The Sporting News articles from February 2000

The Sporting News archives from February 2000

Voice of the Fan.
February 7, 2000... Choice voice `So the fortywhiners had 20 years of success; who cares? It has taken them that long to figure out the salary cap.' --Michael Rice, Huntington, Ind. A star is born I enjoyed the story and pictures of "The 6 habits of...

Caught on the Fly.
February 7, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be a blue-chip suspect? * Seems like last times in Chapel HiLLLLLLLL-as in "Last time a UNC team looked this really average-The Dean was hung in effigy in '65." Well-Heeled boosters complain about Bill Guthridge...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.
February 7, 2000... 1 The Super Bowl. The Rams have gone from being laughably bad to being the best there is. Think of it as a "Reverse Pacino." 2 The BCS and ABC. Now the chance of a true national championship is on hold for four more years, which,...

THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL.
February 7, 2000... It was thrilling, it was draining--and it was totally unpredictable. But that's what made the Rams' victory over the Titans in Super Bowl 34 so great. Get used to it, because if there's one thing we know about the NFL at the turn of the...

The curse of competition.
February 7, 2000... When Fred Miller and Jevon Kearse went mano a mano on Halloween, the fate of their seasons--and the Super Bowl--was sealed. This is a story about a meeting between two men, and how it changed their seasons, their lives, their destinies,...

Streak show.
February 7, 2000... Coordinator Mike Martz reached deep into his playbook for an all-out go route--a play the Rams hadn't used all season--and Isaac Bruce was gone. It had gathered dust in the playbook. Not only had the Rams not attempted it all season, they...

The Tackle.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... Rams guard Adam Timmerman stood in a tunnel deep in the Georgia Dome wearing his Super Bowl championship shirt and a smile that represented relief as much as exultation. "Thank you, Mike Jones," Timmerman said. "Thank God for Mike Jones." ...

An early glimpse of the 2000 season.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... The 1999 season just ended-so why wait another minute to start looking ahead to 2000? Well, maybe because it's ridiculously premature--free agency and the draft will have a major impact on teams--but heck, it's fun to think about. So don't bet...

Defensive ends lead way as free agency begins.
February 7, 2000... You can never have enough friends, money or pass rushers. So it is with great anticipation that many teams approach the start of free agency. More high-quality defensive ends are scheduled to be available in free agency tiffs year than players...

AFC.
February 7, 2000... Baltimore MAKING A DEAL: The team likely will grant the wish of Pro Bowl LT Jonathan Ogden, who wants a contract extension before the 2000 season, or he will hit the free-agent market when his current contract expires. The two sides...

NFC.
February 7, 2000... Arizona AND ON IT GOES: The saga of DE Simeon Rice continued when the disgruntled unrestricted free agent blasted the Phoenix market as "the armpit of the NFL." But at least he made amends with QB Jake Plummer when they ran into each other...

Priceless.(Derek Jeter)(Statistical Data Included)
February 7, 2000... Because of Derek Jeter's regal skills and commoner's touch, it's hard to begrudge a crossing-the-threshold contract for the Yankees' shortstop. But the deal will carry the responsibility of taking charge--this is his team, his time. Derek...

Yanks try to save by ... spending.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... This is baseball in two easy steps, the George Steinbrenner way. Which, clearly, is the best way, based on the Yankees' success over the past four years. Step No. 1: Spenal a boatload of money on the best players available. Step No....

Clubs ready to address `areas of concern' (holes).
February 7, 2000... With the possible exception of the Yankees, every team will head to spring training with what is called an "area of concern"--a euphemism for a glaring weakness. There are holes, and then there are holes. Here are six big ones as players...

AMERICAN LEAGUE.
February 7, 2000... Anaheim WHAT'S THE AGENDA? The Angels and G.M. Bill Stoneman have been hard to figure this offseason. When the team declined to bid for free-agent RHP Steve Trachsel, despite the southern California native's desire to play for Anaheim and...

NATIONAL LEAGUE.
February 7, 2000... Arizona TIMELY SIGNING: With a cloud of injury likely to hang over RHPs Todd Stottlemyre and Armando Reyneso for the remainder of their careers, the team thought it was imperative to lock up LHP Brian Anderson. Last Friday it did, signing...

Educating KOBE.
February 7, 2000... Sure, Kobe Bryant possesses tremendous basketball skills, but how he adjusts to the triangle offense will determine if the Lakers are champions or merely contenders He's the big, tantalizing "What if," and was even for ex-Lakers coaches....

Antoine's antics take steam out of Celtics' engine.
February 7, 2000... We've seen the best of Antoine Walker and the worst of Antoine Walker. And I suspect the canyon-sized variance between the two is the primary reason the Celtics still are the little team that could But won't. We've seen Walker go 5-for-21...

Bill Walton's Mailbag.(Bill Walton)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... (NBC Sports basketball analyst Bill Walton fields questions from NBA fans on MSNBC. To read his entire mailbag or to send in your questions, go to msnbc.com.) Bill, Are the Jazz too old to win a championship?--Crary Myers No,...

T-Wolves are howling again.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... The low point in the Timberwolves' season came in a December 11 loss to the Warriors, when the Timberwolves held a 20-point first-half lead and lost by 28. That 48-point, home-court collapse took place in the midst of an eight-game losing...

Elliott should stay on the sidelines.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... Though Sean Elliott has every right--and the blessings of his doctors--to come back and play in the NBA, he shouldn't return to the Spurs this season. Elliott is only 32, not particularly "old" given the effectiveness of athletes such as...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
February 7, 2000... Atlanta Turnaround has begun but is far from over The club raised its diminishing self esteem by outlasting the Knicks last Friday night in overtime. It gave the Hawks a three-game winning streak and, more important, staved off (at...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.
February 7, 2000... Orland Team needs consistent effort every night About a month ago, the rest of the NBA finally realized the Magic was decent enough to beat just about anyone. The team had outworked opponents virtually every period of every game to...

Where have you gone, Kareem?
February 7, 2000... Traditional back-to-the-basket centers--guys such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon--are nearly extinct. TSN asked Pete Newell to explain what caused the de-emphasis of the big man's role. Runs the court well... can dribble...

Last-to-lose Syracuse now a legit last-to-win contender.
February 7, 2000... If you want to know the math, Jason Hart is nearly as surprised by Syracuse's spectacular start as those of us who foolishly and recklessly predicted the Orangemen would not conclude this season in the Top 25. Hart, their senior point...

The book on ... Clarence Gilbert.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... Missouri SG, 6-2/180, Soph. Clarence Gilbert is showing the Big 12 he's a lot more than Keyon Dooling's former high school sidekick. Supposedly the lesser half of Missouri's Dillard, Fla., duo, Gilbert leads league play with a...

MATCHUPS.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... CONNECTICUT AT MICHIGAN STATE, 1 P.M. ET SATURDAY, CBS: Battered Spartan point guard Mateen Cleaves takes on bruised Huskie point Khalid El-Amin in a rematch of UConn's win last December. Frontcourt: The blue-collar work ethic of MSU's A.J....

RECRUITING.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 7, 2000... Centers Brick Oettinger ranks the top 25 senior prospects Rk. Name Ht. 1. Zach Randolph 6-9 2. Kendall Dartez 6-10 3. Neil Fingleton 7-6 4. Chris Wilcox 6-10...

NCAA Leaders.(Statistical Data Included)
February 7, 2000... INDIVIDUAL Scoring Rk. Name, School CI. G TFG 3FG FT Pts. Avg. 1. SirValiant Brown, FR 17 126 42 130 424 24.9 Geo. Washington 2. Craig Claxton, SR 17 148 25...

Don't call him ROVER.(Sandis Ozolinsh)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... Avalanche defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh still is capable of creating a thrilling play on offense, but he now earns considerable praise with his defense When Kevin Constantine First got a look at Sandis Ozolinsh six years ago, he didn't know...

There's more than one Super team in St. Louis.
February 7, 2000... They stretch defenses and win games with lots of scoring. Before this season, they were relatively unknown outside the Midwest No, it's not the St Louis Rams, it's the St. Louis Blues. And while many have praised the Rams for bringing...

Forget the prom, recruits should enroll early.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... You saw the hysteria building. Letter-of-intent day has come and gone. Hundreds of blue-chip prospects confirmed their oral commitments by faxing letters-of-intent to the schools of their choice Wednesday. Oh, happy day, for the players and...

S'Warnerful.(quarterback Kurt Warner)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2000... Two minutes, five seconds. Enough time to write another sentence in the story of Kurt Warner's life. Not that we needed even one more word, after all we'd read. Still, with two minutes and five seconds to play, with his team losing its way, he...

Voice of the Fan.
February 14, 2000... Choice voice `Now that the Mavericks have signed Dennis Rodman, they should build a circus tent over the top of Reunion Arena.' --Thomas Schreck Washae Valley, Nev. Helping hand I enjoyed Larry Wigge's article on Curtis Joseph...

Caught on the Fly.
February 14, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be a(nother) Clips coach? * If yer surprised a certain Superb Bowl-winnin' grampuh hung 'em up so quick, then you don't know Dick. Coach V's love affair with his players was too true; (nice) guy finished first but...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.
February 14, 2000... 1. National letter-of-intent day, One kid signed with two schools, Miami and Florida. Florida State's explanation: So when he graduates, he'll know how to make the pizza and deliver it. 2. Dick Vermeil's retirement, It's just as well. Now...

SIMPLY the BEST.
February 14, 2000... TSN gave NBA talent evaluators the task of ranking the league's top 50 players. The results are in--and they may surprise you. Psst. Karl Malone is better than Chris Webber, and Latrell Sprewell can't hold a candle to Shareef Abdur-Rahim....

Poised to break through.(basketball players rating)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... Steve Francis, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom, only several months removed from campus life, already have cracked the NBA Top 50. But they are the exceptions. In most cases, the NBA learning trajectory is steeper than a 23-footer by Reggie Miller....

Rodman the weird and Harper the worthwhile.(Dennis Rodman, basketball player)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... I'm trying not to be condescending or elitist here, because there aren't many people in this so-called life that I can feel superior to (other than certain presidential candidates, chat show gasbags, land some lawyers), but I feel obligated to...

For now, the Nuggets are fool's gold.(Denver Nuggets, basketball team)
February 14, 2000... The Nuggets are a pretty good team; better, in fact, than they were before trading guard Ron Mercer, their leading scorer, last week. If the Nuggets played in the Eastern Conference, they would be a lock for the playoffs. But unfortunately...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
February 14, 2000... Atlanta Slow starts, limited depth plague Wilkens, Hawks Coach Lenny Wilkens has fingered his team's consistent slow starts as a major reason it is not in playoff contention. Time after time, the Hawks find themselves trailing early in...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.
February 14, 2000... Dallas Strickland's defensive effort keeps him starting at point Erick Strickland has continued to start at the point even with Steve Nash back in the rotation and healthy again. Strickland's defense has been one of the team's...

SMOTHERED WITH AFFECTION.
February 14, 2000... It's great to be loved, but when every coach in the land wants to get hitched, the experience can be overwhelming. TSN takes you inside the recruitment of KWAME HARRIS, one of the nation's most coveted prospects. When it was finally over,...

SIGNING TIME.(college sports recruiting)
February 14, 2000... Recruiting rankings The nation's top recruiting classes 1. Florida 2. Penn St. 3. Tennessee 4. Florida St. 5. Texas 6. Alabama 7. Ohio St. 8. Auburn 9. Notre Dame 10. Michigan St. 11. Nebraska 12. Michigan...

Florida is the national champion--of recruiting.(college football)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... It's for bragging rights, of course, this business about who's the best. During the season, you can make your judgments by head-to-head competition, comparative scores, tangible stuff like that. But it's February. Groundhog Day has come and...

MIDSEASON Conference Call.
February 14, 2000... For those just tuning into college hoops, your timing couldn't be better. While the NCAA continues to undermine its own product by investigating players over vehicles and high school living/schooling arrangements, the on-court action is as...

It's all a matter of principles for the deep, athletic Vols.
February 14, 2000... The nicest thing the Tennessee Volunteers do for coach Jerry Green is make him feel needed. So many players from which to choose. So many ways in which to play them. So many lessons to teach. Again. And again. And again. The Vols make up...

Post play sets up N.D.'s Murphy.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... There isn't a more consistently productive player in the nation this season than 6-9 Notre Dame forward Troy Murphy. This set attempts to create options for him close to the basket' with only one defender available to stop him. The setup:...

The book on ... Speedy Claxton.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... Hofstra PG, 5-11/180, Senior Craig "Speedy" Claxton has the name. He was fourth in the nation in scoring last Sunday, so he has the numbers. NBA scouts consider him among the top point guards in the country, so he has the game. The only...

MATCHUPS.(televised college sports)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE, 7 P.M. ET TUESDAY, ESPN: The streaking Buckeyes have a chance to sweep the streaking Spartans and set the stage for their first Big Ten title since 1992. Frontcourt: The undersized Spartans pununeled UConn by...

How much leather can Woods chuck chuck?(Loren Woods, college athlete)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... PLAYER OF THE WEEK Loren Woods, Arizona. 16 pts., 10 rbds, 14 blocks. All those questions about Woods' mental fortitude have been answered. Against Oregon last Thursday, the 7-1 transfer from Wake Forest posted the school's first...

Global ice rink.(multi-nationality of hockey players)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... Don't bother to argue which country produces the best players. Just sit back and enjoy the best hockey from all worlds. The question inevitably comes up every time a group of great hockey players gets together as it did last weekend at the...

Trying to remove the speed bumps from hockey.(National Hockey League regulations)
February 14, 2000... The question isn't even half finished, and Coyotes center Jeremy Roenick begins to shake his head. Finally, he interrupts the questioner and says, "I've heard it all before. "I've heard how the NHL is going to start enforcing obstruction...

UNDERSTANDING Ray.(Ray Lewis, football player)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... Ray Lewis' life has been shaped by on-field triumphs off-field troubles and so trying to get a picture of him becomes a proposition Ray Lewis wears a T-shirt with a picture of his late friend Marlin Barnes under his game uniform. Barnes was...

Jaguars have the blueprint to mastering free agency.(Jacksonville Jaguars, football team)
February 14, 2000... While free agency has created more holes than it has patched, the Jaguars have found a way to make the system work to their benefit. In fact, what the Jaguars have done in free agency could serve as a blueprint for other teams. Jaguars...

AFC.(brief football notes)
February 14, 2000... Baltimore TO-DO LIST: The circumstances surrounding MLB Ray Lewis have created an uncertainty about the team's defense. It's unlikely the team could sign a top-notch linebacker until Lewis' status is resolved. On offense, the Ravens would...

NFC.
February 14, 2000... Arizona TO-DO LIST: With more than $20 million in salary-cap space, the club has a great chance to improve itself, particularly its anemic offense. But it has so many players on defense coming off major injuries (three starters had ACL...

Some offseason winners, losers may surprise you.
February 14, 2000... Not everyone can be a big winner. There must be losers, too. That's the way it was this winter, which was highlighted by some real ingenuity (a four-team trade) and some unusual movement among real stars through trades (though the week began...

AMERICAN LEAGUE.
February 14, 2000... Anaheim OVERLOAD AT SECOND: The club might need to charter a bus to get all of its potential second basemen to spring training. They signed Scott Spiezio, Pat Kelly and Jason Bates to compete for the position, they added infielders Carlos...

NATIONAL LEAGUE.(brief baseball notes)
February 14, 2000... Arizona CLEARING THE AIR: The team rid itself of a potential problem when it released reliever Bobby Chouinard at his request. Chouinard faces mandatory jail time in an aggravated assault charge against his wife because it involved a...

Just ignore summa cum stupid.(John Rocker, baseball player)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2000... Watching the 11 o'clock sports news the past month was enough to convince me that the world had gone mad. I saw a wide receiver in handcuffs charged with murder. I saw a middle linebacker in handcuffs charged with murder. I saw a sport utility...

Voice of the Fan.(John Rocker)
February 21, 2000... Choice voice `Baseball should send John Rocker to pitch in one of the winter leagues in the Dominican or some other Latin American country. That would be the ultimate sensitivity training.' --Ken Lagowski New Castle, Del. Land of the...

Caught on the Fly.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to fill the Bill as a Subpar Bowl starter? * From Fly's short-term pain/long-term file: First he euthanizes a deal to New York, and now Ken Griffey Jr.'s wearin' wishbone `C,' which increases height-o-N.L. hurdles for...

DEFT SHOT.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... "He's like a kid out on the playground. The street lights are on. Dad is calling him home for dinner. He's saying, `Yeah, a couple more.'" Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich on the work ethic of rookie Steve Francis

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... 1 The Junior Griffey trade. It's a dream come true for Cincinnati, right up there with the Bengals winning a football game or the Bearcats graduating a basketball player. 2 Tiger Woods' streak. Anyone could win that many tournaments in a...

DUSTBIN.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... February 21, 1970 Thirty years ago, the American Football League completed its merger with the National Football League. The merger combined the talents of pro football's best and brightest--including George Halas, Pete Rozelle and Lamar...

The bedlam inside Bedlam.
February 21, 2000... Bedlam--the name for any Oklahoma-Oklahoma State show down --is as big as the regular season gets for the Sonners. Yet, it's one blip in the balancing act carried out by the Oklahoma coaching staff. Oklahoma basketball coach Kelvin Sampson...

Eligibility issues cast pall just as season heats up.
February 21, 2000... Some coaches are nervous. They wonder if an NCAA enforcement officer will end up stalking their halls just when they hoped to be impressing the NCAA Tournament selection committee with another big victory. Some coaches are angry. Mike...

February conjecture.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... Just three weeks to go until Selection Sunday arrives, bringing with it the glorious frenzy of March Madness. Until then, we must mollify ourselves by pretending to be able to read the NCAA's mind. Here's our best shot at how the brackets...

The book on ... Eric Coley.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... Tulsa F, 6-5/210, Senior When Tulsa opened its season at Rhode Island, Eric Coley led the Golden Hurricane to a 91-66 victory with 19 points. Most in the arena had no way of knowing Coley had just stepped off a plane, joining the team late...

MATCHUPS.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... UCLA AT ARIZONA, 3:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY, ABC (REGIONAL): A sense of urgency has hit the Bruins, who are at risk of missing an NCAA bid for the first time in 12 years. But is that enough? Frontcourt: UCLA's Jerome Moiso and Dan Gadzuric have...

FINAL FOUR.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK The week's latest turn of events on the way to Indy: 1 Erick Barkley. The NCAA commutes his sentence to time served--and having to buy gas for a Suburban at today's prices. 2 Duke. The Blue Devils lose an ACC...

Dixon does in Duke; Tide rolls for ailing coach.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2000... PLAYER OF THE WEEK Juan Dixon, Maryland. A scrawny 6-3,152-pound sophomore, Dixon was 14-of-19 from the field and finished with 31 points last week, helping the Terrapins beat the Blue Devils and snap their record 31-game Atlantic Coast...

INDIVIDUAL.
February 21, 2000... Scoring Rk. Name, School CI. G TFG 3FG FT Pts. Avg. 1. SirValiant Brown, Geo. Washington FR 21 159 51 156 525 25.0 2. Ronnie McCollum, Centenary JR 22...

Let's make a deal--or not.
February 21, 2000... With the NBA trade deadline arriving next week, teams are juggling their rosters to improve their chances in the postseason or clearing cap space for next season-or standing pat It was the first week of February and Celtics coach Rick...

In Miami, the song remains the same for Riley and Heat.
February 21, 2000... What I'm seeing from the Heat this month is something I've seen from Pat Riley teams before. It still is the hardest working team in show biz, a team that could bludgeon you into submission on its best nights and smile as it attacks you with...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
February 21, 2000... Atlanta Terry, Coles both have been disappointing at point guard The team is disturbed at the slow development of PG Jason Terry. The coaches are particularly disappointed Terry seems to make the same mistakes over and over. The...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.
February 21, 2000... Dallas Rodman's arrival is causing other players to change roles During the All-Star break, practice time was needed to give new PF Dennis Rodman an understanding of the playbook and new defensive rules. In his first game back, Rodman...

StRangers? They're not so bad with Richter around.
February 21, 2000... His eyes still sparkle with the competitive focus you need to stand in front of shots coming toward you at 100 mph and higher. The confidence still can be found in his voice. But there have been nights this season when even attitude hasn't been...

Thrown for a loss.(unexpected death of Kansas City Chief lineman Derrick Thomas)
February 21, 2000... THOMAS: With a big-play style on the field and a big-heart persona off it, he won the unending love and admiration of Kansas City You might wonder how a pass rusher like Derrick Thomas came to be so beloved in Kansas City. Outside Arrowhead...

Wolf's NFL legacy hinges on his latest coaching hire.
February 21, 2000... A month and a half ago, Packers general manager Ron Wolf sat in front of a curious horde of reporters and said it all came down to winning and losing. He was speaking about the bottom line to which he was holding fired coach Ray Rhodes, who, in...

AFC.
February 21, 2000... Baltimore LOYALTY: The team sent a positive message by making one of its own unrestricted free agents the first player signed to a new deal. DE Rob Burnett was one of the main reasons why the Ravens had the No. 2 ranked defense in the NFL...

NFC.(personnel management of National Football Conference teams)
February 21, 2000... Arizona 'BACKER CONCERNS: Unrestricted free-agent MLB Ron McKinnon says the team has no inside track on retaining his services. It made a four-year offer averaging just under $2.4 million that he turned down. McKinnon is hopeful of getting...

Griffey leaves Seattle Red-faced.
February 21, 2000... Cincinnati's Jim Bowden--with a big assist from Ken Griffey Jr.--pulled off the trade of a lifetime last week, and Seattle's Pat Gillick was powerless to stop it You can imagine Mariners general manager Pat Gillick suffering through one of...