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Show Sunday. April 16, 2000, THE DAILY Hr.RALD, (www HarlTheHeralJ com), Prove, Utah v j f :,'.r.-.- i r: ; i .. 1 Colts plan to start Morris kicker Sebastian Janikowski by Oakland and that Morris was the player the team hoped to get with the 28th selection. It was the latest the franchise ever has picked in the opening round, a position caused by the team's 13-- mark in 1999. "It is a case of a player matched up with a need," Polian said. "He's big and strong, at 250 pounds he runs the 40 in 4.6 (seconds) or thereabouts. ... He's an outstanding athlete. He can stop blockers in their tracks. He's an aggressive tackier." A Mormon who served on a church mission in Canada. Morris is older that most draft selec tions at 25. After serving on the mission for two years, he sat out one year to learn the linebacking position. "He told us way back in February (at the NFL com- bine) that the Colts were his choice. It's nice 'to know that you have a player who thinks highly of your organization," Polian said. "From the time I sat down with Bill Polian ... and some of the coaches at the combine, I felt really good about the situation. I knew they had an interest in me. 1 obviously had a great interest in a team of that caliber that is going to be in the Super Bowl," Morris said. "I think the Super BowJ is real, real close." By HANK LOWENKRON AP Sports Writer - INDIANAPOLIS The Rob Colts picked Indianapolis Morris in the first-rounof the NFL draft and immediately penciled him in as . their starter at middle linebacker. The Colts created a hole at middle linebacker when they cut Michael Barber, who started every game at the position ' last season. 250- The pound Morris was the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a junior for BYU. He had 114 solo tackles and six sacks iir l998r A fullback when he first joined the Cougars as a freshman, Morris led the Cougars with 110 tackles as a sophomore and demonstrated an ability to dominate a game. A severe abdominal strain forced Morris to miss four games last year, but he still managed to have 76 tackles and six sacks while winning honors for the third straight season. "He's a young man who can provide us with great stoutness in the middle," said team president Bill Polian, who is hoping he can be as successful with this year's 28th selection as he was the past two years when he picked Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James in the first round. Polian said the only surprise in the opening round was the selection of Florida State d - . ! . I T- N --. . with 342 total tackles, includ- - ; ing 223 solo efforts. He had I six sacks in each of his last two years. ; "I'm just a normal 'Joe' like ; anyone else. I just try to enjoy , life and make the most of it. I just try to have fun," Morris said. 3 "Vt ""TV' aiui... "l,-- ,- - - DOUGLAS ,, -- jBa; C. PlZAC'lbe Associaled Press Always looking: Utah's John Stockton, shown against Portland's Scottie Pippen, extends his NBA records for steals and assists every night he suits up for the Jazz. "I'm never amazed by what John does," Malone said. "In fact, I think I'm spoiled by it. John does what he does every night because he always gets ument outside the Delta ready to play every night." When Stockton pushes the Center in his honor. After all, the Utah Jazz ball upcourt, he's intense and point guard makes history extremely focused. His eyes olinnct aimvi? t i n Via flirc a dart in all directions, surveyball to Karl Malone on the ing the recoiling defenders : a i ... r and oH or squirms uiu ui sizing up the chance for a find Jeff fastbreak basket. a cluttered lane to SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Long after John Stockton has dished out his final record-settinassist or swiped his last steal, there's sure to be a mon- Hornacek for an open - with a meticulous and other teammates. no-loo- k With every assist and every ctnal StnrL'tnn pYTpnrls MRA career records in both categories. He often makes his work seem routine and just as routinely, he insists what he's doing is nothing special. "Honestly, I don't think about it," Stockton said. "I enjoy the playing part. I just look forward to the challenges and then I don't put a lot of thought into the rest of it." It's Stockton, vintage Without the flash and swagger of many younger players, the Stockton has qui- otUr rotinrllorl measurable year's lockout-shortene- Vlie pump Sifter drops Sometimes, Stockton zips a bounce pass for a layup, leaving, fans ogling in awe. More often, he starts the Jazz offense by curling off a pick, then tossing the ball to Malone when the defense collapses on him. The two have mastered the play, making "Stockon-to-Malone- " last in sea- d son. Stockton averIn 1998-99- , 1 1.1 points a game, down aged from 14.4 two seasons earlier. After leading the NBA in assists every year from 1987-- ; 88- his average dropped from 10.3 in 1997 to 7.5 last season. Stockton has been healthier for his 16th NBA season, and it shows. After offseason elbow surdisgery, a topic he regularly interin missed preseason views, Stockton was averaging 12.3 points and 8.6 assists a game through Monday's con- test against Portland. To the Jazz, it's just another day at the office. "pick-and-roll- ." efficiency that commands opponents' respect. One day after his 38th birthday last month, Stockton had 16 points, 14 assists and zero turnovers in 37 minutes in a loss to Dallas. "It's a shame more and more young players aren't paying attention to him," said Phoenix coach Scott Skiles. "They could learn a lot. Instead of trying to be so fancy, they could be more effi' cient." Opposing fans might mock Stockton's shorts, but he often gets the last laugh by burning their teams with precision passes and his keen sense of court awareness. "No matter how you try to mid-thig- h play him, he's going to find a way to wear you down," Hornacek said. "He knows the little things to do and he's proved himself night in and night out for the last 16 But Stockton played a huge role, too, and not just in making Utah a perennial playoff team. Entering Wednesday's game against the L.A. Clippers, his NBA career assists record was up to 13,746 and his steals record stands at 2,834. When pressed, Stockton insists he's as awed as anyone by his career. "I couldn't have foreseen this," he said. "As far ahead as I ever looked was trying, to make the team I was on, and I usually thought that was a longshot at best. Everything has been gravy." Now it's Stockton who sets By The Associated Press Blame it on the Bud Balls. Kevin Elster hits three home runs in an afternoon, more than a year after retiring. The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twin? become the first teams ever to launch homers in the same game. Houston, of all places, turns into a homer haven. The one common thread? These new baseballs being used in t'.ie majors, each bearing the signature of commissioner Bud back-to-bac- Selig. through Friday, home runs were up almost 20 percent over this time last year, when the balls were signed by AL president Gene Budig and NL president Len Coleman. "I don't think we can take credit for it," Selig said, laughing. "People have done scientific studies, they say the ball's the same." along Kidding aside, Selig with every slugger and pitcher can easily figure the cause of Home Run Derby.. k So far, his navy blue stamp is firmly imprinted on this explo "I think the ballparks are smaller, players are stronger. There's no question, we've had two expansions in the last decade and that's obviously had F "If you an not mmTT - V . . m is m r mfm mthLtires I I nithm on we wHl refund Wf fll m f " your money!!!" J STK'- l "He's one of the best point guards ever," said Golden State's Mookie Blaylock. "I look up to his game. He does so much for his team, not even by trying to score. He does all m I f S " X M V ' J g TOVOTIRES $l)95 w U j J 1 I 1 iswepiy Additional Jr.-JT ' LIGHT TRUCK I P23575R15 30X9.50R15 31X10.50R15 LT22575R16 LT23585R16 LT26575R16 18570R14 18575R14 ir STEEL RADIAL SPECIALS I I FLAT : 20570R14 I I I ASK ABOUT OUR BETTER WARRANTY l h nriirr-nnccL i ROTATION & m i i II 1 U v. iL YOUR NATIONWIDE ANGEL 1 j$95 ij$95i L.------ 1V? 1 REPAIR 17565R14 x J5J95 jsssii 81,05,750,, 6Ptr 17570R13 17570R14 19570R14 V2 ST158U013PI.Y ST205i7iOH 6PI Auailahlo 18570R13 Ml XJXJ 2l2f 57tH6PLV S36 95 IL I an effect," he said. "It isn't bad, as long as it doesn't become ridiculous. The fan is enjoying this, there's no question about it." That's as clear as the long drives clanging off upper decks everywhere. "Sure, it's fun," Kansas City manager Tony Muser said. "If you go back to the guy who really built this game and put it on the map, George Herman Ruth, you know people have always loved home runs. They always will." Muser is enjoying the outburst. His Royals hit game-endinhome runs three straight days this week. 4 BMP the little things." OODYEAH ifSSMB , 1 I STEEL RADIAL SPECIALS , m , l I f 15580R13 16580R13 17580R13 18580R13 S Y Jl 'la 1 BOAT, RV, TRAILER TIRES IMPORT RADIAL SPECIALS the standard. Homers flying out at amazing pace sion r m m i That consistency carries synonymous with It epitomizes Stockton: short on glitz but picK-anu- nu intv nil m w inai r have entered the draft, Morris finished his career m naa years. over to the interview room. Over the years, Stockton has been extremely cautious in what he tells reporters, especially when the topic isn't the Jazz or that night's game. When his alma mater, Gonzaga, made a run in last month's NCAA tournament, Stockton politely but repeatedly refused to discuss the Bulldogs for a television crew. He said he didn't want to put undue pressure on the team. "He's an unusual guy when it comes to talking about some things," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Another topic that doesn't sit well with Stockton is Stockton himself. Ask about the secret to Utah's decade of success and he credits Sloan, owner Larry Miller, Malone g B unns spieiman focus, and I just try to incorporate all those things into m rr'i mn hu eoul The Colts had one: pick in each' of the remaining six rounds and were exDected to on concentrate heavily defense. individual free-spirite- d , old-scho- who returned to BYU for his senior year when he could ll . "A middle Jinebacker is a guy who plays the final role in the defense," Polian said. "He's an outstanding person. ... You can never have enough of them." I like to compare myseit to a lot of guys," Morris said. "I love the intensity that Dick Butkus dis- played. You have to be a little bit mean like Ray Nitschke. . i Veteran guard extends records every game he plays ' ; A ideas of fun However, his arp unusual Thpv inrlurle jumping into 'a '"swimming pool from the third story of his apartment building, attempting to whack alliga-- ' tors with a stick while cycling in the Everglades and surfing on the roof of a moving pickup truck. "He's a throwback linebacker," Polian said. "We're going to put him in there and get his feet wet." rolian said he received several telephone calls asking if'. i . j in ne wouiai j iue mieresieu 'j. trading down, but felt it was in the team's best interest to select Morris. St V ' Page B5 --J j: AtlX 1 Passenger Cars t .- I ,to5' jj Psenijer I VUfJ U mT i Can J j V::L. CEDvlKIr UTAH SINCE rflllMTY 1959 ' |