesla verde of Miami and Paul Palmer of Temple the top two finishers in there Imraan trophy voting head the United press International s All americ College football team. Testaverde the Star quarterback forthe no. 1 hurricanes captured the heis Man last weekend As the country s lop College football player. Palmer led the nation in Rushing this season. In voting by sports writers and Broad casters across the country the two were joined in the Backfield by Auburn Brent Fullwood. I 1 guard John Bregel of Southern Cal Dnny was the Lone offensive player to repeat As Woods first com All America completing the line Are Lac de Randy Daon of Pill Buish and jobs  of Missouri guard John Phillips of Demon and Center be tamburello of Auburn. Three juniors make up the receiving unit tight end Keith Jackson of okla homa Aad wide receivers pm Carter of Ohio state and Tim Brown of Notredame. The kicker is Washington s Jeff Jaeger who this season set the Mcaa career Field goal record. Punter Barry Helton of Colorado was a repeat All America. Leading the defense is linebacker Brian Bosworth the fourth place finisher in the Heisman voting and an All Ameri Ca last year. He is joined at linebacker by Lombard award Winner Cornelius Ben Nett of Alabama and Shane Conlan of Penn state. Four seniors Jerome Brown of Miami Reggie Rogers of Washington Danny Noonan of Nebraska and Tony Woods of Pittsburgh make up the front four. Mark Moore of Oklahoma state Lead a secondary that include Tim Mcdon Ald of Southern Cal Rod Woodson of Purdue Brian Blades of Miami and Thomas Everett of Baylor. Testaverde completed 175 of 276passes for 2,557 Yards with 26 touch Downs this season in sparking Miami loan 11-0 record. The hurricanes play no. 2 Penn state in the Jon. 2 fiesta bowl forthe National title. The honors i am receiving now Are directly related to the talents of my team males Testaverde said. I Hope the share in All of this Palmer broke the Mcaa division record for All Purow yank in a season set in 1981 by Marcus Allen. The senior tailback accumulated 2,633 Yards including 1,866  they look Back at what Paul Palmer did at Temple i Hope they re member me As a Guy who played Lute it was always the last game he Laid. Never saved myself for one Way or one  is the fierce Leader of an Oklahoma defense that produced eve shutouts. He paced the sooner m tackles with 80 and assists with 56."basically, 1 always want to be remora team on Pae 22skess-  Jtb fwu us s-T.,w Purdue signs Akers As Grid coach West Lafayette Iii. Alan fired two week ago w football coach at the University of Texas assigned a five year contract to coach at Pur Duc the school announced wednesday. Akers 48, will receive a is  o j�6o.ooo. About 110,000 More Hun former Purdue coach Lej Nett according to Mark Adams Puu Riporti information coordinator. Purdue we to hold a is conference the formal announcement i Adam nid. He hid the new coach was to meet with the players later wednesday. Akera coached the past 10 year a Texas where hit cams compiled an 86 31-2 record and appeared in  bowl games before this past sea is Nurte los Homs finished 5-6 this year the school worst record w 30 Isert we former Texas tech coach awl Mcwilliam. A former Langho Ras Iii jul was red last Friday As Akers Ace Eivor. Ator was a defensive Back Quarter Back and place kicker at the University of Arkansas from 1957-59. He coached High school football in Texas before join ing the longhorns staff in 1966 As an assistant to Darrell Royal. Akers was head coach at Wyoming for two Yean before returning to Texas in 1977 As Royal s successor. Under Akers the Long oms won two Southwest con Ference championships and were naked among the nation s top ten four tunes. Purdue Prew deat Steven a fleeing confirmed earlier that Aken wet in West Lafayette tuesday night Akers and hit wife Diane visited Purdue dec. 4-5. The search was believed to have been narrowed to Akers and Jim Corletto a former Purdue assistant who is now a assistant at Rose bowl bound Arizona slate according to tic Lafayette journal Ami courier. Burtnett announced Hii Reston Holanov. 6. The boilermakers went m this season and finished in a tie for but Ptacin the big ten with a 2-6 conference re con