The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 41

A Wiii. OBITUARIES 7 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993 The Indianapolis Star try to Mock Cote9 offer for lineman Buffalo GM John Butler feels the Colts used an unfair clause. general manager John Butler filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the league office in New York. "We're in the process of finding out if this is indeed a valid offer," explained Butler. "The structuring of (the offer sheet) makes It ridiculous.

It's not a level playing field. "It's nice to be creative and to think of all these incentives to make it tough on the other team (to match), but that's not how the offer sheets work." Colts general manager Jim Ir-say, who authored the innovative "escalator" clause, steadfastly disagrees. "I thoroughly understand the language (of offer sheets) and the Bills have to match any incentive that Is likely to be earned," Irsay said. "I would think the Players Association may have something to say about someone restricting offer sheets and restricting player movement. "I don't think (the Bills) have a leg to stand on." On face value, Indianapolis' offer sheet to Wolford, a three-time Pro Bowler, Is a three-year, $7.65 million contract.

It includes a $1.8 million signing bonus, base salaries of $1.7 million and $750,000 in workoutreporting bonuses. Buffalo's grievance centers on Irsay's language in the "escalator" clause that calls for a salary adjustment if Wolford reaches a pair of easily-obtained incentives. Basically, the clause ensures Wolford will be compensated as the team's highest-paid offensive player in 1993 and '94 and the team's highest-paid non-quarterback in 1995. See BILLS Page 2 5. ivy COMING TOGETHER Crews said to be drunk at time of boating accident L- Tim Crews pTlSl was driving the boat at fV the time of the CraSh" i A JhJ rH 'ry tv7 C- A3 0 yr I jg(f By Mike Chappell STAR STAFF WRITER The Buffalo Bills have turned to the National Football League in an attempt at blocking Indianapolis' bid to obtain Pro Bowl offensive tackle Will Wolford.

Citing an Inequitable "escala tor" clause in an offer sheet extended by the Colts and signed by Wolford late Sunday night, Buffalo Well, at least AAV national tourney has Hooskr flavor Robin Miller There are three Final Fours this weekend, but only one of them has any Indiana teams still alive. The NCAA men's and women's tourneys un fold in New Orleans and Atlanta, respectively, without any state participation. But the National AAU tournament in Topeka, Kansas has plenty of Hoosier flavor. While Matt Nover and Chris Reynolds would much rather be playing down on the bayou for Bobby Knight, they'll instead be taking their talents to Washburn University with the IUISU-fla-vored Cook Group. The other club competing with Indiana ties is the Lafayette Hustlers, a melting pot of former Purdue and Butler players who captured the 1991 AAU championship.

"The main competition in the AAU tourney comes from the Midwest with Lafayette, Flint. and our team," said Chuck Franz, a 1984 1U grad who works for The Cook Group in addition to serving as playergeneral manager. "We Just added Matt (Nover) and Chris (Reynolds) today so that should really help our cause." Cook team jets around Bill Cook, a successful Bloom-ington businessman who began fielding an AAU team in 1985, provides a Jet to carry Mike Woodson, Bobby Wilkerson, Joe Hlll-map, Mark Robinson, Carl Nicks, Brad Miley, Eddie Bird, Chad Tucker, Brett Christ, Joe Collins, Robert Mukes and Franz all over the Midwest for some 45 games. Lafayette's Jim Bower, a commodities broker with Refco established the Hustlers in 1982 and foots the bills. His current roster sports Tim McRoberts, Brian Berning, Shawn Teague, Steve Reid, Melvln McCants, Tim Hase-ley, Derrick Johnson, Rick Roach, Brett Etherington and Ricky Hall.

Scott May coaches Cook and Roger Blalock calls the shots for Lafayette. "Both Indiana teams made the Final Four last year," said McRoberts, the 31 -year-old, ex-Butler bomber who still plays in three leagues a week. "But Flint has Greg Kelser, Phil Hubbard and Eric Turner we're talking some fairly decent players, aren't we? David Robinson played for the Armed Forces team a few years ago. "There will be 16 teams in To- See MILLER Page 2 NBA New Yak fflSaaOTento 87 New Jersey 91 Phiiadeiphia 77 9IZIZII1III' Miami 116 Chariotte 89 Phoenix 113 Chicago 109 San Antonio 99 Seattle 97 LA Lakers at LA Clippers Minnesota at Golden State By Ike Flores ASSOCIATED PRESS Orlando, Fla. Cleveland Indians pitcher Tim Crews was legally drunk when his speeding boat crashed into a dock on a darkened lake, killing himself and teammate Steve Olin and injuring Bob OJeda, Investigators said Tuesday.

Crews had a blood-alcohol content of 0.14 percent, surpassing the 0.10 mark considered intoxication under Florida law. Neither Olin nor OJeda was deemed legally drunk. Medical Examiner Thomas He-gert of Orange County said a 0.14 reading could be the equivalent of six to seven beers in a person the stature of Crews (6-foot, 195 pounds), "but the effects vary considerably In each person." Col. Bob Edwards, law enforcement director for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, called the matter an "alcohol-related accident." He added the commission does "not anticipate filing any charges." Edwards cited three factors investigators considered In this kind of accident: "careless operation, maintaining a vessel within the speeds consistent with safety and (the lack of) a designated lookout, someone who can be utilized to help look for structures such as this." Edwards and Lt. Bruce Cooper, in charge of the probe into the March 22 accident on Little Lake Nellie, said evidence indicated the 18-foot bass boat with 150-horse-power motor was traveling at more than 25 mph In the dark at about 7:30 p.m.

EST. But "the exact speed at the time of the crash is unknown," said Edwards. Investigators earlier said there were indications the boat was going near top speed of about 65 mph. Edwards said Tuesday it was impossible to determine maximum speed. Olin's blood alcohol content was placed at 0.02 percent and Ojeda's at 0.006 percent, indicating they had considerably less to drink than Crews.

'rrir i-1- ri i i urirt Associated Press Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar (left) tries ing Tuesday's spring training game. The to break up a tussle between pitcher Jose Reds won 6-5, but Morris injured his Mesa (49) and Cincinnati's Hal Morris dur- shoulder in the fight. See story, Page 3. "Those were good, honest, solid men," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. "It doesn't alter the fact one way or the other.

Those guys are still dead. The hurt is still there. And I think enough is; enough." Hargrove met with the team In the dugout Tuesday after the Indians' fight-filled 6-5 loss to Cincln-' nati in Winter Haven to update, the players on the investigation. Cooper was asked what possible charges could have been filed if the operator of the boat had survived the crash. Edwards said the findings were reviewed by the state attorney in Lake County, who agreed no charges would be filed.

Autopsies conducted in Orange, and Lake counties determined the cause of death for Crews and Olin was "blunt force trauma to the head." The nature and location of the injuries Indicated they did not see the dock. OJeda also told investigators he; did not see the dock. "The telltale sign was that Steve Olin was at .02 and obvious-1 ly, his death was the same as Timmy's," said Bob DiBlaislo, vice; president of public relations for the Indians. "So he didn't see any-; thing coming and that has to be reported. "Take into consideration that a man of his (Crews') physical stature and his physical well-being is a little different than the average Joe, who might be at 14." Investigators found unopened cans of beer in an ice chest, a nearly full bottle of vodka and an empty beer can aboard the boat.

OJeda told investigators they; had been on the water about 15. minutes when the crash occurred. two-point territory Miller's 57-point barrage at! Charlotte In November was one off; George McGinnis' ABANBA team record, but wasn't followed by' consistency. "He always gets started slow' shooting the ball, but I never wor-; ry about that," Hill said. thought it came a little later this year than normal, but since we; went to set plays, he knows where the screens are coming from and he's probably benefited the most." "I wish we would've had (set; plays) earlier," said Miller, whose See PACERS Page 4 accolades Calbert Cheaney is considered a good bet to sweep college player of the year awards.

Miller says Pacers a from upper echelon few plays Pacers tonight OPPONENT: Washington Bullets WHERE: Market Square Arena TIPOrF: 7:30 RADIO: WNDE-1260 AM, FM ers' top gun has never been more deadly. "I think he's really stepped up and played at a level that puts him up there with most guys," said Hill, including Miller's improved defense. "He's played at a higher Cheaney is the 18th. In between runs a noble blood line: IU's Scott May in '76, Indiana State's Larry Bird in 79, North Carolina's Michael Jordan In '84, Georgetown's Patrick Ewlng in '85, Navy's David Robinson in '87. Kansas' Danny Manning in '88, UNLV's Larry Johnson in '91 and Duke's Christian Laettner last year.

Cheanev, a 6-7 forward, is the Big Ten Conference's career scor motor running. "There have been so many games (after which) I've laid in bed and said, 'Damn, we should've won this Miller said. "An extra pass or a rebound, something, we would've won. Instead of 33-35, we could easily be five, six, seven games over .500 and everybody says the Indiana Pacers are surging instead of calling us un-derachievers. We're gonna keep that name until we win games like Seattle and Phoenix and beat the Lakers and Denver." Since the All-Star break, when Coach Bob Hill reshaped the offense from a passing-game emphasis to more set plays, the Pac- Cheaney said during a brief ceremony at Assembly Hall.

"When I came here as a freshman, I was kind of shy and not able to take on the responsibilities as a team leader. Four years of Coach and the assistants and the players have helped make me a better person." North Carolina State's David Thompson became the first Eastman award winner in 1975. level the second half of this season than he has the last two years." That dates back to Miller's lone All-Star season. In his sixth season, Miller Is 70 points from passing Person as the Pacers' all-time NBA scorer (currently with Earlier this month, Miller moved past Bird for fourth in successful 3-potnters. At his current rate, Miller, hitting three per game since the break, will blow away his club records for treys attempted and made (150-362 in '89-90).

He has attempted nearly as many bonus shots as two-pointers since the break, hitting 53 of 114 from long distance and 80 of 131 from to host of ing leader with 2,613 points. He shot .549 from the field, .427 from 3-point distance and averaged 22.4 points and 6.4 rebounds and picked up his game and his team when needed this season. It was enough to earn him player of the year designation from Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Basketball Weekly, United See5EANEYPage2 By Dan Dunkin STAR STAFF WRITER It's been a season of milestones for Reggie Miller, but passing Larry Bird and Chuck Person isn't what drives him. As the Indi-ana Pacers continue to sputter as often as they speed, Miller pushes on, Reggie Miller wishing he knew how to keep the Cheaney did everything anyone could ask of. a player and his season of grand achievement was rewarded again Tuesday when he was presented the Eastman Award as college basketball's most outstanding player, as voted by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

"It Just goes to show what hard work and dedicating yourself to the can do for you," 1) IU's Cheaney adds coaches' Eastman Award By Phil Richards STAR STAFF WRITER Bloomington, Ind, Among the several qualities of leadership Coach Bob Knight urged Calbert Cheaney to exhibit as a senior was more emotion. Indiana University's season is over and the results are In: Cheaney two technical fouls, Knight one..