Sports briefs: Skippy leaves challenger hanging in the Gold Cup

Monday, June 29, 1998 | 10:50 a.m.

Skip Away was not going to let a couple of hangnails stop him from winning his seventh consecutive race and keeping his reputation as America's top-rated horse.

The gray horse won the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup on Sunday despite having plastic patches around his feet to hold his shoes on.

"This horse is a gamer," trainer Sonny Hine said. "I've been saying all along that this is one of the greatest horses I've ever seen."

Skip Away held on for a 1 3/4 -length victory over Puerto Madero, covering 1 1/4 miles in 2 minutes. Gentlemen, who hadn't raced since a last-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, came close to taking the lead on the final turn, but wound up a length back in third.

"I didn't think Gentlemen could beat us, so I really wasn't scared," jockey Jerry Bailey said of Skip Away. "I just pulled the trigger and let him go."

Richard Mandella, trainer for both Gentlemen and Puerto Madero, acknowledged that the long layoff might have cost Gentlemen the victory.

"Gentleman may have gotten a little tired the last eighth of a mile," Mandella said. "Maybe he didn't get tired -- maybe he just got outrun. But I'm going to have to hope he just got a little tired."

There was a time when things weren't looking so good for Skip Away.

Ten days ago, he got loose for 30 minutes during his morning workout at Belmont Park. He slightly injured his feet, requiring some fine-tuning by his blacksmith to correct a hangnail type condition.

Falcons, top draft pick in accord

Linebacker Keith Brooking, the Atlanta Falcons' top draft choice, has reached an agreement with the team that would make him the highest-paid rookie in franchise history. Brooking, a former Georgia Tech star, would receive a signing bonus of $3.8 million in a five-year contract that would pay him an average of $1,585,000 a year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today. With the signing bonus, Brooking would receive first-year compensation of $4.35 million under what is known as a "camouflaged" contract, which allows a player to maximize the bonus while affording the team a lower salary cap figure to be assigned to the player.

Glenn Montgomery, the former Houston Oilers and Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman, died Sunday of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 31. Montgomery died in Dallas, according to KHOU-TV's Jeff McShan, who was working with Montgomery on a story about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neuromuscular disease named for the former New York Yankees first baseman. Montgomery, who played at the University of Houston, was diagnosed with the disease in 1996 while playing for the Seahawks.

Mavericks court German

Even the weather is at issue as Don Nelson ratchets up the pressure on Dirk Nowitzki to play for the Dallas Mavericks next season. The 6-foot-11 German forward stepped off a 10-hour flight Sunday to a crowd of cheering Mavericks employees and a swarm of TV minicams. Then there was a practice in front of reporters and dinner at Nelson's home. Then a round of TV interviews conducted from Nelson's living room sofa. Still in the offing: a press conference, a look at plans for the Mavericks' new arena and a team barbecue. "Everything is open," he told interviewers Sunday night. "I think personally I'm not ready yet, but we'll have to see." Dallas acquired Nowitzki, the ninth overall pick in last week's NBA Draft, in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks despite his expressed desire to play one or two years in Europe.

Rhoden wins celebrity tourney

Former major league pitcher Rick Rhoden shot a 1-under par 71 Sunday to win the first Toyota Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational golf tournament. Over the tournament's three rounds at The Club at Nevillewood in suburban Pittsburgh, Rhoden shot even-par 216 to claim the top prize of $40,000. The win was the 19th for Rhoden, a former Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, in celebrity tournaments. Former major league infielders Mike Schmidt and Bobby Grich tied for second place with 2-over par over the three rounds, and "Melrose Place" star Jack Wagner was fourth with a 5-over par. The tournament was a fund-raiser for the Lemieux Foundation, which supports cancer research.

Another Petty in winner's circle

Following a long family tradition, 17-year-old Adam Petty won his first auto race on Saturday night. Petty's father, Kyle, has finished in the top 10 of the Winston Cup NASCAR standings 10 times, and his grandfather, Richard, is one of the legends in the history of the sport. His great-grandfather, Lee, won the first Daytona 500 in 1949. Adam Petty began racing this year on the American Speed Association circuit, and he won the Kansas City Excitement 300 in Odessa, Mo., in just his 10th race. He became the youngsest driver to win a race on the ASA circuit, and got a checkered flag sooner than either his father or grandfather. Kyle Petty won his first race at 19, Richard Petty at 22.

Panthers assistants not retained

New Florida Panthers coach Terry Murray decided not to retain assistants Duane Sutter and Joe Cirella, though both have been offered the option to remain in the organization. Murray and his brother, Panthers general manager Bryan Murray, made the decision while at Saturday's NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo. Cirella likely would be given a scouting job if he decides to stay, while Sutter has inquired about an administration position. Both also have been given permission to seek other employment. Sutter, one of six brothers who have played in the NHL, spent three seasons as a Panthers assistant. Cirella replaced Lindy Ruff last summer when Ruff was hired as head man in Buffalo.