8B
Thursday, April 3, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Ripken near finalizing contract
14-time All-Star continues streak for another year
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — Cal Ripken and the Baltimore Orioles essentially have agreed on a contract extension that guarantees the perennial All-Star about $15.1 million during the 1998 and 1999 seasons, The Associated Press reported.
Ripken will earn $6.3 million in each of the next two seasons, a management source said yesterday on the condition he not be identified. The Orioles have an option for 2000 at $6.3 million with a buyout of about $2.5 million.
Ripken, 36, is entering the final season of a $32.5 million, five-year contract. The deal was to be announced last night or today, the source said.
The sides have been negotiating for several weeks trying to complete the contract by opening day. Ripken and general manager Pat Gillick said they would not negotiate past the
opener.
Ripken has played his entire career with the Orioles and said during the spring that he wanted to finish in Baltimore. Most of all, he didn't want to worry about the contract during the season, that way he could concentrate on playing third base.
Baltimore's opener, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed because of high winds and cold weather and held yesterday.
Ripken and Orioles owner Peter Angelos met briefly on the field before the game, but the team did not announce a deal as the 14-time All-Star took the field for his 16th opening day start with Baltimore.
Ripken had two doubles, a homer and a walk in his first four trips to the plate. He was playing in his major league-record 2,317th consecutive game, but only the seventh at third base since July 1982.
Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games on Sept. 6, 1995. Last year he played in his 2,216th game, breaking the world mark set by third baseman Sachio Kinugasa of Japan.
Baseball contracts with average annual values of $6 million or more. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources and include all guaranteed income but not income from potential incentive bonuses. There is no distinction for money deferred without interest:
The big bucks
| Player | Club | Years | Avg.Salary |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Barry Bonds | SF | 1999-00 | $11,450,000 |
| Albert Belle | CWS | 1997-01 | $11,000,000 |
| Gary Sheffield | Fla | 1998-03 | $10,000,000 |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | Sea | 1997-00 | $8,500,000 |
| Roger Clemens | Tor | 1997-99 | $8,250,000 |
| John Smoltz | Atl | 1997-00 | $7,750,000 |
| Mike Piazza | LA | 1997-98 | $7,500,000 |
| Barry Bonds | SF | 1993-98 | $7,291,667 |
| Frank Thomas | CWS | 1995-98 | $7,250,000 |
| Cecil Fielder | NYY | 1993-97 | $7,237,500 |
| Alex Fernandez | Fla | 1997-01 | $7,000,000 |
| Jeff Bagwell | Hou | 1995-98 | $6,875,000 |
| Ivan Rodriguez | Tex | 1997 | $6,650,000 |
| Joe Carter | Tor | 1997 | $6,500,000 |
| David Cone | NYY | 1996-98 | $6,500,000 |
| Cal Ripken | Bal | 1993-97 | $6,500,000 |
| Lenny Dykstra | Phi | 1995-98 | $6,225,000 |
| Mo Vaughn | Bos | 1996-98 | $6,200,000 |
| Matt Williams | Cle | 1994-98 | $6,150,000 |
| Juan Gonzalez | Tex | 1994-98 | $6,140,000 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | Bal | 1994-98 | $6,070,000 |
| Roberto Alomar | Bal | 1996-98 | $6,000,000 |
| Will Clark | Tex | 1994-98 | $6,000,000 |
| Kirby Puckett | Min | 1993-97 | $6,000,000 |
KANSAN
The Associate Press
Bulls sign free-agent center Williams for rest of season
Source: The Associated Press
DEERFIELD, Ill. — The Chicago Bulls and free agent Brian Williams needed each other, that is why they came to terms yesterday on a contract that will keep the center in Chicago for at least he rest of the season.
The Bulls needed a backup center after placing Bill Wennington on the disabled list. Wennington ruptured a tendon in his left foot during last Saturday's game against the New Jersey Nets.
Williams needs to prove he still has the ability to be an NBA player who can command a big salary. The 6-foot-11 center underwent knee surgery after last season and teams backed off signing him to the big bucks he was demanding.
Traded to the Los Angeles Clippers from Denver before the 1995-96 season, Williams opted out of a $2.5 million contract for this season, as was his right, and became a free agent.
He admitted to being a bit rusty, despite working out two to three hours a day during the season.
Williams said it remained to be seen if could play well because he had not played a game yet.
"If the games are five minutes long, then I'm All-World," Williams said yesterday.
Williams, 27, had a breakthrough season last year with the Clippers, averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 65 games.
"Brian has a ways to go before he'll be in condition to play basketball," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. "From what he did this morning he looked great. He has a good shot. He has a nice body. And he can rebound. He can help on the court."
Williams will not be activated until sometime next week so he can learn the team's system, general manager Jerry Krause said
"The addition of Brian Williams gives us a proven NBA rebounder, scorer and defender to help us in our quest for another championship," he said.
The Bulls signed Williams to a contract that will give him a pro-rated share of the NBA's minimum salary of $247,500. He will remain a free agent after the season.
If he plays well, the Bulls will have to compete with other NBA teams for his services.
Williams was asked about the possibility that he will return to the Bulls next season for less than the $7 million he reportedly asked for at the end of last season.
"That may be one of the reasons they wanted to sign me," Williams said. "Who knows? I may like it here. I'm sure that I'll like it. What the future holds, no one knows."
Pat Riley's Miami feels heat of future playoffs
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Pat Riley on edge of the court, eyes steely, arms akimbo, watching his Miami Heat again walk the high wire against a mediocre team.
Build a lead, lose the lead, make a comeback — sometimes even repeat that process — before winning.
Though the Heat are playoff-bound,leading their division and on pace to win 60 games, they have not been winning convincingly lately. And that raises the question: Do the Heat have the stuff to make it in the playoffs?
overall it's a nice position to be in."
It's a silly question, according to Rilev.
"I can remember when we were judged critically for losing, now we are being judged critically for winning," he said after the Heat's haphaazard victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. "But
The victory was a typical win for Miami of late: Double-digit leads of as much as 15 dwindled to single digits until the Heat finally won.
Miami towed with Clippers, but the Clippers refused to go. The game was much the same with last-place Toronto on Saturday.
"This team is experiencing a little bit of pressure, but that's OK," Riley said. "It's not as easy as people think, especially when you have people breathing down your neck."
It was hard to tell if Riley was speaking of the New York Knicks or the Miami media. The Knicks trail the Heat by 2 1/2 games in the Atlantic Division. They overtook Miami briefly last month before falling back, and the Heat have gone on to win nine of 10.
The stakes are high: The No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference can avoid the Chicago Bulls until the conference championship. So
are the Heat feeling the heat? Depends on
who's speaking in the locker room.
"I don't feel any pressure," guard Tim Hardaway said. "If we start feeling the pressure and backing off we are going to be in trouble."
Guard Voshon Lenard had a different take: "We know teams are going to come at us even stronger. It does put a lot of pressure on us. At this point we have to maintain our ground."
Several players said the Heat may be looking past teams they consider to be lesser threats, like the Clippers.
"With a good a team like a New York, Chicago or Detroit, we'll focus and try to maintain the lead," Hardaway said. "Against teams like (the Clippers), I guess we are not concentrating. I guess when they pressure us, we don't concentrate enough."
Star center Alonzo Mourning added:
"We've had a problem the last couple of weeks of being a little complacent, especially when we have control of ball games."
Part of the problem might be an adjustment to Mourning's return to the lineup. He came back five games ago after missing a month with a foot injury.
Now swingman Dan Majerle has returned from back surgery after missing the better part of the season. He was in the starting lineup before getting injured and his replacement, Lenard, has been outstanding. It could prove a problem for Rilev.
In any case, Riley knows these final two weeks could test the Heat.
"One of the most difficult things to do is to close," he said. "We can't wait for somebody to beat New York. We can't worry about the outcomes of their games every night. We have plenty of tough games in front of us. We have to take care of those."
Kansan Classifieds Get the Results You want
Presidential/Vice-Presidental Debate 1997
Tonight!
7:00 PM
Alderson Auditorium
Sponsored by Student Senate Elections Commission No free beer,but students are encouraged to participate in the forum
Debate will also include questions from an expert panel Moderated by Chad Perlov, Elections Commissioner
Priority Seating will be given to non-candidates.
Undecided about your major?
Time to enroll for Fall and you don't know what classes to take?? What about a major that has a job at the end of it???
The Cytotechnologist is responsible for the initial detection and diagnosis of abnormal cells (both malignant and pre-malignant) present in both gynecologic and non-gynecologic specimens. (One year professional program; enter as a senior; call (913) 588-7195 for information/advising)
The Health Information Manager is the professional responsible for the management of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, and legal requirements of the health care delivery system. (One year professional program; enter as a junior)
The Medical Technologist, or Clinical Labratory Scientist, performs the laboratory determinations and analyses which aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. (One year professional program; enter as a senior)
The Respiratory Care Practitioner treats patients suffering from a wide variety of disorders affecting the cardiopulmonary system, including emphysema, asthma, pneumonia, heart disease, shock, and trauma. (Two year professional program; enter as a junior)
The Occupational Therapist uses purposeful activity, meaningful for the individual, as the basis for treatment of people with a wide variety of physical, developmental, and psychological disabilities. (Professional program is two years plus 9 months; enter as a junior)
The School of Allied Health at KU Medical Center offers Bachelor of Science degrees in these fields.
Make appointments to talk to faculty advisors from allied health in 109 Strong Hall
or by calling the College Undergraduate Office at 864-3500.
Health Information Management: ONLY Friday, April 4, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Contact Janice at (913)588-2423 on the KUMC campus to set up an appointment Certification in this field makes you errtployable in over 100 careers and/or facilities and not all are health care related.
Medical Technology: During the month of April, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a. m. to Noon Medical Technology scholarships are available to Kansas high school graduates.
Occupational Therapy: April 7,9 a.m.-2 p.m.; April 10,9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; April 15,9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Apnl 16 1-3 p.m.; April 17,9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; April 22,1-4 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Respiratory Care: April 9, April 16, and April 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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