SCOUTS ARE DROOLING OVER THIS DREAM TEAM - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

BOB KURLAND, Staff Writer
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
12-11-1994
SCOUTS ARE DROOLING OVER THIS DREAM TEAM
By BOB KURLAND, Staff Writer
Date: 12-11-1994, Sunday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday

CORRECTION - Bill Timony of Park Ridge should have been listed as a quarterback
on the All-Bergen County football team honorable mention listing. PUBLISHED
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1994, page s09, all editions.

The 1994 All-Bergen offensive football team, selected by the Bergen
County Coaches Association, has everything needed to field a great unit
-- skill, speed, and size. And proving its worth is the amount of
Division I college scouts buzzing around the players.

Bergen Catholic's big tackle Ryan Carfley is set at North Carolina,
Hackensack's sensational runner, Rashidi Brown, has five visits set,
Teaneck's 6-foot-7 1/2 John Wellington is balancing such schools as
Duke, Purdue, and Penn State, and Paramus Catholic's sensational
receiver Anthony DiCosmo is also being recruited.

Pointing up the strength of the unit is that second-team tackle
Brad Messina of Bogota is being wooed by such schools as Maryland, Iowa,
and Nebraska.

Here's a close-up of the players:

NUNZIO CAMPANILE, Paramus Catholic, QB -- Although one of the
smaller players on the team, he played like a giant. He led the team in
rushing with 439 yards and completed 157 of 262 passes for 1,952 yards
and 19 touchdowns despite being hobbled in the last two games by an
injured knee.

And since the Paladins weren't as strong as in the past, they
played a lot of catch-up, including going on fourth down 37 times. He
made the necessary yardage 27 times -- nine times in a close loss to
Hackensack.

'He's a real leader,' says coach Mike Campanile, his father. 'He
knows how to make the kids around him play better. And he had his best
games against the better teams.'

On defense, the 165-pounder played middle linebacker and strong
safety while leading the club in tackles. He carries a 4.0 GPA and is
looking at Dartmouth, Brown, and Princeton.

JUSTIN SCHWARTZ, Glen Rock, QB -- The senior did it all in leading
the Panthers into the playoffs, two years after they had a winless
season.

'His poise is so incredible, it was like having a 25-year-old on the
field,' says coach Paul White.

An All-County javelin thrower, he completed 79 of 135 passes for
1,074 yards and carried 107 times for 733 yards and nine touchdowns. He
averaged 7 yards a carry on audibles. 'He could run over you, but once
in the open could beat people to the end zone,' says White.

The 6-1, 190-pounder quick-kicked twice for 40 and 45 yards, and
when outstanding defensive end Sean Brady suffered an ankle injury,
Schwartz learned the position in days and had a sensational game against
Hawthorne.

Colleges like him, but his heart is in track, and right now he's
deciding whether to attend Virginia or Rutgers.

RASHIDI BROWN, Hackensack, RB -- The mighty little dynamo with 4.3
speed wrapped up his career with almost every school career offensive
record, including 64 touchdowns and 5,421 yards.

He was closing in on the Bergen TD mark this year only to suffer a
fractured ankle and missed three games. He wound up with 27 touchdowns
and averaged nearly 10 yards a carry in picking up 1,714 yards.

'He's the most dominating player I've ever seen in the county,'
says coach Greg Toal. 'Unlike other great speed backs, he was best on
going inside the tackles. And very few people kicked to him.'

Brown returned two punts for scores and picked up a lot of yardage
on all his returns.

The 5-7 sensation will probably visit Clemson, Pittsburgh, South
Carolina, North Carolina State, and Rutgers.

JIM FINN, Bergen Catholic, RB -- 'His ability to cut and make
something out of nothing is unlike any player I've ever seen,' says
coach Fred Stengel. 'He has tremendous vision of the field. Jim has more
moves and ability than any back I've coached except for Eric Lane
[Tennessee scholarship].'

Finn carried 161 times for 1,326 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also
caught seven passes for 133 yards and three scores. And on defense he
recorded 36 tackles from his safety position.

He would like to play football in college, possibly James Madison
or Boston University, but Syracuse and Brown have shown interest in him
as a wrestler.

JOE MAURO, Rutherford, RB -- The senior was so important to the
Bulldogs that he never left the field. 'He was explosive every time he
touched the ball,' says coach Al Weber. He scored carrying the ball,
receiving, and on kick returns. He was the major difference in us
winning nine games in a new, bigger league [NNJIL National].'

Mauro was a defensive back as a sophomore, wide receiver last year,
and moved to tailback this season. In his final game he returned a
kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown. He also had TDs of 76 and 86 yards.
Also, he was an outstanding linebacker.

The 195-pounder carried 171 times for 1,137 yards and 12 scores and
caught 15 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Including kick
returns, he posted 2,062 yards.

While he would like to play football in college, he could wind up
playing baseball. The Dodgers have checked him out as a catcher.

STEVE SUL, Hasbrouck Heights, RB -- The 5-8, 160-pounder was the
Aviators' answer to Brown, as he rushed 185 times for 1,520 yards and 20
touchdowns.

'He has the running ability to go north and south,' says coach Nick
Delcalzo. 'And that pays off in extra yardage as he follows his guards
straight ahead. There are faster runners but he just knows where the
holes are.'

Although the Aviators seldom threw the ball, he showed he has good
hands by grabbing six passes. A strong student, with a 4.3 GPA, he looks
like a good bet for an Ivy League team.

ANTHONY DICOSMO, Paramus Catholic, WR -- Great hands and speed
explain why he caught 70 passes for 996 yards and 10 touchdowns.

'What the college scouts like the best about him,' says Campanile,
'is that after making the catch he has the ability to make the first guy
miss him and turn a short pass into long yardage. And he did it when
mainly being double covered.'

DiCosmo graduates with a school-record 143 receptions and 21
touchdowns. And this season he averaged nearly 30 yards on kick returns.
'He was truly amazing on fourth-down plays,' says the coach.

Among the schools interested are Duke, Syracuse, and Rutgers.

MIKE RICKETT, Fair Lawn, WR -- 'He's the best of both worlds, as
he's a real good possession receiver and can beat you deep,' says coach
Mike Alberque, who gets another year out him.

The junior owns the school season record of 54 receptions, 1,022
yards, and 11 touchdowns, plus the career mark of 91 catches. He also
uses his sticky hands on defense, where he picked off seven passes.

MIKE FOX, Waldwick, TE -- It's tough enough catching passes, but for
three games Fox accomplished the feat while wearing a cast on his broken
left wrist. In his first outing with the cast, he caught 12 passes
against Paterson Catholic for 120 yards.

'He's a good blocker, hard hitter, and once catching the ball loves
to run with it [4.8 speed],' says coach Neil Johnson.

He wound up with 48 catches for 554 yards and six scores. Fox also
played well at defensive end and blocked three punts.

Among the possible colleges are Northeastern, Fordham, Delaware,
and Monmouth.

BRIAN VISTOSKY, Hasbrouck Heights, TE -- 'We did a lot of running
behind him,' says Delcalzo. 'He's a great blocker and one of the big
reasons we were so successful on the ground.

'We didn't have to throw the ball but he does have excellent
hands.'

The old-fashioned blocking tight end did catch 11 passes for 205
yards and three touchdowns. His size (205 pounds) could mean Division
I-AA or II college teams.

RYAN CARFLEY, Bergen Catholic, T -- 'He's the best offensive lineman
I've coached in 27 years,' says Stengel. 'He's an outstanding run
blocker and we picked up a big chunk of our 3,000 yards behind him. Ryan
played only a half [knee injury] in the championship game against St.
Peter's and that was a tremendous loss because he's our emotional
leader, our King Kong.'

Carfley played defense as a sophomore, both ways last year, and
strictly offense this season. The 296-pounder is a devastating blocker.

JOHN WELLINGTON, Teaneck, T -- 'He improved 150 percent over his
junior year,' says coach Dennis Heck. 'And now it looks like he'll be an
even better player in college because he'll be pushed by guys his size
instead of having problems with smaller people.'

The size and quickness are the initial lures, but his 3.4 GPA made
him irresistible to the colleges. Among those calling him are Virginia
and Syracuse.

And the scouts feel if he keeps developing and getting stronger --
'They're talking of him being more than 300 pounds when he gets out of
college,' says Heck -- he could go to the pro level. 'The last couple of
games he was outstanding with our zone and trap blocking.'

The coach should know about tackles, as he coached Dave Szott at
Clifton, who now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. He could wind up with
a second pro product.

CHRIS CHRISTOUDIAS, Ramsey, G -- 'He's such a tenacious blocker that
we moved him around so we could run most of our plays behind him,' says
coach Steve Hyman. 'He has good strength and probably played his best in
our two playoff games.'

Christoudias is a very good student and is undecided whether he'll
play at Tufts, where he will major in engineering. 'He never said
much,' said the coach 'but just went out there and played his
position.'

ADRIAN PUZIO, St. Joseph, G -- 'He was our best offensive lineman,'
says coach Tony Karcich, who will have him back next season. 'He opened
as our center but injuries at guard moved him there. Then there were
injuries at tackle, and we put him there before moving back to guard.
What makes him so good is that he has excellent feet, which makes him a
great trap blocker.'

On defense he started slowly, but wound up being the top lineman.
The 225-pounder bench-presses 315 pounds. 'He has a great work ethic,'
says the coach.

JASON CHIUSOLO, Hackensack, C -- A year ago he played tight end, but
a lack of a center forced the position on him. And the rookie snapper
quickly turned into a veteran.

'He was a devastating trap blocker and a major factor in our
offense picking up 4,000 yards,' says Toal. 'And he built himself up
from about 180 to 218 pounds.'

Another strong student who is looking to play for an Ivy League
school.

BUCK ELSEY, Bergen Catholic, PK -- The soccer player-turned-kicker
connected on 49 of 55 extra points, with four being blocked. And he
connected on a 43-yard field goal while making 4-of-6 attempts.

The junior wound up with the school record for kicking points with
61. He had 14 kickoff touchbacks.

'What's scary,' says Stengel, 'is he's still learning and doesn't
know what he's doing.' It could be quite a senior year if he continues
to develop.

(SIDEBAR, page s20)

ALL-BERGEN OFFENSE

First team

POSITION NAME SCHOOL HT. WT. CLASS
End ANTHONY DICOSMO Paramus Catholic 6-3 175 Senior
End MIKE RICKETT Fair Lawn 5-11 170 Junior
Tackle RYAN CARFLEY Bergen Catholic 6-3 296 Senior
Tackle JOHN WELLINGTON Teaneck 6-7 275 Senior
Guard CHRIS CHRISTOUDIAS Ramsey 6-1 280 Senior
Guard ADRIAN PUZIO St. Joseph 6-0 225 Junior
Center JASON CHIUSOLO Hackensack 6-1 215 Senior
Quarterback NUNZIO CAMPANILE Paramus Catholic 5-10 175 Senior
Quarterback JUSTIN SCHWARTZ Glen Rock 6-1 190 Senior
Running back RASHIDI BROWN Hackensack 5-8 170 Senior
Running back JIM FINN Bergen Catholic 6-0 205 Senior
Running back JOE MAURO Rutherford 5-10 195 Senior
Running back STEVE SUL Hasbrouck Heights 5-8 160 Senior
Tight end MIKE FOX Waldwick 6-3 215 Senior
Tight end BRIAN VISTOSKY Hasbrouck Heights 6-5 205 Senior
Placekicker BUCK ELSEY Bergen Catholic 6-2 190 Junior

Second team

POSITION NAME SCHOOL HT. WT. CLASS
End MIKE ETTZ Lodi 5-9 160 Senior
End CHUCK MAZZARONE Bergen Catholic 5-10 175 Senior
Tackle BRIAN KING Indian Hills 6-2 222 Senior
Tackle BRAD MESSINA Bogota 6-6 285 Senior
Guard BILL DEAETT Glen Rock 6-2 210 Senior
Guard JEFF WERNER Hasbrouck Heights 5-9 180 Senior
Center BRIAN COUGHLAN Bergen Catholic 6-3 255 Senior
Quarterback PERRIN MOSCA Hackensack 6-2 185 Senior
Quarterback PAT WILLIAMS Fair Lawn 6-2 225 Senior
Running back MIKE GUAZZO Indian Hills 6-4 195 Junior
Running back PAT MALLOY Cresskill 6-0 190 Senior
Running back SAL PICINICH Becton 5-8 205 Senior
Tight end DAVE DANHO Dumont 6-2 190 Senior
Tight end BOB KONDRAT Mahwah 6-3 210 Junior
Placekicker PAUL WIOROWSKI Cresskill 5-9 165 Junior

Third team

POSITION NAME SCHOOL HT. WT. CLASS
End TIM JORDAIN Westwood 6-2 185 Senior
End WALTER KING Hackensack 6-3 170 Junior
Tackle JOHN JACKSON Becton 6-2 210 Senior
Tackle KEN MERLO Westwood 6-3 235 Senior
Guard WILLIE SIMMONS Hackensack 6-2 255 Senior
Guard ANTHONY TORRACA Rutherford 6-2 220 Senior
Center BRIAN VOSS Northern Highlands6-0 195 Senior
Quarterback MIKE BRANAGH Waldwick 6-4 180 Senior
Quarterback MAX SABINO Northern Highlands5-11 170 Senior
Running back ANDREW MARINIELLO Pascack Hills 6-2 190 Senior
Running back BRYAN RUST Garfield 5-10 175 Senior
Running back IDRIS WELLS Westwood 6-0 190 Junior
Tight end JOE MERLINO Paramus Catholic 6-1 197 Junior
Tight end ANTHONY REGA Becton 6-0 180 Senior
Placekicker DAX STROHMEYER Northern Highlands6-3 197 Senior

Honorable mention

WIDE RECEIVERS -- Anthony Gallella, Paramus Catholic; John Lerch,
Fair Lawn; Keith Michel, Indian Hills; Mike Malizia, Northern Highlands;
Robert Davis, Englewood; Scott Silverman, New Milford; Mike Bradley,
Palisades Park; Chris Leonard, Glen Rock; Adam Wolfson, Waldwick; Mikkel
Brown, Elmwood Park; Mike Paolercio, Park Ridge; Brian McGuire,
Cresskill.

TIGHT ENDS -- Tom Steiner, Ridgewood; Karl Weiss, Paramus; Jake
Hamrick, NV/Demarest; Arno Rheinberger, Fair Lawn; Ken Solarino, Pascack
Hills; Jon Surran, Westwood; Tito Valdez, Palisades Park; Mark Kalish,
Lodi; Fernando Verterdor, Garfield; Ron Kempe, Elmwood Park; Marty
Vitkovsky, Wood-Ridge.

TACKLES -- Chris Van Cleve, Ridgewood; Jay Camerlengo, Paramus
Catholic; Fatmir Dema, NV/Old Tappan; Chris DeLuna, Fair Lawn; Bill
Gibbons, Bergenfield; Ian Steberson, NV/Old Tappan; Chad Parker,
Northern Highlands; Eric Tomaszewski, Rutherford; Greg Bilyk, North
Arlington; Chris Toforo, Glen Rock; Andrew Varaj, Glen Rock; Anthony
DiMartino, Lodi; Donny Janeuski, Elmwood Park; Andrew Elford, St.
Mary's.

GUARDS -- Jack Kashishian, Bergen Catholic; Mike Krauchuk, NV/Old
Tappan; Greg Zurberg, Fair Lawn; Ron Min, Pascack Hills; Vin Venetucci,
Ridgefield Park; Steve Dogherty, North Arlington; Ali Fathali, Palisades
Park; Erick Anderson, Waldwick; Bryan Rendon, Lodi; Anthony Iaquez,
Elmwood Park; Martin Grycuk, Wallington.

CENTERS -- Derrick Borkowski, Fair Lawn; Mike Giampietro, Cliffside
Park; Allen Bull, Tenafly; Phil Santiago, Lyndhurst; Chris Rigg, Glen
Rock; Rich Falletta, Elmwood Park; John Kryzanowksi, St. Mary's.

RUNNING BACKS -- Mark Mitchell, Don Bosco Prep; Rob Carey, Nutley;
Mike Sellari, Nutley; Jeff Galucci, NV/Demarest; Rob Miano, Ramapo;
Jason DiRese, NV/Old Tappan; Marcus Giles, Mahwah; Chris Burrows,
Cliffside Park; Marquis Easley, Ridgefield Park; Pat Auteri, Lyndhurst;
Alex Cruz, Palisades Park; Korey Wright, Glen Rock; Domond Anderson,
Glen Rock; John Yessis, Midland Park; Ed Murphy, Lodi; Caran Nelson,
Lodi; Mark Beneken, Bogota; Wally Elegbe, Teaneck; Orande Higgans,
Paramus Catholic.

QUARTERBACKS -- Ray Harmon, Ridgewood; Mike Greco, Nutley; Jason
Tardio, Ramapo; Bill Falkenstern, NV/Old Tappan; Bill Weigel,
Bergenfield; Ryan Caputo, Indian Hills; Manny Gotay, Cliffside Park;
John LoBello, Westwood; Mike McSweeney, New Milford; Pat Powers, Leonia;
Chuck Manzo, Garfield; Frank D'Amico, Lodi.

PLACE KICKERS -- John Mulfinger, Ramapo; Aaron Schrager, Ramsey; Joe
Careri, Rutherford; Joe Lucious, Westwood; Tom Bermingham, North
Arlington; Kevin Tode, Glen Rock; Lou Taylor, St. Joseph.

Illustrations/Photos: 16 PHOTOS 1 - Anthony DiCosmo, Paramus Catholic, End
2 - Mike Rickett, Fair Lawn, End 3 - Ryan Carlfey, Bergen Catholic, Tackle
4 - John Wellington, Teaneck, Tackle 5 - Chris Christoudias, Ramsey, Guard
6 - Adrian Puzio, St. Joseph, Guard 7 - Jason Chiusolo, Hackensack, Center
8 - Nunzio Campanile, Paramus Catholic, Quarterback 9 - Justin Schwatrz, Glen
Rock, Quarterback 10 - Rashidi Brown, Hackensack, Running back 11 - Jim Finn,
Bergen Catholic, Running back 12 - Joe Mauro, Rutherford, Running back 13 -
Steve Sul, Hasbrouck Heights, Running back 14 - Mike Fox, Waldwick, Tight end
15 - Brian Vistosky, Hasbrouck Heights, Tight end 16 - Buck Elsey, Bergen Catholic,
Placekicker

Keywords: BERGEN COUNTY. SCHOOL. FOOTBALL. ATHLETE. THE RECORD. AWARD

Copyright 1994 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

SNOWBALL THROWER OUSTED, BUT SEX ABUSER IS WELCOME - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

STEVE ADUBATO JR.
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
11-24-1996
SNOWBALL THROWER OUSTED, BUT SEX ABUSER IS WELCOME
By STEVE ADUBATO JR.
Date: 11-24-1996, Sunday
Section: REVIEW & OUTLOOK
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday

THE 'second chance' signing of football player Christian Peter by
the Giants raises a host of troubling questions and issues. This
incident speaks volumes about how we continue (even post-O.J.) to give a
wink and a nod to talented ballplayers with histories of physically and
sexually abusing women.

Christian Peter was once a star at Middletown South High who played
on two national championship teams at the football factory known as the
University of Nebraska. At 6 feet 3 inches, and 300 pounds, Christian
was an imposing figure around campus. He was a star, named captain in
his senior year despite 'some problems with the social thing,' as one
teammate put it.

The 'social thing?' Meet Kathy Redmond, who claims that on two
occasions in September 1991, Christian raped her. He says he was falsely
accused. Not long after, former Miss Nebraska Natalie Kuivenhoven went
to the police claiming Christian grabbed her crotch in a crowded Lincoln
bar. He eventually pleaded 'no contest' to third-degree sexual assault.

Melissa Demuth claimed Christian sexually assaulted her after they
met at a club and went back to her apartment. She says he held her down
and sexually abused her. He said the sex was consensual. The police
dropped the charges.

Janulle Mues charges that Christian abused her physically and
verbally when they got into an argument. The 95-pound girl said the
300-pounder grabbed her by the throat, then called her a string of
obscenities. Christian cut a deal with the county prosecutor by pleading
guilty to 'disturbing the peace.'

Christian was also arrested for trespassing, urinating in public,
refusing to comply with a police officer, and third-degree assault for
threatening to kill a parking lot attendant. Nice kid.

Amazingly, on April 21 of this year, the New England Patriots
drafted Christian. Did they know his history of 'social problems' at the
time? Well, a few months earlier, Christian claims, he met with a group
of Patriot coaches and scouts. When they asked if he had ever been
arrested, he answered, 'Do I have to give them in order?' Later
Christian described the reaction to his question: 'The whole group
started laughing . . . cracking up.' He said that once he finished
running down his record, 'these guys started telling me their own
stories . . . That's nothing, they told me.'

Nothing, until women's groups in New England went nuts. With the
public pressure on, three days after they drafted Christian, the
Patriots released him, claiming they didn't know all of his criminal
history. Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne felt his player had gotten a
raw deal and banned professional scouts from his team's practices.

If this story ended there, it would be bad enough. I mean, how could
it be this kid wasn't chastised by the entire University of Nebraska
campus for his criminal antics? How could his coaches allow him to be
named captain of the team? Would the Patriots have dropped him if the
National Organization for Women and the Boston newspapers (one called
him 'a dysfunctional piece of trash') hadn't trashed them?

Enter the Giants, the losing franchise that wants to give Christian
Peter a 'second chance.' They want to sign him to play in 1997. Truth
is, the Giants brass wanted to keep this whole thing quiet (head coach
Dan Reeves wasn't even told until the story was about to hit the papers)
until this sorry season was over.

Dr. Joel Goldberg is a sports psychologist handling Christian
Peter's 'rehabilitation,' which includes substance abuse treatment
(Christian says he is an alcoholic who doesn't remember any of the
incidents he was involved in), treatment for attention deficit disorder
(the other explanation for his actions), and psychological counseling.
Goldberg convinced the Giants that Christian was ready for a second
chance.

Goldberg says Christian finally admits to being an alcoholic. That,
and his good behavior over the past six months (no rape charges), were
the keys to the doctor's recommendation. Why haven't the Giants demanded
a single word of responsibility or remorse from Christian for the pain
and suffering he inflicted on several innocent women? That's right -- he
doesn't remember.

Listen to Giants co-owner Bob Tisch, who says his team is 'helping
society' because, 'We've taken a kid with problems, made him a better
young man.' What a saint. Giants General Manager George Young offered
this, 'There are hundreds of guys in this league who did worse than he
did. We're not in the choirboy business.' Thanks, George.

Caroline Janus, who started New Jersey Rape Survivors, says, 'We
are offended the Giants would even think to hire a man with his history
of violence against women.' Giants President Wellington Mara says he is
'concerned about the possible reaction, but it's not going to stop us
from doing the right thing.'

Think about it: Anyone caught throwing a snowball at Giants Stadium
is banned from going to another game; yet, if all goes as planned,
Christian Peter will be on the field playing for the pathetic Giants in
1997. Pretty sick, huh?

Keywords: FOOTBALL. PROFESSIONAL. ATHLETE. DRUG. ALCOHOL. ABUSE. WOMAN. ASSAULT.
CONTRACT

Copyright 1996 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

TALK OF THE TOWN.(Local) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: Norm Clarke

The owner of a LoDo nightclub said Monday he had a man partying with the Colorado Avalanche bounced from the establishment after the customer threw a drink on a female bartender.

Drew Adelman of Polly Esther's, a popular new disco club near Coors Field, said the incident occurred Saturday night. Adelman said he was certain the ejected patron was a member of the Avalanche because he was with a large group of the players.

He said the man tossed the drink after complaining the service was too slow.

Avalanche veteran Claude Lemieux, reached in Boston with the team late Monday, said, ``Something did happen with someone that I know, but I'm not going to rat. I'm a peacemaker. I tried to settle the issue.''

Before throwing the drink on the bartender, Adelman said the reveler told her, ``I don't have to wait for service in my country.''

After the man was thrown out, he pulled out a $100 bill and ``tried to negotiate his way back in by offering it as a tip to the bartender.''

``That stuff won't be tolerated,'' said Adelman.

Uneasy rider - It was about 20 years ago when Peg Warren Reed, a semiprofessional actress, boarded a shuttle plane in Aspen for a trip back to Denver after doing a TV commercial.

Preoccupied with some paperwork, Reed didn't look up when a passenger sat in the aisle seat next to her. During a very bumpy flight, the passenger repeatedly reached across her to plug in an oxygen mask.

``The plug kept coming out, so I plugged it in the last two to three times,'' Reed said. ``But I was getting exasperated and I whirled around and looked at him.''

She found herself face-to-face with Jack Nicholson, who was more than a little under the weather from the flight - and who knows what else. Reed said she started complimenting him on his movies - Five Easy Pieces and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

But Nicholson was too green around the gills for chitchat.

``Well, honey, you want to know the toughest thing I've done in the last five years?

``Riding on this bleep-damn plane.''

The Scene and Heard - Mayor Wellington Webb was aboard a plane among the Air Force One fleet that made an emergency landing Wednesday in Accra, Ghana, because of a mechanical problem. Webb was a member of the U.S. delegation that was joining President Clinton for his South African leg of his six-country African tour. . . . The folks at 9th Avenue West are positively giddy over their April 17-18 booking of the New Morty Show, an acclaimed San Francisco swing band. How good is this act? In the words of the late Herb Caen, the San Francisco Chronicle's legendary man-about-town, Morty Okin and Connie Champagne ``do the best duets since Louis Prima and Keely Smith in the golden era of Las Vegas lounge acts. Not to be missed, lounge lizards.'' Reservations: 572-8006. . . . Impulse Theater, after 12 years of being known as Comedy Sports, launches its new name with an April Fool's Day romp through four downtown restaurants. You can catch the 15-member troupe doing gigs Wednesday at Wynkoop Brewing Co., Old Chicago, Rock Bottom and Paramount Cafe. . . . Get-well wishes to Denver jazz pianist and singing legend Ellyn Rucker, who is recovering from a heart attack. . . . Thank you, Donna Dewey, for putting some pizzazz in my resume. Not every ink-stained wretch can make the claim ``directed by an Oscar winner.'' Six years ago, Dewey directed a commercial for the Rocky Mountain News that included my slam-dunking ability (OK, so there was a ladder involved) and some other trickery showing a basketball spinning on my finger that put Dan Issel to shame.

The Punch Line - File this under Typos We Love Seeing Other People Make: ``An open house is scheduled for Dec. 12-13. . . . a live flamingo guitarist will play both days.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo (2)

Jack Nicholson.

UMaine capsules - Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME)

Men's hockey

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-7-1 (6-4-1 Hockey East); Northeastern 6-7-1 (4-6-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 47-40-15, NU 5-2 on Nov. 14

Key players: Maine - RW Gustav Nyquist (11 goals, 13 assists), LWBrian Flynn (4 & 12), C Tanner House (7 & 6), LW Spencer Abbott (4 &9), D Will O'Neill (4 & 9), D Jeff Dimmen (2 & 6), G Scott Darling(8-3-1, 2.59 goals-against average, .909 save percentage); NU - RWGarrett Vermeersch (4 & 6), RW Kyle Kraemer (5 & 4), LW Wade MacLeod(4 & 5), C Alex Tuckerman (3 & 4), D Jake Newton (2 & 5), G BryanMountain (1-1, 1.86, .905), G Chris Rawlings (5-6-1, 2.95, .913)

Outlook: Maine has won four in a row and is unbeaten in five (4-0-1) while Greg Cronin's Huskies are 3-2-1 in their last six. NU is1-5-1 on the road. Maine is 5-2-1 at home. However, Northeastern haswon its last three games at Alfond Arena and four of its last five.Rawlings and Mountain are freshmen so whoever starts will be makinghis Alfond Arena debut. Maine will look to exploit thatinexperience. NU has scored two goals or less in eight of its last11 games. The Huskies are talented and will work hard and finishtheir checks. The Bears will have to match their intensity and grit.Maine has allowed just four goals in its last four games. Croninfeels his team will have to play a strong defensive game and stayout of the penalty box. The teams split a Nov. 13-14 series inBoston and the team that won the special teams battle won the game.

Men's basketball

MAINE vs. KENNESAW STATE

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-4; Kennesaw State 4-4

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine 60-47 Nov. 15, 2008

Key players: Maine - 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (16.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg,1.5 apg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-3 G TerranceMitchell (10.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (9.4 ppg,5.6 rpg, 3.1 rpg), 6-7 F Troy Barnies (7.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-7 FMurphy Burnatowski (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.6 apg); Kennesaw State - 6-7 F Markeith Cummings (17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6-3 G KurtisWoods (13.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg), 6-6 F Jon-Michael Nickerson(12.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.4 apg), 6-0 G Kelvin McConnell (8.8 ppg, 2.8apg), 6-9 F LaDaris Green (7.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-9 F Matt Heramb (7.1ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are coming off a record-setting victoryin which they scored 133 points against the UMPI Owls, but pointswill be much harder to come by against these Owls, who Maine beat ontheir home court in the 100 Club Championship tourney title gamelast year. The KSU Owls have good size and should give Maine a toughbattle inside. KSU takes care of the ball with just 12.8 turnoversper game, so Maine will have to continue to cut down its turnovers.The Owls are scoring 76.8 points and grabbing 36.5 rebounds pergame.

Women's basketball

MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC

Time, site: Saturday, noon; TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.

Records: Maine 2-5; Quinnipiac 2-5

Series, last meeting: Quinnipiac leads 1-0, QU 70-49 on 11/24/07

Key players: Maine - 6-0 F Samantha Wheeler (10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg,.490 FG pct.), 5-9 G Amanda Tewksbury (9.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 spg), 5-5 G Kristin Baker (9.1 ppg, 3.6 apg), 6-2 F Corinne Wellington (7.8ppg, 3.8 rpg), 5-9 G Katelyn Vanderhoff (4.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.9 apg),5-11 F Katia Bratishko (4.6 ppg, .870 FT pct.); Quinnipiac - 6-3 CCourtney Kaminski (11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg), 6-1 G KathleenNeyens (11.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-7 G Felicia Barron (10.8 ppg, 4.5 apg,2.5 spg), 5-11 F Jacinda Dunbar (9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-1 F Jacki Mann(5.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Hastings joins SRU sevens push - The Scotsman

GAVIN Hastings has joined the Scottish Rugby Union as a'commercial manager' as part of a revamp to the game of sevens.

Scotland will compete in the full IRB World Sevens Series at leastfor the next two seasons, with Rob Moffat, the former Glasgow andBorders assistant coach, and sevens chief for the past three years,becoming the first full-time national sevens coach.

He will be assisted by part-time manager and physio PeterGallagher and Stevie Mutch, with former Scotland and Lions full-backHastings operating on a commission basis with a wide remit to attractsponsorship and other commercial support for the sevens squad. TheIRB's investment in travel and accommodation for competing nations,and help from other sources, such as the Commonwealth Games Councilfor Scotland - as sevens features in the Games - ensures that thismajor push by the SRU into the abbreviated form of rugby will notmean a significant change in Murrayfield funding, but Hastings haspledged to come up with extra finance through the sevens exploits.

He admitted: 'It is nice to be involved with the game in anofficial capacity because I've always wanted to be; I've always beenenthusiastic about helping Scottish rugby.

'I couldn't say they came knocking on my door, exactly, but frombeing in Hong Kong and at other events around the world I could seethe potential for support for Scotland. The sevens team didbrilliantly out there this year and it's a positive aspect of ourgame that we have to build on and maximise.'

With the A matches still sidelined, Ian McGeechan believes thesevens arena could provide a valuable testing ground for up-and-coming internationals. He said: 'This gives us a world-classcompetitive level - a concentrated run of eight tournaments that says'you have to deliver' - and I feel that's what we've been missing inthe past.

'Out of this you get more players who grow up quicker, and that'sbeen a weakness for us. They get further down the line before theserious questions, mental, physical and skill-wise, are being asked.We have a lot of talented players, but what we need to do is have astructure where the only limit to the player's ambition is himself,and the structure won't let him down. We haven't had that.'

McGeechan insisted that this new support for sevens followed hisown philosophy, stressing that Scotland qualified for the World Cup,to be held in Hong Kong next March, 'a task that had been beyond usfour years previously'. It remains a fact, however, that Scotland'sfailure to qualify for the last World Cup came when he was nationalcoach and at a time when neither he nor Jim Telfer, the SRU directorof rugby, put sevens development high on the agenda.

There was also a pledge from Moffat, in his wider role as 'sevensprogramme manager', to develop club and youth sevens, and a youngdevelopment team will compete at Selkirk Sevens this weekend to beginpreparations for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia inDecember.

Meanwhile, Steve Bates, the new Borders coach, has left leadingplayers Chris Cusiter and Bruce Douglas out of his team to play atLeeds tonight to help national coach Matt Williams.

Williams has put many of the Test squad on new strength andconditioning programmes in an effort to build them up, and also askedthat they be released from pre-season games to ensure they can stickwithin the SRU's new 30-game limit for top players.

Bates said: 'We're keen to support the Scotland effort. [Leavingplayers out] is part of the very positive attitude we are trying totake towards Scotland's international preparations.

'We're also talking to several players and might be able to boostthe size of our squad. We could suffer severely during the autumninternationals but the Union is very supportive of us and has assuredus that there will be funds to get us through.'

IRB World Sevens Series: Dubai (2/3 December), George, SouthAfrica (10/11 December), Wellington (4/5 February), Los Angeles (12/13 February), Hong Kong (World Cup 18-20 March), Singapore (mid-April), Bordeaux and London (dates to be confirmed).

Scotland Sevens squad: J Beattie (GHA and Glasgow), P Boston(unattached), K Brown (Borders/Scottish Institute of Sport), ATurnbull, J Weston (both Borders), D Burns, N Cochrane, A Nash(Watsonians), D Callam (Edinburgh/SIS), O Brown, M Clapperton, RCouper (all Boroughmuir), S Duffy (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow), I Fairley(Kelso), D Gray (Gala), C Gregor (Watsonians/Glasgow), C Keenan(unattached), C Laidlaw (Jed-Forest), M Lee (Army), A MacDonald(Heriot's/Edinburgh), C MacRae (Borders/SIS), R Reid (Golden Lions),K Sinclair (Glasgow Hawks), A Strokosch (Edinburgh/SIS).

Scotland Development squad (to play at Selkirk Sevens, Sunday, 29August): S Crombie (Kirkcaldy), C Dunlop (Durham University), J Hood(Stewart's-Melville FP), A Hutt (Dunfermline), T Jericevich (AberdeenGSFP), C Johnston (Merchiston Castle School), J King (Berwick andBorders) capt, D McCall (Stewart's-Melville College), R Rennie(Stewart's-Melville FP), G Ryan (Ellon).

Obituaries in the News - AP Online

Umberto Abronzino

ONEONTA, N.Y. (AP) - Umberto Abronzino, whose lifelong dedication to soccer earned him a spot in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, has died. He was 85.

Abronzino died Saturday in San Jose, Calif. A cause of death has not been released, said Jack Huckel, director of the Hall of Fame museum in Oneonta.

Abronzino immigrated to the United States in 1937 from his native Italy, where he was an accomplished player, and continued playing in the Hartford, Conn., area. He moved to the San Francisco area in 1952 and organized the Peninsula Soccer League, serving in a number of roles.

Abronzino was an officer in the California Soccer Association. He also helped organize California North Youth Soccer, served on the U.S. Soccer National Amateur Cup's organizing committee and worked as a referee. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1971.

---

Dick Dickey

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Dick Dickey, who starred on North Carolina State's Final Four team in 1950 before playing briefly for the Boston Celtics, has died. He was 79.

Dickey died Monday at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis from complications of recent lung surgery, the university said.

In his four years at N.C. State from 1947-50, the Wolfpack went 107-22. Dickey, a 6-foot-2 forward, was part of the team that lost to eventual champion City College in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

The 1947 Wolfpack team introduced to college the tradition of cutting down nets, a celebration that originated in Indiana high schools.

Dickey was drafted in the third round by the NBA's Baltimore Bullets. He played the 1950-51 season with the Anderson Packers and the next season with the Celtics, averaging 2.8 points.

He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.

---

Kevin Herlihy

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Kevin Herlihy, who pitched New Zealand to two world softball championships, has died. He was 58.

Softball New Zealand said that Herlihy died Wednesday of a heart attack.

Herlihy competed in six world championships, beginning in 1966, and helped New Zealand win in 1976 and again in 1984 when he threw a perfect game.

While playing in the United States, Herlihy won two U.S. men's club championships with the Saginaw Bolters, and was twice chosen as league pitcher of the year. He was New Zealand player of the year three times, and won six New Zealand championships.

Herlihy was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in 1991.

---

W.W. 'Bill' Finlator

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Rev. W.W. 'Bill' Finlator, an outspoken Baptist minister who championed civil rights during the 1960s, has died. He was 93.

Finlator, who died Monday of pneumonia after a period of poor health, was pastor at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh for 26 years until he retired in 1982. A white man who spoke up for civil rights from his pulpit, he also openly opposed the Vietnam War. In retirement, he was an activist against war, poverty and capital punishment.

'He thought of himself as imitating Jesus, and trying to bring justice to the poor and peace to the world,' his son, Raleigh lawyer Wallace Finlator Jr. said.

A Louisburg native, the minister had congregations in Pittsboro, Weldon and Elizabeth City before coming to Pullen.

He once asked the federal government to cut funding to the University of North Carolina system on grounds that it hadn't made progress in racial integration. The view angered some faculty at N.C. State University, which is near the church.

---

Kenneth Lay

HOUSTON (AP) - Kenneth Lay, the founder of Enron Corp. who was convicted of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, has died in Aspen, Colo. He was 64.

An autopsy showed Lay died Wednesday of heart disease, Mesa County Coroner Dr. Robert Kurtzman said.

Lay was convicted May 25 along with former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling of defrauding investors and employees by repeatedly lying about Enron's financial strength in the months before the company plummeted into bankruptcy protection in December 2001.

Lay was also convicted in a separate non-jury trial of bank fraud and making false statements to banks, charges related to his personal finances.

Prosecutors in Lay's trial declined comment Wednesday, both on his unexpected death and what may become of the government's effort to seek a $43.5 million judgment from Lay that they say he pocketed as part of the conspiracy. Lay's death will not affect their case against Skilling.

Both were scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 23. Lay faced decades in prison, as does Skilling.

Lay led Enron's meteoric rise from a staid natural gas pipeline company formed by a 1985 merger to an energy and trading conglomerate that reached No. 7 on the Fortune 500 in 2000 and claimed $101 billion in annual revenues. Lay traveled in the highest business and political circles.

For many years, his corporation was the single biggest contributor to President Bush, who nicknamed him 'Kenny Boy.'

But Enron collapsed after it was revealed the company's finances were based on a web of fraudulent partnerships and schemes, not the profits that it reported to investors and the public.

Both he and Skilling maintained that there had been no wrongdoing at Enron, and that the company had been brought down by negative publicity that undermined investors' confidence.

---

Philip Rieff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philip Rieff, a University of Pennsylvania sociologist who was one of the first scholars to explore Sigmund Freud's impact on Western culture, has died. He was 83.

A cultural theorist once married to Susan Sontag, Rieff died Saturday of heart failure at his Philadelphia home, his family said.

Rieff argued that the traditional function of culture - to teach morality - has been supplanted in modern times by the notion that culture exists merely for personal gratification. The first volume of his master work, 'Sacred Order/Social Order: My Life Among the Deathworks,' was published just this year.

Rieff, who taught at Penn from 1961 until his 1992 retirement, started his career at the University of Chicago.

His standout reputation led the 17-year-old Sontag to audit his Kafka class. They married 10 days later, an eight-year union that produced one child, the journalist David Rieff. Sontag died in December 2004.

---

Pierre Rinfret

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Pierre Rinfret, the economist and political neophyte whose 1990 defeat against Mario Cuomo was the worst in modern times for a Republican candidate for governor in New York, has died. He was 82.

Rinfret died June 29 of heart-related problems on Nantucket, where he and his wife of more than 57 years had lived since 1991, his son, businessman Peter Alan Rinfret, said Wednesday. He had been briefly hospitalized at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, where he died, his son said.

The Manhattan-based Rinfret agreed to become the GOP candidate for governor after party leaders failed to find any well-known and politically experienced challenger to Cuomo. He collected just 22 percent of the vote in 1990 as Cuomo easily won a third term. A Conservative Party challenger, Herbert London, captured 21 percent of the vote.

His campaign for governor became something resembling comedic theater. He spent almost as much time criticizing state GOP leaders - many of whom had walked away from his candidacy after he balked at self-financing the effort - as he did attacking Cuomo, who largely ignored his Republican challenger.

On 2 - Winnipeg Free Press

Wonky hammy sidelines Mets' Martinez

MIAMI -- Pedro Martinez will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks with what the New York Mets said was a mild strain of his left hamstring.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the Mets' game against the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Martinez was injured Tuesday night, returned to New York and was examined by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

'It doesn't look good,' manager Willie Randolph said before the diagnosis was announced by Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz. 'He said he heard a pop, and that is not a good thing. It could have just been a combination of a real bad cramp or a strain. 'Any time a pitcher pulls a hamstring, that is usually automatic DL.'

Wickenheiser makes SI's list

of toughest jocks

Canadian women's hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser ranked 20th on Sports Illustrated's list of the 25 toughest athletes, posted on its website Tuesday.

Golf superstar Tiger Woods was ranked first overall.

Wickenheiser, from Shaunavon, Sask., was the second of two women on the list, coming in behind British triathlete Chrissie Wellington, who was No. 10.

'No player in women's hockey drives to the net with such purpose and fury,' the website says of Wickenheiser. 'Wickenheiser has grown from teen phenom to grande dame of Canadian hockey, carrying the weight of her country and game every time on the ice. Sadly, she isn't allowed to body check.'

Musher Lance Mackey was second, mixed martial arts fighter Anderson Silva was third, NFLer Bob Sanders was fourth and hulking Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara was fifth.

Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was the top NBAer, at No. 7, while San Francisco Giants centre-fielder Aaron Rowand was the top baseball player, at No. 17.

On Wednesday Wickenheiser scored a natural hat trick in Canada's 6-1 win over Sweden in exhibition women's hockey in Harbin, China.

The game was a World Women's Hockey Championship warmup for both countries. Canada, the reigning Olympic and world champions, opens defence of its world title Friday against Russia.

The Swedes, who won bronze last year in Winnipeg and silver in the 2006 Olympics, start the tournament against promoted Japan.

-- The Canadian Press

Fenerbahce nips Chelsea in first leg stunner

LONDON -- Deivid de Souza scored a late goal Wednesday to give Fenerbahce a 2-1 upset over Chelsea, and Liverpool got a crucial away goal in its 1-1 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Deivid gave Chelsea the lead with an own-goal in the 13th minute, but he then scored with a dramatic shot from distance in the 81st to give the Turkish team a win in its first appearance in the quarter-finals of Europe's top club competition.

Five-time European champion Liverpool came back with a 26th-minute goal from Dirk Kuyt to get its draw at English rival Arsenal after Emmanuel Adebayor put the hosts ahead three minutes earlier. The teams will play again in the second leg on Tuesday, with the winners facing each other later this month in the semifinals.

'We are in a good position, playing at Anfield with our supporters who are a massive difference,' Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. 'But against a good team with the quality you could see today we need to play counter-attack and working very hard in defence.'

Chelsea took the lead at Sukru Saracoglu stadium when Deivid deflected a cross from Florent Malouda into his own net. But Kazim Kazim equalized in the 65th by beating the offside trap and beating Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

'We are strong enough at home,' Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack said. 'Everything is in our hands.'

Chelsea almost scored a goal of its own in the 26th when a header by Frank Lampard went wide. Didier Drogba then had a close-range shot saved by goalkeeper Volkan Demirel in the 29th.

'Normally it's a good result to lose 2-1 away from home, but because we played the better football, we are disappointed,' Chelsea manager Avram Grant said.

Kuyt scored for Liverpool by sliding inside the 6-yard box and deflecting in a cross from captain Steve Gerrard, three minutes after Adebayor had given the hosts the lead at the Emirates Stadium with a header off a cross from Robin van Persie. Emmanuel Eboue nearly scored another for Arsenal, but Martin Skrtel cleared it off the line with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina beaten.

This was the first of three matches between Arsenal and Liverpool in six days.

-- The Associated Press

Condition improving,

but Koskie still can't play

MINNEAPOLIS -- Corey Koskie came to the Metrodome on Wednesday, and he didn't get sick.

That's not a joke about the dingy stadium the Minnesota Twins are two years from leaving. That's an accomplishment for the 34-year-old native of Anola who wants to be a third baseman in the major leagues again despite persistent post-concussion symptoms that won't let him.

The last time Koskie showed up at the Dome to see his old teammates, his daily nemeses -- dizziness and nausea -- told him it was time to go back home.

That was last summer, so he's clearly making progress. He's able to play catch and goof around with his three very active sons, ages seven, five and three, and drive them to and from school in their suburban community in the Twin Cities area. But visual stimuli still give him trouble. When he walks from a confined space to a large, open area, he often feels wobbly. Actual baseball activities are currently out of the question.

'I want to get to the point where I can go run and exercise and not think about it,' said Koskie, who had lunch with former teammate Torii Hunter and brought the new Angels centre-fielder to the ballpark. Koskie was in a chatty mood, talking to a small group of reporters for more than 15 minutes after catching up with Twins players, coaches and employees.

NYC: THE HOTTEST TOWN FOR DOING THE COOLEST THINGS - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Hot town summer in the city

The Lovin' Spoonful

Yes, New York can be a tad warm in summer, but, culturallyspeaking, it will always be one of the world's coolest cities. Hereare some of the latest offers:

A decent hotel room in the city starting at $100 or so is stillpossible, although rates may be higher depending on date and roomchoice. The Apple Core Hotels group, for instance, consists of fivereasonably priced properties: La Quinta Inn Manhattan (17 West 32dSt.), Red Roof Inn Manhattan (6 West 32d St.), the smoke-free ComfortInn Midtown (129 West 46th St.), Super 8 Hotel Times Square (59 West46th St.), and the Ramada Inn East Side (161 Lexington Ave.).

Call 800-567-7720 or visit www.applecorehotels.com.

If you have an American Express card, a NYC Summer Breakspromotion gives you complimentary room upgrades at the Muse, theWellington, and the Dylan hotels; special admission to suchattractions as the American Folk Art Museum, Bronx Museum of Arts,the Skyscraper Museum, Wave Hill, and Whitney Museum of American Art;offers on activities from Shearwater Sailing, Central Park BicycleTours & Rentals, Liberty Helicopters, and Walkin' Broadway; theaterdiscounts for 'Chicago,' 'Good Vibrations,' 'Hairspray,' 'TheProducers,' and 'Sweet Charity'; and 15 percent off the lunch ordinner bill at La Prima Donna, Mare Seafood Restaurant, Nino'sPositano, Piccolo, Riingo, and Stage Delicatessen & Restaurant. Alongwith the AMEX card, you need a Summer Breaks Savings Card, which canbe printed out at www.nycvisit.com. The offers are good through Sept.5.

You pay for the privilege, but the Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Yorkand creators of the NBC Studio Tour have come up with a two-hour VIPtour limited to six people at a time that provides access to areas ofthe studio the public never sees, including studios of the 'Today'show, 'Saturday Night Live,' sports shows, Conan O'Brien's and BrianWilliams's shows, and the control room. The package includes anight's accommodation, a digital photo of you on one of the sets, anNBC gift bag, and complimentary admission to the Rockefeller Centertour. The price starts at $1,499 per couple at the Ritz-Carlton NewYork, Battery Park, and $1,799 at the Ritz-Carlton New York, CentralPark.

Visit www.ritzcarlton.com or call 800-241-3333., For shoppers,Swissotel The Drake and Bloomingdale's present the Great ShoppingSpree Package. Included are an exclusive Bloomingdale's specialsavings package, deluxe accommodations, a buffet breakfast for two,complimentary use of the health club, and a welcome amenity. Thepackage, from $319 per night through Sept. 5, includes an executivesuite. Call 888-73-SWISS (737-9477) or visit www.swissotel.com.

One way to get the youngsters pumped up about a trip is to keepthem informed about the destination. 'We're There! New York City'(KidQuest LLC, $6.99) by Elizabeth Skinner Grumbach is a colorful 32-page book with puzzles, games, and questions aimed at the preteenset. Other books in the series center on Boston, Washington, andRhode Island, with more volumes in the works.

Fill 'er up

Through Aug. 31, visitors to Stowe, Vt., can get a complimentarytank of gas for the drive back. The Free Ride Home package isavailable with a stay of at least three nights at participatingproperties. Package prices start at $300.

(The fine print: The offer must be mentioned when booking andcannot be combined with other offers or discounts.)

Visit www.gostowe.com or call 800-24-STOWE.

Numbers game

If you're celebrating a wedding anniversary, French CountryWaterways will reward you with a discount of 5 to 50 percent on itsluxury barge cruises. Discounts are given in sequences of five: 5percent off for your fifth anniversary, 10 percent for the 10th, allthe way to half off for the 50th. The cruises, which have weeklydepartures through Oct. 26, regularly cost $3,495-$4,995 per person.

Call 800-222-1236 or visit www.fcwl.com.

U2 in Vegas

Adventures in Rock is offering a package that includes premiumseats to the U2 show Nov. 5 at MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, anight's accommodation, and a preshow party. The price is $990;additional hotel nights are available.

Call 877-788-ROCK or visit www.adventuresinrock.com.

40 percent savings

Buy weekend passes to the 30th Annual New Hampshire Highland Gamesby next Sunday (July 31) and save 40 percent off gate ticket prices.The advance price is $25 for daytime fairground events Sept. 23-25,including Celtic concerts, a ceremonial Gathering of the ScottishClans and Massed Pipe Bands, as well as workshops of whiskey tasting,Scottish history, and Scottish country and Cape Breton dance. Otherevents: Scottish heavy athletics, sheep dog trials, Highland dance,and fiddle, bagpipe, drumming, and harp competitions. Children under12 attend free when accompanied by an adult.

Call 800-358-SCOT (7268) or visit www.nhscot.org.

POWER STRUGGLES IN GIANTLAND - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

VINNY DiTRANI
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
01-05-1997
POWER STRUGGLES IN GIANTLAND
By VINNY DiTRANI
Date: 01-05-1997, Sunday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday
Column: NFC NOTEBOOK

Clearing up a few Giants' issues of years past.

The popular perception has been that general manager George Young
wanted to jettison Bill Parcells following the dismal 1983 season and
replace him with Howard Schnellenberger, then the coach at the
University of Miami.

According to several club sources, however, it was Tim Mara, then a
team co-owner, who wanted Parcells gone. And he started making his
demands before the 1983 season had ended, and Young actually had to
fight to keep Parcells in command.

'Tim went into George's office and was pounding on his desk,' said
one source. 'He wanted Bill out. George fought him off.

'George went to Bill and asked him to come up with a detailed plan
on exactly how he was going to turn things around. And he [Young] got
what he called one of the best organized and thought-out plans he'd ever
seen.'

Ironically, Parcells and Tim Mara, who died in May 1995, went on to
become strong allies and close friends. The same couldn't be said for
Parcells and Young, in part because the GM reportedly offered
Schnellenberger a five-year, $2.25 million deal to take over if Parcells
eventually failed.

When Young was looking for someone to replace Ray Handley following
the 1992 season, he refused to call Parcells, a free agent who had left
the team in May 1991, after a second Super Bowl win. Team president
Wellington Mara did call Parcells, but only to wish him a happy holiday
season.

And speaking about that last coaching search . . .

Dan Reeves actually was Young's fourth choice, not his third after
he was turned down by Boston College coach Tom Coughlin and Dallas
defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt, who opted for the Chicago Bears'
opening. According to a source, Young had Dallas offensive coordinator
Norv Turner penciled in as his No. 3 man, but never followed through on
him.

His reasoning, said the source, was that since head coach Jimmy
Johnson and owner Jerry Jones had teamed to steer Wannstedt away from
the Giants, they would do the same with Turner. And Young didn't want to
waste any more time going that route.

Johnson in particular didn't want Wannstedt -- with whom he was
very close -- coaching against him in the same division. Ironically,
Turner wound up in the NFC East at Washington one year later.

* * *

Controversy swirled all week around one of the teams in today's NFC
playoff game. And the Dallas Cowboys had some troubles of their own,
too.

The Carolina Panthers, considered to be the squeaky clean entry in
today's contest, had a few bumps in their preparation week for the game
against the defending Super Bowl champions. First defensive end Shawn
King, one of the young pass-rushing prospects on the defensive line, was
suspended by head coach Dom Capers for the game because he repeatedly
showed up late for team meetings.

Meanwhile, Blake Brockermeyer, one of the Panthers' three
first-round draft picks in 1995, spoke out on his inability to return to
the starting lineup after suffering a broken left thumb in late
November.

Brockermeyer, considered one of the better young offensive tackles
in the league, has been fitted with several different casts and could
play. But Capers has decided to keep former tight end Matthew Campbell
and rookie Norberto Garrido as his starting tackles.

'It's something I'll just have to live with,' Brockermeyer said,
'but I won't forget this.'

And they think they have things bad in Valley Ranch.

'This is a game where you put together a lot of individuals, and
things happen,' said quarterback Kerry Collins. 'Things happen that are
out of my control and a lot of the guys' control, so what do you do? You
can sit here and dwell on it, but I don't think that would do any good.
We've got to focus on the Cowboys and try to just play our best game and
kind of forget about everything else.'

* * *

There might be a little Richard Jewell replay in this latest
Cowboys incident involving Michael Irvin and Erik Williams. Now that the
Dallas police have 'slowed down' their investigation, and haven't
decided if they even are going to interview the two players allegedly
involved, you have to wonder if:

A. They don't want to hurt the Cowboys' chances against the
Panthers by keeping either or both from playing.

B. The videotape evidence they claimed they had, the one that
'shows' Irvin's voice at the scene, perhaps isn't as solid as first
thought.

C. Questions about the background of the woman who made the
complaint might hurt her credibility.

D. All of the above.

This is not to say Irvin or Williams have been wronged. Certainly
their backgrounds make them prime suspects in this sort of incident.

But this case -- and the one involving the Philadelphia Eagles'
practice squad player who allegedly assaulted a woman in California last
weekend -- certainly shows today's professional athlete has to be on his
best behavior at all times.

Somehow, however, it seems unlikely that message will get through.

Keywords: FOOTBALL. PROFESSIONAL

Copyright 1997 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

Showbits - Winnipeg Free Press

Today in music history

In 1980, former Beatle Paul McCartney was released from a Japanese jail where he had been held for nine days on charges of smuggling marijuana into the country. He was immediately deported.

Born this day

* Dean Jones, 1930

* Etta James, 1938

* Ana Ortiz, 1971

* Alicia Keys, 1981

Today's lineup

Concerts

Hundredfold

With Cities I've Never Seen, Murder Scene Memories, Uncertain Glory and Instant Enemy, Garrick Centre, 6:30 p.m.; $10.50.

Unity: A Tribute to Desmond Dekker

With The Afterbeat, Wedgewoods, Greg Milka Crowe and The Seed Organization, West End Cultural Centre, 8 p.m.; $8.

WSO: Stepping Out

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers tribute, Centennial Concert Hall, 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; $29 to $55, students/seniors $26 to $50 at 949-3999.

Out and About

The Age of Chivalry: Stories from the Middle Ages

Plus music by Michael Cobus and Liz Goosen and This Merrie Companie, Unitarian Church Hall, 603 Wellington Cres., 8 p.m.; $15 at the door or $12 in advance at McNally Robinson

Grant Park and Prairie Sky Books.

Exhibit Opening

Invisible Dignity, student exhibition from River East Transcona School Division, Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, 600 Shaftesbury, 7:30 p.m.

Theatre

MametFest

Manitoba Theatre Centre's 8th Master Playwright Festival, a tribute to cleverly obscene playwright David Mamet, to Feb. 10; $59 for a MametPass at 942-6537.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Mamet's gang of real estate salesmen are bringing their bag of tricks to MTC Warehouse. 8 p.m. today, continues to Feb. 9; $10.50 to $39.22 at 942-6537.

Boston Marriage

The Mamet play that asks, 'How do you bluff your way back into a lover's heart?' Presented by Theatre Incarnate, 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 320-70 Albert; $15.

Romance

Mamet's no-holds-barred court case where you never really know who or what is on trial, presented by University of Manitoba's Black Hole Theatre Company, 8 p.m. today and 2 & 7 p.m. Saturday, Gas Station Theatre; $11, students and seniors $9 at 474-6880.

Squirrels, A Sermon

Mamet's fast-paced riff on hack writing that simultaneously scoffs at and celebrates the power of language, presented by The Incompletely Strangled Theatre Company, 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, Prairie Theatre Exchange's Colin Jackson Studio; $12, students/seniors $10.

Sexual Perversity in Chicago

This Mamet play captures the sexual politics of an age when penicillin would cure the ills of promiscuity but there was no cure for a broken heart, 9:30 p.m. today and Saturday, Ragpickers Antifashion Emporium, xxx McDermot; $12, students/seniors $10.

The Poet and the Rent

Echoe Theatre stages this madcap Mamet comedy for all ages, 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Ragpickers, 216 McDermot; $8.

Tara Players: The Shawl

A small-time mystic sets out to bilk a bereaved woman out of her inheritance, Irish Cultural Centre Theatre, 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 654 Erin; $15, students/seniors $10 at 772-9830.

The Frog Prince

Mamet's contemporary adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, presented by Academy Productions, 4:30 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Ragpickers Antifashion Emporium, 216 McDermot; $8, students/seniors $7.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

A cunning fox must outsmart three greedy farmers, performed by England's Little Angel Theatre Company, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Can West Global Performing Arts Centre, 7 p.m. today; $13 at 942-8898.

All Restaurant Fires are Arson

Bruce McManus' new play looks at our relationship with our own mortality, and with each other, as we struggle to face the inevitable, 8 p.m. today, Prairie Theatre Exchange, to Feb. 10; $34.55, students/seniors $25.21 at 942-5483.

Fiddler on the Roof

Manitoba Theatre Centre, to Jan. 26, 2 & 7:30 p.m. today; $17 to $81 by calling 942-6537.

Cercle Moli�re: Une Dangereuse Obsession

By Manitoba author Nigel J. Crisp, Th��tre de la Chapelle, 825 Saint-Joseph, to Feb. 2, 8 p.m. today; $25.50, students/seniors $23 at 233-8053.

Comedy

Rumor's

Steve Hofstetter, who's also a weekly humour columnist for Sports Illustrated.com and NHL.com, 7:45 & 10:30 p.m. today and Saturday; $15 by calling 488-4520.

Movies

IMAX

Beowulf: The IMAX Experience and Mysteries of Egypt; call 956-4629 for times.

Cinematheque

Lakeboat, Mamet returns to his blue-collar Chicago roots, bringing his own life experiences to the screen, 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday; Control, about the late, tormented and brilliant lead singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division, 9:30 p.m., to Sunday; Artspace, 100 Arthur; admission $7.

Nightspots

Academy Food, Drinks & Music (437 Stradbrook): SPF 90.

Alive (140 Bannatyne): Marc LaBossiere.

Brooklands (8 Keewatin): Fabulous Fat Band.

Candor Books & Music (390 Provencher): Ray St. Germain.

Cavern (112 Osborne, downstairs): Andrew Neville & The Poor Choices.

Club Regent (1425 Regent): Pauly & The Goodfellas.

Coyote's (1931 Pembina): Mother Groove.

Country Corral (3740 Portage): Pop the Trunk.

Current (Inn At The Forks): Amber Epp.

Dylan O'Connor's (2609 Portage): Big Johnson Railroad.

Jaguars (Club Regent): Free Ride.

Joe's Garage (Pandora Inn): Ashland Court.

King's Head (120 King): Whole Lotta Angus.

La Salle (346 Nairn): Soul Patch.

Marion (393 Marion): Slip of the Tung.

Mirrors (Assiniboine Inn, 1975 Portage): Simon Says.

Neon Lights (Canadiana Hotel, 1400 Notre Dame): Without a Trace.

Nicolett (632 Lafleche): Ace in the Hole.

Norwood (112 Marion): Last on the Road.

Palomino (1133 Portage): OPM.

Palm Lounge (Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway): Walle Larsson.

Park Theatre (698 Osborne): Rocket Circus.

Pyramid (176 Fort): Rock, Paper, Sciccors.

Regal Beagle (Marlborough Hotel, 331 Smith): Funky Monkey Band.

Royal Albert (48 Albert): Nutty Klub DJs.

Royal George (123 Regent West): Kathy Kennedy.

Shannon's Irish Pub (175 Carlton): B.U.M.P.

Silver Spike (202 Bond): Altered State.

Times Changed (Main & St. Mary Ave.): Jakebrakes and Paul Bergman.

Westbrook (Keewatin & Pacific): State of Grace.

Windsor (187 Garry): Steep Rock Blues Band.

Woodbine (466 Main): Deputy.

Names: Whiten signs 1-year deal with Yankees - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

The Yankees agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with freeagent outfielder Mark Whiten yesterday in a move that gives the clubthe flexibility to trade Paul O'Neill. New York's outfield hadappeared set with Bernie Williams in center, O'Neill in right andDarryl Strawberry and Tim Raines splitting time in left. O'Neillimped through the second half of last season because of a tornhamstring and finished with a .302 average, 19 homers and 91 RBIs.Whiten, 30, who was briefly with the Red Sox, hit .243 with 10 homersand 38 RBIs for Philadelphia and Atlanta last season, then hit .300with 12 homers and 33 RBIs for Seattle . . . Baseball isinvestigating allegations that Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schottused the names of Reds employees to falsify sales and attain quotasat her Chevrolet-Geo dealership . . . David F. D'Alessandro, who iscredited with saving the Boston Marathon and made John Hancock MutualLife Insurance Co. a worldwide Olympic sponsor, was named No. 47 onThe Sporting News' 1996 list of The 100 Most Powerful People inSports . . . Sheryl Swoopes, perhaps the biggest star of thefledgling Women's NBA, will miss most of its inaugural season becauseshe is pregnant. The 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist is due todeliver shortly before the WNBA season begins June 21, and willresume playing in August. The season ends Aug. 30 . . . MinnesotaTimberwolves rookie Stephon Marbury faces charges in Family Court inNew York that he has failed to financially support his 22-month-olddaughter . . . Hall of Famers Red Auerbach and Red Holzman,legendary coaches for the Celtics and the Knicks, will coach the 1997Rookie All-Star Game Feb. 8 in Cleveland . . . Three-timeIndianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, who survived two nights in thewilderness on the New Mexico-Colorado border, was cited for violatingthe Wilderness Act by driving a snowmobile into a wilderness area.Unser said he shouldn't be prosecuted for getting lost during ablizzard.Miscellany: Former Kings owner McNall sentenced to nearly six yearsFormer Kings owner Bruce McNall was sentenced in Los Angeles to 5years 10 months in prison and ordered to repay $5 million for hisadmitted role in a scheme to bilk banks, a securities firm and theNHL team of more than $236 million . . . Connecticut Gov. John G.Rowland said that the state will look into building a new arena forthe Hartford Whalers after he was convinced by team owner PeterKarmanos and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that even a refurbishedCivic Center won't be sufficient in the long run . . . New YorkRangers right wing Alexei Kovalev may return to the lineup thisseason despite a full tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in hisright knee. If he postpones surgery and plays with a knee brace,Kovalev could return in about six weeks. With surgery, he will beout for the rest of the season . . . Chicago Blackhawk Tony Amonte'sknee injury is not as bad as first feared and Amonte, whose 26 goalsrank fourth in the NHL, could return as early as tonight. Amonte,hurt Wednesday night, thought he hyperextended his left knee, butsubsequent tests revealed no serious damage and the injury wasdiagnosed as a bruise . . . Former Dolphins coach Don Shula leadsthe list of finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall ofFame. Also on the list are cornerback Mike Haynes, who played forthe Patriots from 1976-82, centers Dwight Stephenson and MikeWebster, defensive ends Carl Eller and Jack Youngblood, widereceivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, punter Ray Guy, safety PaulKrause, guard Tom Mack, tight end Ozzie Newsome, tackle Ron Yary,seniors nominee Jerry Kramer and Giants president Wellington Mara . .. Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf were named top seeds for theAustralian Open. Yevgeny Kafelnikov is out with a broken hand . . .Heavyweight Andrew Golota received a two-year suspended prisonsentence and a $7,000 fine for beating up a man in a May 1990 discobrawl in Warsaw.

New coach rules with an iron fist - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
01-07-2004

New coach rules with an iron fist
ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI
Date: 01-07-2004, Wednesday
Section: SPORTS
Edtion: All Editions.=.Two Star B. Two Star P. One Star B

Before the Giants had slid his nameplate onto his office door, Tom Coughlin had muscled his first power play on management, declaring himself Giants' coach and issuing a statement to an Associated Press reporter promising to restore the franchise's 'tradition of physically controlling the line of scrimmage.'

Just the kind of tough, no-nonsense football declaration out of the crusty coach who would move Giants' training camp to Junction, Texas, if Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch could only get out of that agreement with Albany.

Only, there was one problem, Ernie Accorsi countered a little later on Tuesday afternoon.

'It's not just the contract is not signed,' the Giants' GM said.

'There is no agreement.'

This didn't take long, did it? Bear Coughlin was taking over the franchise. So accustomed to complete autonomy in his eight seasons lording over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Coughlin just marched into the Meadowlands and hired himself. Even if this misstep belonged to his overzealous agent, consider it a foreshadowing of conflicts threatening to play out within the franchise.

When the Maras, Tisch, and Accorsi stand shoulder to shoulder with Coughlin today to make official his four-year, $12 million contract, they'll speak reverently of the Giants' way, the separation of decision-making authority born out of the most archaic NFL tradition.

This is fine with him, Coughlin will say. He respects the structure. He can live with it.

Just understand: As much as any coach in the sport, including his mentor, Bill Parcells, Coughlin has a history of craving control.

'I don't need to have that,' Coughlin told the Boston Globe a month ago. 'What I need to have is feeling good about the people who are making those decisions.'

Right, right. Just wait until Accorsi presents him his first Jeff Hatch on draft day, or his buddy Joe Paterno sells him on some slow-footed linebacker out of Penn State. Just wait. This isn't going to be Jim Fassel, understanding that his staying power directly correlated to his general agreeability. Gentleman Jim and his goofy grin are gone. Here comes Terrible Tom and his miserable, menacing way.

He's no Fassel, but chances are, Coughlin had to play the part in the interview process. He is threatening to general managers. Why do you think so few invited him to sit down for interviews? Besides the fact that the rest of the NFL knew it was political posturing on the part of the Giants to say they were seriously considering defensive coordinators Romeo Crennel and Lovie Smith - this was Coughlin's job, all the way - league executives feared Coughlin.

Nobody wanted to get into a power struggle with him. Why bother, when it's just easier to hire someone else.

With little leverage as an unemployed coach, Coughlin was wise to go easy on his personal demands for his next job. Owners hire fired coaches, but they don't hire fired emperors. No past GM/coach gets the dual role on the rebound and Coughlin knew it. Out of work, Coughlin couldn't dare command his past power, especially with his eye on the Giants' job. Coughlin isn't a stranger to the rigid Giants' chain of command. An assistant from 1988 to 1990, he has seen with his own eyes the struggle for player personnel control between Bill Parcells and the late George Young.

Without the promise of power, Coughlin wouldn't leave Boston College for the Giants in 1993. He waited until Jacksonville turned an expansion franchise over to him. Owner Wayne Weaver let Coughlin decide everything top to bottom in the organization. Within two seasons, Coughlin had the Jaguars within a whisper of the Super Bowl. He won with his players, his vision, his iron fist.

Truth be told, Coughlin has a far superior player personnel rsum than Accorsi. In just the Jags' second season, he had them in the AFC title game. He was responsible for everything there. And everyone. Nobody flushed a toilet in the Jaguars' practice complex without checking Coughlin's guidelines for jiggling the handle.

They had four straight winning seasons, including two trips to the conference championship, before Coughlin and ownership's lust to mortgage everything for a Super Bowl capped out the Jags like Layden's Knicks.

This time, they didn't hire this coach to crunch numbers, just bones. Now, Club Gent is officially over at Giants Stadium. Tom Coughlin marched into Giants Stadium, declared himself the coach before his bosses even did, and set one stone-cold, serious tone for his tenure. Maybe he doesn't have complete control of the Giants today, but check back tomorrow. All he knows is one way.

***

E-mail: wojnarowski@northjersey.com

NO. 12 TO HAUNT WILSON HARBOR, AID LOCAL CHARITIES - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

WILSON - A two-week affair in Wilson harbor aims to make 12 amagic number as 12 local businesses team up with 12 corporatesponsors in hopes of raising tens of thousands of dollars for 12Niagara County charities.

Activities, to begin Wednesday and continue to Halloween, willinclude more than 500 boat trips through the 'Haunted Harbor.'

'We're gearing up for a 1,000 people a night,' said PatrickBrady, a Buffalo-born developer and the main driving force behindthe unusual event.

The boat rides will be free, but patrons will be requested tomake a $5 donation to charity. In return, they will receive an all-area pass for the night, entitling them to a variety of Halloweenactivities along the boardwalk, including pumpkin carving, applebobbing, scary attractions and musical entertainment.

Starting Wednesday, six 21-foot tour boats will leave the dock bythe Boat House Restaurant every five minutes between 6:30 p.m. and9:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.

If the event draws 1,000 people a night for 15 nights, it wouldraise $75,000, and each of the 12 charities would receive $6,250each.

Even if the even fails to meet that goal, the charities wouldbenefit substantially, organizers say.

The charities include local chapters of the Red Cross,Opportunities Unlimited, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, GirlScouts, the Lions Club, Wilson Sports Boosters, Wilson CentralSchool, the local library and a Niagara Falls soup kitchen.

Wilson harbor has been rigged with 12 haunted sites, some onfloating docks, for the prolonged Halloween event. The tour boatswill encounter them all during the half-hour trip around Clark'sIsland, home of the Tuscarora Yacht Club.

'The sites are interactive,' Brady said, without giving away anysecrets. 'The boats pull up to each site, the scary stuff starts,and the boats escape in the nick of time.'

'The haunted sites are awesome,' said Wilson Town SupervisorJerry Dean, who was involved in the set up. 'The whole event isunique, something Wilson harbor has never seen before.'

'The most unusual thing about this event is the teaming of thehost business with the corporate sponsor and the charity,' saidBrady, who owns the Wilson Boat House restaurant. 'The wholecommunity came together in a common effort. Twelve by 12 by 12 - wedivided and conquered.'

The Garden Gate, a florist shop in the Harborfront complex, hasteamed up, for example, with three Wilson firms - White Siding, HighTech Concrete and Wellington Builders - to raise money for the localchapter of cystic fibrosis, a disease that afflicts a young Wilsonwoman.

Five Coconuts, a rum and spicy food bar below deck from the BoatHouse restaurant, has teamed up with Sevenson Industrial Services ofNiagara Falls to raise money for a soup kitchen in that city.

The two-week Halloween affair is the culmination of 'a millionmeetings,' Brady said.

A world traveler who now lives in Boston, Brady spent hischildhood summers in a cottage his father built on Lake Ontario inWilson, and he has been coming back to Wilson ever since. In thelast three years, he also has been building it back up.

Wilson is joining Olcott, a lakeside village a few miles east anditself a tourist mecca 100 years ago, in making a comeback.

Since buying and renovating the Boat House restaurant three yearsago, Brady has built several harborfront shops on four acres ofadjoining property he also owns. Over the past two years, the numberof shops has grown from four to 12.

Brady has improved the docks, installed power and cable hookupsfor boats, and begun free tours of the harbor. The Boat Houserestaurant added an outdoor deck and live music.

With land and money he donated, the town has built a communitypool near the harbor that provides free swimming lessons forchildren and swim programs for all residents of the town andvillage.

The restaurant, shops and Wilson harbor itself, which used toclose down for the winter on Sept. 30, now will stay open year-round, Brady said.

Local attorney Walter Moxham Jr. also has been a major forcebehind the harborfront transformation, sponsoring free concerts andprograms in Clark's Park, behind the new swimming pool. About 50local businesses donated money to present programs, and last yearthey launched Harborfest, a three-day affair featuring a tall ship,fireworks, art show, car show and Coast Guard helicopter rescuedemonstrations in the harbor.

The revitalization, festivals and free concerts not only haveattracted tourists, but also have boosted local businesses.Employment in the tiny village has skyrocketed about 500 percent,officials say.

Australian dynasty that's hard to toppleDominance is unwavering over 30 years RUGBY LEAGUE - International Herald Tribune

Huw Richards
International Herald Tribune
10-25-2004
The New York Yankees missed baseball's World Series, Real Madrid won nada in soccer, and the U.S. men's Olympic basketball squad was a dream team only for its gratified opponents. But not every sporting dynasty is collapsing without a fight in 2004.Australia's rugby league team established an early grip on the sport's new Gillette Tri-Nations tournament, where it plays New Zealand and Britain, by beating the Kiwis 32-12 on Saturday night at the Queens Park Rangers soccer ground in London.The tournament is the biggest thing in league this year. It has had a World Cup for 50 years, much longer than the rival code of rugby union, but never established it as a regular competition. The next is in 2008, a gap of eight years.The three teams play each other twice apiece, then the top two meet in the final at Elland Road in Leeds on Nov. 27.The timing of domestic seasons Britain's Grand Final, in which Leeds beat Bradford 16-8 last week, fell two weeks after Australia's grand final means Australia and New Zealand have played the first two matches, drawing, 16-16, last week in Auckland, New Zealand.Britain now plays its rivals on alternate Saturdays for the next four weeks, starting next week against Australia.The outcome will determine the world pecking order. That hierarchy has been largely unchanged in more than 30 years. Australia has not lost a series to New Zealand since 1953 or to Britain since 1970, and it has won all six World Cups since 1975. Rugby league is like American football, a fruitful outcrop from rugby union. It broke away in 1895 over payment for players a concept that ''union,'' named after the administrative body that ran the sport at the time, rejected for another century. League is played with 13 men, compared with union's 15, and while methods of scoring are the same, values are different. Four points are given for a try, or touchdown, two for a goal when the ball is kicked over the bar and between the posts and one for a drop-goal, kicked as a dropped ball strikes the ground.League supporters point to players' speed of movement, dexterous handling and ferocious hitting all apparent on Saturday night.The British historian Tony Collins once likened it to Yiddish, because it has never been associated with a ruling class in any of the countries where it is played. It has not, though, matched the ability of Yiddish to cross national boundaries.League is heavily concentrated in a few regions in the Tri-Nations. Once-powerful France has fallen away and no new fourth force has arisen, although league is Papua New Guinea's national game.It is, however as a roster including names like Tonga, Rooney, Webcke, Minichello, Buderus and Civoniceva indicates more reflective of Australia's ethnic richness than cricket or rugby union, and it has long been more popular than union among the Pacific Islanders and Maoris of the poorest districts of New Zealand's two largest cities, Auckland and Wellington.But even if unfashionable with ruling classes, it is not invariably unpopular with individual rulers. Liking league is about the only thing John Howard, Australia's conservative prime minister, and Helen Clark, his leftish intellectual counterpart from New Zealand, have in common. The decision to play a game between two nations from the other side of the world in London was vindicated on Saturday when the game at Loftus Road, normally home to a lower-division English soccer club, drew a capacity crowd of 16,750. If Britain's league fans are mostly in the north, its Australians and New Zealanders concentrate in London, where schools, bars and law firms would struggle without them.New Zealand started well, with the prodigious 19-year-old forward Sonny-Joe Williams's remarkable dexterity helping to create a second-minute try for fullback Brent Webb. Though Australia struck back rapidly with a try by wing Luke Rooney and two goals from forward Craig Fitzgibbon, New Zealand still led 12-8 at halftime with further tries by wing Lesley Vainikolo and halfback Vinnie Anderson.The second 40-minute half, though, was all Australia once its captain, Darren Lockyer, had sliced through within two minutes. Willie Tonga and Shaun Berrigan, both centers, and forward Petero Civoniceva, a replacement, scored tries, while Fitzgibbon, Lockyer with two and Berrigan kicked goals. New Zealand went scoreless in increasingly unpleasant rain- and wind-swept conditions.British fans habitually support New Zealand against Australia but may not be too sorry. If Britain reaches the final, Australia is now its likelier opponent. As well as wanting to win, the players will want, like Boston Red Sox fans, to beat their old tormentors.

2004 Copyright International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com

You never know who's sleeping near the air-conditioner in this... [Derived headline] - Winnipeg Free Press

You never know who's sleeping near the air-conditioner in this town, with four movies on the go! Debra Martin Chase, the famous director of Princess Diaries, which made $109 million in the U.S. alone, just slipped into Winnipeg.

She's lensing a sixth American Girl movie with young heroine Jade Pettyjohn and Winnipeg-born actress Nia Vardalos of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame. The former lawyer is also the producer of Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Cinderella (starring Brandy, Whitney and Whoopi) and The Cheetah Girls movies. She and crew started filming Monday (she won't reveal the plot, though rumour has it there's a gymnastics theme) and they're using Winnipeg locations such as Tec Voc, Riverbend Elementary and the Exchange Cafe.

Martin Chase, who lives in the Hollywood Hills, says she's had a great time dining out at 529 Wellington, has been to 10 Spa in the Fort Garry Hotel several times and is planning to hit some fringe shows. As for filming in the 'Peg, she says, 'Winnipeg is incredibly supportive. The tax incentives are really, really great, and people have bent over backward to be supportive.'

So why does this big-time producer, associated with Disney, like doing young-girl movies? 'There are great stories to be told, and if you tell it right, both the young girls and older women relate to it.' And then there's the young star power she attracts. 'We were very fortunate to have Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries -- enormously talented. Scarlett Johansson and January Jones and everybody came to try out, but Annie was just 'it' from the moment we saw her audition.'

'And we put America Ferrera (of Ugly Betty) in her first movie, and we got Blake Lively right out of Burbank High School (both in Sisterhood).'

As for working with grown-up divas, Martin Chase says Queen Latifah of Just Wright is just as you'd expect her to be -- smart and funny -- and Whitney Houston was gracious and co-operative.

-- -- --

PLAYERS CUP AUCTION: Chicago Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews, who is the host of the week-long Players Cup golf-related events held this week, was dead last to go up as a golf mate on the auction block at the big Boston Pizza bash Monday night. Still, he and his Can Tour star golf partner Adam Hadwin fetched $2,000 from a beaming Laurie Finley, sales and marketing exec at the Winnipeg Free Press after MC Joe Aiello called out 'I'll go back to delivering papers if you'll go to $2,000.'

Dragon's Den reality show star Jim Treliving of Boston Pizza fame and fortune, who's never short of investment money, earlier put out $4,000 to get a great game Tuesday with NHL celeb Doug Gilmour and Can Tour Star Matt Johnson at Pine Ridge Golf Club.

Spotted: executive director of the Players Cup and prez of Market Force One (MF1) Ryan Hart, also Grant Skinner of Pro Ice Sports and Rumor's comedian Dan Verville. Christine Schellenberg of Rehab Centre for Children and Chuck LaFleche of the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation were happy to be in attendance, as proceeds will be split between the two groups this year.

-- -- --

PLAYERS CUP ACTION: Jonathan Toews' parents are a couple of lovebirds! They were out supporting their son Monday night -- and celebrating their anniversary. 'He's my first and my best husband!' said Andree Gilbert of hubby Bryan Toews. 'Well, I came first and then there were the two kids, so I guess I'm No. 3,' laughed Toews. 'I'm just kidding!' he said, hugging her closely.

-- -- --

STAR-SPOTTING: Winnipeg marathon runner Janet Kastellanos moved her ballerina daughter, Alexa, to star-studded New York City this weekend where she will be attending the prestigious Joffrey Ballet school. Mom stayed in the Trump Soho while Alexa was moving into residence.

And who appeared in the elevator but red-headed film star Ann-Margret. Kastellanos also saw the newly svelte Kirstie Alley of Dancing with The Stars in the glam hotel lobby.

-- -- --

BACK TO GRADE 7 WITH CAREY WILSON: You'll never guess whom yours truly caught stuffing his face with pizza -- NHL great Carey Wilson, my old Grade 7 student from General Byng. I was in my early 20s (honest!) teaching junior high -- English, music, theatre and sex ed, when we first knew each other.

'You were a kind of wild teacher,' he said. 'I remember you making us dance the three-step!' And I remember Wilson and his buddies never missing a sex ed class. In fact, if a few students were away sick, they'd slip in some pals and make it a suspiciously full house. I'd have to start out the class, by saying, 'I believe some of you boys belong across the hall?

NEW ENGLAND IN BRIEF - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

BOSTON

Man electrocuted on T's Orange Line

A man was electrocuted last night when he made contact with thethird rail after walking into the MBTA's Orange Line tunnel betweenNorth Station and Community College, said Joe Pesaturo, spokesman forthe Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. An MBTA crew spottedthe man inside the tunnel at about 10:30 p.m and brought anapproaching train to a halt, Pesaturo said. The man then crawledunder the train and was killed when he touched the electrified thirdrail, Pesaturo said. Service was temporarily halted betweenWellington and Haymarket stations.

Fla. man admits smuggling immigrants

A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bostonto conspiring to smuggle illegal Brazilian immigrants from Mexico tovarious locations in the United States, including Massachusetts,Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. Edson Faustino, 47, of Pompano Beach,Fla., admitted that he served as a debt collector for the ring, whichcharged immigrants $10,000 to bring them to the United States.Faustino was arrested last year after collecting a fee through amiddle man from a Brazilian man who was transported by van toCambridge. Faustino is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17. Another mancharged with serving as a debt collector for the ring, Jose MarcosSilva, of Medford, is scheduled to go to trial in federal court inOctober.

ATTLEBORO

Officer shoots driver after stolen-car chase

An Attleboro police officer shot a man in the arm early yesterdaymorning after authorities said he led police on a 4-mile chase in astolen sport utility vehicle and rammed a cruiser. John J. Peters,44, was expected to be released from Rhode Island Hospital yesterdayor today and will face several charges, according to Captain GeorgeG. Bussiere of the Attleboro Police Department. Joyce Sumpter, 45, apassenger in the SUV, was also arrested and charged with possessionof a stolen vehicle, a Jeep Grand Wagoneer taken in Paris, Maine. At12:20 a.m. yesterday, police said, an officer on patrol saw Petersspeeding. After police chased him on several local roads, Petersturned onto East Street and hit a dead end. An officer used hiscruiser to block the dead end and got out of his car, Bussiere said.Peters drove at the officer, who jumped out of the way, Bussieresaid. The officer drew his gun and fired several shots, hittingPeters once in the arm, Bussiere said. Peters rammed the cruiser anddrove into a tree. Police did not release the name of the officer whofired his gun. Following department protocol, the officer was placedon administrative leave while the shooting is reviewed.

HYANNISPORT

Girl, 10, tells police men approached her

A 10-year-old granddaughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy toldpolice that she was frightened at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday when twomen offered her a ride in their van as she was walking from a privatetennis club about a half-mile from the Kennedy family's compound inHyannisport, police say. Barnstable police said they areinvestigating the report. The girl, whom police would not identify byname because she is a minor, described the two men as white and intheir 50s and said the van was white with no markings. She said sheran when they offered her a ride, police said. 'They didn't try tophysically take her,' said Barnstable Sergeant Ben Baxter, addingthat police had added more patrols in the area.

HALIFAX

Town bans outdoor activities in evening

Team practices, the classic car shows in the Wal-Mart parking lot,and other organized outdoor activities must end by 6 p.m., sayHalifax health officials, who are concerned that people couldcontract a mosquito-borne illness. The ban will remain in effectuntil further notice. Health Agent Cathleen Drinan said Halifax is inone of three areas in Southeastern Massachusetts warned by the statethat they are at a high risk for human cases of West Nile virus orEastern equine encephalitis.

WENHAM

Couple donate $60m to Gordon College

DOMESTIC POLO MOST PLAYERS ARE MARRIED. IT MEANS A LOT OF FAMILY LIFE AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD.(LIFE & LEISURE) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: FRANCES INGRAHAM Staff writer

Polo, as a sport and vocation, is by all accounts a family affair.

When husbands head off to work, most wives either go to their own jobs or stay home with the children. But many men who are called to the polo fields eat, sleep and work with their families as they travel the world to compete in tournaments.

``Polo is not like baseball, football or golf, where most of the players' wives stay behind at home or fly in just for the game,'' says Joanna Smicklas, wife of Dale Smicklas, captain of the Wellington, Fla.-based Outback team, and whose skills have earned him a lofty eight-goal ranking (out of a possible 10).

It's ``a family-consuming type of sport,'' she adds. ``You get used to the packing and traveling . . . After a while, you always get a bit of that feeling of it's time to move on. I've never not traveled with my husband, not even when (daughter) Tiana was born. She was at her first game two hours after leaving the hospital.''

There is a greater ``polo family'' as well.

Because there are four players to a polo team, some families not only travel together, but share a house when on the road.

``We're all very friendly on this team,'' says Polly Fawcett, wife of one-goal player Mike Fawcett, who owns and sponsors the Cold Comfort team, playing in Saratoga Springs this summer.

Fifteen people including the Fawcetts, their 10-year-old daughter Madeleine, and the family of team colleague nine-goal player Esteban Panalo are sharing a house in Saratoga for the third consecutive season.

When the Cold Comfort team plays in Florida, the families live inside the compound of the Palm Beach Club. They also live near each other in their home base in Hamilton, Mass.

Most of the players are married and have children of all ages. For these children, schedules are flexible, and life loses its sense of routine.

Because the children watch their fathers play polo, their bedtime usually comes later than that for children on a more traditional schedule. A polo match usually begins at 6 p.m. and lasts up to 2 hours. After returning to the bar, the horses must be tended.

``The children have dinner before the match but sometimes they don't get to bed until between 11 p.m. or 1 a.m.,'' says Joanna Smicklas.

``Because they don't have to get up early, they can sleep until 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. They usually go with the flow because there's no schedule, and it works beautifully,'' she adds.

Parents must take special measures when it comes to schooling their children.

In Argentina, where Esteban and Victoria Panalo own a farm, children attend school from March through December. Victoria Panalo explains that teachers there work with polo parents to ensure that a child's education isn't interrupted.

``Traveling is an education in itself for the children,'' adds Joanna Smicklas. ``They usually have perception beyond their young years and can change with any situation because they spend a lot of time around adults.''

Madeleine Fawcett's teachers prepare her study requirements so she can tend to them while they're traveling among matches, says Polly Fawcett.

``She has five books to read before heading back to school in September, one of which is the ``Odyssey.'' She's been handling it by reading for an hour or two every morning when she gets up. She has picked Spanish up on our trips to Argentina,'' says Polly Fawcett.

``The rest of our day is spent with Mike at the stable to tend to the horses and then we do different things following lunch before we have to go back to the stable and get ready for a match.''

Children who show an interest in the game start playing polo at an early age. In between her father's games, Tiana Smicklas, 6, goes through the paces of her own imaginary polo game.

Straightening her Victorian pinafore dress and large white bow in her blond hair, Joanna Smicklas quips, ``I let her play like a boy but she has to dress like a girl.''

As for the wives, their lives are dedicated to the needs of their families.

``I spend almost all of my waking hours with my children,'' says Victoria Panalo, mother of Esteban Jr., 3, and 5-month-old Joaquin.

``We have a nanny who also travels around the world with us. We need her to watch the children at night. There are so many social events to attend when you're involved with polo, from business people to friends. It depends on where the tournament is, but sometimes there are 15 to 20 families from Argentina who converge in the same place at one time.''

Panalo says she enjoys shopping when she travels to the United States. ``I like to go on house tours, the houses are so beautiful in Connecticut and Boston,'' she adds.

``We also play a lot of tennis and swim at the Golf and Polo Club here in Saratoga. And I spend time at the barn with my husband and sometimes we go for a leisurely ride on the horses. After the games, I like to cook pasta dishes with light sauces. I don't cook heavy foods because the players have to all stay in shape. So they like to eat a lot of carbohydrates.''

Panalo also likes to sew children's clothing while on their farm in Argentina, about 1 hours from Buenos Aires.

When she has free time, Fawcett enjoys reading. ``I do a lot of picture-taking,'' she adds. ``I give Michael an album every Christmas that's filled with pictures of all of his tournaments and other memories throughoutthe year.''

A typical day for the Smicklases involves tending to the horses mornings and afternoons, seven days a week. They usually ride together daily, and go to the races when in Saratoga Springs. ``On a professional basis, the horses are No. 1 in your life,'' says Joanna Smicklas.

Tim Gannon, co-owner with Dale Smicklas of the Outback team and a single parent, also rents a house in Saratoga for the polo season. Accompanying him are daughter Kathleen, 9; son Christopher, 10, who has just started taking polo lessons; and manager Phil Heatley, of El Paso, Texas. Gannon lives in Sarasota, Fla., where he manages a chain of 186 Outback restaurants, which he co-founded.

To field a high-goal polo team, like those in Saratoga Springs, it costs $150,000 to $2 million for a six-month season, Gannon says. Polo horses can cost from $10,000 to $50,000, and a team needs at least 10 in top shape, he adds.

The game can be dangerous, which is a source of concern for some wives.

``It would be devastating if anything happened to my husband,'' says Joanna Smicklas. ``But then again, it would be more devastating if I asked Dale to stop playing. It's a Catch-22 situation. I sit through a game and get very tense, while the spectators may only be thinking in terms of the player or team winning or loosing. My only concern is for my husband to be safe and come off of the field in one healthy piece.''

Such concerns aside, the life of a polo family is a full one.