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Thursday, February 15, 1996
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From baseball strike to Bulls' winning streak
843-2138·611 W.9th
One year later Jordan's season nearly best ever
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — A year ago, Michael Jordan was packing for spring training.
"Who'd have ever thought I'd be back playing basketball? Who'd have ever thought we'd be 43-5? But I'm very happy with where I am now," Jordan said. "I'm refocused on basketball and steering Chicago toward the championship."
So far, both his focus and his aim have been exemplary.
Jordan is gunning for an unprecedented eighth NBA scoring title and his Bulls are on pace to finish with the best record in league history. They haven't lost a regular-season home game since March 24.
"They have it all," said Washington Bullets coach Jim Lynam, whose team fell 111-98 to Chicago on Tuesday. "They're as good as it gets."
The Bulls can thank baseball's labor strife for their lofty status.
Had baseball players not been striking at this time a year ago — had Chicago White Sox general manager Ron Schueeler not cornered Jordan into quitting that sport — Jordan might again be preparing for spring training. And the Bulls, only an average team when Jordan un-retired last March, might have traded Scottie Pippen and launched a rebuilding program.
"To think of where we were and where we are now," Pippen said, "it's amazing."
Jordan can say the same about his own situation.
He retired from basketball in 1993 after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive NBA title and then he decided to try another sport. Though it looked like he'd never
"To think of where we were and where we are
now,it's amazing."
Scottle Pippen Chicago Bulls forward
become a baseball star, Jordan did well in the last month of his 1994 minor league season and continued to show signs of progress in the Arizona Fall League. He went to 1995 spring training full of hope.
But when Schueeler made Jordan choose between joining replacement players in exhibition games or losing his major league privileges, Jordan left training camp. He said
Schueeler reneged on a promise that Jordan wouldn't be caught in the middle of the labor dispute.
Jordan rarely thinks about baseball now. He's mostly concerned that the Bulls don't become complacent.
If Chicago is to be the first team ever to win 70 regular-season games, the next 10 days could be the key.
Already road weary, the Bulls go back on the road for five of their next six games. After that, though, 17 of their final 28 games are at home — where they are 23-0 this season.
"Mentally, you have to get yourself prepared for every game," he said. "Physically, your body might say one thing. But mentally, you have to push yourself."
Jordan, who turns 33 Saturday, is showing some signs of wear and tear. He has been bothered by a sore back, aching knees and dislocated fingers. He shot 42 percent on the Bulls' recently completed road
trip after making 51 percent of his shots before then.
"I feel good. I don't think I've hit a wall," he said after scoring 23 points on 11-of-23 shooting against the Bullets. "I knew what to expect. I knew that this is probably the toughest part of the season. This is the grind."
Center Luc Longley, expected to return from a knee injury Sunday at Indiana, has been able to observe the team from a different vantage point.
"We looked tired on the road trip," he said. "Even Michael looked tired, and that's something."
Is Jordan more susceptible to breaking down because of the time he spent on the baseball diamond and away from the basketball court?
With little money, Reds can't pitch offers to good players
"If he were a normal man, yes," Longley said. "But he's not, and that's why we like him so much."
Owner cuts payroll Davis,Sabo agree to base salaries
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Eric Davis will be there. So will Chris Sabo.
The Cincinnati Reds' training camp will look like last year's gathering, when over-the-hill players such as Pedro Borbon and Barbaro Garbee were trying to win jobs.
There are no replacement players this time, but the team that went to the National League championship series has many positions to fill.
"The big focus, right now, is on center field, left field, third base, the starting rotation, the bullpen, the catchers, the bench, the new manager," general manager Jim Bowden said.
Owner Marge Schott's decision to cut several million dollars off the payroll has turned the NL Central champions into a fitting project for first-time manager Ray Knight.
There are a lot of unknowns, from the top down.
Although the Braves solidify their roster to make another run at the World Series, the Reds lost left fielder Ron Gant, their leading home-run hitter; starting catcher Benito Santiago; center fielder Darren Lewis; third baseman Mark Lewis; utility infielder Mariano Duncan; backup outfielder Jerome Walton; No. 3 starter David Wells and setup man Mike Jackson.
The Reds will replace them with players who are long past their best days or coming off serious injuries.
Last year Borbon fell down. When the Reds hold their first workout Saturday, everyone will be waiting to see if Sabo and Davis can keep from stumbling.
Knight said he didn't know what to expect. Sabo, 34, was nearly driven out of the game by chronic back problems during the last few years. Davis, 33, missed last season because of a neck surgery.
They're not the same players who led the Reds to a World Series championship in 1990.
"...for the first time since Ive been here,we have open positions."
Jim Bowen Cincinnati Reds general manager
"I remember what Eric was," Knight said. "You tend to remember what they were and what they could do. When they mentioned Eric Davis's name, I kind of got real excited. And I looked at his last couple of years, and I couldn't find anything on him."
The Reds brought him and Sabo back because they fit the team's salary structure. The Reds wouldn't pay more than a $500,000 base
salary, Knight said.
Besides Sabo and Davis, Vince Coleman, Don Shaught, Trevor Wilson, Bryan Hickerson and Gene Harris accepted the base salary offer. They'll be pushed by minor leaguers invited to compete for the eight roster spots that have opened since the playoffs.
"What will make for an interesting spring is that for the first time since I've been here, we have open positions," said Bowden, in his fourth season as GM.
"Also for the first time since I've been here, we have a tremendous amount of young players who appear to be ready for the big leagues ... and some older guys trying to make comebacks."
The nucleus is intact: first baseman Hal Morris, second baseman Bret Boone, shortstop Barry Larkin, right fielder Reggie Sanders, closer Jeff Brantley and starters Pete Schourek, John Smiley, Mark Portugal and Dave Burba.
"A lot of the key figures that have allowed us to win in '94 and '95 are
back." Bowden said.
But Knight, who has never managed, has a lot of decisions to make: Who will play center and left? Who will platoon with Jeff Branson at third? Can Eddie Taubensee be the everyday catcher? Who will fill out the bullpen?
Bowden doesn't have the financial latitude this year to start spring training with questions and fill in the blanks and then make deals in Florida like the past years.
Bowden is interested in reacquiring free agents Kevin Mitchell, Deion Sanders or Joe Oliver.
Bowden said that right now he couldn't afford to pay the salaries those expensive players wanted.
"Our signings have been in the $109,000 to $500,000 range. We have not deviated from that."
But I would not rule out any of the three until they sign with another team" he said.
In the meantime, they'll be doing without Prime Time. Instead, they'll be watching guys who are Past Prime.
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