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Show Page D4 THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Utah, Thursday, November 21, 19 Smoltz signs reco rd deal By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA The Atlanta Braves will keep the best rotation in baseball intact, agreeing . Wednesday to a $31 million, four-yecontract with NL Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz a record deal for a pitcher. Smoltz' $7.75 million average is second in baseball behind the $11 ' " million average in the deal Albert Belle and the White Sox agreed to Tuesday. Smoltz, 29, led the majors with 24 wins and 276 strikeouts, along with a 2.94 ERA. He added four jiiore wins in the postseason before ; -- lie Braves were beaten by the New York Yankees in the World Series. ' The of Smoltz was "paramount to the Braves retaining their status as the best team in the ; National League. They have been ar to four of the past five World Series, winning the championship in 1995 and losing to the New York Yankees in six games this year. Atlanta now will turn its attention toward long-terdeals for Maddux, the four-tim- e Cy Young Award winner, and 1991 winner Tom Glavine, the other key members of the rotation who are under contract through 1997. The Braves also have Denny Neagle, acquired in a midseason trade with Pittsburgh. The Cleveland Indians, knowing they were out of the running for Belle, reportedly made a big push to sign Smoltz. The Plain Dealer said Smoltz was offered $30 million over four years to sign 4"ifli the Indians. But Smoltz made it clear he wanted to stay in Atlanta, saying he would continue to live in the m Louisville nets By CHRIS DUNCAN Associated Press Writer The LOUISVILLE, Ky. NCAA placed Louisville men's basketball program on two years' probation Wednesday for rules violations concerning recruiting, extra benefits and preferential treatment. ; The school, which was accused ;of 10 violations, will remain eligible for postseason play and can ; continue to appear on television. The NCAA accepted various penalties that the university had imposed against itself follow ing its own investigation. The case arose from questions concerning former player Samaki Walker's use of two cars during the summer and fall of 1995. David Swank, chairman of the I NCAA Committee on Infractions, I commended the university for conducting a "very careful and thor-- " ough examination" of the case. "In that regard, this was a model response," he said. "They were very thorough and forthright. This is a good example of what a program should do." Among the penalties imposed by the NCAA Committee on Infractions included requiring the school to continue to develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation. The committee also said the men's basketball coaching staff must attend an NCAA regional city even if he signed with another team. i "You won t see me make i decision that's" based purely on money," he said after being named the Cy Young winner last week. "1 can honestly say that." The previous high contract for a pitcher was S6.5 million in David Cone's $19.5 million, with the Yankees. In total do lars. the previous high was the $28 contract signed million, five-yeby Atlanta teammate Greg MaJ-duthree-yea-de- al x. Smoltz, coming off a S16 mil- lion. gets S7 million next season. $7.75 million in each of the next tw o seasons aid S8.5 million in 2000. The Braves have an $8 million option for 2001 In addition, he would get, a S250.fKK) bonus if he w ins two Cy Younc Awards durimz the contract. It also seminar. compliance required the recertification of the school's current athletics policies and practices. The announcement ended a ordeal that started w ith a surreport by The Courier-Journrounding phone calls made to a Louisville recruit by former volunteer strength coach and booster Jimmy Thompson. In a later report, telephone records obtained by the newspaper revealed that assistant coach Larry Gay apparently made improper phone contacts with at least two top Kentucky high school juniors during the 1994-9- 5 school year. He also was tied to Thompson through phone records. According to NCAA bylaws, coaches can't call prospects or their parents before July followof the ing the completion prospect's junior year in high school. Louisville admitted in June 995 that it uncovered a secondary violation resulting from strength and conditioning coach Wiley Brown playing pickup games with current players. It also reported on Walker's use of a $34,000 Ford Explorer as part of his compensae tion for a summer job. Walker was suspended for two games at the start of the season while the school looked into his use of the v ehicle. The school sent a 31 page report to the NCAA in February outlining its findings surrounding the Explorer and allegations that Walker's father might not hae paid for a Honda Accord in August 1 al 1 -- op petteir wa y 1995. Walker was voluntarily suspended for 10 more games while the school investigated possiHe violations regarding the Accord. In the midst of Walker's suspensin. Gay resigned. The NCAA said it unearthedilO violations in a July response; to Louisville's report. , . The school disputed one of the that the Accord NCAA's claims had actually been purchased; by Walker's summer employer. but acknowlAnthony Huff edged the other nine. The school emphasized thi it reported nine charges, wijich ranged from recruiting violations by Gay to Walker's improprieties with the two vehicles to improper contacts with recruits by Thonp-so.'! n. 1 part-tim- fl . probation ar malices ar two-ye- ar 12-ye- w -- Louisville officials met wit!' the NCAA Committee on Infract ons Sept. 21 in Atlanta before the work on NCAA went to Louisville's punishment. Louisville opens the seasonat-urda- y with an exhibition gjime against the Puerto Rican National team at Freedom Hall. The Cirdi-nal- s open their regular season against Montana State Nov. 9 in the Bi Island Classic in Hawjii. that no one can No one knows match. For conve ycur vehicle better than we do. The nience and value, come today. Depending on your needs, we offer drop-i- Quality Care service in people at your Ford and Lincoln-Mercu- dealership We're ry ''47sr' l We stock you. We can also transportation I Jfft rvV dealership. Brake Service Front or rear brakes. 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