Ukrop

Until the Spirit opened training camp this season, indoor soccer was virtually foreign to Tarik Walker."A few pickup games at Corner Kicks in Gaithersburg, nothing more," Walker said. "No real games, no formal practices."Walker came to the Spirit from distinguished outdoor careers at Good Counsel High in Wheaton and Virginia Tech, where he was the school's No. 2 career scorer behind Eric McClellan of Rockville.His final statement before the National Professional Soccer League draft was to lead the outdoor Maryland Bays in scoring with seven goals and three assists.

Just as he was recapturing his scoring touch, the Spirit's Dan O'Keefe was brought down by a knee injury.O'Keefe, 32, the National Professional Soccer League's all-time leading goal scorer with 320, might miss his third straight game tomorrow night against the Cleveland Crunch at the Baltimore Arena.In his first year with the Spirit, O'Keefe scored at least one goal in each of his first six games, including three Nov. 19 against the Harrisburg Heat, the game in which he sprained his right knee.

Rookies are making ever-increasing contributions as the Spirit continues its drive toward the NPSL's American Division championship.Tarik Walker is an offensive force, Lance Johnson is a regular starter, Rob Ukrop is coming back strong following an injury, Ricky Bush is playing in place of injured Tim Wittman and Shawn Boehmcke is tightening his grip on the No. 2 goalie job.Because of nagging injuries and a demanding schedule calling for 11 away games in...

The Spirit will hold a news conference today to make a "major announcement," but not, the club said, to name a new coach.Owner Bill Stealey declined to comment specifically, saying only that "the picture will become clearer" today.Here's one speculative scenario:If president and general manager Kenny Cooper resigns, that could clear the way for Stealey to bring in ex-Blast goalie Keith Van Eron as a general manager or head coach and Tim Wittman as his assistant.In Stealey's three-month search for a coaching successor to Cooper, Van Eron, a friend of the owner's, has been the front-runner.

Spirit coach Kenny Cooper liked what he saw of the talent during a three-day minicamp enough to invite two free agents and the team's draft choices to training camp early next month."

BaseballBoston Red Sox -- General partners Haywood Sullivan and John Harrington, president of the JRY Corp., announced that they have reached an agreement whereby the JRY Corp. will acquire the general partnership interest of Sullivan.Cincinnati Reds -- Named Bob Boone bench coach, former Oriole Grant Jackson bullpen coach and Joel Youngblood first-base coach for the 1994 season.Florida Marlins -- Agreed to terms with P John Johnstone and OF Matias Carrillo on one-year contracts.BasketballDallas Mavericks -- Activated C Sean Rooks from the injured list.

Insider transactions of 1,000 shares or more for public companies based in Maryland or with operations here. Insiders are officers, directors or owners of 10 percent or more of a corporation's stock. Adams Express Co. Douglas G. Ober, chairman, exercised an option for 3,600 shares of common at $5.02 to $17.34 each July 23 and now directly and indirectly holds 34,978. Legg Mason Inc. James E. Ukrop, director, exercised an option for 3,332 shares of com- mon at $5.45 each July 20 and now directly holds 76,258.

Scrutiny of the player deals made before and early in the season suggests the Spirit is the clear winner.As the Spirit heads into the National Professional Soccer League's stretch run with a home game against the Dayton Dynamo tonight, it is in good position largely because of the players acquired this season.With seven wins in the past 11 games, the Spirit is second in the American Division, 3 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Crunch. Among the leaders have been playmaker Franklin McIntosh, high-energy midfielder Kevin Sloan, goal specialist Jon Parry, target man Brad Smith and No. 2 goalie Joe Mallia.

The Spirit's Clark Brisson hasn't acted at all like a reserve this weekend.Before a Baltimore Arena crowd of 10,457, the largest in Spirit history, Brisson had two goals and an assist for the second straight game in a 19-8 victory over the St. Louis Ambush last night. The crowd sent Spirit attendance over 100,000.Brisson, a former All-America at South Carolina, scored goals in the second and third quarters, one on a power play, and assisted on a Goran Hunjak goal for a total of four points.

DAYTON, Ohio -- It was exactly what the Spirit expected -- a hard-playing, body-banging kind of game.The visitors, however, came up short, as Dayton defeated Baltimore, 25-21, in front of a crowd of 2,184 last night."