European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday december 15, 1994 sports the stars and stripes r Page 35 rep a cements should t steal show the first time i saw Michael Jordan play in baseball game another considerably less famous scrub nearly stole the show for All the wrong reasons the same reasons Why those owners who can t wait to try replacement players for 1995 had better think twice. The game that warm february afternoon matched class a prospects from the Chicago and Baltimore organizations. Like Jordan they had been pared from the major league roster a Day ear Lier and exiled to this scruffy Diamond on the outskirts of the White sox s Spring Trainin Complex in Sarasota Fla. Yet even in this far Flun Corner of the baseball world a dozen reporters and a Hundred fans gathered behind a Chain link Backstop to watch the King of pro basketball launch his Odyssey in another realm. But just three batters into the Bottom of the first inning it be came impossible to ignore the kid playing shortstop for the orioles. He was that bad. I dont remember his name which is a Good thing but by the time he d had butchered his second Rounder in As Many tries he would finish with six errors turned to the writer alongside me i can t be Lieve these Guys Are this they re bad he said but not that bad. At Leas most of them Aren t. This Guy s a special what do you mean right now the orioles care less who s playing shortstop in their farm system. It s a dead end Job. The Jim Litke commentary Guy that plays the position in Baltimore in t going a moment later unable to resist a dig he added maybe you heard of him. Guy by the name of Cal rip-ken.", there Are several lessons to be Learned from this Story especially in the Wake of a poll last week that left the owners feeling very smug about their threat to godhead and use replacement players in 1995, if Nec Essary v.,.a. The most obvious lesson is to remind owner that Ripken who had played in 2,009 consecutive major league games before the 1994 season was can celled in August remains within striking distance of Lou Gehrig s record of 2,130. Talk about bad Faith. It was enough the owner helped Short circuit a few of the most electrifying Pur suits baseball had seen in Many a year Matt Williams chasing Roger Maris single season Mark of 61 homers Tony Gwynn chasing .400 Frank Thomas chasing a triple Crown. Now imagine what kind of resentment will follow i they wipe out an Opportunity that in Ripken s Case took an entire career to build a second lesson to keep in mind is that those Sam owners while accomplished businessmen outside the game hardly qualify As skilled judges of baseball horse flesh. exactly where this wave of exciting replacement play ers will come from is anybody s guess especially since few current major leagues figure to Cross picket lines and their agents can make Good on threats to withhold the top minor leagues As Well. Expansion has already left the Pool of Talent dangerously shallow. And the aforementioned kid from the orioles organization if not typical is not far below what s left once you dip too deep below the surface of the big league and triple a rosters. That s Why marketable Young superstars like Ken Griffey or. And Frank Thomas As Well As top talents like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens aging and troublesome As they Are can demand a King s Ransom for their services. Which brings us to lesson no. 3, the most important of All-. / for All its tradition and the loyalty it once inspired baseball no longer occupies a special place in the hearts of youngsters. To them it s just another form of entertainment like concerts the Aba and Nintendo. Indeed the same poll showing a majority of fans will ing to stomach replacement players at least at first also showed a decline in the number of people identifying themselves As baseball fans. In the 18-to-34 age group that figure has dipped to 22 percent. The fact is kids Don t feel the same loyalty to the game their elders did if Only because there s an expanding number of diversions to choose from. At the same time Jordan s ability to bring an Audi ence with him wherever he goes proves that the Star system is As Strong As Ever. Shunning the Ripkens and Griffey for replacement players now might put a few dollars in the owners pockets for the Short run. But the guess Here is that i they do there will come a time when they la regret it.big-time.". " -. The Assoc Latte Pratt to play senior Seddoh at notre Cirne by the associated press South Bend ind. Notre Dame s Derrick Mayes says he can wait another year for a big Bank account. The Junior receiver said tuesday he will return for his senior season and won t Register for the 1995 nil draft. Mayes who started All. 11 games for the Irish caught 47 passes for 847 Yards see Irish Story on Page 32 and set a single season school record with 11 touchdown receptions. It s in the Best interest of me and the team i stay Here Mayes said. I m not in any big hurry to make any lab coach Steps aside Birmingham Ala. Alabama Birmingham looking for a higher profile football coach for its move to division i a in 1996, announced that Jim Hilyer was stepping aside to take a Job As assist ant athletic director Hilyer 60, was 27-12-2-in 4 years at the school which moved up to division i a last season. Fordham joins Atlantic 10 new York Fordham is leaving the non scholarship Patriot league in All sports except football to join the Atlantic 10 conference. The University scheduled a news conference for wednesday to de Tail the move effective at the Start of the 1995-96 school year. An to world notes Parry pleads not guilty White Plains . Darryl Strawberry pleaded not guilty and was re leased on his own recognizance wednes Day at his arraignment on Federal tax Eva Storr charges. In a 20-minute hearing before . Magistrate Mark Fox Strawberry said yes twice when asked if he under stood the charges against him and the conditions of his release. After being ordered to stay in the Continental United states the san Francisco giants right fielder was fingerprinted and processed by. . Marshals. His agent Eric Goldschmidt also pleaded not guilty to felony tax evasion which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,00 Fine. Strawberry of evading$146,000 it Incont Eftax by allegedly not reporting More than $500,000 in Cash payments from autograph shows and per Sonal appearances. The former new York mets and los Angeles dodgers outfielder is the first baseball player to be charged with tax evasion since former major leaguer Pete Rose was found guilty of avoiding taxes on $340,000 income. Major league Best 70-44 record last sea son on tuesday agreed to a contract Extension through 1997. Orlando gets Ihl team Orlando Fla. The International hockey league awarded a franchise to Orlando tuesday for the 1995-96 Richard peeps family owners of the Aba s Orlando magic will pay a re ported $6 million expansion fee. Wac lightweight title tuesday night by stopping Calvin Grove in five rounds. The undefeated Gonzalez 35-0, 29 Kos successfully defended his title forthe seventh time in 2yi years using an array of left jabs and body punches to de feat the challenger from Pottstown a. The 32-year-old Grove 46-7, 17 Kos conceded defeat after the fifth round complaining about a possible broken nose and breathing problems. Celts Ford has surgery Daly returns to tour Boston Boston coach Chris Ford is expected to make a full recovery after surgery tuesday to remove a polyp on his Colon. Ford 45, probably will remain hospitalized for 3 to 5 Days a new England Baptist Hospital spokesman said. Holyfield Weaver bout set Santa Monica Calif. Two time heavyweight Champion evander Holyfiel will return March 25 in Beijing against for Mer Aba Champion Mike Weaver. Holyfield 32, who lost his Aba Andiff titles in a 12-round decision to Michael Moorer in april retired briefly when he was diagnosed with a heart problem. But after a Battery of tests at the Mayo Minnesota Holyfiel received medical clearance to fight a Airt expos extend Alou s pact Gonzalez retains title Montreal Montreal manager Felipe Alou who directed the expos to a Albuquerque . Mexico s Miguel Angel Gonzalez retained his Ponte Vedra Fla. John Daly sidelined since a scuffle with a Spectator aug. 28 in the world series of Golf will return to the pea tour in the season opening Mercedes championship. Daly also has filed formal commitments to play in six other Early season tournaments pea officials said tuesday. Martin courier named White Plains . Todd Martin and Jim courier will represent the unite states against France in the first round of the 1995 Davis cup on feb. 3-5 in St. Peters Burg Fla., it was announced tuesday. Sports on an Central european Tomt television College football Las vegas bowl Central Michigan is. Univ 3 . Fri Day. To . Thursday. 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Headline news. 6 30 just of kids 6 40 sesame street1 7 40 Boldysh aping 8.05 Showbiz today 8 30 Larry King Uve 9 25 general Hospital 10 10 guiding ought 11 00 headline news 11 30 profile 11 35 family feud noon Good morning America 2 00 just or kids 2 25 children s stories 2 50 Faerie tale theater 3 35 m a s h 4 05 jeopardy 4 30 entertainment tonight 5 00 headline news 5 10 an evening news 5 40 can sports late night 6 10 Star trek the next generation 7 05 evening Shad 7 35 or. Quinn. Medicine woman 8.25 profile 8 35 . Law 9.30 an late edition 10 05 saturday n get Uvo 11 35 late show with Davidl Flerman Friday 12 30 . The tonight show with Jay Leno 1 30 headline news 2 00 Rouege football us vegas bowl Contra Michigan is. 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