YANKEE G HOS The New York Yankees and their fans said goodbye to Tiger Stadium last Thursday. Page 14. IIhe SDlich mi iuitn rir SJL IN JLS Monday July 12, 1999 1 .... 'THIS GUY CAN DO IT ALL Millions watch as U.S. defeats China for Cup Americans win final in shootout; Clinton looks on By Michael Kern Daily Sports Editor ETROIT - Last Thursday, as Detroit first baseman Tony Clark came to the plate with one out and a man on first, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter dug his in heels in anticipation. Clark smacked a groundball down the first baseline to Tino Martinez who turned and threw to second base. Jeter caught the ball, and leaping over a sliding runner, fired the ball back to first for the double play. Jeter walked off the field stoically, as if the play had been a routine groundball. But such plays have become almost standard for the young Kalamazoo native, as he has estab- lished himself as one of the best short- stops in the game. In just his fourth ful season in the majors, Jeter, who just three years ago attended classes at Michigan, is the best all-around hitter on the defending World Series champions. Jeter's .373 batting average is sec- ond best in the American League. He also leads his team in runs (73), hits (123), doubles (22), triples (8), RBI (60) and on-base percentage (.456), and is tied for the lead in homers (14) and walks (48). Through the first half of the season, Jeter has failed to reach base success- fully just twice and has not gone hit- less in consecutive games since last August. "As far as getting on base, you con- sider it your job, Jeter said. "Even when you're not swinging the bat well, you can draw a walk." Jeter doesn't just do it at the plate, though. He's also one of the best defensive players in the game at one of the most difficult defensive positions. Jeter makes plays like the one on Thursday seem routine with a great throwing arm and tremendous range. He makes plays that most shortstops could only dream of - often going ti: ' } ~ ' f- ;, PASADENA, Calif (AP) -- The ball flew into the cotner of the net, the World Cup was theirs - and Brandi Chastain dropped to her knees and stripped. Well, not completely. After all, there were 90,185 fans at the Rose Bowl and millions elsewhere watching on televi- sion. But after scoring the championship- winning goal against China on a penalty kick, she ripped off her jersey, swung it over her head and waited to be mobbed by her jubilant U.S. teammates. "Momentary insanity," Chastain said after the Americans beat China 5-4 in the shootout following a 0-0 tie Saturday. "I just lost my mind. I thought, my God, this is the greatest moment of my life on the soccer field." Chastain's shot won the Women's World Cup for the team that captured America with its style and grace, and now has conquered the world. "I didn't hear any noise. I didn't get caught up looking at Gao Hong," Chastain said, referring to China's goal- keeper "I just put it home." And with Briana Scurry's one save in the shootout, it was enough for the U.S. team to bring home the most prestigious trophy in soccer before the largest crowd ever to see a women's game. "I knew I had to stop just one and my teammates would put all of therm in" said Scurry, who stopped Liu Ying on the third attempt in the shootout. "I went totally on instinct." The festive gathering that included President Clinton roared when she made the di ing save to her left. Moments later, they roared even louder, their cheers reverberating off the San Gabriel Mountains, as Chastain won it. "You saw the courage of the American team," U.S. coach Tony DiCicco said. "They just fought and fought and fought. There are two cham- pions here today, and only one is taking a trophy home. "When we win, it means all of America wins. They so much epitomize what America is all about." When they won, the players jumped about with whatever energy they had left following two hours of exhausting soc- cer and then the tension-filled shootout. And after they received their champi- onship medals, they jogged around the field carrying three huge American flags as the fans roared and chanted "U-S-A, U-S-A." A cloudburst of confetti littered the field as Scurry ran to the stands to slap hands with fans. She then got down ott both knees and saluted the crowd, which was chanting "Scurry, Scurry." AP PHOTO New York shortstop Derek Jeter leaps over Detroit's Dean Palmer after throw- ing to first for a double-play In the Yankees' final game at Tiger Stadium. deep in the hole and making a leaping throw to first to steal away a sure sin- gle. Besides making the spectacular look easy, Jeter makes the ordinary plays as well, committing just nine errors so far this season. At Tiger Stadium this past week, Jeter had everyone from broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell to future Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell singing his praises. "He's sort of unique because he is such a good hitter and he's such a great fielder, which seems to be the pattern of shortstops now," Harwell said. "He's almost not comparable to any- body. He is a lot better fielder than (Cal) Ripken was and has a lot more speed, and he is probably going to be a better hitter than Ripken. "In the olden days, the shortstops were not much hitters. This guy can do it all. It's hard to find a guy that he is like unless you talk about some of his contemporaries like Garciaparra or Rodriguez." Another thing that makes Jeter dif- ferent from today's athlete is his per- sona on and off the field. There is no trash-talking when he makes a great diving stop. He doesn't try to show up the opposing team's pitcher by slowly trotting around the bases after a home run. See SHORTSTOP, Page 14 " Ann Arbor's only Body Piercer with expert consultation and after-care checkups * Ornamental piercing only (no genital or mouth piercing) * Piercings available with gold jewelry * Dragons / Incense / Silver Jewelry New Address: 245 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI New Phone #: (734)-669-9010 E-Mail: farahrose@rnindsprina.com 'M' coaches urge runners to hit summer brakes By Ryan C. Moloney Daily Sports Writer Summer can be an interesting season for the Michigan athletic community. Everyone seems to have a different take during the breezy, slow-paced sutttuer months compired to the regtrar school year. The athletes,. with gone of their sports in cOrmpietiise season. can sit back and take a break rint their hectic. high-selocity routmnes - enrt the best teed to rechargc ihcir baitries But sould crschics utcr ltheir team to stay in Aitmi \,5,chr atid continue with the rigors of htrird tiriinin "No," said men's track coach Ron Warhurst. "They get tired of me and they need the break." "These kids go from Septet-ber to June without much of t brrak said women's cross country coach Mike McGuire said."Everybody nerdsuo take a rest. Th smmer is a good oppocrrii- ty to let ft ol the throttle and reinx.' Getting rs twa Prt Ant Arr ortcds ar athlete the pprirtrsiyviisit with is and fi.itttil and oek siu f se 'rabroutilc of the tsh ear "Nokiidlshould b'ralowd outhe A ii See SUMMER P-go 14 eme, iershps valale u ea ee i Students orl7 405 seeyg wemeria G inrat e-ies cinin in 4 Q ai r s i a im eds 12W0md E -LibertyatFourthAve Bume obee ociclros r q For more fomt call - Carry-out 7 days a wrJck I EXOTIC DRINKS - WINES - COCKTAILS