SPORTS
University Daily Kansan, April 16, 1985
Page 13
NEWS BRIEFS
Smith signs record contract
ST. LOUIS — Shortstop Ozzie Smith, who would have been a free agent at the end of the season and seemed resigned to being traded by the St. Louis Cardinals, yesterday signed a five-year contract with the team for more than $2 million per year. Smith's agent, Ed Gottlieb, said the pact made Smith the highest paid player in baseball. The five years include the current
The announcement was made at a news conference that included August A. Busch Jr., the venerable brewery owner and head of the baseball club.
"This is a great day for me today."
Busch said during his rare appearance. He will please to announce Ozzie Smith will be in Cardinal uniform for the next five years.
Gottlieb said the contract calls for over $2 million a year for four years and includes an opportunity for Smith to buy a derivative Anheuser-Busch beer distributor in New York. The partnership had been his career. The distributionorship was the key factor in the negotiations.
Ottlebeb said Smith still would make $262,000 season under the terms of his old job.
The money is guaranteed and is not deferred, although Smith agreed to waive a no-trade clause in the contract.
The trading of Smith, easily the team's most popular player, would have been disastrous among fans still pondering the loss of first baseman Keith Hernandez to the New York Mets and ace reliever Bruce Sutter to the Atlanta Braves.
Murphy NL Player of Week
ATLANTA — Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves was named the National Player of the Week yesterday after batting 500 and 100 in 10 runs in his club's first five games.
Murphy had nine hits in 18 at-bats with (our homers and a doubled). He also scored three doubles.
He also played in his 500th consecutive game, the longest current streak in the Major Leagues. He is only the 30th player to have played in 600 consecutive games.
Other players considered for Player of the Week honors were Gary Carter of the New York Mets, Jack Clark of the St. Louis Cardinals, Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros and player-manager Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds.
Seattle's Bradley honored
NEW YORK - Phil Bradley of the Seattle Mariners was named the American League's Player of the Week yesterday after helping his club get off to a 6-0 start in the West Division.
**Bradley, the Mariners' left fielder, hit on even 400 for the week with two doubles, three runs for 22 total bases, 10 RBI and one game winner. He had a .433 on-base percentage.**
Additionally, Bradley made a series of outstanding plays in left field in the Mariners' first six home games, topped by a sensational grab of what appeared to be a Dave Kingman home run. In the top of the sixth, Kingman's drive hit a speaker high in left field, about 135 feet above the warning track. Bradley followed the ball and caught it as it caromed off the speaker.
Other candidates for the Player of the Week award were Eddie Murray of Baltimore, rookie Daryl Boston of Chicago, Julio Franco of Cleveland, Louis Whalater of Detroit, Willie Wilson of Kansas City, Paul Molitor of Milwaukee, Mike Davis of Oakland, Alfredo of Minnesota, Mike Davis of Jim Presley of Seattle, Larry Parrish of Texas, George Bell of Toronto, Sammy Stewart of Baltimore, Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd of Boston and Dave Rigetti of New York.
Bengals' linebacker honored
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams was selected yesterday as the 1985 recipient of the Fred Hutchinson Award.
The award is presented annually to the individual who "best exemplifies the dedication, personal integrity and contribution to the community that the late Hutchinson exhibited during his tenure as manager of the Cincinnati Reds."
Hutchinson, Red's manager from 1959-64, died of cancer.
Williams was selected for his "impressive, public spirited, unselfish and dedicated contribution to youth."
Williams has been active in numerous Cincinnati area public service campaigns, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Speech and Hearing Center, Cerebral Palsy United Way, Diabetes Foundation, Arthritis Foundation and the Autistic Society.
- Williams will be presented the award prior to the Cincinnati Reds-New York Mets game May 5 at Riverfront Stadium.
- Previous award winners include Dave Bristol, Waite Hoyt, Joe Nuxhall and Jack Twyman.
Nets' guard Player of Week
NEW YORK — New Jersey Nets guard Michael Ray Richardson, who averaged 29 points, 11 assists and 6.3 rebounds over the last week of the season, was yesterday named the NBA's Player of the Week.
*Compiled from United Press International reports.*
Hagler hammers Hearns in 3rd
By United Press International
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Marvin Hagler predicted a war. He was right.
Hagler, bloody but jubilant, basked in the glow of the biggest victory of his career last night after he had pounded Thomas Hearns to the mat at 2:01 of the third round to retain undisputed middleweight title in one of the freemixed boots in recent ring history.
"He was very cocky and I had something for him," Hagler proclaimed moments after the fight. "This is what you call a sweet victory.
"This was war. I hope he admits that I am the better man."
Hearns appeared in the press room about the fight looking more surprised'jap hap
"WHAT CAN I say? I'm just glad that I was in such great physical condition so that I wasn't hurt," he said. "I am glad it wasn't any worse.
"I would like a rematch, but I need time to heal, time to recover."
Hagler ended the fight as blood cascaded down his face from a cut opened by a Hearns' right in a ferocious first round that made it apparent the bout would be over well before its 12 scheduled rounds.
In the third round, referee Richard Steele halted the fight momentarily to have the cut examined by the ring doctor.
Less than a minute after the fight resumed, Hagler caught Hearns with an upper cut that sent the challenger reeling across the ring. The champion, one of the best finishers in boxing history, rushed in and landed a whistling right to Hearns' jaw.
"HE WAS JUST not responding," said Steele, explaining why he would not let Hears continue. "I looked into his eyes and I saw him. His eyes were glazed. His legs were wobbly."
Hearns dropped to the mat and lay on his back, his eyes open and unblinking into the bright overhead lights before a crowd of people at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace.
Hearns made one desperate attempt to get up, but toppled back onto the ropes as the crowd chanted.
Marvin Hagler
the end of the fight as a menacing Hagler stood waiting to resume the attack.
Hagler's attack as he pounded away at Hearns against the ropes in the closing seconds of the round.
Midway through the first round, a right by Hearns opened a gash between Hagler's eyes and blood squirited from the wound. The blood, however, seemed only to intensify
IN THE SECOND round, Hagler again unloaded on Hearns with rights and backed the challenger into a corner.
Hagler surged across the ring to open the third round, and had Hearns running around the ring in defense. The first right hand backled Hearns' knees as he turned away. Hagler and the champion quickly ended the fight with a second crushing right to the jaw.
Hagler, the 33-year-old who has ruled the middleweight division for five years, had predicted that Heines four-inch reach would outcompete his high advantage would quickly be neutralized.
He repeatedly got inside on Hearns, the World Boxing Council super welterweight champion neutralizing Hearns' vaunted opponent. He knocked all of his 34 knockouts in 41 previous fights.
THE VICTORY, THE biggest in Hagler's career, left the bald champion with a 62-2-2 record. It was his 51st knockout.
Rov Stewart/KANSAN
Michael Center, KU tennis team, crouches low to return on the men's team, will return tomorrow to his hometown serve of his opponent. Center, listed as the number two player Manhattan, to play Kansas State University.
Practice pays off for tennis player
Sports Writer
By MIKE BRENNAN
Tennis player Michael Center ran to his left and smashed a backhand shot past teammate David Owens yesterday before practice at the Allen Field House courts.
He was getting ready for today's 1 p.m.
match against Kansas State in Marathon
Hitting a shot for a point is not unusual for
Craig, who is from Manhattan, but doing it
before.
Center works out at practice every day like the rest of the team. But sometimes he stays indoors and practices alone.
TWO YEARS AGO, when Center was a freshman, he did not win a conference match. He was 0-6 in the conference and had an overall record of 9-19. Center was
"I really want to do well and I have a lot of desire," said Center, who won player of the honors last week "I tell myself mentally I have to stay very, very aggressive."
Because of his aggressiveness, Center has not lost a Big Eight match this season. But he has lost four in the first six.
frustured and did not want to have that kind of a record again.
so, he practiced. He said he did a lot of drills during the summer between his freshman and sophomore year. He practiced with his team in a work, which he said was his biggest problem.
His performance and scores improved during his sophomore season. Center won three of six conference matches that year and improved his overall record to 22-16.
Before a match it would be easy to warm up slowly and then get aggressive when the match starts. Center doesn't warm up that way.
That strategy gave Center a competitive attitude, which has helped him earn his awards.
"Last summer, I played a lot of tournaments." he said
But it wasn't enough for Center, and he changed his strategy.
EVEN THOUGH TODAY'S match is in his hometown, he prepared for it just like any other.
"I like to warm up really hard," he said. "I like to feel a little tired before I go out there."
spirit to head tennis coach Scott Perelman.
Perelman was named tennis coach the same year Center arrived at the University of Kansas. Since that year, both Center and the team has improved each year.
THE MEN'S TEAM finished 6:22 three years ago. Last year they finished 14.8, and so far this season, the team has compiled a 16-5 record. Center's performance has played a major role in the team's improvement.
If he wasn't so competitive, Center said to Pereman. "I wouldn't have been so competent."
"He has come from a guy not ranked in his age division to a guy ranked No. 88 earlier this season." Perelman said. "This season, he is the most player, master player, playing at the top of the ladder.
Smith wins Boston Marathon again
"I think he is one or two wins away from making it to the NCAA as a singles player."
He threw his head back in agony and put his hands to his face, looked down, then
Center has contributed six points — three singles and three doubles — for the Jayhawks toward the conference championship. KU scored 20 out of 10 points out of a possible 27 in three matches.
Oklahoma State has played four matches and has 32 points out of a possible 36.
But the fast pace and temperatures in the upper 60% took their toll on the Englishman, who at the 20-mile mark — the foot of Heartbreak Hill — clutched the back of his right thigh and stopped to stretch out a cramping muscle.
At the bottom of Heartbreak Hill, Smith threw water on the back of his thigh and
BOSTON — Defending champion Geoff Smith of Great Britain overcame cramps which forced him to stop near the 20-mile mark to win the 89th Boston Marathon yesterday with an official time of 2 hours. 14 minutes, 5 seconds.
By United Press International
Smith, 31, a native of Liverpool, England,
jumped to an early lead and after 10 miles was on a 2:05 pace, which would have
created the world's record by three minutes.
continued running, showing occasional diffi culty with the cramping leg.
PARTLY SUNNY SKIES and humid conditions greeted about 6,000 runners who started the race in Hopkinton, 26 miles, 385 yards from the finish line at the Prudential Center in downtown Boston.
Lisa Larsen Weidenbach, 23, of Marblehead, Mass., the overwhelming favorite in the women's division, won with a time of 2:34:06. The native of Battle Creek, Mich., now living in Marblehead, Mass., has a personal best of 2:31:31.
Swinn won last year's Boston Marathon with a 2:10:34 time.
WOMEN'S WORLD RECORD holder Joan Benoit, watching on television as Smith continued after cramping set in, said. "I think he really wanted the (world) record."
At the 20-mile mark, she was more than six minutes ahead of her closest challenger
"I think that when he threw his arms up in the air it was a sign of frustration and from the air it was a sign of disappointment."
In second place was Gary Tuttle, 37, of Ventura, Calif., the owner of a running shoe store and a former national AAU marathon champion, finishing at 2:19:12.
In third place was Mark Helgeston of Cincinnati, q late entry, at 2:21-15.
Smith ran a 6:04 time for his 23rd mile, improved to 5:08 on the next one and dropped to 4:19.
Gritting his teeth and clutching his left hand, Smith charmed through his final 2 mates.
AFTER THE RACE, Smith said, "The last five miles, I don't know how I kept on going. I just had to grit my teeth."
Smith said he was trying to run a controlled race and said he had cramps at the tops of his legs.
Smith was crowned with the traditional laurel wreath by Gov. Michael Dukakis.
"I wanted to win in a world record time, no doubt. I was going for it," he said. Smith said he was not aware of how fast his early pace was
By United Press International
Tulane senate calls for end of basketball
NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane University Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday to abolish the school's basketball program over the dissenting votes of students, who accused school officials of acting prematurely.
Earlier yesterday, a pair of Tulane basketball players and two other suspects in a point-shaving scandal pleaded innocent to sports bribery charges and then were forbidden by a judge from discussing the case.
The University Senate voted 42-3, with one abstention, to support Tulane President Eamon Kelly's call for termination of the basketball program. If the Tulane Board of Trustees does not approve an commendation in a vote Thursday the Green Wave basketball program will be ended.
KELLY MADE THE proposal in the midst of the point-shaving scandal that has resulted in eight indictments and admissions by three basketball coaches that they paid players in violation of NCAA rules. The coaches have resigned.
"We particularly reject charges of 'overreaction' with regard to this decision."
But the five student members of the Senate strongly dissented.
Ed Heffernan, president of the school's student government, said, "I want to find a solution to the problem. I don't want to shove the problem under the rug."
PAUL PEYRONNIN. A second-year law student also in the Senate, said Kelly's decision was not an overreaction, but "I think it was a wrong reaction."
"I don't think many of us were convinced this was the right action at the right time," Peyronin said. "I wasn't convinced the university couldn't run a clean program."
Hefferman and Peyronin said students would voice their concern about dropping the basketball program during a meeting of the school board on night. Kelly said he would attend the session.
The University Senate also approved a resolution to create a blue ribbon panel that will study recruiting, admissions and academic standards of athletes, as well as provide aids and would drop out of the NCAA's Division I program with a less intense athletic program.
THE PANEL IS expected to make its recommendations in the next academic year, and Kelly said he personally opposed Tulane dropping out of Division 1-A
In court yesterday, NBA prospect John "Hot Rod" Williams and sophomore David Dominique, accused of accepting cash and cocaine to fix the results of two Metro Conference games in February, each pleaded not guilty to two counts of sports bribery and three counts of conspiracy to commit sports bribery.
Kelly said, "The events of the past three weeks have been traumatic for the university. The human costs can be measured in ruined careers, family upheaval and alienation of some alumni from the university they love.
"I am committed to (athletic) participation only in so far as it complements, not compromises, the central mission of Tulane, which is teaching, learning and research."
ALSO APPEARING BEFORE Judge Alvin Oser were convicted bookie Roland Ruiz, 48, and Craig Bourgeois, 23, both of New Orleans. Each pleaded innocent to five counts of sports bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit sports bribery.
Bourgeois is not a student at Tulane or an alumnus of the school, said his attorney, who refused to say whether his client had an occupation.
Oser gave defense lawyers 30 days to file motions in the case and granted a request by Williams' attorney that a gag order be placed on him. Williams then came from discussing it publicly in any manner.
Two defendants last week entered guilty pleas in the point-shaving scandal.
PLAYER BOBBY THOMPSON pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sports bribery and student David Rothenberg. Conn., pleaded guilty to two such counts.