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I ? McHENRY PLAINDEALER Section A Monday, Augu»t 36, 19tS Pag* 5 Sports Who's the best first baseman in N.K? ByMikeTully UPIqnrts writer NEW YORK -- Not even baseball scouts can settle the delightful de­ bate going on in New York these days. One would rather have Keith Hernandez of the Mets at first base, another prefers Don Mattingly of the Yankees. "This guy here" a scout voted recently while visiting Shea Stadi­ um. He meant Hernandez. "He made them respectable the minute he got here," the scout said. Another veteran scout likes Mat- tingly's power and also rates him better in the field. It's possible no city has had two better first basemen since the Yan­ kees had Lou Gehrig and the Giants Bill Terry... San Franciscans can stop worry­ ing about major-league baseball leaving town. They're too late. On a night when left-hander Vida Blue struck out 10 and slid into first base to beat out a bunt, not many of his teammates showed the same desire. First baseman Dan Driessen held the ball long enough to allow New York's Len Dykstra to score from second on an infield hit. On the next play, shortstop Jose Uribe threw to the wrong oase on a routine relay from the outfield, allowing a runner to move into scoring position... This week's best case against the Disabled Hitter rule came in a Mets-Giants game. With the score tied 1-1 in the eighth, New York manager Davey Johnson sent up a pinch-hitter for starter Ed Lynch and Howard Johnson responded with a home run. Case closed? Hardly. Reliever Roger McDowell was ineffective, allowing a two-run homer to Bob Brenly in the ninth inning. That's baseball, NL style. Not many people realize how much the new playoff format could affect the post»season. With the League Championship Series now a best-of-seven rather than a best-of- five, the best drama could take place before the World Series, The Dodgers look like a good bet because of the depth and variety in their starting rotation. In a four- game stretch, batters would con­ front the screwball of Fernando Va- lenzuela, the sinker of Orel Hershiser, the right-handed power of Bob Welch, and the left-handed slider of Jerry Reuss. When needed, Rick Honeycutt would make a com­ petent fifth starter... With all this talk of a possible Subway (Yankee-Met) Series, or a Freeway (Dodger-Angel) Series, let's not forget the chance of a Mis­ souri (Kansas City-St. Louis) Se­ ries. Give the Royals credit. They perhaps would suffer in the Ameri­ can League East, but their system works well enough to dominate the West. As for $t. Louis, manager Whitey Herzog looks good for some­ one who lost Bruce Sutter... One of the most interesting post­ season sights may be San Diego general manager Jack McKeon. Trader Jack reached the World Se­ ries last year and appeared to have his club positioned for contention this season. Suddenly the Padres were blown out of the race by the Dodgers. You can bet McKeon will make moves... In 1964, many people liked the Chicago White Sox because of a pitching staff built around LaMarr Hoyt, Richard Dotson and Floyd Bannister. Where have they gone? Hoyt is having a streaky year in San Diego, Dotson is disabled, and Ban­ nister is 5-11. The name is the game for ESPN's Berman UPI photo Dwight Gooden of the Mets Sunday became the youngest 20-game winner in baseball history, as New York topped San Diego, 9-3. Gooden (ho-hum) becomes youngest 20-game winner By Mike Barnes UFIi sports writer NEW YORK - In what has be­ come a routine occurrence, it was another victory, another milestone for Dwight Gooden. After Just 59 big-league starts, the Ex-gridder has discovered the darker side of reality By Dwight Chapin San Francisco Examiner SAN FRANCISCO - There has been a developing pattern that has disturbed me for years. We see some teenage kid with special ath­ letic talent and we put him cocoon and slide him throupT school, college and the pros. We don't let him deal with the real world. The only time we let him out of the protective cover is to idolize him, on Saturday or Sunday afternoons with 50,000 or 100,000 people roaring and screaming in the background. Finally, when his coordination or his brain or his legs give out, we break open the cocoon and tell him, "OK, boy, go out there and have a nice life." Sure. Ask Delvin Williams what he thinks about that syndrome. You remember Delvin, the former all- pro running back of the San Fran­ cisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, a big guy who Looked indestructible and still does. But he wasn't and isn't. He's just an ordinary human be­ ing inside an extraordinary body that set him apart all the way back to high school days in Houston. Set him apart and eventually brought him down, with society's help. At the start, he got a natural high out of playing football. "But you're asked to get that rush for a full season in college and the pros," he says, "and if you go to the Super Bowl, that means 23 weeks. There's no way you can stay on a natural high that long." Williams also grew fearful that he wouldn't perform well enough to please his masters and his public. "I started taking amphetamines to ease my inhibitions about play­ ing," he says. And he added cocaine after the games so he could sustain the rush. Delvin Williams could never quite adjust to the two very different worlds. Eight years after it started -- despite all the success and recog­ nition and'records -- his profession­ al career wis over. Williams didn't continue to de­ scend in a series of banner head­ lines, however. He got himself straight, and then he went to work on keeping other people straight. In 1962, he founded a California organi­ zation called Pros for Kids, which aims, off the top, to curb drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers. Williams uses celebrated athletes as role models but he fights much of this battle himself, with his own dwindling bank account and a good portion of his soul. Sometimes he gets a little discouraged. "I know the resources that are available out there," he says, "and here I am, struggling." He is convinced he is doing the right thing, so he continues to look for support and to spread the word -- person-to-person, if necessary. Williams believes that athletes -- particularly the young (Hies -- de­ serve a lot better than they're get­ ting, from administrators, coaches, parents, fans. "We have to put some things in place to help them make the transi­ tions, not just ease them through or Ignore the problems, the way we do now. Kids only see the image of sport. We haye to sit down with them and explain that reality is not the attention and the adulation on game day; it's working Monday through Saturday and paying the price. "I'm not against sports. I know how many good things can come from them. But the good things are being clouded now. We're not ad­ dressing the issues, we're turning out victims." (Distributed by Scripps Howard Newsservice.) Mets' right-hander owns more re­ cords than many Hall of Famers. Hie latest came Sunday, when Goo­ den hurled six innings to become the youngest 20-game winner in his­ tory. The performance lifted New York to its 16th victory on the last 22 games, a 9-3 pounding of the San Diego Padres. "I don't have goals, I just like to take it a day at a time, or a game at a time," said Gooden after his 14th straight triumph. "I'm just waiting for things to take its own course." Darryl Strawberry helped Gooden with a 3-for-3, four RBI afternoon that kept the Mets one game behind first-place St. Louis in the NL East. "I really feel confident in my­ self," said Strawberry, who had a two-run double, a homer, an RBI single and two walks in five trips to the plate. • - * By Dave "Do Or" Dye The Detroit News Chris Berman, master of the mon­ iker for ESPN's SportsCenter pro­ gram, ties wacky nicknames to sports stars. He says Frank Tanana "Daiquiri" and Dave Righetti "and Meatballs." It's Bruce "Eggs" Ben­ edict and Glenn "Mother" Hubbard and Ron "Waddaya" Cey. It used to be John Mayberry "RFD" and John "Tonight, let it be" Lowenstein. It's still Julio "Generalissimo" Franco. And isn't that Willie "Or Won't He" Hernan­ dez in the bullpen? Berman's act has been considered bizarre and, by some, corny. "I'm just being me, that's all. When I see Glenn Hubbard, 1 think Glenn 'Mother' Hubbard. I'm sick. I admit it." For nearly six years, nicknames have been his on-air trademark. As he describes video highlights while anchoring ESPN's half-hour nightly wrap-up show, Berman inserts sev­ eral of the 200 nicknames he has collected for baseball players. There's Jose "Can You See" Cruz. And George "Taco" Bell. And Eric "Win, Place and" Show. Willie "Me and Bobby" McGee. Dave "Paral­ lel" Parker. And Ken "Fix and Re­ pair" Dayley. Among the best is former major-leaguer Ross "I Nev­ er Promised You A" Baumgarten. "Nicknames are a big, big part of baseball history," Berman ^said. "They go back to the turn of the century. That's just baseball. Once in a while I'll get in a few hockey nicknames, but usually it's only for baseball. Baseball players always have given each other nicknames. It's true on every team. So I give them nicknames, too." At times Berman catches his au­ dience and partners by surprise. Said Tom Mees, who anchored with Berman for more than two years: "When he said Rick 'Innocent' Ly- sander the first time, I just started cracking up. My mike was on, so I said to him on the air, 'You've got to be kidding. You're really searching now, Berman.' Actually, I thought it was hilarious,v "Another time he used Frank Tanana 'Daiquiri,' and I did a little hiccup in the background. You know, just like I was at a bar drink­ ing one. Then I said, 'Give me an­ other, Chris.' We have a great time with it. The guy's a joy to work with." Berman's nicknaming developed years ago at Brown University,- where he majored in history. One of his college buddies, John Pappas, turned him on to the concept. In fact, Pappas, an electrical engineer now working in San Francisco, has been given full credit for introduc­ ing John Mayberry "RFD." "Once he heard that one, the seed was planted," Pappas said. "Chris just took off with it. He would think up some brilliant ones, better than the rest of us put together. He start­ ed calling me John 'Milt' Pappas. The guy would have us in stitches all the time." Berman didn't add nicknames to' his on-air repertoire until 1979, while working the graveyard shift as a 24-year-old rookie for the fledg­ ling network. "To be honest, I'm not positive who the first one was. It might have been Frank Tanana 'Daiquiri.' Any­ how, we'd done this a lot in college, and one night really late (the 2:30 a.m. show), it just slipped out on the air. Maybe John Mayberry hit a home run or something, and I went, 'John Mayberry "RFD.'" Every­ body on the set started cracking up. "From then on, it just grew. Peo-. pie started thinking it was really funny so I kept doing it. Believe me, it was never with the intent of 'Hey, here's my gimmick and now every­ body will love me.' I wouldn't lie to you, but I'll definitely take the result." As of August 1st... McHenry Animal Hospital Announces New Hours: Monday and Thursday 9 am - 5 pm, 7 pm • 9 pm Tuesday and Friday 9 am - 6 pm Wednesday 9 am-12, Saturday 9 am- 2 pm JAMES E. 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If you don't call slender center, you really don't want help. $99 SPECIAL 8 WEEK PROGRAM LOSE20 TO30POUNDS...GUARANTEED! OFFER VALID THRU 8 30 851 """ift̂ "Bll™BI"BIBIBI1B" EDUCATION... in the shadow of the cross** at ALLIANCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL off Tha Christian A Missionary Alllanco ACS PROVIDES i • Multi-grade traditional classroom approach for Grades First through Eighth * • School administered high school program • Bible-based A Beka curriculum • Degreed teachers, trained aides ^ • Art, music, physical education For further information relative to ACS and pupil enroll­ ment cont^tlfee church office at 385-1519. ACS enrolls students of anyVacc, national and ethnic background to all program^, privileges and activities made available to our students. "For the Lord giveth Wisdom: Out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 w Service Line: McHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 335-4300 FAMILY SERVICE A MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 4302-G West Crystal Lake ltd. McHeniY.IL 60050 » 315-335-6400 A LISTING OF NON-PROF IT ORGANIZATIONS COMPILED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO McHENRY TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHenry County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Parents Anonymous meetings on Tuesdays Call 315-333-3000 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 202-755-36M Hours: 7:30a.m. to5:30p?m. weekdays (Ever had a problem involving the federal government and not known where to call? And then been given the runaround or referrals by persons who meant well but didn't know how to help? Ten specialists available at this center). NATIONAL RUN-AWAY SWITCHBOARD IllinoU Phone: 300-972-4004 (For confidential conversations on problems dealing with run away children) MOVING HOTLINE Phone 300-424-9213 (Complaints about interstate moving by companies, buses or trains, Sponsored by Interstate Commerce Commission.) STATE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HOTLINE 217-522-5514 BIRTHRIGHT Pregnant? Need Help? Counseling Service. MS-2999 24 hour Answering Service McHENRY COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL •00-992-3272 Monday through Friday. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline TOLL FREE: S00-2S2-287S CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (Operates five national lines. Answers inquiries about or reporting on the safety of products from kitchen epptiances to children's toys.) NATIONAL SOLAR HEATING AND r. COOLING INFORMATION CENTER 300-523-2929 P.O. Box 1607, Rockvilie. M0 20850 (Dispenses information on solar systems for heating and cooling to anyone from architects to home owners looking for a sun-powered hot water system YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W. Elm St. McHenry Phone: 344-3246 24 hours Crisis Intervention and Confidential Counseling for youth and families NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Phone: (80-424-9393 (Answers questions about automobile safety defects or whether a particular model has ever been recalled. Valuable for those interested in buying a used car.) MENTAL HEALTH 1-300-392-4900 Crisis Center Line for McHenry Co. 24-hour Emergency number and professional staff will answer your call. Sponsoring agency McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOj*WATCH ASSOCIATION Post Office Box 17400. Washington. D C 20041 Phone: (703) 471-0404 CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 312-793-3530 Chicago. IL ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone: 217-S22-5514 Answer to questions on government regulations McHENRY COUNTY J TP A OUTREACH CEXTER 666 Russel Ct„ Woodstock. IL 60098 Phone: 1315) 333-7100 lob Training Offered McHENRY COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE RETARDED Robert G. Lambourn, Executive Director Phone: 344-1230 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (315) 455-3311 McHENRY TOWNSHIP DIAL-A-RIDE 335-5671 Monday thru Friday 3:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fares ire $1 for adults; 50' for senior citizens, handicapped and students: children under 7 riding with a paying adult are free. PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES. INC. 800 942 3940 Free legal representation in civil cases to low income persons. Landlord tenant disputes domestic violence or improper deniel of benefits such as Social Security Pubic A to, Stamps. General Assistance A Unemployment Insurance SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN WHO BATTER Meet* every Thursday 6-7 p.m. For information call 333-8080 COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS c McHenry County Chapter (For bereaved parents) Call 385-5732