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SPORTS/ttJe Cftatlotte ^o«t
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Shaiegic plan for ClAA expansion Caught in Crossfire
Continued from page 1C
possibly replace them.
Commissioner Leon Kerry
has intimated in the past
that possible expansion
could come from schools now
competing in Division I,
although he didn’t specify.
Among the potential addi
tions are District of
Columbia, an independent
and NAIA members Barber-
Scotia of Concord and Allen,
located in Columbia, S.C.
Allen and Barber-Scotia
have stated their intentions
to seek admission to NCAA
Division II. Other possibili
ties could be Benedict,
Allen’s top rival and a mem
ber of the SIAC, and
Cheyney (Pa.). All are histor
ically black colleges.
Kerry has maintained that
new members would be
required to field football
teams.
Low-payroll teams using cash on prospects
By Ronald Blum .Sprips. alt.hnnp-h it miulit increased from $14.6 million VpiurVir. oion
“The board has unani
mously endorsed the confer
ence to move to a mode of
expansion,” Tapscott said.
“We believe expansion will
allow the conference to meet
its strategic goals and
ensure future and continu
ous viability.”
By Ronald Blum
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK - Several of
the biggest beneficiaries of
baseball’s revenue-sharing
plan have among the lowest
payrolls in the majors, choos
ing to spend on prospects,
not stars.
Milwaukee, Pittsburgh
and Tampa Bay, the teams
with the three lowest pay
rolls in the major leagues, all
received huge increases in
revenue-sharing funds last
year, according to figures
obtained by The Associated
Press.
All three teams, unsuccess
ful on the field in recent
years, have chosen to invest
the money in their futures.
“We’re not going to spend
$10 million on one player,”
Pirates owner Kevin
McClatchy said, “It’s not
going to get us to the World
Series, although it might
make some people feel bet
ter. We had the largest win
ning percentage in the minor
leagues last year. For us,
that’s the only way we’re
going to compete, with our
minor league system.”
Under baseball’s new rev
enue-sharing system, which
changed formulas to help
middle-market teams, .{ugh-
revenue clubs gave up $220
million last year to their low-
revenue competitors, up
from $169 million in 2002,
Milwaukee got $16.6 mil
lion, up from $8.5 million,
according to the figures,
which were provided to the
AP by a major league team
executive.
Pittsburgh’s share doubled
from $6.4 million to $13.3
million, and San Diego’s
went from $6.2 million to
$13.3 million. Tampa Bay’s
increased from $14.6 rmllion
to $20.5 million.
Brewers general manager
Doug Melvin said his team’s
low payroll has led some to
conclude that the team isn’t
spending money.
“It’s not only the fans,” he
said. “I don’t think players
understand. I don’t think
employees in our organiza
tion understand the money
that goes into player devel
opment and scouting. I have
to educate them on that.”
Montreal, owned by the
other 29 teams, received the
most revenue-sharing
money last year ($29.5 mil
lion), followed by World
Series champion Florida
($21 million), Tampa Bay
and Kansas City ($19 mil
lion).
Devil Rays general manag
er Chuck LaMar went with
youth after watching Greg
Vaughn sign a big-money
deal and become a bust.
“We’ve taken giant steps
over the last several years,”
he said.
AH teams’ locally generat
ed revenue, minus ballpark
expenses, is put into a pool
and divided 30 ways.
The AL champion New
York Yankees paid a major
league high $52.7 million, up
from $26.6 million, and
Boston’s bill increased to
$38.7 miUion from $17.9 mil
lion. Seattle paid the third-
most ($31 million), followed
by the New York Mets ($21.5
million), the Chicago Cubs
($16.7 million) and San
Francisco ($13 nulhon).
Figures from 2003 haven’t
been audited and the 2002
numbers, while audited, still
are pending final adjust
ments.
Winfred
B. Cross
Test
Drive
Chrysler is well on it’s way
to becoming the convertible
car company.
Then there’s this thing
called the Crossfire. It’s
desirable, not something Tve
said about a Chrysler since,
oh maybe never.
'The Crossfire as a convert
ible is also handsome - strik
ingly so. 'Ibp down is just
drop-dead gorgeous. The
car’s classic lines look very
Mercedes SL-like.
Actually, it’s more
Mercedes SLK than any
thing else. 'The chassis is
from the last generation
SLK, as is most of the run
ning gear. The car’s 3.2-liter
six-cylinder is a meager 215
horses, but put to good use.
The six-speed manual
makes the car feel awfully
fast. The 239 pounds-feet of
torque give the car enough
grunt to pass with ease.
Chrysler said the car will do
150 mph. Maybe, but it’s fast
enough.
The ride is smooth on most
surfaces. Rough roads cause
a bit of jiggle, but I never felt
the body shake. The body
feels as if it’s cut from gran
ite.
Handling is better than
expected for such a soft ride,
but it isn’t crisp. This is more
of a sporty car than a sports
car. You can can get very
aggressive, but not it’s not as
fun as say, the 350Z roadster.
The are a few letdowns.
The Crossfire has a well
designed interior but there is
a glaring misstep. 'The cen
ter console is made of silver
plastic, not metal.
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