Tuesday, January 26, 1999
The University Daily Kansar
Section B · Page 3
No.1 NBA pick to return from Europe
The Associated Press
ROME — Michael Olowokandi's great European adventure ended after only six games, three weeks ahead of schedule.
The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft was released Monday from his contract with Kinder Bologna of the Italian League, freeing him to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 7-foot-1 center arrived in Italy on Jan. 5, joining Kinder about 24 hours before the NBA and its players agreed to a deal that ended the lockout.
The contract was to pay Olowokandi $800,000 and keep him with Kinder until Feb. 15, but a club source, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said the team decided to let him go now to save money and because he failed to make the expected impact.
"I felt it was time to leave and head to the team that drafted me," the 23-year-old center said. "I learned my basketball in the United States, and I'm ready for my transition from college ball to the NBA, which is what I always wanted to do."
He will leave Bologna by the end of the week and head to California. The Clippers opened training camp Thursday.
"Hopefully, I can be with the Clippers ASAP. I don't intent to waste any time," Olowokandi said.
He averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in six games with Kinder as his playing time steadily dwindled. He was slowed at times by tendinitis in his right knee and lamented that the team rarely used him as a focal point on offense
Three other players also jumped to Europe right before the lockout was resolved: Vladie Divac, Arvydas Sabonius and Vinny Del Negro. Last week, Divac signed with the Sacramento Kings
and Sabonis rejoined the Portland Trail Blazers. Del Negro is still with TeamSystem Bologna of the Italian League, but an escape clause allows him to leave after Jan. 31.
Olowokandi, who was born in Nigeria and raised in England, played just five minutes Sunday in Kinder's 84-67 win against first place Varese.
"After yesterday's game, I just felt it was time to leave," he said. "They had pushed me to stay. But they have their team, and it's time for me to go back to my team."
Olowokandi played at Pacific, where his averages went from 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.32 blocks in his first season to 22.2, 11.2 and 2.88 in his third and last year, prompting the Clippers to take him with the first overall pick in June's draft.
Gretzky wins sport utility vehicle as MVP
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Wayne Gretzky got another car, Ken Hitchcock finally got a victory, and the NHL got the kind of All-Star game it wanted.
"Competition-wise, it was up there," coach Lindy Ruff said Sunday after his World team lost 8-6 to North America in the 49th NHL All-Star game. "I think they competed at the level they want to in this event."
The star-studded midseason game, as usual, produced a lot of goals. Gretzky was in the middle of things again with a goal and two assists, earning him the All-Star MVP trophy for the third time and the car that goes with it — in this case, a sport utility vehicle.
"I loved it," Gretzky said. "I got a car. How many people go to Tampa
and get a new car? It was a wonder.
ful weekend.
Hitchcock also had a great time, finally coaching an All-Star team to victory. He was on the losing end as coach of the Western Conference in 1997 and the World All-Stars in 1998.
But perhaps the real winner was the NHL, which has tried to find a format to make the games more competitive and more compelling.
Last season, it was a one-goal game as North America beat the World team 8-7.
"This year's game was better than last year," Hitchcock said. "It's a showcase for our sport."
It was business as usual Sunday, with 14 different players scoring and goaltenders anxious to get out of the line of fire. Except for Phoenix's Nikolai Khabibulin, who took over in the third period and
played like something was on the line.
Actually, it was — his pride.
'I think goalies take it more seriously than the players on defense because you don't want to get embarrassed." Khaibulin
said, "if mean, you're supposed to take it — you're supposed to think, well, if they score, it's OK. You don't want to get six goals scored against you."
Gretzky: Awarded MVP for the third time
Khabibulin was the best goal-tender on the ice, stopping 14 of 15 shots in the third period as the
World outscored North America 2-1 in the final 20 minutes.
The rest of the goalenders had their problems, including Buffalo's Dominik Hasek, called the best player in the NHL by Gretzyk. He faced 19 shots in the first and gave up goals by Mike Modano, Luc Robitaille, Paul Kariya and Mark Reechi.
Ray Bourque, Rob Blake and Daryl Sydor also scored for North America. Mats Sundin had a goal and three assists for the World team, while Marco Sturm, Teemu Selanne, Pavol Demitra, Mattias Ohlund and Sergei Zubov also scored.
Gretzy's goal extended his AllStar record to 13 in 18 games and his two assists gave him 12, tying him with four other players for the career record.
It was a nice weekend. "Gretzky said, "I think we all had a lot of fun."
Newspapers criticize IOC leader's actions
The Associated Press
LONDON — Juan Antonio Samaranch's ouster of six International Olympic Committee members left many newspapers around the world calling for one more head: his own.
European papers were particularly critical Monday of the IOC president's moves to clean up the largest corruption scandal in Olympic history.
The response of the Dutch newspaper *Trouw* was typical. In a front-page editorial, it said it was "brazen of Samaranc to stay put. It means that a nasty odor still clings to the IOC."
The 78-year-old Samaranch found little support in northern Europe, although the criticism was lighter in his native Spain and neighboring France.
In Africa, home to six of the nine IOC members who have resigned or been expelled, there was scant coverage, with suggestions that African and Latin American IOC members had been made scapegoats.
"The Great Olympic Gravity Train has hit the buffers, and not surprisingly, just three of the nine people ... have volunteered to get off," wrote The Times.
Sune Sylven, writing in Sweden's Svenska Dagbladet, injected some sarcasm. "Some things take time. For example, the International Olympic Committee let 105 years go by before establishing an ethics committee."
OLYMPIC GAMES
Samaranch got little support in Switzerland. But in Lausanne, home of the IOC, the Le Matin headline offered some comfort. "The IOC is dead, long live the IOC."
"After all that has happened during his time in office since 1980, marked by uncompromising striving for power and profit, Samaranch doesn't seem entirely the right person to push through a real change," said an editorial in the Baster Zeitung.
Samaranch did find some calm home in his native Barcelona with hometown La Vanguardia largely supportive of his pledge to reform the IOC.
"Samaranch has taken the games to heights of popularity and world projection. It is therefore logical ... that what has happened would hurt him. And it is also logical that he personally commits himself to pushing reform forward," La Vanguardia said.
“Aside from corrupt individuals ... the IOC is an anachronistic body that requires urgent reform,” it said.
The Madrid-based daily El Pais was more critical.
DID THE HOLIDAYS PACK ON THE POUNDS?
Start the new year off right with TOTAL FITNESS and lose those extra pounds.
- Monthly Membership $25 dollars
- Lawrence's only health club open 24 hours
- Unique programs
- 50 pieces of cardiovascular equipment
- Personal Trainers and Dietitian
- Child care
- Cycle Reebok and Kickboxing Programs
2108 W. 27TH ST.
832-0818
where do YOU want to go this spring break?
Spring Break Alternative trips offer students the opportunity to serve poor and marginalized communities. Students work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House, Borderlinks, Neighborhood Housing Partners and Navajo Indian Reservation. It is an experience of learning, sharing and serving. Participants are able to gain insights about their own lives. An experience of a lifetime! Scholarship money is still available so sign up NOW!
I or more information, please pick up registration forms at the st. Lawrence center or contact Meredith Seymour at 843-0357!
Saltillo, Mexico? Denver? Conception Missouri?
Consider the Possibilities...
lawrence plastic surgery
Curious about such procedures as liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and others? Please join us at this informal and informative presentation where we will discuss these procedures, show examples, and answer your questions.
Body Contouring
Free Seminar: January 26th,1999,7 pm Clubhouse, Alvamar Country Club Please RSVP to 843-7677
Scott T. Thellman, M.D.
Certified
American Board of Plastic Surgery
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Call for an appt.
or walk-in today!
331-4470
Hours: Tue-Sat
10:30-5:30
949 23rd Street
(23rd and Haskell)
Barber
Experienced
With
Ethnic Hair
Computer
FINCA CALLS
1525 West 6th • 813-9922
The 1st Multicultural Hair Salon In Lawrence
Largest Oakley selection in Midwest!
- backpacks
- t-shirts
- ear and nose pieces
- polo shirts
- replacements lenses
- cases
- bags
Special orders at no extra charge!
840 Massachusetts 842-NIKE (6443)