European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 09, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It j a a we of to  \ a. Is a a to. A a a a or. V a fax i Quot a >-6" it. A a a a it a Al a a 4 a a it a v a a 5 wednesday january 9, 1991 the stars and stripes a a Page 23 a a a it v Law a a it a a Ltd Toad to the super bowl announce Tomczak s redemption by Jim litre Chicago apr he would not believe the applause was for him until Dennis Gentry yanked the football like the last Ray of sunlight out of a Navy Blue Winter sky. Because until that moment late sunday afternoon Mike Tomczak heard cheers that loud Only on those occasions when he was slow getting up. A vindication a Tomczak repeated sunday Savouring the word As much As the 38-Yard pass to Gentry that moments earlier had set up a Field goal to Seal the bears 16-6 pfc playoff win Over the new Orleans saints. -,3. Quot t a v �?T1 a / a i done to know if you re Ever vindicated. It was something i had to do personally arid professionally. What was surprising a he added a was the turn of events a going from a loser to a Winner in such a  indeed the booing was never More merciless than the week before when the Chicago bears backup quarterback completed just 5 of 23 passes for 85 Yards in a humiliating defeat by the Kansas City chiefs. The crowd that Day at Soldier Field a filled one observer suggested a with 10,000 designated Drivers and 50,000 of their Rowdy friends a heckled Tomczak with a relentlessness that would have seemed comforting Only to Roseanne Barr. But the crowd Only seemed to be taking its Cue from his coach. / a a. A. A a a. In 1986, the bears  seven of Tomczak a regu Lar season Stutts in Relief of the injured Jim Mcmahon. But Mike Ditka selected Doug Flutie for the playoffs instead. A a a 7 a. A a v in 1987, Mcmahon Hadnot played for the last five weeks of the regular season. His right Arm however was still attached to his shoulder by the time the playoffs rolled around and that was enough to get him the nod Over Tomczak. And with the saints marching in last week Ditka let Tomczak twist in the wind for two Days before announcing that he would not Start Rookie Peter Tom Willis in his place. It was Otic thing to adjust to always being regarded As a no. 2 after six years in the league a Jim Harbough wrested the starters Job fro Riv Tomczak at the beginning. Of this season and held it until he separated a shoulder. But the thought of demotion to third string was almost too much to Bear. Tomczak was the local boy who made the club As free agent but never lost the. Feeling that he was a pug among purebreds or the annoying habit of frying to prove too much with every play. He could be stubbornly intercepted time and again forcing a pass into coverage cough up the football rather than eat it and try to get everything Back on the very next play. His problem was never a Lack of courage but his insecurity always made it seemed that Way. And two years ago the mounting pressure from within from Ditka and the fans caused Tomczak to seek professional counsel ing. A a a a a a a for a while at least it seemed to work. But whatever reserves of Cool he had built up since evaporated in a moment of blinding anger after the chiefs debacle last week when Tomczak suggested that the fans who booed him were Welcome to Plant a kiss on his backside. Needless to say things Only went downhill from there. Callers to sports talk shows during the week suggested planting Molotov cocktails at the same location. He refused to Back Down but said the Only reason his boxing career had not taken off was because wisely he was staying out of bars. Still what started out As a strictly civic pastime a Tomczak bashing a had spread As far As new Orleans by game time. Greeting him near the 50-Yard Marker was a Banner Reading a Tomczak a if you were a Saint we  be  but it is Tomczak who will be playing football instead of resting on this next Sabbath if Only because he finally reached for Only As much As he could grasp. His numbers sunday were hardly sizzling a 12 of 25 completions for 116 Yards with one touchdown and no inter winning was something Mike Tomczak a had to do. Captions a but they demonstrated a willingness to stay within the limits of his talents. More important his words reflected a similar under standing. A a in a been a Nice Guy since i got Here so 1 had to stand up and express myself a he said. A but the thing i said about the fans booing me a i know you never win that  a a a a. A a. / a. \ a a. A Millen says skins on firmer ground by Tim Liotta san Francisco a the san Francisco 49ers have a Victory Over the Washington redskins that May be of Little use to them. The 49ers, seeking to become the first nil team to win three consecutive super bowl championships open their 1991 postseason saturday at candlestick Park against the. Redskins a team they Defeated 26-13 the second week of the season. In their game against the redskins on sept. 23, the 49ers rolled up 487 Yards in total offence with Joe Montana completing 29 of 44 passes for 390 Yards and two touchdowns. By jumping to a 10-0 Lead Early in the second Quarter the 49ers forced Washington to the air. Mark Rypien completed 17 of 37 passes for 241 Yards and a touchdown. The redskins gained 87 Yards on 20 running plays. A Al think the Redskin line is blocking much better and the team has an air of Confidence about it a san Francisco. Linebacker Matt Millen said sunday by Telephone from his Home. A their running game especially seems to have  the redskins won four of their final five regular season games behind a resurgent running attack led by Earnest byner then Defeated the Phila Delphia eagles 20-6 saturday to Advance into saturdays game. Which leaves the 49ers, winners of six consecutive playoff. Games Over the past two year end route to Back to Back super bowl titles with an opponent they will not recognize saturday. A i watched some films of Washington saturday morning and they Are an entirely different team than the one we played in september a Millen said. A i honestly thought the saints would beat the bears and we would be meeting them saturday at  the 49ers spent the first two Days of their two weeks of playoff preparation welcoming Back some bodies that needed time to heal and giving some others a Little time to recover from a Long season. A we definitely needed this week to get a Little healthier a 49ers coach George Seifert said saturday after the teams final practice last week. Safety Ronnie Lott who had been nursing two sprained Knees for a month and running Back Roger Craig who rested a knee injury the last two weeks of the season both rejoined practice. Nose tackle Jim Burt who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery also began preparations for postseason play last week. Wide receiver Jerry Rice who raiders count on Law of the Jungle 49ers�?Tmatt Millen figured to play saints led the nil in catches and reception yardage and linebacker Charles Haley the 49ers�?T Leader in sacks were held out of practice saturday. A they have had a season of bumps and bruises so we thought rest was Best a Seifert said. The 49ers can activate one player for the playoffs off injured Reserve. Wide receiver Mike Sherrard safety Chet Brooks and linebacker Jim Fahnhorst were placed on the teams practice squad last week. Sherrard out with a broken leg since Early october has resumed workouts and has been impressive enough to be considered. By John Nadel los Angeles a the Cincinnati bengals showed just How significant their Home Field advantage can be against the Houston oilers. Now the los Angeles raiders Hope to do the same thing to the bengals. A a a they have to come to our a Jungle a a raiders defensive tackle Bob Colic said. A we feel strongly about our Home Field our tans. We be got a lot of Pride this is our place our Nome and not too Many people have come in Here and done Well against us.�?�. The raiders we Ere 6-2 at Home this season and Are 13r2 at the los Angeles coliseum since Art Shell became their head coach on oct. 3, 1989. The bengals. Demolished the oilers 41-14 sunday at riverfront stadium to earn the right to face the raiders in a second round playoff game sunday at the coliseum with a berth in the acc championship game awaiting the Winner. The raiders were listed As Early 5�?~a-Point favourites. The oilers beat the bengals 48-17 on oct. 14 at the Astrodome and the bengals returned the favor 40-20 at riverfront stadium on dec. 23. The raiders. Did. Show the bengals about their Home Field advantage on dec. 16, beating Al playoffs on an to and radio saturday 6 30 . Dolphins at Bills 10 . Redskins at 49ers sunday 6 30 . Bears at giants 10 . Bengals at raiders a by Juu it ? t a. A amps Cincinnati 24-7 at the coliseum in a game that Wasny tas close As the final score might indicate. The usually potent Cincinnati offence went Down with barely a whimper that Day gaining Only 251 Yards while the raiders gained 348 Yards. While raiders coach Art Shell would love for history to repeat itself he does no to sound like he a expecting it. A Cincinnati has a very formidable team and a very explosive offence a Shell said. A their defense played very Well against the oilers. Its Tough to get prepared for an offence like that. In a looking Forward to a very exciting