He’s the One You Can Blame It On in Rio
You think Fay Vincent is powerful? What about Rio de Janeiro Soccer Federation president Eduardo Vianna?
Sunday, players of the Botafogo team took a victory lap around the field after defeating Vasco da Gama, 1-0, for the Rio state title. But after 30 minutes of deliberation with officials from both sides, Vianna declared Vasco da Gama the winner.
Vianna cited a change in playoff regulations that was made after the playoffs had begun. Vianna said the new rule required Botafogo--which reached the playoffs on the basis of points scored during the regular season--to play an extra period to decide the title. Botafogo officials stood their ground and would not play the overtime, citing another rule stating that the winner of the final game was champion.
Add soccer: Vianna ordered Botafogo expelled from the Federation. Botafogo officials filed an injunction to stop the expulsion.
“We won on the field,” Botafogo midfielder Luisinho said. “We are champions by fact and by right.”
The case has gone to the Rio Sports Justice Tribunal.
Or maybe the NFL tiebreaker formula.
Trivia time: Name the only NFL stadium with a cemetery on its grounds.
Running the option: The Miami Dolphins have waived 27-year old running back Clarence Jones.
Jones was a two-year starter at Army, where he rushed for 1,593 yards before graduating in 1986. As 1st Lt. Jones, he commanded a 40-man artillery platoon in South Korea for four years. When his obligation to the Army was finished, he wrote to all 28 NFL teams. He signed with the Dolphins April 16.
Jones was asked how he would spend his severance check. “It’s probably going to the bill collectors and Ma Bell,” he said. “Then it’s off to be a poor student again.”
At either Notre Dame or Illinois law school, both of which have accepted him.
Loggy feeling: From Associated Press: “On Monday, (San Francisco 49er) quarterback Joe Montana shook off the flu bug and returned to practice, complaining that he was getting cabin fever in his dorm room.”
Add Niner camp: Running back Roger Craig, who posed in his underwear and later in only a towel for Macy’s newspaper ads, has called time out.
Said Craig: “Hey, that’s enough. My wife says no more. It’s time to concentrate on football.”
AP For Kids: Ricky Proehl, the Phoenix Cardinal rookie wide receiver from Wake Forest, stands 5-feet-10 and weighs 181. The preseason hasn’t begun, but Proehl must be the early favorite for NFL manchild of the year.
“Until I went away to college, I never missed a (New York Giant) home game from the time I was five,” Proehl told Associated Press. “My room was filled with Giants stuff. But I’ve taken it all down.”
That’s a sign of maturity. But Cardinal coach Joe Bugel said of Proehl, “He’s a good inside receiver who can run the cute routes. We’re not saving him for the prom. We want to use him right now.”
You had to be there: Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella, ordering extra batting practice for his slumping Reds before Tuesday night’s game with the Dodgers, told equipment manager Bernie Stowe to supply “only half a dozen balls.”
Trivia answer: Rich Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.
Quotebook: Joe Gergen of Newsday, on George Steinbrenner: “The prod of the Yankees has been blunted.”
