OCR Text |
Show @ Scoreboard C4 @ Outdoors C5 @ Business C6 I The Daily Herald WAC teams strike out with NCAA The WACgot told its nylons had runs. That is a summation of the league’sstatus with the NCAA collegiate baseball regionals and subs nt College World Series. It is enough to make even the most Yocal WACcritic feel sorry for thé league which is about to encomipass most of the free world asits boundaries. The WAChas been earmarked as an also-ran conference with the NCAApostseason selection com- pee et ae MEER fees es Thursday, May 9, 1996 Jazz downplay Game 1 blowout of Spurs By STEPHEN J. SIEGEL The Daily Herald thinking about their convincing 9575 victory Tuesday night. Doing so SAN ANTONIO — One day after could lead to an emotional letdown. the Utah Jazz dismantled the San Antonio Spurs on thelatter's home court, San Antonio's players sought toforget about Game | and come out strong in tonight's second game. The Jazz did the same thing. Not content merely to split the first two games of the series on San Antonio's home floor, Utah nowis looking for a sweep. That would allow them to head home with a commanding 2-0 lead. The best way to do that, they seem to have decided, is to avoid “As far as I'm concerned, we iost that game,” said Antoine Carr. “We've got another game coming up Thursday night.” Added Adam Keefe: “I wouldn't try to read too much into that last game. [The Spurs] are a great team.” The Spurs won twice in Sait Lake City this season, on Jan. 12 and April 8, so it’s wise for the Jazz to avoid overconfidence. But their refusal to say anything good about their performance borders on the amusing Asked whether the Jazz had turned up their defense a couple of notches during the last two games — during which they have given up just 64 and 75 points — San Antoniopiayers said yes. “It hasn't been that way for themall season long,” said guard Avery Johnson. Forward Sean Elliott agreed. “The first three drives | took {Tuesday} there were three guys there. That's the bestI've seenit.” suggested that San Antonio was simply a little under the weather. They “missed some free throws and missed some baskets they normally make,” Stockton offered. “You can't get too excited about it.” “They'll be a lot different {tonight}.”* said coach Jerry Sloan. “There's no question aboutthat.” Certainly San Antonio's poor foul sheoting can't be credited to the Jazz. The Spurs were awarded 26 more free throws than Utah, but made just 23 out of 36 and star ers didn’t think their defense was any different than usual. They instead idea that the Jazz had nothing to do On the other hand,the Utah play- David Robinson wasonly 11 of 18. with Vinny Del Negro’s |-for-11 shooting or Elliott's 2-for-7 San Antonio was the highest scoring team in the playoffs com ing into Tuesday's game, averag ing 103 per contest. But the team’s 75-point effort was the franchise's second-lowest playofftotal in his tory and their most meager output of the entire season. “You could say it was the defense.” conceded Sloan “but i think that’s being unfair.” Whatever. Butif all the modesty helps the But it’s difficult to accept the (See JAZZ, Page C2) Shaq attack lifts Magic over Hawks yee JOKNSON riando Sentnel Sidelines mittee which has determined which conference championswill be given automatic regional berths This comesto thesurface today because the WAC’s Eastern Division champion (BYU) hosts Western Division Champion (CalNorthridge) today in thefirst of a best-of-three championshipseries. The winnergets the opportunity to play a get-me-in-the-regional game with the West Coast Athletic Conterence champion. Meanwhile, the NCAA will allow conference champions automatic regional slots from the following leagues: Big West, Pac10, Big 10, Southwest, ACC, Big East, Southeast and Big Eight The WACwill join the follow ing poar sisters: WCAC. Ivy League, Northeast, South Westem, Midwestern, Mid-Continental, Southern, Mid-Eastern, Metro Atlantic and the Patriot League This comesafter WAC Western Division champion CalNorthridge has been ranked in the top 15 nationally most ofthe year and the WAChasproduced a track record of solid collegiate baseball with BYU, Hawaii, and Fresno State. The Cougars made the Adintic II Regional finals against Florida State just two ago “It's just not the WAC,it is the West in general.” explained BYU coach GaryPullins. “The past twoyears, there has been a tremendous emphasis and focus onthe eastern United States and the West has beenleft out.” Last season the NCAAselection committee invited just nine western U.S. schools to the 48teamtournament. They then had the audacity to place four of those nine teams against each other (Pepperdine, Southern Cal, FresnoState and Long Beach State) in the fegional at Fresno State. Figure that one out. Only one of those four teams could advance. Total injustice But justice reigned anyway when the regional play among the field of 48 produced an Omaha Coliege World Series which had Cal-State Fullerton ranked No. | and Southern Cal No, 2. Stanford finished No. 6, Long Beach 17 and Pepperdine No. with Fres- nw State No. 23 (USA Today). Ha,ha, ha. ha, ha. is weird isn’t it.” laughed “The funny thing is this year we don’t get the automatic bid. but next year we should. We will also have better representation on the selection committee next year because New Mexico coach Rich Alday hasa seat.” But in the meantime, the NCAAhas made certain distine- tions based on attraction or politics, perhaps even skill and the rankings. But whatever the formula, it is The Atlanta Hawks can forget about challenging Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’ Neal to a game of one-on-one. Theytried that idea on Wednesday night and O'Neal scored a career playoff-high 41 points while leading the Magic to a 117105 victory at the O-rena. Penny Hardaway added 32 points as the Magic took a 1-0 lead in this best-of-7 playoff series.Game 2 will be played Friday night This wasthe first game Orlando: had played since completing a three-. « game sweep of the Detroit Pistons last Tuesday. The Hawks, meanwhile, were coming off a senes- clinching victory over the Indiana ee: Daily Heraid PhotoiJohn Blodgett BYU second basemanD.G. Nelson receives a throw during a game against Utah earlier this season. Nelson ranks 20th nationally in home runs with 18, while batting .382. His fielding prowess and power offer a rare combiaalion for a second baseman. Full Nelsons: Family takes nothing for granted Daily Herald Sports Editor Nelson's family takes one iota of their lives for granted. Not any more. Perhaps that is why there is certain depth to the satisfaction Dave and Zethe Nelson experience when BYU's second baseman D.G. (David Gien) trots on the field, kicks a little dirt and maintains a defensive infield position, The fact that he is one of the Cougars’ most potent Shaq and give up the threes to me. Nick and Penny, or try to go oneon-on with Shag and have him score on a bunch of dunks and jumphooks.” The Hawks opted for the latter, which meant O"Neal could have his Weaponsat the plate, ranked No. 20 nationally in home runs (18) and batting average (.382) is just icing onthe cake. Just. being present for this week's Westem Athletic Conference baseball championship on the Cougar Field today, Friday and,if needed, Saturday, is enough For D.G.’s father Dave, a former BYU pitcher, former Utah Valley State College baseball coach and WACbasketball offi cial, every day he watches D.G., or daughter Kim (UVSCbasketball) or Breck (Mountain View softball), is a blessing. In fact, just being at the dinner table with his wife and six children has taken on a new meaning More than two years ago Dave Nelson leamedhis liver was dying. For an active man in the prime of his life, the news way with Hawkscenters Christian Laettner and Sean Rooksin the low post. The results were predictable. O'Neal hit 18 of 28 field goals and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to puthis personal stamp on this game. Buzz edge Toros 4-3 was devastating. But as shocking as that bad news became,the for- Daity Herald Photo/Jason Olson merpitcher whois used to lucky | Nelson said his recent health trials have helped heighten his appreciation for life and family. (See NELSONS, Page C2) anchored solidly with the glamor conferences and those in the East BYU and Cal Northridge square off today and continue the best-of-three series Friday and Saturday, if needed. Cal Northridge, the cream of the conference,is only affiliated with the WACthrough a baseball alignmentthat includes westem baseball schools orphanedjust for baseball competition. Those schools include Cal-State Sacramento, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Grand Canyon College. Perhaps there were too many Cal-Statesin this alignment to get the respect due the WAC. But the nylons had a run just the same and the NCAA didn’t hesitate to label the league. Football helps reunite long lost brothers By KEN BERGER AP Sports Writer MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Steven Kelley and Joe Jackson knew each other through high school, playing on opposite sides of one of those great small-town football rivalries. They shared a builheaded stubbornness and a Keack for doing eye-catching things with a foot- Scott the last time these two teams met as the Magic forward hit an NBA-record |] 3-pointers Horace Grant had his fourth double-double in as many playoff games with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Nick Anderson added 21 points as the Magic shot 58 percent from the field. “Well there’s no way they can stop everything,” Scott said “They either have to double team By DICK HARMON Nobody in D.G. Pacers in Game 5 on Sunday. “TL can't begin to tell you how scared I was coming into this game,not having played in eight days,” Magic coach Bran Hill said. “That's a coach's nightmare to be off that long.” Atlanta was bummed by Dennis story of his broken family Somehow, they ended up on the Troy State football team this spring and nt didn’t take long to figure out they had much more in commen than football. Steven Kelley and Joe Jackson Dothan and Enterprise high schools in coulien Albate . Kelley, myheart just fluttered.” Kelley paused, breathing harder “People woul@l always tell me I into the phone, if he looked like Joe Jackson,” Kelley could stand Seatiaebeent “T said, “Let me ask you “I never thought tion,” none said. TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Dami= an Miller's two-run single highlighted a three-run fifth inning as: the Salt Lake Buzz beat the Tucson Toros 4-3 Wednesday night int the Pacific Coast League. 2 Overall, four runs were scored: as a result of wild pitches, : Tucson opened the scoring Ken Ramosled with a single call came home on Dave Hajek’s triple. Salt Laketied the score at 1~ 1 in the third with Todd Walker scoring on a wild pitch. The Buzz made it 4-1 in the! fifth inning when Nat Lawton singled to drive in two. Tn the sixth, Hajek led off with a: double scored on a Jeff Ball double. Tucson pulled to within one run inne the eighth as Jay Davis singled and eit z Scott Klinginbeck (3-2) guve up, two runs on five are brothers, Kelley arnived at Troy State on March 24, a freshman transfer hits six: together. “1918 from Tennessee He started bang- ball. Each had been shutiled ing around with Jackson, whom he through a maze of foster homes, remembered from those Friday ‘knew hitn as Joe Jackson, So when he never able to piece together the night footbajl battles between told me his name was Joseph Frank \ “T said, ‘Til bedown in your room in a minute,’ * said, Jackson was born to Frank and (See BROTHERS, Page C2) up his Bill Wagner (2-2) in six innings, giving whee, on seven hits. 2 |