dailydaily newsnews 8 The Goodland Daily News / Thursday, April 12, 2001 sports A time for testing Broncos sign Griese DENVER (AP) — Brian Griese, done quickly and quietly,” said Ralph and missed the playoffs after two who emerged last season as one of the Cindrich, Griese’s agent. “A quarter- straight Super Bowl victories under NFL’s best young quarterbacks, agreed back is a leader on the team who stands Elway. Wednesday to a new six-year contract in the shoes of a coach. If there’s a prob- With a season of experience, Griese with the Denver Broncos worth $39 lem with a contract, there’s a tendency matured last year on the field, leading million to $40 million. to lose your teammates.” the Broncos to 27-24 victory in a Mon- Griese threw for 2,688 yards with 19 Griese was a restricted free agent, day night game with Oakland despite touchdowns and four interceptions in meaning the Broncos could have playing the second half with the sepa- 10 games last season and led the NFL matched any offer for him. But contract rated shoulder. with a quarterback rating of 102.9. He talks heated up after the Kansas City But he ran into trouble off the field. missed six of Denver’s final seven Chiefs expressed interested in Griese. He was ticketed for drunken driving games, including their playoff loss in Griese, drafted in the third round by on Oct. 28 after a police officer stopped Baltimore with a separated right shoul- the Broncos in 1998, took over as him for speeding on Interstate 25. der and had reconstructive surgery on Denver’s starter in 1999 following the Griese pleaded guilty last month to Jan. 10. retirement of John Elway. driving with ability impaired and re- The deal includes a $12.5 million After losing four straight games to ceived 12 months probation. signing bonus. start the season, he was in and out of Griese hopes to be able to start “It was extremely important to get it the lineup as the Broncos finished 6-10 throwing in the next few weeks. Yankees dominate Royals KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — If the they do. They’ve been doing it year in With a home run in their next game New York Yankees have the Kansas and year out, most of them for about 10 Friday in Boston, the Yankees will tie City Royals completely psyched out, years now. We’re scratching hard to the AL record they set in 1999 of hit- Adam Ford, Jared Hall and Josh Mills performed taekwondo moves Friday night at the Goodland Activi- Joe Randa is too proud to admit it. find ourselves, and we’re close.” ting homers in their first 10 games. ties Center while being tested by Wayne Luckert and another instructor, Tony Collett. “Psyched out is one thing. Playing a Making the New York domination The Royals, in contrast, have al- Photo by Janet Craft/The Goodland Daily News good team is another,” the Royals third even more disheartening for Kansas lowed a home run in every game. baseman said. “You can’t take away City, the Yankees didn’t even have Kansas City stranded 15 runners in from their ability.” their best team on the field. While the game, two short of its team record, Indeed, you can’t. sweeping three games in New York, and is off to a 2-7 start, the worst in Alfonso Soriano and Paul O’Neill they were without All-Star shortstop eight years. Cardinal hits defeat Rockies, 3-1 had three RBIs apiece as the Yankees Derek Jeter, who was injured. Mark Quinn, who has hit safely in won 8-5 Wednesday and swept a sea- All-Star outfielder Bernie Williams eight straight games, hit a solo homer ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mark McGwire surgically repaired right knee before straight game, allowed a hit in the ended an 0-for-12 season-opening returning to the lineup Monday for the eighth. Dave Veres struck out the final son series of more than three games in missed all three games in Kansas City in the fifth to draw the Royals to 5-4. a non-abbreviated season for just the to be with his ailing father in Puerto Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer in the slump with an opposite-field home home opener. two batters for his first save. second time. Rico. first inning. run, helping the St. Louis Cardinals Ray Lankford hit his fourth homer Notes: Jim Edmonds was a late beat the Colorado Rockies 3-1 in the second inning and Fernando scratch due to tightness in his right The other time was 1998 when the Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, lead- Notes: Torre heard from Williams Yankees were 10-0 against Kansas ing the league with 14 RBIs after hit- for the first time since he left on Mon- Wednesday night. Vina had an RBI triple in the third. groin. He returned to lineup Monday City, a team they’re 28-7 against since ting home runs in three straight games, day. He said Williams might rejoin the Matt Morris won his first game as a Lankford, batting .450 (9-for-20), had after missing four starts with a sore left starter since September 1998, allowing just three homers last April. big toe sustained when he kicked his 1997. went out of Tuesday night’s game in team in Boston this weekend. Scott “I’m sure they’re glad we’re leav- the third inning with a stiff back and did Brosius has hit safely in nine straight one run and six hits in seven innings. Morris (1-1) was out of the rotation bat in frustration. 20-year-old Juan ing,” said Todd Williams (1-0), who not play at all on Wednesday. games for the sixth time in his career. St. Louis has won five straight since for two years after elbow surgery in Uribe, the Rockies’ starting shortstop going 0-3 during a season-opening se- 1999, spending last year in the bullpen. while Neifi Perez recovers from a pitched 2 2-3 innings of relief for the Still, the Yankees roll on. The major league record for home runs win. “But those guys are still tough. Torre admitted such disparity is not starting a season is 13 games by the ries at Colorado. The Rockies have lost He lasted only three innings in his first thumb injury, got his first career hit They came out of spring playing great good for fans. 1954 Chicago Cubs. ... Quinn has hit five in a row since outscoring St. Louis start, allowing 10 runs and 11 hits in an with a single to start the third. He’s the 32-11 at Coors Field. 11-2 loss at Colorado. youngest player in franchise history. and we were just the opposite.” “The thing that bothers me is the loy- safely in every game but the season The Yankees, with a payroll of alty factor of fans. When you see kids opener. Pedro Astacio (1-1) retired 11 batters The only damage in his rematch with Albert Pujols’ two-run homer Monday $109.8 million, outscored the Royals’ come through the farm system and in a row before McGwire lined a 1-2 the Rockies and Astacio was an RBI was the first by a Cardinals rookie in a pitch over the right-field wall for his single by Jeff Cirillo in the third. Mor- home opener since Wally Moon in $35.6 million lineup 46-19 in the six you’re not sure if you can pay them games. New York hit .327. when they’re really ready to provide Internet tonight 555th career homer, putting the Cardi- ris struck out five and retired 11 of his 1954. Todd Walker is in a 1-for-14 “For sure, it’s not a level playing dividends, that’s the sad part because nals ahead 3-1. He needs eight homers last 12 hitters. slump after a 9-for-15 start. Todd 899-2338 to catch Reggie Jackson for sixth place Astacio had his second straight Helton, who won the NL batting title field,” Yankees manager Joe Torre the fans get the short end.” said. on the career list. strong outing against the Cardinals, last year with a major league-leading Added Randa: “You’re facing four McGwire, who homered for the first allowing three runs and five hits in six .372 average, is batting .200 (6-for-30). time since Sept. 15, lined out to left and innings with six strikeouts and no He’s 0-for-7 the first two games of the guys who have a chance to be No. 1 starters on almost any team. There’s a struck out his first two at-bats. He walks. series Ron Gant went 3-for-4 with two reason those guys make the money missed four games with soreness in his Steve Kline, working for the fifth doubles. Avalanche defenseman will seek Stanley Cup in opener DENVER (AP) — Colorado Ava- Colorado’s season finale Sunday, “We have doubts on Ray being in the day night, the Avalanche still have a lanche defenseman Ray Bourque may missed his second straight practice lineup,” coach Bob Hartley said. “Ob- strong defensive duo in Adam Foote have to wait another few days to con- Wednesday and could be held out of the viously we’re going to make final de- and Rob Blake. Because of injuries this tinue his 22-year Stanley Cup quest. Avalanche’s playoff opener Thursday cisions (Thursday) but at this point, it season, Foote, Blake and Bourque Bourque, who strained his back in night against the Vancouver Canucks.