The sporting news 03 18 1996

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4 March 18,1996

COVER STORY The Camby Man

S-22

Marcus Camby has n s a i firom a midseason collapse and is ready to fuMO great expectations.

VOICES 9 10 10 11

Dave Kindred: The Weaver of great tales.

Marty Appel: The legends of Hanlon and Foster.

Thomas Bosw ell: Georgetown's John Thompson.

Letters

BASEBALL 12 14 15

Buck sta rts here: Showalier and the Diamondbacks.

Bob Nightengale: .^'^tros must win — or Houston has a problem B aseball Notes

BASKETBALL $•5 The Dance: Kentuck>- is read) tor a prt\‘arious road.

S-8 East Regional S-10 South east Regional S-12 Midwest Regional S-14 West Regional The envelope, p le a se : T M ass' Marcus Camby and john Calipari capture TSN 's big awards.

S-26 Caught in the draft: The twists and turns for John Wallace. Rodrick Rhodes and Scorn' Thurman.

S-BO A D a ^ 's t H e : Creorgia w-omcn go for their first title.

S ‘ 31 W om W s Insider S*32 Mike DeCourcy: Five steps to the national title.

28 Tall ta le s; Resurgence of the big man in the NB.A. 31 Shaun Powell: The Knicks were all wrong for Nellie — and \ice versa 32 NBA Insider

HOCKEY 22 26 27

The rise — and M cFall: Bruce McNall's stor\-.

Larry Wlgge: The story of a goal-scoring goalie NKL Insider

36 37

Ivan M atset: C orn ing Kentucky's young star.

Expanding hopes: The fast track for Carolina and Jacksonville.

Bob B lau b e r Cowboys and 49ers — down. not out NFL Notes

DEPARTMENTS 7 39 43

Openers The Sports M arketplace: A treasun' of products.

The C losen A look back at our preseason Top 64.

•

Cover photo of M arcus Camby by Tim O'Dell: inside cotter photos (left to right) Ray Allen by Elsa H asch /T SS. D an a Dirigie by (Cene J. Puskar/'The Associated Press. Porter Roberts by M ichael Conroy/The .Associated Press an d Walter McCarty by Albert Dickson TS.V

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This is a week of great anticipation for college basketb^ fans. It is the time when any of 64 schools from lowly Central Ronda to mighty Kentucky has a shot at an NCAA championship. It is also a time to watch some of the most talented players in their last appearance on the college court. Stephen Marbury seems certain lo be in an NBA uniform next season: Aflen Iverson is apparently considering the option of coming out early: Marcus Camby. whom you read about as T he Sporting N m ' Player of the Year on Page S-22. says he w ^ stay at UMass for his senior season.

We have heard much discussion in recent days about the rectitude of players failing to finish their college eligibilit)- before moving lo the next

ilevel of com petition. The NBA is doing A e appropriate public hand-wringing, e s ­ pecially when it com es to players moving straight from high school to the NEA. as rookie Kevin Garnett did. The NEA insists it is powerless to intercede and points the finger at A e juAdal system.

Rawflogs Bul it is A e college coach­ es who put on A e highest Asplay of hypocrisy. L SU s Dale Brown Ad an interview last week on ESPN. Brown spoke eloquently about A e attributes of college basketb^ and A e nature of competition between athletes wiA superior skills. I stopped listening.

Aough. after he e x p ir e d how Ae exodus of players wiA eligibility left hurts A e players and A e college game.

IVhat I heard was code for 'This Idnd of open market for players ultimately hurts coaches."

Let’s start wiA A e proposition Aal

coHege should prepare a young man or woman for A e next station in life, lf Marbury can get a salary of $6 minion over three years by moving to A e NBA. who can say that is not in his best interesti* lf A esc pious coaches want to do soraetlung good for A e game. Acy should ban togeAer and use Aeir influence to dean up A e sleaze in Aeir p r o f^ o n . When was A e last time a coach condemned a fellow coach who was a ptov&i cheater?

You win hear any number of Ae coaching elite bemoan A e issue about NTA eligibility. Examine Aeir words dosely and dedde for yourself for whose best interests Acy speak.

To su b scrib e to TH E SPO RTING NEW S or m ake a change of ad dress if you are an existin g su b scrib er, see Page S-29.

p\it>iisf'eO By

•\ T im rs M irror C om pan )

FROiM THE EDITOR

Graduate students

FOOTBAU 33 34

. Signing on; An autograph by BOB FELLER means baseball is right around the corner.

THE s p o r t i n g N E V ^ (ISSN 0038-S05X) M arch 18. 1996. Vol 220. No 12. is publtshdd weeWy. except semi-weeWy Punng a week in January. March. Aprfl.

August and two weeks m Septem ber. Novem ber and Decem ber for a total of 62 issues per year by T H E SPO R T IN G N EW S PU BLISH IN G C O M P A N Y , 1212 North Lindbergh Blvd . St Louis. M O 63132 Second class postage pa>d at St. Louts. M O and addibonal mailing offices For subscription sennce write to.TH E s p o r t i n g n e w s . P O B ox 1Q7S5. D es M oines. lA S03AO-07S5 Subscription price is $60.(X) for 60 issues Subscnbers in Canada and other countnes add $A6 80 per 60 issues Air M ail rates avaAa^e on request Allow s a weeks for change of address. Postm aster Send address changes to TH E SPO R TIN G N EW S. P O Box 10755. D es Moines. lA 503^0-0755. TH E SPO R T IN G N E W S assum es no responsibiWy to* the return of unsolicrted m anuscnpts. cotoe nega* Uves or transparencies C O PY R IG H T C 1996 THE SPO R TIN G N EW S. PR IN TED IN U S A . C A N A D A G S T R EG ISTR ATIO N N U M B E R R-124853730 TH E SPO R TIN G N EW S is a federally registered trademark of TH E SPO R T IN G N EW S PU B U S H IN G C O M P A N Y A LL R IG H TS R E S E R V E D R EPR fD O U CTlO N IN W V ^ LE O R IN PA R T VirTTHOUT PER M ISSIO N IS PRO H IBITED Printed m U S A

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OPENERS • 7

March 18.1996 '

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CAUGHT ONTHE FLY

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Times change, and games do, too, Coach Its March, and Fly’s mad (shaddup!).

■ Fly' was flippin through a recent issue of Civilization magazine (shaddup!) and read The Wiz ol Westwood’s opinion that men's college hoops has devolved below women s.hoops: “I love the ballhandling On women’s college basketball) and I appreciate the absence of all the showmanship you have now in the mens game." Yo. Coach, its apples to oranges For better (Fly’s view) or worse (yer view) , the men’s game's changed This ain’t a buncha Hoosiers playin' with a peach basket ■ Good news. bad news Sea-squawks fans. The good news: N FL oh-ficials say they might be forced to take strong action against Ken Sebring as the 1996 campaign nears. The bad news: Tags is tryin’ to mediate a solution. (Ask Cleveland just how exactly that works.)

■ Speaking of N FL threats. Fly' noted a definite “the Vet even a renovated Vet, won’t do" tone to Jeff Lorie s voice last week. Fly’s suggestion in this here vagabond league: Take . ■ him seriously. PhiHy. ■ Fresh from the Rumorama (where they sell ■ no ’vine before ifs time): lf ifs March, then it’s Bob Hoggins scuttlebutt season. Huggs, who was considered for the Lakes job before Doll Harris got it and who interviewed with the Heat before R te owned up, will get a look by the Suns. The inside line is that Coach Bob’s agent. Roo fctnker, : is disclose to Jerry Cotengelo. And that 10-year pact with Cincy? It offers an NBA loophole.

■ Fly gives Luis Alicea two weeks tops in his Bosox uniform. The Spies say now that the Pinstripes' Pat Kelly's dowD-D-doubtful a second-base reunion with ex-skip Joe Tone is possible. Course that’s if the Jays don’t grab him first ■ Speaking of the Bosox. Fly’s not scratchy* head over this M fltd i signing. You know the old baseball adage: Ya just can’t have enough overweight designated hitters with

Follow the Sons: Huggins’ decision may be as simple as S-B-A. big egos who can’t run or play the field.

■ Fly hears the Mets are interested again in Chock Knoblauch. The Twinks didn’t do a multiyear deal with him and got .the L in arbitration. The two teams talked last fall. when the Mets were trollin’ for a leadoff hitter, and even with

Great stories Two of what seem like 99 leftovers from the W.ayne Gretzky-to-St. Louis deal: ■ His going to the Blues instead of the Rangers alone probably was enough to stick in Rangers President Neil Smith's craw. But it got even more nettling for Smith when he read last weeks issue of T h e S porting N ew s . Seems our own Larry Wigge finagled some information out of the Blues on the machinations of the trade that didn’t sit well at all in Madison Square Garden.

Wigge quoted Blues Pres­ ident Jack Quinn to the ef­ fect that the Blues knew the Rangers were considering not re-signing Je ff Beukeboom to free up some c t - .- : *

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money for Gretzky — a bit of information that helped St. Louis structure its suc­ cessful offer to the Kings.

Smith didn’t want that to be common knowledge, since he is in negotiations on a new contract for Beukeboom, who wilKbe an unre­ stricted free agent at the endj of the season. When he read' it in TSN. Smith was enough at Quinn for going public that he called NHL Commissioner Gary Belt­ man to complain. “lf Jack Quinn ever loses his job with the St. Louis Blues," Smith told the New York Daily' News. “he can al­ ways apply to be the editor of the National Enquirer."

I No one was more sur­ prised by the trade than the

Lance Johnson on board. New York's watchin’ again.

■ Fly's Top 5 (or “Ya Can't Fire the High-Profile. Big-Ticket. Prima Donna Players Who Question Yer Methods. So ... It Was Nice Knowin’ Ya, Hallie): I. John Stories: 2. Pat Ewing; 3.

Derek Harper. 4. Anthony Mason; 5. Charles Oakley.

■ Fly hears Sweet Looo Whitaker looks ab-so-lutely lost in his first spring training as a non-Tiger since the Carter admin­ istration. The Spies say Looo. who opened a clothing store in Lakeland. F-l-A. the Tigs' spring home, strolls into camp for nearly every home game to visit with ex-mates.

B Fly hears Olympic madness fits called gridlock everywhere else) has hit Atlanta. How else can va explain that the Bravos re losin' the battle for the entertainment dollar3Their home opener. when the players get ringed and the championship banner's hoisted, ain't a seGout and there're 12 mil single-game ducats left for the 96 campaign. Hey. v ail really think rhythmic gymnastics, team handball and kayak racin's bigger3 ■ Its obvious to Fly (shaddup!) that Mizzou-rah Coach Norm Stewart was last year’s model of TSN Coach of the Year He was more than willing to accept the Tiffany in hizzoner This season? The underachievin' Tigers bow out in the Big Eight semis and not only does Stew cut outta the postgame news conference ("I can't com­ ment ... just look at the box score I'm out of here"), but he's gracious enough to yank his players from the podium, too ■ Fly bawl; lf Bunning s in. then Sutton and Knuckle oughta be. too ■ The Spies played “ Rate That NBA Free .Agent" with Dr. Jack Ramsay and here's what he came up with in the lightning round: I. Shag: 2. ’Zo. 3. Reggie Miller. 4. Juwan: 5.

6ary Payton; 6 . MJ . : 7. John Stockton. 8.

Dikerabe; 9. Dale Davis. IO. Kenny Anderson Hey-yo. M J. No. 6? “He's only got a couple more years left... but he's still the best player in the league." Dr. Jack tells Fly. I I Speaking of 'Zo. Fly hears Riles!] Jock him up at 150 percent of his current deal and still have 513.6 mil and only four current players left to play with. The Final Four 'Zo. Sasha Danilovlc.

Kurt Thomas and Keith Askins ■ Finally, the Spies say ESPN ’s campaign to shill its four-year. $400-mil investment in the national past-its-time hangs on this low-n-away pitch: ‘ It's Baseball. And You're .An .American." (Ad copy by Pat Buchanan, building a wall between the lower 48 and Jays and ’Spos.) miles to get to LA. For months, the 6-yearolds had planned to meet Gretzky, who helped raise money for this once-in-a-luetime trip. Hey. when one of your coaches is Walter Gretzky. Wayne's father, and the other is Jan Kohler.

W'avne s brother-in-law. who expects the unexpected — like Gretzky being traded to St. Louis? W’hen the 91person contingent arrived in Los Angeles on March I, The Great One was with his new team in Vancouver Said Waiter; “The kids were a little disappointed but W ayne’s put together such a nice trip, they'll be OK once they go to Disney­ land and >ee Mickey Mouse." *

HoWayne: Mickey Mouse is fine. but he's no Gretzky Brant Nova Cleaning Sup­ plies Bandits of Brantford.

Ontario, who were supposed to play between periods of the Kings-Canadiens game March 2 at the Great Western Forum. But somebody forgot to tell the Kings they weren't supposed to trade the Brant­ ford’s favorite son before the kids traveled thousands of

Openers compiled by PdulAttner. Tom Dunbar!. Michael Kmsley. Leslie Gibson McCarthy. Kyle Veitrop and Larry Wigge

8 • OPENERS

The Sporting New

Just like Dad told me During a recent stretch in which he made 39 consecutive free throw's.

Missouri guard Jason Sutherland was asked why he was stroking it so well from the charity stripe.

“There's no one guarding you. You never should miss." Only a coach's son could make the game sound that easy’.

Generally’, you figure the most fundamentally sound players are those who were raised bv someone who draws upXsand O s for a living. So we decided to try and quantify that by comparing what coaches' sons shoot from the free* throw line to that of the NCAA average of 66.6 percent So how did the offspring fare through the regular season? How about 872 for 1.152 (75.7 percent).

That's good enough to make even a coach smile.

.. Angels r

Charity starts at home; M issouri guard Jason Sutherland says theres no defense fo r m issing free throws How I shoot tree throws: 86

My dad, Ralph, is: Head

for 102 (.843)

coach at Pittsburgh.

Player Neil Reed. Indiana My dad, Terry, is: Assistant How I shoot free throws: 59

Saint Louis

for 72 (.819)

My dad, Dave, is: Head coach

Player Jason Sutherland.

How I shoot tree throws: 66

Missouri

for 84 (.786)

My dad, Reggie, is: Head

Hall

coach at Air Force.

How I shoo! free throws: 106

My dad, Bob, is: Head coach

How I shoot free throws: 58 for 86 (.674)

^ Player Dugan Fife.

Michigan My dad, Dan, is: Head coach

A n announcer covering a recent Celtics gam e in Boston didn't have arty legs to stand on at least not die ones the camera lined up as an advertisem ent scrolled beneath the media table.

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at Clarkston (Mich.) High School.

How I shoot free throws: 29 for 33 (.879)

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Player Bryce Drew.

Valparaiso My dad, Homer, is: Head

The Ts have it From our remarkably candid quotes Me. Pacers backup center Dwayne Sctuntuus is asked. What bas been your biggest problem in six seasons in the league?

His reply: “ Dwayne Schintzius.**

coach at Valparaiso.

How I shoot tree throws: 88

for IQI (.871) Player Randy Reid. Brigham

Young

Post-NIT result

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

UCLA Ohio State Southern Mississippi Connecticut

15*14 overall. 9-9 (4th place) in Pac-10. no postseason 20-13 9-9 (6th) in Big Ten. lost in second round of NCAA 19-11 5-7 (7th) in Metro, lost in second round of NIT 18-13 6-10 (T7th) in Big East, lost in third round Of NIT 24-10 10-6 (4thI in Big East. lost in second round of NCAA 17-13. 11-7 |4th) SEC. lost in first round of NCAA 18-11 10-8 (4th) Pac-10 lost rn first round of NCAA 2 M 0 9-7 (5th) rn ACC. lost in regional semifinal of NCAA. 21-12 10-8 (T4thi in Big Ten. lost in second round of NCAA 25-S 14-4 (2nd! in Big East: lost in first round of NCAA

1995

Minnesota Vi (la nova V/rpima Tech

22-4 13-3 (1st) rn Atlantic 10 West

coach at Missouri.

Oklahoma My dad, Vince, is: Head

How I shoot tree throws: 59 for 97 (.608)

coach at Portales (N.M.) High School.

Player. Jay Larranga.

How I shoot tree throws: 51

Bowling Green

for 70 (.729)

My dad. Jim, is: Head coach

at Bowling Green.

Player Chris Collins. Duke My dad, Doug, is: Head

How I shoot free throws: 46 for // (.597)

coach of Detroit Pistons.

How I shoot free throws: 82 for 113 (.723)

Player G.G. Smith. Georgia My dad, Tubby, is: Head

coach at Georgia.

Pittsburgh

NIT champ

Missouri

Player Kale Erdmann.

coach at Brigham Young

Year

Player Julian Winfield.

My dad, Lee, is: .Assistant

Player Kevin Willard.

Is winning the postseason NIT a precursor to bigger things the next season’ Here s how the last 10 NIT cham ps fared the season atter they were crowned the 65th best team in the nation

Stanford Virginia

at St. Anthonv High School (N J.).

How I shoot free throws: 97 for 124 (.782)

My dad. Roger, is: Head

It’s a start, isn’t it?

St John s Vanderbilt

Force Player Dannv Hurlev. Seton

%

Body double

How I shoot tree throws: 17 for 24 (.708)

at Moberly (Mo.) High School. | for 119 (.891)

How I shoot free throws: 14 for 29 (.483)

httpV/www.scandals@recruiting.com When it comes to recruiting high school athletes, nothing evidently is sacred. Not even the Internet Just ask Pamela Goodrich. She is the mother of Dwayne, a highly recruited defensive back from the Chicago area. She recently learned that what she thought was a smooth recruiting process had turned a bit ugly, thanks to some rumors that originated on the Internet Seems Dwavne had signed with the University of Tennessee. Then a message •

h i tmh wo arrau be.majdeaBefeof •m f U L ” * a*

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Rangers Manager Johnny Oates, on Will {to ld s 'leadership:

at Okawville (Bl.) High School.

Player Reggie Minion. Air

My dad, Jim, is: Head coach

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Player Ryan Luechteield.

at Old Dominion.

.- :» f r -'*■-. J- .\L.vrr>- *-*J• -V • Bute troubled star Dennis Rodman, on problems he has te d *8 h referee Terry

How I shoot free throws: 15 for 21 (.714)

coach at Iowa State.

Player Jeff Capel. Duke My dad,Jeff, is: Head coach

Mark oft Marines*'

appeared on the Internet accusing Vols Coach Phillip Fulmer of skirting the rules while recruiting Dw'ayne.

Sure enough. Pamela began receiving calls from Tennessee papers, checking out the computer story. It was false — and her efforts to find out who was behind the rumors have failed.

But she is rightly concerned that this could become a common practice — and how flames on the Internet can be considered legitimate enough to warrant media scrutiny.

Good question.

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Avalanche Coach Marc Crawford, on a shot by tough guy Warren Rychd that went high over the net, off the glass, back over th eist. hating Ottawa goaltender Damien Rhodes on the bad; oftftalegtor a weird goal;

“Bm salid aelJertao

Catcher M DS {ta on the p o ssM ty o f going to Japan and Korea m the offseason, Witt).Japanese star pitcherttideo Homo on the Dodgers'side:

“ft w ad be I® a tfctaeiJacfcstn •

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Pirates third baseman Charfie Hayes, on the makeup of teams today:

ti* notwho* the best -T v

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Often-ticketed Red Sox slugger Jose Canseco, on what he is driving these days:

“ALearjet with tires.”

VOICES • 9

March 18,1996

Happened just like Earl told the ump Browns and Cardinals. Ran from school with my Knothole Gang card and saw the last six innings. Here I am. 12 years old, second-guessing Billy Southworth, who’s one of the three managers in history- to win a hundred in three straight seasons."

A sly pause: "Of course, i’m Dave one of the three, too."

KINDRED A manager's job is simple.

Weaver said. Just pick the 25 W hen the rookie third best players for what he wants baseman went an anxious 7 for done.

60 in the first month’s games, Simple? First the manager the manager called him in for a must decide how he wants to play. With speed’ With power’ taik.

“You’re not going down." the With pitching’ Then he must manager said. find not the 25 best players but The rookie liked that. No the 25 best for the way they ll play. more minor leagues.

“W e don’t have anybody else "The guy who says. 'I love to play third, anyway." the challenge of managing.' is Faint praise, but the kid liked one step from being out of a it job." Weaver said. "I don’t “Just go out and play your welcome any challenge I'd game. Don’t worry." rather have nine guys named That. the kid really liked.

Robinson."

Weaver spent 20 years in Earl W eaver’s gift was knowing ho could play. If Cal baseball’s backwaters. Just Ripken Jr . began the 1982 another uniform in the Cardinals' system, he'd been a season hitting nothing. Weaver knew the kid would hit 5-7 overachiever whose greatest achievement was his something and soon, which he did. Then, on Ju ly I. W eaver laughing excuse for not reaching the big leagues: "I moved Ripken from third to shortstop. always # had Marry• Marion in front of me." Washed out at 25.

W hy move anyone to the infield’s most difficult spot. let he began a dozen years as a alone a kid who'd be almost 6-5 manager before the Orioles in 1971 gave him a team with two and 220? At the time. Weaver said it’s easier to find a third Robinsons. Brooks and Frank.

"Step on roes." is part of the baseman with power than a job. he said, ‘but step on them shortstop with power. “You never know." Weaver said. “Rip softly’.‘ So when Mike Cuellar Recognition in Ud± Weaver, who knew something about spotting talent, failed in 13 straight starts. might be a great shortstop." finally is getting baseball's highest acknowledgment Weaver put him in the bullpen A decade later. Weaver said he had put his job on the line. “Fire my butt out of here. I told ’em. and said. “I gave him more chances than my first wife." The day but as long as I’m here, the kid’s at short every day." outfielder Pat Kelly implored Weaver to give up profanity' and “walk with the Lord." Weaver told him, “I’d rather have you walk with the • Recognizing a Cal Ripken is easy. Building teams that win is what bases loaded." gets a manager in the Hall of Fame. Putting together a pitching staff Tom Callahan has a story. Once a Washington columnist who that wins six Cy Young Awards does it. Winning IOO games in each studied Weaver. Callahan remembers Weaver. Jimmy Carter and of three straight years. Winning six division titles, four pennants, a chicken wings: World Series. Do all this in 17 seasons and you’re in the Hall of “The Orioles had the Pirates down. 3-1. in the 1979 World Series.

Fame, even if an umpire or two objects, as Bill Haller did in the earl)' Everyone assumed it was over because Weaver had all those Cy 1980s when ...

Young winners lined up to finish it off. But the day before Game 5.

Haller calls a balk, provoking Weaver to charge the ump five the Pittsburgh manager. Chuck Tanner, was publicly grieving times, coming back each time he thinks up a new insult because his mother had died the night before.

“You are lying." Hailer says, to which Weaver answers. “You’re a “So the Pirates go out and win one for Chuck's mom. Now its 3-2 liar." causing the umpire to offer a second opinion: “You’re no good, and they’re going back to Baltimore and the Pirates figure. ‘Well. we either." might as well play one more.'

Weaver says. “Yeah? Five years. IO years from now, you look “Of course, they win that one. and they win Game 7. too. Weaver is who’s in the Hall of Fame." despondent, and he's in his office eating chicken wings like a “Oooh." Hailer says. “You’re gonna be in the Hall of Fame?" barbarian, ripping the chicken off the bone, grease flowing down his “You know it" chin — when he iooks up and its the president of the Ignited States..

We all knew it. and we’re all happy it has happened. Earl Jimmy Carter himself, who says to him. ‘Please accept my Weaver is a baseball classic, a whip-smart little infielder whose condolences on the d^ath of your mother.' passion makes him a manager loved and loathed. Cai! the roll: ‘ I expected Weavers eyeballs to come six inches out of his head I John McGraw. Leo Durocher. Billy Martin. Earl Weaver, four of a figured the Secret Service would have to pry Weavers finger^ off fiery kind.

Caners throat I could see an international incident.

Weaver told Thomas Boswell of The Washington Post how he “ But Weaver just waited a second. Then he said. 'Mr President. I came to trust his baseball judgment think you have me confused with Mr. Tanner.'

“Ive been exercising that baseball judgment since I was six years ' “Forget the pennants and winning IOO games three seasons in a old and every kid in S t Louis argued over whether Pete Reiser or row. For that moment of restraint alone. Earl Weaver belongs in the Terry Moore was the best center fielder.

Hall of Fame." ♦ “Evaluating talent having a feel for the game, is the heart of the job. From age eight to 15,1 watched a hundred games a season — Dave K indred is a contributing writer /o r T nt SrMRTiM* N>Wn

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Real feme isn’t fleeting and never is forgotten The legends of Hanlon and Foster prove grand memories live forever

Marty APPEL

The Sporting News

He puDed off a grand larceny when he We know that Ned Hanlon must have traded journeymen \MUie Shindle and George been a great manager, because in the days Treadwa\-• to Brookh*n when nearly ev en ’ owner employed a * for Keeler and Brouthers. and earned McGraw’s lasting p lay er/m anager to save a s a l ^ \ Hanlon was respect as "Foxy Ned." He headed baseball's one of the few who was hired to do his work Rules Committee in 1895 w-hen the pitching only from the dugout or the third base rubber was enlarged to its present 24 inches coach's box. by 6 inches, (so umpires could better catch And we know that \Mllie Foster was a fine pitchers cheating). That same year, his lefthander because his half-brother Rube. committee wrote the infield Av rule, a who ran the Negro National League, also ownt'd the Chicago .A e n e a n Giants. And as centennial the U.S. Postal Service missed.

Edward Hugh Hanlon w:as bom August 22, soon as ^^’iIiie showed promise. Rube moved 1857. in M onmile. Conn. After a minor league him from .Memphis to Chicago, where he apprenticeship that began at 18. he made his helped the Giants to three pennants. way to the majors and became captain of the There was a time when Hanlon and Foster were heroic figures in th eir leagues.

Both had been long forgotten, except b\ historians. But now. they can wear “Hall of Fame" next to their names.

W hat finally got H anlon to C oop­ erstow n was the quality of the talent he developed and the six titles {just like Earl Weaver) he produced. In 19 seaso n s, he m anaged future Hall of F a m e rs Jo h n M cG raw . H u g h e y Je n n in g s . W ilbert R obinson. W illie Keeler. Joe Kelley. Dan Broulhers, Joe M cG in n ity and M iller H u g g in s — M cG raw . J e n n in g s . R o b in so n and H u g g in s all s e le c te d a s m a n a g e rs themselves.

Halting careers: Foster (left) and Hanion may not be M cCiraw c re d ite d H an lo n w ith household names, but they were defxnde Hall of Famers. being am ong the first to discard the iheorv that veteran team s were better. He Detroit Wolverines. Although a career .260 hitter, he played a good o u ie ld and averaged was not frightened by an inexperienced 66 stolen bases for the five years after lineup. His young Baltimore Orioles were tabulation of the stat began in 1887. the class of the National League. \^inning Hanlon managed Pittsburgh. Baltimore. lour consecutive Temple Cups or finishing Brooklyn and Cincinnati, and t^en left the first (1894-97). with their well-executed hit game after the 1907 season and settled in and runs. double steals and Baltimore Chop base hits. .\nd if there was anv doubt who ^ t i m o r e . He w-as a d ire a o r of the Federal League's Baltimore Terrapins in 1914 and *15. ran things. Owmer Harry Von der Horst wore a button that read “.^sk Hanlon." and owned the land on which their ballpark a

He coaches them in life as well as on the cour Thompson makes his players better by challenging them to make their own choices

llioynas BOSWELL

.A few m onths ago. in the kitchen near his office at O orgetow m UniversiK. John Thom pson was w-atching a hot debate among three extremely large, famous NB.A players — all of whom went to his college for the entire four years.

Patrick Ewing and .Alonzo M ourning were disagreeing strongly with Dikembe .Muiombo about the labor negotiations then in progress between the NB.A and its players. .A strike, perhaps as bad as the one that crippled baseball, seem ed possible. Ewing and M ourning were hard-liners; Mutpmbo was more conciliatory. Ail three were among the most visible and vocal players in that national argument.

'I t was a serious and strained discussion going on with two of them definitely on the opposite side from Dikembe." Thompson says "Some of the Oegal and financial) issues were so complicated, they had to explain them to me." .Al one point, the players were discussing the- requirem ents for a new head of the unbn. .Ail agreed a law degree w-as essential.

"I pol a kick out of the irony of that," Thompson says. "H ere's a league with kids jumping lo play in it without finishing their college degrees. But when it's lime to hire somebody to represent them, the first requir(*ment is an adianced college degree. I said. 'You don't really care about that law degrt^e. do y o u ' You just need somebody wiih a big salary (like an NB.A star), right’' "They laughed. They got ii."

Thom pson is powerful, secretive and envied. He's also th e em bodim ent of an adult w ho exercises ‘tough love " Thompson says Allen Iverstin will not leave Georgetown for the NB.A after his

sophom ore year "unless I tell him to go." It is typical Thom pson bravado: he m akes his point — nationwide — and also cuts off a distracting discussion on the eve of the Big East Toum amenL O ne day later. Thom pson rounds out the ston* "Allen Iverson doesn't have to listen to me.

He can do an>thing he wants! T hat's obvious.

But that's also not the point," he says. "As adults, we shouldn’t hold back. We shouldn't be intimidated by the youngsters we're supposed to be helping.

“I ts one thing to be ignored. It's another not lo give your opinion. (Players) may not like what I say. And they may not do what I say. But they are sure going to hear what I have lo say. T hai's my responsibilitv ."

Young people respond to two things; our concern and our discipline. T hese dav-s. college athletes don’t get enough of the latter.

Thom pson's strongest qualitv' may be the relish with which he uses the influence he has over his players. He wants to make it lough for them to make short-sighted decisions. Iverson may someday be in Thompson s kitchen, speaking as an adult equal, leaching the coach a thing or two. \M iai's surprising is that Thom pson is the person holding the door lo the NB.A ajar for Iverson, even as he advises him against going. It would be easv- for Thom pson to say.

"Our players, like D uke's players, don't do that." Thom pson can even underline that Georgetown look extra heat in accepting Iverson, who had spent three m onths in prison, bul later was cleared of all charges.

Instead. Thom pson is the one who says: ■There are two boxes, and I don't w ^ t to put .Allen in either one. I don't want him lo feel.

‘I'm stupid if I don't go pro.' .And there are

I was built He died .April 14.1937. in Baltimore. i Foster never m et his illustrious halfbrother until he was 18 and working in the Chicago slockvards. Rube was 15 years his senior (and entered the Hall of Fame 15 years ago), and both were sons of a M ethodist minister from Texas. They ex*pand the list of brothers in the Hall of Fame to three, joining the W aners (Paul and Lloyd) and the W rights (CJeorge and Harry).

WlUie Hendrick Foster (sometimes caDed Bill) was bom June 12.19(>4. in Calver. Tex., but raised in Mississippi by his grandm other j after his m other died in 1908. In his davs in i the Negro Leagues (1923 through *37). he pitched for Memphis, Chicago, Homestead. Kansas City. Cole's American Giants. Birmingham and Pittsburgh, relying on a to b a ll. an overhand curve and a sidearm curve.

In 1926, he won 26 consecutive gam es en route to a pennant, winning both ends of a doubleheader on the final day. and in 1927 he was 32-3 as Chicago repeated its title. He had 137 Negro League victories to Satchel Paige's 129. Monte In in says he I alw-ays heard Foster referrH to as the I "black Left)' Grove."

5 After retiring, he sold insurance and became Dean of Men as weD as baseball coach at .Alcorn State College in Fayette: Miss., from 1960 through 77. He died Septem ber 16.1978. in Lorman. .Miss. But he. like Hanlon. w-iH now live forever in CooperstowTi. 4 M a rty A ppel, an executive w ith The Tapps C om pany, is the a u th o r of'"Slide.

Kelly, Slide: The W ild L ife a n d T im es o f M ik e (K ing) Kelly, Baseball's F irst S u p ersta r, ' to be published this spring by Scarecrow Books. definitely people telling him th a t" Thom pson also doesn't want Iverson to feel he's imprisoned by Georgetown's tradition of having its stars stay four years.

■Tm not critical of people who lake the money." Thom pson say's. ‘Everybody wants nice things for them seK es and their families.

But it's not the amount of money going in that matters. It’s the am ount they come out with that counts."

Matty famous NBA players, especially in recent years, have left college early and. from ail appearances, have flourished.

O thers have n o t Every one of them who had no interest in education — or went lo a college that had no genuine interest in challenging them as students — was right to grab the money. And every one who had a love of learning — or who attended a school that was committed to their development — made a mistake by coming out.

Thom pson gets on some people's nerves, occasionally for good reason. But this time he's right. It's unlikely that going pro after tw'o years al CJeorgeiown. or even three, is the right decision for Iverson.

The NBA w*ants Iverson because he has som ething that the NBA needs. O o rg eto w n . on the other hand, has som ething Iverson may still n e e d .Most young people do.

As with any college. O orgelow -n offers time and space in which to grow. It offers teachers, such as Thom pson, w-ho give a deep and difficult kind of resp ect They tell their students what they truly believe is right and wrong. ^ S e r and worse. 'V^'heiher the student likes it or acts on it. # T hom as Bosw ell is a co lu m n ist fo r the W ashington Post.

VOICES* It

March 18,1996

» ------

VOICE OF THE FAN Teen angle

‘What Kevin Garnett has done will, without some intervention, inevitably be responsible for many broken hearts and busted careers.

(TSN. March 4). lf we can drag our attitudes toward women athletes out of the dark ages, there will no longer be tragedies like Nera White.

Hopefully, its not too late to give her the credit she is due. Nera. you are the beautiful babe.

Jan Dyer Cottage Grove. M inn.

clear loser .And we wonder whv fans and young people are cynical.

Peter J. Riga \ Houston ; 9

•#

i

Sole man C’mon Ivan Maisel. You know what Flv* would sav * about an article on the NCAA and cleats (TSN. March 4): Cleats, schlmeats. Here's five cleats in the kisser for being such a whiner.

B ria n M cCarthy Omaha. Se t.

'I * 15*

Curtains Jet stream: Seither Sew York nor Pittsburgh fans are skyhigh about O'Donnell's move

Hindsight

J-

I thought Frank Clancy’s article. T h e kids all right" (TSN. March 4). was very unfortunate. The NBA, the NCAA, the media and the sports community should be working overtime to encourage youths, even incredibly gifted ones such as Garnett, to go to school and graduate. Instead. Clancy’s article will serve as encouragement to many high school players to do exactly what Garnett did: Forgo school and head to the land of fame and fortune that is the N BA Kevin now serves as a questionable role model for every high school All-American who is currency living poorly or modestly.

When these kids fail, they will have blown their chance for a scholarship and will end up playing in the CBA for a fraction of what Garnett earns.

Step}ien John Federal Way, Wash.

Wait just a minute About the Sparkmeister saying he could count on one hand the number of prospects the Tigers' system produced in his 17 years (TSN. March 4): We Detroit fans endured 17 years of Sparky getting rid of young, talented players.1And you’d need both hands and both feet for this count.

His lack of evaluation skills sent the following players to greener pastures: john Smoltz, Ken HUL John Wetteland. John Hudek and Rusty Meacham. Now thats some fair pitching. How about Rico Brogna.

Chris Hoiles. Scott Livingstone. Howard Johnson and a whole lot of other everyday players? Sparky was running a retirement home. Young players never had a chance in his system, but they blossomed when sent elsewhere. He had little patience for youth.

Donald Haapanen . Stambaugh, Mich.

The beautiful babe While other sports magazines were putting beautiful babes in swimsuits, you provided a real “women in sports" story

Mike DeCourcv says the Big East’s No. 6 standing in the RFI report (TSN. February 26) is a result of “the three crummy expansion teams" (Notre Dame. West Virginia and Rutgers). The Big East is getting what it deserves. It passed over two quality schools — Virginia Tech and Temple — that would have greatlfenhanced its RPI in favor of NBC U. Maybe next time the powers that be will think things through a little better.

Erie M ariner Lynchburg. Va.

‘Eddie, Eddie’ Bob Nightengale may have touched on the essence of Baltimore (TSN. March ti in his report. However, he was well off base with his statement that the cite "abandoned" Eddie Murray when he asked to be traded The chants o f‘ Eddie. Eddie" that resounded at Camden Yards during Cal Ripken's speech after his record-breaking game were not indicative of abandonment.

The only thing that would excite ( )nole* tans more than to see Ripken in the World Series would be to see Cal and Eddie back together in the Fall Classic. It sure looks like one of them will be there again in 19%.

M ark .4. Reed Virginia Beach. Va. 9

#

evmsripQol. com

Ringing him up Steve Marantz says Albert Belle will break Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs (TSN. February 26). Maybe so. considering the diluted pitching in the major leagues. But I sure don't sympathize with poor I-want-tochange-my-image Belle. You can kiss up to him ail you want. but Belle is still a milliondollar bum.

Maris always will be looked upon as the reluctant hero, but Belle will be remembered as a muscle-bound jackass. I. for one. am not going to forget Roger Maris.

Tim Pulcifer Pasadena. Calif. eyfc99a®prodigy, com

The rest of Hie story I read with great interest your article on the resurgence of the .Arkansas-Little Rock basketball program under Wimp Sanderson (TSN. February 12). Taking nothing away from Sanderson, the credit should go to his predecessor. Jim Platt, currently an assistant at Tulsa. It was Platt who recruited the core group that has blossomed into one of the better teams in the country. It was Plait who instilled discipline in the program, only to get the plug pulled on him. It was Platt who gave Sanderson's son an assistant's job.

Basketball, like life, isn t fair. but hopefully this sets the record straight about a good man and an excellent coach who deserved better. • Chuck Swirsky Detroit

.Albert Belle has the potential to be one of the greatest offensive players of all time.

However, there is more to baseball than hitting. His value to a team pales in comparison to Ken Griffey jr. Griffey probably saves his team more than IOO runs a year in the field; Belle probably allows an extra IOO runs because of his beiow-average defense. Simple mathematics shows their net worth to their teams.

Jim Wood Baton Rouge, La.

CHBICE VOICE ‘It hasn’t beeneasybeing a Pittsburghfan inthe ’90s.

Freeagencyruined th&Ph^es. Nowit is dismantlingtheStealers.’

Mike Campbell Danville, Pa.

The jets' defensive players veil] be wondering why there was so much hype about the new quarterback when they end up on the field ail the time. .As his team continues to lose over the next five years. I^ron Hess is going to realize that he threw $25 million away.

Ricci J Snyder D alm atia. Pa

Get a grip Memo to Bill Parcells: Drew Bledsoe can't throw to himself. Get some quality receivers and once you've got em. hold on to em. like you've failed to do in the past few years B rian Levesque Greenville, R .l I

Down on O’Donnell

Its always the money, not the loyalty.

What message does Neil O’Donnell's signing with the Jets send to our young people’ That money is infinitely more important than loyalty, dependability, team effort? It was the team that carried O'Donnell to the Super Bowl and this, after years of building and frustration Now that the Steelers have achieved a measure of success, O'Donnell I sells himself, without an ounce of loyalty, to a

The Steelers' front office is like the supermarket shopper who has a fistful of coupons and is hunting tor the cheapest deal. I can't believe the front office would sign a proven loser in Mike Tomczak and let Neil O'Donnell go. Come on. Dan Rooney, the days of cheaper is better are over It’s time vou learned the business of the new N FL Or maybe it's time for you to go Tim Sm ith Cape M ay Court House. S J r

Reid out The NBA gave J R. Reid a sI'Dmki tine and a two-game suspension for flagrantly elbowing A C Green. In (he same week.

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were fined the same amount for not showing up for media dav before the All-Slar Game I'm not a math wizard, but I don't think those fig u res add up Rodney Wright Chandler. Ind. 9

A more meaningful punishment tor Rpid would have been an unpaid suspension for the balance of the season and a requirement to apply for reinstatement next season, such a punishment would clearly discourage violence and keep basketball a mon* pure sport.

Je rry Cohen Statesville. S C.

Jacket ball While rereading old editions, which I love to do. I came upon a prediction from Michael Kinsley In the January c<issue. Mr Kinsley states. ‘Say goodbye to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets." I'm sorry, but i think they just won the ACC regular-season championship No offense to you. Mr Kinsley This merely shows how unpredictable college athletics can be.

Clyde Adams I wineaster, S C. cladams fisunbelt net

Got a corranerrt?

T he S h ir t in g N ew s

would love to hear from you.

Write Voice of the Fan. 12-12 S . Undbergh B lv d .

St. I mu is. Mo. 63132. fax your message to us at 314-993-7723. or send us electronic mail at tsnmaiHCaol.com. Be sure to include your name and city with your e-mail.

The Sh irtin g News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity and content.

12 • BASEBALL

The Sporting News

As his turbulent days with the Yankees begin to fade away, Showalter immerses himself in the considerable task of raising Arizona from the ground floor m onths since Showalter took the Diamond­ backs' job for the healthy sum of $7 million and the more-than-healthy com m itm ent of rom h is I lth-floor office in down­ seven years. town Phoenix. Buck Showalter As he immerses himself in his new job. travcan watch the early stapes of con­ elinp to the Dominican Republic to visit the Di­ struction of Bank One Ballpark, am ondbacks' baseball academy, making future hom e of the Arizona Dia­ speeches and appearances in the Valley of the mondbacks The retractable-root, and scouting the Cactus League, three natural-turf. 4»\i>0<v$t»ai stadium isSun a few key questions won't go away: Does he wish he blocks awav but. in some wavs. it seem s like still were managing the Yankees? Can Showai­ a levs hundred miles .Aid 199t\ when Showal* ter make it through lite next two years with­ ler and h i' expansion team will take the field, out managing? .And. above all. is he happy with ' t r n i ' looper titan two years away his decision? The answers are mavbe a little; It has bern three m o n th ' since Showalter probably, with a little gritting of teeth; and yes. parted company with the Yankees, a team he* "New York has that energy, unlike any oth­ pave his life to tor almost JU years, the last er place." Showalter says. "It drove you day tour a ' manager It also has b ir n about three

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to day, minute to minute. Billy' Martin always told me to expect the unexpected.."

This .is the time he normally is in the mid­ dle of spring training in his native Florida. In­ stead. he and his wife. Angela, are in the final stages of selling their hom e in Pensacola, closing on a hom e in Phoenix and searching for a new school for their daughter Albe, who just turned 9. .Aid it won't be long before son Nat. 4. starts school.

“I t s different," says Showalter. 39. T h e re 's not that sense of urgency. I ts kind of like in the fe w w eeks after the season is over. At about 7:30 every night, you get this feeling, ‘Isn't there som ething Tm supposed to be doing? Som ew here I’m supposed to be?* I ts a little bit of a withdrawal."

he D iam ondbacks’ receptionist walks into Show alter s of­ fice. .Another stack of phone m essages, the top one asking him to be on a ra­ dio show at a steak house in T e m p e . “W h a t s t a t i o n 5 W here? This phone has been buzzing all afternoon, but I can't figure out how to work it." he says, scratching his head.

The man who was T h e S p o r t i n g N e w s / .American League M anager of the Year in 1994 and has a 313-268 record adm ittedly has a yearning to get back in the d u g o u t T h is is going to be a tough year, probably the toughest of all. but Tm sure JU be able to ride it o ut " Showalter says.

Jerry Colangelo, the Dia­ m ondbacks' m anaging gen­ eral partner and the man who lured Showalter from George Steinbrenner, says he will make sure the interim period is as smooth as possible. “We originally had a tim etable of hiring a m anager not until 1997. around the tim e when we found what league we will be in, but then Buck became available," Colangelo says.

“W hen the best m anager in baseball becom es available, you go for him no m atter what timetable you have."

Colangelo has been known as a hands-on owner with the Suns. But with the Diamond­ backs. he says he will dele­ gate m ore authority to such people as General M anager Joe Garagiola Jr. and Roland Hemond, the senior vice pres­ ident of baseball operations.

Colangelo's interest in base­ ball is keen, from his days as a team m ate of jim Bouton at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights.

III., (Colangelo also was a pitcher), to his relationship with Jerry Reinsdorf. owner of the W hite Sox and Bulls.

From the m om ent he began talking to Showalter. Colangelo knew he didn't need to continue his search. He wanted Showalter’s role to be extensive. “H ell have m ore input than he ever dream ed possible in every as­ pect of our organization." Colangelo says.

Showalter is being exposed to new things and reintroduced to som e old things he has not experienced since his early' days with the Yankees as a player and m anager in the low minors. Some of the new things include play­ ing golf in the Phoenix Open Pro-Am during Super Bowl week. getting up a little past 5 to appear on one of the local “good morning" TV shows and speaking to corporate groups at functions such as last m onth's Aetna Power Breakfast at the posh Arizona Biltmore Re­ sort. Showalter was the first sports-related fig­ ure to speak at the annual series of four-ses­ sion com m uniques relating to success.

It is there, during a question-and-answ er session with a pane) of business w riters and an audience of about 400. that Showalter gives his approach: T h e work ethic and in­ tensity level must be constant, from the be-

BASBUIU • 13

March 18,1996

care of them recognizes him. He asks Showalter for his autograph.

“Yankees' the man sav-s. smiling.

“Diamondbacks,' Showaher savs. # pointing to the snake logo ".A" on his cap.

Part of Show-alter's lour of (he Dominican includes a stop al an academy complex owned by the A’s.

It includes two or three fields, lock­ er facilities, w-eighls. a dining hall and activity room, where Showalter engages in a brief game of table ten­ nis with Tommy Jones, the [Dia­ mondbacks’ director of field opera­ tions.

VaOey p y s Colangelo (right), a kaiids^m owner with the Suns, will When Jones was with the Royals' delegate more authority with the Diamondbacks and Showaiter. organization, he managed in Flori­ da against a minor league team that ‘ W e originally had a timetable included Showalter as a third base coach. “.Another guy was the man­ of hiring a m a n a g e r not until 1 9 9 7 . ager. but Buck did a lot of the things ne of Showaher’s responsithe manager does. I could tell then biiities is to help develop but then Buck becam e a v a ila b le .’ that he had a knack for it." Jones the organization, not only says. “It didn’t surprise me at all that scouting the Cactus and —Je n v Coianoefo he advanced lo where he did. Now I later Grapefruit leaguers, but also have the chance lo work with him. looking for those first Diamond­ and I'm looking forward to it.' often a big-league manager visits the Do­ backs. Working with the younger players will Show'alter tells the young .A's players he minican. let alone gets on the field. Of course. allow him to take some steps back in time. looks forward to seeing them in the future Showaller’s unique position ailow-s him lo do when he was a minor league player and man­ “You're .American League. W e’re .National thai With Noboa serving as an interpreter. ager. “Its exciting to see guys developing dai­ VS’ell see vou in the World Series,* he savs Showalter addresses the players; *The Dia­ ly with a freshness and a passion for the mondbacks will do everything first class and game.' he says. do everything they can lo help you. but you It is particularly evident during the first have to continue lo play hard and have dedi­ week of February, when Showalter accompa­ llhough in the Dominican for the cation in return. The people in Arizona are nies Diamondbacks officials and scouts to the first time. Showalter seems relaxed waiting to watch you play.' Showalter says.

Dominican Republic, where the team has es­ — not the uptight, stoic person porl>ate each afiemoon. Showalter would re­ tablished a baseball academy. The academy strayed by some people in New York turn to his hotel room and wash his jersey in is run by the team's Dominican scouting di­ Showalter recalls Yankees fans as passion­ the sink — another minor league throwback. rector. Junior Noboa. a former infielder with ate and acknowledges that media relations At night, he and Diamondbacks officials at­ the Indians and Expos. can be a challenge. He says he tried lo be as tended the Caribbean Series in Santo Domin­ The Diamondbacks signed more than 20 accommodating as he could, but then- were go.

Dominican players last fall and on February I times, he says, when he was told fby guess On his first night out, Showalter causes a added two Cuban pitchers, Vladimir Nunez who?) he was talking to the media too much. commotion when he goes down near the and Larry Rodriguez, who d e ^ e d to the Do­ “I realized they had a job to do.* he says. “.Are dugout occupied by the team from Puerto minican by w-ay of Venezueii people always fair’ No. But I’m sure there Rico to say hello to one of his former Yankees \Mien Show^ter steps onto the academy were times when they felt the same way outfielders, Bernie Williams. V(*hile returning field wearing the Diamondbacks’ home white about me.' to his seat, Showalter is mobbed by auto­ uniform with purple pinstripes, the players.

He bristles a bit when talking about recent graph seekers, who know him well b^ause most in their mid-teens, watch in amazement. reports out of Tampa that some players, such Yankees games are shown locally on cable.

As they go through driiis, he paces back and as Pal Kelly. Jim Leyritz and Steve Howe. are When Showalter visits the apartment of the forth. General .MacArthur-like. watching in­ glad he's gone, that he wasn't always fair to academy players, the man who helps cake tently to m behind his dark sunglasses. It isn't them. Leyritz sums up their sentiment these days in the Yankees’ camp by saying; “Joe Torre called me personally when they ac­ quired Coe) Girardi. He told me. ‘Don't take % it as discouraging. You’re not going to be an insurance policv’.’ The last couple years there ...... were a lot of broken promises."

Showalter says of the gripes; 'I wish they would have come to me at the time if they n -'had a problem. Same way with some of the writers. I’m not going lo get down into the guner. get into a pissing match with them l f r n The only thing I can really say' about that is.

‘Look in the m irror.''

He knows you can't please everyone, h is all about loyity. He will not. he insists, sell out any of his coaches, as he claims he was forced lo do on one occasion in New York Now he has a new loyalty.

“My wife says that she was glad for me to get a chance to relax after being so intense in New York." Showalter says, “but she knows lit ICr my intensity is probably going to be tw-ofoid now giving the commitment back that the Di­ 5 amondbacks have made to me. I'm happy to get this chance. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves.’ ♦

ginning. We (the Yankees) had to be ready to play 162 games. You start ^^ith the first game and the first inning. You win the first inning and then go from there.' ShowaJter also reveals a little-known fact that he has all of the 249 episodes of "The ,^dy Griffith Show" on tape.

To some who live in New York.

Phoenbc is to New- York what May­ berry was to Raleigh or Mount lot Why would Showalter ever want to stay in the desert^ One New York columnist predict^ Showaller's eventual return to the Yankees, a la Billy Martin. Wliat about thaL^ Buck was asked. *^'elh I'm buying a home here to live year-round.' he savs. 'I didn’t do tlat in New York.’

O

Shouldering the bcnten: Showalter was portrayed as uptight and stoic as manager of the Yankees,

but he also didn t get a lot of space from the omnipresent Steinbrenner.

Don Ketchum covers the Diamondbacks fo r The A rizona R epublic/The Phoenix Gazette. Correspondent Jon Heyman contributed to this story

Managerial sbategy Buck Showalter won't be spending nights in the Yankees’ video room any more, but the Arizona Diamondbacks' manager does have a few things to occupy his team while waiting for the 1998 expansion season. Here is what Showalter calls his “lo-do list"; I. Help form the foundation for player development including the writing of the team manual; t Scout players in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues this spring, primarily those from the National League, and look at N.L teams during the regular season. The Diamondbacks are projected into the N.L West i Help prepare (or the amateur draft in June.

4 Be a roving instructor this summer for the franchise's rookie league teams in Arizona and Lethbridge, Alberta.

5. Work in the area of public relations and “be a good ambassador for the • organization.” On February 21. for example, he was a featured speaker during the “Aetna Power Breakfast Series.' Showalter was quizzed by a panel of business writers in front of audience of 400.

■6. Hire qualified people, "but not get ahead of ourselves. Make sure they have things to do.' Showalter says be 'can't keep fax paper in my machine.

I'm getting so many resumes But I’m not throwing any of them away. I'm keeping them all on file.'

4 — OCHI K e t c k i »

QHiuiinYrai^MPticmN OfliilHBl?

i

14 • BASEBALL

Astros must win, or Houston has a problem every day. The situation provoked Watson to leave last October to work for George Stein* branner. .And McLane started shedding pay­ roll. dumping off third baseman Ken Camini* ti and center fielder Steve Finley.

Now. he wants to move the ballclub to northern Virginia.

Yet unlike the NFL's Art M Odell, McLane is making no secret of his intentions. He is giving the city an ultimatum: Buy 25.000 sea­ Bob son tickets and draw 2.5 million fans or be NIGHTENGALE prepared for the moving vans.

Baby, talk about pressure. i “The only impact its had on me is whether rayton McLane vowed three years to b\iv or r^nl in Houston." Astros General ago to bring a winner to Houston.

Manager Gerry Hunsicker says.

He was going to spend money. He The Astros did little to improve themselves was going lo market the team. He this winier except to acquire third baseman Scan Berry from the Expos. But perhaps was going to make the city of Houston proud.

He was going to bring the city.a World Series nothing meant more to the organization than championship. re-signing second baseman Craig Biggio.

So McLane went out and-spent $38 million The Rockies wanted him. So did the Padres tor free agent pitchers and Houston natives and the Cardinals.

Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell and pro­ Yet. with a chance to reach the playoffs nounced it only the beginning, it was nearly with any of those teams. Biggio stayed home.

He has no idea whether the team will be the end. playing in Texas or Virginia in 1997. bow long it took a matter of months for McLane to lose patience. He drove off manager .Art Collins will be the manager, or whether McLane will start stripping the team of talent Howe and general manager Bill Wood He hired Manager Terry Collins and general Still, he staved.

“One player doesn't save a team," Biggio manager Bob Watson, only to pester them

D

Been there...

you're losing "

Sticking point

Pirates Manager Jim iand remembers the days when he had one of the finest teams iii baseball, only

Making friends

Don’t be fooled into think­ ing a resolution to the Basic Agreement is close. Negoti­ ations should get bogged down on the service-time is­ sue.

The owners don't want to give any service time, and the players want to be cred­ ited with more than half of the time. The decision will affect about 150 players.

10 lose Bari •v Bonds. Bobby•

Bonilla. I>oug Drabek and .And) Van Sfyke So who els** can better re­ late to the trauma Blue Jays Manager Cite Gaston is en­ during*' In just one wanter.

Toronto lost Paul Molitor.

Roberto .Alomar. Devon White. .Al loiter and Duane Ward. “.As a manager you re in a pretty awkward position."

Ireland says. “People ask vou ail the time ‘How’s your team going to do?* and you're supposed to answer honestly• but 9you can't. You have to lie and tell them you’re going to be competi­ tive. even though sometimes you know you re not going to be.

9

9

“ I always sav we're a • #

young team, rebuilding Hell. I don’t know what we are I'm not that smart. I don't know anybody who is 11 Cite can handle last year and this year, he can handle just about anything You learn a lot when vou're winning in this game You learn more about yourself when

I-

Remember third baseman Chris Sabo, the man who ap­ pt‘ared to be washed up last season’ Well. get ready for him to become the Reds' starting third baseman this season.

Reds Manager Ray Knight wants Sabo. 34. to start at third while Willie Greene gets a spot on the bench "Sabo is going to make this club, hands down." Knight says. "Not only is he going to make the learn, he is like a regular player. He's like 1993 (21 homers. 82 RBIs)." .And Greene? "I hear noth­ ing but promise." Knight says. "but I want to see it and I haven't He came to camp heavy, not reach-to play, lf he ever comes to spring training like this again. I’ll take it as a personal affront to me. It means he doesn't like me or doesn't want to be here, and there won't be a place for him on this team. I won'! compro­ mise my position for anybody who bucks mv * system. * “Greene is no more than a part-time player, and he has to prove to me he is any more than that."

Sounds like Knight is

j

i

Franco at first

Done that Lcyiand blowsjust

how Gastonfeels.

making friends already.

On target The Braves are amused by the Dodgers' boasts they are gunning for them this season. “Every team went out in the offseason with the intention of going out to be better than us." third base­ man Chipper Jones says.

“But its been the same the last five years, lf they want to represent the National League in the World Series, they have to go through At­ lanta."

Indians first baseman Julio Franco is getting so bad defensively' he may Have to'be moved to DH. General Manager John Hart admits no scout ever saw Franco play first base in Japan. The team relied on the opinion of Bobby Valentine, who man­ aged Franco for the Yakult Swallows.

Mr. Rogers It should be interesting when the Rangers face Ken­ ny Rogers for the first time in a Yankees uniform. Rog­ ers was quoted as saying his family was pleased he signed with the Yankees be­ cause. ‘They never consid­ ered the Rangers a major league team anyway." The Rangers are scheduled to

play six of their first l l games against the Yankees and could see Rogers twice in that span. The Rangers are convinced Rogers will buckle under the pressure in New York.

Model B First-round Rockies pick Todd Helton is using the identical model bat that was given to Manager Don Bay­ lor in his first spring training in 1969 by Frank Robinson — an R-161 model. T h a ts ‘R7 as in Robinson." Baylor says, “ I as in No. I and 61 as in 1961. the year Frank won his first MVT."

Around the bases The Phillies privately are worried about the deficien­ cies of catcher-turned-left fielder Darren Daulton. who has struggled this spring af­ ter undergoing his seventh knee surgery’-- Former O s assistant G.M. Frank Robin­ son still is looking for a job.

“I don’t know what it is," Robinson says. “It’s like the door has been dosed, and I don’t even exist’ ... The Martins are shopping starter John Burkett knowing that Livan Hernandez may be ready for the rotation.... Its about time someone finally

hires marketing genius Mike Veeck. and it appears the Marlins will pull the trigger.

It could be the finest front-office move the organization has made.

The Orioles are looking to acquire backup catcher Lenny Webster from the Phillies.... .Angels G.M. Bill Bavasi made shrewd moves in locking up Jim Edmonds and J.T. Snow. Bavasi also saved nearly $3 million for the franchise by signing Tim Salmon to a four-year. $7,5million contract in 1994. ...

The Rangers’ first four starters — Kenny Hill. Roger Pavlik, Kevin Gross and Bob­

by Witt — combined for 119 starts last season but had only one victory when their team scored fewer than five runs. ... Melido Perez is pitching so well this spring the Yankees have pulled him off the trade table. ... The Dodgers quietly have let it be known that power-hitting outfielder Billy Ashley is available at the right price.

He may be perfect for a non­ contending A .L team. This guy is capable of hitting 40 homers a year. , ♦

Bob Nightengale covers the Dodgers fo r the Los Angeles Times.

cavu) j pinup/associaho

BASEBALL REPORT

says, “but if I had a little bit to do with it. then I wanted to help. I thought TVhat if I leave (as a free agent) and they go all the way’’ “I w'ant to win a World Series in Houston because it has never hap­ pened."

The .Astros, who went 76-68 last season after collapsing in August and September, are the team to beat in the N .L Central. The Reds will slip dramatically. The Cardi­ nals will spend half the season try­ ing to learn each other’s names.

The Cubs did nothing to help themselves. The Pirates will be trying to avoid IOO losses.

The Astros will be relying heav­ ily. of course, on Swindell and Drabek. The Astros need one sea­ son where the high-priced duo live up to expectations. Mediocrity no longer will be accepted.

“We know we have a good team." SwindeD say's. “But the big question mark is our pitching, and a big part of that is whether Doug and I can turn it up a notch. No doubt about it, this is a big year for Doing fetepart: Biggie's decision to resign with the Astros me and Doug. Our futures are go­ maygo a long way toward saving baseballfor Houston. ing to be determined by it" every night" Certainly, the Astros can ill afford Swindell Collins is convinced the duo will return to and Drabek to have another year like last sea­ their days of glory- Sure. maybe neither will son. Each w'as 10-9. but Swindell's ERA of win 20 games again. Maybe neither ever will 4.47 was his highest since 1987. and Drabek's be a Cy Young candidate again. But each re­ 4.77 was the highest of his 10-year major mains among the most competitive in the league career. business.

“Ive just got to get back on track and be Irs up to the players now. Win the division, more consistenl than I have been." Drabek capture the fan interest and the team will be says. "My curvebail and my sinker have been lacking at times over the last three years. I staying in Houston.

Start losing again, turn off the fans, and want to pitch the way I did at Pittsburgh, where I know I can rely on those pitches the team will start packing.

p r is s

Tile Sporting News

March 18,1996 T ~

Eric .Anthony appeared-to be front-runners to take over the position in tandem to help re­ place the power output provided by Gant.

Hunter baned 79 tim es with one hom e run in an in jury-plagued but he had 15 hom ers in 1994 and he reported to Plant City rn great shape this season But the em erg en ce of out­ fielder M ike Kelly and Hunter's contract made him expendable. ... Third base is b e­ ginning to look m ore and m ore like a battle am ong relu m ing icon C h ris Sabo, future star Erie Owens and incumbent Jeff Branson, with the talented but enigm atic Willie G reen e — if he m akes the team — looking at reserve sta­ tus.

— M ike B ass

ATLANTA BRAVES On with the Show: It has taken seven y ears, but T v* ler Houston savs rn he has finally learned how to hit. Considering the circu m stan ces, his tim­ ing couldn't be better.

T h e r e s a jo b available on the bench, and Houston is the lending can­ didate to fill the spot. Houston, the second overall pick in the '89 draft, gained valuable exp erien ce last season at Tri pie-A Richmond (International). “I learned how to hit last year." Houston says. T m sure I could com e up with a bunch of e x c u s e s why it didn’t hap­ I pen sooner, but I g u e ss it took m e that long to figure it o u t ." ... For the first time in several springs. Jo h n Sm oltz d o e s n ’t have to worry about h is right elbow. T h a n k s to offseason arthroscopic surgery. Smoltz is aiming at su r­ passing 15 victories for the first time in his ca­ reer. “Believe m e. there were tim es during the last few years when I wanted to sit back and say, ‘M y arm is killing m e.' " Sm oltz says.

“You d on’t know the relief I feel being able to throw and work on things."

Cold Stolider Biceps tendinitis makes a Swift return less likely for the Rockies starter, who is Waftoo alllog: O utfielder J e r o m e W alton was recovering from surgery and might open the season on the disabled list. diagnosed with a hernia in his groin area and treatm ent. Not only will the team have to do will und ergo su rgery that could sideline him without a .290 c a r e e r hitter, but his rep lace­ for six to e ig h t w eek s. His lo ss lea v es the m en ts are all righthanded. T h at leaves M ark clu b in need of a rig h th an d ed pinch hitter G ra ce. Luis G onzalez and sw itch-hitting Bri­ and outfielder, lf d o cto rs d ecid e a rth rosco p ­ C arrasco 's chaace: an M cR ae a s the only lefth an d ers in the lin e C lo ser Je ff B ran tley., ic surgery’ is n e ce ssa ry . W alton could return up. ... W ith the startin g rotation apparently the only truiv reliable sooner. But if full surgery is needed, he could filled. J o s e G u zm an, who is c o m in g back b e out for up to two m o n t h s .... T h e decision m em b er of the bullpen I from sh ou ld er su rgery, say s he would rather on who will follow lead off h itte r M arq u is staff, is sidelined until b e traded than go to the m inors. T h a t could late April with a stre ss G risso m in the lineup — M ark L em k e or Je ff force m an agem en t to m ake a d ecision , since B la u se r — h as b een the su b ject of co n sid e r­ fracture in his right it fe e ls he m ay have to have reh abilitation foot. T h e focus now able d ebate. “Y o u c a n ’t g o w rong with eith er time b efo re h e is ready. o n e o f th e m .* M a n a g e r B o b b y C o x says. shifts to righthand er H ector C arrasco , who “W h o e v e r I hit th e re . 111 k ee p sw itching (fader fire: Ryne S a n d b e rg had a tou gh few was supposed to be entering his third season around all spring."

— B m ZAG* as heir apparent. But Carrasco struggled last days. Not only did he have two hits in his first 17 at-bats. h e w as criticized by fo rm er dou­ seaso n a s the y ear wore on. com plaining of nu m bn ess in his hand and finishing with a 2-7 ble play partner Shaw on Dunston and had it record and 4.12 E R A C arrasco has a clo ser s m ade public h e was given a day off this fastball and finished with a 2.24 ERA in his spring to attend to a child-custody hearing. “I rookie season of ’94. but he walked 46 in 87 Vj M ag ad ao ’s s e tb a c k : ju s t want to co n c e n tra te on b a seb a ll." Sand­ innings lasuseason and threw 15 wild pitches.

T h ird b a se m a n Dave b e rg says. “I d on’t think it's n e ce ssa ry to dis­ M ag ad an will m iss .Al 26. this is his ch an ce to step up. especially c u s s my personal life." He also avoided Dunafter the loss of primary setup man M ike J a c k ­ m ost of spring training sto n 's c h a r g e that h e w ouldn’t dive for son to free agency, lf C arrasco s tu m b le s out with a bone spur in his grou nd balls and that he w as too quiet to b e a of the box, the only o th er options are to close left hand. T h e (earn lead er by saying. “W e ’re two different p er­ will have to g et by with by co m m ittee or to move rig hthan d er Dave sonalities." ... T h e c a r e e r of lefthand er Lance B urba out of the rotation, where he is sorely b a ck u p s J o s e H ern an ­ D ick so n , a form er No. I pick, appears to be needed. dez. T r a c y W o o d so n and Leo G o m ez, who over after a s e tb a c k from a seco nd sh ou ld er Hunter released: Brian Hunter was the latest also h a s b een slowed th is spring with injury. su rgery. D ick so n , a 1990 No. I draft ch o ice. casualty of payroll trim m ing.W h e n left fielder M agadan played in only one exhibition gam e w as 0*3 in h is only m ajor league starts in his Ron Gant bolted for the Cardinals. Hunter and b e c a u s e of pain, w hich w as not helped by first seaso n .

— DAVE VA* DYCK

COLORADO ROCKIES Small deal: O utfielder Larrv W alker is tired of talking about his move to ce n te r field ‘ It s not a mountain I'm clim b ­ ing." he says. M aybe it is part o f W a lk e r s mind-set from growing up playing h ockey ‘ I don't know of a ... h o c k ­ ey player that’s sca re d ." he says. “You lake the ch alle n g e and the ability you have and m aybe push it beyond so m ew h e re you should be — like running into a wall or k n o ck in g so m eo n e down at second b a se ."

W alker isn t planning on the move affecting his offense. .After hitting a ca reer-h ig h 36 h o m e runs last seaso n , h e is tin kerin g with his stance, trying to c lo se it m ore, in hopes of having m ore power this season ‘ It s a stance I used the last couple w eek s last season and in the playoffs against Atlanta." he says. ‘ I don't know if I'll use it. But m aybe this i* som ething I want to do. T h e way the ball flies out of C o o rs Field. I might be b e tte r off b e­ com ing m ore a pull h i t l e r " Swift slowed: T h e re are growing indications Bill Swift might have to open the season on the disabled list. Although trainer Dave Cilladi says th ere are no p ro b le m s from Swift’s shoulder operation last O cto b er. Swift d o e s nave b icep s tendinitis and hadn't pitched in an exhibition g a m e en terin g the w e e k .... T h e bullpen might be the best-kept secret in baseball. T h e team plans to go with a seven-m an bullpen and is pretty well set with six o f them — lefties B ru ce R uffin. M ike Munoz and Lance Painter, and righthanders C u rtis L eskan ic. D arren H olm es and Steve Reed. Righthander Jo h n Habyan. who signed with the R o ck ie s despite o ffers from five o th er team s, is a candidate for the vacant spot.

— T racy R imgoissy

ROCHES

CINCINNATI REDS

4

4

CHICAGO CUBS

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All The Edge You Need.

COLLEGE BASEBALL REPORT

R iverton creamed Texas in a three-game sweep, beabng the 1-0.13-3 and 19-7 despite tra in g 64) in the finale. Texas tafis to 10-11 tor the worst record sn team hetory after 21 games. Fuflerton pitcher Brent B&ngsJey extended he record to 5-0.... Louh&na Stats kept 4s record spotless, winnmg a l four games last week.... Texas Tech took five games froprfastem M icftgaA Red Raider ford baseman CSnt Bryant hit tour home naris to raise his SWC leatkng total to 10 r 21 gam es.... Cal Ststfr-Northridge dibbed an NCAA-record 13 home runs r one game against Fresno State and has 40 homers r 21 gam es....

Arkansas has yet to lose n 17 games, edging bority regarded Oklahoma 9-8 arx! sweeping Iowa State by a curraJattve total of 47-7. Righthander Richie Nye, who has a 2-0 recon! and a 3.38 ERA threw the Razorback’ rxnth no-hater.... Wlchfta Stats, the last Top 20 team to b eg o its season, started strong wfih three wins over Washington. The Shockers totaled 34 runs and alcoved orty tm). Southern CW took two of three from Ari­ zona. Sophomore nc^thander Seth Elberton partied hts first complete game with a 12-strikeout three-hitter. Florida took two of three from Florida Stats to pve the G atos the season senes over rvstaie rrvais FSD and Miami. Paul Higdon (3-0, tour saves. 0 87 ERA) posted a wv)

and a save tor the G ators.... UCLA swept Caeoma tor the first time r, 11 years to fnprove to 5-1 in the rugged Pacific 10 South.... Red-hot Clemson twice knocked off Temesse and has won rxne straight under Coach Jack Leggett, who is two wins shy of 500 career victories. Doug Livingston tops the Tigers with a .457 average, five homers and 12 steals... Arizona State has been hit by pitches 35 times. P h i Lowery improved to 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 79 sttfceouts rn 31 m n g s .... Miami drubbed (Snots three times rn a perfect w e e k .Stanford took two of three from Arizona Stale with com­ plete game help from pdcher Tom Renners, who won hrs to ra ... Florida State tost four of last five to n a tio n a l ranked teams, afl by one or two runs.

Second baseman Scott Zech leads the Seminoles with a .452 batting av­ erage and 12 R B ls.... Oklahoma State tipped Rice but ted to Lamar . in 4s own tournament. Rice came back from a 7-0 defied to beal Lama; 13-12 with a nrrfrH m ng ra lly .... Auburn slipped to 1043 bul remains 16 for 16 n stolen bases. Second baseman Rob Macrory has 30 career sacrifice bunts.

Josh Bheredge has 24 RBts and is hating .630 with runners on base....

T e m AAM swept a three-game set with Marne.... Central Florida entered the rankings with a sa-game winning streak.... Baykx senior Marty Craw­ ford became the schoofs career hits leader with 240

EASTON TOP SO Through gam es of March 3 RL School

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19

4 Cai State Northndge

(19-2)

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14 Tennessee

(5-3)

8

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(17-01

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15 Ronda Stale

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(30)

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16 O lanom a Slate

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RL School

—

N I /HL . * 1 7

March 18,1996

jam in is out longer, ex p ect th e team to be in th e m ark et for a back u p in fie ld e r.... O utfield­ e r T ony L ongm ire u n d erw en t su rg ery to co r­ re c t a uln ar b o n e p ro b lem in h is rig h t w ris t He will b e in a lo n g cast for six to eight w eeks and w o n ’t be ab le to sw in g a bat for a mini­ m um of th re e m onths. — & BB6E A. K u s III

PITTSBURGH PIRATES Decision tine: W ith Jeff King established at first base and C harlie Hayes locked in at third. Kevin Young su g g e sts he m ight be b e tte r off with an o th er team. “I feel like Tm playing th is spring for all th e o th e r team s," h e says. T m 26 years old, and Tm at a point w h ere I need to play reg­ ularly so m ew h ere. I d o n 't w ant to play in the m inor leag u es any m o re ." ... M an ag er Jim Leyland is playing m ind g a m e s in a tte m p t to boost Paul W ag n er’s confidence. Leyland has nam ed W ag n er to pitch th e April I o p en e r at Florida, byp assin g D enny Neagle, last se a ­ so n ’s big g est -win­ ner. W ag n er is th e player m ost likely to test Leyland's pa­ tience. After w atch­ ing W ag n er in a poor spring outing a g a in st th e T ig ers, Wagner L eyland said , “I’m still w aiting. T h e re c o m e s a point w h ere the m o st im p o rtan t th in g is re su lts now an d then.

Tm still w aiting to se e th em ."

Coming attraction: Leyland is looking for left fielder Al M artin to have a b reak th ro u g h se a ­ son. T h e plan is to play M artin against aft pitch­ ers th is season, even th o u g h his ca re e r average against lefthanders is .194. Leyland says M artin is one of th e few players on th e ro ster w ho com­ bin es sp eed and pow er. M artin also can set a good exam ple. “I love A lbert M artin b ecau se h e com es o u t to beat th e o th e r team every day."

Leyland s a y s .... R ig h th an d er Steve P arris un­ d e rw e n t arth ro sco p ic s h o u ld e r su rg e ry , and Jo h n E ricks exp erien ced discom fort in his arm d u rin g th e early part of cam p, forcing th e team to look for stability from Zane Sm ith and Dan­ ny D arw in. T h e injuries also create b e tte r op­ portunities for Jon L ieber and E steban Loaiza. ... T eam officials ex ten d ed th e contracts o f play­ e r p erso n n e l d ire c to r P ete V uckovich and scouting d irecto r Paul T i n n e l — JOW M R W

P

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Osborne still bealing: It is alm ost certain threefifths of th e projected ro tatio n will b e side­ lined O p en in g Day. L efth a n d er D onovan O sb o rn e w as found to have a hairline fracture of a rib and will be sid elin ed for tw o m ore w eek s. O sb o rn e w as injured early in cam p w hen a car h e w as driving tu rn ed into the path of a pickup truck. X-rays tak en after th e a c d : d en t show ed no break, but O sb o rn e, after ex ­ periencing discom fort sw inging a bat, u n d e r­ w ent a b o n e scan th at revealed th e fracture.

Given th a t O sb o rn e h a s yet to th ro w batting practice, h e is unlikely to pitch until th e end of cam p, if th en . B u r O s b o m e isn ’t w orried.

“It’s only a m in u te fractu re." h e says. “O nce th at h ea ls. HI still have a little so re n e ss, but it’s not g o in g to h u rt it to throw . T h ey said it could tak e a w eek to a m onth, d ep en d in g on m y pain to le ra n c e and how m u ch I really w a n t" O sb o rn e jo in s D anny Ja c k so n (ankle su rg e ry ) and M ike M o rg an (sh o u ld e r su rg ery ) on th e sideline alth o u g h M organ has re p o rte d to cam p and is w orking o u t Family ties: Alan B enes, c o u n te d on to be th e No. 3 s ta rte r, h a s im p re sse d M a n a g e r T ony La R ussa. “H e 's ev ery b it as good as people say h e is." La R u ssa says. B ut B e n e s' m o st s e v e re c ritic s a re b ro th e r s A ndy and A dam , bo th in th e C ard in als’ sy stem . “W e 're cu ttin g him no sla c k ," A ndy B e n e s say s. “If he d o e s n 't g et th e m o u t h e 's in tro u b le. O n e of u s m ay not be able to h a n d le him . but tw o of u s. no p ro b le m ." ... S h o rts to p O zzie S m ith know's h e is in a fight for his b ase b all life. “I. d o n ’t feel like I w as w h en I w as 26." S m ith says. “B u t I’m not in a w h e e lc h a ir e i t h e r . ...

T h e y ’re c o m p a rin g m e now a t 41 to guysw ho a re 25."

— RIC* HUMMR

SAN DIEGO PADRES Sander! returns: Scott S a n d e rs m ad e h is first sta rt sin c e last July. w h en h e sp ra in e d his p itc h in g elbow . S and­ e rs did n ’t throw as h ard as h e did early last s e a ­ son, and h is slid er had le ss b reak . But h is m ech a n ic s a re im proved and h e is c h a n g in g sp e e d s m u ch m ore.

S an d ers had a good c h a n g e u p in college but has not b een u sin g i t . . . T h e P a d re s have yet

to an nounce it. but F ernando V alenzuela will be in the startin g rotation. V alenzuela. 35. had his first w inning record (8-3) since 1986 and is pitching b e tte r in th is cam p than he did last year. V alenzuela will be the lone lefth an d er am o n g the five sta rte rs. ... Luis Lopez has slightly su rp rise d th e club w ith his stro n g cam p. Lopez, co m in g off a to m elbow liga­ m e n t is hitting with pow er and fielding well.

He likely will back up second basem an Jody Reed. w ho w as signed to a two-year contract partly b e c a u se th e club w as u n ce rtain that Lopez could retu rn . . .

Utility m o v em en t W ith free-agent utility play­ e r C raig S h ip ley b ack w ith th e clu b , th e P a d re s a re m o re likely to tra d e A rchi Cianfrocco. w ho s ta rte d at five sp o ts last y e a r . ...

T ony G w ynn h a s c o u n se le d N ational L eague n e w c o m e r R ickey H e n d e rso n on th e le a g u e 's pitch in g . On h ittin g in th e N ational L eag u e. H e n d e rso n says. “I d o n 't th in k it's g o in g to b e to u g h . In th e N ational L eague, th e y th ro w a lot of c h a n g e u p s. and I'm good at h ittin g c h a n g e u p s ." ... You w ouldn't know G w ynn h a s w on six le a g u e b a ttin g title s if you h e a rd him in sp rin g train in g . G w ynn, a p e rfe c tio n ist, is d is g u s te d w ith h is p e rfo r­ m a n c e th u s far th is sp rin g . “I sh o u ld ju st re ­ tire." G w ynn says. T h e s e g u y s a re ju st o v er­ m a tc h in g m e."

— Tom K rasovic

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Hill climbing: In ch o o s­ ing co n sisten cy over pow er and speed. M an­ ag e r D usty B aker plans to bat first basem an M ark C arreen fifth and d ro p rig h t fielder Glenallen Hill to sixth. .Al­ th o u g h Hill w as sec o n d to B arry B onds in ho m e ru n s and RBIs last season. C arreon has convinced B aker h e can drive in ru n s hitting b eh in d B o n d s and M an W illiam s. C arreon w as one of th e le a g u e 's to u g h e st h itte rs to strike out last season, whiffing once every 11.5 plate ap p earances. C arreon also hit .315 with ru n n e rs in sc o rin g position, co m p ared w ith Hill’s .239 m ark in sim ilar situations. E asing B ak er’s decision is Hill is reco v erin g from a to m left h a m strin g th a t p re v e n te d him from playing in h is first exhibition g am e until last w eek. Hill in sists, how ever, h e will b e ready by th e o p e n e r in Atlanta.

Picking ap tile pace: O svaldo F ern an d ez has proved to b e a quick learner. T h at w as evident by h is fa ste r w ork pace in his second ap p ear­ an ce a g a in st th e C u b s M arch 5. F ern an d ez took as long a s 40 sec o n d s betw een pitches in

his d eb u t M arch I against San Diego, and he com pounded the situation by throw ing often to first base. F ern an d ez says h e w orked slow­ ly in C uba b ecau se that was th e com m on style of pitching. H ow ever. B ak er and p itch in g coach Dick Pole told F ern an d ez to pick up the pace. U m pires told B ak er th ey w ould w atch F ernandez's pace closely.... F ern an d ez's listed age of 27 cam e into q u estio n w hen a 1992 Olym pic baseball program listed his b irthdate as S o v e m b e r 4. 1966. which would m ake him 29.... T alks involving th e re stru ctu rin g of con­ tra c ts for B onds and W illiam s have been tabled until th e M arch 26 dow ntow n stadium vote.

— M a rx G o ig a u s

BALTIMORE ORIOLES Sfierman’s m arch: .Al­ though S herm an Obando hopes this is the year he sticks in the m ajors. he can't seem to sh ak e his rep u tatio n as a below -averagc outfielder. ~ Everyone know s he can h i t O bando. 26. proved it again with a terrific perform ance in th e Dom inican W inter l^eague. but he n eed s to show additional skills to m ake th e O pening Day roster. M anager Davey John­ son h as been w orking him at first base. If O bando can display versatility, he m ight stick as a part-tim e DH and re se rv e first base­ m an /o u tfield er ... T h e agent for M ike M ussi­ na would like to negotiate a contract extension.

M ussina w ants to rem ove any doubt about his fu tu re in B altim ore, but club officials a p p a r­ ently want to wait until after th e reaso n to ne* g otiate c o n tra c ts for M ussina and o u tfielder Bobby Bonilla. M ussina would be eligible ior salary arb itratio n th en (alth o u g h his sta tu s could c h a n g e if a n e w labor a g re e m e n t is signed); Bonilla can becom e a free agent after th e season.

Hammonds m inors: G M Pat G iliick d e n ie s ru m o rs h e m ig h t tra d e o u tfie ld e r Jeffrey H am m o n d s. ‘ H e 's g o t too m u ch talen t to th in k ab o u t th at." G iliick says. T h e O rio les c o n tin u e to w ait for H am m o n d s to flash th e skill th at m ad e him o n e of th e m ost s o u g h t­ after co lleg e p ro sp ec ts o f th e i990s. lf H am ­ m o n d s is ready to be p roductive on an ev e ry ­ day basis, th e O rio les' lineup is all b u t s e t . ...

T h e O rioles are u p b eat about th e potential of reliev er .Alan M ills and p o ssib le s w a g m a n .Arthur R hodes, both o f w hom are co m in g back from sh o u ld e r p ro b lem s. ... S h o rtsto p p ro sp ect M anny .Alexander, w hose w orth has d ro p p ed as his bid for a big-league job d ra g s on. m ight be trad e bait.

— PETRI SCHMUCK

K e n t u c k y , h o m e of t h e n a t i o n ’s m o s t t r e a s u r e d r e s e r v e s .

•

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The Sporting News

BOSTON RED SOX Rocket

Spring fBTOn Right­

fuel:

Roger Clemens is adding a “foshball to his reper­ toire The pitch, a cross between a changeup and lorkball. is a fa­ vorite of pitching coach Nipper. “He immedi­ ately picked it up.“ Nipper said after Clemens used it during three scoreless innings in his spring debut against-the Twins. ... The team is going to have shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, its S o. I draft pick in 19^. play some second base for Triple-A Pawtucket (International).

-We've got John \'aJentin at short.' Manager KeWn Kenned)- saN's *AM1 Cordero's working over there. too. If (Garciaparra) does go down and we call him up. he neixjs to be able to pla\answhere up the middle." Trot Nixon, a lefthanded-hining outfielder and the team’s lop pick in the ’93 draft Vi'^s among the first group of KenntMjy’s cuts. A back pr-oblem Nixon de­ veloped in the 199-J season has slowed his progress Outfield duel: .Although many felt r>wa>Tie Mosey was a lock to be the Opening Day cen­ ter fielder. .Alex Cole is giving him a battle.

Kennedy says he is going to lake a look at Cordero as his leadoff hitter and bal Hosev or Cole ninth... Four players went to Kennedy to j voice .*iuppon for the signing of Ke%in .Milchell, : He was signed early last week. bul it wasn’t ars nounced until last Friday Expect .Mitchell lo platoon with Reggie jefferson as the DH. ... I Tim Wakefield, who said he was not going lo pilch until he had a coniraa. signed a one->-ear ! deal that hiked his saian- from Si 75.000 to ?:450.000. with the chance for an additional SUXi.OtX^ in incentives, (iambling hell have an­ other good season, ^^'akefield rejected a rwovear. $I .S-miilion deal.

GlUUOrn T r

CLEVELAND INDIANS

n

CUIFORNLA .ANGELS Troif^s tarn: It’s becom­ ing more likely ever>dav that Trov PercKal will open the season as the closer l^ee Smith still hasn't thrown since undergoing knee surger)’ in the offsea­ son. and though the learn expects him lo come back 10(1percent, it is banging him along slowIv. Bryan Harvey, who is coming back from el­ bow surger)- and is targeted for a setup role, has been pla)*ing catch but has yet lo throw- off a mound. . \Mth Steve Ontiveros nursing a couple of nagging ailments tgroin. arm), there might bt' fw(^ \-acancH*s in the starting rotation instead of om* lf Ontiveros isn’t ready. Phil lehwich and Jason (Grimsley might make the t(*am .Alst) in oonlenOon an* Shawn Boskie and Sk’oti Sanderson Manager Marcel lachemann Is leaning toward ktrping three catch­ ers. which might open a door tor Chns Tumor, whti also can fill-in at third bast' Jorge Fabrega> and Don Slaught pri>babl> will share most ill ihoraichmg dutio> fa r

In the zone: It the change m the strike rone aiteds cinybiKjt iin the stall, liichemann siiys \\ will chuck Finle\. Jim .Abbott and Harvo\ “ ll'*' jxiriicuhr advaniag<*4o a guy like I roy lV n:va;.“ Lvho.mann viv> "He .ride> the bali ujv .in(i he ri(ie> the hall awa) " TlieyVe -ak­ ing ‘.he "c’alitiimia" out ot the .Angels .At least, dial s the 'sTiims [)n»t>(»sd b<*mg kicktsl an»und In i»;ik'ials OI tin- Walt I )i<ney c V . which is t*xtake Ci»ntrof of the team lomialh" bt Mjrid;i\ Prn(iin.g apimnai tnmi the .Al- office.

prized pitching prospects such as Jason Thompson.... Bell’s experiment with ^ b b y Higginson as the .No. 2 hitter drew attention. as it did when Sparky Anderson tried it Hig^ s o n hit .224 last season and struck out 107 times in 410 ai-bats. He is known to chase high pitches.

—t e l

hander Albie Lopez, one of four pitchers competing for the fifth rotadon spot doesn’t believe the team takes him serious!)'. “I have doubts because of what happened in the past" Lopez says. T h a t’s Blp*s a pip: Sip Roberts t i f f has fifl^ the two roles why I think they should make a move. I think they should trade me." Mark Clark. Chad Manager Bob Boone tx* w*ants him to fill — play­ Ogea and Brian Anderson also are fighting for ing second base and the final starting job. Lopez made his major providing clubhouse league debut in 1993 at aef 21 and had brief leadership. “He's been trials each of the next tw<^ears. "Every time a gem. really terrific." they send me down. ifs betiuse of numbers."

Boone says. Egberts is working haiM to forge Lopez says. There just isn't any room for me.

Last year really affected me. I had a real good a credible combination with error-prone spring training. When I wfas sent down. I fell shortstop Jose Offerman. With coach Tim Foli pushing him. Roberts is trying to get a like I was being punished." But General Man­ ager John Hart looks at it more as good old- faster start on grounSers. "If you learn how­ ^hioned competition. TVe will give him a le­ to move off the first two steps, you can play infield because the quickness takes over." gitimate chance to make it, but he faces tough odds." Man says. "W‘e like Albie. and he won’t Foli sa>*s. Roberts, often used in left field by do himself any good by going down with a bad the Padres, is ultra-quick. Roberts has been sprinkling advice on the team's large kiddie attitude."

First things first Julio Franco has looked corps, notably Michael Tucker. It’s the type shak7 at first base, but Manager Mike Har­ of help Roberts received when he was a grove wants everybody to be patienLs@ve the young Padre. “I learned from Cany Templeguy a chance before you say he can't playr “Ton when I was 22 years old and ^ared lo Hargrove says. "I personally think Julio can deatl^ he says. (!)n the field. Roberts plans Ttf^eep Oferrnan on the alert "Jose just has play first base. He’s a good athlete. a^'He to continue ooitis toes on defense and played short and second."... Hargrove seesho reason Jose Mesa can’t match htst-^asqiis-46- .concentrate.' Roberts says. “He only gets in trouble when he relaxes^out there, and he save total. TVe expect Jose to have siiccess every time he goes oui to the mound." Har­ takes for granted that the next ball is not grove says. “I don’t see any reason why he coming lo him."

Foit lift Reliever Rust)- Meacham got back in can’t do this again."... After hitting .207 last season, an 86-point drop from 19$4. Wayne good graces by honing a forkball thai gave Kirby will have to barde jeromy Bumitz. Brian him a 0.00 ERA in Puerto Rico. Bul he hasn’t Giles and Dave Gallagher for two backup out­ used it enough this spring to satisfy Boone.

Meacham insists the foricball win be his "out" field spots.

UCXB pitch this season: "In a situation where I need a groundbaJJ or a strikeout that’s the pilch FI] go to."... Jim Pittsiey. 21 and projected as a sure-fire starter, is back on the mound for the Ro tmny: The team’s re­ first time since last May. It’s doubtful hell building doesn't in­ pitch this season. He will rehab his elbow throu^ the minors and hope to make the club clude rushing players — Ok* K A S E short on professional next spring. experience. So left­ hander C J. Nitkowski, torched to the tune of 14 with a 7.09 ERA in 11 starts after being acquired Jul>' 31 in the David W'eils trade, will almost certainly start the sea­ son in Triple A Nitkowski’s first appearance — in a "B " game — was s o ^ . Manager Bud­ dy Bell sa>^ Nitkowski, the Reds' No. I pick in 1994. might have been rushed to the majors last season.... Phil Nevin and Shannon Penn, the subject of spring experiments, seem like­ ly to be with Triple-A Toledo (IntemationaD when the season begins. Nevin hasn’t shown much in a tn'oul at catcher — a position he hadn’t played since high school — and seems buried in a crow^ded outfield. Bell was hoping Penn, normally a second baseman, would show enough in the outfield lo make a speedhungry team.

Vets come through: Mark Lewis won't make fans forget Iou Whitaker an>1ime soon, bul he has shown flashes as he tries lo master sec­ ond base.... .Alan Trammell was impressive in hts debut at first base Bell will give him more playing lime there — and elsewhere around the infield.... G M. Randy Smith’s Padres con­ nection may be handy in a possible deal for slugging outfielder Melvin Niev-es. The Tigers are interested in .Meves' power from both ARoyal Sip: Roberts (foreground) as a Kansas sides of the plate but don't w*ant to part with City clubhouse leader is no stretch

IvANS.AS cm ' ROAALS

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Cordero is sn tiu middle €f Boston’s M eld plans. the name ma>* be changed lo the .Anaheim Angels. With the NHL’s Might)- Ducks putting the cit)- on the sports map. the A n^ls probabK* wiD follow suit -dUVE CumSiAM

CHICAGO WHITE SOX Can Thigpen help? Man­ ager Terry Bevington is counting on relievers BID Simas. Matt Karchner and Lair)* Thomas to get the ball to closer Roberto Hernandez, but the trio has only 177 days of major league service. So Gener^ Manager Ron Schueler signed former relief ace Bobby Thigpen. 32. to a minor league con­ tract with a promise to call for him ifjhigpen has an>thing left. Thigpen thinks he does, hading had two good but limited seasons in Japan where he combined for 20 saves and a 1.94 ERA. “I had lo come home halfway through last year when I hurt my back. bul the donors here checked it out, and it’s fine." say's Thigpen, whose departure in a 1993 trade with Philadelphia ended a dramatic slide fi:x>mhis major league record 57 saves in 1990. “It isn’t because be needs a job." Schueler says. "He just feels he has something left so why not? It can't hun. If he show? he can do it. we've got ourst'lves another pitcher Even though he’s a good friend. Ill be honest and tell him if he can't."

Bullpen gray; Lefthander Richard Sauveur. 32. also is getting a bullpen chance. “ I've been saying this is my last shot for the last three wars, but evers- one of those vears I had mv best year." Sauveur says. “Now- it's my I4th year, and I can't give it up." Sauveur totaled 27 vavo for TnpltsA Indianapolis (.American .As­ sociation) the last two years with a 2.46 ERA. Outfielder Lyle Mouton suffered a setback when he came back loo soon from back stiffnrs" “I gave him the benefit of the doubt by leiiing him play after three days." trainer Herm .vhneider says “Bu! that didn’t work. so now he's mine " ~ JO E GODDARD •

•

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training began F e b ru a ry 18. D uring the final six w ee k s o f last se a so n . J o h n s w as th e A's m ost con sistent sta rte r b ehin d Todd Stottlem yre. J o h n s w as > 3 with a 4.61 ERA in nine s c a n s after b e in g called up A ugust 20 to re ­ place Ron D arlin g .... B ackup third-basem an Craig P aq uette h a s been the subject of s e v e r­ al tra d e ru m o rs. .Among th e te a m s show in g in te re s t are T e x a s. B altim ore and D etroit.

T h e A's would like a lefthanded reliever in re­ turn. but by no m e a n s is a deal im m inent. Pa­ q u e tte w ants o u t but th e team isn ’t willing to send him to a team w-here h e would serve the s a m e p u rpose: a rig h th a n d e d bat off th e b e n c h . ... M cG w ire, w ho m issed th e first th re e C actus League g a m e s as a p recau tio n ­ ary m e a s u re for his ailing low er back, finally got into a g a m e against San Francisco. He hit into a d o u b le play in h is first at-bat. then c r u s h e d a Iine-drive single up th e m iddle in h is sec o n d . He later p ro n o u n c e d his back fine.

— Pedro B o h o

MILWAUKEE BREWERS Shaky ground: F o rm e r No I pick A nton? Will­ iam son haft-con tin n e d th e clu b 's w o rst tears about h is defensive abilities. T h e first two b a tte r s in th e first in trasq u ad p a in e hit g r o u n d e r s to W illiam son al th ird b ase . He booted both. H e followed that with two e rro rs two parties later. M a n a g er Phil ( t a m e r is im ­ p re sse d with W illiam son’s work ethic and the tact h e reported to ca m p in m uch b etter shape than last season, but th e re are s e n o u s d o u b ts w h e th e r Williamson will ever play third i n j h e big le a g u e s "W e all know h e can hit. but I think i t s beginning to hit h o m e with him that h e 's pot to play pood d e fe n s e to stick up h e n '." G a m e r says. Williamson, who has been tak inp ex tra infield all s p n n p . will s t a n the seaso n playing* third at Tri pie-A New O rle an s (A m erican A sso ciatio n ' By th e tim e he arrives in M ilwaukee, h e max bt1a first basem an or UH For starters: H i e battle for th e final two spot?sf in th e ro tatio n isn't pom p to materialize K m ickleballer Steve S p a r k s w ho w as bein# c o n sid e re d for Ump rebel, lias seized th e No ♦ spot and le fth a n d e r A npel M iran d a h a s w rapp ed up d ie No ;1 spot by default M iran­ da''* primary co m p etito rs. Brian Given** and J am ie Mc Andrew. have beer. h u n an d are ak n ils ! two w ee k s b eh in d the rest «>! th e p itch ­ e r s Ben M cD onald. Kicky B on es and scot; Kari h av e a lock on th e iir<t th r e e ^pot> McDonald'-* d e b u t in a M ilw au k ee uniform w as n i p h t m a n s h T h e r ig h th a n d e r pave up six ru n s in one-third ol an inning apainst S eat­ tle M a n a g e m e n t was d isap pointed with the o u tc o m e , bul happy that M cD o n ald felt no pain in th e s h o u ld e r that sid elin ed him last se a so n — Drew Olson

MINNESOTA T O N S Wanting signs: Jo se

Par ra and litT roy Hawkins — two ca n d id a te s for th e rotation — w ere p u m m eled du rin g a lfi-1 exhibition loss to Texas, it was Haw kins' se c o n d c o n se c u tiv e poor ou tin g M a n a g er T om Kelly says th e re is no co ntingency plan if e ith e r tails to produce "I don't know what we can do." Kelly says.

"You don't want lo overreact in the first week or two of the s p n n p It s disappointing. but it s h o u ld n 't be d ev astatin g T h e y 're k id s But y o u ’d like to see a little bit m o te out of th em I th ink that s only fair I don't think t h a t’s too m u c h to ask " .. Rick .Aguilera. Brad Radke and F ran k ie R o d rig u e / figure to be the top th re e starters Hawkins. Parra and lefthander Rich R obertson are battling for th e next two spots No rone moan: T h e Tw ins didn't have m u ch of a reaction regard ing the low ered strike zone “I don't have a strike zone." free-swinging Kir­ by {Nicked says. "N ever h a w " Says Paul Moli­ to r "Your instin cts told you so m e th in g was g o in g to h a p p e n ev e r since th e a tte m p ts to sp eed up th e g a m e started T h e strike zone is an obvious t a r g e t " Injury update: T hird ba sem a n Dave Hollins was n u rsin g a slight left calf puli last w eek. and INickett m issed th re e g a m e s with a strained left h a m s t r in g ....

Five Twins spent last s p n n p in (he D o d g ers' cam p, p itch ers Parra. G reg H ansen and Joe J a ­ co b se n , in fie ld e r Ron C o o n ier and outfielder

SEATTLE MARINERS Catcb'22: C a tc h e r John M arzano . the probable b ack u p to Dan Wilson, says W ilson could b e a lock to earn an AJJ-Star G am e b e rth th is sea­ son. "E v e ry w h ere I v e played th e c a tc h e r has been an .All-Star." M arzano says. He played be­ hind two-time .All-Star Rich G edm an and Tonv P ena in B oston. Sandy .Alomar at Cleveland.

D arren Daulton in Philadelphia and Ivan Rod­ riguez at T e x a s last se a so n . T h e five have c o m b in e d for 16 .Ail-Star selections. ... Mac S u zu k i’* bid to e a rn a spot on th e O pening Day ro s te r hit a speed b u m p in his second sp ring outing. Suzuki. 20. faced six Giants, al­ lowing two h o m e ru n s. a d oub le and th re e w^alks. Suzuki th rew hard. but “location can be m o re im portant than velocity." M a n a g er Lou Piniella says. " H e il learn." ... .After being slowed by back sp a sm s that cost him about a w eek of w orkouts. Randy Jo h n so n is right on sch ed u le to pitch his fifth consecutive regularseaso n o p e n e r Fever still lives: T h e M a rin e rs ’ h o m e o p e n e r will be a s e llo u t and nearly 40.000 tickets had b e e n p u rc h a s e d for th e sec o n d g am e. T h e M a rin e rs h av e played b efo re at least 50.000 nine co n se cu tiv e g a m e s datin g b ack to last sea: i»n‘s pen nant p u s h . ... Season-ticket sales h av e s u rp a s s e d 12.000 — nearly 3.000 m ore th a n any p re v io u s seaso n . ... K en Griffey Jr. played c e n te r field, his y o u n g e r b ro th e r.

C raig, played left field and Ken Griffey Sr. coach ed first b ase for th e Rockies last T h u r s ­ day in Peoria. O ne m ore thing: Birdie Griffey, th e m o m and wife. c e le b ra te d h e r birth d ay that day. “It re m in d ed m e of th e first day J u ­ nior and I played in th e sam e outfield {for Seat­ tle)," th e se n io r Griffey said. “I had b u tte r­ flies."

— J ih S tr h t 9

Double trouble: Shortstop Gabby- M a rtin a , a .278 hitter at D o ubled El Paso last season, makes the p ilo t at second base to turn tu n fo r the Brewers in a spring contest against the Rockies.

C h n s la t h a m "I'm looking around." Hansel! says, “and i t s like. ‘Hey' Hey!’ ft's like last year fin V e r o B e a c h ) . ... H e r e s a new twist: Two w ee k s into th e G rapefruit L eague sched ule, th e team ranked fifth in th e .American League in pitching with a 3.99 ERA. — SCOTT M ttlE R

! o th e r lefthanded reliever re m a in s th e team 's top priority. ... Tim Raines says he will steal plenty of b ases, desp ite stealing only 13 each of th e past two se a so n s. "No q u estio n I still h av e it." say s Raines, fo u rth on th e all-time steals list with 777. "I expect to ru n at w ill."...

T h e acquisition of R aines o b lite ra te d any c h a n ce for G erald W illiam s to win a starting job. But so far in cam p, h e h a s b e e n the te a m 's h o tte s t hitter. In te re s t h a s b e e n e x ­ p re sse d by o th e r clubs, notably K ansas Cit)', Kelly hurting: Pat Kelly, but W illiams is valuable to th e Y ankees a s a expected to be th e start­ d efen siv e re p la c e m e n t for R aines o r R uben ing secon d b ase m a n .

Sierra.

— JOH Hey m m was sent back to New York to have h is ailing s h o u ld e r exam in ed.

M eanw hile. T o n y F e r­ n an d e z and M ariano D uncan are tak in g his place at se c o n d and Start me ap: First-year could displace Kelly as th e starter. F ernand ez M a n a g e r .Art Howe u n ­ had been on th e trading block, but M an ag er veiled w hat m o re than J o e Tom * says right now F ern a n d e z is th e likely will be his starting front-runner for the seco nd base j o b . ... T o rre lineup. It features .Allen bays SLX p itch ers are fighting for five spo ts in Battle leading off. fol­ the rotation, m eaning Scott Kamienieckj is the lowed by B rent Gates. odd man out. b ec au se h e is the seventh guy. It Geronim o Berros. M ark would appear that Kamieniecki will be used as M cG u ire. P edro M unoz. T e r n ’ Steinbach. Ja­ trade bait, assu m in g Jim m y Key and M elido son Giambi. Scott Brosius and M ike Bordick.

Perez prove healthy. Perez is off to a fast start Ernie Young h a s been hitting welL but i t s un­ this spring after h aring elbow trouble this win­ likely h e ll be a starting outfielder. ter and s h o u ld e r tro u b le last vear. Anvwav.

Pitching in: T h e projected starting rotation got P erez is u n trad a b le since he is sch e d u le d to a m u ch -n e ed ed boost w hen le fth a n d e r D oug m ake $4 4 million this y e a r .... David C one was J o h n s b e g a n th ro w in g from a m o u n d . .Al­ off to a slow sprin g start with two su b p a r out­ th o u g h it w as only 20 pitch es, it w as e n c o u r­ ings. th o u g h h e d e n ie s leagu ew ide ru m o rs aging. Jo h n s, w ho says h e l l b e ready for th e that his arm is hurting, start o f th e season , has b een h a m p e re d by a looking for lefties: T h e Y ankees are scouting n a g g in g rib-cage m u scle pull th at k e p t him Phillies lefth an d er M ike M im bs. Finding anfrom do ing ju st about a n y th in g sin ce spring

NEW YORK YANKEES

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

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TENAS RANGERS 1 tor 2: O utfielder Rust)’ G re e r b e c a m e th e first R anger to receive a mul­ tiyear c o n tra c t b efore b e c o m in g eligible for arb itratio n w h e n h e sig n ed for th r e e y e a rs and $1,525 million.

G re e r instigated th e talk s even th o u g h he could have m ad e m o re m on ey th ro u g h th e a r ­ bitration p ro c ess. "At th is point in m y life, I w an ted th e se c u rity of a long-term deal to

March 18,1996

Crabtree. w h o might be the closer of the fu­ ture. is back in action after being sidelined by knee surgery.

An old story: Despite the team s youth move­ ment. Danny Cox. 36. and Frank Viola. 35. are candidates for pitching jobs. ‘W hether they want lo go with younger guys, that’s a deci­ sion I have no power over." Cox says. “Being the oldest guy on the staff, the way I look at it is I ve persevered.” The injury-plagued Cox went 1-3 with a 7.40 ERA last season and ex­ presses surprise the team “wanted me back."

-< -I

... Outfielder Carlos Delgado hit eight home runs in his first 13 gam es as a 11*94 rookie, but the bulk of that season and 1995 were spent in the minors Delgado ha^ been swing­ ing the bat well in spring training "The main thing for me now is the mental pan of the gam e, not the physical." says Delgado, who is being projected as a U H first basem an.

“E v e r y th in g started so well for nu*. I thought I could hit anything. But I kept chasing those bad pinches. T hat's som ething vou have to learn."

— STEVE MILTON

Delgado: He saw hr is more selective at the plate now

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Identical goats Michael (left) and Mark Mimbs prepare to make a tiffin killing in the majors. make sure I'm providing for my family." Greer sa y s.... The team failed to sign All-Star catch­ er Ivan Rodriguez to a m ultiyear extension, and negotiations apparently have broken off until after the season. "I want to stay with the Rangers, and I think they want me to play for them." Rodriguez says. “But if Texas doesn’t want me here, there are other clubs who would want my services."

Ann strength: Starters Roger Pavlik. Ken Hill.

Kevin Gross and Bobby Witt began the spring with 15 consecutive scoreless innings, and fifth starter Darren Oliver, com ing off shoul­ der surgery, threw two scoreless innings in a “B" game. It was the first time Oliver had pitched in a gam e since June 26.... Outfielder Lou Frazier is helping his chances to make the team by showing he can play second base, "lf I want to give (Mark McLemore) a day off. I have no problem starting Lou Frazier at sec­ ond base." M anager Johnny O ates says. ...

Lefthanded reliever Chris Howard, who has a 3.13 ERA in 44 major league appearances, has been diagnosed as having a herniated disk in his neck and has been told to stay off the mound for at least two weeks. “I t s som ething that occurred over time." trainer Danny W heat says. "It's putting pressure on the spinal column and causing num bness in his throwing arm."

— T.R. SUJJVAN

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TORONTO BLUE JAYS A tough stand: In the team ’s first week of ex­ hibition gam es, freeagent acquisitions Paul Quantrill and Erik Han­ son com bined for a 14.72 ERA in four starts while holdover starters Pat Hentgen. Juan Guzman and Jeff Ware al­ lowed a com bined two singles in nine score­ less innings. “My first outing, at least I felt good." Quantrill says, “i was uncom fortable from the get-go (in the second). Ive got to step it up."... Righthander Bill Risley has the inside track on the clo sers job. but Mike Tim­ lin has been making a strong case with his ear­ ly spring work. Timlin didn’t allow a run in his first six innings and struck out eight. Tim

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NHL • 23

March 18,1996

He went from ‘one-suit-Bruce’ to self-made multimillionaire so fast that it shouldn’t have been a surprise when Bruce McNall’s transparent empire came tumbling down

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he evening after his departure from the Los An­ geles Kings, Wayne Gretzky returns a phone call and rem inisces about how he laughed politely eight years ago when Bruce McNall leaned over at a Lakers-Celtics game and wisecracked: “I'm gonna get ya, Wayne.”

What a hoot. Gretzky was house hunting in Canada at the time, in preparation for his wedding to actress Janet Jon es later that summer of 1988.

Gretzky chuckles good naturedly at the reminder of a USA Today report predicting a “smooth summer ahead" for Glen Sather, general manager of the Edmonton Oilers whose “biggest decision might be choosing a wedding gift for (Gretzky)."

In Los Angeles, recalling the article. Steven Nessenblatt, once McNall's second in command, says, “I cut out the story to show Bruce." He grins. “We were all laughing about it, because we were already stealing Gretzky."

Gretzky laughs halfheartedly as I recount Nessenblatt and McNall’s glee.

The conversation two weeks ago turns to McNall’s imminent but yet unde­ termined prison sentence for defrauding six banks out of some $240 million.

ST D KY BY

M ichael J. G oodman Il l u s t r a t io n b y

K evin B elfo rd

Stubbornly’. G retzky refu ses to offer a hint of criticism , despite the nu m erou s rep orts that he too was victim ized financially and repeatedly by M cN all’s deceit.

“I have no com p lain ts," G retzky says, h is undying loyal­ ty co m in g th rou gh . He co n tin u e s. “W eil. I ju st loaned B ru ce m oney again about a year ago. It was personal, be­ tw een friends. H e’s going through tough tim es. I try to call him every two or three w eek s."

G retzky pauses. His voice is halting. “I think B ru ce feels that people h e thought w ere h is friends have abandoned him . I haven’t. (H ockey) ow es the man a great deal."

T o a con sid erable crowd in the non-puck world, though.

B ru ce P atrick M cN all is a con su m m ate h u c k ste r who found no lie too outlandish to tell, no friend too d ear to fleece.

Short and circular, with a hurried, raspy’ voice punctuated by now understandable nervous giggles. M cNall disarm ed one and all with sh am eless flattery and a ch eru b ic smile.

His style was sim ple: He stole from P eter to pay what he

stole from Paul and stole it again.

During h is dec-adelong fling. M cN all. 46. owned or had an interest in m ore than 300 race h o rses, two short lived film com p anies and a hoard of (som etim es) ancient coins and artifacts. He had h o m es or re tre a ts in b i s .Angeles.

M alibu. Palm Springs. Hawaii. I ’tah and Trum p Tow er His cars and aircraft included a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley, a Range Rover, an .Aston M artin, a 727 jet. a Je t Star cru iser and a helicopter. He spent $50 million or so to buy a hockey team in Los A n g eles and import a su p erstar (G retzk y) from Canada, and to buy a football team in T oronto and export a twinkling star (Raghib “R o ck et" Ism ail) In the end. ai! for naught.

"E v ery th in g I built has cru m b le d ." M cN all says after G retzk y ’s trade to the St. Louis Blues. .And m ost if not all of the m oney he spent, it tum < out. was m ost likely never really his free and clear M cN all’s m otivation, friend s and fo rm er e m p l o y e e s ag ree, was to p lease, to be accep ted , to e ra se his “tatty fatty two by four" boyhood.

“M y insecurity is so gTeat. People have no idea ho*. in­ secu re I am ." a friend savs M cNall confided last vear "In a se n te n ce ." says a form er b u sin ess partner. “B ru ce i> a kid who never grew up."

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oel M ak er stares unseeing out the w i n d o w o f his cu b ­ byhole antiquities gallery in Encino. a suburb of Los .Angeles. T h e n . ig n o rin g p h o n e calls. M ailer. 64. sp eak s in relieved b u rsts of hurt and bew ilder­ m ent pent up. rep ressed , lo th ese 20 som e years since “B ru ce used me ... discarded m e " M ak er pauses for air and starts at the beginning — 1964 “I’m teach in g history in high k h o o l and selling co in s out of my g a r a g e .... Up drives a w om an and out hops this fat little ball — 5 foot, 180 — of a kid about 13.1 showed him a collection worth about $3,000. figuring he'd pick one or two for five o r six b u ck s." M alter's voice d eepens dram at­ ically. “B ru ce wanted the whole box ... cam e back with a ch e c k from his gran d m o th er."

Five y ears passed. M ak er says. b efore he saw McNall again. By then. M ailer had opened a gallery. “B ru ce waJk'i i in with one of those long-hair B eatles haircuts and tells me *1 just graduated from Oxford .. going back to L C I A to g e l

J

The money trap: Whether it was trying to acquire a superstar such as Gretzky the Honus Wagner card. coins o f all kinds or even racehorses. Mc S a ils paper-thin empire was seemingly here today an d gone tomorrow and dragged in celebrities such as John Candy teenier inset) an d ordinary people as well

24 • NHL ::i> I cann- right irom th e air;x»rt !«• vol,: first tor a job lo h elp m c th ro u g h vhon!

M ailer torn** a b n tilc ^ u i.c h Hi* vmcv turn* Ik 'SK** ".-Xii In-". I sound out. bul hi* 'amini; wa* pt*rit\*l I need ed h elp I hired him lo: about SSO a wt-t-k W iln a"' n o w h a’3 Eighly b in k * a w e e k ' Hut th e w hole Me Vail m ystique i* lorded on th e srrm ip .g h h.:*iorKaI lac! that h e wa* a : « c o i r : J).:: on wh<» drove a Ja g u a r while .•rd:n a tl kid* h ag g ed c ^ k i t i c * and pu tted a:.•mn: in Kiiopie* M a k e r *on*e* hi* bia*phem> Quickly, he N i y * ” 1 M i l l have th e payroll record* B ruce * Milan w as ie** th an >lhH* a w eek tor year* i l t ^ T ' J i I pave him m oney to rent ar. ap a rt­ m en t I b oug ht him a little car . a red M ustan g ’’ M ailer * M*n. Michael. 40. joins us “B ruce never had any m oney to sp eak o f W e w ere best m e n d s .. spent a lot of time to g eth er We m ade th re e or lour trip* to geth er to E urope to buy coins ’* M ichael p ro d u ces a circa 1973 Eiffel Tow er sn apshot of McNall in an un buttonab le brown p o ly ester suit. “B ru ce w ore that sa m e sui! every single d a y " M ichael lau g h s to h im s e lf “M y friends u se d to (privately) call him.

'B ruce W ith T h e Brown Suit.' He'd tell u s he wore long hair becau se h e was a backup gui­ tarist for (the rock group) Iron Butterfly, but we never could find his nam e on their albums.

He was a blast. W e went ev ery w h ere to g e th e r ... Vegas ... Santa Anita. Los .Alamitos. Holly­ wood Park. H e fell in love with the races."

Young M ailer shrugs. “Bruce always talked about being rich som eday .. to be with famous people. He was really into fam ous people.

T h at's th e world h e w anted and back th en he need ed my father I w as even a little resentful of B ru ce’s role in th e b u sin ess — his relation­ ship with m y f a t h e r " T he eld er M ailer explains “B ruce and his rather didn't gel aJong. and he iooked lo me. I tell sorry for him " M ailer says he hired M cN all's future first witv to catalog coins and M cN all's m other.

Shirley, a* a b o o k k ee p er W hen McNall m ar­ ried in 1973. “I b ough t (the new lyw eds) a ho u se, and they paid th e m ortgage."

B usiness was goo d .Ancient coins w ere in vogue. M ailer b e c o m e s wistful. "I w as th e ancient-coin m aven oi s o u th e rn California. By '73.1 was doing Si million a year It was great."

M alter sags with a too-good-to-be-true sigh.

“B ruce was doing things back then .. People w arned m e “W atch out for that fat little squirt.'

At least once. I w as ce rtain he w as selling coins b eh in d mv back. I had him in te a rs in th e c a r F rien d s said. iF ire h im .’ " M ailer p u rses his lips. “I co u ld n ’t ..."

M ak er says M cNall also hustled b u sin ess th ro u g h co ntacts at I G A So m uch business, sn tact, they b e c am e SO-AO p a rtn e rs in '74 “Everything ch an g ed ." M aker says, w hen a T G A p ro le s s o r in tro d u c e d M cNall to Sy W ein trau b . a Hollywood p ro d u c e r, “who w anted to put to g e th e r th e finest collection of ancient com* in lh*' world " “All Bruce could talk about was W vintraub * ‘beautiful h o u se ' 'W e in tra u b ' this. ’Weinira u b ’ that." s e e th e * M a k e r at tin* remem* b ra m e Hi* voice* lighten* "I'll never forget... \w- w ere at th e civie light o p era and B ruce sp,,!* W e in tra u b ’T h e r e In i*' T h e re h e i*'” I ike a teen a g ed girl *eem g Elvis jum ping up and dow n like a ch im panzee " W eniiran!) pledgee! NAmillion to build hi*cok l o tion. M aher say* "We got a minimum h» per­ cent icommi**ioni on the bu\ and lo percent on a *ell. pin.* w hatever we- could ’do' on the sick " f or o jien erv Mailer say*, h e and McNall *ui(i W eintraub * I.A mum ut their own com* “We m ad e ab o u t >7 o.ikh ».m M ailer sav*

The Sporting Ne1

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

A supposedly self-made millionaire of humble origin becomes known as “Santa Claus" and “Daddy Warbucks” to his employees because he spends money like — well, like its not his, theres no tomorrow. b u sin ess, valued at $18,000. and a 20 percent "B ruce in sisted we n e e d e d new cars. That interest in S um m a Galleries. Inc., the antiqui­ afternoon we each b o ugh t a M erc e d e s Benz. ties business, valued at $80,000.

Arter all. W eintraub was B ruce's client, and we Clearly irritated. M cNall snaps: “W ell. I re ­ had a $5-million contract." ally d on't r e m e m b e r w hat th e o w n e rsh ip M aker, adm ittedly "cautious ... a plodder." splits w ere T h e s e b u s in e s s e s w ere alm ost says he b e s e e c h e d M cNall “to take it slow" am using. I had significant wealth. I h andled a with W einlraub's millions. Looking back. Mai­ lot of m oney." ler can't help but laugh at the absurdity of such In reality. M cNall w as a b ro k e r /s a le s m a n advice to McNall. He m uses: “B ruce becam e a with a small piece o f th e inventory ow ned by Roman rocket that took 20 years to crash."

W e in tra u b and o th e rs. No m atter. M cN all’s ".And y o u ? " I ask dutifully. e x tra o rd in ary k n o w le d g e of ancient coins “M e ’ He ro b b e d m e blind.”

“How?" com bined with his bew itching p atter of their in v estm en t potential, paid oft. By justifiable M ailer t r e s to explain. He c a n 't To this day. perception, h e wns su rely R um pelstiltskin h e 's still uncertain. rein c arn ated . First th e rich . th e n th e richer.

“S om ew hat certain." h e sacs, is this: T h e ________________________c a m e with th e ir flax m oney from Wein. __________ to b e w oven into traub was ‘lost- in all gold. Finally, inevi­ the confusion. .And tably . cam e th e rich­ w hen a $90,000 coin est: N elson B u n k er disappeared. Bruce at I H unt of T e x a s oil the end accepted refa m e . N e ls o n an d s e n sib ility ." b r o t h e r H e r b e r t 's M ost unnerving. w ealth — estim ated M a k e r says, is a let­ at $8 billion — was ter from a mutual con­ m a t c h e d o n ly by fidant that M cNall t h e i r p a r a n o i a of had o p e n e d sec ret c o m m u n is m 's any Swiss bank accounts. m o m e n t ta k e o v e r of “How the hell can I .America. Gold and sil­ live like this ... with ver. bullion or coin, what Bruce is doing?" th ey felt, w ere the Mailer says he asked & o n ly s a fe i n v e s t ­ himself. “I was afraid m e n ts . (legally)."

M cNall says he T hey p a n e d in pitched B u nker Hunt 1975. Since then, on the v irtu es of an ­ says M ichael M aker. cient coins for h o u rs “Except for o ccasion­ in their first m eeting al Kings tick ets — in 1978 until the bil­ good seats, too — fica lionaire asked: “"What and G re tz k v• 's autoTower Of babble? The fam ous brown suit and would it take to form g ra p h for my son.

Umg hair were staples fo r young M cNall, who th e b iggest coin col­ B ruce co uld n't be has always been able to sell him self to people. lection in th e world?" b o th e re d . ... W e had Over the next five years, with McNall as bro­ served our pu rp o ses and he was afraid of what ker. the H unts bought an estim ated $50 million my dad m ight say." in coins and artifacts. Smitten by M cNall's ef­ McNall responds: T h e M ailers are just bit­ fervescence and w o n d ro u s predictions, the ter. upset, b ec au se th ey're still sitting in their H unts w elcom ed him into th eir entourage. little coin sh o p on V entura B oulevard and I It was through them in 1980 that McNall first went o ff and ..." M cNall p a u s e s in mid se n ­ tasted ow nership of a professional sports team. tence. “Hey. m aybe I should be telling M aker.

“I w as pitching B u n k er H um in his office on T h a n k God y o u m issed th e rid e .’ M ay b e I th e Dallas M avericks, and B ruce was hanging should have listened to M ailer at th e tim e to a ro u n d .” say s N o rm Sonju. ex ecu tiv e vice do it his way.” p re sid e n t of th e M av ericks. “B u n k e r Hunt Regarding his brown suit. McNall snickers: passed on th e deal, but McNall becam e one of “Oh. that thing I finally ditched it." the original 24 investors who each bought 4.13 percent for $583,000." y 1977. at 27. once-one-suit-Bruce M cN all’s th um bnail bio in th e 1994 Kings proclaim s him self th e s e lfm a d e mil­ m edia guide declares: ".Although th e (M aver­ lionaire ow n er of two Beverly Hills icks) strug gled on th e court in the early years, coin and an tiq u ities g alleries, and a they show ed a profit on th e b u sin e ss side d u r­ $420,000 G reek coin h e says h e later sold for ing M cNall’s four years." $1 million.

For McNall. but a slight stretch. Sonju says: But that sam e yrn ea r in a divorce settlem ent T h e second season (1981) we offered to buy with hi* wife of four years. M cNall lists a ssets back any o n e of th e 24 units. Only M cNall of $143,200 T h e “$200" being a 12-piece place w anted out ... still owing about $200,000. He netting of china and k itch en utensils. His perw as paying on th e installm ent plan ... had no involvem ent in team business." sonal “N um ism atic Library" (coin collection) N ine m o n th s later — installm ent plan wa* valued at $15,000. Most curious, w as his no tw ithstanding — M cNall d e sc rib e s him self declaration that he had only a 25-percent in­ to th e Associated P re ss in an A ugust 1982 interest in N um ism atic Fine Arts. Inc., th e coin 9

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teniew* “as a self-made multimillionaire worth about $30 million " H e was being interview ed for hiring notori­ o u s movie m ogul David B eg eim an as p resi­ dent of S herw ood P roductions, a film com pa­ ny• founded bv• M cNall and the H u n ts 18 m on ths earlier. Begeiman'* scandal-ridden life e n d e d in suicide last August. He was the c e n ­ tral figure of. “Indecent E xposure." a book by journalist David M o d i n tick detailing the trea ch ery and corruption of Hollywood M cC lintick ign o red th e re la tio n sh ip b e­ tween B egeim an and M cNall in his book, but not in his lengthy Vanity Fair article fast No­ vem ber. "It is not know n." M cClintick writes, that as early a s 1983 “McNall w-as falsifying fi­ nancial statem en ts and bribing bank officials" in league with B egeim an.

Federal investigators and other so urces be- | lieve that McNall's propensity for fraud dates back even fu rth e r with th e H unts. After their fortune collapsed with the silver m arket in the early 1980s, the Hunts filed for bankruptcy. The $50 million in co m s they had bought through M cNall b ro u g h t only $34 million at auction.

W h en McNall filed for bankruptcy in 1994. one of the creditors w as a trust liquidating a ssets of William H erb ert H u n t T h e tru ste e claim s an “ancient" bronze bust sold to Hunt for $915,000 was onK• about 30 *vears old.

Standard practice for McNall. court reco rds disclose, w as to sell o r use as collateral coins, artifacts and sp o rts m em orabilia that w ere fake, non existent or doctored.

F o rm e r em p lo y ees have adm itted to w ash ­ ing replicas of fam ous sp o rts je rs e y s with ro ck s in th e w a s h e r load, ripping, th en patch­ ing holes, and staining je rs e y s w ith te a and coffee to look like tobacco juice. in all. a b a k e r s dozen of M cN all's key e x ­ ecutives have pleaded guilty or await trial on crim inal c h a rg e s dating to th e mid-1980s.

"A 10-year period without discovery is pret­ ty extraordinary." says assistant U.S. Attorney P eter S. Spivack.

In hindsight, hardly. W h a ts wrong with this p ictu re3 A supposedly self-made millionaire of h u m b le origin b e c o m e s know n as “Santa Claus" and “D addy W a rb u c k s ” to his em ploy­ e e s b e c a u s e h e s p e n d s m o n ey like — well. like i t s not his. t h e r e s no tom orrow. .Against this b ack drop, it's no su rp rise that McNall d ecid es to add sp o rts franchises to his teeterin g p asteb o a rd castle of o th e r people's d iam o n d s and b a n k e rs ' b ro k e n hearts.

U sing m o n ey from flaky or frau dulent loans. M cNall p e r s u a d e s J e rry B u ss to sell him "a little piece" of th e Kings, then with the w orst re co rd in th e NHL and losing about $5 million a year. M cNall buys 25 p ercen t for $4 million, an o th e r 24 percent for $4 million in *87 and 51 percent for $8 million in '88.

Roy Mlakar. th en Kings executive vice pres­ i d e n t picks up th e story: “W e 'r e having lunch at J im m y 's (a re s ta u ra n t), and B ruce says.

W e ’re g o n n a figure out a way to sell out (the g a m e s ) .’ “ ‘How?’ “ ’G retzky.' " T o u 'v e got to be kidding!*" M lakar says h e g a s p e d . " ‘W h atta va g o n n a give him . $20 million!’ “ ‘Exactly. (Oilers O w ner) P eter P o c k in g ton is in d e e p trouble financially.'"

(Of co u rse, so w as McNall. His cen terpiece com pany. M cNall S p o rts & E ntertainm ent, by th en w*a$ sec retly insolvent with two s e ts of books.)

“W e called P eter Pocklington." M lakar con­ tinues. “.And flew to E dm onton 24 h o u rs later." .As for G retzky: “I w as on m y h o n ey m o o n w hen I first heard (Pocklington) was shopping me." G retzky’s agent. Mike B a rn e tt says Gretz­ ky vowed: “111 never play for him again."

UHL • 25

March 18,1996

M cNall paid Pocklington S 15 million and signed Gretzky for roughly an additional $20 million over eight years. In Gretzky. McNall bought the celebrity status o b sessin g him since the days of one brown suit.

Giddily. M cNall would g ig g le hoarsely to friends and reporters how strangers stop him on the street or flash a thumbs up.

How recording and m ovie stars want to sing the national anthem or buv season tickets. His entrance to now-packed Kings gam es was greeted with chants of “Broooce. Broooce."

Now it is Bruce of the Kings who held court in his ow ners box with grou p ies such as Goldie Hawn. John Candy and Ron and Nancy Reagan. To match his new stature, he replaced “studied at" with “got a Ph.D from** Oxford.

And suddenly, but falsely, he claim ed h e had been on a firstname basis with J. Paul Getty and Howard H ughes.

deal. O rric k says “McNall bought a fullHedged, su ccessfu l organization That year the club handed him the Grey Cup (Canadian cham pionship) The following year the club went rn the toilet bills weren't being paid " Trouble in bunches began. ()m r*t Nays. when M cNall. upon buying the Argonaut“did som ething that only a — well. Nomelhmg you d have ti, cail a ;>->chinin-; to explain " 'Hie “-o m eth mg" * a Ismail The Rocket, fresh from college football -tardom at Notre Dame McNall and his partner^ in the .Argonauts, com edi­ an John Candy (now de­ cea sed ) and Gretzky, signed Ismail to a fouryear. $ 14-million contract Great One and Grate One: Gretzky and wife Janet (left) with another estim ated celebrate an M V P season along with McS'all. who also talked $6 million in perks.

Michael Eisner into purchasing a hockey team for Disney D isbelief and resen t­ c (above), reaping a $2>miUion stipend when the Mighty ment. were the pre­ | Ducks started up in Anaheim . M c S a ll bought the celebr.ty dictable resp on ses, con ­ 5 status obsessing him . but in the end. his last collaboration was sidering CFI. team s had a 5 with his lawyer Tom Pollack when he pled guilty to fraud. sdrjnilbon -alary cap in­ cluding c o a c h e s salaries and traming-camp costs.

A cartoon of Ismail in the Toronto sun had the word “Rocket" crossed off hi- back and re­ placed with “Scud " McNall distanced hm i-eit. - . l y i n g r . f w e n : sr. noL “stand rn the wav " ii J-mail. after in- fir-: CFI. sea -o n . wen; to the ’ h e n - 1 •>- AngH «Raider*. which had. picked him in ’iv- NM. draft iDmai! did* Frantic, bewildered ai the King- continued ho-hum performance. McNall threatened resign a*- president in I h-cember !!M He w.>reportedly “deeply hun" by off-hand remarkat an NHI. board of governor^' m eeting how SH he coddled and pampered his players True 5 Goalie Kelly Hrudey remarked then “(M cNall) truly is the greatest owner you could ever have in pro sports."

Six m onths later, after the Kings TV.iI• i 4 season and first-round playoff loss. McNall an­ nounced Mlakar would replace him as presi­ dent. and Barry M elrose, a coach in the Red W ings’ minor league organization, had been sum m er of 1990. hired as coach for $4 million over lour years “McNall and I were sitting at a Hollywood Publicly, the Kings started the season with renewed hope and with McNall at the pinnacle Park board (of directors) m eeting in .August," of his NHL career He had been elected says Harry’ O m est, former owner of the Blues chairman of the league’s board that sum m er and the Toronto Argonauts. “McNall leans by unanimous vote. according to one source over. ‘How are the .Argos doing5’ In the m onths that followed, he would en­ “ V ery well.' gineer The Walt Disney Co. and Blockbuster “ T o u wanna sell 'em?'

Fmtertainment into paying $50 million each for “ T’ou wanna buy 'em 5'" franchises in Orange County. California, and It took eight m onths to close the $5-miIlion

“Whatever Bruce was doing or saying elsewhere,” Gretzky says, “he was putting his best foot forward when it came to the Kings."

he m agazine GQ quoted an “insid­ er's estim ate" of M cNall’s monthly p erso n a l e x p e n s e a s to ta lin g $465,000. which included $146,000 in house payments. $ 20,000 for gifts, $8,000 for helicopter ex p en ses. $ 2,000 for flowers and $25,000 “walking around money."

M eanw hile, his creditors stirred with m ounting furyBut over in the Kings' locker room and ex ­ ecutive offices. McNall was. and still is, a saint, a savior. "Whatever Bruce was doing or say­ ing elsewhere." Gretzky says, “he was putting his best foot forward when it cam e to the Kings."

McNall had vowed to win the Stanley Cup, and h e went at it as if victory would scare off the hobgoblins and boogeym en.

“Bruce was very fair and very' good to me and the players." says Robbie Ftorek. who coached the K ings for part of the 1987-88 sea­ son and all of '88-89. “But there were tim es FU admit Bruce w*as alm ost too good. U k e when h e wanted to charter planes and I didn’t Its S till the K ings had yet to prove th em selves good for players to have a little stress — serious challengers for the Stanley Cup. com ­ planes delayed — not just everything going piling the fourth-worst record in the confer­ sm ooth like with charters." en ce .Fans were ou traged Wrote one in June By 1990. M cNall had bought the Kings a 1990. "When I first bought my season tickets 727 jetliner for $5 m illion, then invested an­ in 1986.1 paid $1,659 (parking included). ... other $4 million to refurbish it with first-class T h is year, th ose sam e seats will cost me seats and silver tray's to carry drinks. Not ooh' $4,032 ... for a team that has never b een re­ w ere the Kings the only NHL team with a pri­ motely' close to winning a Stanley Cup...." vate plane, they were now the h ighest paid — McNafls thoughts were elsew h ere that with an annual base salary of $7.46 million.

T

Which players would you pay to watch and w hy?

Mf# asked

three top minds la hotkey th a t viewpoint oa tough questions about the g am # . Here's what they said.

/* ■

“M a r io L e m ie u x , J a r o m ir W a y n e G retz T h e y a r e a tth e n e v ! "w C i b it lo w er, d o e s n ’t ma' *1 t i—-eauA p la y a g a in st, p la y e r s . F or m e, it’s n ice to p la y a g a in s t e v e r y b e c a u s e I k n o w t h e r e ’s a lw a y s so m e b o d y to w a tc h a n d foliGW -and s e e J i o w th e y p u sh th e m s e lv e s e v e r y - -

Scotty Bowman Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

Teems Selanne Right Wing, Mighty Ducks

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S erg ei F ed orov.

Ihe.NewDodgt;

Neil Smith SJM., New York Rangers

“I’d pay to w a tc h M ano “M ario L em ieu x is a c o m p le te ly d if­ L em ieu x, Erie L indros a n d J a r o m ir fe r e n t p la y e r th a n Erie L in d ros.

J a g r. J a g r is a n e x tr e m e ly e x c it­ T h e y ’r e b o th big. O ne u s e s h is s iz e to in g p la y e r . H e ’s g o t sp e e d a n d .a M ario u s e s h is g £ h ig h s k ill le v e l. H e c o m b in e s th a t .u n s to p p a b le — w ftb w ith a g r e a t s c o r in g tou ch . So y o u lo n g r e a c h . B e d l i k e g e t th e w h o le p a c k a g e — y o u g et p la y e r . B u t I Uke sp e e d , u n b e lie v a b le s k ills a n d h e u s u a lly fin is h e s it B u r e , T heo F leu ry, o u t w ith a goal. T he o th e r g u y is S erg ei F ed orov, for id o u t th e m ost." th e sa m e r e a s o n s a s J a g r "

Watlll lhe m

on ESPN St. Louis at Anaheim March 17 8pm EST

26 • NHI

The Sporting News

south Florida. Sweeter yet. Disney’s expansion team. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, would pay Mc Nall's Kings $25 million tor infringe' ment in Kings' territory On che ice. the Kings would chug their way into the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history But privately. McNall could rob Peter to pay Paul no lunger. As 1993 drew to a close, his c r e d ito r s d o s e d in w ith a flu rry o f la w su its.

M elrose, now a color com m entator for .

ESPN, recounts. “T h e re were signs. No more $5,000 and $10,000 Christm as gifts of the year before Then we had the heat named off in our practice building in Van N uys for a week. It was

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Comment

40-12-4 3&-20*10 36-18-T3 40-22-4 35-22* 32-20-12 30-25-10 33-23-11 29-25-12 31-26* 31-25-9 31-27-7 27-25-15 29-28* 26-29-11 27-31-7 26-32-7 26-31-11 29-32-4

The tourth-tastest 100-oort season in league history.

Looking tor another defenseman? Knee is commo back.

Kovalev finaty wakes uo with two goals.

Francis grves Pittsburgh its third 100-point scorer Offense-starved team scores five goals in 04-1 stretch.

Renberg's return should trigger offensive residence.

More competitive — three GT victories — since Al-Star break.

B ettors bad back makes Hackee No. 1 tor playoffs.

Sa goals in game? ft has a Great sound to ii Back-to-back shutouts give Carey teaaue-teacSng total of six.

9-0-1 afl-time against CaStomta teams.

Malakhov finafty awakens to dominate on defense.

McLean is 5-2-1 since missing 19 games with injury.

Mooer trying to out Trio* and "barr back into Bruins.

Plavmakma rookie Selman is beaning to make contrtoutkxv Shanahan — 30 goals in last 35 games.

UsuaBv conscient Hasek is winless in 13 games on road.

Scored 49 coals in Bums’ last 22 games f3-16-3).

O czvt. Tkachuk and Zhamnov — 28 points in five games.

Either Karrya or Selame has scored n each of last 10 games.

24-3$*

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21-32-15 23-38-7 Stars 22-31-12 24. Islanders 20-38* 15-48* 25. Sharks 26. Senator!

12-50-3 Throop Saturday s games Tm' Sporting Nfws NHL Power

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Team Rod Winos AvtlanctM Rangers Penguins Panthers Farers Dtvtts Blackhawk!

Blues CaattMf Lightning Canadians Canuck!

Borins Flames Whalers Sabres Maple Leafs Jets Mighty Ducks Kings Oilers

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Falling like Leafs?

I

so cold the hot tub almost froze. We had to pay a bus driver in cash because he wouldn't accept a check. From then on we had to have certified checks. We couldn't stay in certain hotels tor) had to move from hotel lo hotel.** T hrough it all. M elrose maintains. "Mr. McNall always had me believing things were going to work o u t He was unflappable. I nev­ er saw a crack in his armor, lf he conned me. too. then that's fine."

M elrose stresses: "Mr. McNall was verygood to me. W hen we look back 20 years from now how hockey exploded, two men that are going to be very prom inent are Gretzky and McNall. He spent a lot of money in L A to get hockey g o in g ... get the building full of people.

He did nothing but good things for hockey."

M elrose adds hastily: "But I certainly don’t condone what he did to those other people."

In Februan- 1994. a Dallas coin dealer tele­ phoned an FBI field office with disturbing news: A com pany operated by Bruce McNall was claiming in its inventory, invoices for coins the Dallas dealer never se n t “T h e invoices were phony — cut and paste." says Peter Spivack. the V S . attorney in charge of the McNall investigation. T h e investigation started out as routine, but in M arch one of Bruce's em ployees came to the FBI with con­ cerns about his operation. At the sam e time Bruce was being sued by creditors " In April, federal agents fanned out with sub­ poenas for McNall. about a dozen employees and company records.

"It snowballed." Spivack says. ".After a few interviews, we realized we were dealing with outright brazen fraud. Bruce cut a wide path."

McNall filed personal bankruptcy in May and pleaded guilty in D ecem ber to two counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. He faces up to nine years in prison. Ten of his* form er em ployees also have pleaded guilty’ to similar charges. Three former em ployees face trial this June. McNall and the others. Spivack says, will not be sen­ tenced until the trial ends.

Since his guilty plea. McNall says he has declined interviews because of the upcoming trial. But in a brief telephone conversation he does allow; “Ive been amazed and disap­ pointed at some of the things said in the press and with a few people I thought were my friends. But in general I feel pretty good." .As for defrauding others. McNall Replies: "Certainly it was somebody e lse s dough, but I always intended to repay it" McNall says he lives and "works out o f an apartm ent in Los Angeles (Century City). He now drives a 1994 Ford Explorer, a loaner. T m staying pretty busy ... working on my autobi­ ography ... consulting for the film industry ... working with friends like Howard Baldwin (owner of the Penguins and film m aker) and Aaron Spelling (Hollywood producer)."

McNall emphasizes; "But I have nothing to do with coins. I'm just son of making a living ... son of available for work “ ♦

22 games.

“I told Cliff I wouldn’t quit," Bums says. “I’ve never quit anything, not even my paper route."

A 4-0 loss at D enver was the final blow.

But Beverley? Why would the Maple Leafs pick a man who hasn't Maple Leafs General M anager Cliff Fletcher said he had never fired a coached a team since 1985. when he directed New Haven of the .American coach “during the season and I don't intend to start now." But that was be­ Hockey League.

“T h e biggest thing we have to fore his team lost eight consecutive change is their mindset, but you can’t games.

Pat B um s, who had entered his just reach into the air and grab confi­ dence." Beverley says. “It com es from within. We have to put a positive spin on everything if we hope to m ake the playoffs."

Ten players who re­ quested anonymity com­ plained about B um s in the March 2 edition of the Toronto Globe and Mail.

“It felt like I was walking into a shootout and had I forgotten ray gun," Bum s says.

T hrough the losing streak. F letcher contin­ ued dealing — getting Kirk M uller from the Is­ landers. Dave G agner from the Stars and Wayne Beverley will change the Leafs Presley and Nick Kypreos mindset or like Bums, go up in smoke: from the Rangers. Each fourth season tied with Tam pa Bay’s trade looked good on paper, but none T erry Crisp as the le a g u e s longest shook the team out of its doldrums. tenured coaches, was fired in the “You can't keep on trading foot sol­ m idst of a 3-16-3 slum p that started diers a1) the time." B um s says. “Soon­ er or later, the general’s got to go."

January l l . B urns was replaced for the rem ainder of the season by Nick The m essage from the Maple Leafs Beverley, the team ’s director of player was c le a r W e’re firing the coach, but personnel. we're blaming the players.

B um s was nam ed the NHL's Crisp could jum p to the top of a list Coach of the Year in 1992-93 when he of coaching candidates — if the Light­ led the Maple Leafs to a 32-point im­ ning choose not to re-sign him. A mo­ provement — the largest in team his­ tivator like form er Canadiens coach tory. Twice he took his team to the Jacques D em ers also would appear to conference finals. But the Leafs be­ fit the position. But form er Flam es came old. they lost their playoff open­ coach Dave King, who coached in er last season and now they’re in dan­ Japan this season, is the likeliest can­ ger of missing the 1996 postseason af­ didate. ♦ arry kge ter scoring only 49 goals in B um s’ last

Weiohl looks fee cinch to score IOO ports.

Defense battens up with Ludwig's return from injury.

Assistant coach Bowness is 2 * fifing in tor M2bury.

Sheooartf s name beomronQ to pop up in trade rumors.

With nothing to play tor. it's trading time.

■■ Poll is determined by TSN Hockey Editor Larry Wigge

■

March 18,1996

NHI REPORT

i§N,j

Oh, shoot! Goalie Osgood fulfills long-range goal “Iv e w o rk ed h ard on m y p u ck h a n d lin g since th at episode." say s O sgood, who won his 10th co n secu tiv e g am e and re co rd ed his league-leading 32nd victory. "I had a ch an ce to go for it against T o ro n to (F ebruary 22) and d id n ’t try. I w as m ad at m vself afterw ard.

"I knew th is w as my ch a n ce — and I knew it w as in w hen I hit it" T h e goal w as set up w h en W h a le rs defensem an Glen W'esley d u m p ed th e puck to the left of the D etroit net. O sg o o d laid his stick fiat on the ice. stopped it n ea r th e bot­ tom of th e faceoff circle and lifted it dow n the ice. It lan d ed five feet o u tsid e th e W h a le rs ’ blue line and rolled into th e em pty net. ironically. W halers left w ing G eoff S an d er­ son w as on th e ice d u rin g a ju n io rs g am e w hen O sgood also sco red a goal. “I can ’t b e­ lieve it," S an d erso n says, sh a k in g his h ead.

“I’m m inus-2 w hen he d e c id e s to shoot."

T h e Is la n d e rs' Billy S m ith w as c re d ite d with th e first goal by a g o a lte n d e r in a 1980 g am e in D enver. But S m ith w as actually an in n o cen t b y sta n d e r — th at goal w as sco red w hen C olorado d efen sem an Rob R am age in­ a d v e rten tly sh o t th e puck into h is own net.

T h e F ly ers’ Ron H extall is th e only o th e r goalie to actually shoot th e puck into th e net. and h e did it tw ice — D e c e m b e r 8. 1987. a g a in st th e B ru in s and April l l . 1989. in a playoff g a m e ag ain st the Capitals.

W h en h e calm ed dow n after th e gam e.

B urke lau g h ed off th e indignity and said he. too. w ould like to sc o re som eday. w

Larry W1GGE ow d o es it feel as a g o a lte n d e r to go to th e b en c h for an e x tra a tta c k e r and w atch th e o p p o sin g goalie sco re into .your net?

“I t s th e ultim ate slap in th e face." W halers goalie Sean B u rk e say's. “I t s nice to se e a fel­ low g o a lte n d e r g e t a goal, b u t not w hen i t s m y n e t It m ay not co u n t in my goals-against average, b u t I tak e it p erso n al w hen anyone sco re s into th at goal — w h e th e r Tm in th e re or not."

D e tro it's C h ris O sg o o d b ec am e only the th ird g o a lte n d e r in N H L h isto ry to sc o re a g oal w h en h e fired th e p u ck into B u r k e s em pty net w ith 10.4 sec o n d s left in a 4-2 vic­ tory over H artford. T h is is th e sam e O sgood w ho w as criticized for his p u ck h andling skills after a giveaway that led to Jam ie B ak er’s win­ nin g G am e 7 g o al in th e S h a rk s ’ 1994 firstro u n d playoff u p set of th e Red W ings.

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two-minute penalty.

Creased lightning: Crisp is the dean o fN H L coaches, but he b u rn s that could change faster than a 100-mph slapshot.

Coaching dean T erry C risp, w ho is coach­ ing his fourth full seaso n for th e L ig h tn in g, le a d s N H L co a c h e s in longevity'. B ut h e d o esn 't view that distinction w ith ch est-th u m p in g pride.

C risp d o e s n ’t have a con­ trac t b ey o n d th is se a so n — and m av not have o n e if h e d o e s n ’t g et th e L ig htning into th e playoffs for th e first tim e in fran ch ise history. “ (.Assistant coach) W ayne C ash m an told m e I should p h o n e C o m m issio n e r G ary B eltm an and tell him to get 0

m e a plaque m ad e up as the sen io r guy." C risp says. “Irs a crazv b u sin ess. You can be on th e top of th e w orld o n e m in u te and th e n on th e unem ploym ent line th e n e x t" C risp sh o u ld know . He g u id ed th e F lam es to th e S tanley C up in 1989 — and w as fired one y ear later. *

Sweet charity W h en th e M ighty D ucks tried to nail A valanche goal­ te n d e r P atrick Roy tor using an illegal stick, th e m ove backfired and cost th em a

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T h e D u c k s h a d p la n n e d to a s k fo r a m e a s u r e m e n t s in c e r e c e iv in g s tic k s fro m A v a -la n c h e s ta r s Roy an d P e te r F o rs b e rg fo r a c h a rity a u c tio n . W h e n th e s tic k s a r r iv e d , it w as b r o u g h t to th e a tte n tio n of C o a c h R on W ilso n th a t R o y ’s s tic k w a s ille g a l.

W ils o n w a ite d fo r th e o p ­ p o r t u n e tim e a n d a s k e d th e r e f e r e e fo r a m e a s u r e ­ m e n t d u r in g th e F e b ru a ry 26 g a m e . w hat W ilso n d id n ’t k n o w is th a t all of R oy's s tic k s a re illegal w h e n th ey a rriv e fro m th e factory. B ut h e s h a v e s th e m d o w n to sp e c ific a tio n s b e fo re u sin g th e m in g a m e s.

The le s s o n le a r n e d : D o n 't try to r e a d s o m e ­ th in g d e v io u s in to c h a r ita ­ b le g e s tu r e s .

Icy bits All-Star n g h t w ing Cam Nee Iv # savs • h e mav• be forced to retire becau se of a hip in­ ju ry that is not im proving.

T h e Bruins* only hope of keeping th eir 28-year playoff strea k alive is th e re tu rn of d efen sem an .Al lafrate. who

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He shoots, ha scores:

£ S o t only is Red Wings | goaltender Osgood adept at stopping opponents ' shots, but he also can lire a puck into the net from ZOOfeet away “I've tried a couple of tim es." B urke says.

“But I have too m u ch tro u b le g e ttin g the puck over o u i own blue line. “lf I had to g u e ss who am ong th e leag u e's g o a lte n d e rs m ig h t b e next. I'd say look out for (S h ark s goalie) C hris T e rre n . He hit the post in M ontreal earlier this season. He prac­ tices sh o o tin g into an em pty net all the time.

T h e only p ro b lem for C h ris is you have to have a lead in the w aning m in u tes of a gam e — and his team d o e sn ’t win that often."

B lues goalie G rant F u h r says h e 's too old to m u ste r en o u g h energy to shoot the puck 200 feet. but h e th in k s the F lyers’ Hextall and G arth Snow a re the m ost likely c a n d id a te s to

sc o re “T h e y both com e out ol (he net and h an d le th e puck a lot." B uhr say*. “T h e r e s bound to be an opportunity tor them to hit the open net.

"But it s like m aking a 15o-tc*>t putt on th e golf co u rse . Not that easy ‘ O sg o o d will enjoy teasin g Red W ing" te a m m a te s Bob Rouse and Stu (irin w in about scoring m ore goals than they have Bul th e reality is that O sgood ha> taken an o th er large step tow ard fo rgetting that 1994 p u ck ­ handling b lu n d er and should e n te r fbis y e a r playoffs with th e confidence that he can c a r­ ry th e Red W ings to th eir first Stanley C up ti­ tle since 1955.

e r s ' W endel C lark participated last w eek in his an d P atrick Flatfirst full-contact practice in lev but d ec id e d nearly two years. ... B ruins th ev w ere too old G.M. Harry' Sinden denies he is thinking about replacing I and slow. Look for Steve K asper with recen tly D e tro it to o ffer fired M aple Leafs coach Pat th e K ings- th e ir B um s. But Sinden has been c h o ic e of rig h t know n to fire co ach es down w ing M artin La­ the stretch . Ju st ask Fred p o in te or c e n te r C reighton. ... Flyers G.M .

G re g Jo h n s o n for B obby C larke says the M arty M cSorley.

C an u ck s are his ch o ice to P hoenix is ecstatic that co m e out of the W estern m ore than 7.500 fans have C onference if they get Pavel put dow n non refu n d ab le B ure back for the playoffs. c h e c k s of S IOO as seasonP e n g u in s C o ach E ddie ticket deposits to see th e Jets J o h n s to n co m p lain s th a t h e next s e a s o n .... A little-known is g e ttin g no p ro d u c tio n b e ­ tact about M ario Lem ieux: yond his top six fo rw ard s — H e's a wine connoisseur. He M ario L em ieux. J a ro m ir has m ore than 150 bottles in J a g r. Ron F ra n c is. P e tr his collection. M aybe th a t’s N edved. T o m a s S an d stro m whv he -bet team m ate and B ryan S m o lin sk i.

Jaro m ir Jag r a bottle of wine T h a t's w hy P itts b u rg h h a s that h e'd be the first to 50 b ee n w o rk in g on a d ea l goals th is seaso n — and w ith B uffalo for rig h t w ing won. ... B lues (LM -Coach Yuri K hm ylev. ... T h e M ike K eenan says h e ’s not C a n u c k s a re in th e m a rk e t finished trading He'd like to for a p h y sical d e fe n se m a n add a legitim ate goal sco re r and re p o rte d ly have offered before th e M arch 20 trad*w in g e r R om an O k siu ta lo deadline. Bul h e >av* he th e C apitals for M ark Tinorm ight have lo "m ake th ree or d r S o rrv V an co u v er, but lour in crem en tal d eals in­ t h a t s not e n o u g h ... Look­ stead " O ne ca m e laM w eek ing for to u g h n e s s , th e Red w hen h e obtained S tep h en W in g s s c o u te d th e Is la n d ­ U 'ach from th e B ruin" tor ¥

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m inor leaguer* Kevin Saw yer and Steve Staios. T he next could be G lenn A nderson from the O ilers for a draff choice. It th e O ilers are out m \^ of playoff con—J- tendon at the d ead ­ line. ( L M. Gl en S ath er will deal An; d erso n . He h a s to trad e him I to th e B lues b e c a u se they ; also put in a claim w hen Ed■ m onton picked him up on waivers. T h e Blues had an in­ terest in th e Je ts ' Ed Olczyk before he was lost for the se a ­ son with a knee injury ♦ ffa r r y W igge has co vered h o ck ey fo r Th.5; S poktiV / N ew s s in c e J 9 6 9

FOR UPDATES on L a rry W igged T S N H ockey R eport, call 1-900-960-4400. 9 5 cents p e r m in u te. In C a n a d a , caff 1-900-451-3234. $ 1 .4 5 p e r m in u te.

Callers u n d e r 18 m u st h a v e perm issio n . The service is accessible fro m touch to n e a n d rotary phones.

28 • NBA

The Sporting News

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Once again, NBA big men are centers of attention B y D avid F a l k n e r

he horn sounds. The crowd buzzes.

T he players, worn to a frazzle but keyed to a glassy high, walk onto the court. Four seconds are left in regulation.

The Nets, the forgotten team of j h e gas fields and swamps, have I come back from a hiyge4efiat to tie the Lakers ^ 9 8 . The Lakers'have the ball TheJvefsTrrowd the middle, putting tower­ ing. {ottering Shawn Bradley on Vlade Divac.

Bradley choosesto play him close rather than give him any shooting room. The thinking is simple. If the jum per is denied. Divac will have to drive, lf he drives, he won’t have enough time. The ball, sure enough, is fed to Divac. T here is no hesitation. The big m an’s chess gam e takes place m the blink of an eye.

Bradley has one elbow up. against Divac’s back, lf he goes up in the air with the jum per the ball will be driven down his th ro a t Divac

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NBA' 29

March 18,1996

sive m an a ch an ce to move w hen the pick was set. But th e rule ch an g e allowed th e sc re e n ­ er to get right up on th e defensive m an. T he screen then becam e a very different weapon."

In the h an d s of innovative co a c h e s such as Bob Knight, new offensive system s (“motion" and ‘flex") w ere introduced in which th e cen ­ te r becam e essentially a b lo ck er in the m id­ dle. w h ere all th e action collapsed into th e paint, cre a tin g o p p o rtu n itie s for players to th en pop out and take th eir sh o ts going away ra th e r than tow ard th e basket.

T h e key players in m aking flex and motion sy stem s work. Newell says, w ere not center^ b u t big. stro n g g u ard s. “W hen Bobby won th e NCAA in (1976). his two g u a rd s would have been forwards six or seven years before." he says. Shortly after th is rule c h a n g e , th e p ro s changed the gam e them selves. T he .ABA and then the NBA adopted the 3-point shot, elim i­ nated zone d efen ses and in troduced th e 24second clock. .All of th ese new rules, but p a r­ ticularly th e 3-point shot. tended to open the floor, to d eco n g est the m iddle to the point w here the traditional skills of a big man would once again be needed. Only w hat happened was that the college gam e was not in sync with th e pro gam e. Players com ing out of college who w ere bigger, stro n g er, faster than ever w ere not learning th e skills that went with b e­ ing top centers. It was no accident that the two great cen ters of th e 70s. AbduEJabbar and Bill W alton, cam e out of jo h n W ooden's atypical ‘transition" offense at UCLA, a system that kept the floor open and that incorporated the athletic skills of the big man.

For Newell, th e key ’was all about spacing T he ru les c h a n g e s that forced d efen ses into th e m iddle m ean t th a t c e n te r play could be d im in ish ed . .And th e c h a n g e s o p en in g th e floor gave c e n te rs m ore room to m aneuver But even with b etter spacing, th ere rem ained th e real q u estio n of skills.

What I (Ad on my stunner vacation: Players such as O 'Seal (below left. with D tvac) spend hours in the offseason with Sew ell (below) ai his cam p learning the intricacies o f die center position . im m ediately spins the o th e r way. m oving to th e baseline w here h e m an ag es an off-stride b u t d e a r s h o t T h e shot m isses, but th e r e ­ bound is tipped in as the buzzer sounds. T h e L ak ers take th e g a m e and th e c h e ss m atch.

W hat w as m ore in terestin g than the result w as th is routine but classic ce n te r play. M ore and m o re, th e c e n te r h a s beco m e c e n te r of atten tio n in th e NBA. F or y ears, dom inant c e n te rs w ere h ard to find and ce n te r play it­ self s e e m e d to dim inish. B ut th e m ost b u r­ d en so m e of the g a m e ’s cliches is a team can't win w ithout a dom inant ce n te r. And. like m ost cliches, this one carries a large m easure of tru th and hot air. E xcept for th e Bulls (who have S uperm an instead of a su p er c e n te r), al­ m ost all th e g re a t team s in the past 50 years — Bill R u sse lls Celtics. Willis R eed's Knicks.

W ilt C h a m b e rla in 's and H areem Abd u 1-Jabb a r’s Lakers. H akeem O lajuw on's R ockets — have had dom inant cen ters.

F o r many* y ears, how ever, g re a t c e n te rs w ere h ard to find. Until the early 1970s, bignam e c e n te rs (G eorge M ikan. Wilt. H areem ) frequently led th e NBA in scoring. But from 1972 until '94 w hen David R obinson b ro k e th e spell, not a c e n te r could be found am ong th e sco rin g cham ps. R obinson rev ersed the tren d . S haquille O ’N eal won the title last sea­ son. and m any of the top sco rers now — .Alon­ zo M ourning. Olajuwon. Patrick Ewing — are cen ters; ju s t as im portant, college ran k s arc again providing high-scoring ce n te rs. W hat h a s h ap p en ed ? W h ere had all th e c e n te rs g o n e and why have they suddenly re tu rn e d 5

e n te rs today b elo n g to a n o th e r kind of g am e than th e one played 50 y e a rs ago A nyone w ho h a s w atched the g am e in th e past IO y ears know s ce n te rs are only b ig g e r m en in a g am e of big m en. T h e 6-10 stiff of 40 y ears ago is today's sm ooth-m oving pow er m ach in e w ho is equally co m fo rtab le knocking dow n a 3-pointer, driving to the bas­ ket, com ing out b eh in d a screen for an open ju m p e r and m aking all th e m oves pf sm aller, q u ic k e r m en.

NBA sco u tin g g u ru M arty B lake says cen ­ te rs today a re m ore athletic and versatile than ev e r b u t is th e first to adm it a p arad o x b e ­ ca u se th e position is a skill-specific one that can n o t b e filled by athleticism alone.

F o rm e r co ach P ete N ew ell u n d e rsta n d s t h a t H e h a s b ee n ru n n in g a su m m e r cam p for big m en for 20 y ears. T h o u g h th e p ro ­ g ra m h a s no official co n n ectio n w ith the NBA, it has beco m e an unofficial home-awayfrom -hom e for th e leag u e 's best and biggest.

O ne of N ew ell’s first stu d e n ts w as Olajuwon.

M ore recently. S haq sp en t a couple of sum ­ m e rs with him . Newell, 80. know s c e n te rs the way th e F ren ch know cham pagne.

N ew ell say s the skills of th e position are h ard to co m e by and th o se skills have not b een tau g h t in U .S colleges. It is not that U.S. p lay ers w ould ra th e r ru n and ju m p than turn th e ir b ac k s to th e basket; i t s that they* have no choice.

T h e college g am e ch a n g ed subtly but de­ cisively in th e late '60s and early 7 0 s. Newell says, a fte r a significant ru le s c h a n g e re d e ­ fined th e way in w hich players w ere p erm it­ ted to c reate sc re e n s. Until th is rule ch an g e. h e says, “you h ad to k eep th re e feet betw een y o u rse lf and (th e player) w hen you s e t a scre en . T h e idea h ad b een to give the defen-

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he skills of back-to-the-basket play are curious, specific — and elusive Newell says if a player k eep s his eye on th e ball, h e ll alm ost certainly be looking in the w rong place and com ing up with th e w rong answ ers. .At his cam p, the No I priority is to m ake players u n d ersta n d th e im p o rtan ce of th eir feet. ‘You play IO p ercen t with th e ball.

IOO p ercen t with your feet, so foot skills are p ro bably th e m ost n e g le c te d skills in all of b ask etb all." N ew ell says. ‘A p lay er alw ays se e k s to get a good shot for him self, b u t that will alw ays dep en d on w h ere y o u r feet are “ Newell states th e obvious in a way that still h a s th e shock of su rp rise. As people are leftand rig h th an d ed , so they are left- and lig h t­ footed. ‘You have a m ajor foot and a m inor foot," h e says, ‘ so it's very im p o rtan t to d e ­ velop a m b id e x tro u s n e s s with y o u r feet as well as y o u r hands."

T h e g am e, to N ew ell, is elem en tal. For each shot, for each m ove a player m ak es, a d efen d er will try to find a co u n ter m ove “I t s a g am e of co u n ters." New ell says, ‘ both from a team Standpoint and from an individual one It d o e sn 't g et m uch m o re co m p licated than th a i" New ell loves feet th e way d a n c e r G eo rg e B alanchine did b ecau se he know s th e re is in­ finite m u sic to b e u n lo ck ed in g e ttin g th e c h o re o g ra p h y rig h t. “I w ork on drills w h ere on one day I have th em go only le f t step off only w ith th e ir left foot. T h e n th e next day, th ey will only go r i g h i You pivot on one foot one day. on th e o th e r th e n ext. T h e y 're forced to u se th e ir w eak foot and th e m ore th ey do i t th e m o re n atu ral and com fortable it b e c o m e s. T h e ir g am e th en h a s a m uch

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30 • NOA

The Sporting News

fm*ater bas<*. ihfnps open up for them." \S“hen Kam^m fir^t came into the lea^Tje in 1969 he had hts de\*astatinp skyhook, but Newell says it took about three seasons for defenses to adjust to it be­ cause he didn’t have a move back to the middle.T h ey started over­ playing him so that it made it tougher and tougher for him lo step out and gel that shot" Newell says. T h e counter that he learned — it wasntuicrv- prelxy — was a reverse shot to the paint, lo the middle., a little ugly hook, bul ii was enough to keep the defense* hont*st." \ Cher the s ears, ihe^teaching of big-man skills has been haphaiani at best. Many contemporars' college coaches remain unable to teach the skills because thev♦ were Then and now: Abdui-Jabbar (abave) plas’ers at preasels' that period — u«s the dominant center of his day, but in the earis- 70s — when the game now that moniker could easily begit^en went to offensive ss*stems that for- to the sur^bote/i Olajuwon. rn got about center play. The NBA Shag has been unbelievabl)' blessed with his has had no formal leaching program. The irony is that players, great players, have come into footwork." Hill says. “He had that coming in the league haring had minimum experience to the NBA. and all that was required was for plaring ss-ith their back to the basket bul have someone lo exploit that footwork"t O’Neal's term for his play is “Snaqnosis." learned all the moves and more as they have “Shaqnosis is being veiy unselfish, ^ d in g the gone along How have the>- been able to do ii?

Many current players have gone to Newell’s open guys, laking the h ig b -p e rceii^ e shot, making all the counters." 0'N c& | s ^ : T a u camp. Olajuwon. arguably the most skilled can’t do any of that unless you have sense iow-posl player in the game s history, began \^*ith what Newell said was more 'talent in his of rhvlhm. If you have rhythm, you do any­ feet" than any player he had ever seen. “His thing. From the time I was a kid I footwork was so good when he came into I dancer, and I still have ail of thai in jny Luc Longley, 7-2. the Bulls' fiulldng Aus­ camp that I took him aside and asked him where he learned it." he says. "He told me no tralian im port came to th e .le a ^ e ’-wilh addi­ one had taught him. he got it from plaring soc­ tional U.S. collegiate experienct.-"Since com­ cer many years before he played basketball." ing to the Bulls in '9^'. he has latched on to as­ Olajuwon acquired eveiy move in the book — sistant Tex \Mnier. 73. who has made working hooks, spins, drop-steps. over-and-under big men something of a specialty. 'Winter moves. “Hver>- defense you throw al Hakeem is one of the few in the NBA hired foriust that today he has learned the counter for." Newell purpose.

Longley. because he plays a supporting says. T h a t is what makes him so great. He can go to either side, he's so quick — he even role, does not have to score to be effective. But i changes speed on a lot of the moves he makes. his moves in the low post can make things Shag has made the most of his time in happen for himself and his teammates. He camp, loo “\\'hen he came in he w-as a good works relentlessly '^'ilh Winter on developing college pla>Tr but he was limited." Newell a dassie hook shot, going left and right. The says. "You look at him now. He has a spin I shot is all about the correct placing of the feet move that hr didn t have until about a year ago {The lead foot should point toward the base­ and a lot of other things" line so'the hip can open, lf the hip opens prop­ The “other things" are all the counters lo erly. the pivot is made, the balance is correct, the defenses that have been thrown al him. the shot will smoothly follow.)

O’Neal's “go-to" move is his dunk. “I always "I learned the hook from Tex. It’s strictly an try for the high-percentage shot, that's my old-fashioned Tex Hmter hook shot," Longley shot, dunk. dunk, dunk." O’Neal says, "but I says. "I do 500 of them a day him every do these other things so they can't take that day ll opens up everything else. I can use away from me." both hands, go left across the middle. It makes Magic Coach Brian Hill spells it ou t ‘^ ’e go me more of a post threat, which I need to be. through a whole bark-to-the-basket series in I can be too slow to the glass. I tend to flare off practice N^ith him even' day." Hill says. ‘On Michael’s penetration. The more I become a the box. he's developed attum-around jump post threat, all of that can change."

The Nets' Bradle\- sometimes resembles a shot because of thi? repetitions he's been working vviih every day. the up-aft^«nder ancj^j huge praying mantis as he maneuvers himself step-through moves around the bask et... he's in and out of the post. He entered the league in got a jump hook coming to the middle of the ‘93 with big money and even bigger question floor, lf he can't step and dunk and he makes marks about his ability. He was a shot blocker his move lo the middle of the lane. he uses his in college and had a nice touch to his jumper jump hook If you take the middle away he but was a skinny body who could easily be drop steps and shoots the turn-around going pushed off the blocks. to the baseline, or if you lake the jump hook The knock on Bradley was that he needed away. hell fake n and step through and come lo bulk up. But Bradley, from Day One in the up and under on you He's tK*en working on NB.A. always understood that what he needed tht*se things for three years now. adding new most was lo gain balance. Somehow when his things al] the lime " feet got tangled, whatever strength he had left O'.Neal and his coach keep coming back lo him. ' ' ‘bile he was in Philadelphia, he worked the feet, It is those fool-bones-connecied-io- for a while with Kareem. the classic skinny body. Their work had nothing to do with the-ankle-bones connected to a basketball imagination that makes great things happen. weights. They worked trying to develop

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year a step-through move. anoth­ er year a jump hook going left or right “I was always able to shoot the baD and play defense." Ewing says. '■but in these summer work­ outs. I go back and work on things that I haven't done. If I do something good one year, then I make it a point of working on something else for next year be­ cause I know they’re going to counter that So Pm always work­ ing to offset their counters with counters of my own."

Ewing lifts weights but does no balancing exercises. Van g Gundy thinks he knows why. g “Patrick has small feet — and that obviously hurts his balance." he say^ Unlike Olajuwon. Robinson.

I Mounting, other younger big f foots. Ewing has learned to subg stitule inteOigence and determia nation for what nature did not provide him. “Eve always been a good passer, but when I first Bradley's hook sh o t the idea being that the came up I used to get a lot of turnovers, so I shot was all about positioning and balance. told myself Pd be latte r off just shooting the ■We worked out twice a day for 10-12 days." ball." Ewing sa>'s. "But the more I played, the Bradley say's. "He was great I think one of the stronger I got, the more I knew the players biggest things he taught me was about bodyaround me. the more I started to pass the positioning. how my feel worked, -not about ball." how strong I w'as or what my hands did."

Newell says Ewing has accomplished what Since his trade to the Nets earlier this sea­ son. Bradley has worked with assistant Clif­ he has through hard work and by making oth­ ford Ray. Ray', like Winter, is on his team's pay­ ers work harder to guard him. But he also says it is Ewing's age rather than his small roll primarily lo work with big m e a Like NeweD and Winter, he is a storehouse of in­ feet that have limited his moves. He came up at a time when the "classic" moves were not formation. practical experience and ideas. being taughL T h e younger players. ShaquDle Balance is still a key word for Ray*. He is less and David — Shaquifle particularfy," NeweD interested in Bradley's Nveight program than in says, “have an unfair advantage because what he is doing with his feet “He ain't going they’re still in their 20s. while Pat is in his mid* to bulk up. but he can learn balance to the point 30s. Ewing, of course, has improved tremerv where his feet will start to automatically do dously. but guys from his era in college just what they have lo do on eveo' counter he has never got the chance to develop the same to make. I talked lo him about... cross training game that we now have in the N ^ " rather than weights, things like tae kwon do or Newell says the college scene may be tarchi so he could learn balance, lf you make a mpve underneath and get caught, that’s it lf changing. The 3-poinl shot creates the need for centers to become more active. His short your feet know what to do. you can reverse take on big men in coDege — and the systems Yourself, come back and make another move." they play with — is upbeat He likes Tun Dun­ can at 'Wake Forest “because they use him so well" he says. "Arizona has this kid, Qoseph) any NBA centers work on their own.

Blair who has improved every year. (North taking what they can gel from any Carolina State’s) Todd FuDer is a throwback; source available. From the time he he’s got a big body, has exceDent fundamen­ came into the league in ’85. Ewing has never gone to a big man's camp and nevertals. had And (Marcus) Camby, (see p. S22) though reaDy a c e n te r/fo rw ^ . is a devastata big man’s coach, yet he has worked at his ingJow-post player because he’s not only a game relentlessly. His drills, usually with Coach Jeff Van Gundy, are all about the repe­ great scorer but one of the best passers to come along in years." tition of moves knows well.

NeweD says the use of motion and flex of­ Ewing came out of college billed as a great defensive -center, but his offense was some­ fenses in colleges may be changing, too. thing of a surprise. Georgetown, like most col­ Knight though stiD heavily relymg on sets, has altered them significantly. “He doesn’t congest leges then, neither taught nor emphasized the the offense into the b a ^ e l area like he did." highb^ technical moves of back-t£>-the-baskei ^eweD says. “He creates a lot of shots by good play. Ewing had been a productive scorer in spacing now, and even though he uses a lot of college, anyway, but his moves^were limited. down screens and so on. he’s taken motion to He basicallv had one shoL a different level which means that the man at "Patrick has been one of the great jumpthe post has more room to operate." shooting centers who ever played." says Van V ^at aD of this adds up to is unspoken bul Gundy, who replaced Don Nelson as coach obvious. We are in the Age of the Big Man. last week. "He had that shot coming in. and The NBA. curiously, because of the style of he’s been consistent with it so that he’s always its play, has been. throughout the years, the been able to open things up for other players." guardian of those old center position-skills.

Bul Ewing, over the years, h i added With the coDeges now providing some help, one component after another to his work in the only question is whether this new age wiD the middle. He spends a part of each summer also b€^ome the sort of golden age that wiD working specifically on adding things to his cany the game into the next century. ^ game. He and a friend review films from the previous season and isolate areas to work on.

D avid F alkner is a contributing w riter One year. Ewing added a drop step, another fo r T h e S p o r u n g N ew s .

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NBA REPORT

Knicks were all wrong for Nellie and vice versa

Shaun POWELL D he needed was a big man. That's what they afl said. Give Don Nelson a big man and Nellie would win more titles as a coach than he ever did as a role player on those great

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teams.

The big man was supposed to make Nellie a coaching legend.

Instead, the big man scarred Nelson's coaching legacy.

For different reasons. Nelson couldn't con­ nect with Chris Webber in Golden State and Patrick Ewing in New York. and those fail­ ures effectively have ended his coaching ca­ reer.

Nelson was fired by the Knicks last week after 59 games, partially because the players were cool toward his system but mostly be­ cause Ewing totally rejected it From the first day of training camp, Ewing and Nelson de­

veloped major philosophical differences. In­ stead of showcasing Ewing as Pat Riley had.

Nelson ran his offense through Anthony Ma­ son and sent Ewing out on the perimeter, shooting jumpers 17 feet from the basket Nelson wanted to decrease Ewing's work­ load and diversify the Knicks’ antiquated and predictable offense. It was a bold and noble idea except it wasn’t embraced by the proud.

33-year-old center whose opinion carries tremendous clout in the franchise. Being a true professional. Ewing went along but nev­ er pretended to accept Nellie’s concept The switch from Riley was much too drastic for Ewing’s liking. He was unhappy and uncom­ fortable.

Eventually, several teammates sided with Ewing, with demoted guard John Starks be­ ing the most vociferous. In the shockingly Celtics short span of four months. Nelson had lost the team. And when that happened, Nelson became a pariah in his own locker room. He sensed the end was near, and that’s why he dropped hints he wanted to be put out of his misery*. If the Knicks fired him. Nelson said a day before it actually happened, that would be OK by him.

It was the worst-case scenario for the Knicks, who hired Nelson last summer with caution flags flapping in the wind. In hind­ sight, the Knicks — an aging and cranky team playing in a demanding market and holding unrealistic aspirations in the Jordan and Shaq ’90s — were ail wrong for Nelson, and vice versa.

Talent show It’s March Madness for N BA scouts, too. Over the next few weeks they will cov­ er every tournament site.

Since many of the bigger names never appear at scout­ ing combines, the NCAA Tournament serves as one last look.

Assuming all underclass­ men will declare for the draft, heres a list of several players who are lottery ma­ terial according to the scouts: Ray Allen, 6 feet 3, Connecticut. Considered the best player and athlete in the country. ADen’s a true shooting guard, and his only drawback is his size — about two inches shy of what NEA teams like in big guards.

Tim Duncan, H O , Wake Forest. Solid citizen with solid fundamentals. Reminds many of Brad Daugherty.

Problem is, Duncan’s a gentle giant He could use a mean streak and might be 'better off at power forward instead of center.

Marcus Caitifty, 6-11, (/Mass. Right now, he’s the No. I pick because of his

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Last spring, Nelson was busy* building a re­ tirement home in Maul when Riley bolted for Miami, instead of taking a year or two off and waiting for a coaching job that had upside.

Nelson reacted with his heart. He jumped at the chance to coach again, despite the fact last season ended prematurely, too. primarily because of his fallout with Webber. Thats what makes the last two years of Nelson s coaching career the most incredible.

In the previous 16 years. Nellie — the sbcth-winningest coach of all time with SSI victories — became known for being a "play­ er's coach" and someone who seemed to be an All-Star 7-footer away from creating a dy­ nasty. He had broken-down Bob Lanier in Milwaukee, so Nellie built his teams around athletic guards and forwards and relied on

John Wallace, 6-8, Syracuse. Tough rebounder,

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Big Apple, Nelson will look for happiness away from the maddening crowds.

decent low-post skills. He says his idol is Derrick Coleman, but scouts say they wish he'd choose another idol.

Kerry Kittles, 6-5, Vill­ enova. Has the ability* to

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score but is sometimes erratic. He drew the most varied response. Some scouts loved him more than others.

Around the league Ray ofhope: UConn guard Allen could be shooting for the stars as a lottery pick in the next NBA draft combination of height athleticism and skill. His weak body will take a pounding unti] he adds weight One scout say's if Camby started playing in the NBA tomorrow, then some teams may be tempted to use him at small forward. That's a credit to Camby's talent and a knock on his slight frame.

Keftft Van Horn, 6-9, Utah. Nice leaper, good speed, outstanding instincts.

Scouts find his mid-range jumper to be his NBA meal ticket, although his ball-

pressure defense. The Bucks claimed seven consecutive division titles and failed to make the SBA Finals mostly because the other team had better big men — more McHales and Parishes and Malones — who were too much for the Bucks to handle in seven-game series.

With the Warriors, Nelson had speed and scorers, instead of size, and they enhanced Nelson's reputation tor innovation. Through the luck of the lottery draw, the Warriors won the first pick in the '93 draft and. wouldn't you know it, a talented big man was available.

They chose Webber and suddenly it seemed like Nelson's fantasy was about to begin.

Little did anyone realize his coaching ca­ reer was almost over.

Reminds many of Isiah Thomas.

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New Yortt, New York: While new Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy (left) prays for success in the

handling elicited a few thumbs downs.

Stephen Marbury, 6-2, Georgia Tech. Even though he’s a freshman, the scouts call him the best pure point guard in the country. Some say if he declared, he would be an automatic top-three pick, maybe No. I. Allen Iverson, 6-foot, Georgetown. Unlike Mar­ bury. he’s more of a scorefirst point guard, and he doesn’t have Marbury^ pro body. Iverson does have the potential to carry a team.

Seventy victories is now a gimme for the Bdls, who are on a pace to win 72. Of the 14 games on the March sched­ ule. only four are against teams with winning records.

The players admit it’s a goal.

T h ere isn't any question."

Scottie Pippen says. “We aren't going to overlook any team." Knicks 104. Bd ls 72.

What do you say now. Scot­ tie? ... Pistons Coach Doug Collins is pushing Grant Hill for most improved player, but last we saw. Hifl still strug­ gles with the 18-foot jumper.

The other day against the Hawks, Hifl made his first 3pointer of the season, ending

BYTUE NUMBERS The Trail Blazers will have to make 62 percent of their free throws the rest of the season or risk having the lowesMree-throw percentage of any team in history. The Blazers-entered the week with a .644 percentage.

Based on their rate of 28.9 attempts per game.

Portland will have to shoot better than .613 to avoid breaking the all-time iow, .636, by the 1967-68 76ers.

The Blazers’ futility highlights a leaguewide decline in foul shooting. This season's .739 league average is the third lowest in 27 seasons. Since ’88-89, the league average has dropped 29 percentage points. Here Is a comparison of the Blazers' career percentages entering the season vs. their figures this season (minimum 85 attempts): ’’ r. - 4. fen * C aw *ii _ ta HEA .: >Pet - vmm Pet .* m v •>: 61-119 £13 O rt Ducky. * sn 66125 I- ' 352 <667e rn: , HoweyO a f 247-305 : c * Robeson £Bf £25 7 8 215338 £36 rn R o d sMcMantf84-131 £41 3U±WfeTB BBA : -15 £67 76114 «BHBSnCCHjQn £21 3 -' — AxitesSafaris 156214 729 1 ’A m 'I M s Y 126161 . 764 2 £85 r

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an 0-for-ll drought ... The Mavericks are hoisting 3point shots at a record pace these days. having taken 49 in one game. But its all for

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— Bol Baum naught. Thats why Dallas needs a big man in the worst way. ♦

Shaun Powell covers the NBA fo r Newsday.

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32 • NBA

The Sporting News

■ Adjustments. Early in the season, rookie point guard Tyus Edney beal teams by penetrating and dishing off. But as the season went on. other teams began to leave him open bn the perimeter, sagging the middle to cut off his drives and daring In December, the Kjngs appeared lo be a lock lo make the him to hit the jumper. Over the last 23 games, his shooting playoffs for the first time since the 1985^ season. L’nfortu- percentage is 37 percent “Teams have made adjustments lo him and he has to make naieh' for the team and its lonp-sufferin^t fans, it looks as if they some to them." Polynice says. “Because you bust somebod>' w-ill be pla>inp SBA lotten' once again. the first night, doesn't mean It's "Sacramenio’s dropping like a going to happen the second time. rock." the Suns' Charles Barkley he gets into the paint, the says. “Plummeting, without a big men are really converging on parachute" him, and they can distract his The Kings began the season a shot Then the guards shift shocking 19-9. nearly neck and neck with the Sonics. But enter­ around and keep him from mak­ ing the week. Sacramento had ing the pass out" lost five straight and 16 of its last In a move to take some pres­ I" and was fighting the Trail Bla2 sure off Edney. Coach Garry St ers and Nuggets for the eighth Jean has replaced him in the playoff spot in the Western Con­ starting lineup with Bobby Hur­ ference ley. But he. too. has been unable \STial has happened? Mce to hit from the outside.

■ Confidence. “The reason President Geoff Petrie doesn't you bounce out of tough times. have any answers about the like .Atlanta and Cleveland did team's collapse other than to say.

“Barly on we stopped defending. earlier this year." St jean says.

Now it has spread to some other “is a positive attitude. They be­ lieved in themselves." Bul unlike areas."

Here are a few of them; the Hawks and Cavaliers, the Kings have had trouble recover­ ■ Injuries. The Rockets and Kings have seen Several players ing once the)’ fall behind early or when they get challenged late gel hurt. Bul while the Rockets and don't play weD enough on de­ have found different people to complement Hakeem Olajuwon. fense lo b il them out in those sit­ uations. They blew a 25-point the Kings have yet to find help second-half lead against the for guard Mitch Richmond, who has been swarmed by opposing Celtics in January but often have defenses Guard Sarunas Marciappeared distressed once they get down by as little as six points, ulionis. the team's only other ■^Ve're just not bringing it like we consisionT 'scorer, has missed Thrones to tteoes: Without Marciulionis, points — and nctories — hav-e been hard to come by/br the AVngSL games b«‘cause of knee and leg used to." Richmond says. “I don't see the fire and desire and to­ injuries. He nra>* return this week Forward .Michael Smith, who provided offensive re­ getherness we had (earK in the season).’ bounding and transition scoring, missed five games with a Having gone through an 11-game losing streak last month. sprained ankle. Center Olden Polynice hasn't missed a the Kings are trying lo become onl>’ the fifth team in league game bul has been bothered by back spasms. And Rich­ histon* to lose IO or more consecutive games and stil! make mond himself has been hampered by a sore knee. The re­ the playoffs (the 1952-53 Baltimore Bullets. 197^77 Bulls and cent trade of co-<'aptain Walt Williams and Tyrone Corbin 79-80 and *85-86 Trail Blazers are the others). St Jean, who to the Heat for Billy ()w(-ns and Kevin Gamble was made in has yet to point fingers at any players, thinks it can be done. part to get more offensive help. Bul Owens has been slowed ■^'e haven*! had a lot of things go our way lately." he says. bv a sore foot.

“But there*s still plenty of time."

A royal collapse

TSN POWER POLL W4.

Comment Ttsm S4-6 Jordan hits 50 tor 34th<jfr>e m hts career I. Bulb u -« n > e streak e over, Out thev're DOised tor another am 2. Sonics 47-13 Can thev be beaten at home’ Maybe m the oiavofts I Mw*c 46-15 4?. 17 4. J a n Terentv vTctones in their last 24 oames S. Sours 41-18 Dei NecKD omeOv havinc a soM season Mbqtc 6)6 the nob] thmo sn drooptno out at Oiymotc hum & 38-21 Likers 7. Rockets 40-22 Rudv T wmrwx} with KaKeem and the C SA al-stars Oui w e sl a* least they beat the Gnzzbes. & Pecers 39-22 Feia&v proved thev can wtn without Brandon S. Cevsfiers 34-26 Hnrks Laeflner beommrx; to shake the 'selfish' labei la 34-26 ll.

Suns C anl seem to oet awav trom .500 30-30 .33-27 12. Pistons Seemo three Bad Soys sn Chcaoo has to hurt a little.

Hey. Erme Grunfeid Netbe wasnl the problem. ll Knicks u.

Maybe Anthony Goktwire can become the next Chns Chdds Hornets 29-31 Heat .

Shodunq but true Hardaway piayuiQ so&d D tor Riev IS. 29-32 Warriors Uubn may be able to play if they can make the oiavoffs. ta 28-33 27-34 17. TrsB Blazers Who wa be the one to OO, Rod or P J.?

27-34 Rasheed seems to be orowmo up a kale each dame. ta. Burets, 28-34 Broken nose makes McDvess' NBA indoctrination comolete 19. Muwets 20. Kk)OS 25-33 Sacramento, the kxterv wouidnt have been (he same without you.

21. Nets 24-35 Beard unhappy with second-haH lades.

22. Cetlfcs 22-39 Wouldnl tans love iocai hero Marcus Cambv in CeAc oreen’ 21 Havertcks 21-39 Contmumo to put up O-oomters a1 record pace 24. Bucks How lono before they oet more heft) for Vm’ 21-38 Pooh leadmo the way on the East Coast swino.

2S. Cfiooers 21-39 IM I 26. Tlmbenrohres Momma sard there d be days 6ke this. J.R. 15-44 27. Raotors Sharone Wnoht heanno cheers for a cbanoe 12-47 26th <£fierem stamno tmeuo oets same resutt tor Lucas.

28. 76ers 29. Grtzzfies 11-47 Soty-lrve or so losses and no chance al the top pck.

Records are throogti Saturday's games Tu} .MxjKTisi. SfWN n 8A F^wer Po8 is determined try Shaun Powell and TSN editors

POWELUS PL W Dog fight There are grumblings about Bucks forward Glenn Robinson being named to the Olympic learn when he isn't even the best player on his own team. That distinction belongs to twotime Ail-Star Vin Baker, who leads the Bucks in scoring and rebounding.

Robinson’s numbers (20.6 scoring average.

45 percent shooting) are comparable lo those he put up last season, but his shooting per­ centage since the .All-Star break is closer lo 36. \Mlh three deserving players — Jason Kidd. Mitch Richmond and Shawn Kemp — angling for the last two spots, you have lo ask yourself: Is Robinson a better choice than any of them?

Kidd continues to rack up triple-doubles with the Mavericks, the K in^' Richmond is lied for fifth in the league in scoring and Kemp may be having his best all-around sea­ son for the Sonics.

But the bottom line is that the selections are all political and cosmetic^yway. and also fairly meaningless, considenng the U.S. team will romp in Atlanta this summer.

—SHJUfflPowai

THE liOOK ON...

■George Mt^lloud s lb ^ moves Jib. .finger over tlie-scare on his right fobt He Irabs the hiclston along his left anWe. He is iii bitter/The scare are remindere,symbols of the physical and emotional pain he h^^rixim e to enjt^ the be^ season of fife'ca^f; UtteringW S iih d ^ had ^rag^23J5p6im ; rbtouhds and2^ steiab;tj^ games, ihdud^:4i:|)i3rd^^^^ rani^ttB.191 seafidbUheieaflii^^^

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'He's starting to riiiake a rome for hiniself-Maverids Cioach DickMotia says. . .

McCloud’s overall scoring average of 18.9 pointe is moretlten double whatit was last season and is n e ^ 13 pointe above htecateer averc^e, With Jarti^ Mashbum lost for the season with a bad knee and Po p ^ Jones suffering from knee tendinite, McCloud has settled into the starting powerfoiward role in Motta's revamp^ offense.'

McChMd was Elected bythe Pacers out of RoHdaState with the seventtvpick ofthe 1989.draft Birt his teur years in Indian'dte^Ived into a series of injufies and-uhfolfiiled promt^He lin'derwent two surgeries on his tight foot. one on his teftankle^d another on hte thumb.

Ihosefnjuries robbed McCloudJof his ability; Personal tragedy.^tHJth Ids parehtedied during a four-month period in 1991— sapp^him of his desire. *ltmakes the w ^ I’m.pte^ffnow that rnudi hidreeati^ng:* he says, *to Imdwt hounttd from mote

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL • 33

March 18.1996_____________________________________________________

COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT

Today’s recruiting circus hasn’t changed Curry

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case one piece of gossip turns out to have meat on its bones. With more and more me­ dia outlets becoming available, there's no rea­ son to think the hunger for recruiting news will abate.

'T h e thing that startled me about it ail."

Curry says.'Vas how almost obsessive the attendon is on one young individual. How unbelievably difficult it must be for him and his family. Tim handled it with total equilibrium.

He didn't change. Usually what it does is blow the yo^ng man’s mind. He expects to be treated Uke a god. It didn't happen with I im " The way Couch handled the attendon gives Curry hope that Couch will handle the coming crush in the fall the same way. Couch signed with a program that has many holes. but one of them is not quarterback. Billy Jack Haskins proved last season to be a tough leader. That won’t stop the public clamor for Couch.

'W e ’re going to bring in a very good re­ cruiting class, and one guy is going to get all the attendon," Curry says. “I've yet to figure out how to handle it. for his sake and the team’s sake." Curry has five months to figure it o u t Wildcats fans are otherwise occupied this month. But th e re s no quesdon Couch has changed the landscape, especially in his hometown. Hyden recently installed its sec­ ond stoplight

I But ail Kentucky fans care about these I days is that the savior stayed home. If Couch ‘ proves to be half as good as the hysterical ! faithful expect, h ell be the best quarterback j in school history. j Curry has an uncommon perspective on | his business. He has kept the big picture in focus, whether he has coached at a perennial have (.Alabama) or have-not (Georgia Tech.

Kentucky). His view of recruiting Couch is Ivan noteworthy because of the intensity of the MAISEL spotlight on the quarterback, the national high school player of the year.

“T h e last time I was in (a recruiting war) entucky Coach Bill Curry didn’t that w*as even close was Herschel Walker,” have to sign local hero Tim Couch Curry says. “I was the head coach at Georgia to save his job. Athletic D irector Tech. It seemed to be of the same magnitude.

C.M. Newton decided to keep Cur­ But there was no ESPN , no USA Today, no ry last November, before the quarterback one called from New York. T here was the from Hyden, Ky., committed to the Wildcats. same kind of national attention, but there But the pubHc-relations boost Curry received wasn’t the same technology.” helped tremendously- Last w eek s departure He left out talk radio, the boom box of the .Alabama canceled its .April 13 “A-Day” by defensive coordinator Mike Archer, who modern sports culture, where any fan with spring game because of drainage problems at went lo the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a bigger third-, fourth- or llth-hand information can Bryant-Denny Stadium, but you won't see loss than Couch's signing is a gain, at least in float it out over the airwaves. Coaches have Coach D en e Stallings shed any tears. With the short term. to keep an ear peeled to the shows just in the NCAA allowing only IO practices with

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Water and the Tide

contact, coaches are loath to devote one of those sessions to a game played largely as a sop for the fans.

The grass never recovered from the Mis­ sissippi State game last November, which took place in a monsoon. A cold, wet winter didn’t help, either. The university had two • choices: dig up the field and repair the drainage system, or plant rice legion Field in Birmingham, the Crimson Tide’s other home field, is unavailable because ct preparations for Olympic soccer

Around the nation

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Mississippi State got hit with one year of scholarship losses after the NCAA found that a former Bulldogs assistant had promised players improper benefits and that a booster had been providing the same Coach Jackie Sherrill will be able to sign only 12 players next February and have only .st) on scholar­ ship. five below the limit, in 1997. ... No. you're not having flashbacks to 1994. In the past week. Nebraska’s Tommie Frazier laid in a hospital with a blood clot in his leg and defensive tackle Christian Peter was accused of assault. Frazier's story is sad. Peter's is. too. +

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Ivan M aisel covers college fo otba ll fo r Sewsday.

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a s t e a d y s t r e a m of

W ith S P O R T R A X in y o u r p o c k e t , y o u 'll k n o w w h a t ’s h a p p e n in g a t ail t h e g a m e s , a n y tim e , a n y w h e r e . Y ou c a n s t a y a b r e a s t of a w h o le ,le a g u e o r a s in g le te a m w ith th e to u c h o f a fe w "b u tto n s .

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■* Faster than any beeper!

M u ch f a s t e r th a n a n y b e e p e r s y s te m , in io f m a t io n is b r o a d c a s t fro m o u r s ta te -o ft h e - a r t 'c o n t r o l r o o m v ia s a t e l li t e to S P O R T R A X in o v e r 4 5 c it ie s n a tio n w id e an d in C a n a d a . C all u s to d a y to s e e if w e ’re in y o u r city .

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The Sporting News

Making the fir fly In taking expansionism to a new level 3 the Panthers and Jaguars already are stalking playoff berths Bv Sc o t t F o w ler t see m s like yesterday w hen they w ere ju st cu te babies, squealing ab o u t th e ex p an sio n draft and g e ttin g put to bed long before any of th e im p o rtan t NFL b u sin e ss w as co n d u cted . But th e P an th ers and J a g u a rs have grow n up fast — so fast that su d d en ly th e e have b eco m e so m e th in g of a p ro b lem to th e m en who created th em U k e gaw k)', athletic te e n a g e rs, the le a g u e s two new est team s have already dis­ co v ered tb ev can so m etim es beat th eir d ad s in a g a m e of one-on-one. And with a slew of picks in th e draft to com plem ent the high-pro­ file free a g e n ts alread y sig n ed, it w on't be a m ajor su rp rise if C arolina o r Jacksonville — m aybe even both — qualify for th e playoffs in onlv th e ir second seaso n s.

T ile P a n th e rs nearly m ad e it to .500 in 1995. d u m ping final-four te im s San Francisco and indianapolis on th e ir way to a 7-9 record.

Jack so n v ille beat P ittsb u rg h once and m an­ ag ed a 4-12 re co rd , w hich w ould have been th e b est in history* for an ex p an sio n team if not for Carolina. ‘'B o th Jacksonville and C arolina are now in th e sam e position as that g ro u p of o r 9-7 te a m s co m p etin g for th e final playoff sp o ts every y ear." say s M ich ael H u y g h u e. J a c k ­ so n v ille's vice p re sid e n t of football o p era­ tions.

P a n th e rs C oach D om C ap ers says. T h a t old w ord. ’e x p a n sio n .' s e e m s to be disap­ pearing m ore and m o re " In fact, th e quick su c c e ss of C arolina and Jacksonville h as so m e NFL type? g ru m b lin g that this y ea r* extra draft picks are unfair and u n n ecessary. Both team s w ere giver? 14 picks in both of th e ir first two d ra fts but trad ed so m e away. T h is y ear. C arolina h a s 12 picks to n e in th e first, second and sixth rounds, two in th e th ird , fourth and fifth; and th re e in the sev en th ), and Jacksonville h a s 11 (one in the first, sec o n d and fo u rth ro u n d s , and tw o in th e third, fifth, sixth and sev en th ro u n d s).

“W hat h a s h a p p e n e d h e re is th at the leag u e h as c re a te d two D allas C ow boy-type b u ild in g situ atio n s." o n e g e n e ra l m a n a g e r says. ’.And th e ironic th in g is w e’re ju st gtv-

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Crashing the parity: The Jaguars and Harry Colon (24J weren't as successful as the Panthers and Collins, but both teams got a running start because o ffree agency and extra draft picks Don Vbe surprised to see one or both finish as high as 9-7 and make the playoffs

9

ing th em ail th is stuff, th ey d o n ’t even need to trad e H ersch el W alk er and Steve W alsh to g et i t " B oth te a m s have em p lo y ed a sco rch ed field philosophy d u rin g th e first few w eeks of free ag en cy , slin g in g m o n ey aro u n d like Steve F orbes. C o n s id e r ■ C arolina’s h ead lin e acquisition w as Erie Davis, not only b e c a u se h e is a P ro Bowl co r­ n e rb a c k b u t b ecau se th ey put a big hit on the division-rival 49ers. T h e r e a re a lot of sim ilarities in th e P a n th e rs ’ organiza­ tion to th e o n e th at I'm leaving.” says D avis, w ho re a c h e d th a t co n clu sio n a fte r h e a c c e p te d a four-year. $ 11.4m illion contract.

■ Jack so n v ille locked u p fo rm e r P ittsb u rg h rig h t tack le Leon Searcy' for a sta g g e rin g $17 million o v er five y ears. T h e co n tract included a $5-miL lion sig n in g b o n u s and m ad e Searcy th e highest-paid offensive linem an in th e NFL S earcy ’s position is o f major im portance to th e Ja g u a rs b e c a u se he will p ro tect th e blind sid e of lefth an d ­ ed q u a rte rb a c k M ark Brunell.

■ T h e P a n th e rs actually liked R aiders rig h t tack le G reg S k rep en ak b e tte r th an S earcy, an d th ey sig n ed him as a b o o k e n d to p ro m isin g left tackle B lake B ro ck erm ey er. T h e Pan­ th e r s also p ick ed tig h t e n d W esley W alls off th e sh e lf o f th e ir favorite sto re — th e Saints. N ew O rle an s h a s lost linebacker Sam Mills, safety B rett M axie. p u n te r T o m m y B a r n h a r t , lin eb ack er D arion C o n n er, defensive ja; c o o rd in a to r Vie F angio and now £ W alls to Carolina. | ■ Jack so n v ille gave $10.4 m illion § o v er four y e a rs to lin e b a c k e r E ddie | R obinson, w ho h ad 3 xk c a re e r sack s | in fo u r y e a rs w ith th e O ilers b u t exw eels in p ass coverage.

T h e tw o e x p a n sio n te a m s have c h a s e d afte r th e sa m e free a g e n ts tw ice al­ ready. N e ith e r team latch ed o n to lin eb ack er C ornelius B e n n e tt w ho accepted A tlanta’s of­ fer. Jacksonville outbid C arolina for wide re ­ c e iv e r K eenan M cC ardeQ . w ho often o u t­ played A n d re Rison in C leveland last seaso n .

T h e s e tw o te a m s have a tre m e n d o u s fu­ tu re." G reen Bay G eneral M an a g er Ron W olf says. T o u can se e a lot of re se m b la n c e s to th e wav th e C olorado R ockies w ere in th eir sec o n d se a so n .”

T h e J a g u a rs and P a n th e rs plan to sign an­ o th e r co u p le of p lay ers b e fo re free ag en cy en d s. And w ith Jacksonville h o ld in g th e sec­ ond overall pick in th e first ro u n d of th e draft and C arolina th e eig h th , th e se team s are like­ ly to b e stan d in g as tall a s M el K iper’s h air in late .April

arolina, in p articu lar, is in a p ro m is­ ing situation — m ainly b e c a u se of its sta rtlin g seven-victory se a so n and b rie f flirtation w ith a playoff b e rth in ’95. T h e P a n th e rs also m an ag ed to finish ju st low e n o u g h to avoid a s c h e d u lin g d isa ste r.

B e c a u se of a last-gam e lo ss to W ash in g to n , th ey still g et to face a favorable fourth-place sc h e d u le in *96.

T h e m e e k o ffen se alread y lo o k s b e tte r w ith th e ad d itio n o f S k re p e n a k and W ells.

Q u arterb ac k K erry C ollins. 23. is a 6-5. 240p o u n d talen t w ho w ould gladly' give up h is fa­ v o rite D isco v ery C h a n n e l n a tu re d o c u m e n ­ ta rie s for a co u p le m o re receivers.

It is C aro lin a's g ray in g d e fe n se th a t w ins g am es, how ever. C ap ers and a front office led

by TSN E xecutive of th e Y ear Bill Polian (see related story) co b bled up a unit th at tied for

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36 • NFL

The Sporting News

NFL REPORT

They may be down, but they’re far from out

Bob G LAU BER

erry Jones and Carmen Polio* have spent the better part of the past three years banding the free-agency system to its knees, making the complexities of the salary cap look as easy as a fifth* grader’s multiplication tables.

Whether its Polio* signing Deion Sanders for $1 million or Jones signing him for $35 million a year later, the end result has been the same: One of these two financial genius­ es wins it all in january.

Now. for the reality check. Though Jones and Policy have made their front-office con­ temporaries look like a bunch of two-bit ac­ countants. the two have been drawn consid­ erably closer to earth over the past month.

Not that their respective teams are ready to crumble into the ashes of the dreaded re­

J

building phase, but certainly the foundations : of both have been noticeably shaken.

Consider ■ The Cowboys made a quick and deci­ sive strike in the hours before the free agency signing period began by signing Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson to a six-year. $1^-million contract extension that included a $5.4-miliion signing bonus.

But it has been downhill ever since. Steady defensive tackle Russell Maryland is gone, having been overpaid by the Raiders. Ditto for Super Bowl MAT Larry Brown. Underrat­ ed outside linebacker Dixon Edwards left for the Vikings and emerging middle linebacker Robert Jones signed with the Rams. Backup offensive lineman Ron Stone now is a Giants starter. .And remember, the Cowboy’s only extend­ ed one-year qualifying offers to speedy out­ side linebacker Darrin Smith and improving free safety Brock Marion, meaning both could be lost as unrestricted free agents next year. Marion could even be lost sooner than that because Dolphins Coach Jimmy Johnson is considering making Marion an offer. .And don’t forget Jones’ promise to keep Emmitt Smith happy with a multiyear con­ tract extension that will keep him in Dallas for the rest of his career. Emmitt might be happy, but Jones will have that much less to sign other free agents.

dollars to use to pursue free agents.

■ The 49ers went into free agency with three priorities: Re-sign cornerback Eric Davis, sign a big-time pass rusher and ac­ quire a blue-chip running back. So what hap­ pens? They lose Davis to the division-rival Panthers, they lose a bidding war to the divi­ sion-rival Rams for defensive end Leslie O'Neal, and their six-year. $16.45-million of fer sheet/© running back Rodney’ Hampton is matched by the Giants in about three sec­ onds.

What gives, fellas? “I think the facts are that there is a salary cap. a true salary’ cap.

Snap judgments

DRAFT WATCH * v *f

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make all Rethrows. They also want to see if the " There is a dire need for collarbone remains a quarterbacks, but there problem. Judgment day is doesn’t appear to be one March 28, when he works worthy of first-round out at Northern Arizona. selection in ’96. There if his blood-dotting > might not even be a problems can be solved, second-rounder.

Nebraska’s Tommie Frazier Not since 1988 has the remains an.interesting league completed the prospect'though early opening round without comparisonsto Kordell taking a quarterback.

Stewarthave fallen short There could be a repeat 5 Frazier lacks Stewart’s Bobby Hoying of Ohio P a sta s Warest Kanell blazing speed. He also State and Danny Kanell of could he an early grab. needs a lot more work as a Florida State are the top dropback passer. quarterbacks available. Some teams like Other players that loom as potential Hoying, who threw a school-record 57 projects are Brook Barringer, Frazier’s career touchdown passes, and some backup at Nebraska; Kyle Wachhbltz, prefer Kanell, who set his school record who started one season at USO; and Jon with 61 TD passes. Neither, however, Stark, a benchwarmer for two years at has the cannon arm of traditional firstRonda State before transferring to Trinity International, an NAIA school. round picks.

"Everybody’s trying to figure out why The dark horse is Northern Arizona's Jeff le w s . He put up bigger career there aren't more quarterbacks,” says Tom Donahoe, the Steeled' director of numbers at the NCAA Division l-AA level, football operations. “It seems like every but he is recovering from a broken year there's fewer and fewer, especially collarbone suffered late last season. He the blue-chip guys. But there are 30 didn't play m any postseason all-star teams, and everybody’s got to have games, nor did he participate in the three. They've got to come from scouting combine. So scouts are eager somewhere." ♦ to see Lewis work out. They want to — Riot GfK V 2 I I scrutinize his mechanics and watch him

Pocket veto

Texas Brager A t a glance, jones has fewer

Don’t look for the Red­ skins to trade Gus Frerotte. even though the third-year quarterback has drawn in­ terest and several trade ru­ mors have been floated. The Redskins want to retain Frerotte and Heath Shuler until they are certain which player emerges as the long­ term starter.

Meanwhile, it would be a shock if Craig Erickson re­ mains in Indianapolis this season. Possible destina­ tions: Arizona, S t Louis and Pittsburgh.

Quick hits l<e#gue officials are dis­ cussing the possibility of moving the draft from late April to mid-March. The big Reason: Too many blue-chip players are choosing not to work out a1 the February scouting combine and in­ stead work out privately for scouts at their respective schools. The league figures if the draft is closer in time to the combine, more play­ ers would attend and partici­ pate in all the drills.... LSC hideout Kevshawn Johnson ran exceptionally well in a *•

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and that we all have to live with’it." Jones says. “W e knew this was coming, and we’re not surprised. Under our current system, you can’t just keep on signing players without reaching a certain lim it There is a ceiling for everyone, and its a matter of how you struc­ ture your deals as to when y o u reach that ceilmg. W ell reach ours more quickly than oth­ er teams because we’ve had a number of key players that we’ve chosen to keep."

Policy’ concedes things haven't gone as well as the 49ers would have liked, but refus­ es to throw his Super Bowl dreams into the salary-cap scrap heap.

T h e sense in the organization is that we have enough self-confidence that we don’t panic, and that we don’t go out and follow oth­ ers that are storming toward the cliff's edge and simply jump off because they"re jumping off." he says. “We set value. We recognize that there should be finite limitations as to what should be spent on a player’s contract and we try to live with our judgment and our evaluation. W e’re not willing to overreact" Nor should we overreact to what appears to be a series of stunning setbacks to two teams that have combined to win the last four Super Bowls. The fact is Dallas and San Fran­ cisco, despite the limitations imposed on them by the cap. continue to boast the two most-talented rosters in the NFC. if not the N F L Yes. Dallas has lost four defensive starters, but it still has cornerstone players such as Woodson, Sanders, Leon Lett. Tony Tolbert and Charles Haley.

And one way or another, the 49ers will solve their crisis at running back — either through the draft or the return of fullback WlUiam Floyd, or both.

So even if Jones and Policy might not be fighting for executive of the year awards, they'll still be competing for a higher honor — a Super Bowl berth.

workout last week. Most scouts clocked him between 4.47 and 4.53 in two 40-yard dashes. He also recorded a vertical leap of 36 inches. five inches better than he did at the combine. Johnson could be the first receiver taken with the first pick since the Patriots chose Irv­ ing Fryar in 1984.... Look for the Bills to extend Thurman Thomas' contract probably through the 1998 season.

Thomas is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to make a whop­ ping $3.9 million in base salary7. A restructured deal would give the Bills suffi­ cient room to sign free-agent linebacker Chris Spielman, who has agreed to terms on a tour-vear. $8-million deal.

Cowboys personnel man Larry* Lacewell can’t blame the Jets for overpaying freeagent quarterback Neil O'Donnell (five years. $25 million). “I don’t know of am* other way you're going to get a quarterback like that."

Lacewell savs. “Io u can sit there forever and hope one fails out of the sky* in the draft, but it doesn’t seem like that happens very* often.

When theres a guy available •

•

and you have the opportunity to get him. you overpay him." ... Giants defensive coordina­ tor Mike Nolan isn’t overly impressed with most of the top defensive prospects in the draft “In my opinion. I think there are some good play­ ers," he says. “I don't know if theres a great one. Great is Lawrence Taylor. Reggie White, Eric Swann. I wouldn’t say there are any guys I’ve seen in that category. Theres a big difference between who’s great and who’s good."

What about Illinois line­ backer Kevin Hardy? “I don’t see Hardy as a great ’one."

Nolan says. “LT . ran a 4.55 fin the 40) and Hardy ran about a 4.8." + Bob Glauber covers the

N FL fo r Netvsday.

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AFC • 37

March 18,19%

tight end Tony McGee and lacker Doug Pelfrey.

Hies try: Guard Keith Sims, who re-signed with Miami last week. reportedly would have loved More Earnest? The team has had preliminary talks with all IO of its unrestricted free agents, I to have played for another Shula. but G.M .

Mike Brown couldn’t justify spending $2 mil­ and two of the most coveted are running back lion on him with holes at linebacker and cor­ Earnest Bvner and punter Tom Tupa. .Al­ nerback. That almost assures the club win though he is $3. Bvner showed last season he take Auburn tackle W illie .Anderson with the has some good years leftr-He was a third-down 10th pick in the draft — GedFF HOBSO* specialist in 1995 (catching 61 passes for 494 yards) and started .the final two games for in­ jured Leroy Hoard But Byner's real valuejnay be in tutoring a top running back out of the draft. Byner has visits planned for Pittsburgh Loyalty runs deep: One of and San Diego. The team also has interest in the more promising re-sighing two other unrestricted free agents. trends of the offseason tight end Brian Kinchen and safety Louis Rid­ has been the way the tal­ dick. and two players who were cut by the ented group of receivers team last month, defensive tackle Tim Goad has fallen into line. First and running back Lorenzo White. .Anthony M iller agreed No tears: Although the team had mild inter­ to a pay cut then backup est in re-signing guard Bob Dahl, there Vance Johnson, the last of the amigos, did the wasn’t a lot of disappointment when the Red­ same, and now injury-plagued M ike Pritchard skins signed him. Baltim ore officials thought is asking the team to cut his contract rather his performance had declined from a year than trade him. Only Shannon Sharpe's con­ ago .... The franchise could have a name and tract status remains unsettled, but indications colors as soon as next week. The top tour are that it is just a matter of time. Johnson ex­ nickname candidates are Bombers, Maraud­ plains it this way: W ith the guys we’ve got on ers, Ravens'tnd Mustangs, with Marauders offense. I think we’ve got an excellent chance the probable winner.

— MIKE PRESTO* to make it back to the Super Bow! next year." he says, “ lf we stay healthy. I don't see any­ body out there who can stop our offense."

Fullhocsa backfield: .Among the most produc­ tive offensive players last season was convert­ Gaining speed: Quinn ed fullback Aaron Craver, but the club re­ Early, signed last week signed promising youngster Derrick Clark to a four-year, $8.^m il­ and made free-agent fullback Tommy Vardell lion contract, should a one-year. $400,000 offer. That says a lot provide some of the out­ about how important the position has become side speed that has been in Mike Shanahan's offense. — JOSEPH SANCHEZ sorely missing in

BALTIMORE

What? A rash: The bottom line on the Davi> signing is that it gives the team the freedom to use the ninth pick in the first round of the draft on a pass rusher, preferably a right end Oklahoma's Cedric Jones and Texas' Tony Brackens are al the top of the Oilers' list. They probably will select a receiver in the second or third round.

— JOH* MCCLAIR

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

DENVER BRONCOS

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BUFFALO BILLS

Buffalo in recent years.

"W e haven't had any considerable outside speed since Jam es Lofton and a younger Don Beebe played the outside positions." Coach M arv Levy says. The acquisition of Early greatly diminishes the possibility of the Bills resigning Andre Reed, but the club won't rule out picking a receiver in the first round of next month's draft Spielman on beant The team and free-agent in­ side linebacker Chris Spielman have agreed on a four-year, $8-miIlion contract but the deal won’t be finalized until M arch 18 (the Bills have to restructure some contracts to fit him under the salary cap). The acquisition of SpieF man. 30. helps shore up a position that took a major hit w hen Cornelius Bennett signed with Atlanta. Spielman is expected to become the club's new- starting strong inside linebacker, a position shared last season by Monty Brown and Mario Perry’.

— Vie CAIMS**

CINCINNATI BENGALS

HOUSTON OILERS

Taming to Kirk: After

free-agent guard Keith \ Sims re-signed last week (V ) with the Dolphins, the I team began to focus on signing a center, prefer­ J ably Kirk Lowdermilk. who has started all 48 games of his Colts career. With five players (M arshall Faulk. Jim Harbaugh. Quentin Coryatt. Tony Bennett and Craig Erickson) al­ ready counting more than $2 million each against the cap. it could be difficult to dish out that kind of money to another player, Still. with W ill Wofford having left for the Steeiers. the team needs to shore up its offensive line situation. Another factor is that Lowdermilk.

32. has been a positive presence in the locker room on a team short on leaders.

Length In question: W hether the contract offer to Coryatt by the Jaguars and matched by the Colts is a five-year or a six-year deal remain* in question, and the team has taken its case to a league arbitrator. The Colts say the con­ tract should cover six vears. lf the arbitrator rules in the the Colts' favor, the team would save $200,000 per season against the salarv cap.

— Terry Hutw ejis

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JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Catching on: After .enter­

Lowdown

od

Davis: Get­

ting free-agent receiver W iflie Davis (four years. $6 million. $1.5-million signing bonus) means the team will not have to use its No. I draft choice on a receiver. Davis. who caught 33 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns for the Chiefs last season, will compete with Haywood jeffires for the start­ ing job opposite Chris Sanders or with Derek Russell for the slot position in the team’s pri­ mary formation, which uses three receivers.

Jeffires. waived to bree cap money, expects to resign. He led the team with 61 receptions and scored eight touchdowns. In his four sea­ sons asa starter in Kansas City, Davis aver­ aged 17.5 yards a catch, third-best in the league behind Alvin Harper (18.6) and Flipper Anderson (17.6).

la it ap: After the team re-signed starting right outside linebacker Ricar­ do McDonald, it began looking to wrap up its re­ stricted free agents for the long term. McDon­ ald. who often moved to right end in nickel situations, agreed to a twoyear deal for $1.97 million. W ith the signing of McDonald, cornerback Ashley Ambrose and free safety Bo Orlando, the team hoped to spend $1 million to $2.5 million on a third cor­ ner. Entering the week. the team was pursu­ ing the Byes’ Tony Stargell. the Panthers' Rod Smith and the Saints’Jim m y Spencer. The rest of the team's available money is allotted for matching offers on linebacker Steve Tovar.

_ ■ _ / I \

taining free agents Jeff Graham and W illie Davis, the Jaguars eventually signed Keenan Mcii-.

Cardell to upgrade their receiving corps for 1996.

McCardell. 26. will play the Z receiver, or motion receiver, in the team's offense. He received a four-year. $5.8-million deal, including a $ 1.8-million signing bonus.

"He really has emerged as a guy who com­ mands a lot of respect." Coach Tom Coughlin says. T h e thing you realize when you study him is he has the ability to make the difficult catch." Despite the addition of McCardell. who caught 56 passes for the Browns last season, don’t be surprised to see the Jaguars take a re­ ceiver in the first round of the draft.

Staving pot: Travis Davis, who moved from free to strong safety the final three weeks of 1995. will stay at strong safety this season.

The team believes Davis has a better oppor­ tunity to use his physical style there than at free safety. That means H am ’ Colon will com­ pete with second-year man Chris Hudson for the free-safety job.

— PETE PRISCO

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Striwing for accuracy:

Yan! man: Davis, a chief deep threat the past three seasons, will now go long for the Oilers

The coaching staff has decided that -part of quarterback .

Steve Bono's downfield-passing problem was the constant rotation at wide receiver. So the team will scrap its rotation system and go with its

starters in two-receiver sets. U k e Dawson and Tamanck Vanover probably will emerge a* the starters unless the team signs a free agent. .After losing Webster Slaughter (released) and W illie Davis (free agency), depth at the posi­ tion I* a major question. Two restricted free agents. Danan Hughes and Victor Bailey, are the only backups with experience ... The loss of Davis to the Oilers was no surprise. The i team never showed interest sn resigning him. j Secondary concerns: Early indications are the I team might look for defensive backfield help in the draft. William White could slide into the free safety spot vacated by Mark Collins, who * retired. But that leaves Doug Terry as the only veteran backup safety, and Terry is a free agent, lf Dale Caner re-signs and teams again with James Hasty, the team is set at comer■ back.

— Adam Tbcher

MIAMI DOLPHINS Rotan) game: The team was able to retain Pro Bowl guard Keith Sims because he didn't draw as much interest in free agency as he expected and the Dolphins had ex­ tra money when they didn't keep Marco Coleman and Troy Vincent. .Along with the contract came a word of warn­ ing from Coach jim my Johnson, who is wary of Sims' reputation for complaining about tough practices. Johnson says players will practice in pads well into the season, some­ thing that Sims has disapproved of in the past The Fred zone: In need of an established re­ ceiver to play opposite () J M d Juffir. the I )niphins signed former Eagle Fred Barnett to a five-year. $&>miilion contract Barnet!. 3o. is a former Pro Bowl player who is coming off a subpar season (48 receptions, ti TI Hi in which he was hampered by leg injuries Restricted free-agent receiver/ return man C h a r le s Jordan was signed to a three-year. $2 6-million offer sheet, and Green Bay is not expected to match the offer. ... Dallas defensive back Robert Bai­ ley was signed to a two-year. $615,000 deal. He •will help in the nickel package and on special teams.

— ArMAMDO SALSBERG

NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS Familiar face: The team brought Irving Fry ar to Fox boro for a physical and a meeting with Own­ er Robert Kraft. Coach Bill Paradis is looking to improve his wide receiv­ ing corps, and Fryar. who began his career with New England. would like to come back. “I'd love to see a guy like him on our team." Kraft says “ But realis­ tically. the only way we'd have a <hot at get­ ting him would bi' to do something based on production and incentives. I'm not saying he's not worth what he wants, but when you bring in one player at as high a co<t as it would take to get Irving here, it eliminates the chance of doing three or four other things that are need­ ed to improve the team."

Help wanted: The team is looking to upgrade its defensive unit, even though the first three visitors were offensive players Receiver Fred Barnett was in Foxboro but signed with Mia­ mi. Frvar and fullback Tommv Vardell were the other visitors. .. Players were schedule! (o start offseason conditioning sessions in Foxboro. Attendance is required four days a week.

— KEYN MAWIX *

rn

The Sporting News

38 • AFC/NFC ey elsewhere but wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender. He also said he wanted to play between center Dermontti Dawson and left tackle John Jackson, whom he called two of the best linemen in the N F L QB sniping: A close friend of Neil O’Donnell says he's glad the quarterback signed with the Jets. He says nobody in the Steelers’ or­ ganization came to O'Donnell’s defense after his two costly interceptions in the Super Bowl. They hung him out to dr)'." says Ted Monica, the A.D. at Madison (N J.) High School. “ (Bill) Cowher is another impostor.

He just laid it off on Neil." Director of football operations Tom Donahoe did defend O’Don­ nell the day after the game, saving the quar­ terback probably would be unjustly criticized for the two passes caught by Super Bowl M TP Larry Brown.

— GERST DULAC

NEW YORK JETS Keystones speed: DSC receiver Kevshawn Johnson, who probably v^ill go to the jets with the top pick of the draft, impressed team officials in his private workout for scouts. The team clocked Johnson at 4.46 seconds in the 40. He ran on a fast outdoor track, but for a player his size (64. 210). that's still a terrific time. The Jets, like many teams, were curious to test Johnson's speed, the only remaining question about him. The Jets have yet to reveal their draft plans. They remain open-minded to the option of trading down. but unless they're bowled over bv an offer, they will stay at No. I and pick johnson.

Hands on: The Jets also are in the market for a veteran receiver. They lost in the bidding for the Saints’ Quinn Early (Bills) and the Ea­ gles' Fred Barnett (Dolphins), but they're still hopeful of signing the Bears' Jeff Graham.

Failing that, they could rum to a familiar face — Terance Mathis, who played four seasons with the Jets before signing with Atlanta as a free agent in *94. The Jets are scheduled to meet with Mathis next week. — RICH ClMIKI •

•

*

•

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Coleman reunion: Marco

OAKLAND RAIDERS Hoss derby: The team continues talks with fre^agent quarterback Jeff Hostetler with ru­ mors of its interest in Jeff George as back­ ground noise. Hostetler might not want to re­ turn. in pan because the team is planning to revive its deep-passing game. Throwing deep isn’t Hostetler's strength; plus. he liked the short drops and short-passing offense Coach Mike White installed.... .Another name to sur­ face in the quarterback search: Randall Cun­ ningham. He possess­ es the one thing Own* er Al Davis covets — a strong arm.

All aboard: Former Cardinal Lorenzo Lynch, signed to a thre^year. $3-million contract, probably will be the team's starting Hostetler strong safety. Lynch.

32. totaled three inter­ ceptions the last two years, but he returned his only one last season for a 72-yard touch­ down. defeating Seattle in overtime. ... The team signed tre^agent offensive lineman Charles McRae to a two-year. $600,000 con­ tract. McRae will compete for the starting job al right tackle. The team is considering sev­ eral other offensive tackles, including Steve Wallace and Ham Sw-avne. — R d * K b OICHJCK

PITTSBURGH STEELERS Worries oven The sign­ ing of free-agent guard W ill Wolford eases any concern created by the free-agent loss of right tackle Leon Searcy. Wok ford, who received a four-year. $9.9-million deal, said he could have signed for more mon♦

'

Coleman became the team’s most expensive free-agency purchase when he signed for three years at $9.6 mil­ lion with a $4-million signing bonus. That makes Coleman the team's third-highest paid player behind linebacker Junior Seau and quarterback Stan Humphries. General Man­ ager Bobby Beathard believes its money well spent “ In these days of big contracts, you have to be real careful who you give them to."

Beathard says. “But he is a guy who its not going to affect I have no doubt in my mind."

Coleman, who had 6; : sacks last season for the Dolphins, replaces six-time Pro Bowl end Leslie O'Neal.... The team also acquired safe­ ty Kevin Ross with a two-year. $ 1.8-million deal. Ross will replace Bo Orlando, who signed with the Bengals.

Feel the draft With Coleman's signing, the team is out of the free-agent market It will look to the draft for help at wide receiver, running back, tight end and linebacker. The team does not have a first-round pick. ... The team will face the Steelers in an .American Bowl game in late July at the Tokyo Dome.

— JAY PARIS

SEATTLE SEAHAUKS Time to act Coach Den­ nis Erickson doesn't want to see his nickel pass de*3 fense get tom apart by free agency. He’s press­ ing backup cornerback Selwyn Jones, who is be­ ing pursued by the Ben­ gals and Broncos, for a decision on whether he's staving in Seattle. Erickson wants backup safety Rafael Robinson to return, but he knows the Oilers also want him. The good news for Er­ ickson is that he has plenty of depth at safety. “lf Rafael leaves, we still have Jay Bellamy and Tony Covington." he says. “lf we lose Selwyn, well have to make a move for a comer." Strong safety Robert Blackmon continues to negotiate with several teams. The Seahawks hold the franchise tag on him. but they are willing to let him go for a draft choice.

Roberts gone: Despite the tre^agent defection of left tackle Ray Roberts to Detroit, the of­ fensive line is hardly in disarray. James .Atkins is set at tackle, and Derrick Graham will com­ pete against Matt Joyce and Jeff Blackshear for a starting job at guard. Erickson likes the possibility of using Todd Norman as a back­ up — Jon* Cum*

.ARIZONA CARDINALS OB battle: One of the most interesting posiDons to watch in offseaT son camp is quarter­ back. where Kent Gra­ ham was signed to a two-vear deal to compete with Dave Krieg for the starting job. Second-year man Stoney Case also is in the mix. Coach Vince Tobin said he isn’t necessarily dissatisfied with Krieg but wanted to bring someone in to challenge him.

Graham. 27. didn’t play a down as Detroit's third quarterback last season, but offensive co­ ordinator Jim Fassel is familiar with him from their days together with the Giants.._ Former Bills backup offensive lineman Mike Devlin.

26. was signed to a one-year deal. Devlin prob­ ably will be a reserve guard and center.

To long:The club saved about $666,000 in cap money by releasing strong safety Lorenzo Lynch, who missed the final month of last sea­ son with a tom hamstring. Even though the Cards are weak at safety. Tobin obviously thought Lynch was expendable. Lynch has since signed with the Raiders. The only veter­ an safeties currently on the roster are Terry Hoage and Brent Alexander. — fe n SOMERS

ATLANTA FALCONS UDOtrouble: The front of See would like to re-sign defensive end Chris Doleman but is prepared to make a pitch for De­ troit free-agent end Robert Porcher if Dole­ man leaves. The team currently has only one of its top five defensive linemen under contract — left end Chuck Smith. The other three starters (Doleman.

Moe Gardner and Fierce Holt) are free agents, and top reserve Jumpy Geathers was waived.

Bennett’s place: Newly acquired Cornelius Bennett probably will line up in the right (weak side) outside linebacker spot in the 4-3 scheme. Ron George will get a chance to win the other outside position from Clay Matthew-s. and Jessie Tuggle returns in the m iddle.... Bennett's signing will prevent an upgrade at safety through free agency. That means free safety Devin Bush probably will move to strong safety to replace Kevin Ross.

Roger Harper, who was beaten out by Bush, likely will reclaim the free safety spot ... Of­ fensive lineman Gene W iliam s, who would have competed for a starting guard job. was a salary<ap casualty.

— To*Y FABRIZIO

CAROLINA PANTHERS Aftttag firepower. Having finished near the bottom in total offense and points, the team ad­ dressed a need by sign­ ing free-agent tight end Wesley Walls. His 57 catches with the Saints were 27 more than the Panthers’ four tight ends had combined last season. Walls re­ places Pete Metzelaars. 35. who was w'aived.

“We didn’t have a (tight end) -who could stretch the field," quarterback Kerry Collins say's, “lf we wanted to do that, we had to go to four wides. Now we’ve got W esley."... Look for the team to add a running back and a wide receiver in the first three rounds of the draft

Boy do HeansTeam officials decided not to pursue former Chargers running back Natrone Means, who is from North Carolina.

They didn’t w*ant to contend with his salary de­ mands. ... After failing to acquire free-agent wide receiver Keenan McCardell, who signed with the Jaguars, the team is more interested in re-signing wideout Mark Carrier, last sea­ son's leading receiver.... Carolinas Stadium is on schedule to meet its planned Jul^ I com­ pletion date.r —-Charlo

CHICAGO HEARS Ripple effect The team moved into distin­ guished company when it signed Curtis Conway to a four-year. $10-mil­ lion contract The pack­ age. which included a ^-million signing bonus, makes the team one of a handful.with five players averaging at least $2.5 million: linebacker Bryan Cox ($3.3). defensive end Alonzo Spellman ($3.0). quarterback Erik -Kramer ($2.7). offensive lineman Andy Heck ($2.5) and Conway. The club needs money to keep James Williams from becoming the third offensive line starter to leave this offseason.

Grounding tire pass: One reason the Bears aren’t pursuing wideout Jeff Graham is be­ cause they want to focus on running.... Full­ back Raymont Harris had surgery on the col­ larbone he broke on the second play of *95. He says hell miss the minicamps but be ready for training camp. The only’ other players to un­ dergo major work were tight end Ryan Wetnight (left knee) and defensive end Al Fontenot (rotator cuff). Both are expected to be ready for camp. Kramer (knee) and Heck (foot) had minor procedures. — JOH* M u m

DALLAS COWBOYS Bargain banting: The team lost two backups, offensive lineman Ron Stone to the Giants and cornerback Robert Bai­ ley to the Dolphins. .AP ter the departure of four defensive starters, the Cowboys are looking for some veteran bar­ gains. Defensive tackle Jumpy Geathers and linebacker Fred Strickland visited, and line­ backer Broderick Thomas had a brief meeting with the team. Strick­ land could replace Robert Jones, who signed with the Rams.

Geathers, with his abil­ ity to collapse the pock­ e t might be a fit in the team’s defensive tackle rotation — likely re­ placing Chad Hen­ nings in pass-rush situ­ ations.

Jimmy alert Dolphins Scatters Coach Jimmy Johnson hired Cowboys trainer Kevin O'Neill O'Neill came to Dallas with Johnson from the Univer­ sity of Miami in 1969. Starting free safety Brock Marion, a restricted free agent worked out for the Dolphins last week. The Cowboys would have a week to match an offer or receive a seventh-round pick in return. ... lf Stone’s five-year, $10-million offer had been matched, he would have become the team’s secondhighest-paid offensive linemen, behind Erik Williams.

— MjcCT SPAOBU

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Look for five answ e r in next w eek's T S N issue The Sp orts M arketplace

The answ er will a p p e a r in

t u r e final a c c e p t a n c e of a n o r d e r ■ P u b l i c a t i o n d o e s not c o n s t i t u t e an. a g r e e m e n t for c o n t i n u e d puDi<cahon All orders are subiect to the a o c i'c a D ie rate card cooees of which, are available i u p o n written r e c u e s t se n ; tc a d d r e s s ;

provided

The Sporting News

sheet lo restricted free-agent offensive line­ man Ron Stone, a reserve for the Super Bowl champs. Stone. 24. is a gamble, but he could pay off as the Giants rebuild an aging line. He plays tackle and guard, and right tackle Doug Riesenberg and right guard Lance Smith are potential salary-cap victims.

— t o . BEST

DETROIT LIONS Big gambia Apparently concerned about the tom chest muscle that plagued Chris Spielman last season, the team signed former Giants middle linebacker Michael Brooks, an un­ restricted tree agent- Brooks was handed a twoyear. $3.6-million deal, and the Bills grabbed Spielman a day later with a four-year. SS-million contract The teams obviously differ greatly on Spielman*s injury status. Spielman says there's nothing wrong with his chest “Even* team Ive visited said Tm fine, and my strength is back." he says.... The team has agreed to terms with offensive tackle Ray Roberts, a free agent from Seattle. Roberts will replace Lomas Brown.

Dead Issue: Vice chairman William Clay Ford Jr. apparently has won his fight to remain host for the traditional Thanksgiving Day game.

Some teams want it to be played on a rotating basis, but the issue is not expected to be raised at the owners meetings. “I think its safe for a while." Ford Jr. says.... The club released veteran tight end Rodney Holman in a cost­ cutting move — TOM KOWALSKI

GREEN BAY PACKERS Inside help: Signing freeagent defensive tackle Santana Dotson to a thre^year. S6-million deal provides the Pack­ ers with an inside pass rush that's expected to produce double-digit sacks against single blocking created by the presence of Reggie White and Scan Jones at the ends. But it also will deprive fans of one of their favorite heroes, nose tackle John Jurkovic. who is not expected to be re-signed Dotson will start at defensive tackle alongside nose tackle Gilbert Brown. Dotson also will play some end. which should allow White to move around more than he did in 1995.

Not so tree: Chicago free-agent wide receiver Jeff Graham made a visit to Green Bay. but the Dolphins. Jaguars and Jets are all inter­ ested and could boost the price over $2 mil­ lion a year. What would Robert Brooks ($1.3 million a year) think?... The Packers could be looking tor receivers if they lose .Anthony Morgan to free agency* and decline to match Miami's three-year. $2.6-million tender to Charles Jordan. They likely will not match M i­ ami's offer, and Morgan has a 50-50 chance of being back.

— TOM SILVERSTEIN

ll

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Then and now: Three de­ Too tats: Losing Early to the Bills adds wide receiver to the Saints 'growing wish list seven sacks in *95. So the team may be inter­ ested in drafting Baylor's Daryl Gardener.

One question: The offense should return intact Warren Moon is working out an extension and even No. 5 receiver Chris Walsh, a key special teams player, has resigned. The only question is running back Robert Smith, a restricted free agent who lacked durability in his first three years. The team has tendered him a $770,000 offer but would love to get first-round compen­ sation if someone signs him.

—CORT BROW!

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Early exit Add wide re­ ceiver to the Saints' wish list following the deci­ sion not to match the four-vear. $8.8-million contract Quinn Early re­ ceived from Buffalo. Ear­ ly is the third significant offensive starter (after tight end Wesley Waffs and tackle Richard Cooper) to leave the team via free agency. Only Cooper (by ex-Ram Clarence Jones) has been replaced. Early's exit is a huge public-relations black eye for an organization trying to improve its local image.

He was the team's leading receiver the past two seasons and ranks fourth on the club's alltime list. But beyond statistics. Early is a con­ summate professional who refused to com­ plain when fellow wide receivers Michael Havocs and Torrance Small were awarded higher salaries.

No Small promotion: Early's exit elevates Small into the starting role opposite Haynes, but there is a large void ai the No. 3 receiver spoL Lee DeRamus. a No. 6 pick last year, is the likely replacement but the club will surely ex­ plore the free-agent market for an established receiver.

— MKE STROM 9

NEW YORK GLINTS ..

MINNESOTA VIKINGS Line woes: The team ab­ sorbed a one-two punch when Bucs defensive lineman Santana Dotson spumed its ofter and signed with division ri­ val Green Bay. The Vikings offered Dotson about Si G million a year. $200,000 less than hr gv»; in Green Bay "There's no doubt we wanted him. bu; well see how he plays, btcause they might have overspent." team Vice President Jeff Diamond says. It again appears tackle John Randle will be an island sur­ rounded by little talent H ie other starters should be Fernando Smith. Fsera Tuaolo and Derrick .Alexander That trio combined for

Bounty of backs: The

front office acted on the pleas of Coach Dan Reeves — and most fans (B B P P S ff by matching the 49ers‘ six-year. $ 16.45million offer' sheet to Rodney Hampton. The upside is that it gives the Giants a deep, tal­ ented backfield featuring Hampton. Tyrone Wheatley and Herschel Walker. The down­ side is that it slows Wheatley's development and would be a huge hit against the salary cap if the Giants decide to cut Hampton after one or two years (thanks to his $3.6-million sign­ ing bonus). In the short term. though, the move is a positive, especially it Wheatley lives up to his pledge to compete rather than com­ plain this year.

Gem Stone? As expected. Dallas declined to match the Giants' five-vear. SlO-million offer

fensive starters have left via free agency and 22 unrestricted free agents remain unsigned but Owner Jeffrey Lurie in­ sists his team is in much better shape now than a year ago. ‘There were far many more holes last year than there are today." he says. The Eagles have upgraded themselves at cornerback, where Troy Vincent replaces Mark McMillan, and they’ve also signed former Saints tackle Richard Cooper and Packers quarterback Ty Detmer. “If you want to talk about aggressive­ ness, theres nobody except the Jets that have done anything close to what we’ve done." Lurie says. “And we're far from done."... Receiver Fred Barnett signed with Miami.

High DQ Ty: Although he has thrown only 21 passes in four seasons. Detmer is going to compete against Rodney' Peete, who is expect­ ed to re-sign soon, for the starting quarterback job. “ (Detmer) reads defenses well. sees the whole field, knows the (West Coast) offense as well as the coaches, and he's what I caff a foot­ ball player — he figures out a wav to win," Coach Ray Rhodes says. — PA U L uCM OW TTCH

ST. LOUIS RAMS Mr. Jones: The middle linebacker position was strengthened through the rest of the century with the signing of free agent Robert Jones.

Jones signed a five-year.

SlO-million deal that in­ cludes a $2.8-million signing bonus. Jones is an adept run stuffer, and the Rams think he can play some in passing situations even though his coverage skills were suspect in Dallas. He's definitely an upgrade over Shane Conlan. Jones. 26. is bigger, faster and younger than Conlan, 31. Jones also has played on three Super Bowl championship teams in his four-year career, and the hope is he can help the young defense learn how to win — and keep winning.

Mr. Wright Besides making a commitment to improve through free agency, the team is also taking care of its talent through a new contract with young safety Toby W right W right 25. emerged as one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFC last year in his second season. He would have been a restricted free agent after the '96 season but was signed to a seven-vear. $12.S-miIiion deal.

— JIM THOMAS #

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Means Is next Once he clears waivers, running back Natrone Means will get a serious look.

But it is unlikely the or­ ganization will be able to sign him. Although Means does not seem to fit the teams profile, he is shifty enough to op­

erate in its offense, and he did catch 39 pass­ es in the 1994 season. The problems the team is up against include the salary cap. filling its other needs and the stiff competition to sign him. lf Means slips away. attention will turn toward the draft because it is not likely any­ one will trade a running back who could step right into the lineup.

No big moves: President Carmen Policy promised an aggressive offseason. Bul after striking out with two players who could have filled big holes — Rodney Hampton, who re­ signed with the Giants, and defensive end.

Leslie O'Neal, who signed with the Rams — Policy insists it is not time to panic. Nonethe­ less, fans are beginning to question when the team will make its big move; the team has not signed a marquee free agent since Deion Sanders in -94.

— Im M ila

TAMRA BAY BUCCANEERS Wheeler dealer Tampa Bay lost another unre­ stricted free agent when defensive tackle Santana Dotson signed a threeyear contract with the Packers. Dotson went from NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1992 to the bench at the end of the *95 season. The Bucs claim they are at the salary-cap limit and always figured to lose Dotson or fellow defensive tackle/unre­ stricted free agent Mark Wheeler. Where Dot­ son is considered more of a pass-rushing spe­ cialist Wheeler, who visited New England last week. is a steady run-stopper. The Bucs will likely re-sign him. ... The team gave corner­ back Martin Mayhew a $150,000 roster bonus to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent Fellow cornerback Mike McGruder, who is an unrestricted free agent has drawn interest from the 49ers and Broncos.

Rhett wants new pact Running back Errict Rhett is scheduled to make $336,000 this sea­ son. but the 12th player in N FL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in his first two sea­ sons wants a substantial raise. — NICK FUGUES

WASHINGTON REDSKINS Rebounding nicely: The offensiveNline was down to four veterans when guard Ray Brown signed with San Francisco, but things turned around when former Cleveland guard Bob Dahl signed a threevear. $6-million contract on the same day three-time Pro Bowl tackle Jim Lachey re­ ceived medical clearance to begin prepara­ tions for ’96. Lachey. who has played in only 16 games the past three seasons and suffered a third rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder last season, says he’s leaning toward playing a 12th N FL campaign, lf he does, the Redskins can use last year's left tackle. Joe Patton, as the top reserve at tackle and guard. Heir ap­ parent Cory Raymer would back up starting center John Gesek.

Staying pot?: Meanwhile, among Washing­ ton’s remaining free agents, only defensive end Tony Woods (to Minnesota) had even vis­ ited another club four weeks into the signing period. Tern* .Allen, who rushed for 1.309 yards last season, is the best running back on the market, but he's not inclined to take any trips. Other clubs believe the Redskins — as is their right — would match any offer Allen re­ ceives.

— David Bib i

THE CLOSER

March 18,1996

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We like to fancy ourselves as sports experts at T h e S p o r t in g N e w s . W ell with the NCAA Tournament under way. we thought it would be fun to look back at our College Basketball Yearbook, where we forecast the 64 teams in the Big Dance, and see how smart we are.

Anytime we make predic­ tions, we open ourselves to myriad “I told you so s" and ■“What were you thinking?"

Despite the prospect for em barrassm ent, we forge ahead with this hopefully pain­ less self-examination.

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Com m ent

This was a no-brainer preseason pick.

We came thisdose to picking the ’Cats No. 1.

Kitties’ phone follies prevented a No. 3 finish.

Right on target Some had trepidation; we should have listened.

We knew the Big East would be boffo.

They looked good in August, honest It looked bleak for a time;-a late surge helped.

With Tim Young, maybe they finish higher.

A solid finish makes this a solid pick.

Beaucoup veterans doesn't guarantee success.

Ute has been rough for the Bruin brats.

We underestimated loss of Stackhouse, Wallace.

Zero inside game equals zero postseason action.

No one brought the guards would be that good. lf athleticism won titles, Tigers would be No. 1.

They lost a lo^ and newcomers never blended.

We should've noticed lack of point guard. ^ NIT champs weren't going to surprise anyone.

Personnel problems were rampant

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Comment Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets struggled early. then jelled.

Clemson: We had ’em NfT-bound. But maybe they should be.

Georgia: We shouldn't have underestimated Tubby Smith.

Tulsa: We had Golden Hurricane slotted for the NfT. Sony, guys.

George Washington: The Colonials can go inside or outside.

Penn State: We knew about the backcourt: the frontcourt duped us.

Texas: The young Longhorns were supposed to be in the NIT. Canlsius: We said NIT. The Golden Griffins said NCAA They were nght Virginia Commonwealth: The Rams claimed the Colonia! bid by three points.

Boston College: We thought the Eagles would be postseason-less.

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School Wake Forest Washington State Purdue Santa Clara Oklahoma Louisville Syracuse Tulane Arizona Duke California Marquette Minnesota Nebraska Cincinnati Oklahoma State Temple S t John's New Mexico Miami (Ohio) Utah State Bradley Old Dominion Auburn Louisiana State Texas Tech New Orleans Providence Manhattan Illinois State Wis.-Green Bay Weber State Princeton Drexel Murray State Northeast Louisiana UNC-Greensboro UT Chattanooga Monmouth Valparaiso Colgate Southern Sanford Coppin State

Hit Miss Comment Lack of established perimeter game scared us / ✓ Hendrickson s injury killed Cougars.

Last time Boilers were overrated? Try never / Hey. we're surpnsed they made the field / They made f t . . . but barely / A solid pick, but the Cardinals took wild path / We figured Michael Lloyd's loss would hurt more.

S ✓ Flopping in league tourney sank Green Wave.

We didn't think Reggie Geary would be this good / Blue Devils fans can't argue with this. / The talent is undeniable, but the coaching ... / The Golden Eagles landed just about on target. / The Gophers' fast finish earns them an NIT bid. / Team Turmoil suffered a meltdown. / Burton was supposed to be suspended the year. / Early-season injunes killed the Cowboys. / A late-season surge by the Owls saved us. / Red Storm made lots of people look foolish / lf not for Thomas. Lobos would be at home. / There was talk of going unbeaten in the MAC. / The Aggies came dose, but they broke our heart / The Braves were supposed to dance. / The Monarchs got butted by VCU's Rams. / The Tigers made a run for it. / Give us a break, as LSU suffered lots of em / We knew Tech would rule ... but one loss9 / UNO saved us by winning league tourney / The Fnars flirted but just missed. / Midnight struck early for last season's Cinderella / Redbirds fell asleep too often vs weak foes / This was an easy pick. / We thought it would be two in a row Oh. well / Nobody wants to do the Tigers' slow dance / This was never in doubt. / ✓ Sfip-up in OVC final ruined prediction.

The Indians own the Southland. ✓ We hate to pat ourselves on the back b u t... / Moos failed to win a bid — or their division. / It was close, but the Hawks earned their first bid ✓ Good frontcourt has kept Crusaders on course. / As long as Foyle is around, this is a no-bramer. / The Jaguars went south in SWAC tourney.

At least 'Dogs were good dunng regular season. ✓ Loss in tourney final doomed Eagles. ✓ -

•

Kansas State: Tom Asbury wasn't supposed to do this with the Wildcats.

Montana State: The Big Sky door was wide open and the Bobcats walked in.

Iowa State: The Cyclones perhaps were the biggest surprise in the nation.

Eastern Michigan: We picked the Eagles fifth in the MAC. Instead, they dominated.

Porttand: Santa Clara let us down. No one had the Pilots winning the WCC. Northern Illinois: Wisconsin-Green Bay’s misstep opened the door.

Davidson: This senior-laden team ran the table in its league.

Mississippi Valley State: We just missed, pegging Delta Devils for second.

Western Carolina: They earned it by giving Davidson its first Southern loss.

South Carolina State: Surpnse! The Bulldogs took it from Fang's Gang.

San Jose State: The Spartans picked nght time to get hot in the Big West.

Central Florida: Maybe a losing record is key in the TAAC tourney.

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h o m e f i r s t - p l a c e f i n i s h e s by t h e t r u c k l o a d . But w h a t else w o u l d y o u e x p e c t f r om a T oyot a Tr uck? The Tacoma b o a s t s a n a v a i l a b l e 1 9 0 - h o r s e p o w e r V6. A n d t h e h i g h e s t s t a n d a r d t o w i n g a n d p a y l o a d i n i t s c l a s s . ” Yo u a l s o g e t t h e s o l i d p e a c e of m i n d t h a t c o m e s wfi t h o w n i n g a T o y o t a . So w h y j u s t w a s h a n o r d i n a r y t r u c k i n y o u r d r i v e w a y , w h e n y o u c o u l d be o u t t h e r e p o l i s h i n g a t r o p h y ?

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just rinse flakes away unti they com e back. Head & Shoulders actually helps prevent -lakes before they start. Dandruff is taken care of. And no one ever need know you even had a problem.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 5

March 18,1996

Each of the No. 1 seeds has had its title hopes dashed in past seasons. Now each seeks a happy ending.

B y M ic h a el K n isle y *We were getting ready to go to California to play Maryland in the regional,”says Travis Knight, Connecticut's senior center. “We were watching UCIA play Missouri on TV, because we knew if we beat Maryland, wed play UCLA They were in the other bracket in our region, so we watched them. And they were down by one, and we were thinking, ‘Hey, they're losing. That's great. They're the No. I seed.' And then Tyus Edney drives the length of the court and hits that layup, and it was just like... the emotions we went through that day were just incredible, and we weren’t even playing. And then UCLA ended up beating us.

Toe thought about that so much. That one layup.

If only Missouri could've stopped Tyus Edney, we might have gone to the Final Four. ”

W IS S

They tip it off in the NCAA Tournam ent again this week, and the stories will grow. Damn the luck o f the draw, they!] say. How are we sup­ posed to Peat a bad break like that? l f only ...

Connecticut knows the dangers as well as anyone. Since the 198990 season, UConn has taken one of the nation’s top program s into the tournam ent Three times in the last six seasons, the H uskies have been seeded No. 2 or higher, but something always has come between them and the Final Four. There is always a story.

Last year, in Travis Knight's story. Connecticut was a No. 2 seed in the West Regional, to UCLA’s No. I. If only Missouri had shut down the lan e ...

“Missouri couldn’t have beat us," UConn Coach Jim Calhoun says.

So here is Connecticut back for another drive, this time as a No. I seed in the Southeast Regional. Colgate in the first round. Eastern Michigan or a middling Duke team in the second. The Huskies don’t have a higher-seeded team. a UCLA between them and the Final Four this time. They shouldn’t have to hope that somebody else will lose to d ear their way. Their 30-2 regular season was strong enough to elim­ inate that hazard.

The teams that leave the littlest to chance, you figure, are the teams that win the tournam ent But nobody eliminates chance altogether, and chance is where the stories start Nobody wins the NCAA cham­ pionship without a little bit of luck.

Do they. Coach Calhoun?

“No. Well. yeah. Tm sorry. Let me rephrase th at” he says. “lf you're g re a t you can. And right now, Kentucky is the only great team. I think Kentucky could get beat somewhere along the line, but they have the most margin of error. They can afford to have more players have bad

DUNN I ASSOCIATE

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verybody has a story. An unlucky shot here. A bad draw there. An atrocious call, a fluke injury.

The spinouts on the drive to the Final Four, the hidden turns, the icy patches of road that scream, danger! danger! danger!, and leave you careening out of control.

year, for all the right hyperbolic reasons. Kentucky has a million great players and all of them are all-galaxy. Kentucky won SOO consecutive gam es during the regular season, and none of those victories came by fewer than IOO points. Kentucky runs up and down the court so fast and so relentlessly and with so much depth that no one can keep up.

Kentucky has a genius coach and a championship tradition and every­ body’s endorsement as the best team in the land'.

But then remember that in 1991. UNLV had ail those things Ken­ tucky has and didn’t get out of a national semifinal game against Duke.

All those players and ail those victories didn't eliminate the chance of a loss back then, and Kentucky Coach Rick Piano knows that all of his advantages now don’t eliminate abe chance of a Wildcat loss. In fact, the winning streak (27 gam es, actually) ended last Sunday, when Mis­

lay the p ast Ricky Moore and his UConn teammates want to block out bad memories from recent SCAA Tournaments, including last season s loss to CCLA.

S-6 • COimiE BASKETBALL

ftesOQ to Stioot Pitino's \^'ildcats appear to have enough weapons to pin down any foe in the field, but he knows anything can happen in a one^am e elttntnation tourney

The Sporting News

sissippi State somehow undid all the momen* turn the N^lldcats* reg^ilar season had built "Are we the deepest team? Yes. But does that m ean anvihing? No." Pidno says. “I do think we're capable of beating anyone. But I look at I ’Conn. and that backcourt (Ray Allen and Doron Sheffer) is terrific, and the fronlcourt is very, very good.

They ha\'e a good bench, too. Or you play Georgetow n on a certain night, and you're going against one of the most exciting, flamboyant players Ive seen come along in quite some brae in Allen Iverson, lf you don't slop him in the to u rn am en t...

■'I’d feel ver>- comfortable if this was a best-of-seven series. But it is n t" The luck of the draw, as it happens, ought to cause a little handwringing in Lexington. Ky., this week. Looming large in the second rouVid of Keniuck^'s bracket is \M sconsin-Green Bay. which plays one of the most deliberate, methodical styles in the nation. The Phoenbc. which lo s t 74-62. in D ecem ber at Kentuck>\ is the anti-Kentucky. Dan­ ger! Danger' Danger’ Purdue knows. The Boilerm akers played \M sconsin-Green Bay in the first round last season. The Boilermakers, seeded .No. 3. won. but by a point 49-t^t. Then they were upset by M emphis. 75-73.

HTtich is another storv. "li'f played Green Bay in the first round, and the gam e ended about m idnight.' Purdue assistant coach Bruce Weber says. "/( was close, so Cuomo Martin had to play every minute, and it fitst wore him out. It wore our kids out mentally and physically to play against Green Bay. because playing those guys is like going to the dentist for ttoo straight hours. They mentally and physically make you concentrate so much. We had to put all that effort in .\'ot to take anything away from Memphis, but we could've beaten them. } just think we hit a point in the Memphis gam e where we didnt have anything left. Especially Cuonzo It wasn’t a very good draw for us '

^ o rt ride: Ray Hairston uasn't happy about hts taurnr)- ride ending in the second round last season History tsn't on Purdue's side in "Pf)

You never know You lake a st>ie into the to u rn am en t a style that m akes you what you are. and then som ething, or somebody, takes it away from you. Nothing you can do about i t Princeton plays No. I seed (ieorgetown to a standstill before losing. 5(M9. in the first round back in ‘89. Now the Tigers are back, ready lo lake the air out of the ball

against UCLA, the defending national champion, in the first round. And they have that ol’ vin-one-for-the-Gipper thing going for them, because longtime Coach Pete Carril has announced his retirem ent.

UCLA probabK survives, bul you have to believe J'lm Harrick would rather be playing any of the tournam ent's three other No. 13 seeds — M ontana State. M onmouth or Canisius — than Princeton, the South­ east’s No. 13.

Sometimes, it isn't another team that takes the control away. Some­ times. it’s the zebras. You're Georgetown, which still plays with some of the physicalit)' the Big East — the conference, you TI r e ^ . that gave us s a fouls apiece — becam e renowned for a decade ago and you make hay during the regular season under the guise of officials who have a taissa-faire approach to calling bum ps and elbows. Then you find your­ self in a tournam ent gam e being called by Pac-IO refs, and maybe you can't do the things that got you there.

“Used lo be you could scout the officials a little b it" Seton Hall Coach George Blaney says. “But that’s gotten very difficult to do. because they use three of them now. It used to be easier with two. T here’s not much you can do. You get into the to u rn am en t and how the gam e is officiat­ ed is som ething you have no control over — w hether it’s to your strength or your weakness. The way a game is called in the tournam ent can reall>’ help you or hurt you."

Say you're Purdue, w hose defense depends on Big Ten-style hand checks. Now you're in the second round out in the W est Regional. w here you’re playing Georgia or Clemson and your starting guards.

Chad Austin and Porter Roberts, haven't figured out that their reputa­ tions might have preceded them.

‘T h e TV announcers really kill us with this when we play out of con­ ference." says M innesota Coach Clem Haskins, w hose G ophers’ strong finish inexplicably w-asn’t good enough for an NCAA bid. T h e y ’re al­ ways talking about how physical we are in this league, and then other league’s officials gel program m ed. They think. 'W e’ve got to call more fouls to keep it clean. We've really got lo make sure we suck on the

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 7

March 18,1996

whistle tonight so Minnesota or Purdue doesn’t get an advantage with their physical play.’ I think it hurts us. I’d say it could affect Purdue in the tournament because they’re a very aggressive ballclub."

Sometimes, it works the other way. Another story, this one involving ninth-seeded Boston College's surprising drive to the East Regional fi­ nals two seasons ago.

may have been right But he has a story about those last four seconds. *

«

T ate George has the ball.9 Calhoun says. "We’re ahead by one, and he has to make a decision. Do I dribble, or just hold it? No one gets to him. so he starts to dribble it and it rust falls out of his hands. No big deal. right?

There are only two seconds to go now. But (Christian) Ijiettner makes a shot, and we don 7 go.9

*7 remember going through the end of the Big East season that year. * Eagles Coach Jim O ’Brien says. 7 got a little bit antsy with some of the of­ ficials late in the season. I'd been on them quite a bit. I remember getting a technical against Villa not a in the conference tournament. I think some­ times familiarity isn’t a good thing. They know us too well, maybe. Then we got into the NCAA Tournament, and its a breath of fresh air. Ifs like you're free all of a sudden. You’ve got different officials that don't know you, and you don 7 know them. There just didn 7 seem to be the friction there had been before. I think there was an enthusiasm that year, or just a feeling of being fresh and free and new, instead of being bogged down, you know? It changes for you in the NCAA Tournament, and I think that was significant for us that year. ’

So Calhoun takes nothing for granted as Connecticut starts the process again. In the moments after the Huskies beat Georgetown last Saturday night to win the Big East Tournament he dares to look ahead a little — with a couple of quick glances behind, too. at UConn’s in­

O'Brien and Boston College must have been living right that season. They felt fresh and free and new enough to beat the top seed. North Carolina, in the second round and then upset Indiana, the fifth seed, in the regional semifinals. .Actually, that draw might have helped Boston College, if you buy into the Jim Calhoun theory of tournament oppo­ nents. Calhoun developed the notion during his years at Northeastern that it was a better idea to play an established program in the tournament than an unknown underdog.

Northeastern, of course, always was the unknown underdog.

“We wouldn’t have won some of the games we did if we hadn't played the ‘name’ teams." Calhoun says. “What hap­ pens is, those guys see Northeastern coming up and they say. ‘Yeah, Coach is talking them up. but we know they’re not that good.’ And then we beat ‘em."

So which teams didn’t Calhoun want to see in the early rounds of Connecticut's bracket this year? Princeton. Wis­ consin-Green Bay. The anti-Kentuckys. (He would see Princeton in the Southeast Regional semifinals only if the Tigers somehow got past UCLA and the winner of the Mis­ sissippi State-Virginia Commonwealth game.)

A strain of the ‘name’ team virus visited Providence one night in the tournament in 1994. Here's Austin Croshere’s story:

SU PMM

Kentucky. Massachusetfe. Connecticut Purdue. Kansas.

Wake Forest Georgetown. Cincinnati. Maybe Utah. Maybe Arizona. Maybe Georgia Tech. Maybe UCLA The Final Four probably com es from that group.

A week ago, the list might not have been that lengthy. The No. I seeds and Kansas (No. 2 in the West) looked to be a perceptible notch above the rest of the airaost-great teams.

But then Kentucky lost to Mississippi State in the finals of the Southeastern Conference!oumamenL Kansas lost to Iowa State in the Big Eight Tournament. Purdue lost at Iowa to close its regular season.

Connecticut needed a most unlikely, hanging. offbalance-prayer-ofchshot from Ray Allen to win the Big East Tournament over Georgetown.

Kentucky remains the favorite, but the rest of them have Mississip­ pi State’s successful blueprint for their game plan now. if and when they meet the Wildcats. And when the field is bunched a little closer, as it seem s to be as the tournament begins, those outside elem ents loom larger. The bad draw. The untimely injury. The officiating.

“I think there are sot or seven teams out there." Pitino says. “Do we have the most players? Yes, we do. But will we use the most players’ I don’t know. W’e won’t use 11 players. W ell probably only use nine. So now. am I willing to say we're better than Kansas or Cincinnati or Connecticut or Massachusetts or Viilanova or Georgetown? Or .Arizona, for that matter? No. I’m not I’m willing to say we’re going to find out on the court who the best team is."

Calhoun still believes Connecticut had the best team in 1990. when his Huskies played Duke in the East Regional final for the right to go to the Final Four. And for all but the last four seconds of overtime, he

SAVOIA / ASSOCUUD WI SS

'You sit around watching ESPN all day,msays Croshere, the Friars' junior forward. They were talking about what the up­ sets were going to be. Everybody was talking about how we were the team that had the best chance to beat Glenn Robinson and Purdue. Everybody was talking about that big matchup. They were saying we were the only people who might have a chance to stop them, and it got to die point where we were saying it, too: Yeah, we 're going to play Purdue and we ‘re going to beat them.'And we overlooked Alabama. We didn’t even get to the Purdue gam e.’

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starred NCAA Tournament past “Ifs in God’s hands now." he says. “And fetes hands. Ive found that out over a lot of years. But 111 tell you what W ell try to do everything we can to twist fate in our direction. W ell see what happens."

Connecticut’s senior point guard. Doron Sheffer. listens and nods.

“I really believe when you come down to 16 teams or eight teams in the NCAA Tournament" Sheffer says, “any team can beat any other team. You can call it fete. You can call it destiny. You can call it luck. It happens. A lot of good teams, a lot of special teams, don't win the tour­ nament for that reason. That's what is so special about it. That's what I think has happened to UConn over the last couple of years. I just hope this time, w ell have the destiny to go ail the way."

That is the beauty of the tournament: The best team doesn't always win. So if Connecticut, or Massachusetts, or Purdue, or Kansas — or anyone other than Kentucky — is accepting the championship trophy in the Meadowlands on Monday night. April I. someone should re­ member to ask Pitino if the best team won.

Bet hell have a story to tell. ♦ M ichael Knisley is a senior w riter fo r T m SHORTINO News.

Ho. 1 and holding: Carmelo Tratieso and Massachusetts, the nation s top-ranked team most of the season, will continue to be hunted as the top seed in the East Regional.

88 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Sporting News

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double-threat scoring punch.

But I'M ass isn't a No. I seed because of its offense Massachu­ setts is a No. I seed because of the way it stops everybody else s offense After Syra­ cuse. ranked 13th at the time, lost to I'M ass this season.

Orangemen Coach Jim Boeheim conced­ ed the point. “They are a team that doesn't let you get into your of­ fense." he said. “We also couldn’t handle their pressure very well. They're the best defensive team Ive seen in a long time.

Their defense gives you all kinds of prob­ lems."

Syracuse, inciden­ tally. scored a whop­ Nifty and swift* Padilla. a top assists man. is ane reason the Minutemen are more than just Marcus Camby. ping 47 points against eight teams that were nationally ranked men meet on their wav to the Final Four in that defense, and lost bv 18. That’s the fewest when they fell to Massachusetts this season. the Meadowlands rn a few weeks. They’ve points the Orangemen have scored in the The others: Memphis. Wake Forest, Syra­ faced every style and even' size and found a Boeheim era and the fewest bv any Syracuse cuse. Maryland. Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech way to win. including an early-season victo­ team since the 1968-69 season. ry over Kentucky. The Wildcats are one of and Louisville.

It doesn’t much matter who the Minute-

Depth: The Minutemen don't have much in the backcourt.

Starting guards Edgar Padilla and Carmeio Travieso have played al! but 110 and 127 minutes, respectively, this season

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH Everyone knows the stars on the top eight seeds, but who are the other players who must play well for them to advance?

Edgar Padilla, G, Massachusetts: What’s the Minutemen^ secret to success? Last season. Padilla had 88 assists and 68 turnovers. This year, the numbers are 183 to 76 (a solid 2.4-1 ratio). The unflappable Padilla always is on the floor and usually has the ball.

Othella Harrington, C, Georgetown: The less the big fellow handles the ball, the less chance the hot Hoyas have to advance. Are you listening, Allen Iverson?

Cory Carr, G. Texas Tech: Carr B.M.0.C: Harrington is crucial to the Mayas

doesn’t start, but he can finish. A good 3-point shooter. Carr averaged 16.0 points oh the bench. Tech needs production from Carr to take the load

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Narrow bodies: In Massachusetts' one loss this year. George Washington center Alexander Koul used his expansive frame and quick feet to limit Marcus Camby inside.

BEST MATCHUP: Georgetown may press UMass’ normally unflappable backcourt in new and uncomfortable ways. To neutralize Marcus Camby. the Hoyas may run big. athletic Jerome Williams at him: Williams is capable of guarding Camby on the perimeter and inside.

off all-everything Jason Sasser.

Anthony Pieper, G, Marquette: Yes, Amal McCaskiil is a beast and Aaron Hutchins an underrated point guard, but when this hard worker and hustler Is shooting well, the Eagles soar. • Dan Earl, G, Perm State: One of the most underrated point guards in the nation, Earl is the guy who makes Pete Lisicky, Matt Gaucho and Glenn Sekunda look good.

Serge Zwlkker, C, North Carolina: Guards Jeff Mcinnis and Dante Calabria complement each other nicely. A key Tor the Heels is having the 7-2 Zwikker help out Antawn Jamison inside. Zwikker can score but tends to be passive.

Kenny Thomas, C/F, New Mexico: A freshman known more for his eligibility fight than his on-court play, Thomas is his team's inside force. Like the other Lobos, he is young but good (14.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 57.1 field-goal percentage).

Doon Jackson, F, Bradley: Guard Anthony Parker is drawing raves from pro scouts, but Jackson is capable of taking over a game by making a big shot or grabbing a key rebound.

Power Sage: Zwikker (top) con score, bvt he needs to be more aggressive

inside for the Tar Heels

JOW

You don't know when it's coming, only that it will. Sometime dunng the course* of a game — maybe now. maybe later — Massachu­ setts will flat shut you down The Minutemen have done it to everyone they faced dunng the regular season, and they should continue to do it to everyone they face in the NCAA Tournament.

It’s an astounding statistic. In IT of their games dunng the regular season, the Min­ utemen held a team scoreless for more than five minutes And in rrrn* game it played this season. I'M ass held its opponent to a sconless stretch ot at least three minutes. Ken­ tucky? Shut 'em down. Georgia Tech' Blanked 'em. Syracuse5 Memphis5 Louis­ ville? For impressive periods’ of time, the Min­ utemen snuffed out every shred of offense those high-powered teams had. t ’NC-Wilminglon didn't score for 8:02 against I'M ass. a stretch during which the Minutemen scored IT points. Florida went 7:06 without a point, to 16 for Massachusetts Boston College was outscored 17-0 over a 7:02 stretch Yes. Marcus Camby is TSN's Player of the Year, even on the strength of his offensive numbers (21.4 points per game) alone. Yes. Edgar Padilla is one of the nation's niftier point guards, ranking rn the top 20 in assists.

Yes. off-guard Carmelo Travieso is one of the better 3-point shooters in the East. And. yes. forward Don ta Bright joins with Camby in the fronlcourt to give the Minutemen a potent

NICKI Y I A S S O C IA T E ) PPJ S S

UMass gets defensive

COLLEGE BASKETBALL* S-9

March 18,1996

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AT A GLANCE Seed/School

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Why they’re dangerous The Minutemen have been playing under pressure all season, so they're used to it

1. Massachusetts

Jo h n Caiipan

2 Georgetown

Jo h n Thompson

3. Texas Tech

Ja m e s Dickey

0-1

Som etim es, the best thinQ about winning as often as the Red Raiders have is everybody forgets how to lose

4. Marquette

Mike Deane

1-1

One of the nation's best defensive teams is beginning to find its offensive touch

5. Penn State

Je rry Dunn

0-0

The tough past few weeks may have helped the Lions recognize the need for offensive balance

6. North Carolina

Dean Smith

60-25

7. New Mexico

Dave Bliss

4-7

Freshman center/forward Kenny Thomas is becoming a man The surge in his gam e's maturity should frighten future foes

8. Bradley

Jim Molinari

0-1

Although susceptible to quick teams. Bradley can make most anyone look ugly with its emphasis on patient, structured play

9. Stanford

Mike Montgom ery

1-3

The Cardinal guards — Dion Cross and Brevm Knight — can shoot the 3 and control the ball

10 Kansas State

Tom Asbury

0-3

lf guard Aaron Swartzendruber is hot. the W ildcats ca ^com pete with most anyone

11. New Orleans

Tic Price

0-0

The Privateers’ aggressive defense forces opponents out of their offensive flow and into frustration

12. Arkansas

Nolan Richardson

22-10

Richardson's been here before, even if his players haven’t. Kareem Reid is a dynamite point guard

13. Monm outh

W ayne Szoke

0-0

Hunger The Hawks have been close to making it three times in the past five years, and they'll want to look like they belong

14. No. Illinois

Brian Hammel

0-0

The Huskies faced Detroit’s athleticism in the MCC final and showed they can play intelligently against pressure

15. Miss. Valley

Lafayette Strid in g

0-2

Forward M arcus Mann is an absolute force on the boards.

16. Central Florida

Kirk Speraw

0-1

They aren't. A team with a losing record rn a weak league isn’t about to give an elite team any trouble

31-17

Allen Iverson frightens foes, lf one player carries his team to the Final Four. he ll be the guy

Although they began playing to their (imitations instead of beyond them, the Heels are difficult to handle rn the post

TOURNAMENT BRACKET

HONOR ROLL Seeded too high: New Mexico. The Lobos — who did upset Utah in the W A C Tournament final — didn't tally enough quality victories to be a No. 7 seed.

Seeded too low: Marquette. Coach Mike Deane's Golden Eagles were worthy of being a No. 3 seed, but they lacked exposure. Deane is no stranger to postseason success. He has taken teams to the NIT final four in each of the past two seasons — Caninus in '94 and Marquette last season.

Can can y his team: Allen Iverson. Georgetown. Is there a hotter player in the nation than the hiccupquick Hoyas guard?

Unheralded player you’ll soon know: Kenny Thomas.

New Mexico. Unlike most newcom ers, this big guy knows how to score inside.

(Brad ley’s Anthony Parker.

Texas Tech’s Ja so n Sasser, Marquette’s Aaron Hutchins and Kansas State's Elliot Hatcher also are underrated players.)

Best draw: North Carolina.

Best frorrtcourt M assachusetts. T SN 's Player of the Year. M arcus Camby. is flanked by Donta Bright and Dana Dingle, who rarely get their due.

The Minutem en also have som e big guys on the bench who can play, such as bulky Tyrone Weeks.

Best backcourt: Georgetown. Everyone knows about Iverson, but freshman Victor Page was M V P of the Big East Tournament.

SW EET 16

SECOND ROUND

FIRST ROUND

16. Central Fla. (11-18)

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13. Monmouth (20-9) .J Providence Civic Center, Providence. PI Richmond Coliseum, Richmond. VA r-~ u «. t v:.: . •

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make things happen for the Golden Eagles.

TSN’s PICKS

14. Northern Illinois (20-9) I

M ASSACHUSETTS showed lots o> heart and grit in Winning myriad c'oso gam es this season, so Jo h n Calipee s Minutemen — who spent the bulk of the season ranked fust — w on I rattle easil/

GEORGETOWN may be the scariest team in the country because of sophom ore point guard Allen Iverson. The Hoyas. who must shoot well to advance, also are big. strong and tough.

MAaRKTTE may be the best defensive tearo ln the country and ts starting to team where to get pointe. Sophomore point guard Aaron Hutchins, a primary point producer, is on a roll.

NORTH CAROLINA has Dean Sm ith. T h a ts key.

The Tar Heels, who boast talent at guard in Je ff M aclnnis and Dante Calabria, m ay be re-energized by the tourney, plus they have a favorable draw.

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10. Kansas State (17-11)

15. Miss. Valley St. (22-6)

AMAZING STORIES Florida becomes the second consecutive Central Florida and San Jose State made Trans America Athletic Conference tourna­ the NCAA field with losing records this sea­ ment champ to make the field with an underson. just the 10th and 11th teams to do so. It’s the second time in history (the first was J .51)0 mark. Florida International was firstround fodder for eventual champion UCLA in 1955) that two teams with losing records last year's tournament. Central Florida lost to made the field in the same season. Bradley, Purdue in the first round of the 1994 tourna­ which was 7-19 in '55. won two games before ment as a 16th seed. losing in a regional final to Colorado. Central

S IO • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Sporting News

bound Ive seen in a long time." Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino say's. “They change up as quickly as any team you can find." .And the running game doesn't stop with the fast break. It's a part of the plan even in UConn's halfcourt offense, which is simply a microcosm of its transition game. The Huskies run arter everything, including of­ fensive rebounds.

“Outside of Kentucky and Massachu­ setts. Tm not sure theres a better offensive rebounding team in the country." Seton Hall Coach George Blaney say's. *They really, re­ ally work hard at getting to the offensive glass. You either just take your eye off some­ body for a second or go and help, and they've got you. That's what happens a lot You have to help a lot because they go and penetrate and either finish it or kick oui And then as soon as you leave them, they al­ ways seem to be running from the foul line to offensive rebounds."

The lions share of Connecticut’s points come from its backcourt, the constant-motion machines Allen (23.8 points per game) and Sheffer (15.8). But that hardly means the frontcourt is something less than terrific with the baff. Or. as Blaney suggests, without the b a l Among die Huskies' other league-lead­ ing statistics is rebounding margin (8.8 per game). And the frontcourt players are aff mo­ bile enough to play UConn's stifling, pres­ sure. halfcourt, trapping defense.

Three other quick reasons to pencil Con­ necticut into the Final Four, courtesy of se­ nior center T ravis Knight “First of all, we have a superstar in RayAlien." Knight say's. ‘'That's the first thing.

You’ve got to have a superstar, or somebodycapable of taking over a game. Secondly'. we’re a good shooting team. No matter what you say. you've got to be able to shoot over a zone in the tournament And the third thing is, we have a lot of role players. Every­ body knows what they’re supposed to do on this team."

Call of the wild Big East teams see Connecticut at least twice a year, and they can’t do anything to stop it Pity the NCAA Tournament teams in the coming weeks who never have expe­ rienced the Huskies' fulktilt boogie of a run­ ning game.

“Our team feeds off that," (/Conn Coach Jim Calhoun says. “We feed off other teams not being used to our tempo. No matter how often an opposing coach tries to convince his team that we run. it never sinks in."

Probably, it does sink in. But knowing the Huskies run and actually doing some­ thing about it are two very different story­ lines. Connecticut's pace makes it an offen­ sive juggernaut, at the top of the Big East in scoring (83.9 points per game), shooting percentage (48 4 percent) and 3-point shooting percentage (41.9) Teams know its coming. They know Ray Allen and Doron Sheffer are coming. .And still, they don’t, or can't, get back. Not ang­ ularly. Not often enough to make a differ­ ence.

“Best release of the basketball off the reIn your face: K irk K ing a n d die H uskies

— M m a to c s in

a r e n 't arrauI to play rn th em otion

UConn’s lest nesses:

Muscle: UConn can be pushed around, but it has to get very physical before the Huskies are at a disadvantage

occasions when neither Allen nor Sheffer is connecting from the perimeter, the frontcourt's ability to pick up the slack is questionable.

Cincinnati can handle pressure because it has three good ballhandlers in Keith leGree. Darnell Burton and Damon Flint. Danny Fortson and Art Long may be too much for UConn's front line, which would have problems matching up with the big Bearcats.

theman to watch.The Bmins.would be even better if

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH Everyone recognizes the stars on the top eight seeds.(but who are the other players who must play well tor them to advance?

1. Writ tong, F, Connecticut When King is muscling away underneath the basket, the stellar backcourt of Doron Sheffer and Ray Allen has room to romp on the perimeter.

2. Damon Flint, G, Cincinnati: lf he is not playing at his hounding best on'tiefense or fully focused on the task at hand, the Bearcats don't figure to advance very far regardless of what Danny Fortson does.

3. Matt Harpring, F, Georgia Tech: Want versatility? Harpring led Tech in rebounding and 3point percentage. Dunng the Yellow Jackets’ sevengame winning streak to close the regular season.

Harpring averaged 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds.

4. Jelani McCoy, C. UCLA: Ignore the Toby Bailey hype and forget about Charles O’Bannon. McCoy is

BEST MATCHUP:

Inside scoring: On the rare

Bnllard/G, Mississippi S a te Billiard >:isfsecond in the SEC in 3^ointfiel5^irerc8ntafle

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, Indiana: BriarrEvans is going

sjujm tftis Jiffies Smotrthbperatorto r w ith ^ u m p e ^ i^

7: lynard Stewart, F, Temple: Marc Jackson is a horse, birt this athletic insideplayer finally has developed some tong-ayraited consistency. Keep an I eyffbnfilm. ' \ : 8. Chris Collins, G, Duke: Coiiins had three consecutive 27-point games before injuring his foot in the regular-seasonfinale. Duke relies on his shot (and heart) too much to go anywhere if he is not at nill strength.

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Heart m d soak

Collins is the Blue Devil?goto guy.

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S l l

March 18,1996

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w n y tney re d a n g e ro u s The H u sk ie s play their roles and understand their limitations, with the exception of dynam ic guard Ray Allen, w ho has none

1 Connecticut

Jim Calhoun

1 4 -1 0

2. Cincinnati

Bob H u g g in s

8-5

3 G eorgia Tech

B o b b y C rem m s

13-10

The best p a ssin g team in the tournament. With two creators in the backcourt. Tech reacts exceptionally well to shot-clock pressure

4 U CLA

Jim Harrick

14-10

R e g a rd le ss of their struggle s, the B ru in s still have a s m any talented players a s anyone after Kentucky

5. M iss. State

Richard W illiam s

6. Indiana

B ob Knight

4 0 -1 6

A n y team with this m uch talent is liable to sh o c k som eone, but the H o o sie rs haven't been playing Indiana-style defense

7. Tem ple

J o h n C haney

14-11

M a tch u p zone c a u se s p rob le m s because no one se e s it regularly. Center M a rc Ja c k so n has a soft touch and a big body

8 Duke

M ik e Krzyzew ski

3 9 -9

C h ris C ollins plays with m ore heart than anyone but m ake s too m any bad d e cisions

9. Eastern Mich.

Ben Braun

2-2

Point guard Earl Boykins, a su p e r-q u ick 5-foot-6. is sure to create m atchup problem s

10. O klahom a

Kelvin S a m p s o n

0-2

R yan M in o r and his 3-pom t sh o o tin g bu dd ie s can cause trouble.

11. B o sto n College

Jim O ’Brien

3-1

O 'B rie n 's system, which relies on small guards who apply great defensive pressure, has made unheralded Scoom e Penn a top freshman

12. Va. C om m .

S o n n y Sm ith

7-5

M o st team s from m id-level leagues aren't accusto m e d to the talent level, but V C U com peted strongly rn the M etro a year ago

13. Princeton

Pete Carril

3-10

The T igers have a little bit of size to go with a precise, patient attack that frustrates opp on e nts ...;

14. A ustin Peay

Dave L o o s

0-0

Bubba W e lls is a big-tim e scorer, but the capable L o o s has taught his players to understand they can go to W ells too often

0-0

The S p a rta n s are p assionate about defense and big e n o u gh to handle them selves up front

0-1

A n y team with a big m an a s versatile and dom inant a s Adonai Foyle is a threat to win from the bottom of the bracket

15. U N C G re e n sb o ro R a n d y Peele 16. Colgate

Ja ck Bruen

D a n n y Fortson dem oralizes opp one nts with his inside strength The Bearcats aren t just physical, they're brutal

The inside-out c o m b o of Erick D am pier and Darryl W ilso n got the B u lld o g s to the Sw eet 16 once, and they're still a factor

2*2

SOUTHEAST TOURNAMENT BRACKET

HONOR ROLL

SECO N D ROUND

FIRST ROUND

Seeded too high: Oklahom a. It d o e sn 't belong in the field.

Seeded too low: B o sto n College. It sh o u ld be an 8 or 9.

SW EET 16

16. Colgate (15-14)

Can carry his team:

I

Ste p h o n M arbury. G eorgia Tech. He can beat you in so m any ways.

9. Eastern Mich. (24-5)

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Unheralded player you'll soon know: Darryl W ilson .

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M is s is s ip p i State. He is a great sh o o te r w h o is red iscovering h is range.

Best draw: Cincinnati.

UWC G re e n sb o ro sh o u ld be a pushover, and the Bearcats already have handled Temple.

13. Princeton (21-6) RCA Dome. Indianapolis

Best frontcourt: Cincinnati. Big. beefy and b a d . thanks to D a n n y Fortson and Art Long.

Best backcourt: G eorgia Tech. M a rb u ry and Drew Barry are aw esom e.

Best bench: U CLA. The B ru in s m ay have the m ost overall talent in the nation.

Best 1-2 punch: Ray Allen and D o ro n Sbeffer.

Connecticut. The backcourt carries the H u sk ie s' title hopes.

Coach others least like to face: M ike Krzyzew ski.

Orlando Arena. Orlando

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Pure Strength: Fortson. along with frontcourt mate Art Long.

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11. Boston College (18-10)

demoralizes opponents with brutal, inside power.

TSN’s PICKS CONNECTICUT is i)laving

14. Austin Peay (19-10)

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M ISSISSIP P I STATE w as

VCT’/ w rit arid h a s debit* but it h a s to r: i ‘suams: a B ig East 'o u r ’I-?-; h a n n o v -* *

solid all se a so n , but the B u lld o g s needed to learn to play together. They clicked in the S E C Tourney.

Duke. Se ve n trips to the Final Four sp e ak volum es.

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15. UNC G boro (20-9) GEORGIA TECH h a s three fine perim eter players, but to Arizona testmontfr in :,;; the Y e llo w Jacke ts are not ve ry deep and m a y rely too -I m u ch on outside shooting.

in ia f o s f e

:Woeribcbut Darnel!

Burton andDanny FbrtsoncouW carr? the Bearcats.

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AMAZING STORIES Connecticut is the first Big East team to re­ ceive a No. I seed since the H uskies w ere seeded first in the East in 1990 (V C onn lost to Duke in overtime in the regional final that se a so n ). Since the tourney expanded to 64 te a m s in 1985. eight c o n fe re n c e s nave had team s receive No. I seeds. T h e Big T e n leads the wav with l l No. I seeds, followed bv the

Big Eight (eight) and ACC and Big East (both seven) T h e last time the NCAA title was won bv a non-No. I seed was '91. when Duke (a No 2) prevailed over Kansas. A No. I seed has won the title six tim es since the field e x ­ panded to 64 teams. #

S-12• COLLEGEOASKETBALL

The Sporting News

Kentucky Pipe for ride lls last Thursday, three days before the loumament bracket is announced, and Con­ necticut Coach Jim Calhoun is tning to rank the teams he thinks will be No. I seeds.

Calhoun keeps coming back loKentuckT. *Kentuck7 might be Nos. I. 2 and 3." he says. They're that goodi" Before losing to Missifeippi State, 84-73. in the SEC Tournament championship game — a loss that ended the nation’s longest winning streak at 27 games — Kentuck7 was beating teams by more than 20 points per game. Only twice during the regular season did the Wild­ cats win by less than double figures, and nei­ ther one of those games was in the past sev­ en weeks. They• beal Indiana bv • seven in De cember and Georgia by 6ve in January-. .\s Calhoun suggests, there is no reason to expect an>lhing else in the coming days, ai least until Kentuck7 gets through the NCAA Toumamenl’s earb rounds. The Wildcats have more great players than anybody else. and they play together better than anybody else. Coach Rick Pitino has them well past any of the potential cherrustn- problems they mav * have faced earlv • in the season, when the distribution of playing time Ns-as still shaking out.

"I think we re pla>ing aHtully well.* Pitino says. "I think the players' perspective on all of this is really outstanding They really have it together, as people They're having fun.

They understand why they're good. They un­ derstand that it's passing Ifs distributing the

Kentucky’s biggest weaknesses:

basketball. It’s unselfishness. It's solid de­ fense. They understand their weaknesses, and they try to do something about them. So I think it’s their maturity that has made us play this well late in the season."

With IO solid players — six of whom have pro potential — Pitino's running game and pressure defense should swamp anything in the team’s path. The frontcourt alone can throw Antoine Walker and Derek Anderson and Walter McCarty and Mark Pope and Allen Edwards in different combinations at a defense. And if they aren’t enough, freshman forward Ron Mercer has established himself as another force in the past three weeks. If there is a key cog in that multifaceted ma­ chine. it’s probably Walker, a 6-8 forward. have a lot of outstanding players," Piti­ no sa>*s, "but the one thing Antoine can do that no one else can that is unique is break down a defense and get shots for other play­ ers. Very few forwards today’ have thai sJaD. lf he continues lo do that ifs just going to make us better."

One other reason to believe in Kentucky.

I'nlike in years past, it no longer is so depen­ dent on the fast break and its 3-point shoot­ ing. Now. it can win playing any type of game. the loss lo Mississippi State notwithstanding.

That s no longer a concern," Pitino says.

T h e two best parts of our game right now in the second haJf of the season are our halfcourt offense and our halfcourt defense."

— M ic h a e Kk s u t

Vulnerability to size: ll hasn't happened since a November loss to U M ass. but big. mobile centers such as Tim Duncan and Jason Law son might hurt the Wildcats

Going dovK Mc<^rtyis one of several quick Kentucky forwards who can fly by defenses.

Offensive adaptability: Kentucky isn't as strong when guards Tony DeJk and Anthony Epps aren't hitting from the perimeter.

tv?--*

KEY PUYERS TCI WATCH Evetyons kmw^the stars on seeds. but .. who are the other pfeyef^who nwstp#-<#^ Jfor ftenx' toadvance? ' 1. MaHcPtgw. C. KentBCkyrHeCtti^diAr.:^: seembfgty never'^ndingbeh^isTtinllW ^^

leadingrebounder and d e ^ » v ^ ^^ physical player. Hlstoughness^si(1Bnittbiili|^ ■needed when (if?) the 'Cats go'up agiiKSt ' team— s^, like CindnnaflprGeoi^owh.; :;:j 2. Tony Rtiliaini. G, YiM a Fore^He's no fiamlolph' Childress; but he's the Demon Deacons’ best " aitematiye. Rutland l^ s Cte.team In S-pointst^«sdi^

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...................

Chuck K om e^ may took mean. but tie’s h cT ijm ^

BEST MATCHUP: Wake Forest has the big man. Tim Duncan, and good guard play to withstand the constant pressure Kentucky applies on defense.

The Deacons' small guards. Tony Rutland. Jerry Braswell and Rusty LaRue, could thrive against the Wildcats.

I •T I

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S TS

March 18,1996

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AT A GLANCE sd/School

Coach

NCAA record

Kentucky

Rick Pitino

15-6

The W ildcats take every shot w ithout hesitation because they don't have to live possession-by-possession

Wake Forest

Dave Odom

6-5

The Deacons run an inside-out oflense that creates lots of open 3-pom ters

Villanova

Steve Lappas

0-1

When Erie Eberz and Kerry Kittles find their range and the ball flows inside to Jason Lav/son. the W ildcats are nearly unbeatable

Utah

Rick Majerus

5-4

It w on't be easy to stop 6-10 Keith Van Horn, who can drive to the goal, score rn the post or shoot 3-pomters

Iowa State

Tim Floyd

1-3

Tim Floyd teaches m an-to-m an defense as well as any coach

Louisville

Denny Crum

37-19

The return of center Samaki Walker leaves questions about what the other players do now

Michigan

Steve Fisher

8-6

The W olverines need to allow Albert W hite to use his versatility and take over the offense

0-0

The Phoenix play an odd system, emphasizing screening, cutting and creating open shots

Wisconsin-Green Bay Mike Heideman

Why they're dangerous

Virginia Tech

Bill Foster

3-1

The Tech players understand how to annoy opponents w ith patience

Texas

Tom Penders

9-7

First-round opponents invariably struggle w ith the Longhorns' haphazard offense

Tulsa

Steve Robinson

0-0

W ith better offensive execution. Tulsa could last awhile

California

Todd Bozeman

2-2

Quite simply, one of the most talented teams in the field

Canisius

John Beilein

0-0

The Golden G riffins appear to lack the one great player and the overall athleticism to make a substantial impact

Portland

Rob Chavez

0-0

Anytim e a team is hot, and the Pilots are th a t it s dangerous

Northeast Louisiana

Mike Vining

0-6

A 3-pom t shooter like Paul Marshall is enough to frighten any NCAA opponent

San Jose State

Stan Morrison

0-3

At the best possible tim e, it is learning to use its athletic talent to challenge opponents

TOURNAMENT BRACKET

HONOR ROLL Seeded too high; Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Phoenix should 10 or 11 because they^layed and beat nobody.

Seeded too low: Virginia Tech deserved to be a 6 or 7 because of the quality of its foes.

Can carry his team: Keith Van Horn. Utah. No other team depends so much on one player.

Unheralded player you'll soon know: Reggie Freeman. Texas: In the Longhorns* fast-paced offense that features lots of shooting. Freeman could become well-known.

Best draw: Wake Forest.

The Deacons play smart, and their likely secondround foe doesn’t execute well.

Best frontcourt: California. Shareef AbdurRahim is the national freshman of the year.

Best backcourt Villanova. Keny Kittles and Alvin Williams are the keys to the Wildcats' title run.

Best bench: Michigan.

Nobody doubts the Wolverines' talent.

Best 1-2 punch: Tony Delk and Antoine Walker, Kentucky. The duo beats up foes outside and inside.

Coach others least like to face: Rick Pitino, Kentucky. He doesn't let his focus drift from the game and is tourney tough.

«

F IR S T R O U N D

16. San Jose State (13-16) :£ - a y - - -;:

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12. California (17-10)

13. Canisius (19-10) Reunion Arena, Dallas The Bradley Center, Milwaukee

The "Cats’ match? LaRue and Wake Forest's other small guards could thrive against Kentucky’s pressure

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TSN’s PICKS KENTUCKY could In c k w in by a urea! Io'.v- hos! plave? bi!; !?;•* Cats .von t • nave to v.or.-v na! iitiii5ttv r-’ Oiyru: (;s

CAUFORK LA has mega talent, lf the Golden Bears get their act together, look out. Some late-season losses may spark them.

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14. Portland (19-10)

10. Texas (20-9)

15. NE Louisiana (16-13) ■A IE fO G & rrL s a s o lid : team that knows h o w to .; * o ih tt& o ffe n se .The- - ' Deacons’ cohesion will hefp them survive the first two rounds;' :2 -' t.

VILLANOVA may rediscover what it s capable of doing following a bizarre season. It s not too late for the Wildcats to get it together.

AMAZING STORIES T h e r e are four t e a m s in th e overall field m a k i n g t h e i r first NCAA a p p e a r a n c e s — M o n m o u t h . UNO G r e e n s b o r o . V alparaiso and W e s t e r n Carolina — and P ortland and C anisius a r e r e tu r n in g after long a b s e n c e s .

P ortland m a d e its lone a p p e a r a n c e in 1959, w h e n it lost to DePaul. Canisius, meanwhile, m a d e t h r e e c o n se cu tiv e NCAA a p p e a ra n c e s

from 1955 to '57 (the G olden Griffins lost in the reg ion al finals in '55 and '56 an d in the regio nal sem ifin als in '57) but h a s n ’t b e e n b ack since. C anisius. by the way. is o n e of t h r e e t e a m s in the NCAA field with “G old­ en" in its n ic k n a m e . T h e o th e r s : C en tral Florida (G olden K n ig hts) and M a r q u e t t e '( G o l d e n Eagles).

S 14 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Sporting News

Purdue Big Dog? No, just big D •

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Purdue’s lest nesses:

The best attribute of the current Purdue team is defense. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten in scoring defense (60.5 points per game). which is a good thing because they are. frankly, limited offensively. No player av­ erages even 13 points per game. Only two — shooting guard Chad Austin (12.4) and back­ up center Brad Miller (10.1) — score in dou­ ble figures, lf Purdue doesn’t generate points with its defense. Purdue doesn’t generate points.

However, because they play such roughand-tough defense, the Boilermakers don’t need the offensive skills o f a Robinson to win in this year's tournament.

“W e’ve got eight guys w*ho on a given night could have 20 points." Heady says. “I think it would be hard to scout us, lim not sure'. People probably look at us jn'd say, ‘Well, none of them are worth a - S - .’ But if they do that. they’re going to be ut.‘tc&ibJe. because I think we’ve got a lot of weapons that can win a game against anybody —-if we play good defense.

1 *.

Purdue has one other thing going for itthis year. too. It has the deepest bench this side of Lexington. More than 40 percent of its scor­ ing comes from players other than the start­ ing five. which means if-the rough-and-tum-. hie defense gets a starter or two in foul trou­ ble. Heady can go nine or IO deep into his bench for relief. He couldn’t say that about the last Robinson team.

Its time to put a stop to the caveats. Its time for Purdue to play in the Final Four.

JOU RUSSO / ASSOCIATE0 PRESS

There is a caveat There ahvays seems to be a caveat when it comes to Purdue and the Final Four. a conjunction that hasn’t hap­ pened in Gene Keady’s 16 seasons in West Lafayette. Ind. Something always seems to happen — an injury, an unfair draw, stars out of alignment something — to end Purdue's season a little early, no matter how talented the Boilermakers are.

So when Heady savs. “Of the teams we’ve had over the last three years, this one is the best* we immediately look for the caveat.

After all. the Boilermaker^ of 1993-94 made it to the Southeast Regional final and fea­ tured Glenn Robinson, arguably the best player to come out of the Big Ten Confer­ ence since Magic Johnson. That team was pretty- good. And last year's Purdue team wasn't too shabby, either. It was a Big Ten champion, too. and had a couple of prime­ time players in Cuonzo Martin and Matt Waddell* This team’ Better than those two’ There must be a caveat. .And. of course, there is. An itsv-bitsv one.

T h ey aren’t the best basketball players we've ever had." Heady savs. “We're a team that could get beat in the first round.* .Ah. but they won’t, because Heady, despite the disclaimer about his players' talent, is right. His senior-dominated club plays better as a team than any of his recent NCAA en­ tries. The Boilermakers play smart. They play hard. And they play defense. Heady couldn’t say all those things about his ‘93-94 team, which lost to Duke in the regional final

One leads to the otter Purdue, which is led by sn seniors who have sacrificed for the sake a f the team, generates offensive chances like this Herb Dove dunk by playing suffocating defense.

— M ichael t o s u r

Rebounding: In eight of their last 10 games, the Boilermakers lost the battle of the boards. It could pose a problem should Purdue face the likes of Memphis' Lorenzen Wright or Syracuse's John Wallace.

The lack of a “ go-to" guy: Because the team is so balanced offensively, it doesn’t have one player it absolutely, positively relies upon for a key basket. No Purdue player averages even 13 points per game. if

iv

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH Everyone knows the-stars on the top eight seeds, but who are the other players who must play well tor them to advance?

1. Brad M iller, C, Purdue: lf he comes to play — concentration and aggressiveness have been his problems — this sweet shooter can be a dominating presence.

2. Jarod Haase, G, Kansas: His scoring Is down (11.1 points per game) and he Is erratic from the field (37.1 percent), but Haase is still the Jayhawks’ top 3-point threat TheyH be as tough as anyone if he gets hot 3. Michael Dickerson, FZB, Arizona: He surprises foes with his athletic ability. Check the tapes from the Preseason NIT, which the Wildcats won. to see what we’re talking about .

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BEST MATCHUP: Memphis has beaten Purdue the last two times the teams have met including a 91-76 victory in November, lf the Tigers apply their athleticism and quickness smartly, they could hurt the more physical Boilermakers, who are used to the clutching and grabbing Big Ten style.

THE

TOP

501

REASONS

R E A S O N

No.

016

THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

S-16 •C0LIE6E BASKETBALL

*•

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W a * ' *V

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The Sporting News

•

•

AT A GLANCE Coach

N C A A record

W h y they*re dangerous

I Purdue

Gene Ready

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The Boilerm akers d o n 't have great players, but they wisely listen to their coach. .

2 Kansas

R o y W illiam s

15 -6

Freshm an Paul Pierce is a superior athlete, but he has to make sure he do esn't shoot the Ja yh a w k s out of the tourney

3 A n zo n a

Lute Olson

2 0 -1 7

Once viewed as the W ildcats' biggest w eakness, point guard Reggie Geary has becom e a real force.

4 Syracuse

Jim Boeheim

2 2 -16

Forw ard Jo h n W allace m akes the offense w ork with his ability to play the post — and the perim eter.

5 M em phis

Larry Finch

6-5

6. Iowa

Tom Davis

14 -8

7 M aryland

G ary W illiam s

8-5

The Terrapins have advanced to the Sw eet 16 the last tw o years, but w a n t m ore.

8 . Georgia

T u b b y Sm ith

4 -2

The Bulldogs' talented seniors kn ow this is their fast shot at N C A A glory.

9 Clem son

Rick Barnes

0-3

W ith Terrell M cIntyre and G reg Buckner, the Tigers have the guards to control a tough gam e.

I O . Santa Clara

Dick Davey

1-2

Guard Steve Nash and 3-point shooting are tw o reasons to like the B roncos.

1 1 G eorge W ashington

M ike Ja rvis

3-4

N o b o d y m atches up with 5-3 Shaw nta R ogers and few can stand up to 7 - 1 Alexander Koul.

1 2 . Drexel

Bill H ernon

0-2

Opponents lacking strong post defense will be sorry to see the D ra g o n s ’ 6 - 7 M alik R ose.

1 3 . M ontana Stale

M ick Durham

0-0

Alth oug h not the biggest or quickest team , the Bobcats can sh o o t with anyone.

1 4 . Valparaiso

H o m e r Drew

0-0

Th e Crusaders have been waiting awhile fo r an opportunity to m ake a statem ent

15 S o u th Carolina State

Benjam in Betis

0-0

The Bulldogs are one o f the nation s top rebounding team s.

1 6 . W estern Carolina

Phil Hopkins

0-0

The Catam ounts show ed they could hold their poise — and a lead — in beating league foe D avidson.

S e e d /S c h o o l

9 *1 1

The Tigers can win playing fast or slo w . but their lack of fron tcourl muscle is a concern.

The Haw keyes have becom e a better team follow ing the suspension o f guard Chris Kingsbury.

WEST TOURNAMENT BRACKET

HONOR ROLL S e e d e d too hig h: M aryland The Terrapins should have been a N o . l l seed They benefiled from playing a tough schedule rn a tough league S e e d e d too lo w : George W ashington The Colonials beat the N o I tear^ in the nation (O M a s s l and have surged since losing at M issouri in m id -Ja n u a ry Can carry his te a m : Jo h n W allace. Syracuse He has expanded his game to include a perimeter dim ension U n h e ra ld e d p la ye r yo u 'll so o n k n o w : Shaw nta R o g e rs . George W a sh in g to n . The 5 -3 blur has charged up G W B est d ra w : M em phis Th e Tigers already have beaten Pu rd u e , and Syracuse m ay be no match B est tronlcou rt; Kansas The Ja yh a w k s wear toes out with Raef La Fre n tz and Scot Pollard B est backcourt: M aryland lf Duane Sim p kin s slu m ps, there s always Terrell Stokes And few players shoot the ball better than Jo h n n y R hodes B est be nch: Purdue (I is hard to distinguish between the Boilerm akers' first five and second five B e st 1 - 2 pu nch: Jacque V augh n and L a F re n t:, Kansas S top V augh n ana L a F r e n t: will get you Stop L a F re n t: and V au gh n will drive vou crazy Coach others least like to face : Tub bv Sm ith Georgia Sm ith guidec Tulsa'ID the Sweet IS of the N C A A Tournam ent in each of the last tw o vears

SECOND ROUND

PIRST ROUND

SWEET 16

16. Western Carolina (17-12)

•.wr- f-t -»v.; •. .•-T.SV’ •-*

9. Clemson (18 -10 )

1 3 . Kionlana Slate (21-8) The Pit, Albuquerque University Actitnty Center, Tempe, AZ

l l . George W ash. ( 2 1 -7 ) Boilam aker nemesis: Loremen Wright's Tigers already are eying

a meettrtg ulth Purdue in the Sweet 16.

TSN’s PICKS P U R D U E doesn t figure to lose in cither of the first tw o to u n d s. V^festeln Carolina should be a cakewalk. Then anam this is P u rd u e . The Boilers have a liistcry of N C A A disappointm ents.

IO W A is a better team Since the suspension of guard Chris King sb ury.

Since then, the Haw keyes have begun to em phasize the team concept m ore and the inside gam e of Je ss Settles a lot ll

I ll »

1 4 . Valparaiso (2 1 -10 )

M E M P H I S will advance to the Sweet 16 and possibly lo the Elrte Eight if It plays to its considerable ability The Tigers have great athletes, but their frontcourl players aren t real physical.

I O . Santa Clara (19-8)

15 .

s.

Carolina S t.

AMAZING STORIES

i

K A N S A S Stum bled a bit 5 d o w n the stretch (losing tw o o f its last fo u r g am e s). but it received good to u rn e y d ra w . Th e I Ja y h a w k s ' biggest (only?)

I w eakness m ay be their outsid e.sh ootin g.

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(22-7)

Tnis is the second vear in a row Santa Clara has made the NC.A.A beld despite losing in the first round of the West Coast Conference Tournament on its home court. Last year, the 12th seeded Broncos lost rn the first round to Mississippi Slate. Santa Clara is perhaps best­ known as one of only two No. 15 seed s lo knock off a .No. 2 seed. In 1993. the Broncos «

stunned .Arizona in the West Regional when a skinny freshman guard named Steve Nash hit s e v c ^ key free thrown down the stretch.

(The other No. 15 seed to win? In 1991. Rich­ mond beat SvTacuse in the East Regional.)

Don't expect South Carolina Slate, the No. 15 seed in the W est to upend Kansas, the No. 2 seed.

S i,

BASEBALL CHALLENGE

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Sunday, March 17

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The Sporting Ne1

TSN’s COACH OFTHE YEAR

•

John Calipari and Kentucky’s Rick Pitino bed for third.

The Minutemen seized the AP and TSN’s No. I ranking in their first game by beating top-ranked Kentucky and remained there for nine weeks — the longest stint at the top since Duke in 1992 — be­ fore losing to George Washington in late Febru­ ary. Although lacking overwhelming talent and depth, they swept through a non-conference sched­ ule that included Wake Forest. Syracuse. Boston College. Georgia Tech.

Memphis and Louisville and nearly became the first team to go unbeaten in the regular season since UNLY in 1990-91.

Calipari. 37, has developed Marcus Camby. chosen by the coaches as TSN ’s Player of the Year, into the nation's most dominant big man. He has balanced the inside game with exceptional backcourt play and has the Minutemen again playing with the unremit-

Ifs easy to resent Joh n Caljpari. So young and successful, so rich and self-assured, so stylish and well-connected. He is om­ nipresent. When I*Mass* games are tele­ vised. the cameras focus on his sideline an­ tics. lf his team is idle, he’s a studio guest for whomever calls — .ABC. CBS. ESPN. Or. he’s film­ ing a deodorant commer­ cial. Or pushing his line of clothes.

But don’t be fooled bv the glitter. Glitter hasn't taken Massachusetts from IO consecutive losing sea­ sons before Calipari ar­ rived in 1988 to the na­ tion’s elite. A demand for unrelenting defensive pressure, an ability to meld individuals into a singleminded unit and ^ skill for le a ch in g a passion for the gal v s basics has.

This season, no one has done a better job than Calipari of putting all those elements to­ gether. and tor that he has been selected by his peers as T mh Sporting News Coach of the Year. Penn State's J erry Dunn finished sec­ ond in the voting, and Virginia’s Bill Foster •

‘Potential loses basketball games.

Performance wins basketball games.’

Foltow me: Few thought Calipari would lead the

M inutemen to such a lofty perch this season.

^

'

^

Check out the finalists in the Pizza Hut Hoops Road Trip, an invitational 3-on-3 sh o w d o w n that will

determine the best intramural team in the country. Team s from the 64 college basketball tournament s c h o o ls have battled it out all month on courts a c ro ss the country. Now three g u y s will bring hom e a national title (and $2 0 ,0 0 0 ) for their college or university.

H ic Pizza Hut Hoops Road Trip mirrors the men’s national college basketball tournament in structure, timing and location. Finals will be played at the College All-Star Game on Sunday. March 31. Check lite Sporting News n e x t week for a tournament update.

1956 PIZZA H U I lfIC r •AHD *v DESIGMAH RE (iiSURF.U iRAOEUARKS AtJO TRADEMARK? ESPN AND ES PU? ARE TRADEMARKS Of ESPN INC DORI i OS i$ A *KAZM ARK USED BY PEPSI AND ALL SPOR! ARE TRADEMARKS Of PEPSICO. INC

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S-21

M a r c h 1 8 ,1 9 9 6

ling aggressiveness — especially on defense — that has become a trademark of his teams.

“Theres no birthright to play for us," Caiipari says. “You deserve to play or don't de­ serve to play. Potential loses basketball games. Performance wins basketball games.

You’ve got to defend, dive on the floor, take charges and rebound. Those are the staples of ho* we play."

Calipari’s tough love turned tender when Cam by collapsed before a game against St., Bonaventure. Turning the team over to assis­ tant James Flint, Calipan accompanied Camby to the hospital and witnessed every med­ ical test that was performed.

On the court the Minutemen^ unselfish­ ness helped them win their next four games before Camby returned.

“Its a real team." Temple Coach John Chaney says. “Its one of the very few in the whole country."

Rhode Island Coach Ai Skinner says: "Its funny. I don't think they’re as talented as last year, but they're probably a better team. They just complement each other so well. Their mind-set is of one. They know exactly what they w-ant to do. They don't appear to have any petty arguments, distractions. They’re fo­ cused and have a tremendous understanding of themselves."

As UMass begins play in the NCAA Tour­ nament. opposing coaches would be wise to heed Calipari's assessment of what it will take to beat his squad. Like the Minutemen, it starts with attitude. "Playing hard is not good enough against us." he says. “You have to be fearless." +

M S COLLEGE BASKETBALL AWARDS Player ot the Year. Marcus Camby, Massachusetts Coach of the Year John Calipari, Massachusetts

TSN All-America first team Position F/C F/C F/G G G

Player Marcus Camby Tim Duncan Kerry Kittles

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AU awards were determined by a vote o f coaches from the top Division I conferences.

Prized Wildcat Villanow's Kittles was one offour Big East players named to TEN'S two 1995-96 All-America squads.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL EXTRA

A D M K l ONTAI.

Pizza Hut® turns up the heat with an intramural showdown ollege hoops fans listen up: Pizza Hut is taking college courts by storm this March with the Pizza Hut* Hoops Road Trip, the first ever national college intram ural championship. The invitational 3-on-3 tournament w ill show­ case teams from the same 64 schools selected for the men’s national college basketball tournament. Pizza Hut will send advancing teams to play in the same cities as the national colle­ giate tournament, giving diehard basketball fans two opportuni­ ties to watch great basketballwith some unexpected match­ ups. The Pizza Hut, Hoops Road Trip ends at the College All-Star Game on March 31. w'here final­ ists will battle for a national title and $20,000 for their school.

Watch this space for weekly grid updates, and tune into the Pizza Hut, Hoops Championship Spe­ cial on ESPN and ESPN 2 for final game highlights with Dick Vitale.

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S-Z2 • C0LLE6E BASKETBALL

The Sporting News

come a midseason colla B y M ichael G ee

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arcus Camby doesn’t have much room to grow. But he has.

We're not talking about inches and pounds- He's the same 6-11 he was as a senior at Hartford (Conn.) PubGc High, although he has gained some w e i^ t since arriving at Massachusetts in the M of 1993.

W e're talking about em otional growth, the kind needed to become the best basketbaD player in the nation. Many argued he was one of the top players in the land last season as a sophomore and could have cashed in by declaring for the NBA draft. Bul he s ta y ^ in school so his game could mature, and the result is a blossoming into adulthood.

Camby’s wizened oudook will come in handy as his team begins the threew eek pa^faiJ quiz of the NCAA ToumaraenL If Camby, plays six consecutive games at his best — and up to the level that earned him T h e S po r t in g N ew s Player of the Year Award — then the No. 2 ranked Minutemen have as good a chance as any team to win it all including No. I Kentucky. But if Camby slips to less than his best — as has been the case on occasion this season, especially down the stretch — then UMass’ chance of winning it all is minimaL The Minutemen, who finished the regular season 28*1, sdD are a quality team when Camby isn’t a superstar. But there's little chance th e j^ ad­ vance past the Sweet 16 without C ^ b y carrying the team.

That sounds like an inordinate amount of pressure to place on one man in a team game, which it is. But no matter what happens, the tournament will be second difficult and u n t o test of unday.only January 14.the UMass vs. most S t Bonaventure.

Camby's season.

The game was supposed to be an innocuous affair that lf you remember.

Camby has had to cope with mortality, which is would be yet another on the transcript of the UMass sea­ something few 21-year-olds So. heck. failed exam is noth­ son. just another tripface. to Olean, N.Y..a lo kickhoop the Bonnies' b u tt ing to get worked up about Not for someone with the matured This game, however, would take on a special meaning for Camby out­ and look of Camby.

UMass, which had sprinted out to a 13^ start and No. I ranking. But the game became memorable for all the wrong reasons. After pregame warmups. Camby collapsed and lay unconscious for IO miz>utes. *1 never fell I was in trouble." says Camby. who was taken to Olean General Hospital and held ovemigju for tests with Calipari waiting vigil *Wien I came to. coach was there and I asked him if I could go b i k in the game. I felt fine. But they kept me in the hospital and they look tests I don't think they knew they had."

Al the hospital Calipari said he was overjoyed that doctors had told him Camby would live.

T h e whole thing was really blown out o f proportion," Camby says.

That was easy for him to say with a detachedness that would Im e made Walter CronJdte proud. After all images of Hank Gathers' death almost ^ years ago. ^ e n the Loyola Marymount star suffered a fa­ tal heart attack during a West C o i t Conference Tournament game, had leaped into everyone's mind. Camby’s detachment, however, served him in good stead in the aftermath of his collapse. What he saw as a puzzling health problem, others concluded was the begin-

S

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 8-23

March 18,1996

e and now is ready to bear the burden of great expectations

ning of a soap opera. But he didn’t let it bother him.

Well before Camby emerged from a four-day stay in the UMass Med­ ical Center, press and fan queries about substance abuse had begun, despite a negative drug test After Leu Bias and the medical muddle surrounding the death of Reggie Lewis, this was a sad inevitability.

“I know this is because people said that case (Lewis’ death) was drug-related,’' Camby told the Boston Herald before he returned to ac­ tion January 27 against S t Bonaventure. “But I know my own is not so I don’t pay it any mind."

Camby might not have been frightened by his collapse, but his teammates, coach and those associated with Massachusetts were.

Five days before C am b/s ordeal, UMass swimmer Greg Menton died of an undetected heart defect during a meet vs. Dartmouth.

The cause of Camby’s collapse is unknown. The battery of tests | drove Camby batty and essentially concluded that he was a positive; negative. The problem wasn’t his heart, and it wasn’t neurological, j Camby felt fine. If doctors can’t tell you why you shouldn’t be fine,

The past 15 of the Year Seaton Player, school 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96

Down bot cot oat Comby was taken to the hospitalfor a series o f tests to

I

determine die cause o fhis mid-January collapse However, no irregularities were discovered and he has risen to make UMass a tourney favorite. maybe you are. Ever since, Camby has treated his health as a non-issue, “I’m sure he thinks about it at times." Calipari says. The coach ad­ mits to worrying only once since Camby's return, when he heard on February IO of the sudden death of Dayton center Chris Daniels. That was an inescapable comparison, because UMass had played Dayton on January 6.

“I learned it (Daniels' problem) was arrhythmia, which is different from Marcus,” Calipari says.

Perhaps Camby's blase attitude about the Olean Episode is justified.

Certainly there was no indication that his game deteriorated during the two-week layoff he incurred as a precautionary measure. The Minutemen perked along going 4-0 and retaining the nation's No. I ranking during his layoff. On his return against S t Bonaventure. Camby

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Ralph Sampson, Virginia Michael Jordan, North Carolina Michael Jordan, North Carolina Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Walter Berry, S t John's David Robinson, Navy Hersey Hawidns, Bradley Stacey King, Oklahoma Dennis Scott, Georgia Tech Larry Johnson, UNLV Christian Laettner, Duke Caibert Cheaney, Indiana Glenn Robinson, Purdue Shawn Respert Michigan State Marcus Camby, Massachusetts

$-24 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

H ie Sporting News

llMass appeal: Comby has had to watch his teammates survive without him on occasion. But even when he was away, he earned /ans and admirers at I ’Mass Medical Center in Worcester, where he underwent tests in January.

and beat eight. But the Kentucky contest was age game. We all can play better." he Kentucky game set UMass in mo­ a watershed ev en t That was the gam e the Informed of this statement. Calipari was tion toward immortality — an unde­ Minutemen discovered they may be special struck speechless. After a Ralph Kramden feated season, something that hadn’t That was the game where Camby proved he double take. Calipari managed to say, “W ell. I been done since Indiana in 1975-76. already was. f Camby wasn't fazed by lying in a heap in hope he's right."

The Minutemen shocked many by defeating St. Bonaventure'? Reilly Center, we should the Wildcats by IO points in November. But UM ass has been at or near the top of the One week later, at home against George not be surprised. This is the guy who has rankings so long that it has almost forgotten Washington. Camby's first two shots were re­ that was a prelude of things to come, as locked horns with Tim Duncan. Lorenzen UMass proceeded to play nine ranked teams the preseason prognosticators had pegged it turned to sender by the Colonials’ 7*1. 300Wright, Danya Abrams. Todd Fuller. Marc several flights from the top, in­ pound center from Belarus.

Jackson and Samaki Walker, some of the na­ .Alexander Koul. George Washing­ cluding T h e S p o r t in g N e w s . which tion's biggest, baddest big men. .And Camby ranked UM ass 15th. T h e Minute­ ton bursts to a 29-11 lead, en route came up bigger and badder in each encounter. men were downgraded because to ending UMass* 26-game win­ There's nothing he can't do. right? they had lost Lou Roe to the NBA. ning streak. 86-76. and toppling it Maybe that’s whv The backcourt of Carmelo ^ * Cam bv * sounds so calm from the top of every poll, includ­ about the impending March M adness of Travieso and Edgar Padilla was an ing The S po rtin g n e w s '. “W e had a which h ell be the focal point. unknown quantity. And the Min­ chance to be something special, “It doesn’t matter what seed we get or who utemen were just plain lousy in but if we were 12-12. it would feel we play.” Camby says “Even- ga m e will be a several preseason exhibitions. the same to lose. W e’re just in a lit­ struggle. When the team s not going well. Ive It is Calipari’s habit to schedule tle slump right now. on offense got to ask for the ball and put the game on my ! and defense. I mean, eight re­ the most brutal D ecem ber match­ shoulders." ups he can wangle. This was a ne­ bounds and one block? That’s not , That sounds familiar But this stirring moti­ cessity when UM ass was an un­ me."

VA * fc- * I vational declaration was delivered in Cam by s known program on the make.

Maybe the shocking George habitual inflectionless voice, in muted tones Now Calipari plays non-confer­ Washington loss can be explained and with the emotional fire of a man reciting ence steekcage death m atches awav 9 as the sum effect of UMass his Saturday morning errands list. because, well. he likes ii straining to maintain an undefeat­ Visit car wash Check. Pick up dry cleaning “I think we play our best when ed season while playing a vicious Check. Oh. yeah, and don’t forget to be the we’re afraid we could get blown schedule. The normal late-Februhero in whut may be the biggest sporting o u t" Calipari says. So. for the sec­ ary blahs may have compounded event in the country.

• ond consecutive season. UM ass matters and accounted for the fa­ Calipari makes sure his players don’t forget opened against the preseason con­ tigue that resulted in Camby hit­ their ultimate goal — improving the team. He sensus No 1. (The Minutemen ting just 8-of-21 shots. periodically asks them to turn in written state­ beat Arkansas in 1994-95. In 1993‘T ir e d 5” Camby said quickly ments on what they can and will do to make 94, UM ass downed No. I North when asked if he was worn down. the Minutemen better The last such assign­ Carolina in the M inutemen^ third ment came the day after a February 28 over­ “No. I'm not tired at all." (His r n game.) voice and body language conflict­ time victory over St. Joseph’s, which was ac­ T here must be som ething to ed with his usual calm.) complished more on luck than merit Calipari’s theory on the motiva­ J' ^ trVf For a middle-aged reporter, it “Oh. I didn’t do that yet." Camby says. “I tional power of fear, because was somehow reassuring to know better do that right now. Ill probably put down UM ass beat Kentucky. 92-82. The there was a topic that could make being a team leader, stepping up and making game marked yet another Camby Camby ill at ease. He does not the big plays, what Iv e been doing since the growth spurt, the hard passage however, brood about his health. start of the season against Kentucky." from potential to actual star.

Cambv tenses at the notion he can Camby might be. the first .American athlete Camby torched the W ildcats wear out because, a) that was the of this decade to use understatement as his for 32 points. 9 rebounds and 5 rap against him during his fresh­ primary' means of communication. Rudyard blocks. He was a revelation on the Kipling only wrote a poem about how- to be an man and sophomore seasons, and floor, and in his quiet way. he was adult. Camby really does treat triumph and b) he doesn't want anyone, espe­ one off the floor, too. disaster the same cially NBA anyones. to think that With five minutes to play. Cali­ On February 17. the then undefeated and his medical problem has left him pari was aggressively criticizing No I ranked Minutemen played a road game damaged goods.

ZC—-& Padilla for committing a turnover.

“I just cam e back and worked against lOth-ranked Virginia Tech. a winner of Camby caught the coach's eye and extra hard to prove there was IR straight. Camby hit his first three shots and said. “Hey. relax, we’re going to nothing wrong with me. that I was finished with 31 points as TM ass won with al­ Ail for one: Camby and his Minutemen teammates, including Dingle, win this gam e." the same player I was in the Ken­ most haughty ease. 74-58. form a unit that is nearly unbeatable, thanks to its interdependence.

Calipari is a martinet, but not a tucky gam e."

Cam bv s reaction: “J think we had an averblocked nine shots in 23 minute's. He looked like a force again.

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‘Marcus is totally selfless,’ Calipari says. ‘He’s delighted to kill you with passing.’

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 25

a rc h 18,1996

highlighted Camby's vulnera­ bilities was the one that con­ vinced him to give UMass the benefit of his maturing play. en route to T he M inutemen lost to earning accolades this season, fellowing is flow tie matched up headO klahom a State in the East towhead'vsisom H tWxiatioh’s top centers; J , :-S / / ^ Regional final, and Camby was abused by 7-0.300-pound Bryant Reeves, who bounced Camby into a 3-for-lO shoot- • ing effort play-" “We usually wear people And since then, holler guy down, but they wore us o r n o t Camby has been the undisputed leader of the Min­ down." Camby say’s. utem en. At its b e s t I'M ass C o u n te r-in tu itiv e as it s e e m s , p la y in g C am by plays beautiful team offense straight-up appears to be the and savage team defense. But Cali pan’s team is built around best option. If. that is. you and for the Camby presence. have a 7-0.300-pound center.

George Washington had “We feed o ff h in t" Padilla such a center. .And GW Coach says. ‘And if he gets blocked Mike Jarvis gambled that or something, it has an effect” Koul could contain Camby T hen again, w hen Camby well enough to allow his team begins the gam e with a 'few to exert defensive pressure on quick baskets or rejections, T ravieso and Padilla. Simple that has an effect too. mathematics says it takes W hether or not Camby indmlonger to lose giving up two 'dates opposing players, he points at a time than three. m essed with a few coach­ “You can sit up nights try­ es’ minds. ing to be a genius for a day."

T h a t is a team that's a Jarvis says. “But if you try and ’ Tem ple Coach John trick the No. I team, they'll Chaney says. “And it all starts beat the hell out of you." with that big guy in the middle Koul eventually fouled out, who says, ‘no you can’t ’ They but not before Cambv shot 4com e down on offense, and for-13 in the first half and all I can do is puD out my George W ashington had a Bible book and say, ‘Please.

17-point le a d . T ra v ie s o Lord, don’t let them make an­ couldn't get open outside the other b a s k e t’ " 3-point line until late in the “I don’t know if Iv e ever second half, when the score­ seen a college player who can board made the outside shot do the things M arcus Camby the only option. does." Virginia Tech Coach And. like Reeves. Koul has BQI Foster says. moves to accom pany his It was Foster and Chaney's m uscles. He was offensively misfortune to meet UMass at skilled enough to occupy or near its b e s t The Virginia Camby s full attention, allow­ ‘ech and Tem ple gam es ex­ ing the other Colonials to dri­ emplify the two sides of the ve to the hoop without worry­ Camby dilemma. If you guard was Dayton. Camby had 38. And. sadly, it was him straight up. h ell hurt you. lf you double ing about Camby lunging to block a shot.

Daniels who gave perhaps the best explana­ Small wonder that Calipari recently fumed.

Camby and junk up the defenses, h ell tion of the defects of that strategy.

“Basketball is all about passing and team help his team m ates hurt you.

“It's pretty tough." Daniels said. “I’ve never In one m eeting with Tem ple this season. chem istry. People don’t want to see that played against a 7-footer who could take you Camby scored only IO points. But his re­ bump-and-grind play. N esm ith and others off the dribble from the 3-point line." didn't create it to be that way." sponse to double-teams and collapsing zones “If team s play him with one man,” Calipari That burst of preemptive bench jockeying to move up to the high post and pass. says, “h e ll get 35 to 40 points a game. And one might not be necessary. Bulky- yet gifted cern Forw ards Dana Dingle and Donta Bright (the gam e, hell get 50." ters in the classic mode are thin in the college rt of highly touted recruits Camby was not) How. then, was the Min u tem en 's 26-game adept cutters and finishers, so they happiranks this season. Look at the other potential winning streak ended? Why did UM ass sud­ cham pionship contenders. Who has the frontaccepted his passes. Also, Tem ple ignored denly seem so vulnerable down the stretch court power to knock Camby out of his feed­ ravieso, and he hit eight 3-pointers. against team s such as Rhode Island and S t ing grounds? ‘ M arcus is totally selfless," Calipari says.

UM ass already has beaten Wake F orest's e s delighted to kill you with passing.”

Joe’s?

Duncan and M em phis’ W rig h t .Among the T he answ er can be found in the loss that F o ster's H okies tried to stop Camby with schools it hasn’t played. Georgetown, along knocked UM ass out of last season’s NCAA ne man. T he results were predictable. with UCLA and Cincinnati, could provides.

T ournam ent Oddly enough, the gam e that T he first team to play Cam by straight up ty ra n t lf his players do what he wants, h e's happy to let them think for them selves.

And. after a ll few coaches dis­ like expressions of confidence from their m ost im portant players.

T looked in his eyes, and he was rig h t” Calipari says. “.And after th a t he made every big

4

Camby turned down big money to stay in school to improve himself.

He ought to be the star of NCAA propaganda films aimed at undergraduate athletes to stay in school. But that’s not what people remember.

p n o c ttB A U mass hysteria

NOBODY COVERS H O O PS LIKE BASKETBALL WEEKLY! For over 25 years Basketball Weekly has provided the most comprehensive coverage of college and pro basketball available anywhere. More features. More photos. More sta tis tics . Plus expert predictions, in-depth interviews and top columnists. 20 big issues in all. O rder now and let Basketball Weekly take you through the Final Four, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA draft!

problems reminiscent of Oklahoma State. But the college game is filled mostly with leapers and athletes, and Cambv rem ains the leapingest athlete of all.

The other obstacle between UM ass and the Final Four is Cam by's shooting, which has been skittish. In a three-gam e, late-season stretch against Rhode Island. George W ashington and S t Joe s. Camby hit only 24of-63 shots. C onsequently, the M inutem en barely beal two team s that won t make the NCAA Tournam ent and were thum ped by one that will.

It isn't that UMass is a one-man team, a contention that annoys Camby The Minute­ men are vulnerable to a Camby downturn pre­ cisely because they’ve been so precisely blended into his game.

T h e r e are good players out there who will block shots and make shots and get rebounds and num bers.” Calipari says. “But only a spe­ cial player makes everybody around him a better player. Marcus is a special player ~ The corollary of that tribute is obvious. A player capable of making his teammates im­ prove is also capable of dragging their per­ formance down. UM ass’ balance leaves it vul­ nerable to slumps from any of its five starters.

Like many things of beauty, this team is a del­ icate creation.

“When we play together, we're a powerful car." Calipari says. “W hen we don't, we're four tires and a steering wheel.”

The UMass car depends on its motor Be­ cause he's so determinedly low-kev. Cambv can be hard to read. But despite his accom ­ plishm ents this season. Camby hasn't es­ caped one bitter irony He is better known tor his collapse than for being an All-American on a great team.

Camby turned down big money to stay in school to improve himself. He ought to be the star of NCAA propaganda films aimed at un­ dergraduate athletes to stay in school But that's not what people rem em ber Camby's the first college player <ince Boh C ross’ Bob Cousy to be Boston's most cele­ brated basketball star. Even at Celtics games, little kids wear maroon-and-white jerseys bearing Camby’s No 21 But that'" not what people rem em ber, either. .And it s doubtful folks will recall he averaged 21.4 points. <V2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks this season No. when others think of Marcus Camby. even the team m ates and coaches who low him dearly, they cannot avoid rem em bering what he literally cannot, the image of Camby stretched unconscious on a floor in upstate New York.

There is nothing more Camby wants than to erase that image. The sight of him cutting down a net at the Final Four in East Ruther­ ford. N J., might be the only image that can.

A childish ritual seem s the best possible celebration for a young man getting past such a tough part of growing. ♦ #

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$ 28 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL It’s a question many talented underclassmen struggle with, and a question John Wallace, Rodrick Rhodes and Scotty Thurman each answered in different ways with different results...

B y S t e m C a m p b e ll ohn W allace listens to others, but th e v o ic e that g u id e s him is the one inside his head. T hat inner voice was telling him to just do it. do it now, do the thing that made se n se on ly if you had w alked a lifetim e in h is hightops. That _ voice nearly convinced W allace to seek im mediate N B A riches at the e x p e n se of what has turned out to be the best year of his basketball life. That voice nearly talked W allace out of a magical senior season that h a s m ade him the latest co lle ge b asket­ ball poster child for the merits of staying in school.

By W allace's reasoning, the N B A w as the next logical step after his junior year at Syra­ cu se . W allace hadn't ch o se n basketball as m uch as basketball had chosen him. He first learned to love the gam e not for itself, but be­ cause of when* it could take him. He w as am­ bitious enou gh , impulsive enou gh , confident e n o u g h to have shaved " P a M an" into his hair in high school. He wanted to get places as fast as he possibly could He ow ed if to himself He ow ed if to his mother.

B efore W allace b e c a m e a teen a ger, his m other had been the su p erglu e holding to­ g e th e r a b roken family. V a n e ssa W allace w orked two job s to pay the bills, squeezing in night cla sse s when she could because the al­ ternative was lo rely on charity. S h e cooked at a dav-care center, clean ed a doctor's \ > bedroom home. W hatever it took. Her work d a y s would start at 4:30 a.m and end just about in Ume to get ready for bed. She moved h er th ree so n s from the inner city* of Roc hester. N Y., to the suburbs so they could have the best schooling she could afford. .An N B A p a y c h e c k would c h a n g e every ­ thing. .An N B A p aycheck would g o a long way toward helping W allace repay his m other for everything.

“She knew how strong I w as about com ing out. trying to g o to the next level.*' W allace says. “At first. I wasn't even thinking about com ing to school. She understood it. and she respected m e b eca u se I'm my own man."

Vanessa W allace resigned herself to watch­ ing her oldest son live with what sh e feared would be a big mistake. W h e n he belatedly decid ed to return to Syracuse, tears of relief flooded her eyes.

“She never really told m c to stay or to go. but at the sam e time, she told me h o w she felt." W allace says. “Y ou could just se e it in her eves: She wanted me to slav in school. It felt good. I made my m other happy. I made m yself happy at the sam e t im e " Talk about hitting the lottery. Playing against Big East com petition that S y ra cu se

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JOHN WALLACE After opting to pass ap his senior season tor the UBA draft, Wallace had second thoughts.

Mow he’s a sure-fire first-roond selection.

The Sporting New

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 27

March 18,1996 A

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Coach Jim Boeheim calls “the toughest it's ever been." Wallace was a unanimous firstteam alkronference selection this season and a second-team TSN All-American. The Carrier Dome has turned into Wallace World — a rau­ cous place where the roof regularly gets raised by the high-flying exploits of the Sd forward.

Wallace stands to see his stock skyrocket higher with a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament. The continuing education of­ fered in the Big Dance is tremendous prepa­ ration for the high pressure offered in the NBA. But if Wallace had dumped Syracuse and the NCAA last season, he may have been forced to expand his knowledge in the pro basketball school of hard knocks: the Conti­ nental Basketball .Association. .As it is. the Orangemen finished the regu­ lar season 22-7 and ranked 13th in the .AI5 poll. Wallace led the team in scoring (22). re­ bounding (8.8) and blocks (1.8). and was sec­ ond in assists (2.5). In the process. Wallace elevated himself from NBA suspect to an al­ most certain lottery pick in this June's draft.

He did all that, mind you. while carrying ailhour class load so that he could get his de­ gree in sociology this spring. “ Ive been without money for 21 years." says Wallace, who turned 22 in February “What's another vear?"

nother year in school can be the dif­ ference between a fruitful basketball career and a fruitless one. When Wallace applied for a 1995 draft top­ heavy with talented underclassmen. N BA scouting director Marty Blake called the de­ cision “a catastrophic mistake." The first four picks — Joe Smith. .Antonio McDvess. Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace — turned out to be sophomores. By the end of the first round, the N BA had taken nine underclass­ men and one high school player (6-11 Kevin Garnett, who went to Minnesota at No. 5).

Two days before the draft, Wallace with­ drew. His announcement came three days af­ ter another junior. 6-7 forward Rodnck Rhodes oft Kentucky, had pulled out of the draft. Rhodes' decision to come out was scru­ tinized because he was coming off what draft analyst Don Leventhal characterized as “a less than mediocre junior season." “ Earth to Rod rick: You are not ready yet."

Leventhal wrote in his predraft report..“ You are only supposed to leave college early for the N BA when you have a good year " Leventhal described Rhodes as “a talented, inconsistent enigma" and added this advice “If Rhodes wants to make it in the N BA one day. I believe the best way he could prepare for that would be to leave Kentucky, transfer to a school where he could get a ton of min­ utes ... and be the man.'' .As ii turned out. Rhodes followed precise-

A *

RODRICK RHODES Rhodes launched his career at Kentucky, but he has landed at Southern California after reneging on his commitment to the MBA draft.

S-28 • C0LLE6E BASKETBALL

Tile Sporting New

Iv thai blueprint He transferred from KentuckT — where he never quite lived up lo the hosan­ nas directed his w*ay at Si .Anthony High of Jersey City. N J. — to Southern California in Aufjust.

Rhodes and Jason Kidd were considered the na­ tion s top recruits coming out of high school of 1992.

Wliile Kidd \^*as earning NBA co-Rookie of the Year honors last season. Rhodes was thirdteam .^^Southeastern Conference.

A John Wooden .Av^*ard candidate in the pre­ season. Rhodes wound up second on Kentuck>‘ in scoring tl2.9). as^sis (3.S) and steals (1.5) last season. Once Rhodes left, word quickly spread that he^got a helpful push out the door frt*m Kentuck*)' C-oach Wok Pitino. who wantI'd to sign Ron Mercer - considered by some the top prep in the nation .And he happened to play Rhcxies' position, Uliy else, the reasoning went. would Rhodes go to the trouble of leav­ ing a national power and sitting out a redshirt year lo play for a struggling CSC program’ "My reason for u*anting to redshirt was how hungry I was lo be an .N'B.A player." Rhodes says "I did not gel pushed out at Kentucky, lf I did. why would I keep in touch and still ask Bidding adieu: Some say Rhodes, who's looking for a cheery end to his career, was encouraged to adrice from a man who ‘pushed* me out of the school? NS“hen I go back to Kenluck>'. I visit • leave Kentucky by Pitino. but Rhodes denies it In fa d . Rhodes says Pitino has offered helpful advice.

Coach Pitino and his wife. You're hearing it who signed him in December after he was re­ from the horse's mouth. Rodrick Rhodes did leased bv Sioux Falls. not get pusht*d out of Kentucky ."

"Red .Auerbach — I think he’s pretty smart Rhode's, in fact. credits Pitino for explaining — once told me. ‘Players are going lo play X how to investigate all NB.A options without number of years in the NBA.’ Boeheim sa>’S. closing the door on college. Pitino steered "I i makes a lot of sense. I think you’ve got a Rhodt's. who admittedly was "ignorant" about certain number of years in the NB.A And go­ how the draft process works, away from hir­ ing early doesn't mean you have an extra year. * ing an agent. Following that adrice left Rhodes .Nobody ever thinks about thai eligible to return to school when it became ap “Isiah Thomas left early. If he would have parent that NB.A teams considered him a see'stayed two more years at Indiana, he probably ond-round pick at best. would have p la y ^ the same number of years "lf not (for Pitino)." Rhodes sa y s. “I probabK (in the NB.A). Just because you leave early would have done what Scorn* Thurman did." doesn’t mean you’re going lo play any longer Thurman was a star al .Arkansas, who. like or make any more money. If you're good, Rhodes and Wallace, applied for the draft af­ you’re going to make the ter his junior year. I ’nlike Rhodes and Wal­ monev anvwav ’ lace. Thurman decided there was no tuming 1 figured that if I :• V'/ back to school. Thurman, a sharpshooter took a whole hen John Wal­ who hit a backbreaking 3-poinler in the final lace was too minute of the 1994 .VCA.A championship game year, why couldn’t young to do any­ against Duke, w-ent undrafted. The I ^ o r I move up to top 5 The Change’s man; Wallace thing about mon­ backs could have us<‘d his outside shooting in has benefited from being the ey besides w-ish he had some. what has turned out to be a difficult transi­ status?’ team '5 primary offensive threat tional season in Fayetterille. he was more interested in ____________ football than basketball. He The rap on Thurman: In a 3-D world, he has crowd. CoDege coaches were taking note b\* ooh' one dimension, and it isn’t playing D. He was — and still is — a Dallas Cowbo>'s the time Wallace was a sophomore at could have worked on his deficiencies with an­ diehard, making him a western New York Rochester’s Greece-Athena High School. other sea.*ion ai .Arkansas. Instead, he's .stuck anomal)*. As Wallace grew up. up. up. he real­ “ll got to the point where I was thinking. ‘I in CB.A purgator>* with the Shreveport Storm. ized basketball could set him apart from the

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can use basketball to gel to college.’ " says Wallace, who averaged 29 points. IS rebounds and 6 blocks as a senior. "As much as ray mother worked, it was hard to gel to college with the money she was bringing in. I started putting in a lot of hours of basketball — no more hanging out with ray friends or nothing.

Just basketbdL basketball, basketball.’

His mother had her jobs. Basketball was his.

“Yeah." Wallace says. “It’s still my job.* Wallace led Syracuse in rebounding in each of his first three seasons while raising his scoring average from 11.1 to 15.0 to 16.8. Still.

Lawrence Moten '^*as always the focal point on offense. Wallace was an efficient post-up play­ er. shooting 59 percent from the field as a ju­ nior. with a questionable jump sh o t He shot 17 3-pointers and made only four in his first three seasons.

"I was always arguing for him to come back based on the fact he n e ^ e d to prove himself,’ Boeheim says. “I think every college player who goes out and is successful has been the dominant player on his team, john was not a dominant player here. I told him. Y ou need to show you’re a dominant player.’

Nevertheless. Wallace insisted on a! least dangling his feet in NBA waters. He worked out for about IO teams without finding one that would commit to making him a lottery pick. NBA executives im p lo re him to polish his outside shot T h e y pretty“much loldlm rthetam e tKhg: lf you do. come out, you TI be like a top 15 pick,' Wallace says. YVhen' ffiisVhole thing started I was considered an early second-round pick-1 figured t o lf j T i j ^ a whole year, why couldn’t I move up The WaDace announced his return, he vowed to h e "a completdV’-different player." He spent the summer wojidng with a personal trainer, doing drills, working on his shot, find'ing pick-up games. The pay’offi an offensive repm oire that blends the ability to score from outside (28-of68. or 41 percent, from behind the arc) while causing havoc inside (7 3 freethrow attempts per game).

Wallace finished the regular season fifth on the Syracuse career scoring list He is the only player besides 76ers forward Derrick Coleman to l ^ d the Orangemen in reboundir^ four con­ secutive seasons- In Boeheim's opinion. Wal­ lace has emerged as a hybrid between Cole­ man and the Kmgs* Billy Owens, another Syra­ cuse product Coleman was a more dominant inside force al S y ra ^ se . Owens a more ac­ complished runner and ballhandler.

“John is a little bit better shooter than both those guys at this stage." Boeheim says. “But he has now elevated himself into that compar­ ison with those guy's. Before, he wasn’t really

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 29

4 arch 18,1996

Scotty’s not beaming Afternoon in Booster City, La. A ringing phone in a hotel room that will be home as long as there is a Continental Basketball Association season. A game to play that night.

Scotty Thurman has been better.

“I'm trying to get some sleep,” Thurman snaps at his caller. • When might be a good time to talk?

“NdTfSfiy " Gmr. Tomorrow, perhaps? . “W e’re leaving for Omaha (Neb.) early in the morning.”

Gmr. Gmr. Is there any time you might suggest?

“Got to get some sleep now.” Click.

At this time a year ago, Thurman was getting ready to help the Arkansas Razorbacks to their second consecutive NCAA championship game. Thurman, who made a crucial 3-pointer late In the 1994 title game, bypassed his senior season to apply for the NBA draft last spring.

Undrafted, the 6-6 Thurman tried out with the New V Jersey Nets and was cut He played one game with the * CBA’s Sioux Falls SkyForce, who drafted him in the fourth £ round before releasing him. He finally caught on with the Shreveport Storm, just down the road from Ruston. La..

Detour: Thurman's NEA dream has stalled in Shreveport comparable to those guys.

“He has a pro game. He can go inside. He can go outside. He could grow into a power forward who can play outside, and those guys are very valuable/’ *He’s as good as they make him out to be."

Alabama center Roy Rogers says. “By far. he's the toughest player Ive faced all year."

Why. Wallace has even toned down the oncourt woofing reminiscent of another Syra­ cuse player who wore No. 44 — Coleman. Per­ haps having a 2-year-old son. John III, sped up the maturing process.

“The overriding thing is he has taken charge of the team and been a leader," Boeheim says. “Everybody on the team realizes it’s John's team, and he's the guy. Thats just a necessary step for him — and for us to be a good team. He has wanted the ball. He has made play's."

Leventhal projected Wallace as a late firstround pick — anywhere from 20th to 29th — last year. He ranks Wallace third among the 1996 senior class and 11th overall. The timing is right for Wallace because he has made the most of the time that he has had.

“Some people come back and remain the same type of player," Wallace says. “I was de­ termined that I was coming back to be a com­ pletely different player. I think I've accom­ plished that’

hortly after Rodrick Rhodes headed for the left coast, he got a tattoo on his left arm. It reads. “Everything happens for a reason." ’ “Maybe." Rhodes says, “this was a lesson in disguise."

After three years of unmet expectations at Kentucky. Rhodes welcomes the opportunity to be incognito. Rhodes decided (JSC — in all its Tailback U. glory — was his kind of place shortly after he arrived on campus. While vis­ iting with Trojans receiver Keyshawn Johnson at the end of football practice one day. Rhodes spotted a kid approaching for an autograph.

“Being at Kentucky so long." Rhodes says.

“I'm thinking this kid is going to ask me for an autograph."

Instead, the object of desire turned out to be Johnson. .After Johnson signed, the kid turned to Rhodes and asked. “Are you a foot­ ball player?" Rhodes admitted he wasn't, prompting the kid to leave in disappointment.

“It was kind of funnv. but at the same time.

S

thats what I wanted — that humbleness, that surrounding, that not always being looked up at as a basketball player." Rhodes says. “I think that's what this whole situation did to me. In­ stead of being hunted, being the hunter."

While Rhodes regrouped. Kentucky soared to No. I in the rankings and breezed through the SEC schedule unbeaten. Its not the first time he has been humbled since coming out of high school as a Parade and McDonald's .All-American.

“I was my biggest critic." says Rhodes, a high school teammate of NBA guards Terry Dehere and Bobby Hurley. “Even when I had a good game. I saw something bad. That's be­ cause I was taught that at S i Anthony: Never be satisfied."

Rhodes remembers missing two key tree throws against .Arkansas late in the title game of the 1996*SEC Tournament. Although the Wildcats won in overtime. Rhodes couldn't stop himself from crying afterward. “lf we lost, then I would have ail the reason to cry because I lost the game." Rhodes says.

“But we won. I had so many high expectations on me... I didn't want to cut the nets down be­ cause I felt I wasn’t a part of it. The crowd cheered me on and made me do it" Rhodes never averaged more than 14.6 points or 4.1 rebounds with Kentucky. Sup­

his high school stomping grounds.

“He just wasn't ready,” draft analyst Don Leventhal says.

“He’s very one-dimensional. There are things he needed to work on. You look at Arkansas now. Thurman would have been a total star on this team this year. No Corliss Williamson — Scotty Thurman’s The Man. He could spend some time working on creating a shot, improving his handle. The timing would have been much better for him to come back this year where he would have been The Man and had the opportunity to show more.”

Playing alongside the likes of Tracy Moore. Anthony Dade. Shon Tarver and Roger Crawford, a former teammate at Arkansas. Thurman is a bit player on a twobit team. Forty-eight games into the season, the Storm had the CBA’s worst record (14-34). In 36 games with Shreveport, Thurman was averaging 7.6 points. 2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.6 minutes per game.

Thurman was a sharpshooter in college. He’s a 39percent shooter in the CBA. Though Thurman insists, “the same people who ask the questions would have done the same thing,” Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson ca?*; help but wonder what might have been. ' “Scotty Thurman on this team.” says Richardson, whose dub finished the regular season 17-11. “would make this one heck of a team.” ♦ — S t ev e C a m p b e u

the N B A . .And I wan; to turn th}" program posed lesser lights have shot past Rhodes in around. I want it to be more than just a foot­ college basketball's pecking order. The future ball school. Those are the expectation^ I'm became even more muddled with the midsea­ putting on myself. I want this to be known a» son firing of coach Charlie Parker, who had a basketball school — nut Tailback I " called Rhodes “the best recruit we've had at LSC in my eight years here." .Another coach — assistant Henry Bibby took over on an in­ terim basis — might have different ideas about f Wallace finishes school. In- will become Rhodes. the second member of the extended fam­ “My whole feeling — it goes back to Coach ily to get a degree.

Pitino. because I still remember great quoter of things he used to say — is: That's adult “ Oh. I told him what to do." says Vane-*business: let adults handle that." Rhodes says. sa Wallace^ who had a scholarship to Howard “Yeah, it will affect me. so it is my business. but was unable to go because she had lo at­ But I’m kind of stuck. What. am I going to tend to her sick mother and threr-monih-old' transfer again’ I'm here. So 111 let the adults John. "I told him I thought it was best if he handle that." wbuid go back and get his degree “ The NBA dream isn't dead, just deferred.

She told him. all nght. She just didn't know By returning to school. Rhodes bought an­ if her voice could be heard above the one other chance at a breakthrough year. within her son s head.

“A lot of people look at it and say. 'Rhodes, “ I was really surprised." Vanessa W allace he's a kid who fell off.' or 'He didn’t do what says. ‘ A lot of guys come out of school early, he was supposed to do.'" Rhodes says. “I don’t I and when it's over with the ball, they have think I fell off. It was just that with the era of ; nothing to tall back on At Seast John has kids coming out early — the (Rasheed) Wa!- i something to tail back on. .And he can be a laces and Stackhouses of the world, that's role model for his brothers and his son — let what people expected me to be. So when I them know that if he was successful, they can wasn't that, it’s like. 'He failed.' be. too." ♦ “In reality, how did I fail? I'm going to get Steve Campbell is a columnist for (hr my degree, and I’m still going to have a shot at

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S SO • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Georgia^ frontier Despite an upset, quarterfinal loss in the SEC Tournament, the Bulldogs have the talent, the experience and the coaching to win their first NCAA title B y W en d y Parker ndy la n d ers knew his Georgia (cam was in trouble when his Defense ran away.

A

nessee. and at Auburn. Connecticut, Penn State and Florida) averaged 26.8 points. 6.9 rebounds. 4 steals and 7 assists and twice broke her career scoring high.

T hrough it all. the Bulldogs reached the No. I spot in the national rankings for three weeks beginning January' 29 — the first for a Georgia team since the days of Katrina Mc­ Clain and T eresa Edwards, national team m em bers who were stars a decade ago.

“I com m end our team on its ability to keep things focused and go about its business."

Landers said before the SEC T o u rn am en t “Doing so is an exercise in focus."

T hose rem arks were three days before Georgia was stunned in the quarterfinals of the league to u rn a m e n t losing 73-71 to up­ start Louisiana State. The Bulldogs were flat and unfocused, looking confused and intimi­ dated.

“I worry that we’re not doing enough on of­ fense to get our scorers the ball." says Lan­ ders. who in 16 seasons at Georgia has taken team s to 12 NCAA T ournam ents and three Final Fours. “We have to m ake sure we’re all working on the sam e page."

His Bulldogs, a Final Four team last season, were tabbed in some preseason com ers as the next national women's basketball cham­ pion. But they got off to a rock)- 2-2 start, and it wasn't long after that when Landers' pet border collie. Defense, vanished from sight.

“I guess he was pretty upset with how we were playing.* says 1-anders. a colorful com­ bination of carnival barker and sly motivator who welcomed back the return of his team 's winning ways about the same time Defense found his wayhome. “I'm getting a pen for him. if he wants to get out, he'll have to know how- to pick a lock.'

Finding the key to unlock the puzzling rise* of the Geor­ gia women has been a source of im m ense pleasure and baf­ fling frustration for Landers, who for three seasons has brought along a talented re­ cruiting class that continues to experience the gam ut of bas­ ketball emotions.

Right after suffering a hu­ miliating 29-point loss Decem­ S. ber 2 at Virginia. the Bulldogs \ won 19 gam es in a row. in­ cluding five consecutive victo­ a :-* ries against ranked teams.

Georgia won the SEC regu* p. ^ lar-season cham pionship, los­ ing only once — at Vanderbilt. w here the Bulldogs lost for f ^ the sixth consecutive time — & / b. and they have been the most r n 'i t f j- * * ' -r-jr consistent team on the road in "t ‘he nation this season, win­ i ^ •w ning ai Connecticut. Penn & Mate. Alabama. Auburn. Flori­ I. ' da and Arkansan Georgia also ha'* ib r frontThe Golden Pratt Georgia s juniors, who three years ago made up one o f the top runner for player of the year in recruiting classes of women s basketball, are led by the talented Frett senior point guard ^ u d ia Roundtree, who in one fivt*

tm*

>

■A

I

o w h ich team will show up in the NCAA T o u rn a m e n t th a t b e ­ g in s Friday? The pow­ erh o u se. road w'arriors — a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Re­ gional — wdio ripped through the regular season or the be­ wildered team that stum bled in th e c o n fe re n c e to u rn a ­ ment?

Failing to live up to expec­ tations — or exceeding them — is what Landers has had to deal with since 1993. when he brought in one of the top re­ cruiting classes ever in women's basketball. Last sea­ son his young team — m ade up primarily of junior college transfer Roundtree and an as­ sembly of sophom ores, scrap­ r n ped and clawed its way to the Final Four in Minneapolis, los­ ing in the semifinals to Ten­ nessee.

His juniors, who form the core of the team, brought that | experience to the table this 2 season. Forward La’Keshia $ Fret! and center Tracy Hen­ derson have started most of their careers. Guard Kedra H o lla n d s one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in the coun­ try. The senior. Roundtree, de-

Bulldog tenacity: Roundtree and her teammates play the type o f defense that is tough and in-your-face. veloped her sm ooth playground gam e against boys in her hometown of Anderson, S.C.. and has provided a tough-minded lead­ ership role.

I “Nobody’s going to lay down for us," Roundtree says. “W e have to be pumped up ■ for everybody who play's us because they’re going to be pumped up for us. We just have to I go out and play Georgia basketball."

I In Landers' playbook, that m eans a sm oth­ ering 1-3-1 fullcourt trapping defense that’s in-your-face and relentless, often including hacks and thigh butts and constant hand-] checking. Offensively, the Bulldogs prefer to i run and have been tripped up when forced into a slower tempo.

T m not a haifcourt player, and I’m not go­ ing to sit here and lie and say I am," Roundtree says. ‘ I have a tendency to take] some bad shots, but Tm doing a better job of] finding the open man and being more patient on offense."

Despite the SEC Tournam ent loss, some of J G eorgia's rivals are putting their money on the Bulldogs for the NCAA Tournam ent.

“I still think they’re the best team in the country," .Arkansas Coach Gary Blair says.

T h e y have the best player in the country in Roundtree, and nobody's played a tougher schedule. They*’re as tested as any team could be."

That may be true, but predicting an NCAA women's champion this season is just as risky as it has been on the m en’s side for years.

For the moment. Georgia sits in a position similar to a year ago — ousted unmercifully from the SEC Tournam ent and needing some resolve for the stretch run. Roundtree dis-] m isses any com parisons, but not all of her team m ates see it that way. * 1 T h is is the time last year when we made our big change." H enderson says. “W e got down and worked hard; our focus was there.

It helped us get ready for the NCAA Tourna­ ment. We need to take this time to get ready again." + W endy P a rker covers w om en s basketball fo r the A tla n ta J o u m a l-C o n stitu tio n .

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • S 31

/larch 18,1996

E A ST

W EST

I First round

Second round

I

March 17 or 18

March 15 or 16 *1 Tennessee

16 Radford i

8 Memphis

K n oxville, Tonn.

j I

9 Ohio Stale 5 Texas 12 S.W. Mo. St. 4 K an sas

I

Law rence, Kan. I

13 Mid. Tenn. St. 6 Geo. Wash.

11 Maine ---------------■

i — ■

—

3 Virginia

-

Charlottesville, Va.

'

)

14 Manhattan 7 Mississippi I

IO Toledo

I

2 Old Dominion Norfolk, Va.

j

I J

15 Holy C ross

•

•

M ID E A S T I First round

Second round March 17 or 18

March 15 or 16 1 Connecticut •

16 Howard ^ Storrs, C onn.

8 M assachusetts 9 Mich. St 5 Ronda 12 S a n Francisco 4 Duke

D u rh a m , N .C .

13 J. Madison ,

No. 1 seed: Tennessee (26-4).

15th tournament appearance.

W hy they’ll make it: in Pat Summrtt. the Vols haveJhe most experienced and successful coach in the tournament. She has taken Tennessee to eight Final Fours and won three of them (1 9 8 7 .’89. ’91).

W hy they w o n 't Forget about the Vols' team that advanced to the Final Four last year. The best player on this year's team is a freshman. Chamique Holdsclaw. and s h e s out with an injury for at least two rounds. Beyond that, the Vols have little depth, lf Holdsclaw is out for more than two games, the Vols are in trouble.

W not Tennessee, w hom ? No 2 seed Old Dominion, which has one of the best point guards in the country in Ticha Pemchieiro. the M onarchs’ best player since Nancy Ueberman. “She reminds me of me." lieberman-Cline says. “S h e s made some passes this season that have made me proud."

Nancy Lieberm an-Cline’s sleeper pick: M ississip p i (7th seed). “They’ve been beating each other’s brains out in the SE C all year. They've had some good wins at home, lf they get hot. watch out."

6 Wisconsin 11 O regon 3 Vanderbilt

N ash ville , Term.

14 Harvard 7 DePaui IQ S . Methodist 2 Iowa 15 Butler

Io w a City, Io w a

I

No. 1 seed: Connecticut (303): 8th tournament appearance.

W hy they'll make It Coach Gene Aunem m a is secretly happy to be in the Mideast region and out of the East, which means his team won't have to play Virginia in Charlottesville. The Huskies probably have the easiest road back to the Final Four and will get a chance to defend last se a so n 's national championship. Plus. UConn has two potential All-Americans in point guard Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wotters.

W hy they w on’t The Huskies have been living under the shadow of last year’s 32-0 team all season. Carrying the mantle of last season’s magic may be too much to bear. lf not UConn, w hom ? No. 3 Vanderbilt, led by Player of the Year candidate S h e n Sam. has plenty of tournament experience and a top coach in Jim Foster.

Nancy Lieberm an-C line's sleeper pick: R on d a (5th seed).

“They’re such a well-coached team. Coach Carol R o ss is a disciple of (Auburn Coach) Joe C ia m p i"

It’s rush, rush to Sweet Charlotte UConn vs. U M ass? You bet The matchup basketball fans In New England have been waiting tor has a pretty good chance of materializing in the Mideast Regional of this year's NCAA Tournament But it'won’tbe Jim Calhoun vs. John Calipari.

Try Geno Aiiriemma vs.

Jdanle O'Brien. lf No. 8 seed Massachusetts, which received its first bid to the NCAA Tournament, gets by No. 9 Michigan State, the muchballyhooed, much-anticipated basketball matchup between the two schools will take place, in Storrs. Conn.

It says here that UConn, the defending national champion, will defeat UMass. And who knows? lf the women's teams play each other and survive, Calhoun and Caflpari might find that ifs not so bad for the men as well. But thafs another story.

The women’s tournament, which begins Friday and Saturday at 16 sites, holds particular interest this year because ESPN will attempt to do for women’s basketball what it did for men’s basketball in the early '8 0 s— cover the tournament from beginning to end with cut-ins and highlights from around the country. The tournament concludes March 2JF31 with the Final Four in Charlotte.

Associate Editor Leslie Gibson McCarthy analyzes the breakdowns for each region:

Brios 'em orc Jennifer Rizzotti and the

Huskies are ready far a second title.

No. 1 seed: Stanford (25-2).

10th tournament appearance Why tbey’ll make It Co- . coaches Amy Tucker and Marianne Stanley have five national titles between them, and AJl-Amenca candidate Kate Starbird has blossomed in the team s wide­ open offense The Cardinal played a tough non-conference schedule and have one of the deepest teams,. in the country.

W hy they won't: Last year, after barreling through the regular season and the early rounds of the tournament, a young Cardinal team folded in the glare of the Final Four spotlight. This year's schedule was a lot like last season's, but the not-so-strong competition they faced in the Pac10 may have given them a false sense of security lf not Stanford, w h om ? No 3 Colorado, if it can play like it did in beating Kansas in the Big Eight Tournament. Coach Ceal Ba'rry's team was supposed to be rn a rebuilding season, m uch like the Georgia team that made it to last year's Final Four.

Nancy Lleberm an-CH ne's sleeper pick: Auburn (6th seed!

“They have such a good defense In this caliber of a tournament defense wins b allgam e s"

Second round

No. 1 seed: Louisiana Tech (28-1). 15th tournament appearance.

Why they’ll make It: In fifthyear senior Vicki Johnson, the Techsters have one of the best point guards in the country She s quick, expenenced. a great rebounder and plays tough defense There is not a guard in the country who can stop her Coach Leon Barmore has plenty of tournament expenence himself (seven Final Fours, one title).

W hy they won't: Anything can happen in the NCAAs. including a major upset (see Purdue, below) The Techsters will fall in the third round. lf not Louisiana Tech, w hom ?

No. 2 Georgia. The Bulldogs not only play in the SEC — the nation's toughest conference— they also played one of the toughest non-conference schedules rn the country before collapsing in the SEC Tournament. Andy Landers is wondering himself which team is going to show Nancy lie be rm afi-C Iin e ’s sleeper pick: Purdue (5th s£ed> “They've had 10 losses, although they played one of the toughest schedules in the country It s a monster ”

Second round

First round

March 1 7 or 18

March 15 or 16 1 Stanford 16 Grambling S?

A th e n s Ga.

8 colorado St 9 Nebraska 5 N Carolina St 12 Montana

T u sca lo o sa . 4 Alabama A l a . ___________ 13 Appalachian Si 6 Auburn 11 Hawaii Boulder.

Colo.

3 Colorado

14 Tuiane 7 Texas A&M “ IO Ke n t State College. 2 Penr s , Pa. ---------------15 Y o u n g s t o w n Si

March 17 or 18

I First round March 1 5 or 16 1 Louisiana Tech

16 Cen Florida R u sto n , La.

g utah 9 Southern Miss 5 Purdue 12 Notre Dame

L u b b o ck.

Tex.

4 JQX3 5 j ecn ____________ “ 1 3 Po eland 6 Oregon St 11 S F Austin

C le m so n , O . L*.

3 Q emson —

14 Austin Peay 7 Okia St 10 Rhode island A th en s. Ca.

2 G eorg,a 15 St Francis Pa

S-32 • COLLEGE BASKETBALL

The Sporting Ne^

COLLEGE BASKETBALL REPORT

The five quick steps to a nationai championship Losing with honor means difierent things to different programs. Look at some exam­ ples from last season: Arkansas was pleased to have made it back to the title game; Okla­ homa State was proud to have reached the Ftnal Four no one expected to see Virginia in the regional finals; Tulsa made its second consecutive Sweet 16; Weber State pushed Georgetown in the second round after upset­ ting Michigan State in the opener Mount St. Mike Mary's was delirious at the prospect of being DeCOURCY horsewhipped by Kentucky.

For the team that wins ^ e fille, a handful of factors will have to converge; The point. No one wins this thing without t helps to have the best team if you want leadership from point guard. At some point lo pol to the Final Four. Bul its also the in the six games re q u ire lo win the champi­ worst position to be in if you don't make onship. the ball will be in the point guard's it that far Let this serve as a proper hand with a key play lo be made, lf he’s smart inp to Kentuck)'. enough and skilled enough, his team will Of the sporiinp championships contested in the I'niied Slates, none puts talent in such keep playing.

Mr. Postman. No. a team does not need a peril as the N X M JoumamenL Having the dominating center to win an NCAA champi­ best players and great coaching did not get I'NLV a national title in 1991, nor Illinois in onship. Bul it does need someone who can 1989. nor CreorgetowTi in 1985. It did not even be relied upon lo place stress on the defense get North Carolina out of the second round by scoring frequently and drawing fouls in the low post in 1994. lf overwhelming talent were a guarantee of .Arkansas' Corliss ^^lUiamson was only 6 feel 7. but he was as dominant on the block as success. America might have growm impa­ any recent player. UCLA’s 7-0 George Zidek tient with this event by now. How long can you listen to Billy Packer talking about fawas strong, difficult to move and could nail a hook shot with either hand. Kentucky is get­ ■Ugue without tiring of his obsession? Instead. we think of that as a small burden we bear as ting more from .Antoine Walker in the post than a lot of folks expected, but I wonder if a price for enjoying the nation’s greatest he's adept enough to succeed against a sporting spectacle — kind of like those ser­ strong defensive big man. vice charges for tickets to a Rolling Stones For the defense. Under Coach Bob Hug­ concert.

Talent is the reason not evcrv-one comes gins. Cincinnati advanced to the Final Four into this tournament planning on a champi­ in 1992 and the East Reponal final in ’93. The onship, In a sense, the primarv* goal for 63 of reason? *^Ve just made it so tough for every­ the 64 teams in the field is to die with dignibody to score." Huggins says. “I think there !>■ Most won't admit it now. bul they realisii- I are two constants in basketball, and those are callv can't wish for much more. the ability lo rebound the basketball and the

Block ami tackle: Few teams

advcpice in the toumamenS wi^imd intense defense and rugged inside play. UMass' Marcus Comby (below) dispiays his defensive prowess against ■ LouistTtUe's Samaki Walker 'tokiie UCLA i Jeiani McCoy puts the hurt on Duke's Greg Newton,

I

NIT OK Marquette Coach Mike Deane is the only coach in the country who has been in the Final Four the past two seasons — the NTT final four. that is. Deane coached Siena to that position two seasons ago. then took Mar­ quette there last year.

He is adamant that play­ ing in the NTT was a positive experience for his learn and points lo the success his fel­ low semifinalists have had this sea.son. Penn Stale. Vir­ ginia Tech and Canisius joined Marquette al Madi­ son Square Garden last sea­ son. and they will all be with the Golden Eagles as this year’s NC.A.A Tournament begins.

This should be a lesson to Missouri, which growled be­ fore accepting an NTT bid.

The Tigers have several

UlttmatB Wanior. Amal M cC o rd is an inside force for underrated Marquette. young players who would benefit from the cx'tra games and practices.

In the previous IO years.

20 of the 40 learns that played in the NIT semifinals

wound up in the NCAA Tournament the next year.

Marquette used its NIT ex­ perience to get playing time for guard Aaron Hutchins, who has developed into an offensive force as a sopho­ more and led Conference USA in assists. Marquette. with victories over Louisvike. Memphis, Cincin­ nati and Wisconsin-Green Bay, is an overwhelming de­ fensive club and may be the most unnoticed team in Di­ vision I. "I think it can be tougher lo win in the NIT than the NCAA, because in some in­ stances you're piavting better teams, and you’re having to win on the road." Deane says. “I was fortunate lo be in the final four the last two years, and I was never treat­ ed as well as when I was in New York." continued on page S~33

-

ability to defend."

In the victory that put Virginia into the Midwest Regional final last year. it shot 36.5 percent but held Kansas to 33.9 and 2-for-21 3-point shooting. Defense doesn't slump.

Drawl Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim says the type of opponents a team faces is essen­ tial lo its ability to advance. Think back lo Se­ ton HaD’s 1993 team, a No. 2 seed that was powerful and solid offensively and capable of shutting down any inside^riented coDege of­ fense. The Pirates wound up against a West­ ern Kentucky team that bowered them with

quickness and knocked them out in the sec­ ond round. lf streaking Purdue is matched against bunch of athletes with a decent ballhandle or two. watch everybody start jumping on Coach Gene Keady instead of hopping on his Coach of the Year bandwagon.

Lucky, m an. Tt’s a fine line between win­ ning and losing." says UCLA Coach Jim Harricle who has been on each side — winning it a1) last year. “I think if you ask any coach who's won a national championship, hell say.

Some way you have to get lucky.' *

HaD84aHa tin m sn iin o is fans pay tribute to retiring Coach io u Henson, who is 423^223 in 21 seasons with the lUinL

COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 8-33

/larch 18,1996

teams with the toughest schedules accord­ first-round g am es.... Power forward Sunday son Middle Tennessee State's opening ing to the RPI index, only two (Maryland and shouldn’t be a choice mid-major position. Adebayo and shooting guard Jesse Pate, free MTSU has a great homecourt. regional ac­ agents since the NCAA declared them ineli­ i Georgia Tech) have winning records. ... On the stay/go beat, freshman Shareef Abdurgible to compete at Arkansas, are being re­ cess to quality talent (Nashville, Memphis) Rahim say's ’ne will stay at California. George and an athletic director. Lee Fowler, with a cruited by a number of big-time schools who town guard Allen Iverson will take whatever good feel for the game. Dave Farrar, who want them for their senior seasons. Pate had advice Coach John Thompson gives him. Ex­ came in from Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior Col­ wanted to transfer to Mississippi State, but pect to see him with the Hoyas at least an­ lege five years ago. was not retained after go­ .the Southeastern Conference has a rule other year. ♦ ing 61-73. ... With Iowa back in the NCAA against accepting transfers with one year of M ike DeCourcy covers college eligibility. Adebayo is said to be leaning to­ Tournament after a two-year drought. Coach basketball fo r The Com mercial Appeal in Tom Davis has a chance to extend one of the ward Memphis. ... Do you think playing a M em phis, Tenn. tournament’s uncommon streaks. He is 3D in tough schedule is a good idea? Of the six

ReteJ territory: Ole Miss’Jason Smith goes high over Alabama s Roy Rogers and Anton Reese.

continued from page S-32

A big, big junqi It’s too bad the last thing the Atlantic IO Conference required of Fordham in its first season of league membership was participa­ tion in its championship tournam ent The Rams would have been better off ending the season with their 60-57 overtime victory over LaSalle in the regular-season wrapup, a game only 1,033 saw but few Fordham supporters will want to forget The Rams attempted one of the alkime col­ lege basketball leaps, moving from the nonscholarship Patriot League to the ADO. which ranks among the elite conferences. Coach Nick Macarchuk, who never favored the non­ scholarship approach, was happy to make that move but didn’t enjoy being overmatched.

Fordham was 4-23 after opening and closing the A-IO Tournament with a 61-54 loss to Xavier.

That was a typical game for the Rams, who generally stayed close before fading in the sec­ ond hah.

T h is year is a beginning for us. It’s a very difficult league. It’s been a very difficult situa­ tion for us ... almost impossible," Macarchuk says. T h e re have been signs of frustration.

We’ve had some arguments between players and coaches, between players and players, but for the most part, we've come ready to play." •

You’d be amazed what teenagers

T h e best ride on

Fast breaks RollieMassimino. former Villanova and UNLV coach,wasat the Conference USA Tournament inMemphis to do some TV analysis and shop a bit for a coaching job.

GUSA has two openings, Bobby Paschal and Jeff Mullins resigning at South Florida and UKC Charlotte, re­ spectively. USF is looking for a younger coach, and UNCC is looking for someone other than Coach M ass.... lf the Ivy Lea­ guers are so smart, why don’t they break their regular-season 2 ties by using head-tohead competition?

Penn beat Princeton twice in the regular season, but lost a onegame^playoff for the NCAA Tournament bid. ... There were questions about Penn State at the start of the season, which probably wasn’t fair, but now the Nittany Lions are legitimate­ ly mediocre. After a 7-1 start, they went 6-5.

The clubhouse leader in the derby to re­ place Lou Henson at Illinois: Utah Coach Rick Majerus, who has taken the Utes as far as he and Keith Van Horn c a n .... With Ohio Valley powers Murray State and Tennessee State slipping a bit this season, there’s no rea­

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