The Prince George Citizen - Wednesday, June 20,1990 -17 Sports Big gun sparkles By TONY WAITERS Vancouver Sun It was the final chance to see the big guns of World Cup ’90 before their progression to the second round — and at least one of them rose to the occasion. Italy came out of the gate with a bang — and a cure for their scoring problems. Salvatore Schil-laci was a revelation, scoring one goal and looking every bit a class striker, and Roberto Baggio also scored a marvelous goal. Both Schillaci and Baggio made the starting eleven for the first time — at the expense of Gianlu-ca Vialli and Andrea Camevale. As I pointed out in Monday, failure by Vialli in Tuesday’s game might mean the end of World Cup ’90 for him. As it turned out, there wasn’t much he could do about it: He didn’t play at all. But the scoring performances of Baggio and Schillaci may have sealed his fate regardless. Without a doubt FIFA has put the word out for referees to clamp down on the play acting and the swan diving histrionics. The French referee made a brave — if technically incorrect — decision when awarding a second half free kick against Schillaci for exaggerating a fall in the penalty area. In fact it should have been a penalty in his favor. But that’s the referee’s right, and good for him. The Italia ’90 Diving Championships had an early start on the day. In the Colombia-West Germany matinee, Carlos (El Pibe) Valderrama lay motionless for a full two minutes, ignored by the Northern Ireland referee. Valderrama was eventually carried off on a stretcher — and was back on the field 90 seconds later. It used to be the “magic sponge” that revived players. Whatever the Colombian trainer keeps in his bag of tricks must be strong stuff. . . It’s good to see finally FIFA taking action. Now we can get on with the real game for the rest of the tournament. Or can we? How are referees going to handle the high-diving Maradona? We shall see. The Americans finished their World Cup with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of ten Austrians. The United States Soccer Federation now has the opportunity to reflect on Italia ’90 . . . but not for long. The 1994 World Cup will be here before they know it. The United States will do a world class job in organizing the next tournament, but it is just as important for soccer in this part of the world that they do a good job on the field. I hope we are able to join them. This is the final day of the first round — and it finishes with a flourish. Of the eight teams, only one — Belgium — is certain of at least a second round finish. Everyone else is playing for their World Cup lives. I have nicknamed Group F the “Group of Fear.” The fear Thursday — particularly if you wear a bowler or clogs — is that England and Holland could both be eliminated. I don’t think that will happen. In fact, I expect two clear-cut results: England to beat Egypt, and Holland to overcome Ireland. Of course Jack Charlton and his effective Irish team could prove me wrong (I would be delighted for them if they did). But I think the Dutch carry too much into the game. Ruud Gullit is slowly finding his World Cup legs. Loss Is anyone surprised the 1995 Western Canada Summer Games are going to be in Abbotsford? Friday’s announcement from the B.C. government that Ab-botsford-Matsqui will host the quadrennial event puts to rest Prince George’s effort to wrestle with the games this century. But just because this city isn’t getting a top recreational plum it doesn’t mean we should rest in our efforts to improve our outdated and inadequate recreation facilities. In a way it is unfortunate Prince George didn’t get a chance to host a sporting event like the Western Games. The lead time afforded by their 1995 of Games not surprising date means the host community will have ample preparation to put in place the facilities and work necessary for success. Unlike the breakneck pace organizers have worked under to throw the 1990 B.C. Summer Games together, Abbotsford-Matsqui will have five years to prepare. They will have a 50-metrc pool in place, running track, cycling courses, tennis courts and all the other things necessary for a successful event. The community that plays host to one of the premiere airshows in the world has a track record of success and excellence. The logistics of handling daily crowds of over 100,000 and collecting volunteers to carry out the thousands of necessary hours required to pull off a big show arc becoming old hat to Abbotsford. Western Games officials must have cringed when they visited Prince George. As the city prepares for one its largest sporting events less than a month away much of the necessary work is still not completed. A showcase track and field complex is close to being finished but still lacks a running surface. Work on the special coating at the Massey Place Stadium continues. Meanwhile, the price tag of the stadium has almost doubled in a year. Would that have happened if the city had time more time to plan the location and evaluate the bids? Tennis courts, spread out in different comers of the city, are in various states of repair as they get a facelift for the July 12 start of the B.C. Summer Games. The Summer Games committee is still scrambling to fill over one thousand vacant volunteer positions. This is not to say the city won’t be ready for the Summer Games or that they won’t be a success. But who knows what facilities Prince George would have received if there was a little more time to organize? A 50-metre swimming pool is something that comes to mind right away. A central tennis facility with six or more courts, a cricket field and lawn bowling lanes are just a few recreational gaps that could have been filled. Meanwhile a myopic city council is displaying all the objectivity of a raging bull as it prepares to lock up all the recreation and cultural dollars we might see this decade in a convention centre and art gallery. It’s unfortunate that many of the recreational needs of this community are held to ransom by lottery-funded sporting events decided by people with little or no interest in Prince George. Perhaps if people didn’t grab hold of athletic events like they were some sort of panacea to all our recretion needs we could focus on what our needs really are. Bill Seymour Tigers dump Athletics Cone beats rain and Cardinals by Canadian Press New York Mets pitcher David Cone wasn’t going to let a little rain bother him this time. In his previous start, against Pittsburgh last week, Cone allowed no hits in 3 2/3 innings before the game at Three Rivers Stadium was rained out. When Cone showed up at New York’s Shea Stadium on Tuesday, the sky was dark and it was raining. “I’m tired of worring about things I can’t control,” Cone said. t “I sat back and had a cup of coffee and watched some TV.” This time, the rain stopped and Cone went out and pitched a four-hitter as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0. Cone (3-4) struck out four in his seventh career shutout. The Mets, who have won nine of 11 National League baseball games, got home runs from Kevin McReynolds, Orlando Mercado and Howard Johnson and a two-run single from Dave Magadan, who is 20-for-36 (. 556) in his nine-game hitting streak. “Cone’s going to be tough to beat the rest of the season.” Elsewhere, it was Chicago Cubs 2 Montreal Expos 1, Philadelphia Phillies 2 Pittsburgh Pirates 1, San Diego Padres 4 San Francisco Giants 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 5 Houston Astros 1, and, in a doubleheader split, the Cincinnati Reds won 4-2 then lost 3-0 against the Atlanta Braves. Cubs 2 Expos 1 Ryne Sandberg scored both Chicago runs, including one on his 19th home run in the ninth. Rookie Shawn Boskie (2-3) pitched five-hit ball for 62-3 innings. Expos rookie Mark Gardner (3-3) allowed only three hits in seven innings. Expos shortstop Spike Owen set a single-season NL record by playing his 61st consecutive game without an error. The Cubs visit Montreal at 4:30 this afternoon on CBC French (channel 4, cable 5). rt Tigers’ Ed Romero tags Carney Lansford at thirdbase during Detroit’s 7-6 win over the A’s. by Canadian Press The Detroit Tigers got the production they needed from where they expected it — the third and fourth spots in the batting order. Alan Trammell drove in four runs, three on a first-inning homer, and Cecil Fielder, who leads major-league baseball with 63 RBIs, drove in the tying and winning runs, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 victory Tuesday night over the visiting Oakland Athletics. “Cecil is hitting the ball well, and so am I.” Trammell said. “I’m just trying to get hits, but I got a couple of balls I could hit hard.” Reliever Paul Gibson (2-1) went 32-3 scoreless innings for the win and Mike Henneman got his 16th save. Frank Tan ana started but gave up six runs and eight hits in 32-3 innings. Oakland’s Dave Stewart (9-5) threw 142 pitches in seven innings, yielding seven runs and 12 hits, and suffered his second straight loss. “Dave showed the heart of a lion by not giving up,” A’s manager Tony LaRussa said. “I’m more proud of him today than I have been for four years.” Oakland got homers from Rickey Henderson and Dave Henderson but blew leads of 3-0 and 4- 3. The A’s led 6-5 in the fourth before Fielder hit a two-run single. The victory over the AL West leaders left the resurgent Tigers one game under .500. They have won six of their last seven games and 23 of 34, moving within 5'/2 games of first-place Toronto in the AL East. Elsewhere, it was Boston Red Sox 4 Toronto Blue Jays 2, Cleveland Indians 5 Baltimore Orioles 4, New York Yankees 5 Milwaukee Brewers 1, California Angels 5 Chicago White Sox 3, Texas Rangers 5 Minnesota Twins 4, and Kansas City Royals 2 Seattle Mariners 1. Red Sox 4 Jays 2 Boston moved within one game of Toronto when Ellis Burks hit an RBI triple off Duane Ward CENTERLINE AUTOMOTIVE LIGHT TRUCK PARTS SPECIALS abriel Gas Light Truck .a j rn locks. Most 2 & 4 I|> < | heel drives... ^ ■ 6a. am PH8A(Ford) aAqp JA (GM) il Fillers.......... ea- CENTERLINE AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES LTD. lew Location • 1594 NICHOLSON u « r.u .... n..« C£0-j1Q7Q (1-3) in the ninth and scored on Tony Pena’s infield out. Red Sox rookie Dana Kiecker (2-3) allowed only three hits over 81-3 innings and struck out George Bell three times. Angels 5 White Sox 3 Donnie Hill and Devon White each doubled home two runs in a four-run California sixth, making a winner of Kirk McCaskill (5-3), who gave up a three-run homer to Dan Pasqua in the fourth. Mark Eichhom earned his 13th save. Chicago has lost five in a row. The Red Sox visit Toronto at 8 tonight on BCTV (channel 12, cable 11) (taped). INTERIOR OFF ROAD 1594 NICHOLSON ST. 562-6760 CUSTOM BUILT ALUMINUM PRODUCTS TOOL BOXES TAILGATE PANELS BOX LINERS RUNNING BOARDS BUILT IN HOUSE SPORTS TRIVIA Previous Answer: July 12 - 15th. Q. What local ball player played with pi the Montreal Expos organization? [ HAMBUU0ER1.] Home of the 24 hour Drive Thru. Don Schaffer Phone 562-2441 Sports editor Local 517 Peter Vernes of the USA takes an unsuccessful shot at Austrian goalie Klaus Lindenberger. Baggio bags great goal by Canadian Press Roberto Baggio was aching for a taste of World Cup action and the world’s most expensive soccer player did not disappoint when he was given his chance to play Tuesday. Baggio scored a spectacular goal in his debut in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Czechoslovakia. The host country’s third consecutive win clinched first place in Group A, assuring that it will remain in Rome for its second-round game next Monday. “I found it difficult at first,” said Baggio, who recently was transferred from Fiorentina to Ju-ventus for the equivalent of $15 million in Canadian funds. "I was nervous, but my teammates helped me and in the end I played better. “A great weight has been lifted from me, having scored.” Salvatore Schillaci opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a comer by midfielder Roberto Donadoni. Giuseppe Giannini flicked the ball on to Schillaci who headed the ball firmly past Czechoslovak goalkeeper Jan Ste-jskal. Baggio put the outcome beyond doubt when he scored in the 77th minute. He finished a scintillating run from inside his own half by sidestepping two defenders and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The goals justified the decision of coach Azeglio Vicini to play Schillaci and Baggio instead of regular strike pair Gianluca Vialli and Andrea Camevale. “It’s an incredible feeling to score a goal in a game like this, but I’m happier for Baggio because he’s suffered so much,” said Schillaci, referring to the controversy that has engulfed Baggio. Belgium plays Spain at 8 a.m. Thursday on TSN (cable 16). Ireland plays the Netherlands at noon Thursday on TSN. England plays Egypt at 2 p.m. Tuesday on TSN (taped). South Korea plays Uruguay at 9 p.m. Thursday on TSN. Name means magic ROME (AP) — The rosters of the 24 teams playing in the World Cup soccer tournament are replete with such nicknames as The Vulture, Blessed One, Little Samson and The Crazy One. But the name Maradona means magic on the soccer field. So, not surprisingly, the Argentine striker’s name — Diego Armando Maradona by birth — is the one most often used to enhance the prestige of players of far lesser stature. Egypt’s Taher Abu-Zeid, for instance, is known as the Maradona of the Nile. There is the Maradona of the Balkans, Yugoslavia’s Dragan Stojkovic; the Maradona of the Carpathians, Romania’s Gheorghe Hagi; and the Maradona of Africa, Cameroon’s Francois Omam Biyik. At least two players have adopted nicknames that pay homage to Italian strikers past and present. Adnan Al Taliyani of the United Arab Emirates is known as the GianLuca Vialli of the Gulf. South Korean Kim Joo-sung has earned the moniker, the Paolo Rossi of Asia because of his goal-scoring prowess. Kim has a second nickname as well — he’s better known as Little Samson because, he says, his long hair gives him strength and speed. South Korea’s coach, Lee Howe-taek, even has a nickname from his days as a player, the l eopard of Asia. Uruguay has two players with royal nicknames — Enzo Franaescoli, The Prince, and Ruben Sosa, The Little Prince. Uruguay’s Carlos Aguilera also has a ’ess-than-flattering nickname, Little Duck, apparently because of the way he walks.