The Sports Page
Copyright (c) 1994, Tommy Van Hook
All rights reserved


Welcome to yet another edition of the Sunlght Through The Shadows
Sports Page!  It's a strange world out there in sports, so let's
all pretend to understand it, shall we?

Let us start in the defunct world of Major League Baseball. 
Interesting enough, the have been now major developments
concerning the strike that has cost the fans the enjoyment of a
World Series in 1994.  Owners and players seem to be very
uninterested in speaking with one another during this off-season
period, which has prompted the Federal Government to officially
step in as a mediator.  Let's just hope that the Clinton
administration doesn't screw these talks up as bad as they
screwed up the Haitian situation.  Then again, you never know. 
Most of the teams are opting players that are in the last year of
their contract to the minor leagues.  Most players are refusing
the assignment, thus designating themselves as unrestricted free
agents.

We continue our trek through the sweaty socks of the jock world
with a stop in the world of Football.  Personally, I don't really
care for this sport, but I'll give a brief run-down anyway.  If
you had doubts about the Dallas Cowboys three-peating their way
to the Superbowl title this year...leave those doubts at home. 
The season is almost half over now and the Cowboys are the most
dominant football team on the planet right now.  As for my pre-
season predictions that appeared in an earlier edition of this E-
mag, well when you don't like football...you generally don't
follow all the teams that close (grin).  But seriously, I am not
the only individual in the sports world that is shocked over the
play of the LA Raiders.  Almost everybody picked them to take it
all this year...except most of the sports writers in Dallas.

With Football behind us now, we move forward to the realm of Sir
Chrales Barkley...namely:  Basketball.  This year looks to be the
most exciting year in the NBA since the rookie seasons of Larry
Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.  A lot of people are putting the
pressure on the Pheonix Suns by claiming another championship for
them before the season has gotten underway.  However, Shaquille
O'Neal and the Orlando Magic are going to be standing in their
way this year.  There is no doubt that this is the most powerful
Orlando Magic team to step onto the court in their franchise
history.  Let's just hope that all the pieces are together for
them this year.  And guess what Dallas Mavericks fans?  Roy
Tarpley is back!  Yes sir, that is correct!  Roy Tarpley is back
and the Dallas police force is on the watch for his drunken
driving antics again!  The only difference between the last time
Roy was here and this time, is that rookie Jason Kidd is even
more reckless than Tarpley and should take some of the off-court
heat off of Roy.  I really wonder if the Mavericks are building
their their foundation on rock or sand?  Time will tell.

And last, but not least, we entertain the world of "boxing-on-
ice:"  the domain of Hockey.  At one time, the players and owners
were ready to agree on a collective bargaining agreement.  Look
out!  The NHL Commisioner stepped in, pulled the two sides apart
and sent the fans to the penalty box by forcing a lockout on the
beginning of this season.  From this point, the players and
owners have slowly drifted apart and it looks like we might have
a repeat of what is going on in Baseball right now.  I am not
really sure I like the looks of this mess, and I have a hunch
that the Commisioner is just setting himself up to be the fall
guy in this whole thing.

Oh yeah, one final note in closing.  The tennis world needs to be
on the lookout for bad-girl Jennifer Capriati's return to the
game.  A lot of people are saying that she might not make it.  I
have my fingers crossed for her.  She's had enough bad luck in
her world lately.  And after she gets successful, maybe she can
start dating me.  After all, I'm just a single guy waiting to
shower love and affection on the nearest wealthy lady.  What's
that Joe?  Jennifer wouldn't want another run of bad luck with
me.  Thanks a bunch there guy!  Just shatter my dreams.  And I
bet the next thing you're going to tell me is that Lisa Marie
Presley just got married.  She did?  To Michael Jackson?  I think
I'm going to be sick.

Till next month....