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Show ~~';; NATtL SPORTS Strong year could start a Ute run NDIAYE APOLOGIZES TO JOHNSON AFTER FALSE ACCUSATIONS: An ugly incident between Utah's Britton Johnsen and North Carolina's Makhtar Ndiaye came to a close Monday when Ndiaye admitted he fabricated a story saying Johnsen called him a "nigger'' during an exchange in the national semifinals Saturday night. North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge and Ndiaye (pronounced JeyeJ met for about 15 minutes in Chapel Hill, N.C., then issued an apology to Johnsen, coach Rick Majerus and the entire Utah team about six hours before they lost 78-69 to Kentucky in the national title game. NHL SUSPENDS PLAYERS FOR EXCESSIVE ROUGHNESS: Sergei Fedorov of Detroit and San Jose's Joe Murphy each drew a two-game suspension from the NHL on Tuesday for violent behavior on the ice. Fedorov, who was also fined $1,000, has already served the suspension, having missed the Red Wings' contests Saturday against St. Louis and Sunday against Buffalo pending a league hearing. Fedorov was suspended for checking Anaheim defenseman Jason Marshall from behind Thursday. He was assessed a major penalty for boarding. "Mr. Fedorov delivered a check from behind to Mr. Marshall while he was not in a position to defend himself," NHL senior vice-president Brian Burke said. " Players need to be responsible for their actions." Murphy, who was also fined $1,000, still had one game to serve on his suspension and missed the Sharks' game last night against Pittsburgh. Murphy was suspended after receiving a match penalty for slashing Dallas defenseman Richard Matvichuk Saturday. BREWERS LOSE NATION AL LEA G UE D EBUT TO BRAVES: The team that left Milwaukee behind mined the city's return to the Nationa l League, GeralJ Williams rrotteJ home from third after catcher Mike Matheny's attempted pickoff throw skipped into left field in the ninth inning, giving the Atl anta Braves a season-opening 2- 1 vict0ry over Milwaukee yesterday, the 'Brewers' first NL game after 28 years Greg Maddux in the American League. The Brewers, the first major league baseball team to switch leagues since the 1892 season, talked repeatedly about the need to play solid, fu ndamental baseball in the NL, but they got sloppy in the ninth. ln the top of the inning, Kerry Ligtenberg walked the bases loaded with two outs but feff Ciril1o strayed too far away from first and was picked off by a throw froin catcher Javy Lopez. Williams, a former Brewer, walked with one out in the ninth and took third when another pinch-hitter, Keith Lockhart, singled tO center. Loser Bob Wickman struck out Andruw Jones, but Matheny went to third when Lockhart broke for second on the pitch. The throw was terrible, bouncing past Cirillo into left, and Williams came home with the deciding run. Ligtenberg, the fourth Atlanta pitcher, got the win. Gieg Maddux, who made the sixth opening day start of his career, tossed his team to its sixth opening day win in seven seasons. LADY VOLS ENJOY THIRD STRAIGHT NCAA T ITLE:Crystal basketballs, new Mercedes and thousands of fans greeted the Tennessee Lady Vols home as champions. The three Waterford basketballs were trophies marking the Lady Vols' third consecutive NCAA title Sunday, a first in women's collegiate basketball. The white Mercedes were gifts- one each for coach Pat Summitt and assistants Mickie D eMoss, Holly Warlick and Al Brown. And the fans were for the players, who arrived at Thompson-Boling Arena Monday in a motorcade of stretch limos. "Thirty-nine and oh. Six na uonal championships. And a three-peat. What else could we want; " women's athletic director Joan Cronan asked. "Four," roared the fans, many holding four fingers in the air. The season began four months ago with the raising of the 1997 championship banner and an early victory over Louisiana Tech. The scoreboard Monday flashed the result of Sunday's title rematch: Tennessee 93, La. T ech 75. Streamers, fireworks and the Tennessee theme song, " Rocky Top," rang out."They are simply the best ever," said Gov. Don Sundquist. man-to-man on North Carolina. SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Utah's gallant run at an His defenses worked because of the tireless NCAA championship produced big mileage for a work of point guard Andre Miller, the heart and program too often overlooked on the national soul of the team. Miller averaged 14.1 points basketball map. during the regular season and hung the first The.Utes play in the Western Athletic triple-double (18 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists} Conference, a league often dismissed when in school history on Arizona. He simply ran out compared to such heavyweights as the Atlantic of steam at the end Coast Conference, Big against Kentucky. Ten, Southeastern And the rebounding Conference and Big East. worked because of 6-11 And they play oldMichael Doleac and 6-10 fashioned basketball, with Hanno Mottola. Doleac little of the run-and-dunk led the team with 16.2 shows so popular today. points and 7.1 rebounds a That combination made game during the regular Utah something of an season. Mottola had 12.5 anomaly at the Final Four. and 5.4. Both seemed Coach Rick Majerus joked bone tired at the end how ESPN probably h.as ~ Monday night. trouble finding highlights g; Doleac played himself of his games to show on @into an NBA draft choice, SportsCenter. ~ although that means "We're never going to be g putting medical school on a big, marquee school," he , , ~ hold. He and Drew said. "Coaches like us, ·· 5! Hansen, the Rhodes though." ....__ ......a::;~...1 1- Scholar can.didate whose That's probably more UK head coach Tubby Smith barks orders next stop is Michigan law true after the way the from the sideline in Monday's NCAA school, are the lone Utes played in this championship win over Utah 78-69. seniors on the roster. tournament. Like Doleac, Miller and They played defense and Mottola have NBA futures, according to Majerus. they rebounded, and that combination got them Miller could go now, although he has another within five minutes of the championship. They are the staples of Majerus' approach to basketball, year of eligibility and probably will stay to smooth some rough edges. Mottola is a and he sold the players on them. sophomore and, like most of the rest of the team, ''We don' t have a lot of tricks," he said. "You he wilJ be back. The question is whether Majerus can't get here with trickery or chicanery." will be, too. Utah beat Arizona and North Carolina, two He has become a hot property. Arizona State is Nos. l seeds, on the way to the title game, known to be interested and some NBA teams testimony that this team was a legitimate could come calling. What could keep him at Utah championship contender. Majerus used a is his attachment to this young, driven team that triangle-and-two - "a junk defense," he called came so close to winning the championship. it - to shut down Arizona and went back to New look for major leagues . ' style - were going on display today on opening day. Kevin Brown and Darryl Kile pitching for new teams, Andres Galarraga and Marquis Grissom Opening day will have a different look, for playing in new places. sure. And Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and a A dozen new members of the World Series bunch of hitters waiting to tee off on guys who champion Florida Marlins. Moises Alou, Robb made it to the majors this year only because of Nen and Devon White are out, a bunch of expansion. rookies are in. "We'll be pitching New teams in guys who don't Phoenix and St. belong here yet," Petersburg. The Marlins manager Jim Arizona Diamondbacks Leyland said. "But will play in the Bank there's a big One Ballpark, which difference between showcases a swim.ming not belonging here pool beyond the rightyet and not belonging center field fence. The here at all." Tampa Bay Devil Rays World Series MVP will play at Tropicana Livan Hernandez was Field, which features a to start the opener at cigar bar. home against the New double-play Cubs. combos for Atlanta and The rest of the White Sox players Frank Thomas, right, and the Chicago Cubs. Marlins' rotation, Albert Belle stand with teammates and Texas Walt Weiss and Tony however, has Rangers players for the National A11tbem prior Graffanino are up the undergone a shakeup. to their season opener in Texas yesterday. middle for the Braves, lt now includes the Jeff Blauser and Mickey likes of Rafael Medina, Brian Meadows and Morandini now play for the Cubs, who will be Felix Heredia. wearing a shoulder patch with a caricature of " Our job is to develop youngsters," Leyland the late Harry Caray. said. "I'll be glad to see them get better, but The Milwaukee Brewers in a new league. The we' re not going to be able to compete this year Detroit Tigers in a new division. for a title." All the elements of Baseball '98 - expansion By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |