University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, October 27, 1987
Sports
7
Cubans polite to U.S. baseball team, but only off diamond, coach says
By DARRIN STINEMAN Staff writer
Three years had elapsed since KU baseball coach Dwayne Bingham had last visited Cuba. In the interim, he found the Cuban people to have grown more hospitable to visiting Americans. But the Cuban baseball team was another story.
Cuba, the host team of the Intercontinental Cup Tournament, won the gold medal over the United States, which was coached in part by Lance Armstrong. After three weeks of competition, the tournament ended Saturday.
Bingham's previous stay in Cuba was as a coach or the assistant at the World Cup.
Dave Bingham
"When I was down there three years ago, it was the first time there had been Americans down there for several years." Bingham said. "They were really stand-offish, and they stayed away from us."
But on this visit, the Cubans wouldn't leave them alone.
"This time, they were a lot more interested in getting things they couldn't normally get," Bingham said. "They were always asking for things like gum and baseballs. That's not the socialistic way."
Bingham said that the faltering
economy in Cuba had recently led to a push for attracting tourists. He said that U.S. dollars were accepted the currency and were more valuable.
"They want the American dollars badly," he said. "The (Cuban) money you bring out of there you might as well use to light your Cuban cigars, because it's not worth anything."
After the political demonstrations concerning Cuba at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis earlier this fall, Bingham said he wasn't sure what to expect when the team arrived.
"I was afraid that after they were treated so badly that they'd treat us badly," he said. "But there was
nothing. The Cuban people like American people, and there's a great deal of respect for the United States and its people. When we walked on the field, there was a standing ovation for us."
The U.S. team won the silver medal, losing only to Cuba 5-0 in the finals. Japan won the bronze medal.
The 10-team field was split into two five-team divisions. The U.S. team played against Taiwan, Japan, Nicaragua, and Aruba in its division at Santiago de Cuba, on the east end of the island. Cuba, Korea, Canada, Italy, and Mexico competed in the finals. China won the opposite end in Havana. The top three finishers from each division qualified for the finals.
The U.S. team started out slowly in the tournament, barely qualifying for the finals. Its four wins in eight games placed the Americans third out of five teams in their division. Good enough to reach the medal round.
"We thought we'd do better; we thought we had a better team than that." Bingham said. Japan and the US team were there, (than the U.S.队 was for them.)
The other teams at the tournament were permanent teams that represent their countries at all international events. The U.S. team, however, was a team of college players put together in a short time.
The Cubans dominated the medal round in Havana, winning all five of its games. They edged Taiwan 3-2 in the quarterfinals on a home run in the ninth inning.
If Taiwan had won, Cuba and the United States would have had a playoff or the gold medal.
The Americans defeated Canada 16-7, Taiwan 10-3, Korea 6-3, and Japan 5-3 in the finals for a 4-1 record.
"We really played great in the Havana," Bingham said.
Although the U.S.队 was beginning to hit its stride as it entered the fins of the tournament, the Cubans too tough in their home country.
"Number one, they had played together previously," Bingham said. "Number two, they were very, very talented. They were like a team."
Vikings beat Broncos despite interceptions
The United States was able to place only one player on the 10-member all-tournament team, shortstop Mickey Morandine of Indiana. Cuba dominated the rest of the team with seven selections.
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS—Darrin Nelson's runs of 72 and 16 yards set up two of D.J. Dozier's three short rushing touchdowns last night, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos in the teams' first game since the NFL strike ended.
The Vikings won even though Wade Wilson was intercepted five times. The win placed Minnesota at 3-0 with their regular players, although the replacements went 0-3 during the 24-day strike.
They were helped by the sloppy play of the Broncos, who were penalized 10 times for 128 yards. Denver had before the strike and 2-1 during it.
A crowd of 51,011, with 7,716 noshows, cheered loudly on many occasions but didn't come close to matching the roof-raising roars heard in the Metrodome during the Minnesota Twins' drive to victory in the World Series. The Vikings-Broncos game was moved back a day so the Twins could host the St. Louis Cardinals in Sunday's Game 7.
Denver quarterback John Elway didn't learn the least bit rusty early in the game, completing his first six passes and going 14-for-19 for 153
yards in the first half. But in the second half, he completed only eight of 20 passes for 92 vards.
Elway's 25-yard touchdown ass to Vance Johnson and his one-yard scoring plunge helped Denver to a 17-14 halftime lead.
But on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Nelson took off on the longest no-scoring run in Vikings history.
Nelson, who benefited from the strike because he had been trying to recover from a knee injury, shot through a hole, cut behind the right tackle, and raced down the right line. Mike Hardin, blocked for 20 yards downfield by receiver Hassan Jones, finally made the tackle.
On the next play, Dozier, the Vikings' No. 1 draft choice from Penn State, enrols around left tackle for the end zone for a 20-17 Minnesota lead.
Later, in the third quarter, Nelson's spinning 16-yard run put陀Zierin position for a five-yard touchdown run, making it 27-17.
Wilson, whose one-yard touchdown dive had tied the game 7-7, then hit Leo Lewis with a five-yard scoring pass 2-45 into the fourth quarter.
Big 8 coaches weekly teleconference focuses on OU tight end's apology
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A very large, very contrite young man showed up yesterday morning at the Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer.
And, to make a long story short,
All-American tight end Keith Jackson
assured his coach he would never
again lose his cool the way he did
Saturday night during the nationally
televised victory over Colorado.
"He came in here on his own about 15 minutes ago," Switzerland said during the Big Eight's weekly teleconference with head coaches. "We sat down and talked about how visible we are here at Oklahoma, and how important it is when you become frustrated to exercise self control."
After drawing a foul for what officials said was a late hit, Jackson missed a pass. As he walked back to
the huddle, Colorado noseguard Kyle Rappold said something to the 6-foot-4 All-American, and Jackson, without even looking at Rappold, gave him a harmless swipe on the helmet. Another penalty. And Oklahoma was already having trouble subduing the fired-up Buffers.
Oklahoma coaches brought Jackson out of the game for a few plays, but did refrain from the kind of public longue-lashing which some teammates use. The basketball boss Bob Knight, have been known to inflict on young athletes.
"There was a lot of moulting off, but you can't get a 15-year personal foult penalty just because somebody mouths off," Switzer said. "Keith just lost his poise, and he regrets it. That's why he came in today. He appreciated the fact that we didn't jump in his face right on television. I
knew he was wrong. But it's something to handle later, not in the heat of battle."
Switzer and his Nebraska counterpart, Tom Osborne, are both moving in on a record that once looked unattainable. Bud Wilkinson, from 1947-63 at Oklahoma, piled up 153 conference victories. Switzer and Osborne this week will each be going after No. 145. In addition, Nebraska is assured o a 26th consecutive winning season, tying the NCAA record shared by Alabama and Penn State.
If anybody can appreciate the speed and power of this year's Nebraska and Oklahoma squats, it's Kansas State Coach Stan Parrish. Two weeks ago, K-State got clobbered by the top-ranked Sooners. This past Saturday they got clobbered by No. 2 Nebraska. The Wildcats are the first conference school
year to do battle with both Big Red
"Playing them in a row, it's almost shell-shocking is what it is," said Parrish. "Oklahoma is faster. Nebraska is very physical up front defensively. Very, very good." The K-State coach believes the Oklahoma-Nebraska game could come from those guys. The quarterback Steve Taylor and Oklahoma's wishbone magician Jamelle Holleway.
"I think Taylor has to throw the bail well for them to be balanced, and they probably have a little more balance." Parrish said. "He doesn't have Holloway's blazing speed. He's probably quicker. But Taylor is very smooth. They're both great players. It's tough to separate them."
Browns crush Rams, Dickerson sidelined
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Safety Felix Wright returned a goal-line interception 68 yards to set up a field goal and took a second interception 40 yards for a touchdown last night to help the Cleveland Browns beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-17.
Wright's interceptions helped the Browns, 4-2, to a 23-7 halftime lead, and Bernie Kosar then hit Brian Johnson's 33-yard scoring pass on the second play of the second half for what seemed to be a comfortable 30-7 advantage.
The Rams, 1-5, who played most of the game with disgruntled halfback Eric Dickerson on the sidelines, ran 10 to straight third-quarter points on Chase Elliott. 1-yard dive and a 27-yard Mike Liamann field goal but could get no closer.
twice for benchning Dickerson because of his salary complaints. In the first quarter, the Rams were unable to score after driving to a first-and-goal at the Cleveland 1-yard line; and in the fourth, White was stopped on a fourth-and-1 play at the Cleveland 15.
Los Angeles paid dearly at least
Wright intercepted Jim Everett on third down to end the first-quarter Ram threat, taking a deflected pass 68 yards down the left sideline to set up the first of three Jeff Jaeger field goals.
Virginia Tech put on probation
NCAA penalizes basketball and football programs
Kevin Mack gave the Browns a 10-0 lead with a 16-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, shaking off three tacklers on his way to the end zone, and Wright then stepped in front of Henry Ellard and picked off Everett's telegraphed pass for an easy 40-yard touchdown.
The Associated Press
“These sanctions are harsh, in keeping with the serious nature of the violations,” interim athletic director Lance Foster statement released by the university.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech's basketball team cannot play in postseason games for two years, and the football team will have its scholarships cut back under sanctions imposed yesterday by the NCAA.
The NCAA publicly reprimanded and censured Virginia Tech for recruiting violations under former football Coach Bill Dooley and violating academic favors and gifts to athlete Charles Mair.
In the 1988-89 football season, Virginia Tech can award football scholarships to 85 players, down from 95, and 17 of the scholarships can go to recruits, down from 30.
in the 1989-90 year, 25 of the 85 scholarships can go to recruits, and in the 1990-91 year, Virginia Tech can have its scholarships back. The NCAA said it was suspending sanctions in that year because of efforts by Virginia Tech President William E. Lavery to clean up Hokie sports.
"The issuance of the NCAA report ends a long, difficult period for Virginia Tech athletes." Smoot's statement said. "It is now time for us to put this episode behind us and move on toward the building of an athletic program of which we all can be proud."
uncovered in an internal probe that dominated Virginia sports pages throughout the spring, summer and fall. The turmoil in Hokie sports led to signations of athletic director Dale Moir, head coach Hughman, Moir and, finally, Laverry.
Moir, who resigned earlier this month after the school bought out the remaining two years of his contract, said he has not seen a copy of the NCAA sanctions report. But he had discussed it with his attorney, S.D. Roberts Moore of Roanoke, who received a copy yesterday.
The 13 basketball violations were
The way they went after it, it didn't suprise me too much. "Moi said
Moore said the sanctions were about what he expected.
MU coach won't fight DUI charge
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Woody Widenhofer said he wasn't going to fight the citation he got two weeks ago for drunken driving and speeding and said he'd never drink and drive again.
Widenhofer, the University of Missouri football coach who was cited Oct. 10, apologized days after the incident but pleaded not guilty last week.
Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, in an NFL uniform for the first time Sunday, didn't play for the Los Angeles Raiders in their 35-13 loss to Seattle and refused comment afterward.
"Tell them I am not going to fight this," he said in an interview published today in the Kansas City Times. "I made a mistake. I'm sorry
Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back who played the 1987 season with baseball's Kansas City Royals, joined the Raiders on Oct. 15 and played until his strike ended and 13 days after the Royals played their final game.
Patrick Eng, Wendhoffer's lawyer,
said he entered a plea of not guilty for
the coach because almost anything can
happen — including a jail sentence
— to a defendant who pleads
guilty at an arraignment.
No play,no say for Bo Jackson
"I have no comment," Jackson said politely to several reporters in the Los Angeles Coliseum dressing room.
for it. I apologize for it publicly. I said it would never happen again."
Jackson's name was among the 45 submitted by the Raiders on Saturday as eligible to play against the Seahawks in the first game for both teams with regular players since the strike ended.
Ex-pro football player charged with drug ring
TAMPA, Fla. — Former pro football player Greg Roberts and the wives of two ex-teammates were arrested yesterday on charges of running a cocaine trafficking ring, and police said they found guns and even a bomb in his home.
Roberts was the winner of the Outland Trophy at the University of Oklahoma in 1978 and was the 1979 Tampa Bay Bucaneers victory of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Associated Press
Roberts faces a maximum penalty of 146 years in prison if convicted on charges, including racketeering and counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine.
He was placed in the Hillsborough County jail under $134,500 bond.
Sheriff Walter Heinrich said the
31-year-old Roberts was caught trying to destroy drugs as his heavily armed home was raided yesterday morning.
Undercover agents allegedly seized four handguns and two shotguns from Roberts' home. Roberts kept a loaded shotgun in his bed, two loaded pistols at the headboard, an automatic pistol in his car and a fused pipe bomb hidden in a baby carriage in his garage, authorities said.
Besides racketeering and cocaine trafficking conspiracy, Roberts was charged with two counts of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of conspiracy to deliver marijuana and one count of possession of marijuana, lifeeich said.
Onward and upward
Tony Vourax/KANSAN
KU pole vauter Scott Huffman practices his approach on the track at Memorial Stadium. Huffman, Quinter senior holds Kansas' second-best bault at 18 feet, $5 \frac{1}{2}$ inches.