SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
Wednesday, June 30, 1993
9
'Hawks face draft tonight
Walters possible 1st round pick
By Gerry Fey Special to the Kansan
Some of the questions about the futures of Rex Walters and Adonis Jordan will be answered tonight by the NBA draft.
The draft will be televised on TNT, cable channel 2, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Neither player was available for comment about their prospect in the draft, but draft experts offered some predictions about where the two former Jawhawks might end up.
There is a strong chance that Walters might be selected tonight, said Marty Blake, director of NBA scouts. "I like the way he plays," Blake said. "He has a good chance to be a late first-rounder."
Walters is expected to be selected between the 15th and 22nd pick overall in the draft. Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah, Boston, Portland and Cleveland each have one selection during this part of the draft, while Charlotte has two selections.
The Trailblazers asked Walters to come to Portland Monday. He practiced with the team yesterday, said Brad Greenberg. Trailblazer vice president for player personnel. The Trailblazers have the 21st selection.
"He is really competitive," Greenberg said. "He's a good jump shooter and works very hard."
There are some adjustments Walters must make defensively to succeed in the NBA, Greenberg said.
"He is pretty quick, but his lateral quickness is a little questionable," Greenberg said. "He is atough enough guy, and he can work hard to compensate for it."
Greenberg said Walters might last into the late portion of the first round.
New Jersey General Manager Willis Reed reported Saturday that the Nets were looking at Walters, Terry Deheme of Seton Hall, Greg Graham of Indiana and Lindsey Hunter of Jackson State — all guards. The Nets have the 16th nick.
Orlando has the first and 20th pick in the first round, and is expected to take former Michigan forward Chris Webber with the No.1 pick.
"Walters will probably be gone before our 26th pick," said Pat Williams, Orlando general manager.
Jordan may be picked in the middle of the second and final round, Williams said.
"He lacks size but is a good all-around player," he said. "He needs to penetrate more. The NBA is a little faster than college."
Blake said Jordan had an outside chance of playing in the NBA.
"It is a question of his toughness," Blake said. "The fact that he is small doesn't matter. "He knows how to play the point and I think that he will get drafted. Whether or not he will play in the league. ... Well, at least he'll have the opportunity."
If teams pass on Walters or Jordan, both would still have a chance to make an NBA roster by going to a rookie/free agent cam this summer.
If they make the final roster of an NBA team, both may have to wait their turn for a chance to contribute.
"They probably won't have an immediate impact on a team." Williams said. "Very few rookies do. Their initial goal should be to make a roster, and prove they can play."
Kansan staff writer Mark Button and The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
KANSAN file photo
Former Jayhawk Rex Walters is expected to be taken in the first round of tonight's NBA draft. Walters, an All-Big Eight Conference guard, would be the ninth Kansas player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft.
Ex-Jayhawks sign contracts
Walker, Berblinger selected by Orioles. Cardinals in draft
Kansan staff report
Two former Jayhawk baseball players joined professional baseball teams last weekend.
Pitcher Jimmy Walker and second baseman Jeff Berlinger were the first two Kansas players drafted in the 1903 Major League Baseball draft who signed contracts.
Walker signed with the Baltimore Orioles, which drafted him in the third round of this year's draft. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Jimmy Walker
He has been assigned to the Albany, Ga., Polecats of the South Atlantic League. The Polecats play at the highest level of Class A baseball in the Orioles' organization.
Walker started playing Saturday. He said that he expected to start the season as a relief pitcher and work his way into a starting role.
"I really didn't care where I went," he said. "The South Atlantic League
Jeff Berblinger
is a good league. I've been sitting around preparing for this, and I'm excited to get out there and play."
Last season, Walker recorded 11 saves — a school and conference record. He won 9, lost 2 and posted a 2.30 earned run average for the Jayhawks. He earned first team All-Big Eight honors and was a three-time Academic All-Big Eight selection.
Walkerhead 15 strikeouts in Kansas 3-2,10-minging victory against Fresno State in the finals of the NCAA Mideast region. The win sent Kansas to the College World Series.
Berbinger was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Cardinals and signed a contract last week, the organization confirmed Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Cardinals assigned Berblering to their affiliate in Glens Falls, N.Y., a short-season class A team in the New York-Penn League. He began his stint with the club last weekend.
Berbinger hit .352 for the Jayhawks last season and was named second team All-Big Eight, third team All-America and All-Mideast regional in 1993.
'Good Grief,' Mets' pitcher a real sport at losing
Submitted for approval, a new comic strip.
Here's the premise: A young man just can't catch a break. Nothing goes right.
He loves baseball. He's a pitcher, a pitcher who never wins.
Before last weekend, somebody hearing this premise would have thought it came from "Peanuts," the classic Charles Schultz comic strip.
But remember, even Charlie Brown won one.
For New York Met pitcher Anthony Young, this comic strip has become a horror film, with very little seeming comical.
Sundav. Young lost his 24th consecutive decision, setting a Major League Baseball record. He will now be enshrined for eternity as a loser, at least until somebody else comes along and breaks the record.
COMMENTARY
Like in the next 82 years. That is how long Cliff Curtis held the title as baseball's biggest loser.
Presidents' terms often serve as a time marker in sports. When we talk about Nolan Ryan, we say that he has pitched during the administrations of seven presidents.
Anthony Young has not won a game since the Bush administration. The question is, who should be more embarrassed, Young or Bush?
There is a certain sickening syrune
try to Young's record, 0-12 as a
starter, 0-12 as a reliever, 0-18 in
night games, 0-6 in day games, 0-10 in
games and 0-14 at home. He's posted
more 0's than Barry Bond's bank
account.
Through it all, the 27-year-old has kept plugging away. To lose 24 consecutive major league games, you have to be a pretty good pitcher. He has not gone down to the minor leagues. He has pitched. Forgotten in the record is the fact he posted 15 saves last season for the fifth-worst team in baseball.
New York holds the undisputed title this season. The night before Young set the record, the Mets fell 30 games under 500 and continue to hover near the bottom of the East River.
This season's Charlie Brown only wishes he had the real Charlie Brown's defense.
ook as if their hands are from the town of Bedrock. The 1963 Mets have a defense right out of history — comparable to the 1962 Mets, considered by many the worst team ever. On at least two occasions this season, Young has watched a victory literally roll between the legs of one of his teammates.
In the field, the error-prone Mets
Talk rages about Young being traded, possibly to a team contending for a pennant. Losing has made a folk hero out of a man who just wants to be a pitcher.
Through it all, Young has acted exemplary. He could be bitter. He could refuse to talk to the media. He hasn't. In the era of the pouting athlete, Young's strength and courage is refreshing.
On Friday, what would have been Chiff Curtis' 110th birthday, the 4-29 lifetime Young will try and improve to 5-29.
His supporters are encouraging, except for the vendors selling Anthony Young history-making programs after Sunday's same.
Before Sunday's game, the traditionally hard-bitten New York crowd gave Young two standing ovations.
Everybody loves Charlie Brown.
Jay Williams is the Kansan managing editor
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