OCR Text |
Show V NBA Draft Leaves Smiling Faces On League Personnel m - v f - tin at- 1 Chroriick Sports Writer Last week, East Rutherford, NJ. wu covered m sea of glis- t tening while. - No, it wasn't from the V radioactive waste which fines die bottoms of murky swamps in the Meacbwfands. Thn emanat-- tag glow came from die smiles ' of hundreds of NBA players, general managers and agents, each with different reasons to flash their pearly whites. The' agent: "Now I have enough to buy mat BMW, and catch up on my alimony pay meats. God bless America! " The athlete: "Now I have f r enough money to buy that house me and momma always wanted, and I won't have to take my sister to die high school end-leprom. The limo rides and women of supply obligating won't hurt either, I guess." ' Chmomku ?hoto Spucf Young Utah Coach Ron McBride admires his latest shot while competing in the "Rivalry for Charity" golf tournament last Friday. This shot was one of McBride's few shots worth adrniring. ss The general manager: "Now die fansH have a reason to come see my team. Hell, I need this job. I've got alimony payments to make.1' IRivai Coaches God-forsak- en : Well, maybe the reasons aren't all that BRANDON WINN Chronicle Sports Writer different. Nonetheless, teams made their selections last Wednesday to either add the last crucial piece of a championship puzzle, or select a cornerstone on which to ' build a franchise As wul be seen in upcoming months, however, some of these smiles will fade into the oh-s- o familiar frowns which have " dogged Tiroberwoives fans since their team's first indication of draft imbecility in 1989, when the mighty Pooh Richardson was selected out of UCLA Philadelphia: This team nfcdfd a point guard, and they got the best one available in Allen Iverson. Teamed with Stackhouse, these two can even. tually form one of the most imposing backcourts in the NBA Grade: A. Toronto: GM Isiah Thomas If you're Ron McBride, you've got to be feeling pretty good about yourself these days when it comes to your rivalry with fellow coach and buddy, LaVcll Edwards. That is, unbl you step foot on a golf course wan him. Friday Edwards beat McBride in ate annual golf tournament, "Rivalry for Charity" at the Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah. All the proceeds from the rvrnt hgrafited the Narirwal Kirtnry ' """ ' loundatjon. ': The tournament rules were those of a scramble format Both coaches were placed on separate teams with three tfammatrs they selected. Each player would tee off, but unlike regular golfing JAMES EDWARD Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor As die NBA Draft progressed last Yfcdnesday night, the fans in the Delta Center were becoming a little resdess. Utah's pick kept inching closer. The dedicated fans were glad to see names like Brian Evans, Ryan Minor and Jeff Mclrmis were still on the board as die Jazz were gearing up to select The anticipation only increased as die fans watched Jazz personnel talk on the phone for die 30 minutes leading up to their pick. ' What was in store for theJazz? . . Abdur-Rahi- m, the podium with a card in his hand. The 3,000 some odd fans couldn't wait to discover what Layden already knew. Within a few seconds Layden unveiled to the fans that the Jazz had they weren't hearing dungs, the Jazz forward had selected a from Europe who nobody had heard of. Within a few minutes trade rumors began to surface. Not long after, the speculation turned into reality. Utah had selected Muursepp for the Miami Heat who were trading the Jazz d a pick to be cashed in sometime in the next four years. ' "Vfc had to decide what was best for , NBA-abilit- first-roun- Grade: B- -. - Milwaukee: Hear those the franchise," Utah Owner Larry Miller said "At least this way we protect d die value of die pick." M the players the Jazz were interested in drafting were taken when it came time for Utah to pick, so it opted to tradekaway. So does Layden think it was a wise bloodcurdling cries for help? from They're ,T coming first-roun- Milwaukee's backcourt, which received a potential star in Ray d Allen. A future Minnesota either. pick won't hurt Grade: A. first-roun- Minnesota: 25th spot in 1986? Then Scott Layden, Utah's director of basketball operations, walked up to A deafening "huh" rolled through the arena as the fans tried to comprehend what Layden had just said. But m . Were they going to select another Luther Wright or Jose Ortiz, or was Utah going to draft someone luce Mark Price who Dallas selected out of the selected Martin Muursepp out of is Vancouver. Abdur-Rabia raw talent, but questions about y have character and Reid. drawn comparisons to JJL Roy Rogers is a solid citizen, and will make a good reserve power forward. would then take one shot from that spot, unt3 eventually they got the baD in the cup. ' :r' : TCs type of format makes k possible for a team of four to win with only one good player. Unfortunately for McBride's team, Edwards had the best golfer. His name was left anonymous. He was referred to by Edwards as the Estonia. but went for the sure bet at power forward with Marcus Camby. Camby will develop into a force down low, and will form a formidable front line with Sharone Wright Grade: A. rules, the best shot of die four would be die only one that counted. Each player Utah's Draft Excitement Dies With Muursepp almost blundered in selecting the unpolished Shareef tfbir Tee-O- ff Stephon Marbury is a natural scoring point guard, who has Anfernee choice? fimtt Lavdcn discusses the Jazz's draft options on the phone, while owner Larry MiUer talks it oter wfc2 odwr Utah personnel. "Every time die people boo, we do good, so Tm excited about that," he said. Chanty "Plumber." Along with the Plumber, Edwards also teamed up with the Roney brothers, who own NuSkin and sponsored Edwards' team. McBride teamed up film actor and director, with Mike Gage, and two representatives fromRCWilley. McBride's group started off the tournament with a birdie on the first two s MCt43asn on pajt 10 low-budg- Gardner Retires A Legend After 21 Years at U. DAVID ANDERSON Chronicle Feature Editor Fern Gardner, a legendary pioneer in women's athletics, and a 21 year veteran of the University of Utah, has retired to pursue new challenges. Tve been planning this for a long time," Gardner recendy -- told the Drserrt Mews. "I want to retire while I'm still relatively healthy and do some things Tve always wanted to do." Gardner, 58, served in many positions at the U. She will be remembered, among other things, for work as Head Women's Basketball Coach, Women's Athletic Director and Senior Associate Athletics Director. Gardner will also be remembered for her personal charisma and style. "Fern has been just the stable, wonderful, compassionate person who really has helped everybody in the department in all sports," said U. athletic director Chris Hill in the Salt Lake Tribune. Among her many honors are sat "CwCar" a pga 10 r i |