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Show Wednesday, June 24, 1998 Chronicle - 9 The Summer Weekly The Summer Weekly Chronicle POK ID-D- TO N y AY s wsi Doctor Doleac Could Be Top Ten Material 1 PA Brandon Winn Chronicle Sports Editor Michael Doleac has a dilemma: Either he can play in the NBA, where he'll make millions, achieve fame and probably have his own pair of sneakers designed just for him. Or, Doleac can pass on the riches, go to medical school and eventually become a doctor. At which time he would go on to make more money than he could ever spend, save lives and become a hero to Cff Brandon Winn Chronicle Sports Editor NBA mock drafts pop up like freshmen this time of year, and not even the Chronicle is immune to the temptation of playing NBA God for a day, so to appease the craving, here is a rundown of what this writer thinks will happen. i many. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Wouldn't you hate to be in his shoes right about now? OK, so maybe you would love to strap on his ski boot-lik- e loafers and walk a mile in them. At least then, for a little while anyway, you'd be an honor student, potential top 10 NBA draft pick and on the fringe of opening up an exclusive bank account in Switzerland. Doleac seems to have everything going for him. He's living the high life, being blinded by the spotlight and getting spoon fed all the propaganda that comes after signing with the NBAs most lucrative agent, David Falk. The 6'n"center even played a few rounds of poker with Michael Jordan, a Falk client, the night before Game i of the NBA Finals. Jealous? Well, you should be. Falk is the same agent Keith Van Horn signed with, and he also represents such stalwarts as Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. So how did Doleac land such a high profile agent? Well, it helps to know people. "I didn't know how to pick an agent, but Coach (Rick) Majerus and Jon Huntsman are friends of his so they helped me out." It's only fitting that Majerus helped his big man out. After all, it was Doleac who tore through the NCAA Tournament field helping Utah all the way to the title game before losing to Kentucky. It was there Doleac saw his stock riser. Before the tournament, Doleac was "too slow up and down the floor, too clumsy and didn't develop enough post NBA moves." At least that's what the "experts" said. Now, those people can't say much of anything. They're too busy trying to force their feet out of their mouths. see doleac, page n After Top Three, NBA Draft Is a Big Mystery (it jj 1. Clippers: Despite the rumors, I still think Los Angeles will grab Arizona guard Mike Bibby with this pick. The Clippers need help everywhere, so why not start by grabbing the best playmaker in the draft. 2. Grizzlies: About a month ago, if some guy told you that some dude named Olowokandi would take the NBA by storm, you'd have slapped him and told him to lay off the Millers for a while. But it's true. Pacific's Michael Olowokandi has skills similar to Tim Duncan. He just needs polish. 3. Nuggets: Don't be surprised if the Nuggets trade up with either the Clippers or Grizzlies in order to grab Olowokandi, but if they don't, Paul Pierce will definitely head for the Rockies. 4. Raptors: This is where things get a bit funky. The are as wide top three picks are basically set, but receiver. a favorite as Personally, my player in 49er open the draft is North Carolina's Vince Carter. He'd be a fit in Toronto because the Raptors desperately want to deal Doug Christie. Drafting Carter allows them to do so. 5. Warriors: Antawn Jamison is stuck in a small forward's body with a power forward's game. That's why the National Player of the Year isn't a top three pick. 6. Mavericks: Who knows what the mad scientist Don Nelson is thinking. I'm guessing he grabs Raef LaFrentz purely because he has a clean rap sheet and a decent game. 7. Kings: Without Mitch Richmond around, the Kings need some help in the backcourt. Larry Hughes out of St. Louis provides a solid outside shot with explosive moves and a rare slashing ability to the hoop. 8. 76ers: The 76ers will draft Robert "larger than a tractor" Traylor with this pick. By doing so, they prove my theory that Philadelphia is the most moronic team in professional sports. 9. Bucks: Milwaukee owner Herb Kohl is one of Rick 4-- " "isH ed 0-- it 0 Michael Doleac could be one of the first ten players picked in the 1998 Draft, which is being held tonight. NBA see draft, page 10 Poor Pitching Dooms Buzz; Memphis Rallies to Win 8 a A. 9-- EricWalden " - 4 f - - 4:4 B ym A cliche which bears significance in Tuesday's Salt Lake Buzz game is the old baseball adage that "good pitching will always beat good hitting." The Salt Lake Buzz played like they'd never heard such a thing. After a sensational hitting exhibition to open the top half of the first, they seemed to be perhaps too satisfied. For the Buzz, though, the lack of good pitching rendered useless the hit parade as the Memphis Redbirds escaped with a 9-- 8 win. Four Memphis runs in the top of the ninth capped a steady and persistent Redbird rally. After falling behind 0 after one, an inning marked by the first six Buzz batters getting hits, Memphis U began the long climb back to a competitive outing. Immediately and methodically they chipped away at the Buzz, scoring two in the second and one each in the fourth, IS sixth and seventh innings. Suddenly, a Salt Lake team which racked up nine hits in the opening inning alone found itself outhit 10-- 3 in the second through sixth innings. It also 7-- i r-- . v'.''-- ' if:'. , ,' - Wk. ' runs was enough to knock off the Buzz Tuesday Memphis was stopped on this play, but its nine other night found its wide margin trimmed to 5 by the time it came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. That lead grew to 5 when Chad Rupp scored on Memphis first baseman Reed Secrist's throwing error. The score remained until the ninth inning, when Buzz reliever Todd Ritchie suddenly fell apart. He promptly surrendered a leadoff double, a walk and a single to load the bases with nobody out. A thin and tired bullpen prompted Buzz manager Phil Roof to gamble on his pitcher and let him remain in the game. Said Roof, "I thought he had enough to get through the ninth." Initially the strategy seemed to work. Memphis DH Keith McDonald, who already had three hits, flied out. Secrist then struck out on a controversial call and the Buzz appeared ready to escape with the win. What happened next though may have been the defining moment of the game. Secrist languished at the plate, arguing vehemently with the plate umpire, which led the Redbird's manager, Gaylen Pitts, to furiously protest the 7-- Chronicle Sports Writer 8-- see buzz, page 12 |