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Show 6 Mountain West Minority Reporter & Sentinel, June 22, 1990 Piston fans _ . glimpse heroes Sports Ryan notches his sixth no- hitter Ypsilanti, Michigan (AP) — About 2,000 jubilant Detroit Pistons fans greeted their heroes Friday waving towels that read ‘‘Repeat’’ as they by Eric Prewitt cheered the two-time NBA Associated Press Writer champions. Oakland, California — Nolan Ryan Fans lined up behind a1 chain -link already stood alone on the mound. fence about 100 yards beyond the tar- Now, he’s even higher. mac where Roundball One parked | _ The 43-year-old right-hander pitchafter landing about 4:10 p.m. at ed his sixth no-hitter Monday night Willow Run Airport. extending his major league record as John Salley was the first player off the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland the plan and he raised both hands in- Athletics 5-0. to the air to the crowd’s cheers. Already baseball’s all-time strikeout Salley quickly made his way leader, he is now the oldest man to through a group of reporters and throw a no-hitter and the only one to photographers to the fence where he throw with three different teams. tossed his game sneakers into the Words like amazing are falling by crowd. the wayside. One shoe was pee up and hand**It comes so late in my career that ed to Lenny Stewart, 10, who was in it makes it extra special,’’ Ryan said. his wheelchair just in front of the Ryan was making only his second fence. Salley autographed the shoe start after returning from the disabl- and handed it to the boy who clutch- ed it with both hands. Lenfiy, who has cerebral palsy, wanted to greet the victors, said his stepmother, oe Stewart. The other shoe was snatched by Albert Yahya, 19, who handed the shoe to his sister. She took it to their car for safe keeping. — Some fans were happy just to glimpse the winners in person after watching Thursday’s game on television. Wilma Dunlap, 46, of Detroit was among the 21,400 people who watched the deciding game on a large overhead screen at The Palace of ed list with lower back pain. “*I was concerned with. my back problems, and I said, ‘Well, I'll just go seven innings,’’’ he said. ““Then, I got through seven, and I decided I’m not going to give in to it, because I just needed six more outs. “It certainly is one of the special nights in my life.”’ He had his family there to enjoy it with him and his 14-year old son Reese was in the dugout. The two spoke after the eighth inning. ‘I told him he only needed three more, and he kind of smiled,’’ Reese Ryan said. ‘‘That was a blast. Then, about the end of the ninth, we were _all sitting there and nobody was moving. And (manager) Bobby (Valen- night, extending his major-league record of 10 or more in a game to 201. He walked two in his 59th’ career shutout. ‘‘T guess in the seventh and eighth innings I felt like I’d had a little bit of a letdown, I think because you get a little bit of an adrenalin high going, then you get a little fatigued,” he said. ‘‘I tried to make good pitches, and I think that was the key to the game. The location of my fastball was real good tonight.”’ \ Ryan, 0-3 with an 8.86 ERA in his previous five starts, was making his second straight start against the A’s since spending 15 days on the disabled list. He gave up five runs in five innings last Wednesday in a 5-4 toss at Texas. ‘‘Well, to be honest with you, it’s not out of my mind,’’ he said of his back problems. “‘I wish I could say it’s gotten a lot better, but it hasn’t.”’ Ryan struck out pinch-hitter Ken Phelps to lead off the ninth. Rickey Henderson then grounded out to short and Willie Randolph fouled out to right to end the game. ‘‘My attitude about Willie was, keep the ball down. I know he’s a high ball hitter,’’ he said. ‘‘I made a bad pitch on him earlier in the game, and I think if we’d been at home, it might have been out of the ballpark, but the heavier air here kept it down.”’ Ryan’s no-hitter was the third this —Associated a= —— Press Photo -~ New Kentucky assistant men’s basketball coach Bernauette Locke is presented by Rick Pitino, the Wildcats’ head coach. Pitino hires woman as assistant coach at KY Auburn Hills. *“We were rockin’ on the way year, all in the American League. Mary Fenlon was an assistant was home and in the parking lot,’’ Dunlap Mark Langston and Mike Witt comLexington, Kentucky (AP) said. ‘‘We stayed up all night. SnD »~,tine). said, ‘Everybody. sit in the.same - _bined to no-hit Seattle on Aprikt and - Things have changed at Kentucky | an assistant on J ohn Thompson’ S ‘staff Randy Johnson of Seattle beat Detroit ~ wanted to sleep?”’ since Rick Pitino took over the basket- * at Georgetown, but “her purview was place. So I sat down, and then we the academic side of things,”’ said Bill ball program last year. Now, Wildcat realized it. I don’ t even know what it on June 2. Shapland, the school’s sports informaIt was the first no-hitter by a Texas practices will have a decidedly difwas like yet.’’ tion director for basketball. Fenlon, pitcher since Bert Blyleven beat ferent touch as well. Ryan thrust his bie arm into the who'still sits on the bench for Hoyas’ California on September 22, 1977. Bernadette Locke, a former assisair when the final out was made and games, has since been promoted to ‘‘The game spoke for itself, tant women’s coach at Georgia, was then was mobbed by his teammates, gentlemen,’’ Randolph said. ‘‘I could named to the same position on Pitino’s| assistant to the athletic CireeNOE ile who carried him off the field. A few basketball. throw out some superlatives, but you staff on Wednesday. fans jumped over the fence to join in. -Knight-Ridder Newspapers ae Locke said she isn’t worried tout Her duties will be the same as _ The rest of the crowd continued to ' already know that stuff. Tonight, I Detroit — Detroit Pistons star Isiah working with male players in was just trying to get a hit. He no-hit Pitino’s other assistants — on-court chant, ‘‘Nolan! Nolan!’’ as they had Thomas’ name has surfaced in a practices. us. That’s the name of that tune.”’ coaching and recruiting — with a over the last innings. federal investigation of a multiBasically, you’re going to teach The Athletics never came close to special emphasis on career placement. ‘*T think you feel relieved. I think million-dollar sports betting ring, peodribbling and passing to men or getting a hit. The two hardest-hit balls ‘‘T think it’s a great opportunity now what’s really touching is how excited Pistons’ Thomas linked to FBI’s gambling probe ple familiar with the investigation said. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that Thomas is not a target of the investigation, and no one has alleged that he bet on sporting events. They said he was involved in high-stakes dice games. Thomas could not be reached for comment. Matt Dobek, the Pistons’ public relations director, said Thomas would have no comment. General manager Jack McCloskey said, “‘I was privy to some of the information, but that’s all I’m going to say.’ People familiar with the investiga_ tion said that Pistons forward Mark Aguirre, a friend of Thomas since they were prep stars in Chicago, approached former FBI agent Ned Timmons around the time of the Pistons’ playoff games against Chicago to express concern about his friend’s involvement with gamblers. Timmons passed the information on to agents in- vestigating the gambling ring. © The sources said Thomas’ signature appeared on checks totaling $100,000 that have been subpoenaed by a grand jury in an FBI-IRS investigation that centers on Henry Alan Hilf, 50, of West Bloomfield, a Detroit suburb. Allegations include that dice games with thousands of dollars being wages - were held at the homes of Thomas and Imad. Denha, a close friend, the - sources said. Such gambling is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. Agents have not talked to Thomas about the investigation but plan to, those involved said. and supportive your teammates are, and that really affected me emotionally,’ he said. Ryan’s last no-hitter, which: broke the record he shared with Sandy Koufax, was for the Houston Astros against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. He also pitched four no-hitters for the California Angels. Ryan, 5-3, struck out 14 Monday were a fly ball to the warning track in left by Randolph leading off the fourth inning, and Henderson’s liner for a lot of women because I think it’s women regardless,’’ Locke said. “‘It’s going to open a lot of doors, hopeful- the same thing, only at a different ly, for them,’’ Locke said. ‘‘If that’s level. That’s something I’m looking forward to.’’ what this is going to do, then great.’’ Pitino said he doesn’t foresee any Pitino, who came to Kentucky from problems in Locke’s access to the a successful NBA stint with the New locker room. York Knicks, had drawn criticism ‘‘There are alot of men’s coaches from some who said Locke’s duties in women’s sports today,’ he said. would be limited to clerical work and “It’s the same way ... As soon as they she would be used mainly as a publicishower up, they’re in the locker room. ty gimmick. Before the game it’s no problem *“When you do hire a woman because they’re all’ dressed.”’ basketball coach you are going to gain - some notoriety, and exposure and Locke, 31, was Georgia’s first that’s good because we’re trying to said. ‘‘He is our MVP ... The team expose the career placement and we're - female All-American, earning the has his personality, the determination, trying to expose the things we want distinction during her senior year in the Sue the heart revolves around 1980-81. She has been an assistant at to accomplish with student-athletes,’’ him: |. Georgia since 1985. Thomas had 15 points in the first Pitino said. ‘I’m excited,’’ she said. “‘It’s a ‘‘There’s a lot of women Coach quarter and 20 in the first half ThursPitino could have had for this posi- pleasure. Being associated with day night as the Pistons took a 46-42 basketball in the Southeastern Contion,’’ Locke said. \“‘I feel fortunate halftime lead. He hit all three of his that he and his staff and administra- ference, I know about the Kentucky 3-pointers in the game. | tradition.’ “Isiah stepped up and made big, big tion chose me to pursue this.’’ plays,’’ Dumars said. ‘““You couldn’t ask for a better finish.”’ to center with one on and one out in the sixth. Jose Canseco, hospitalized with back pain, and Mark McGwire, who was given the day off, did not play. Julio Franco hit two two-run homers for the Rangers, who.won for the fourth time in five games. Thomas wins series MVP unanimously Tribune Wire Service Portland, Oregon — Detroit’s Isiah _ Thomas thrust his fist in the air and jumped on Chuck Daly’s back as the Pistons ran off the floor, roe champions once again. It was appropriate. The detroit coach and his players, after all, jumped on Thomas’ back to win their second consecutive NBA title. Thomas capped an executive excep-.tional series with 29 points to earn ‘Most. Valuable Player recognition unanimously as the Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers 92-90 to capture the championship, four games to one. ‘*T didn’t make the first, second, or third (all-star) teams, but it’s a very special award,’” Thomas said. **Last year, Joe (Dumars) was the MVP. This year I was the MVP. We’re two _ pretty damn good guards.”’ In-a consistently outstanding series, Thomas averaged 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. He made 54.2 percent of his shots. ‘That he won the MVP is insignificant,’’ Detroit Center Bill Laimbeer Second complaint alleges Gathers’ death was lawsuit has been filed over the death red the next five | of Loyola Marymount basketball star caused by negligence of college officials and doctors who concealed medical information from Gathers to induce him to continue playing. The suit seeks unspecified damages The Pistons called a time-out with’ 2:02 left and Portland ahead 90-83. Vinnie Ee Joh OURO SEO points, and Thomas suit filed in Gathers’ death case Los Angeles (UPI) — A second tied © the ee game Hank Gathers — this one by lawyers with an 18-foot jumper. representing Gathers’ estate and son. The wrongful-death lawsuit was fil- ‘In this league, you get in this situation and great players step up,’”’ Portland coach Rick Adelman said. ‘Isiah had a great series.”’ ed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court by Martin Krimsky, a lawyer ‘*A lot of people want to judge by statistics,’> Thomas said. ‘*I would rather be thought of as a player who knows how to win. I know how to win.” administrating Gathers’ estate. Krimsky’s suit was filed on behalf of Gathers’ estate and his son, Aaron Crump, 7. It likely will be combined with an earlier $32.5 million suit filed by Gathers’ mother, two brothers, and aunt. Like the first lawsuit, the latest and asks that the estate be paid $1 million — the amount Gather would have been paid . Gathers, 23, collapsed March 4 while playing in a Loyola Marymount game. He was pronounced dead about two hours later. The cause of death was listed as cardiomyopathy, an enlargment of the heart muscle: |