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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1998-11-11, Page 8TRAILBLAZERS Beat the December 1 price increase on trail permits. Cost $100.00 After Dec. 1st Cost $130.00 Available: In Mitchell at Faust Home Hardware, Mitchell Tire, Ward's & Mitchell Massage Therapy; in Seaforth - Vincent's Farm Equipment, UAP Auto & Middegaal Sports; in Winthrop at Winthrop General Store; in Walton at McGavin's Farm Equipment; in Monkton at John's Repair Shop & Todd's Auto Sales: in Brodhagen at B & K Tire & Battery; in Brussels at G & M Auto Parts & Radford Auto Parts. DRIVER TRAINING CLASSES For ages 12 & up Dates: Brussels - Nov. 21 at B.M.G. Arena Contact Mark Gropp @ 887-6353 Mitchell - December 12 at McIver Enterprise Contact Ken Hunsberger @ 348-8025 NEXT MEETING » NOV. 18 AT THE CLUB HOUSE PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1998. From the sidelines Before millionaires, domes and astroturf ports By Hugh Nichol Former base- ball player Pete Rose once said, "With the money Fm making I should be play- ing two posi- tions." Imagine his response upon hearing the New York Mets signed Mike Piazza to a seven-year $91 million contract. For a brief moment, this year, baseball's salary structure had become almost realistic. Last spring the Toronto Blue Jays signed Jose Canseco to a $750,000 base salary contract filled with performance incentives. Canseco enjoyed an excellent 1998 season and the bonus laden contract rewarded his efforts by increasing total earnings into the $3 million range. Basically the Jays and Canseco had agreed upon a "pay for what you get" policy, a concept so simple and straightforward the NHL Boston Bruins used it to sign holdout centre Jason Allison earlier this fall. The Mets, who have not made the playoffs since 1988, totally ignored the above and decided to establish a new standard on the market value of baseball's premier players. Simple math shows Piazza will earn approximately $80,000 per game, a dilemma New York manager Bobby Valentine must handle with care. The Mets have to play Piazza every day to get their money's worth but can they afford to have him continuously don the tools of ignorance without fear of injury. Catching is the most gruelling and career shortening position in baseball but where else could he play? New York already has an all-star calibre first baseman and is without benefit of the designated hitter rule. Baseball was not always million- aires, domed stadiums and astroturf. For years team owners used a take- it-or-leave-it attitude on signing players. Contracts were for one year only and included a controversial reserve clause that a) bound the player to the team for his entire career unless traded, sold, or A strong game and lots of late scoring pushed the Blyth PeeWees ahead of a visiting Zurich squad, Nov. 4. Blyth faced a two-goal deficit going into the second when a netter by Kirk Stewart at 13:31 got the puck bouncing. Micah Loder popped one in less than a minute later with Stewart pushing them into the lead at the 12:16 mark. Zurich battled back, bulging the twine at 6:12 only to watch as Trevor Koehler recaptured the Blyth lead before the end of the period. Second frame assists went to Mike Bean, Koehler, Cole Stewart, Loder and Ryan McClinchey. released and b) stated the team had the right to renew the player's contract without consent for one additional year. Although the clause bordered on the grey area of the 14th amendment (re-slavery) it was not until the late 1960s that a player was willing to take the legal route and test the validity of the contract. In 1969 St. Louis Cardinal Curt Flood filed an anti-trust suit against organized baseball and although his request was eventually denied by the U.S. Supreme Court it did expose possible loopholes in the system. Six years later Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dave McNally of the Montreal Expos played but refused to sign their teams renewal contract offer. At the end of the season both players claimed free agency on the grounds the reserve clause could no longer apply. On Dec. 23, 1975 arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favour of the players, stating that since there was no signed contract it could not be automatically renewed by the owners and free agency was born. While this new-found freedom has allowed the individual to take full advantage of his capabilities, it has also destroyed small market teams. The Montreal Expos are little more than a development team for the big spenders. Yet despite the risks all major sports have adopted a free agent policy. The auction of an athlete's talent has become a yearly event even at the local level. In 1993 the Brussels Bulldogs joined the Huron County Fastball League and gained instant credibility with the signing of Brussels Tiger pitcher Dave Smith. Two years later the Tigers free agent signing of Brett Clarkson coincided with the start of a record-setting, four consecutive championships. So, if Mike Piazza commands $13 million a year without testing the open market, imagine what he might have received in a bidding war. Remember that the next time your sibling's errant throw sails through the living room window. Up 4-3, Blyth did not relent, blasting the puck past the goalie five times in the third while hold- ing Zurich to one. C. Stewart took a pass from K. Stewart to start the attack at 14:36. Three quick scores off the sticks of Loder (two) and C. Stewart put the team up 8-3 with a half period remaining. Zurich nibbled at the lead, notch- ing one at 6:29 before Blyth regained the five-goal advantage when Koehler scored his second of the game. Assists were earned by Koehler, C. Stewart (two), Loder, T.J. Marks, Andy Toll, McClinchey and K. Stewart. The Reps won 9-4. ' It was a rough weekend for the Brussels Atoms when they partici- pated the 25th annual Brussels Atoms Optimist Tournament. Brussels Atom Reps took on Clinton, Nov. 6, but couldn't get on track until the third. Unlucky bounces repeatedly sent the puck to the opposition. Clinton struck first and often as they posted a 2-0 lead through the first then increased it to 5-2 by the Monday, Nov. 2, the Brassels Bantams faced off against Mitchell in Brussels. Marc Fischer opened the scoring on a pass from Jimmy Franken and Chris Coulter at the 12:26 mark. Mitchell tied the score at 5:08 then Brussels regained the lead when Marc Fischer scored his second with helpers to Coulter and Mawhinney. Mitchell tied the score with 11 seconds remaining in the first. Mawhinney scored an unassited goal at the 13:18 mark of the third then Brussels held on for a 3-2 victory. Saturday night Brussels went to Clinton and defeated their hosts 15- 0. Mawhinney opened the scoring at 10:11 with helpers going to Darryl McClure and Andy VanBeek. Robbie Kerr scored at 8:39 from Kenny McCallum. Twenty seconds later Darryl Houston scored an unassisted goal. Van Beek rounded out the first- period scoring with an assist from Darryl McClure giving Brussels a 4-0 lead going into the second period. Coming back the Bantams scored six more goals. Coulter scored from VanBeek then two minutes later Chris Blake scored from Coulter and Van Beek. Blake tallied an unassisted marker then Mawhinney notched his second of the game with assists going to McClure and Blake at the 4:21 mark. Fischer scored an unassisted Blyth PeeWees push to victory Out of reach It was too fast for the Brussels Atom goalie, as the Clinton forward slides into the zone and puts one past him for a point. The twO teams began the 25th annual Brussels Optimist Atom tournament Friday night. The local team didn't fare well, losing this one, then another to Wingham on Saturday. The champions of this weekend's C Division contest were Mildmay over Drayton, 3-2 . Consolation went to Ilderton over Wingham 1-0. The B Division will play on the weekend of Nov. 27-, 28, 29. Mark Nonkes photo) Atoms have 2 tourney losses second buzzer. Netting the puck for Brussels in the second were Darcey Cook at 9:15 and Adam McClure at 3:36. Tyler Jutzi, Josh Albrechtas and Greg Bowers earned assists. Brussels pulled within two late in the third when Chris Corbett took a pass from Matt White for the score. Clinton bulged the twine once more at 3:39 to clinch the win. The following day, Brussels met Vingham in a wide-open game. goal, then with 44 seconds left in the period Kenny McCallum scored from Fischer. Brussels carried the momentum into the third adding five more goals. VanBeek scored from Fischer and Coulter. Mawhinney completed his hattrick.from Coulter and VanBeek. Darryl Houston Strong play in the first and third provided Brussels their two scoring opportunities. The puck was put in by Corbett in the first and White in the third. Albrechtas and Cory Chapman assisted. The team's downfall came on the penalty killing as two of Wing- ham's five goals were tallied on power plays. Wingham took home the 5-3 vic- tory. scored at 5:11 with Coulter getting the only helper. Blake completed his hattrick from VanBeek and Paul Linton. Mawhinney completed the scoring with an unassist goal. Matt McCall recorded the shutout. This weekend the Bantams travel to Clifford for a tournament. Bantams win a pair