| OCR Text |
Show I Also in this section: ImrMf.iy Sports Outdoors news E3 Scoreboard E4 E, Old and new face offi atl 54th Masters golf NOTABLE QUOTES: -- If you ever write something about me without talking to me again, 111 punch you in the nose. 111 be waiting for you outside. Ill bust you up. I'm not kidding. Ill get you. I'll bust you up." So said Sacramento Kings center Ralph Sampson to Sacramento Bee reporter R.E. Graswich. Graswich had written a column calling Sampson one of basketball's "great disappointments." By BOB GREEN AP Golf Writer AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Greg Norman faces an old friend and a new nemesis Jack Nicklaus and Robert Gamez in his quest for the elusive green jacket this week in the 54th Masters. 'Jack is Jack," Norman said Wednesday of Nicklaus, who last week won his first start on the Senior PGA Tour. ' His confidence is high and on the rise. "He's hitting the ball extremely well; hitting it high and long. He LITTLE BEN BACK: The putt went dead into the hole like there was a homing device inside the ball. "Little Ben," held hostage for almost four weeks by a thief, is not only back but the magic putting blade of former champion Ben Crenshaw is being brought off the bench as a starter on Thursday in the 54th Masters at the Augusta (Ga.). The decades old putter, a Wilson 8802, was stolen out of Crenshaw's golf bag and sold to a pawn shop. Weeks later, a friend of Crenshaw's recognized it and bought it back. Nicklaus, Norman and upstart Robert Gamez on tap has a new driver, a new putter. He's lost some weight. He strong and fit. He looks and acts like he's 35 instead of 50. He has that pride. He thinks he can win." So does Gamez, the rookie who has won two times on the PGA Tour this year. The second came at the expense of Norman, shot for when he holed a on the final hole at an eagle-tw176-ya- o Bay Hill in Orlando. Gamez, not awed after his first trip over the Augusta National Golf Out course, said he viewed the Masters "as another tournament," and was "confident enough 1 can win the championship on Sunday." Norman wasnt so sure. "Gamez obviously is a very' competent individual, but he hasn't felt somebody's bad breath down the back of his neck. The more you play here, the more it drams you." Norman should know. e Only a bogey kept him out of playoffs in two the last four years. Only Larry Mize's playoff pitch-i- n deprived him of a Masters title in 1987. "He Those his obvious Norman said. it before," hasnt felt the Amen Corner or last-hol- near-nusse- affinity for the course and the tournament, and a strong start to the season make him the obv ious choice as the most likely to succeed in the field set to open play Thursday. With Norman between the brackets of Gamez and Nicklaus is a cadre of international players who have used Augusta National as a proving ground. Half of the last 10 Masters have been won by Europeans, who like to boast that leadership in he game has moved across the Atlantic. 50-fo- ot f 4""" U NAZARIO WINS TITLE: ) In a world title fight, Juan Nazario became the WBA lightweight champion when Edwin Rosario was unable to continue after the eighth round because of a severe cut over his right eye. The two Puerto Paeans had met previously Aug. 11, 1987, when Rosario kept the title by stopping Nazario in the eighth round. ft V I I.- IS - . oQl NEW TRIAL DATE: Anew of April 23 was set in heavyweight champion Buster Douglas' suit seeking to break his contract with promoter Don King. U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben set the date after attorneys for King and Donald Trump agreed to put on hold a scheduled April 16 federal trial on suits they filed in New York. However, a federal judge in New York later threw out Trump's suit. In a written ruling, Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the lawsuit by Trump, finding the court did not have jurisdiction because Trump Plaza Associates is a New Jersey company. trial date In what was perhaps the closest match all season, the University of California - Irvine men's volleyball team defeated BYU 1 Wednesday. Every game was tight, but Irvine came out ahead as they earned the victory winning 15-Steve Florentine led the way for the Anteaters with a .541 hitting percentage. He had 24 kills, eight digs, and three blocks. Senior David Johnston turned in a great performance for the Cougars with 14 kills, 13 digs, 2 blocks, and a service ace. 3-- 17-1- 6, 7, 15-1- LAWSUIT LIKELY: Saying he had "a slam-dun- k case" against the University of Oklahoma, a Washington, D.C.-basattorney demanded that the school reinstate its women's basketball program or face a federal lawsuit. Arthur Bryant of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice said last week's decision by Oklahoma officials to eliminate the women's basketball program was in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Bryant said the action violated the Title IX provision of federal law requiring equal opportunities for women in college athletics. ed Gam: Jazz at SuperSomcs DiffTlmt! Tonight 8 p.m. TVRao: KISN 570 AM. KSTU. Channel 13 Gam John Stockton needs 11 assists to reach 1 000 for the third straight season. The Jazz are 17-since Thurl Bailey became a starter Karl Matone has averaged 37 points and 13.5 rebounds m two games against Seattle this season.. .The Sonics are eighth in the West, 1V games behind Denver and one game ahead of Houston... Utah has won both in Seattle and 117-9- 5 games ths year (119-10m Salt Lake). not: use WITH LIFETIME ONLY GOLFER AVERAGE AT THE MASTERS SUSP x 1. Tom Watson (62 rounds) 71.27 average 71.34 2. Jack Nicklaus (117 rounds) - - average i Seve Balleiterot (48 rounds) - 71.44 average 4. Jerry Pate (28 founds) - 71 .96 average s Minimum of 25 rounds: par is 72 SOURCE AUGUSTA NATIONAL Sports Feature SynaVcate wlM pay SS lor yaur Hst H auMisheel. Sand lists to Sports tastu.es, P.O. Bai 660, Mae Shad, M.J 060S2. Indud name, address, QMaMp pa Noon 60 AM) Noon. Friday, April College baseull. Havrsri at BYU Prep hasketUM Classic (ESPN) 2pm PGA. The McDonald Masters (USA) IKFMY a Capital vv-'vfc;v- vW v.;:r; -- . v t ( ) V" J tff A ayasvJakasUl Ja X Jf t ' Herald PhotosTrent Nelson gridders take spring hits before annual Pigskin Preview Saturday Tickets can at the Stadium back and backup quarterback Brent Smith (right) take a few shots at the BYU defense Wednesday as the team winds down its spring practice which culminates with the Pigskin Preview spring game at 1 p.m. in Cougar Stadium. Tickets are $5 for general public; $4 for senior citizens; and $3 for children, BYU students and A Cougar running Roberts to By The Associated Press e Most ValBingham's uable Player Kenneth Roberts will follow in the footsteps of brothers Glen, Fred and Steve and play basketball at BYU. In addition, two other outstanding high school players have made verbal commitments to play for Weber State and Southern Utah. Payson's Jim DeGraffenried verbally committed to Weber State 4-- A two-tim- BYU; be purchased faculty. Ticket Booth, west of Cougar Stadium or by calling In addition to the game, there will be a free motivational seminar at 10:30 a.m. in the Marriott Center featuring Outland Trophy winners Jason Buck and Mohammed Elewonibi, along with San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young and 378-BYU- 1. Call him Mr. Basketball, a prep MVP and the best power forward to ever come out of the state of Utah. Call the 8 phenom a lot of things. But also call Kenneth Roberts a marketing genius. His product? Himself. This guy is no dummy. Timing is everything. Wednesday when he announced his intentions to sign with BYU April 11, he had everyone who wasn't shocked in the palm of his hand. It was Madison Avenue, a public relations coup. With the state's media holding its breath over where he'd commit since September, then through November's early signing date and his spring visits to Kansas, Cornell, Arizona State, the Roberts story took more than center stage. In the meantime, talent ratings indicated Utah would produce its most highly touted talent ever this year in the triad of Roberts, Emery's 5 Shawn Bradley and Richfield's 6- Ryan Cuff. In September Bradley committed to BYU. Roberts waited. In November Cuff committed and signed with BYU. Roberts waited. Bradley and Cuff got a lot of ink. Roberts waited. Then waited some more. Wednesday night. Southern Utah Coach Neil Roberts got a verbal commitment from Bonneville's 1 guard Sean Sylvester. BYU coach Roger Reid "was shocked but happy when I called him Tuesday night and verbally (committed) to BYU," said Roberts, who had been leaning toward Utah and Kansas. "It came down to the fact that I 6-- 4--A 6-- He watched how first-yecoaches Rick Majerus and Roger Reid at Utah and BYU fared. And he waited. ar Then the word went out from his family and friends that he'd narrowed his choices to Utah and Kansas but BYU and Arizona State were still in the picture. Arizona State had a hold because of his respect for former Utah Henry Marsh, a former Olympic steeplechaser. Also, fans can see a display of the football national championship trophies and other prominent awards given to the BYU football team in recent years. The display will be in the Cougar Club room under the west stands, DeGraffenried to Weber wanted to follow in my brothers' footsteps In playing at BYU. And I wanted to stay close to home to play basketball. All my brothers wanted me to play at BYU," he said. Reid earlier gained letters-of-in-teShawn from Emery's Bradley and Richfield's Ryan Cuff who played in the McDonald's Capitol City Classic in Washington. "I'm sure there are a lot of nt Roberts writes, stars in own script -4 I Tfi m r s d u y 5 p m Spots Talk (KISN 570 AM) 5 30 p m Women s bowltng (ESPN) 6pm NBA Pistons at Hawks (TNT) 6pm Skiing (PSM) 6 30 p m Soonsceotral guest. Hall of Famer Bob Feller 'K ,1 1160 AM) 6:30 p m. Jaz? Tai (K SN 570 AM) 7 p.m. Top Hank Boxing 10th anniversary (ESPNI I 30 p in NBA Jau at Sonics (KSTU Channel 13 KISN 570 AM) 10 p m Motorcycle racmg (ESPN) 11 06 PGA. Masters highlights (CBS Channel 5) ;.'... BYU SPIKERS LOSE AGAIN: 14-1- 6, f Dick Harmon ago, and sent his star guard Jimmy Soto to Utah last year, called Roberts the best forward the state has produced. That is a big label considering his brother Fred plays for the Milwaukee Bucks and is a NBA veteran with professional experience in Europe too. "He's the best combination of Ken Roberts power and finesse is a player. He understands the skills at game and has guard-typ- e said Yerkovich. six-ye- SPORTS EDITOR coach Lynn Archibald, now an assistant at ASU. BYU was in the picture because his brothers Glen and Fred played there. The mention of Utah and Kansas intrigued the Salt Lake City media, particularly a certain KALL-Radi- o sportscaster whose siren chronicled every move made by Roberts through the March state playoffs, a trip to Washington D.C. where he played in the McDonald's Classic where he played with Bradley. Then the plot thickened. The possibility that he'd become a Ute and not just another lock for BYU brought him additional acclaim from corners not usually afforded Cougar recruits. Bingham High coach George Slu-gwho hasn't exactly put BYU's Reid on his Christmas card list for the past few years during a simmering feud may have preferred another choice for his star. "He's got discipline and that much talent I'd hate to think how far he can go," said Sluga. "He's a player and person for the 1990s," said Sluga. Judge Memorial coach Jim who coached Bradley and Cuff in Washington D.C. a week a, Yer-kovic- h, ar ," There is little doubt of Roberts' abilities, which include a 26 point, 12 rebound average a game and a inch leap off a two-ste- p jump. He is intelligent and a storied competitor on the floor who exudes confidence. But you have to hand the kid credit; his announcement Wednesday of a verbal commitment to BYU came off as an orchestrated gem. Cuff and Bradley had their day in the sun. Even the thought of Roberts joining Cuff and Bradley conjured visions of a remarkable recruiting grand slam unequalled at any time in this state's history. To get three players of this caliber at one time was one thing. For one school to land all three and bat .1000 in the process is another. By Roberts' timing Wednesday he'd stepped in his own spotlight, and deservedly so. His brother Fred sometimes played in the shadow of Danny . Ainge and even Devin Dun-antThe past nine months, Roberts has shown at an early stage he'll be casting his own shadow. And he'll play his own game. shocked people," said Roberts, who had made recruiting trips to Arizona State, Kansas and Cornell. "I had been leaning toward Utah and Kansas. Both Kansas coach Roy Williams and Utah coach Rick are class guys and I respect them an awful lot. "BYU had always been in the back of my mind, but not to the (See VERBAL, Page E2) Ma-jer- Simmons nabs Wooden kudo ANGELES LOS ionel Simmons (AP) -Lbelieves someone other than himself will be the first player selected in this year's NBA draft. Nevertheless, he continues to receive acclaim as college basketball's best player this season. Simmons, the No. 3 scorer in NCAA Division I history, was named the winner of the 14th annual John Wooden Award as college basketball's outstanding player on Wednesday. A senior from La Salle, Simmons received 1,174 points in balloting by 1,000 sports writers and broadcasters from around the country to finish far ahead of Oregon State guard Gary Pay-to220-pou- n, who accumulated 831 points. Derrick Coleman of Syracuse, who Simmons believes will go first in the draft, finished third with 816 points, followed by Hank Gathers, the Loyola Marymount star who died after collapsing on the court during a West Coast Conference tournament game on March 4. Gathers got 532 points. UNLV forward Larry Johnson finished fifth with 489 points and Louisiana State guard Chris Jackson had 455. All the top finishers are seniors except Johnson, a junior, and Jackson, a sophomore who has announced his intention to turn pro. Hawks and Cavs tied for last NBA spot By DICK BRINSTER AP Sports Writer Mark Price realized his shooting was atrocious, he passed and passed and passed. By the time he was finished, the Cleveland guard had a career-hig- h 20 assists and the Cavaliers had a When 101-9- 5 Hawks. victory over the Atlanta "When your shot's not falling, you get it to the other guys whenever you can," Price said. The victory left the teams tied for the eighth and final playoff berth in the NBA's Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers' 2 edge in the season series gives them the tiebreaker advantage should the teams wind up with the same record. 3-- Price, leading the Cavaliers with an average of 20 points, was from the floor in the first half. So he began working the ball underneath to Brad Daugherty, John Williams and Larry Nance. "Brad, Larry and Hot Rod (Wiwere able to go most of the night," Price said. "My man wasn't backing off me to double-teainside, and there aren't many teams that can cover our big guys Daugherty repeatedly hit short baseline jumpers over Moses finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Williams scored 20 points and Nance had 18 before leaving with a sprained left ankle. Price wound up three for 15 from the field for 14 points. "We were starting plays with eight or nine seconds left on the clock," Atlanta coach Mike Fratello said. "Part of the credit should be given to them for picking up their defense and making things happen." Dominique Wilkins, who led the Hawks with 33 points but just two in the fourth quarter agreed. "Yeah, it was disappointing, because this was a game we should lliams) one-on-o- m Ma-lon- e, (See CAVS, Page E2) |
