Sports A classic Super Bowl Matchup; Page 10 by Julie Stocker Assistant Sports Editor Super Bowl XXX. “America’s Team” vs. an AFC team; the same conference that hasn’t produced a champion in 11 years. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 13-point underdogs this Sunday in Tempe, Arizona, the same place the Dallas Cowboys call “their house.” Pittsburgh hasn’t been to the show in 16 years, while the Cowboys make the late January trip for the third time in four years. And in that span, the ‘boys have gone 2-0. But then again, Jimmy Johnson was at the helm, not Barry Switzer. Both teams have question marks concerning top defensive Just my opinion; baseball toPenn State by Nick Zulovich Sports Editor A big disappointment Last Wednesday I went to the Pittsburgh Pirates winter caravan at the Avalon Hotel in downtown Erie. The place was packed, wall to wall people. The event was sponsored by both the Pirates and the Erie Seawolves, the single A farm team of the Pirates. When I first got there, I was really surprised by the amount of people that turned out. Finally I found two of my friends who were supposed to meet me there, and they were just as surprised with the turnout. We had gone to these events in the past, but never had such a turnout occurred. Since there were two major sponsors, the entire event was FREE. Player’s autographs, giveaways and food were all free. One of the nicer items was an 18” by 30” poster with an action shot of Pirates second baseman Carlos Garcia and the the Pirates 1996 schedule. My friends and I saw many people with these posters but none were still being given away while we were there. The main gripe I have in this column is that those people who had the posters already did not just have one, but two or three. It was disappointing for my friends and I to see, people going so bilistic of stuff just because it was FREE. I was hoping the interest in the Pirates was improving in the area, but I guess if you says it’s free, they will come. Pirates vs. Indians? Yes that’s right. Coming in 1997 there could be inter-league in Mate.. League Baseball. Now local fans in the area can see a regular season game between the Pirates and Indians. (It will certainly help those Indians fans who can’t get tickets to see the players. Charles Haley is battling a recent back surgery and the flu, while previous defensive player of the year, Rod Woodson, may go 15-20 plays after suffering a knee injury in the first game of the season against Detroit. Many players that have received this injury have seen their careers end as a result, but Woodson is back after four months of intense rehabilitation. Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher is the youngest coach to take his troops to the Super Bowl. He is elated to go to the Super Bowl after his team fell three yards short to the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship game last season. The Steelers used to be a run-oriented, clock-eating type Tribe since they seemed to be sold out until the Chicago Cubs make it to the Series.) So diehards of baseball probably do not like the idea of inter-league play. But let’s think about the business side of baseball, especially since that is all we could think about during the strike. When a team is out the running for a playoff spot by August, having marquee players from the opposite league come to town certainly could help fill the seats. Say if the Detroit Tigers are out of it by August (see I did not go out on a limb with that pick!), Tiger Stadium could be much fuller if say the Atlanta Braves or Colorado Rockies were in town. Or, if the Florida Marlins arc down and out and the Indians travel to Miami, fans of baseball have the possibilty of seeing all the marquee names of baseball against their home team. The owners of MLB teams have approved inter-league play, but now it’s up to the players union to put it into effect for the ‘97 season. This could be a catch 22 situation since the owners and players have not even agreed on a work contract for the upcoming ‘96. It just goes to show we the fans are stuck in the middle once again. I just hope in the near future the best baseball on television will not be the Little League World Series again. What do you think? Is it fair (the Superbowl I mean)? if you don't then Taking everyone by suprise Before the season began, most prognosticators felt the biggest event happening with Penn State men’s basketball would be the opening of the new Bryce Jordan Center. But it took 14 games for this team to be defeated. Even still, Penn State’s 67-66 loss at Michigan showed the Nittany Lions are CONTENDERS and not PRETENDERS. First year Head Coach Jerry Dunn has one of the most balanced teams in the country. They can shoot the three pointer. PSU is shooting 47 percent from downtown and guards Pete Lisicky and Dan Earl are over 50 percent from behind the arc. But don’t think that this team is just another bomb squad with the threes. The return of senior Matt Gaudio has given new life to the PSU frontcourt. Along with sweet-shooting small forward Glen Sekunda, the tandem has terrorized the Big 10. Another big surprise has been the man in the middle. Redshirt freshman Calvin Booth has been one of the most impressive post players not only in the Big 10 but the country. Booth is fourth in the nation in block at four per game and runs very well in transition. Booth is 6’ 11” but only about 210 pounds. If he can put a few more muscular pounds write us and tel us about it! Steelers and Cowboys of offense. Offensive coordinator Ron Emhart has changed all that, with talented receivers like Yancy Thigpen, Ernie Mills, Andre Hastings and Slash Stewart. Neil O’Donnell is having a career year, and he sometimes lines up in the slot in favor of Slash at quarterback. Pittsburgh still uses the run, courtesy of Bam Morris and Erric Pegram. Morris is the big back that runs up the middle or off a tackle. Pee-wee is the slasher that likes to use the speed on the outside. The Steelers, in my opinion, must pass early and often. No mistakes can be made on offense or defense. Blitzburgh must do the absolute best they can to control the defensive line of scrimmage, against a house like Larry Allen and the rest of the neighborhood in on, the sky is the limit with his getting a ticket to the Bryce potential So you think road trips to that is making the experts turn University Park arc just for their heads, the Penn State football games, think again. Try Nittany Lions. THE CARD GALLERY Plaza East 4*\J|4437 Buffalo Rd. CM}, <3 o 899-8782 Flowers wM dto, but a card from The Card Gallery will last forever! Thursday, January 25,1996 Nate Newton. Stop Emmitt Smith. Stop Emmitt Smith. Yes, the Steelers must use the pass, but they cannot abandon the running game. Use Slash and the option. Use Morris on third down and three. Let Pegram get outside and provide down field blocking. Made Bruno 1 must be a big part of the offense, whether blocking or receiving. Greg Lloyd wants to hurt someone. But he’ll do it legally, unlike Erik Williams of Dallas. Sure, Lloyd has had his share of fines, but Sunday he’ll get the job done. Aikman’s received at least a half dozen concussions during his NFL span, and don’t be surprised if that total grows to a baker’s dozen after Sunday. I want to see Kevin Greene cut his blond locks. I want one for the thumb. Jordan Center and sec the team Thanks to you, all sorts of everyday products are being made from the paper, plastic, metal and glass that you've been recycling But to keep recycling working to help protect the environment, you need to buy those products. BUY RECYCLED. and save: So look for products made from recycled materials, and buy them. It would mean the world to all of us To receive a free brochure, write Buy Recycled. Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Ave. South, New York. NY 10010. or call 1-800-CALL-EDF. &e* 0“°— ‘
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