SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 24.1994
3
Cardinals coach confident
The Associated Press
PHOENIX, Ariz. — When Buddy Ryan took over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986, he stood with the NFC East's four other coaches who were asked to pick the division winner.
After the other four all picked the New York Giants, Ryan pronounced: "I pick the Eagles. I'm never about to say we're going to lose."
For the record, Ryan's Eagles finished fourth at 5-10-1, saved from last place by the division's perennial doormat, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Now he gets to coach those Cardinals, transplanted to Phoenix in 1988 and this year bearing the new moniker of "Arizona Cardinals."
Let's hear it again, Buddy.
"We plan on winning the Eastern Division," he says. "It's the toughest division in football and it has the Dallas Cowboys. But I have an excellent football team."
The funny thing is, he may be right
The funny thing is, he may be right. It's one of the strangest marriages in football — coach Buddy Ryan and owner William V. Bidwell.
Ryan was supposed to be out of the loop for a head coaching job after his nationally televised roundhouse right at Kevin Gilbride last year while defensive coordinator of the Ollers. Bidwil was out of the loop with Arizona fans, who tired quickly of his bad team and high ticket prices shortly after he moved there six years ago.
The images are reversed: Bidwill is getting points for hiring Ryan as coach and general manager, and Ryan is praised for bringing to an improving team such free agents as Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons and Wilber Marshall, all defensive stars who grew up in his "46" defense.
This time, though, Ryan himself has been the draw.
Soon after he was selected in January to coach the Cardinals in place of
Joe Bugel, the promotion department began erecting billboards with his likeness and "BuddyBall" written above it.
Season ticket sales have doubled to nearly 50,000.
This came although Bugel had won four of his last five games and improved the Cardinals to 7-9, their best record since they did the same their first year after moving from St. Louis.
What Ryan brings is both coaching ability and a frankness that endeared him to fans in Philadelphia as he built the Eagles into a playoff team.
What he doesn't bring is tact. He was fired in Philadelphia after three straight playoff years for his blunt denunciations of owner Norman Braman.
And he got the defensive coordinator's job in Houston only after the Oiler defense collapsed in Buffalo in the 1992 playoffs.
But he did.
"Iguess it was perseverance. I never knew I'd be making shots to win championships."
Paxson, who appeared in 7/2 regular-season games and 119 playoff games during his career with the Bulls and Spurs, is best remembered for hitting a 3-point shot with 3.9 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1993 finals.
Paxson also had the advantage of playing alongside the greatest player
"I was fortunate enough to see the transition from a team that wasn't very good to one that won. The special thing for me in all three of those (championships) was that I was on the floor at the end of each game."
Chicago Bulls player retires
"For me the greatest moments were those championship years. Those are the things I will remember forever," said Paxson, who joined the Bulls in 1985.
DEEERFIELD, Ill. — John Paxson can recall those early days of his career when he didn't know how long he'd last, when championships seemed so far away for a 6-foot-2 guard just trying to make his way in the NBA.
"After my first year in San Antonio, I thought I was done." Paxson said Monday, announcing his retirement after 11 years, the last nine with the Chicago Bulls.
The Associated Press
By Rick Gano
The basket gave the Bulls the lead over Phoenix and they held on for their third straight NBA title.
Paxson could always hit big shots. He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the 1991 finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, sending the Bulls to their first title.
ever. Michael Jordan.
His retirement, hinted at all last season, came as no surprise. It came less than a year after Jordan announced his.
Crown Cinema
"If I had not been playing with Michael and been a part of three championship teams, I probably would have been just another player going through the league," Paxson said. "I just was in the right place at the right time."
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Paxson, 34 next month, will remain with the Bulls as a radio commentator, work with the team's guards, attend coaching meetings and learn the nuances of the front office.
"I knew this year would be my last," said Paxson, who was bothered by injuries and appeared in only 27 games last season. "When Michael retired, it sent a signal to me that it was probably my time to go, too."
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