10
Wednesday, July 16, 1997
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Yankees fend off parentage questions
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Hidei Irabu never got a chance to respond to any personal questions. The New York Yankees made sure of that.
Irabu won his second major-league start yesterday by pitching five unimpressive innings in a 12-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Most of the pregame hype centered on a story published yesterday reporting that the Japanese star's father was an American. Ichiro Irabu, author
Ichiro Irabu speaking by tele-
pnone from Japan, told The New York Times that his wife, Kazue, and an unidentified American are his stepson's birth parents.
There has been speculation in Japan that the pitcher's father was an American serviceman, the paper said. Japanese birth documents list a parent only if he or she is a Japanese citizen, and the family has not spoken about Irabu's parentage.
As Irabu entered an auxiliary clubhouse to meet the media following yesterday's game, a Yankees representative asked reporters to refrain from asking any non-baseball questions.
"We don't think this is an appropriate time for personal questions," Yankees representative Rick Cerrone said.
Bridge accident kills 2; Maccabiah Games go on
The Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel — Sobbing and hugging each other, Australian athletes prayed yesterday for two teammates killed in a bridge collapse at the Maccabiah Games.
As police began investigating Monday's collapse, which also injured 64 athletes, the engineer who approved the wood and aluminum bridge said the span could not hold more than 100 people simultaneously.
"I insisted, and the client agreed, that a man would be posted at the entrance to the bridge and would not allow more than 100 people onto it at any one time," said Micha Bar-Ilan, who was questioned by police.
Video shot just before the collapse showed the Australian athletes walking onto the bridge
Police Minister Avigdor Kahalani said he did not know of any restriction.
and no one is seen counting them. Israel TV said almost all 380 members of the Australian team had been on the bridge when it fell. Earlier reports and witnesses said the number was about 100.
The Israeli army reportedly had offered to build the
Micha Bar-Ilan engineer
bridge across the Yarkon River into the Ratmat Gan stadium for $85,700 but lost to a private company that offered to do the work for $20,000.
The Haaretz daily reported that the army criticized the games' organizers. One officer reportedly said that people died because of a petty dispute about money.
The Maariv daily said that organizers had ignored warnings by Israeli security officials that the wobbly structure, 65 feet long and 16 1/2 feet wide, would not be safe.
The Australian team gathered its own evidence, interviewing team members who witnessed the tragedy during the opening ceremony of the Olympic-style games.
The games were suspended until today to mourn the dead, both members of the Australian ten-pin bowling team.
The injured included 63 Australians and one Austrian. Seven of those hurt were in serious condition. Some of the injuries were aggravated by insecticides sprayed on the river to exterminate mosquitoes, Israel TV said.
Bulls' contract offer rejected by Jackson
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Phil Jackson has rejected the Chicago Bulls' contract offer, and team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is asking to meet privately with the coach who has led the team to five NBA championships in seven years.
Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, said yesterday the Bulls had made an insulting offer that did not reflect Jackson's worth.
No more negotiations were scheduled for this week, Musburger said.
"They're not going to sign Phil Jackson for the amount they've put on the table," Musburger said.
The situation has grave implications for the Bulls for one large reason — free agent Michael Jordan says he will not return to the Bulls if Jackson is not the coach.
In a statement, Reinsdorf said he had asked for a meeting with Jackson to tell him he would give him a one-year deal worth more money than any NBA head coach who is not also a manager.
"It is our fervent wish that this direct communication takes place so that we can work out an amicable agreement that honors
Mr. Jackson, the Bulls organization and the fans of Chicago," Reinsdorf said.
Musburger said Jackson, who made $2.7 million last year, wants a salary that is equal to his contribution to the team and to other salaries in the NBA.
Musburger would not say exactly what the Bulls had offered or what Jackson is seeking. But newspaper reports have said Jackson is probably seeking between $4.3 million and $5.75 million next season.
Reporter files lawsuit against Nets coach for racial comment
Although Jackson and the Bulls are at an impasse, the coach is not considering offers from other teams, Musburger said.
The Associated Press
PATERSON, N.J. -- A Mexican-American reporter who was called a Mexican idiot by New Jersey Nets coach John Calipari has filed a lawsuit against him and the NBA team seeking damages for extreme humiliation and emotional distress.
Attorneys for Dan Garcia, employee of the Newark Star-Ledger, filed the suit in state Superior Court on Monday. It does not ask for a specific amount in damages for the incident that took place March 20 after a Nets practice.
In a statement issued Monday by spokesman John Mertz, the Nets called the lawsuit an opportunistic ploy to get money for absolutely no legal reason.
Calipari publicly
apologized for his comments, saying they were an ill-advised attempt at humor. He was fined $25,000 by the NBA.
Garcia, who has covered the Nets for the
past nine seasons, was vacationing in Utah and could not be reached for comment.
"This was Dan's decision," said Kevin Whitmer, the Star-Ledger sports editor, in yesterday's edition of the paper. "It obviously means his assignment will change."
The Nets said they had been contacted by Garcia's attorneys.
"We were surprised and disappointed to receive that letter since Michael Rowe, on behalf of the Nets organization, and Coach Callpari publicly apologized to Mr. Garcia, and he accepted our apology."
The incident happened in a parking lot at Ramapo College in Mahwah. Calipari was being interviewed when he gestured toward Garcia.
Reportedly, Calipari was complaining about media coverage and said Mexican idiot, along with an expletive, loudly enough for Garcia to hear.
Calipari reportedly asked Garcia if he thought he was doing a good coaching job, to which Garcia apparently responded. "No. I think you're a 5-year-old coach."
The answer reportedly enraged Calipari, who said Garcia deserved to be punched
for the comment.
Calipari read a public apology four days later that said, "I am sorry for the pain the remarks may have caused. I consider the matter closed."
Garcia said that if Calipari apologized, the incident would be finished.
"He's apologized to me," Garcia said. "Let him go on with the team."
The Nets later issued a statement that said the organization disapproved of any racial or ethnic remarks made by any member of the organization or anyone else.
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