CABRERA ENJOYING NEW START IN BOSTON.(Sports) - The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH)

Byline: David Heuschkel Hartford Courant

BOSTON -- The transition could not have been more challenging.

Orlando Cabrera wasn't just switching teams when the Red Sox acquired him from the Expos. He was switching leagues.

One day he was playing in a city where baseball is on the brink of extinction. The next day he was playing for a team that was on the cusp of going to the World Series last year. His old team played in an echo chamber. His new team was played in front of sellout crowds.

Going from a team that was in last place to one that was in a pennant race afforded Cabrera no time to adjust to his new surroundings. Getting to know teammates would be a lot easier than becoming familiar with new opposing pitchers. Learning to play on grass every day after playing on artificial turf for seven years was a challenge in itself.

'And he's replacing a guy that was the next biggest thing to Ted Williams in this city,' Kevin Millar said.

It's certainly debatable that Nomar Garciaparra, traded to the Cubs in the July 31 deal that sent Cabrera to the Red Sox, was the second greatest player in Red Sox history.

What's not debatable is that Garciaparra was a five-time All-Star, two-time batting champion and one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

Think there was just a little bit of pressure on Cabrera?

'I was afraid of him putting too much pressure on himself because of you guys,' Pedro Martinez said. 'Nothing else. The media was the only thing. Not the fans.'

One thing that worked in Cabrera's favor is that Garciaparra was a lot more popular with the fans than he was with teammates.

To say Cabrera has smiled more in six weeks with the Red Sox than Garciaparra did in his last six years may be a stretch. But Cabrera has fit in so well because his personality differs greatly from his predecessor's.

'He's a fun guy,' Millar said. 'He's a joker. He's a crazy guy just like the rest of us. That's how he's fit in. He and I had a handshake within two days. He's got a handshake for everybody. He has a lot of fun on the field. He's a good player and a good clubhouse guy. I think this city is going to love him as soon as you get accustomed to knowing that it's Orlando Cabrera at short.'

Cabrera's teammates already love him. He loves to interact with them.

'He's a gamer,' Jason Varitek said. 'He goes out there every day. He's got a spunk about him. He's got a little fire in him. And he's a good player.'

As good a fielder as Garciaparra was, Cabrera has been better. He has made several outstanding plays, causing teammates to marvel. In 141 games this season, including 40 with Boston, he has 12 errors and a .980 fielding percentage.

Cabrera won a Gold Glove in 2001 with the Expos. He committed 11 errors in 162 games and had a .986 fielding percentage.

'Don't hit it to the shortstop,' Bill Mueller said, 'because he's going to make the play.'

For the first time in his career, Cabrera is playing for a contender. The Expos finished higher than fourth once in his seven seasons in Montreal.

'It's been really exciting to come out every day and play,' said Cabrera, who has hit .284 with Boston.

' Cabrera, who went 3-for-25 in his first six games with the Red Sox, has handled the pressure in Boston. He never considered himself Garciaparra's replacement.

'I never met Nomar,' Cabrera said. 'I met him at second base when he hit a double. I said, 'Nomar, what's happening?' He seems like a really cool guy, and I still think he's a really cool guy. How he was here in the clubhouse, I don't know and I don't care. I'd be stupid if I was trying to ask everybody how he was so I can act different.'

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RICK STEWART/Getty Images

IN FAST COMPANY MEN'S AND WOMEN'S RECORDS FALL IN BOSTON.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: BERT ROSENTHAL Associated Press

BOSTON No one ever called the Boston Marathon course fast. Until Monday.

Under ideal weather conditions, Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya smashed the record in defending his men's title and Uta Pippig of Germany broke the women's record.

In addition, Bob Kempainen, a 27-year-old medical student at Minnesota, broke the American record in finishing seventh on a day in which temperatures reached the mid-50s and runners took advantage of a 19 mph tailwind.

``I was not aiming to get a fast first or second half. I was only concentrating on the pace other people were running,'' Ndeti said.

He covered the 26 miles, 385 yards in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 15 seconds 36 seconds better than Rob de Castella's Boston record set in 1986. Ndeti's time was the fifth fastest ever and the fastest in the world in six years. It was only 25 seconds off the world best of 2:06:50, set by Belayneh Densimo of Ethiopia at Rotterdam in 1988.

Pippig, crying for joy after finishing, won in 2:21:45. She broke the women's record of 2:22:43, set by Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1983, and moved into third place on the all-time list, 39 seconds behind the world best of 2:21:06 set by Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen at London in 1985.

``If I had not done well, I would have cried (in disappointment),'' said Pippig, who had the flu last week. ``I took it very seriously.

``I thought about the record with about three-four miles left. But I really tired at miles 25 and 26, and I just wanted to finish. I said, `C'mon, just win.' I trained for a 2:22. So this was a good run. I need maybe one or two good years to break the (world record).''

The Boston layout is considered difficult because of its undulating terrain and notorious Heartbreak Hill, which crests at 230 feet at mile 21. Monday, the perfect weather and strong men's and women's fields combined to get the better of the course.

In winning for the second consecutive year, Ndeti became the fourth straight Kenyan champion. Countryman Ibrahim Hussein won in 1991 and 1992.

On Monday, the course records fell, and so did the American record. Kempainen, the runner-up at New York last November, was timed in 2:08:47, breaking the mark of 2:08:52 set by Alberto Salazar at Boston in 1982.

Ndeti held off late-charging Andres Espinosa of Mexico, the 1993 New York City Marathon champion. The Kenyan won by four seconds, the fourth-closest finish in the race.

Ndeti ran an almost identical race to the one a year ago, biding his time over the first half before surging to the front. He seized the lead for good just before 22 miles, overtaking Boay Akonay of Tanzania.

Last year, after winning, Ndeti gave his 2-day-old son the middle name of ``Boston.''

``Last year was a miracle to me,'' he said Monday.

At the halfway point, Ndeti was ninth, with Keith Brantly of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., leading in 1:04:52. Ndeti ran the second half close to 1:02:00.

Kempainen had mixed emotions about his race.

``If somebody had told me what I ran today, I think I would have won the race or been close,'' he said. ``But I was seventh. I feel baffled because I don't know what to make of my race, how much was it was the wind or the great field.''

Espinosa's runner-up time was 2:07:19, also under the previous course record and the sixth fastest ever. He was followed by Jackson Kipngok of Kenya at 2:08:08, 1992 Olympic gold medalist Hwang Young-Jo of South Korea at 2:08:09 and former 10,000-meter world record-holder Arturo Barrios of Mexico at 2:08:28.

Brantly wound up 20th at 2:13:00 and first-time marathoner Mark Coogan of Boulder, Colo., placed 22nd at 2:13:24.

In the final mile, Espinosa closed within 10 yards of Ndeti, but the Kenyan had enough left.

The women's race was settled earlier as Pippig, the 1993 New York City winner, broke away from first-time marathoner Elana Meyer of South Africa between 18 and 19 miles.

Meyer wound up third in 2:25:15, with 1992 Olympic champion Valentina Yegerova of Russia the runner-up in 2:23:33.

Kim Jones of Spokane, Wash., a two-time Boston runner-up, was the first American finisher, taking eighth in 2:31:44.

Russia's Olga Markova, the two-time defending champion, dropped out near the 21-mile mark.

Ndeti and Pippig each earned $70,000 from the purse of $455,000, the biggest ever for a marathon, and $25,000 bonuses apiece for breaking the course record.

While the Open division men and women were close to the world-best times, the wheelchair winners produced the best times ever.

Heinz Frei of Switzerland took the men's division in 1:21:23, nearly a minute faster than the previous best of 1:22:17, by Jim Knaub of Long Beach, Calif., at last year's Boston Marathon.

Jean Driscoll of Champaign, Ill., won the women's race for the fifth consecutive year and for the fifth year set a world best. Her time of 1:34:21 was 29 seconds faster than her winning clocking of a year ago.

U.S. RUNNERS CHASING WORLD ELITE AT BOSTON.(Sports) - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

There's a $1 million payoff waiting for an American marathoner to claim. Nobody, however, appears capable of taking it.

Before the start of the year, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., offered the whopping bonus to the man or woman who breaks the U.S. record by the largest margin in the marathon between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.

So far, no one has come close to the men's mark of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 47 seconds, by Bob Kempainen at Boston in 1994 or the women's record of 2:21:21 by Joan Benoit Samuelson at Chicago in 1985.

Americans get another crack at the money in today's 101st Boston Marathon, and neither the men's nor women's record is expected to fall. That, despite the presence of some of the nation's elite runners.

The men's field includes 1996 Olympian Keith Brantly and 1993 world champion Mark Plaatjes, and the women's entries include 1996 Twin Cities Marathon champion Olga Appell, 1991 and 1993 Boston runner-up Kim Jones and 1994 Chicago Marathon champion Kristy Johnston.

``I have to get to 2:10 before I can get to 2:08,'' said Brantly, whose best marathon time is 2:12:48.

``If I have a great day, if the wind is favorable, if the weather is correct, and if I can go through the half-marathon in 1:04, then it (the record) will be on my mind. But I probably will go through in 1:05:00 or 1:05:30.

``Running 2:10 would be a momentous day for me. If I run 2:08, I could run for president.''

Jones and Johnston agree that Samuelson's record - the second-fastest women's marathon time ever - is hardly attainable.

``The bonus is on everyone's mind,'' Jones said, ``but Joanie made it very difficult for all of us - and I told her that. Everything has to be just perfect for that runner, including a tailwind at Boston.''

``I'm not fit to do that now,'' Johnston said. ``I don't know if I'll ever be able to do that. If one day I can, it will be in steps.

``I ran 2:31 in October, so there's no reason to think I can take 10 minutes off my time in seven months.

``Olga Appell is very talented and so is Anne Marie Lauck (the 10th-place finisher at last year's Olympics). They're the two most likely candidates to break the record. But I don't think they can do it yet.''

No American has won at Boston since Greg Meyer ran 2:09:00 in 1983, and no American woman has finished first since Lisa Weidenbach's pedestrian 2:34:06 in 1985, one year before the race became a big prize-money event.

The race's total purse this year is $500,000, with $75,000 each to the first-place man and woman.

Both fields are exceptionally strong. The men's includes the first five finishers from last year - defending champion Moses Tanui, Ezekiel Bitok, three-time winner Cosmas Ndeti, Lameck Aguta and Sammy Lelei, all Kenyans - plus a trio of talented Mexicans - three-time London Marathon winner Dionicio Ceron, two-time New York City Marathon champion German Silva and 1993 New York winner Andres Espinosa.

Three-time defending champion Uta Pippig of Germany tops the women's field, which also includes Olympic gold medalist Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia, two-time world cross country champion and 1992 Olympic 10,000-meter gold medalist Derartu Tula of Ethiopia, world half-marathon record-holder Elana Meyer of South Africa, 1993 world champion Junko Asari of Japan, 1996 Berlin Marathon winner Colleen De Reuck of South Africa and 1995 road racer of the year Delillah Asiago of Kenya.

Tulu and Asiago are making their marathon debuts.

Lackey impresses in debut for Boston.(SPORTS) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

Byline: JOE CHRISTENSEN; STAFF WRITER

FORT MYERS, FLA. - One day after the Twins feasted on Red Sox lefthander Jon Lester, the newest addition to Boston's starting rotation shut them down completely.

John Lackey retired all six batters he faced Saturday, and the Red Sox went on to a 9-3 victory over the Twins at City of Palms Park.

Lackey made his first Boston appearance since signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

The victory gave Boston a 2-1 edge in the annual battle for the Fort Myers Mayor's Cup, with four games remaining.

After Glen Perkins gave up two runs in the fourth inning, the Twins came back to take a 3-2 lead. Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos hit an RBI double off Brian Shouse in the sixth inning, and rookie third baseman Danny Valencia added an RBI single off Joe Nelson in the seventh.

But Boston regained the lead in the seventh, when Tug Hullet drilled a three-run homer off Jeff Manship.

Manship pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning but gave up four runs on six hits in the seventh.

'They weren't actually killing the ball, but they were feathering it because everything was up [in the strike zone],' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Manship's performance.

JOE CHRISTENSEN

BOSTON 9, TWINS 3

Up next: split squad games

Today vs. N.Y. Yankees, 12:05 p.m., 1500-AM

REGION SENDS 163 RUNNERS TO BOSTON.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: BUZZ GRAY Staff writer

Just because it's staged in Boston, THE marathon hasn't been sole property of the folks who live along the 26 miles and eight towns from tiny Hopkinton to historic Copley Square. For a century, runners have come all the way from Ireland and Texas, Oregon and Kenya, even Germany and Japan.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the legendary race enjoys a rich tradition right here in the Capital Region. In fact, you could even say the country's oldest marathon has become somewhat of an annual crusade among some area runners.

There will be 163 of them sprinkled among the 38,000 or so lemming-like enthusiasts who earned the privilege to stampede with the herd Monday.

``Obviously, this year is unprecedented,'' said Steve Basanait, former president of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club and a veteran of 13 Boston Marathons. ``Usually this area is represented by about 20 or 30 runners.''

However, milestones that come in ``100th'' gift wrap attract attention beyond their importance.

``I'm not running it this year because it will be such a zoo,'' Basanait said. ``I think too many people are doing it because of the notoriety.''

On the other hand, there's something to be said for participating in the oldest continuous road race in the western hemisphere. In 1897, 15 men cautiously stepped across a line drawn in the dirt and a tradition was born. In those days, you ran for a laurel wreath and bowl of beef stew.

This year, the first man and woman to cross the finish line will each receive a check worth at least $100,000. They'll most likely hail from some far-away land, speak broken English and have the advantage of actually hearing the starter's gun.

``For most of us, it will take a half hour before we even reach the starting line,'' said Jim Bowles of Latham. ``Picture those narrow roads in Washington Park (Albany). That's what it's like in Hopkinton. Just a little two-lane country road.''

Bowles remains something of a running guru in these parts. Besides being coach of the nationally ranked cross-country team at Hudson Valley Community College, the 46-year-old still competes on a high level.

And the layout in Boston beckons. He knows it well, having first run it illegally three decades ago.

``They didn't let high school kids enter officially. So I just ran on my own and then pulled out just before the finish,'' Bowles confessed.

That was 1966. By the mid-1970s, Bowles was not only eligible for a legitimate bib number, he was primed to push the leaders. His clockings of 2:19 in 1975 and 1978 placed him in the Top 20.

``To my knowledge, no other runner from this area has ever run so fast at Boston,'' said Ed Neiles, president of the HMRRC. ``Jim Bowles' times remain the ones to beat.''

Don't expect anyone from the Capital Region to challenge his benchmarks on Monday. Vince O'Brien of Troy was the top area finisher last April when he cracked 2:30. Even if he somehow survives the mass fire drill this year, coming in, say, 3,000th would be an achievement.

``Nobody is looking at this year's race for (fast) times,'' Neiles said. ``It would be foolish. In all that traffic, the test will be just to find some breathing room.''

In an effort to make it fair for those not assigned to begin at the front of the throng, race officials have issued laser discs that attach to runner's sneakers. The discs will activate once the pariticipant reaches the starting line and then automatically record the overall time when he or she eventually finds the finish line, assuming it isn't worn out by then.

``Let's face it, this year won't be a race for most of us,'' said Bowles, who is still among the elite nationally in his age group. ``But I figure I won't be around for the 200th anniversary so I'd better take advantage of this opportunity.''

Bowles, a mere butterfly at 5-foot-6 and 107 pounds, ran seven marathons last year alone. He still puts in 80 miles of training runs in an average week.

``Last month, I ran 263 miles in one week,'' he said. ``Of course, 96 of those miles were in one 24-hour period.''

So his old friend ``Boston,'' even with a mid-sized city sharing the course, doesn't exactly intimidate Bowles. He'll bring along Zach Yannone, one of his HVCC athletes, to keep him company (as if he needed any more). Bowles is still capable of churning out 26 miles in under 2:40.

``There'll only be a handful of runners from the Capital Region who will be able to turn in sub-three hours,'' Neiles said.

Lance Denning of Albany will probably be one of them and could easily be the top finisher from the area. He's run marathons in the 2:20 range. Bethlehem's Dale Keenan, who won last fall's HMRRC Marathon and still owns the course record he set almost a decade earlier, should easily crack the three-hour mark and be among the Capital Region's top finishers.

Rick Bennett of Rensselaer was another one of the local favorites until he broke a bone in his ankle last week and is now sidelined.

Of course, one can't rule out Mike ``Mr. Boston'' Brinkman of Troy. This 41-year-old has been making a habit of the Massachusetts marathon since he was 18. Back surgery, even a collision with a car, hasn't discouraged Brinkman from making the yearly trek where he routinely makes a strong showing.

Another Boston ``regular'' is Marty Kittell of Troy. However, the 40-year-old veteran missed qualifying by an eyelash this year and, in a cruel twist of fate, will be forced to become a spectator for this century race.

``A lot of people went to bat for Marty in an attempt to talk the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) into making an exception,'' Neiles said. ``They wouldn't budge. So, Marty will miss his first Boston in I don't know how many years. It's a shame.''

He could always become a bandit, the term given runners who are not officially registered or who buy others' bib numbers.

``I suspect they'll be thousands of bandits on the course this year,'' Basanait said. ``After all, how many people were turned down? It was over 40,000. I think you can safely say some of them will be out there running anyway.''

While some regulars were shut out, others, like the Remmers family, will send a delegation of three. John Remmers of Warner Lake, and his two sisters, both nurses, Patricia Remmers Rapoli of Slingerlands and Barb Remmers Turi of Feura Bush, will at least start off together.

``I don't know if we'll be able to see each other once the race gets going,'' John Remmers said.

Patricia is usually the fastest of the three.

``She does the most homework,'' John said. ``She puts in 60 or 80 miles per week.''

All three have competed in ultra-marathons where 50 miles is often the distance. They may need that kind of endurance to withstand the pack pressure Monday.

Look for Amy Herold-Russom of Clifton Park to be the top female finisher from the Capital Region. She won the women's portion of the HMRRC Marathon last fall and has been training regularly to improve her times.

Along with her 38,000 competitors, Herold-Russom and the other area runners will also likely have to contend with more than one million spectators.

``Actually, I think they'll help,'' Basanait said. ``You can feed off them. A mile before you get to Wellesley College, for instance, you can hear the screaming. By the time you reach Commonwealth Avenue, the crowds are 200 to 300 deep on both sides of the road. And they're all urging you on.

``Why, you can have two steps in the grave and be resurrected. You go through such an adrenalin rush. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.''

Undoubtedly, there will be many such memories carried back by Capital Region runners.

After all, this is Boston. And this is the 100th.

FACTS:Marathon on-line http://www.bostonmarathon.org is the official Boston Marathon World Wide Web site. Menu items include news, events, watching the race, runner information and race history.

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TRADE OF A LEGEND IS PANNED IN BOSTON.(Sports) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: Rick Sadowski News Staff Writer

Try to envision the reaction in Denver if the Broncos had ever traded John Elway, and you have an inkling of what is going on in Boston in the wake of Ray Bourque's move to the Colorado Avalanche.

The howls of protest and finger pointing began to spread through the city like a brushfire about 5 seconds after news leaked that the 39-year-old defenseman would be leaving the Bruins after nearly 21 full seasons with the team.

Already angry over a season that went sour long ago, Bruins fans blame the tight-fisted ways of owner Jeremy Jacobs and president / -general manager Harry Sinden for Bourque's request to be moved to a Stanley Cup contender.

Bourque has been well compensated for his services - his salary for this year is $6 million - but Jacobs and Sinden have been accused of paying more attention to saving nickels and dimes than to surrounding the five-time Norris Trophy winner with players capable of winning a championship.

``We know how Harry runs his business,'' Bourque said. ``He's consistent, you've got to give him that. It's no surprise to anybody. He's done a pretty good job over his whole career, in terms of putting a competitive team out there. Of late, three years ago, we didn't make the playoffs and it was a horrible team, but he turned it around and made it pretty competitive over the last couple of years.

``This year, for different reasons, it hasn't worked out, but they have a pretty good base of young talent. They've got to make some good additions. If they do that, they'll be back in business.''

Pat Burns also has gotten plenty of flak, most of it from Jacobs, who may very well use the fiery head coach as a scapegoat for the Bruins' troubles and show him the door.

Burns' reaction: ``I just told everybody to shut up,'' he told The Boston Globe, ``to forget talking about it and the mudslinging. Everybody's just got to be quiet and do their job and get through this thing.''

It's been a disaster from the start. Goalie Byron Dafoe, a Vezina Trophy finalist a year ago, was involved in an ugly contract dispute; the Bruins began the season looking like they might never win a game; forward Joe Murphy, signed as a free agent, was dismissed from the team for insubordination and eventually traded; Dafoe went down with a season-ending knee injury; defenseman Marty McSorley was suspended by the NHL for smashing Donald Brashear in the head with a stick and has since been charged with assault by the Vancouver authorities.

Boston fans might have been able to accept all of that, but how could the Bruins trade No. 77? It was yet another blow to their fragile psyche, no less damaging than Bucky Dent's pop fly over the Green Monster in 1978.

To Bourque's credit, he has stayed away from the fray despite attempts by some to goad him into painting Jacobs and especially Sinden as villains in this little play.

``They're trying to have me say certain things, but I'm not going to go there,'' Bourque said. ``I've conducted myself a certain way through my whole career and that isn't going to change. (The Bruins) gave me the opportunity and I had a great time in Boston. I had some great years and I had a lot of fun and it's a great town. I have no problem. I asked to be moved and they accommodated me, so everything is fine and dandy my way.''

It isn't in Boston, where the fallout has reached Sinden's desk. Sinden, who has been the Bruins' general manager since 1972, told the Boston Herald he is considering handing over the reins to assistant Mike O'Connell.

``I'll tell you what I've gotten away from,'' Sinden, 67, said. ``If you're going to be a good GM, you have to have a little more communication with the players than I've had, especially since Burns has been here. I've kind of left that totally up to him. He's a kind of dominant-type coach, and so I feel myself getting further and further away from the locker room every year. To do a real good job at this position, you can't do it that way. The players count on you for help, for advice and to vent.''

Boston's hockey fans are doing most of the venting now. They might be happy that Bourque finally has a chance to put his arms around a Stanley Cup, but their anger toward the Bruins isn't going to subside anytime soon.

Flyers upset

The Philadelphia Flyers were certain they would get Bourque, whose first choice was to play for an Eastern Conference team, and some Flyers players have bashed Sinden for dealing the perennial All-Star to Colorado.

``He didn't care about Raymond, where he wanted to go or anything like that,'' defenseman Eric Desjardins said. ``He even said it. I don't think it's right. It would have been great to play on the same team with a guy like that.''

Said forward Mark Recchi: ``All the things (Bourque) has done for (the Bruins) . . . we believe he wanted to come here. Philly was his first choice, but that's Harry for you. What are you going to do?''

The general consensus around the league is that Bourque, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, will retire after the season or sign with an East Coast team like the Flyers.

Red-faced Wings

Think the Detroit Red Wings were happy when Bourque and left wing Dave Andreychuk were shipped to their archrivals?

``We made a pitch for him,'' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said, referring to Bourque. ``It wasn't enough. The list of names Boston was interested in, we felt the price was too steep.''

Now the Red Wings are scrambling to acquire a veteran defenseman and reportedly looked into the New York Islanders' Kenny Jonsson and Vancouver's Ed Jovanovski but were told neither is available.

Travelin' man

It might not be a good idea for Brian Rolston to buy another house for a while. He's purchased two homes in the past four months and has been traded twice.

The Avalanche acquired Rolston from New Jersey for Claude Lemieux in November two weeks after his first purchase, and his trade to the Bruins in the Bourque transaction last week came about a month after he bought in Colorado.

``It's been a rough year to get settled any place,'' said Rolston, who is getting married this summer. ``But I'm excited to be (in Boston). We'll see what happens here. I'm coming back to the East where I feel more comfortable.

``Bourque is an icon in Boston and he's going to be in the Hall of Fame. Those are some big shoes to fill and I'm not going to fill them. I'm just hoping to bring a little something of my game to the organization.''

Rolston didn't get off to a great start with the Bruins. He inadvertently deflected a shot by Buffalo's Jason Woolley into his own net in his first game, a 2-1 overtime loss.

Unhappy Gilmour

Doug Gilmour, traded with J.P. Dupont from Chicago to Buffalo on Friday for Michal Grosek, didn't want to leave the Blackhawks. But the 36-year-old center didn't help his cause by criticizing management three days earlier.

Gilmour missed four games with bruised ribs before the trade, and he told the Chicago Tribune he wouldn't play and risk further injury until after Tuesday's trading deadline if he wasn't moved before then.

Gilmour was upset with Mike Smith, the team's director of hockey operations, since being told last month the Hawks would entertain offers for him.

``He's making me feel like I'm not part of the team, that's the hardest thing,'' Gilmour said. ``This team can afford me, so let's make this better. Let's go out and get what we need here. You can't tell me they can't suck up my contract and sign other guys.''

Gilmour plans to retire after next season. He has one year left on his contract, valued at $6 million.

NUMBERS . . .

13 goals allowed on 47 shots for Calgary Flames goalie Fred Brathwaite in two starts last week against the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.

18-5-4 record for the Washington Capitals in the past 27 games. The Capitals have gone 9-0-1 in their past 10 games against Southeastern Division opponents.

-9 plus / minus rating in the past 10 games for Florida Panthers star Pavel Bure.

1 sellout for the Carolina Hurricanes at the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena. It came Oct. 29 in the Hurricanes' first game in the building.

NOTES . . .

* Goalie Ed Belfour won't be suspended by the NHL or the Dallas Stars, but he also won't be permitted to play until after an evaluation by officials from the league's substance abuse program. Belfour was arrested Wednesday on misdemeanor charges after he assaulted a security guard at a Dallas hotel and resisted police officers. He was released on a $500 bond. The police said Belfour was intoxicated, and the NHL requires any player arrested when alcohol or drugs are involved to undergo an evaluation. ``Our team rules have a minimal form of punishment, and that gets overshadowed by a bigger issue,'' Stars general manager Bob Gainey said.

* Former University of Denver star Paul Comrie might not be able to play hockey again. Comrie, 23, suffered a concussion in a Jan. 7 game while playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs, a minor league affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Comrie was elbowed in the head and has been told by a neurologist to retire. ``It's way to soon to determine that,'' said Comrie, who is experiencing headaches. Comrie will visit with Chicago-based neurologist James Kelly, one of whose patients was Pat LaFontaine, who retired last season after a series of concussions.

AND QUOTES

* Vancouver general manager Brian Burke, on trade rumors out of New York involving Canucks captain Mark Messier: ``They should all get hobbies or buy hot dogs or something so they have something meaningful to spend their time on.''

* Mighty Ducks of Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg, on the return of left wing Paul Kariya, who had been out because of a bruised foot: ``Everybody in the league is trying to make trades for star players. We get one without having to make any moves.''

* Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Lyle Odelein, on his former coach, New Jersey's Robbie Ftorek: ``He thinks he's doing everything right and he doesn't listen to anyone. The guys are just playing for one another.''

* San Jose Sharks coach Darryl Sutter, on his team's battle to get into the playoffs: ``You know those guys looking at the scoreboard? Usually they're looking for somebody else to do their work for them. I don't buy into that.''

INFOBOX

MEASURING STICK

* New Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque recorded a career-high 31 goals in 1983-84 for the Boston Bruins and has reached the 20-goal mark eight times. He registered a career-high 96 points in 1983-84 and hit the 90-point plateau three other times. How previous Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques defensemen stack up:

Player, year.................Gm......Gl......Ast.....Pts

Steve Duchesne, 1992-93......82......20......62......82

Sandis Ozolinsh, 1996-97.....80......23......45......68

Jeff Brown, 1988-89..........78......21......47......68

Mario Marois, 1983-84........80......13......36......49

Jamie Hislop, 1980-81........50......19......22......41

Michel Petit, 1989-90........63......12......24......36

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AMBITION, VISION SET MCCOURT APART NEW DODGERS OWNER ADMIRED IN BOSTON.(Sports) - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Frank McCourt was a twenty-something Boston businessman when he bought a piece of land across from the South Boston Seaport waterfront. It wasn't worth much.

That 25-acre property, used today for commuter parking, is now worth millions and became his ticket to realize a longtime dream to become a major- league baseball owner.

McCourt reached an agreement Friday to buy the Dodgers from News Corp. And McCourt, 49, is no longer known just as a Boston land developer.

``Of course, he's thrilled,'' said Drew McCourt, Frank's 22-year-old son. ``He's been working on different deals over the past couple years, and he loves baseball.''

McCourt tried to buy the Boston Red Sox in 2001, but the deal fell through. McCourt, a lifelong Red Sox fan who has season tickets, coupled his ownership proposal with plans for a new stadium on his waterfront property. Some scoffed that McCourt's bid was too low. Some said it had more to do with him being an unknown in the baseball world.

This year, McCourt took a tour of Edison Field in Anaheim in an attempt to buy the Angels, but that never came close to materializing, either.

After News Corp.'s talks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer died, McCourt finally became the major player and steadfastly worked out a deal to buy the Dodgers for an estimated $430 million, according to sources.

McCourt and his family are well-known in Boston's business circles. His family has been in business for the last century and owns the McCourt Construction Co.

McCourt owns his own land development firm - McCourt Co. - and his wife, Jamie, is the executive vice president.

McCourt has had his share of public battles with the city of Boston over proposed construction on his land. He's had many developments nixed. But he's also admired by many for his attempt to build a new baseball stadium for the Red Sox.

``He's viewed as a person who has a lot of ambition and was credited, and rightly so, with a vision of how to put the Red Sox in a new home that would be the gem of the state of baseball being near downtown,'' said Ted Bunker, the business editor for the Boston Herald. ``It would've been near enough to the water that it would be very similar to Pac Bell (Park in San Francisco).

``The vision to create that plan and to show it to people deserved a lot of credit, even though ultimately it was unsuccessful. (The idea) of putting a ballpark there caught the attention of a lot of people. To this day, it might have some legs if it's pursued by the new owners.''

McCourt is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a part- owner of the Boston Braves.

The McCourts now have ties to the Red Sox, Braves and Dodgers. The McCourts have been diehard Boston fans, and Red Sox mania is at an all-time high with Boston's first-round playoff series victory over Oakland.

It might seem a little foreign to wear Dodger blue for a while.

``There's an element of (weirdness in) that, but when you talk about baseball and franchises with great history, I think he's very happy to be part of the Dodgers,'' Drew McCourt said.

Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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CURT SHILLING HIMSELF TO BOSTON.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: NAOMI AOKI Boston Globe

Is he the pitcher or the pitchman?

Two months into his first season in Boston, Curt Schilling is already the most public face of the Red Sox. He's in a series of ads for New England Ford Dealers, including one starring his wife, Shonda, and their four children. He's on a Reebok billboard near Fenway Park that will soon also appear in other parts of the city. And in an ad for Dunkin' Donuts, he practiced his Boston accent between bites of the chain's maple cheddar breakfast sandwich.

He's on the radio each week, and as if all that weren't enough, he was all over the television news two weeks ago after he called police to report a suspected drunk driver.

The 37-year-old right-handed ace seemed so ubiquitous that actor and former Cambridge resident Ben Affleck roasted him about his burst of advertising at an April luncheon for the Boston Red Sox Foundation.

``Curt, I think there are one or two things you're not currently promoting yet in town,'' Affleck said. ``Are there?''

Schilling takes the ribbing in stride. He said he even got sick of seeing himself on television. The irony is that right now he's only shilling (pun intended) for two companies since the Dunkin' ad went off the air in April.

``I really made a conscious effort not to overdo the ads,'' he said. ``But the ads were on the air so much that it left people with the impression I've done a lot of different things.''

That's because, at least as far as the Red Sox go, Schilling is unusually public. Other top Sox players lack Schilling's ``it'' factor. Nomar Garciaparra, known as one of baseball's hardest-working players, so zealously guards his privacy that it's difficult for fans to relate to him, while fellow superstars Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez a no better.

``Schilling is a proven winner, a workhorse who wears his passion on his sleeve,'' said Daniel Ladik, assistant professor of marketing at Suffolk University in Boston. ``There's no question; he wants to be here, and he wants to win. He's an extrovert to the nth degree. I can't name another Red Sox player like that.''

The Red Sox are paying Schilling $12 million this year, and though neither he nor the companies will disclose how much he earns as a pitchman, it seems unlikely that he needs the extra money.

Schilling has embraced public life wherever he's played. He engages fans in chat rooms, and e-mails them. He doesn't shy away from the press.

He shares the limelight with his family, too. In fact, Shonda and their four children steal the show in a spot for the Ford F-150 truck, ordering him to do pushups and gently casting him aside when it's time for cool, tall glasses of lemonade for the children.

His public persona -- that of a devoted husband and father, a hard-working pitcher, a generous donor to charities, and an all-around good guy -- is what advertisers love about Schilling. He's no bad boy of baseball who might sully a brand's reputation. He also doesn't take himself too seriously. As one Dunkin' Donuts executive noted, not every player would trot out a bad Boston accent for all the world to hear.

Schilling argues that his on-field performance is what matters to fans. And though that may be true, ad professionals say that performance alone doesn't sell products.

Oddly enough, Schilling said, the more public he and his family are, the easier it is for them to lead a normal life. ``I'm not different from everybody else, except for my ability to throw a baseball and my paycheck,'' Schilling said. ``By letting people see you and your family, they see that, and they become more comfortable around you.''

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LOWELL LOWERS BOOM IN BOSTON.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: JIMMY GOLEN Associated Press

Marlins 10 Red Sox 9 BOSTON -- The Florida Marlins didn't just go back to their hotel and stew about Boston's record-setting blowout. They did something about it.

Mike Lowell hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Saturday night as Florida rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat Boston 10-9. It was the biggest comeback victory in franchise history, and it came one day after the Red Sox scored 14 in the first inning -- and kept scoring from there, much to the Marlins' disgust.

``We were embarrassed last night,'' said Florida manager Jack McKeon, who complained that Boston showed the Marlins up in Friday's 25-8 win. ``This takes a little of the taste out of our mouth. They were very jubilant last night. They woke us up.''

Boston had another big inning Saturday, scoring seven in the sixth to take a 9-2 lead. But Juan Encarnacion hit a three-run homer as the Marlins scored four in the eighth, then they scored four more in the ninth.

``We set a lot of records the last two nights, didn't we,'' McKeon said with a chuckle. ``You can pop off all you want. You've got to back it up.''

Nate Bump earned the win in his major-league debut after being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day. He allowed two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings as the Marlins crossed the halfway point of the season by improving to .500.

Bump didn't really retire a batter in the sixth -- the third out came on the basepaths -- but he followed it with two scoreless innings.

Braden Looper pitched the ninth for his 14th save. Pinch-hitter Jason Varitek doubled with one out, but he was doubled up for the game's final out when Juan Pierre made a diving catch of Johnny Damon's liner and threw it to second.

``I just screwed up,'' Varitek said. ``My instincts were that I had to go right away in order to score on the ball. I was wrong.''

Brandon Lyon (3-4) blew his first save in 10 opportunities, giving up three singles -- including an RBI hit by Ivan Rodriguez -- before Lowell hit an 0-2 pitch into the Boston bullpen with two outs in the ninth.

It was Rodriguez's fifth consecutive multihit game.

Gabe Kapler was 4-for-5 in his Boston debut, driving in three runs in the sixth as Boston scored at least seven runs in an inning for the third time in four days.

Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer in the fourth and added a two-run double in the sixth to make it 6-2 and chase Tommy Phelps.

Pierre had four hits, a walk and two stolen bases for Florida.

Kapler, released by Colorado on June 19, signed with the Red Sox on Tuesday and went to the minors to play himself into shape. He went 3-for-6 in two minor-league games and showed no rust when he arrived at Fenway on Saturday, either.

He doubled in the third, singled in the fourth and tripled in the first run in the sixth to break a 2-2 tie. Kapler doubled in two more when he came up for a second time in the sixth, then struck out in his last at-bat, in the eighth.

BELOVED IN BOSTON.(SPORTS) - The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH)

Byline: Todd Archer Post staff reporter

BOSTON -- Tim Naehring loves Boston and playing for the Red Sox. To him, Fenway Park symbolizes baseball. He loves that fans live and die with the Olde Towne Team whether they are in a pennant race or not.

Naehring also loves Cincinnati, his hometown. He can walk around Hyde Park and go virtually unnoticed. He dearly misses Montgomery Inn's ribs and Skyline's chili during the season.

''I have the best of both worlds,'' said the third baseman and La Salle High School graduate. ''In Boston, people know me for the uniform and the athletic achievements. In Cincinnati, people know me for the person I am. I enjoy that separation.''

He thought, however briefly, about losing that separation over the winter when some friends mentioned the possibility of signing as a free agent with the Reds. But the more he thought about it, the less it made sense.

''One of the things that helps me deal with the ups and downs is that separation,'' Naehring said. ''This is what I do. People at home don't see every at-bat. They talk about the good things, but don't see the bad things.

''Maybe things'll be different at the end of my career when I'm an established major leaguer and I can go home. I don't have a family right now. Maybe if I do, one day I can go back and have the best of both worlds again.''

Naehring almost returned to Ohio this season when the Cleveland Indians offered him a three-year, $10-million deal. The Red Sox countered with a two-year, $5.5 million contract with a team option for a third year. In a move that surprised some, but not those close to Naehring, he chose to stay in Boston.

''It was the toughest decision I had to make in the game,'' Naehring said. ''When you're talking about $10 million on the table, that's a crazy number to me.

''There were a number of different things that came into the decision: loyalty to the Red Sox, because they were loyal to me when I was hurt; (Cleveland) wanted me to move to second base, so that's a different position; and it was a big change, moving away from good friends that I've made in New England.'' Since coming to Boston in 1990, Naehring has become one of the city's favorite athletes because of his on-field and off-field work. First baseman Mo Vaughn is the most popular member of the Red Sox, but Naehring is not a distant second.

''My talents aren't eye-opening,'' Naehring said. ''I'm not the fastest guy. There's people that play the game that have a lot of flash. I'm not that type of player. I play hard, and I think people in New England appreciate that.

''Secondly, and maybe most important, they've seen what I've been through with the back surgery. They've seen how I've tried to handle the low times and how I handle the best of times.''

These are the best of times for Naehring, but he came close to retiring five years ago. Naehring made a meteoric rise through the Red Sox farm system, moving from Class A Lynchburg in 1989 to Boston a year later as a shortstop. But after 24 games he was put on the disabled list for the first of six times in his career with a lower back problem.

In 1991, Naehring became the first rookie to start at shortstop for the Red Sox in 26 years, but played only 29 games and was in the midst of an 0-for-39 slide before going on the disabled list again. He had season-ending back surgery July 3 and contemplated retirement.

''At 22, I couldn't even bend over,'' Naehring said. ''I thought I couldn't do it anymore.''

He continued to battle injury the next three seasons, including shoulder surgery in 1993, but was healthy by the end of 1994 and earned the starting third baseman's spot in 1995.

He posted career highs in games (126), hits (133), runs (61), home runs (10), runs batted in (57) and walks (77) while hitting .307 two years ago. Last year he hit .288 in 116 games, belted 17 homers and knocked in 65 runs.

''I didn't know very much about him,'' said first-year Red Sox manager Jimy Williams. ''I'd heard a lot about him, and the bottom line is that he is everything you want a major leaguer to be.''

Naehring, 30, has been with the Red Sox longer than any current player. When he arrived from the minors, the Red Sox had third baseman Wade Boggs, pitcher Roger Clemens and left fielder Mike Greenwell around, and outfielder Jose Canseco was added to the mix in 1995.

But those players are gone from Boston and now the Red Sox are the embodiment of Naehring. His uniform always is the dirtiest. He always is taking extra ground balls or batting practice. He is the same player he was at La Salle and Miami University, just a little richer.

''If he's not out there early,'' Williams said, ''I'm worried, because he's always out there. He's going to give you everything that he can give you for the team to win. He's a professional is what he is.''

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Rivalry touches them all; A chilly forecast for Damon in Boston.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: MIKE FITZPATRICK Associateed Press

NEW YORK - Signs were posted in the New York Yankees' clubhouse Sunday reminding players to pack a coat or jacket for the chilly weather in Boston this week.

Johnny Damon could get an especially cold reception from the fans at Fenway Park.

The speedy center fielder is the first big star to switch sides in baseball's most bitter rivalry since Roger Clemens in 1999 - and he at least made a two-year stop in Toronto first.

Damon, on the other hand, jumped right from the Red Sox to New York for a $52 million, four-year contract. He returns to Boston with his new team for the first time tonight, and folks in Beantown are gearing up with T-shirts that read:

'Looked Like Jesus.'

'Throws Like Mary.'

'LOYAL Like Judas.'

'Johnny B GONE!'

'I expect them to cheer what our team accomplished back then. Winning the World Series was pretty awesome,' Damon said. 'I expect them to boo the fact that I'm here. That I went over and that I'm playing with a team that truly needed me, truly wanted me.'

A fan favorite all over New England from 2002-05, Damon sparked Boston's high-powered offense from the leadoff spot and helped lead its band of 'idiots' to a World Series championship two years ago - the first for the Red Sox since 1918.

With his long hair, quick smile and colorful quotes, he became one of the most famous people in a baseball-crazy city. Adoring girls and grateful fans followed him like a rock star.

But the love-fest likely ended the minute he left town to join the hated Yankees. George Steinbrenner's $200 million team is still the Evil Empire as far as Boston fans (and one or two Red Sox executives) are concerned, and the rivalry has been around a lot longer than Damon was.

'Everybody is different on how they feel,' Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. 'Some don't care. Some care a lot. He spent a long time in Boston. You can't throw that away. I'm sure it will be mixed ... who knows?'

Or, as Boston slugger David Ortiz put it: 'It's going to be a little crazy out there (tonight).'

Despite some occasional struggles, Damon is off to a strong start in the Big Apple, and he's coming off a huge weekend against Toronto. He had three hits Sunday in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays, making him 6-for-9 in the past two games with two homers and six runs scored.

Batting leadoff in another power-packed lineup, Damon is hitting .312 overall with nine doubles, 22 runs, seven stolen bases and 13 RBI.

Is he eager to prove the Red Sox made a mistake by letting him get away as a free agent?

'I'm not bitter at them at all. They made a decision. It was a business decision. I commend them for holding their ground and for believing what they believe in,' Damon said. 'I would just like to thank the fans. They were awesome. They don't deserve to have players keep leaving, but it's been a trend that's happened in Boston.'

The Yankees lead the AL East by percentage points over Boston heading into the two-game series, the first of 19 meetings between the teams this season. They play eight times in the next 24 days.

'We've been there so many times. It never gets boring,' New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. 'We don't know them very well. They have a new cast of characters up there except for three or four guys.'

Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson, New York's two best starters, are not scheduled to pitch in the series. Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (1-1, 4.80 ERA) takes the mound tonight against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (1-4, 3.90). Shawn Chacon (3-1, 4.56) goes Tuesday night against Red Sox newcomer Josh Beckett (3-1, 4.50).

Boston just finished a 3-6 trip.

'Nobody's happy around here right now,' Ortiz said Sunday after a 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay.

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Wire Images NOT EVEN Heisman Trophy winners are immune to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. The 1997 winner, Charles Woodson, got heated with the Buckeyes' David Boston.

Associated Press ArchiveMUTUAL respect between perennial winners Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams has kept the Duke-North Carolina rivalry strong.

Graffanino sparks Boston.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: HOWARD ULMAN Associated Press

Red Sox 11

Rangers 6

BOSTON - Tony Graffanino was the surprising star when the two highest-scoring teams in baseball met Monday night.

Graffanino, in his 14th game since being obtained from Kansas City on July 19, hit a rare home run that broke a tie and sparked the Boston Red Sox to an 11-6 win over the Texas Rangers.

'This was a lot of fun,' said Graffanino, who hit his first homer with Boston and fourth of the season. 'I think it was a lot of fun for everybody, really, but I had a good time.'

Boston's second baseman contributed with his hitting, fielding and running. He went 3-for-3 with a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth, drove in four runs, helped turn two double plays and slid ahead of two tags at home on a wild pitch and an infield single. He even was walked intentionally.

'This guy came in and has really helped solidify not just second base, but our ballclub,' manager Terry Francona said. 'He gives us some aspects, like going first to third, taking an extra base.'

Jeremi Gonzalez (2-1) pitched 22/3 scoreless innings in relief of Wade Miller as Boston won for the 10th time in 12 games. Steve Karsay (0-1) allowed four runs in two innings in his second appearance for Texas.

David Ortiz hit his 26th homer, but Boston got unusual contributions from the bottom four spots in its lineup, which combined for nine of the team's 12 hits. Graffanino, batting eighth, is hitting .333 for Boston. Kevin Millar, batting sixth, No. 7 Roberto Petagine and No. 9 Alex Cora each had two hits.

Texas manager Buck Showalter wasn't surprised by Boston's offense, even though its best hitters didn't contribute a lot.

'Maybe with most lineups, but not with this one,' he said. 'They've got a lot of good hitters sitting there.'

Boston led 4-3 after one inning, which wasn't shocking since it leads the majors with 620 runs - six ahead of second-place Texas.

'Everybody kind of expects this series to be high-scoring,' Texas' Michael Young said. 'It's tough to play the Red Sox here because they score a ton of runs.'

Graffanino scored three runs and has made it unlikely that Mark Bellhorn, on the disabled list since July 18 with a sprained left thumb, will reclaim his position when he's healthy.

'I can't control any of that stuff,' said Graffanino, who came close to signing with the Red Sox before last season, when they won the World Series, but felt he'd have a better chance to play in Kansas City.

'Obviously, if I would have known about the year that was going to happen last year, it would have been a no-brainer.'

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AMERICAN WANTS CHEERS IN BOSTON.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: BERT ROSENTHAL Associated Press -

BOSTON -- All David Morris has to show for being a one-time American record-holder in the marathon is a piece of paper.

He doesn't have the record anymore and he still doesn't have a marathon victory.

Morris hopes to change that today in his first appearance in the Boston Marathon.

``I would like to run faster,'' Morris said, referring to the U.S. record of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 32 seconds, he ran in finishing fourth at the 1999 Chicago Marathon, his career best by nearly six minutes.

Since that memorable race, in which Khalid Khannouchi set the world record of 2:05:42, Morris' performances have sagged. He is hopeful that the hills of Boston will provide him with an uplifting effort.

``I've heard it's a rough course because the downhills beat you up a lot,'' said Morris, a native of Eagle River, Alaska, now living in Missoula, Mont.

Being a newcomer on the demanding and exhausting course will not be beneficial to Morris, who will be facing a powerful field of tested foreigners. Included in the group of approximately 15,000 starters will be defending champion Elijah Lagat of Kenya, Olympic gold medalist and 2000 Boston runner-up Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia, two-time Boston winner Moses Tanui of Kenya, 1996 Olympic silver medalist Bong-ju Lee of South Korea and 1999 Boston champion Joseph Chebet of Kenya.

The women's field also is strong, with defending champion and Chicago Marathon winner Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, three-time Boston champion Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia, New York City Marathon winner Ludmila Petrova of Russia and 20-kilometer world record-holder Lornah Kiplagat of Kenya.

Kenyan men have won the last 10 Boston Marathons. Ndereba was the first Kenyan woman to win.

When Khannouchi won the Chicago Marathon in 1999, he was representing his native Morocco. Since then, he has become a U.S. citizen, and his 2:07:01 in Chicago last year broke Morris' American record.

Morris finished seventh at 2:12, blaming his subpar performance on lack of motivation. He had flopped at the U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 38th at 2:29:26, the slowest time of his seven-race marathon career. He started to cramp up at mile two and never recovered.

Morris blamed the disheartening performance on too much training and too much heat on race day.

``It was very disappointing,'' he said. ``I had trained harder for that race than for any race in my life.''

About a month later, Morris competed in the Olympic trials 10,000 meters, but did not finish. He took a few weeks off to regain his composure, before preparing for Chicago.

``I did the same workouts I did before Chicago in 1999, but I didn't feel good except six weeks before the race,'' he said. ``When I finish my workouts, I always feel I can go faster. Last year, I didn't feel that way. I felt like I was struggling.

``In 1999, I developed a good base in Japan. Then I ran for two months in Boulder (Colo.). I didn't have that base last year for the trials or for Chicago.''

Now, Morris has a different attitude. He has been training at low altitude in Albuquerque, N.M., and Missoula, concentrating on his speed and combining part of the Japanese philosophy he learned while training there with a corporate team that went undefeated in 14 relay races in 1999.

``They train more for endurance,'' Morris said. ``When we did workout training for a race, we started long and slow. As the race got closer, we started getting faster. In the United States, we do shorter intervals.''

Morris' training for Boston was interrupted in December and early January by minor injuries, costing him a strong base and forcing him to run a lot of miles in late January and February.

``I didn't do a lot of speed work until March,'' he said, ``and my legs got sore. Maybe I crammed too much.''

BEDLAM REIGNS OVER BOSTON.(Sports) - The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH)

Byline: Elizabeth Mehren and David Wharton Los Angeles Times

BOSTON -- For one night, at least, Red Sox fans could dance in the streets.

Their long-suffering team did not win the World Series, did not break the curse that -- by local legend -- dates back to 1918. But the Red Sox did the next best thing.

They earned a chance to play for the title by defeating their nemesis, the New York Yankees, in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at New York's Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.

The 10-3 victory was not only convincing, it was unprecedented. Boston had trailed this best-of-seven playoff by three games to none. No team in Major League Baseball had ever come back from such a deficit.

'We've been waiting our whole lives for this moment, this game,' said John Bohan, a 27-year-old construction worker pressed into the crowd watching the game at a bar just south of the city.

His buddy, 28-year-old truck driver Mike Caporale, said: 'This is historic. My father didn't see it, my grandfather didn't see it, but I'm going to see it.'

After four straight wins, the Red Sox will face either the Houston Astros or St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series beginning Saturday. They will have a chance to end their legendary dry spell, their last championship coming in the midst of World War I.

Well past midnight, thousands of fans celebrated in Kenmore Square and on the streets around Fenway Park, waving flags and lighting fireworks. There was cheering, shouting and hugging as cordons of police officers looked on.

'Going to Fenway is almost a religious thing,' said Bohan, who joined the crowds there after the game. 'It's like going to witness a miracle.'

How much does baseball mean to this city and the rest of New England?

'It's intangible, this thing about why we love the Red Sox,' Boston mayor Tom Menino said before Wednesday's game. 'But it is something special, something we breathe, something we were brought up on.'

Harvard professor Dudley Herschbach recalled that he won the Nobel Prize for chemistry on the same day the Red Sox clinched the 1986 American League pennant.

There was no question as to which event was more important. 'The Red Sox, of course,' he said. 'People get Nobel Prizes all the time, but how often do the Red Sox go to the World Series?'

Yet his team lost to the New York Mets in a heartbreaking seven-game series that year. Much like rooting for the Chicago Cubs -- who have not won a championship since 1908 -- being a Red Sox fan has meant courting disappointment.

Joseph Conforti, a professor of American and New England studies at the University of Southern Maine, said that years of losing have provided appropriate suffering for a people whose Puritan roots 'always told them they are condemned to hell.'

Losing has spawned its own mythology: The Curse of the Bambino.

One year after their last World Series victory in 1918, the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Since then, they have not only struggled but also watched their rival win 26 championships.

'The so-called curse and struggle,' said Los Angeles Dodger owner Frank McCourt, who grew up in Boston. 'The fans take an approach of what's going to happen next? There's a sort of dread.'

All of which rose to the forefront when the team lost the first three games of this American League playoff.

Fans were looking at yet another collapse against the pinstriped team from New York whose controversial owner, George Steinbrenner, had bankrolled a $182-million roster of all stars.

Though his team carries a hefty $131-million payroll, Boston owner John W. Henry complained before the season: 'It will suffice to say that we have a spending limit and the Yankees don't. Baseball doesn't have an answer for the Yankees.'

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Red Sox's demise.

Down by three games -- down to its last three outs in Game 4 --the team started winning. And the fans got nervous.

When Game 7 finally came around, the streets of Boston emptied as the people shuttered inside with their television sets.

The game began with the stuff of their worst nightmares, outfielder Johnny Damon tagged out at home plate in the first inning. But moments later, designated hitter David Ortiz hit a home run into the right field stands and Boston took a 2-0 lead.

For the Red Sox, it only got better from there.

They chased Yankee starter Kevin Brown out of the game midway through the second inning and Damon, the next batter, got his revenge with a grand slam, giving his team a 6-0 lead.

Of course -- as any Red Sox fan could tell you -- Boston led New York, 5-2, in the eighth inning of Game 7 in last season's league championship and lost in extra innings.

There would be no such letdown this time.

Mehren reported from Boston, Wharton from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.

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100TH RUNNING OF MARATHON MEANS BIG BUSINESS IN BOSTON.(Sports) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: David M. Halbfinger The Boston Globe

BOSTON -- It's bigger than a papal visit. Taller than the Tall Ships. More powerful than the World Cup.

Well, it's big, anyway.

It's - the economic impact of the 100th Boston Marathon.

Amid growing hype about the April 15 race, marathon officials have turned on the hyperbole, projecting a splendiferous $140 million in spending by runners and spectators visiting the city.

``The tide is rolling in, and we are not going to stop it,'' gushed Guy Morse, head of the Boston Athletic Association, organizer of the race, during a breakfast briefing last month at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

``If you took the NCAA Final Four, the NFL Super Bowl, then added on top of that Mardi Gras, probably then you could begin to measure the impact of what's going on,'' said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Moscaritolo later said he was exaggerating for effect. But he also said he expects the marathon weekend to inject more business into the local economy, in a shorter time, than a number of big tourist events in Boston's recent history.

``The Tall Ships celebration in 1992 was spread out over 10 days. The World Cup in '94 was spread over four weeks,'' he said. ``The pope's visit in 1979 lasted three hours, but it wasn't a big economic generator.''

He called this year's marathon ``the largest single event, in terms of economic impact to the visitor and tourist industry, that the city has ever seen.''

Last year's race contributed an estimated $45 million to local businesses, he said. But the marathon's centennial has drawn unusually high interest.

About 1.5 million people are expected to line the 26.2-mile race course, giving vendors and local businesses a big boost.

Of the 37,500 official entrants this year, about 5,500 are from Massachusetts, 22,000 from other states, and 10,000 from foreign countries. Runners are expected to bring another 38,000 guests.

Beverly Browning, a 46-year-old writer from Gainesville, Fla., who heads up a 100-member road racing club in that city, said she expects a large contingent of runners from Jacksonville to Ocala will come to Boston in April.

At her request, Moscaritolo is sending an emissary to Gainesville this month to brief the north Florida runners.

``We're going to have a meeting in March, with baked beans and Sam Adams beer, and find out what restaurants to eat in and what to do in Boston,'' she said.

Browning said her group makes an event of its annual trips to the New York City Marathon, spending an average of $1,000 per person per day over a full week. ``It'll be exactly like that in Boston,'' she said.

But her group may not be typical.

Moscaritolo, who drafted the economic impact report, cautioned that it rests on several key assumptions that were somewhat arbitrary, including a much larger figure than the Convention and Visitors Bureau normally uses to measure indirect spending.

Economists generally take all such so-called multipliers with heavy doses of skepticism.

Still, Moscaritolo's estimates did not include state receipts of income and sales taxes, $300,000 that the Athletic Association is paying to municipalities along the race route, and hotel taxes, which vary among municipalities.

All the hotels in Boston and Cambridge are already booked for the marathon, despite a minimum four-night stay, Moscaritolo said.

Marathon Tours and Travel, which is operating a hotel hotline for out-of-town visitors, has already begun booking rooms as far away as Brockton, Shrewsbury and Marlborough, said owner Tom Gilligan. ``Hopefully, we don't have to go out of state. But we're moving in that direction,'' he said.

A representative of the Boston Athletic Association said the World Trade Center has already begun cooking and freezing in preparation for the ``pasta load,'' sponsored by Ronzoni, on the eve of the Marathon. It could draw as many as 30,000 runners seeking a carbohydrate buildup.

But Browning, of Gainesville, said her group will avoid the crush and the pressure of being ``surrounded by a lot of really neurotic people.''

``We like to go out, take over a restaurant, and drink wine,'' she said.

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MEYER PASSES PR EXAM AT BOSTON.(Sports) - The Capital Times

Doug Meyer earned the distinction last week of being Dane County's fastest finisher in the 100th Boston Marathon. With an effort of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 32 seconds, he finished 190th overall in a field of more than 38,000 runners.

And now that the historic race is behind him, he will return to his medical studies before he returns to the starting line of another marathon.

A second-year medical student at University of Wisconsin, the 25-year-old Meyer is only an occasional marathoner. He is a runner at heart, but ran Boston only to be part of marathoning's biggest moment ever.

Unlike many Madison-area runners who are dedicated to the 26-mile distance, for whom Boston was a hallmark homecoming, Meyer is still a marathon novice. Boston was just his third marathon, ever after a pair of Minnesota marathons last year -- Grandma's (2:37:24) in June and Twin Cities (2:39:06) in October.

``I am still on top of the world,'' Meyer said last week after he returned to the medical student's life of libraries and labs. ``That was the best running experience I ever had. And that was the best running event I've ever participated in.

``It was the best race of my life. Nothing compares to it.''

Meyer's Wisconsin Track Club teammates know him as a solid 10K runner capable of winning local races. He has a 10K best of 31:55 on the track. Last year he won the Meriter Nurses 10K, the Canterbury 10K and the Jingle Bell 10K, all in Madison.

But he won't be back for the next Meriter Nurses race on May 9, because he'll be catching up on school work. And it may well be another two years before he runs another marathon. Then, it may be in a place like New York or San Francisco rather than Boston again: He likes marathons for their travel aspect.

``Maybe I'll do another in my fourth year of medical school,'' he said. ``But my third year will be hectic, and it won't allow me to train much.''

A former runner for UW-La Crosse, Meyer has been running since high school in Mequon. He managed this marathon PR off of a dozen 65-mile weeks. His studies, he said, took a slight back seat as he focused on Boston. He ran seven days a week, between 7 and 13 miles each afternoon.

``I'm kind of paying for that now,'' he said.

He turned to the marathon a year ago after managing 6-minute pace in the 20-mile Syttende Mai Run, when he placed fifth overall. The lure of being part of the 100th Boston, once he realized it was around the corner, was too much to pass up.

Once in Boston, he wore bib number 1,505. He took just 12 seconds to cross the starting line after imagining it might take him a full minute.

``From talking to others who had been to Boston, I thought it would be a real zoo,'' he said. ``They said don't try to run a good race because of the crowd, but I wanted a PR. I already had my airfare and my entry, and I really wanted to do my best race, with the crowd or not.''

Being the Boston novice, he didn't realize that the infamous Heartbreak Hill at 20 miles was the third in a series of hills, rather than the first. But he crested it well and scored the PR he was after.

``I think I've found my race (the marathon),'' he said. ``I enjoy it more than any other distance. You are able to go most of the way without pain. I think I've got some potential for it.''

But right now, Doug Meyer also has medical school.

Area Boston Marathon Finishers

Following are the names, ages, times and places of the Dane County runners who finished the 100th Boston Marathon on April 15, the oldest and most prestigious race, with 38,706 starters. These results are from the Official B.A.A. Boston Marathon home page on the Internet (http://www.bostonmarathon.org).

Black Earth: Wesley Geringer, 58, 3:55:10 (16,340th).

Cottage Grove: Timothy Carew, 40, 3:24:31 (7,127th); Herb Thompson, 40, 3:36:04 (10,386th); Thomas Nordland, 41, 4:54:43 (29,966th).

DeForest: Michael Kirchner, 35, 3:52:43 (15,541th); Melanie McManus, 34,4:28:01 (25,197th); Kevin Hoey, 33, 4:45:43 (28,451st).

Madison men: Douglas Meyer, 25, 2:35:32 (190th); Joseph Guenther, 26, 2:46:13 (665th); Mark Gajewski, 41, 2:48:26 (832nd); David Meisinger, 26, 2:52:51 (1,200th); Holger Cordes, 32, 2:53:14 (1,231st); Michael Stewart, 29, 2:54:34 (1,369th); Charles Possin, 47, 2:54:48 (1,420th); Thomas Kelly, 41, 2:56:46 (1,674th); Russ Fiebig, 25, 3:02:09 (2,508th); Robert Landrum, 30, 3:03:22 (2,673rd); Edward Lynch, 40, 3:03:46 (2,732nd); David Kasuboski, 53, 3:06:48 (3,212th); Dan Rindfleisch, 41, 3:13:42 (4,554th); Gregory Ingermann, 24, 3:15:58 (5,050th); Peter Wadsack, 51, 3:18:09 (5,552nd); Mark Wolfgram, 43, 3:18:52 (5,735th); Michael Gotzler, 25, 3:20:31 (6,177th); Daniel Stark, 45, 3:20:35 (6,197th); Ken Woodford, 32, 3:21:08 (6,320th); David Brander, 34, 3:23:16 (6,809th); Jim Stangel, 41, 3:23:22 (6,840th); Peter Daly, 3:23:55 (6,995th); Robert Norcross, 42, 3:24:36 (7,148th); Jeffrey Pearman, 41, 3:27:02 (7,799th); William Herbert, 40, 3:28:29 (8,183rd); Ronnie Carda, 42, 3:28:54 (8,312nd); Tod Jensen, 27, 3:28:54 (8,313rd); Paul Stetka, 34, 3:28:54 (8,314th); Bart Hobson, 47, 3:28:55 (8,317th); Michael Duckwitz, 47, 3:31:03 (8,937th); Daithi Wolfe, 33, 3:33:29 (9,9619th); Terry Shelton, 44, 3:35:31 (10,197th); Ralph Willis, 42, 3:36:03 (10,382nd); David Zimmermann, 43, 3:37:06 (10,713th); David Hantz, 46, 3:37:51 (10,965th); Joe Ballmer, 42, 3:37:51 (10,961st); Gregory Krohm, 49, 3:39:34 (11,456th); Cary Segall, 46, 3:40:49 (11,828th); Michael Weifel, 40, 3:45:19 (13,231st); Mark Beatty, 44, 3:45:27 (13,296th); Donald Nolan, 46, 3:48:58 (14,363rd); Kurt Kelly, 24, 3:51:30 (15,148th); Douglas Dulli, 44, 3:54:42 (16,159th); David Kirby, 52, 3:55:26 (16,411th); Steven Reese, 42, 3:56:14 (16,665th); Daniel Barker, 25, 4:05:18 (19,448th); John Markson, 41, 4:15:12 (22,183rd).

Paul Lundsten, 40, 4:15:12 (22,181st); Jason Dorgan, 30, 4:15:12 (22,182nd); Frank Burgess, 53, 4:31:49 (25,966th); Stanley Woods, 60, 4:33:36 (26,329th); Tom Rice, 50, 4:34:55 (26,596th); John Schmitz, 42, 4:35:12 (26,657th); Paul Withington, 61, 4:48:22 (28,928th); Jeff Berg, 52, 4:49:00 (29,038th); Thomas Brei, 48, 5:01:11 (30,850th); Kenneth Williams, 56, 5:02:24 (30,984th); Roy Prange, 50, 5:18:47 (32,689th); Jim Salerno, 48, 5:22:37 (33,036th).

Madison women: Jane Moser, 37, 3:07:43 (3,380th); Kit McCaffrey, 25, 3:27:54 (8,044th); Denise Marino, 36, 3:42:24 (12,291st); Stephanie Vaudreuil, 39, 3:46:59 (13,804th); Laura MacAulay, 27, 3:47:38 (14,005th); Heidi Lindh, 25,3:50:39 (14,884th); Ann Hayes, 29, 3:53:08 (15,650th); Stephanie McAndrew, 20, 3:54:28 (16,073rd); Carol Swain, 48, 3:55:39 (16,488th); Madeline Gotkowitz, 31,4:04:41 (19,236th); Linda Garnett, 45, 4:07:24 (20,042nd); Jill Karofsky, 29, 4:15:11 (22,177th); Joy Jones, 46, 4:19:49 (23,256th); Nadine Kerr, 22, 4:22:11 (23,806th); Peggy Brooks, 44, 4:27:43 (25,146th); Susan Fafard, 54, 4:32:30 (26,099th); FayeRoels, 28, 4:50:20 (29,277th); Teri Johnson, 42, 6:07:36 (35,096th).

McFarland: Jack Paschke, 30, 3:43:57 (12,827th).

Middleton: David Babler, 41, 3:24:36 (7,152nd).

Monona: Beverly Lampe, 64, 5:15:30 (32,405th).

Mount Horeb: Keith Dalby, 50, 7:11:17 (35,733rd).

Oregon: Jerry Bollig, 46, 3:37:51 (10,962nd); Tim Yanacheck, 48, 3:40:09(11,638th); Darrell Barth, 53, 4:40:40 (27,601st).

Sun Prairie: Daryl Ketterhagen, 37, 2:57:40 (1,805th); Peter Chermak, 40, 3:22:19 (6,605th); Bill Detra, 55, 4:04:05 (19,052nd); Thomas Huss, 50, 4:16:35 (22,514th).

Verona: Hugh Hauser, 36, 3:42:02 (12,195th).

RUNNERS REVVED UP FOR BOSTON.(Sports) - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Byline: Larry Tye Boston Globe

They're doing it in Hawaii, on the big island and the little ones.

They're doing it in the bayous of Baton Rouge, in Gainesville gator country and in New York's Central Park.

And they were doing it here in Washington over Presidents Day weekend, from the White House to Capitol Hill and back again.

Training for the Boston Marathon, that is. April's 100th rendition has inspired runners all across America, pumping up attendance at other marathons where people sought to qualify for Boston and sparking a boom in all levels of running the likes of which hasn't been seen in America in a decade or more.

'For me, it's something I have to do, pure and simple,' explains Joe Ector, who did a 12-mile training run on Washington's ice-crusted streets Sunday.

'Boston is the mecca of running,' adds Ector, an Argentine-born commodities trader who has run Boston twice and qualified for this year's run with a 2:55 in the New York City Marathon. 'I'm in love with Boston, everything about the Boston race, from the city to the weather to race organizers to the people who cheer for you.'

Ector isn't alone in his anticipation and adulation. Linda Honikman, who tracks road race attendance at USA Track & Field's Road Running Information Center, says, 'There's no question that Boston's 100th running has spurred interest in marathons all over the country. It's also had a positive impact on products related to running and on races of all distances.

'The key is whether we can sustain this after Boston and the Olympics, but right now it's fantastic.'

Bostonians have always prided themselves on having the nation's oldest marathon, and have always assumed it was the best. What has become clear the last several months is that much of the running world agrees.

Take the Club South Runners in Baton Rouge, a part of the country not known to relish things Yankee.

'The 100th Boston is an event none of us feel we can afford to miss - it's the run of the century,' says club president Brent Bruser, who is leading a delegation to Boston that will include at least 50 runners and another 25 or so family and friends.

'We'll want to reflect on it 20 years from now. We'll want to say we were there,' adds Bruser, who started his planning 18 months ago, blocking out 50 hotel rooms in Boston, reserving 100 airline seats and planning for his group's four-day stay in the city.

Beverly Browning also is coming to Boston to run, and bringing a lot of others. Her group from Florida's Gainesville-Jacksonville-Ocala region is so big, in fact, and so fired up, that the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau is sending a representative down next month to brief them on what else to do in Boston.

'We're a traveling Visa card - we want to spend megabucks,' explains Browning. 'We not only want to party hard, we want to eat in every restaurant, visit every museum and shop in every store.'

What about the race itself? Browning (who got her Boston number through the Boston Athletic Association's lottery, a touch of luck she calls 'a gift from the gods') says she and her fellow Floridians have been training hard, 'but our problem is we don't have any hills here. Heartbreak Hill is a big deal to a Florida runner. We're in absolutely flat terrain. We have no hope of handling Heartbreak.'

Hills aren't a problem for runners in Hawaii.

'We have some wonderful hills here, deep valleys and high ridges,' says Nancy Goglia, who runs with the Faerbers Fliers Track Club in Honolulu and views her trip to Boston as a homecoming, since she went to school in Boston and taught in Newton.

In Los Angeles, meanwhile, LA Marathon coach Pat Connelly is training 25 runners bound for Boston, a substantial increase from the two or three who normally head East for the classic.

'Those who have been accepted are just ecstatic,' says Connelly. 'They say their feet don't touch the ground when they work out as they think about participating in the 100th running of Boston. All of us look up to the Boston Marathon as the genesis of our marathons.

'Most of my runners are running the LA Marathon on March 3 as a dress rehearsal for Boston. They're using that as an off-Broadway test to get ready for Boston.'

FOREIGN ACCENT IN BOSTON.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: Tim Layden Staff writer

Twelve years ago, Jack Fultz was a graduate student at Georgetown and a Olympic hopeful in need of a qualifying time for the U.S. marathon trials.

Twice he had failed in attempts, so he would try again on the third Monday in April, at the Boston Marathon.

The requisite time to run to make the 1976 trials was 2 hours, 23 minutes and Fultz was certain his preparation was sufficient. 'I didn't question my ability to do it,' Fultz says now, remembering the day.

That year, Patriots' Day, the Massachusetts holiday on which the Boston Marathon is run each year (and on which the Red Sox play a morning game so as to allow their fans time to spill into Kenmore Square and watch the runners), felt like July. The temperature reached into the 90s, with direct sun and choking humidity.

Jack Fultz still rolled his mark: he ran 2:20:19, and qualified for the Olympic Trials.

He also won the race. First place. Laurel wreath, interviews, the works. 'It wasn't that much of a shock,' Fultz says. 'I knew I'd be in the top 10, no matter what.'

But except to the cognoscenti, he was a shock.

Fultz' victory on that oppressive afternoon in '76 - on the up slope of a curve that would lead to the peak of the running boom roughly five years hence - highlighted a profile of the Boston Marathon which can be traced through the last half-century.

Since 1942, the Boston Marathon has been won only 16 times by Americans, including only 10 of the last 25. The last four race winners (Toshihiko Seko of Japan, Rob deCastella of Australia and Geoff Smith of Great Britain, twice) have been foreign runners.

Of the 10 victories in the last quarter-century by Americans four were by the same runner: Bill Rodgers.

Foreign dominance (and conversely, American weakness) has always been most evident during Olympic years, when U.S. runners traditionally skip the Boston Marathon in order to rest for the trials, which traditionally take place within weeks of the third Monday in April.

Fultz' victory in '72 came in the absence of Shorter and Rodgers, who ran 1-2 at the Olympic Trials, and of Don Kardong, who ran third and finished fourth at the Montreal Olympics. Ambrose Burfoot, an American, won in '68 (in a time of 2:22:17, the slowest in the last 26 years), under similar circumstances.

Rodgers won in 1980, but in that year an American boycott of the Moscow Olympics was virtually assured and Rodgers also then possessed an allegiance to Boston.

More typical was 1984, when Geoff Smith ran 2:10:34 to beat a field virtually devoid of top U.S. marathoners.

And if '84 was typical, '88 stands to become the signature edition of the Boston Marathon as a foreign affair.

Monday's 92nd renewal of the most storied marathon in the world will serve as the Olympic Trials for Finland, Kenya and Tanzania. Great Britain, Japan, Italy and Djibouti will carefully assess performances from Boston in choosing their teams.

The United States, meanwhile, will run its trials just six days after the Boston Marathon, as part of the New Jersey Waterfront Marathon.

The trials will be televised by a major network (ABC); Boston will not.

The trials will be comprised entirely of American runners; the best open American at Boston is Darrick May of Balboa, Calif., a competent runner who is not expected to run near the front.

In simple terms, the delineation has never been clearer.

'The irony of the entire situation,' says Fultz, who now serves as the elite athletes' liason for Boston, 'is that we've probably got one of the strongest fields in Boston history. But not having Americans here hurts. It hurts any race, but particularly Boston, with the tradition of the race.'

Dan Schlesinger, an elite marathoner who would have been among the favorites in the trials until incurring a back injury three weeks ago, says, 'This way, instead of one quality race at the end of April, you're got two, with all of the best marathoners in the world.'

And clearly, the foreigners are in Boston and the Americans are in New Jersey.

More than two years ago, the men's long distance running committee of The Athletics Congress began the process of locating a site for the 1988 Olympic marathon trials. The '84 trials were run in Buffalo, in late May.

There would be two principal changes - in addition to the site - for '88: the date would be moved back to better accommodate runners preparing for the Olympics and the trials would be run in conjunction with a major (read: corporate-sponsored) marathon.

'There were two suggestions we received after the '84 trials,' says Kardong, chairman of the U.S. men's LDR committee and a fourth-place finisher in the '76 Olympic marathon. 'The strongest was that it was foolish to run the trials two months before the Olympics. The second was that we should put a good chunk of money on trials.'

The finalists were the New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Waterfront marathons.

'We knew we were the dramatic underdog,' says Tim McLoone, director of the Jersey race. 'Boston and New York were more well-known and Pittsburgh, we had heard, was the favorite son of the LDR committee.'

McLoone, whose marathon functions, with outside sponsorship from private corporations, as an arm of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, submitted a sealed bid which he says was $250,000. The money would go to TAC and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

He didn't expect to be awarded the trials, but he was.

There were problems with Boston and New York.

Boston possesses a strong international field, many of whom are paid six-figure, multi-year contracts by John Hancock Financial Services.

At the insistence of TAC, the U.S. Trials would be a U.S.-only race, which would have left Boston in a delicate - to say nothing of financially crippling - position with its contract athletes. 'If you held the trials in Boston,' Kardong says, 'you'd have many problems with the international field.'

New York is a fall marathon and would have to move to the spring in order to host the trials. 'I don't think their bid was serious,' Kardong said. 'They were basically a back-up bid.'

The money issue was a revolutionary one, at least in disclosure if not in reality. The Olympics haven't been a purely amateur competition in decades, not with Eastern bloc subsidization of teams and individuals and not with American corporate sponsorship of training centers and programs in more recent years.

However, the '88 Olympic marathon trials will be the first Olympic-related event to award prize money. The total is $150,000, with $50,000 to first place. The first three finishers make the U.S. Olympic team, but prize money goes 20 deep.

The New Jersey Waterfront Marathon delivered on each of the requisite counts. And on one other: 'We put into effect a plan, over several years, of catering to the American runners,' McLoone said. 'Some races said, 'We'll take care of the Americans.' We did it.'

And it worked.

'Our real goal,' Kardong says, 'is to provide a site which would showcase American runners.'

McLoone, a former high school and college runner whose first marathon was Boston, speaks generally with praise for the Boston Marathon. However, he says, 'the Boston Marathon is very important to the sport, but they tend to be very New England in their approach.'

On Thursday, the Ethiopian delegation, which would have been among the strongest at Boston, withdrew from the race in favor of the Rotterdam Marathon. Abebe Mekkonen, who won the Tokyo Marathon in 2:08:33, could cautiously have been called a favorite at Boston.

In his absence, ostensibly there is no favorite. There is depth. Britain has Geoff Smith and Steve Jones, Kenya has New York Marathon winner Ibrahim Hussein, Gabriel Kamau, Joseph Kipsang, Geoffrey Koech, Sulieman Nyambui and even Steve Kogo, who lived for two years in Albany and finished 10th recently in the Cherry Blossom 10-mile in Washington, D.C.

Italy has two former New York winners: Orlando Pizzolato and Gianni Poli, Mexico has 36-year-old Rodolfo Gomez, Finland has Tommy Ekblom. There are several quality Japanese runners, attempting to reach the upper echelon in their running-mad country.

'Clearly,' Kardong says, 'they have an incredibly strong international race. They aren't going to suffer much at all at the lack of Americans.'

Rodgers, who turned 40 this year, will be running his first Boston as a masters runner. 'And he's not the favorite in the masters at all,' Fultz says. Michael Hurd of Great Britain and Kjell Erik-Stahl of Sweden are both over 40 and have both broken 2:14.

Still, the possibility exists that Rodgers could be the first American finisher.

'That would be pretty funny,' Rodgers said Thursday in a press conference for the marathon, 'because I'm going to be a long ways back.'

Meanwhile, back in New Jersey ...

It has become de rigueur to bemoan the lack of quality marathoners in America and in many ways, justifiably so. While 2:09 is considered the gauge for a truly superb marathon, no American broke 2:11 in 1987. Not since Alberto Salazar, who held the world record in 1983, has America had a truly dominant marathoner.

The favorites in New Jersey - if favorites must be named - will be sorts like Pat Peterson and Pete Pfitzinger (who won the '84 trials by outkicking Salazar) and Bill Donakowski. They will be on national television and they will win money.

Boston, meanwhile, will run in relative quiet. Exceptional international quiet, but still quiet.

Except, as Jack Fultz can explain better than most, for the American who, inexplicably, comes to Boston - and comes to run well.

'For me,' Fultz says, 'it was a pleasant surprise. The people along the course didn't expect to see an American. They were waving flags, getting very excited. They made a lot of it.'

Football: Winning isn't the only thing - pro contracts everything; NON-LEAGUE FOUR NATIONS: Scouts at Boston.(Sport) - Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales)

Byline: IAN HUNT

WINNING the Four Nations semiprofessional tournament is not the only motivation for Wales when they face the Republic of Ireland at the home of Boston United today (2pm).

For several members of Tomi Morgan's side it is also another chance to convince the dozens of Nationwide League scouts watching that they are good enough to make the professional grade.

Midfielder Mike Flynn, who is out of contract at Barry Town this summer, is attracting interest from Millwall and Wigan Athletic while clubs such as Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United have all sent talent-spotters to check on others showing promise.

``This final game gives the players another opportunity to place themselves in the shop window,'' said Morgan.

``There have been lots of scouts at both games we've played and I'm sure the Ireland match will be no exception.

``I wouldn't say all eyes have been on Wales, but we seem to be attracting most interest because we've got more younger players.

``With so many professional players out of contract this summer - and the fact that clubs haven't got the money to spend on replacements - teams are turning to non-league level to seek out the cream of the crop.''

After a 1-1 draw in the opening fixture against pre-tournament favourites England and an impressive 2-1 victory against Scotland, Morgan's men will win the competition with a victory over the Irish.

However, a draw will see the tournament swing Ireland's way and Morgan therefore expects a tense York Street encounter.

Sports surface given to Boston - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Mayor Menino yesterday accepted an early 'legacy' from theupcoming World Cup soccer competition -- an all-weather adidasSportfloor for the Pagell Playground in Jamaica Plain. The $100,000playing surface is one of nine being donated to the host cities forthe soccer competition by adidas as part of Legacy Tour '94, aprogram of World Cup USA '94. 'With the equipment left behind byWorld Cup soccer, kids will be able to play soccer all summer long,'said Menino, who was surrounded by pre-schoolers from the City Hallday care center.