European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes sports Friday december 11, 1992bloom has left one time nil roses by Barry Wilner the associated press the gleam is off for some of the a Fly a Glamour teams. It might be years before it returns. The Chicago bears new York giants and Detroit Lions three of the proudest and most successful football franchises have sunk to the Depths of the league. At least the Lions hit by three tragedies had some valid excuses. Through weak coaching disappointing drafts stubborn ass and a serious Lack of imagination the bears and giants have become pretenders. Chicago the pfc centrals dominant team almost since Mike Ditka became coach in 1982, now is keeping company with Tampa Bay. The giants whose Only tie to new York is the tradition of the name a they train and conduct All of their business in new Jersey a have become pygmies. Both teams also have something in common other than a Rich history and a poor 1992 record a beleaguered coaches. Ditka probably will survive if he wants to. Ray Handley a Short tenure with the giants should end just after Christmas. Ditka s team no longer plays intimidating defense. It ranks 17th Overall and a distressing 21st against the run. Chicago which used to feast on forcing fumbles and interceptions has a minus-8 turnover ratio including a league Low 18 takeaways. A one thing that has really Hurt in the past few weeks is turnovers a offensive coordinator Greg Landry said. A although we re moving the football we be really shot ourselves in the foot with All the turnovers we be had. The first half of the season we had very  they be lost six straight. The Only time the bears scare anybody is when Ditka is growling. And he does most of that at his players and the Media. Ditka verbally has blasted quarterback Jim Harbaugh and kicker Kevin Butler right there on the sidelines in front of the television cameras the fans and the other players. He a walked out on news conferences and cursed the Media. He a challenged callers to his radio talk show and the folks in the stands. And he a pulled out All the cliches. A a we re All circling the wagons and in a in the Middle a Ditka said. A those arrows Are starting to  and a you can give them direction you can give them guidance. Tell them what to do when to do it and How to do it. If people done to do it or want to do it  never do it. You can take a horse to water but you can to make him  Ditka does no to have the horses anymore. Mike Singletary is a Hall of Fame linebacker but he sat the end of an illustrious career and Isnit nearly the dominant player he once was. He a surrounded by a disappointing group including High draftees Trace Armstrong John Roper Mark Carrier a a former defensive Rookie of the year a and Tim Ryan. On offence Neal Anderson Hasni to made the big plays nor have Jim Harbaugh Brad Muster and Wendell Davis. The line is mediocre. A i feel for coach Ditka and How much it Means to him a Harbaugh said. A a he a been Hurt in a lot of ways and its sad to see it  the giants even though their 5-8 record is slightly better than Chicago 4-9, probably have been even sadder. They have no direction with the players feuding with Handley and his assistants. They have no fire having lost four straight after putting themselves in position for a playoff run. They have no it no Phil Chicago running Back Darren Lewis can to Bear to watch monday nights 24-7 loss to Houston. Simms or Jeff Hostetler All injured. Their recent drafts have been near busts with the exception of Backfield mates Rodney Hampton and Jarrod Bunch. The biggest woes have been on defense where the giants have gotten old quickly. Perhaps Bill Parcells sensed that when he quit in May 1991. The giants rank 22nd on defense. Without Lawrence Taylor who ruptured his Achilles Tendon in game 9 and plans to retire the unit has bickered with coordinator Rod rust and Handley. And even with each other. A right now its him and then there is us a Carl Banks said. A it does no to threaten anyone Sau Hority that players voice concern. We Are All in it for the same thing. I think that a the one Gripe i have that he needs to talk to whoever he feels is his team Leader and have him talk to the players about some of his  but Handley who has been vilified by the Media and fans a Ray must go said such talks weren to necessary. Detroit a woes Are excusable for this season. The deaths of guard Eric Andolsek and assistant coach Len Fontes brother of head coach Wayne Fontes and the paralysing injury suffered last season by Mike Utley took an incredible emotional toll on this talented team. Injuries have torn apart the roster and none of Detroit a quarterbacks has run the Silver stretch attack efficiently. Barry Sanders has been the Lone Quality threat and opponents have keyed everything to slowing him. Its worked and the Lions Are 3-10. A a in be never been this Low a Fontes said. A not in All the years in be been  a a we re hurting a Sanders said. A we just have to regroup now and try to work out the  that a More Likely to happen at the Silver dome than at Soldier Field or giants  reflect Winter of discontent by Mark Bradley Cox news service Louisville by. A docs anybody remember baseball the sport played with nine men 10 if you re in the american league the National pastime the grand old game the next time you see it give me a Call. Officially these Are the baseball Winter meetings the fulcrum of the hot stove league. Trouble is nobody Here is talking about baseball As it is played. Instead the discussion involves baseball As politics baseball As economics baseball As a microcosm of a flawed society. Late sunday the Yankees and Angels consummated what was by conventional standards a big Deal the Pitcher Jim Abbott going to new York for three prospects. Few even noticed. There was too much else swirling about. Earlier sunday Barry Bonds was set to be introduced As baseball a newest highest paid player. Instead he exited without comment through a hotel Kitchen his $43 million Deal on hold because nobody a sure who owns the giants. The aborted press conference was one of the stranger moments in recent baseball annals. A Day later it did no to seem quite so Odd. Other events superseded it. From 5 to 7 . Monday the Cochran room commentary of the Galt House was the site of a series of remarkable briefings. First As an employee of the commissioners office scrambled to remove the major league baseball logo As a backdrop Michael Haynie of the National coalition against racism in sports and Media took the podium. He lamented a the crimes perpetrated by the Atlanta braves. When you have t Lou Sands of people with a can of Beer in one hand doing the Tomahawk chop with the other it sends a confusing  the messages had just begun. Dennis Banks of the american Indian movement moved to the microphone and said a i wish i was a  he repeated it twice More. A then a Banks said a maybe i would see the same outcry that Marge Schotts remarks have generated. Banks also implied that if the braves did no to change their nickname head ask Nelson Mandela to help Lead a Boycott of the 1996 olympics. Next up was the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Behind him stood former and current big leagues f rank Robinson Dave Parker and Leon Durham. Jackson motioned for Banks to join them on the dais. Banks did. Jackson in town to Lead a protest rally then told the Media that Schott was a symptom not the cause. Said Jackson Quot sister Schotts language is offensive and so Are her hiring practices. But we do not want to make mrs. Schott a Martyr. The owners cannot have their sins absolved by putting All the focus on Marge Schott. If baseball does not get its House in order it will lace a Boycott at the turnstiles or its antitrust exempt status challenged in  Jackson left to meet with Bud Selig head of the owners executive Council. Selig mounted the stage introduced Richard Ravitch head of the player relations committee and departed. Ravitch announced that the owners had voted to re open their collective bargaining agreement with the players. Meaning there might Well be a lockout come the Spring. Said Ravitch a we Are not seeking a confrontation. All of the owners Are concerned about the risk that baseball will not be played in 1993.�?� yeah right. V 3 about Here one observer was asking himself what has happened to this genteel game Boycotts and bargaining lockouts and protests a is this what baseball has become is it truly a place where racism festers Nelow the surface exposing itself Only when a Marge 8chott says something silly How can the same owners who claim they be spent themselves into poverty continue to sign free agents left and right and with the Temple crumbling All around where of where is the commissioner answer there Isnit one. The owners Ion t like the last one and got rid of him. Having yet to c Oose another they be been left to their own devices. Saints preserve us All