Show B2 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday February 28 2002 game By The' Associated Press The Minnesota Twins could not be more excited to play a spring train- ing game in February Survivors Of a trying offseason in which baseball owners attempted to eliminate them the TWins wound up playing the first major league s'pring training game of the year Wednesday They scored two runs in their first and never looked back beatV ing the Cincinnati Reds 0 “It was a good feeling” new exciting A long time coming with all that stuff we went through” Kurt Abbott hit a two-ru-n homer Todd Sears drove in three runs with two hits and Brad Radke started with two perfect innings as everything seemed to go right for the Twins draft pick Even their catcher Joe Mauer ripped a single up the middle in his in the eighth first spring “It was nice to get up there and see some pitching” Mauer said “It was a fun game” first-rou- - nd at-b- at ut-b- at 13-- Minnesota pounded 20 hits against Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said the Reds who left nearly all of their “I doubted that I'd be very emotion- al but heading into the game I could : regulars at their camp in Sarasota Ken fee) the butterflies a iittle bit It was Griffey Jr missed the Reds' workout - fo) o)U Son ics win 8th straight on road Bucks top Celts ai'i mjse w - 'because of a viral infection in his stomach' and will Be out a couple days “It turned out to be a pretty good day” Gardenhife said “We have something to prove and not because of contraction We finished in second place last year and people doubt that we can do better These players arc on a mission to prove they can play that last year wasn't a fluke" Montreal second baseman Jose Vidro led the Expos with a 319 bat- ting average last season yet he still thinks he has something to prove too “I was disappointed with last year” Vidro said “I want to be in the lineup every day and last season brought back bad memories of 1998 and 1997 when I was playing 162 games and I think I can hit 30 home runs' In the other early game it was Pittsburgh 13 Manatee Community College 7 Elsewhere David Wells coming off a season cut short by back surgery is progressing ahead of schedule The New York Yankees reported no problems after a bullpen session in Tkmpa Fla and remains on target to make his first game ' appearance since July on Monday “If something happens it hap-pens" Wells said “Every day is a better day I don't anticipate anything happening because I'm feeling bench a on-th- 'lot" he said He hit just IS homers in 486 — down from 24 in 2000 — in a sea- son interrupted by injuries InAugust he was hit in the head by a pitch which gave him a mild concussion ‘‘The injury that really pushed me back was the one when I got hit on the head" said Vidro who also missed time with a sore left elbow' “I was really scared when I came back because I had bad memories of the incident 1 was so afraid I didn’t know what woiild happen if I got head on the head again “he added “The fear is all gone right now” he assured “I’m thinking about at-b- ats : left-hand- good" Jordan has operation may return this year pi'jssjw' By The Associated Press At Washington Rasheed Wallace had 22 points ' and 14 rebounds Wednesday night and the Portland 12-Trail Blazers pulled away with a 2 run to open the fourth quarter in a 105-10- 1 victory over the Wizards' its best offensive one of Washington played Michael Jordan — and weeks in without games without either of its top two centers The Wizards shot 56 percent through three quarters and had 31 assists for the game three short of their season high But they went cold to open the fourth period against the Trail Blazers who have won seven straight Jordan who leads the team in scoring assists and minutes had surgery Wednesday morning to repair tom cartilage in his right knee He is exported to weeks Jahidi White was sidelined with miss a strained left shoulder and backup center Brendan Hay wood sat out with a sore left knee Richard Hamilton scored 31 points for the Wiz- ards who have lost six straight and are b--8 since break the All-St2 Bucks 95 Celtic&92 Milwaukee beat host Boston for the fourth straight time as Sam Cassell scored 26 points Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson each had 22 points The Celtics' Antoine Walker was short on a at the buzzer Walker had 30 to lead the Celtics and has 84 points in three games against Milwaukee this season Boston has lost three straight since acquiring Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers from the Phoenix Suns SuperSontes 98 Hawks 81 At Atlanta the Seattle SuperSonics won their eighth straight away game equaling the second-longe- st road winning streak in club history Rashard Lewis scored 19 points for the Sonics who won 10 straight on the road in 1995 Gary Payton scored 14 points and had 12 assists: moving past Kevin Johnson into 14th place oh the NBA career assist list 76ers 82 Heat 72 At Philadelphia Allen Iverson scored 31 points before leaving with a thigh injury as the 76ers survived poor shooting The Sixers were only from the line Iverson hobbled off with 1 : 1 1 left after appear- ing to bump knees with Eddie Jones Foul trouble hurt the Heat as Jones scored just nine points before fouling out Alonzo Mourning was in foul trouble fqr most pf the game too and the Heat did not attempt a'frce throw in the fourth quarter while Philadelphia took 18 and made 13 ' -6 ar free-thro- w WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Jordan will probably be able to play again this season Whether he can make it back in time to save the Washington Wizards’ drive for die playoffs is another matter Jordan had surgery for the first time in his career Wednesday morning Team physician Dr Stephen Haas found and repaired tom cartilage in the forward’s right knee an injury Haas said was the result of ' normal wear and tear for an athlete of Jordan’s caliber Typically recovery time for such an operation is two to six weeks and many variables age severity of the tear workout ethic — can determine where a patient fits in that range “Michael will rest over the next few days then begin therapy" general manager Wes Unseld said “At (hat point we will have an idea of the time frame for his return to action" If Jordan’s falls in the middle of the range — four weeks — he would miss 16 games including the entire road trip in mid- March that could make or break the Wizards season He could join the road trip in progress if he misses two or three weeks while a layoff wouldn’t bring him back until the final week of the regular season Still the news was positive given all the possibilities that had bear mentioned going into die surgery Assuming foe rehabilitation goes well neither Jordan’s season — career — appear to be oven “Everything went well" coach Doug Collins said “I think the doctors feel very good Now we just have to wait and see how long he’ll be out There’s no timetable because when you do that then a certain time gets there and nothing happens you wonder what’s going on” Jordan was placed on the injured list Tuesday which requires him to miss a minimum of five games including Wednesday night at home against Portland and home and away games against his former team the Chicago Bulls six-ga- : 27-of-- 46 six-we-ek The Associated Press : APphoto Washington Wizards' Richard Hamilton (32) tries to get away from Portland Trail Blazers1 Scottie Pippen third quarter of ‘their game on Wednesday night in Washington The Blazers won 105-10- 1 Hornets 104 Nets 85 At Charlotte NIC Jamal Mashbum proved he’s 36 points in finally healthy scoring a season-hig- h v snapping the Nets’ six-gawinning streak Mashbum playing in just his sixth game since missing 42 with a strained abdominal muscle had 19 points in the first quarter arid 27 at the half as the Hornets ended their three-gam- e losing streak ' Jajnaal Magloire added 17 for Charlotte which agency starts on Friday One of Davis’ former teammates linebacker Bill Romanowski found a new job wifoQakland after being cut last week by the Broncos “It’s really mykihd of place” Romanowski said when hie was introduced by the Raiders “I can’t wait to hit Terrell Dayis who has played in just 17 of a possible 48 games since rushing for 2008 yards in 1998 signed a restructured ’ contract with the Denver Broncos oh Wednesday-'-- - The deal reportedly will save the team more than $4 million in salary cap room next season “The Jast three years he hasn’t been healthy They've compensated him even though he hasn’t been healthy" said Davis’ agent Neil Schwartz: “If we per-- ’ form we’d be paid with elite backs of the league and if we don’t there is very little ' risk for the Broncos" ‘ Wednesday was the day for teams to make cap room before free - : next-fo-la-st ' : somebody" Arizona meanwhile cut wide receiver Rob Moore who missed foe last two sea- -' sons with injuries and Indianapolis ' restructured the contract of nose tackle Ellis Johnson to save $2 million under the cap Buffalo'declined to make a ten-doffer to Keion Carpenter foe starter at free safety for most of the past two sea sons and Detroit released three veteran starters linebacker Stephen Boyd defen er ' In the second-ha- lf blew a nt lead in losing to New Jersey on Sunday The Nets were outreboiinded 45-3- 6 shot just at the free throw line and had 20 turnovers that led to 25 of Charlotte’s points Pistons 101 Bulb 89 23-poi- 13-of-- 24 AtAubum Hills Jon Barry scored - ts See BLAZERS on B3 sive did Tracy Scroggins and strong safer ty Kurt Schulz Boyd had three years and $10 million left on his contract Schulz was scheduled to make $55 million over the next three seasons and Scroggins had one year at $875000 left on his deal Boyd has' had back problems and Scroggins had been considering retirement “I’ve always thought that once a guy' thinks about retiring it’s time" team president Matt Milken said Arizona’s Moore a e Pro Bowl selection said he was tombetween play- ing for another team or retiring “When frustration sets in aU kinds of things creep into your mind” he said “But I never consistently thought ‘I’ ve had enough"’ V-- State todit will give Utah State hs second v league titie in three yean Even if UC Irvine ' ' ' wins foe Aggies can still win foe down by beat- ' ing foe Tigers (9-- 7 17-- and then winning their season finale at'Cal State Norforidge on Saturday : there was blood spilled r" - "Wq're anticipating a real physical battle That's just the way the games between us and 'Pacific have always been Hopefully well be ready for ihe challenge" ' The Aggies (l3--3 Big West 21-- 4 overall)’ can ill afford to get caught up in a pier--6 brawj however with a chance to win foe conference ' championship firmly in their grasp A win and a (JC Irvine loss at Ldog Beach ‘ r V - a Utah State has won the last six meetings - with the Tigers and eight of the last niney including an 1 victory Dec 22 in Logan Aggie head coach Stew Morrill says the Tigers sire sick and tired offosing to his "Pacific will be as ready as they've been for anybody all year long" Morrill said They’ve about had it with us We've been very fortunate ' to beat them a feW times in a row "We are like foe dreaded jtiague to them f ‘ vaulters tied or setcareer marks Kyla Mattioli led the 985 way with a meet-beThen on the uneven bars : the Aggies notched the sec- ond-be-st team score of the with a 48925 Freshman year Katie Rutherford had the best score on foe event with a 985 ' They certainly had it going in the first two events” Com said That’s probably the best performance on those two events in a number pf yens": st Then came the beam AQ three Aggie aBarounden fUL Rutherford had to stop foeMeefongand did m a ng way scoring a 9 9U T just knew I had to stay on the beam so we wouldn’t have to count another fall" Rufoer- ford said "I just tried my best and got a 99 so I was happy” So was Com who listed Rutherford as a "bright spot" Other meet notes: Freshman Jessica Rands almost had a perfect score on the vault Her career-hig- h 9825 came " on a vault that has a start The floor value pf 985 exercise may have taken a toll on the Aggies Jessenia : Abrego and Sarah Colson ( both left tiie event with r : - injuriesAbregosaidshewas fine but Corn said a sore Achilles may force Abrego to t for a couple of meets Col- non "tweaked" a knee "We felt like tiiey had so many good tilings They want a piece of liar bad" Tonight’s matdiup pits the Big West’s top going em (around) the perimeter that we want-e- d offense in Pacific against its best defense in to get up and get after their perimeter guys v Utah State The Tigers are scoring an average and we dida! double the posts much" Mornll of 71points per game while die are ritid "But weidso shot 60 percent and I don't ' holding' opponents to 576 points per contest know if we dm count on foat' So what I prefer F‘acific bias taken and made the most is that we defend foe perimeter as well as we en of any team in the league: Led by Daind: Bunts and his 448 perceage from beyond the did and defend foe post better" Brown ufoo is averaging 154poiiits per arc die Tigers have nude 203 ootof541 e homreumd game is coming off a attempts from downtown a 37 percent dip! duU 17 points him score saw combined a f in foeir East meeting against Utah Suite die from Tigers went range Morrill although he did record 23 assists Hehad 20 said die strategy 'then was to defend theperime--' points three assists and four steals in the last ' ter and singl&Kvcr Pacific's post players meeting with Pacific 4 : Aes 81-7- 1 : ' ( 9) v Continued from Bl two-tim- - Continued from Bl s nor-hi- uavis gets new deal with Broncos Charm By er 7 ‘ r J - threb-gam- int J ? |