SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, April 27, 1995
3B
KC Royals defeat Orioles 5-1 in home opener
Smallest opening-day crowd since 1984 sees first game on new grass
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Maybe if there had been a normal spring training, Kevin Appier might've been able to pitch a no-hitter.
And certainly there would've been more people to see it.
Instead, only 24,170 fans — including those admitted for free — saw Appier pulled after 6 2/3 innings with a no-hitter in progress. Reliever Rusty Meacham gave up a hit with one out in the eighth, and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1.
the smallest opening day crowd in Kansas City since 1984 saw manager Bob Boone win his debut. The victory came in the Royals' first game on the new grass field at Kauffman Stadium. Seats in the left and right field general admission were free, but only half-filled.
The crowd warmly welcomed back the Royals and sat through periods of rain. Last year, the Royals drew 38,496 for their home opener. The last time Kansas City drew fewer fans was 1984, when 10,006 saw a game against New York after the original opener was rained out.
Appier, who said before the game that he expected to throw only 90 pitches, was pulled after making 98. He struck out seven and walked two, and was the winner.
Boone was booed after bringing in Meacham, who later gave up a one-out single in the eighth to Leo Gomez.
Appier pitched just 11 1/3 innings during a spring training cut in half to three weeks because of the strike. Last season, he completed one of 23 starts.
Bob Feller pitched the only opening-day no-hitter in history, leading Cleveland past Chicago 1-0 on April 16, 1940.
In 1909, after spring training was shortened by an owners' lockout, no-hit king Nolan Ryan was pulled after five innings after holding Toronto hitless on opening day. Ryan, 43 years old at the time, threw 90 pitches for Texas that day.
Baltimore starter Mike Mussina pitched five shutout innings and threw 49 pitches. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out one.
Jamie Moyer was the loser, relieving Mussina to start the sixth, and giving up two runs.
Speedy center fielder Tom Goodwin preserved the Royals' no-hit bid with a running catch near the fence on Harold Baines, the first batter to face Meacham.
Goodwin singled with one out, escaped after Moyer had him trapped off first and scored on Wally Joyner's single. Bob Hamelin followed with an RBI double.
Chico Linc hit an RBI in the seventh and drew a base-loaded walk in the eighth. The Royals scored another run in the eighth when new center fielder Andy Van Slyke and Sherman Obando collided on Gary Gaetti's short fly, a play on which Obando was given an error.
Cal Ripken, playing in his 2,010th consecutive game, struck out in his first three at-bats. He was called out once by replacement umpire Jeff Henrichs, and mildly protested.
Notes: Flags at Kauffman Stadium were at half-staff in honor of Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, founders of the team. The Royals wore a patch on their uniforms in honor of Muriel Kauffman, who died last year. A flag honoring the 75th anniversary of the Negro Leagues was unveiled in pre-game ceremonies, and it will fly beneath the American flag in right for the rest of the season. ... Longtime groundskeeper George Toma, who oversaw the change from turf to grass, threw out the first ball. ... Mussia was 4-0 in five previous starts at Kauffman Stadium. g
Improved Shaq needed to keep Magic in hunt
Center needs more free-throw success, team needs defense
The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — He led the NBA in scoring and helped the Orlando Magic to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Now the tough work begins for Shaquille O'Neal
The All-Star center's poor foul shooting contributed to a 4-7 record in April and is one of the reasons skeptics question how far he can carry the Magic in the playoffs.
Shaquille O'Neal
Opponents are likely to continue the Hack-A-Shaq strategy that sent O'Neal to the
line to shoot a league-high 854 free throws during the regular season.
He converted just 53 percent of those attempts and is rarely a factor offensively in the final minute of close games because Orlando tries to avoid putting the ball in his hands.
Talk about how many free throws O'Neal misses all you want, though. There's
another reason the Magic, which was 39-2 at home, lost 16 of its last 20 road games, including seven straight in April.
"Defense is what causes us problems," the third-year pro said, looking ahead to the first-round playoff series that begins tomorrow against Boston. "If we don't come down and stop some people, we're in for some long nights."
points), Sherman Douglas (25) and Derek Strong (18).
Miami's Glen Rice scorched the Magic for a NBA season-high 56 points April 15. Washington's Doug Overton had 20 points (three times his average) in a loss to Orlando on April 17, then scored 30 in a Bulls victory two nights later.
"Defense has to be where our emphasis is as we get prepared for the playoffs," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "The simple fact is we have to do a better job defensively, or we're not going to be playing in this post season for very long."
Despite the poor stretch run, the Magic won their first Atlantic Division title with 57 victories. All that matters now is what happens starting tomorrow night.
The numbers for April support his contention. The league's top-scoring team (110.9 points per game) gave up 115.7 per game on the road, while yielding 100.25 at home during the month.
Orlando was swept in the opening round of the playoffs last year, but O'Neal has guaranteed there won't be a repeat. And, who's to doubt his word after the kind of season — averaging 29.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.43 blocks per game — he had to help the Magic secure the No.1 seed in the East.
"He continues to get better and adds a little more to his game every season," Hill said.
O'Neal missed 9 of 11 free throws in March's 119-114 loss at Boston on April 13, but an even bigger factor was the Magic's inability to control Dion Radja (29
"All the critics said the only thing he can do is dunk the basketball. I think he's shown that he has a wide variety of ways he can score. Not just with the dunk, but
Shaquille O'Neal
Orlando Magic center
with the jump hook, with the turnaround to the baseline, with step-through moves.
Perhaps the most improved aspect of 23-year-old center's game is his passing.
O'Neal averaged a career-best 2.7 assists per game and cut down on his turnovers while ranking first in the league in scoring, second in field goal percentage (even though he attempted 1,082 more shots than leader Chris
I think he really wants to prove to everybody that's he's not a one-dimensional player — that he has a lot of other skills."
"He's improved his overall knowledge of the game, has a much better awareness of what's going on out there," Hill said.
Gatling), and third in rebounding.
Now, if he can only lift the Magic and carry them deep into the playoffs.
Seahawks coach apologizes
Erickson calls his DUI arrest 'embarrassing'
The Associated Press
KIRKLAND, Wash. — When Seattle Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson was arrested for drunken driving less than two weeks ago, his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, officials said.
"It was a stupid thing to do." Erickson said at a news conference Tuesday. "I have no excuses."
Erickson was stopped April 15 on Interstate 5 near Marysville, north of Seattle. If convicted on a first DUI offense, Erickson faces a mandatory 24-hour jail stay, a fine of between $350 and $1,000, and a license suspension of up to 90 days.
"It was an awful mistake. I regret it." Erickson said. "It's embarrassing. I apologize to the organization, to this community. It's been a tough learning process, and it'll never happen again.
"All I can do is apologize."
hol level of.23, said Snohomish County deputy prosecutor James Townsend. A level of.10 is the legal threshold for intoxication in Washington state.
The arrest came four months after a car accident that left Seahawks lineman Mike Frier paralyzed from the waist down. Authorities say the accident involved drinking.
Arraignment was set for May 3.
The incident is disappointing and embarrassing for the team, Seahawks president David Behring said.
"He did something he shouldn't have
Erickson was found to have a blood-alco
Dennis Erickson
Smith and Chris Warren were traveling with Frier in Smith's car when it struck a utility pole near the team's headquarters. Smith, who was driving, has been charged with vehicular assault. Prosecutors allege Smith was drunk and speeding.
Other alcohol-related problems involving the Seahawks:
In the Dec. 1 crash, running backs Lamar
— Cornerback Orlando Watters, who was cited Dec. 13 for driving into intoxi-
ated, possessing marijuana and carrying a concealed knife.
—Former Seahawks defensive back Patrick Hunter, who pleaded guilty in January to his second drunken-driving charge after his car hit a Bellevue Fire Department aid car and another vehicle. No one was injured.
The Seahawks hired Erickson from the University of Miami in January to replace Tom Flores, who was fired after Seattle went 14-34 during his three seasons.
The Seahawks have had four consecutive losing seasons and have not been in the playoffs since 1988.
Erickson, an Everett native, coached the Miami Hurricanes to two national championships and a 63-9 record in six seasons.
Erickson was traveling northbound on I-5 when his driving drew the attention of trooper Douglas Downey, patrol spokesman Lt. Ron O'Gwin said. The coach had left the highway by the time the trooper pulled him over. He was taken into custody for investigation at a convenience store in Marxville.
'OGwin said Erickson was cooperative, and the coach was released on his own recognizance.
"They called someone to come pick him up ... we try to make sure someone safe, sane and sober picks them up," O'Gwin said.
Detroit Pistons fire coach Chaney
The Associated Press
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Don Chaney and Billy McKinney are out with the Detroit Pistons, and Doug Collins is in.
Chaney was fired as coach and McKinney resigned as vice president of player operations yesterday. The jobs will be combined and handed to Collins, whose hiring was expected to be announced at a news conference Saturday.
Pistons president Tom Wilson emphasized that Collins has yet to sign a contract. But he made it clear the former Chicago Bulls coach is leaving the broadcast booth to take charge of the Pistons.
"He will have a lot of control, a good young team and a chance to mold it in his image," Wilson said. "It's a good opportunity for him."
The delay in making it all official was caused by Collins' work schedule.
A color commentator on TNT's NBA telecasts, Collins was in Atlanta yesterday for an NBA playoff preview, in New York today and will be in Charlotte tomorrow for first-round playoff games.
Speaking on TNT last night, Collins did not say he was the team's new coach.
"There been nothing finalized," he said. "Right now, we're just talking."
Collins, who reportedly will receive a five-year contract worth $6.5 million, compiled a 137-109 record in three seasons with Chicago before being fired in 1989.
As a player, Collins was selected by Philadelphia with the first pick of the 1973 NBA draft. In eight seasons with the 76ers, he averaged 17.9 points a game and was an All-Star four consecutive years.
"Doug is known as a good people-person." Wilson said. "He's a tactician, a workaholic, a driven person. He's a very good person to get.
"I think we need energy, I really do. A real high energy level would be just the thing for us, to pick things up on the bench."
Collins takes over a team that went 28-54 despite the addition of All-Star rookie Grant Hill. The new coach is well-acquainted with Hill, a Duke teammate of Collins' son, Chris, and is a friend of Hill's father, Calvin.
"Doug has known Grant for three years. They have developed a good relationship," Wilson said.
Collins will become the Pistons' third coach in the last four years.
The club is still paying Ron Rothstein, Chaney's predecessor, who had three
years remaining on his contract when he was fired at the end of the 1934 season.
Chaney, who was 48-116 in two seasons and has a year remaining on a $1.8-million, three-year contract, was offered a front office position with the club. It was unknown whether Chaney, who was on vacation and couldn't be reached, would accent or seek another coaching job.
"It was an expensive decision to let Don go, and a painful decision," Wilson said. McKinney said he decided to resign after meeting Tuesday with Wilson.
"in light of the things going on with them, it was time for me to move on, time for a clean slate for the Pistons," McKinney said. "have no bitterness or animosity."
During his tenure, McKinney got into public squabbles with Dennis Rodman, Alvin Robertson, Olden Polynice — none of whom are still with the team.
He also was criticized for two trades with San Antonio that gave the Spurs both Rodman and Sean Elliott, plus the option to flip-flop first-round draft picks in exchange for Bill Curley and a 1997 second-round draft pick.
Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said a decision would be made on assistant coaches after a new coach is hired.
Center for Community Outreach
is now accepting applications for 1995-96 program coordinators:
Special Projects
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Student Organizations Liaison
Alternative Spring Break Program
COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
applications available in 410 Kansas Union deadline 5:00pm Monday, May 1
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