The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 7

THE COURIER-JOURNAL LOUISVILLE. KY. APRIL 3, 1991. 5i Iron-man Hurley was real MVP for Blue Devils RICK BOZICH SPORTS COLUMNIST Nobody can match his leadership numbers 24 points, 16 assists and only six turnovers while handling the ball on nearly every possession. During the stretch when the Blue Devils took control in their championship game victory over Kansas by stretching a 44-40 lead to 61-47, Hurley contributed three assists and two free throws.

If Laettner fought to hold his position on wobbly legs, Hurley never even looked toward the bench to ask for a breather. This is the same kid who was driven to the bench by tingling nerves and a churning stomach in Denver last year. Last summer Hurley fought sharks in his final thoughts from a fabulous Fmal Four: The folks along press row voted Duke center Christian Laettner the Most Outstanding Player at the Hoosier Dome. One reason is he scored 46 points and snatched 17 rebounds. Another is some people refuse to search beyond the box scores.

Sorry. If you're looking for a Most Valuable Player, you've got to look at Bobby Hurley, the Blue DevUs' irrepressible 6-foot point guard. Without the three-pointer Hurley hit to pull Duke within 76-74 of Nevada Las Vegas with 2:14 to play in the semifinals Sat- Championship game stories, Page 3. Referee who ejected Dean Smith from Saturday's semifinal game says Tar Heels coach tried to show him up, Page 3. dreams, an ugly reminder of the way he threw the ball away against UNLV.

This summer he can remember that for three weeks he was the best guard in college basketball. Said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski: "What Hurley did in these two games is absolutely tremendous." "Dynasty" ranks among the five most urday, there is no upset of the defending national champion. That was the most critical shot of the weekend. Period. Nobody else from Duke or from Kansas played all 80 minutes in two games.

Nobody bobbed and weaved through heavy traffic the way Hurley did. Hoofing it to the top Keeneland president Greely rose from grass roots overused and abused words in sports except when you analyze the great things John Wooden did with UCLA's basketball program. From 1964-75 the man won 10 NCAA titles in 12 seasons. His stretch of seven consecutive championships (1967-73) ranks among the top five records in sports. That said, the term "dynasty" must be redefined in college basketball.

In today's world of wall-to-wall television coverage, the 64-team tourney, the enthusiasm on hundreds of campuses, the growth See IRON-MAN Page 2, col. 1, this section Seifert says free-agency losses won't doom49ers Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO Plan free agency is doing to the San Francisco 49ers what so many other teams could not, breaking up major parts of the successful player ensemble. Sure, Joe Montana is still around to run the offense that helped the 49ers reach the playoffs in each of the past eight seasons, including four Super Bowl victories. And he still can throw to Jerry Rice and John Taylor. But he lost a key member of his supporting cast when running back Roger Craig, left unprotected, bolted to the Los Angeles Raiders as a Plan free agent.

Craig signed a two-year deal Monday night, shortly before the Plan signing deadline expired. He rejoins former 49ers defensive star Ronnie Lott, a 10-year veteran who was left unprotected despite another Pro Bowl season in 1990. Lott signed with the Raiders last week. San Francisco's defense lost a second starter Monday when linebacker Matt Mil-len signed with the Washington Redskins. San Francisco coach George Seifert called the losses of the three significant but resisted the notion the 49ers face a major rebuilding this season.

"I don't think we're going to enter the season with any different expectations," said Seifert, who has guided the team to a Super Bowl victory and an NFC championship game appearance in the two seasons since succeeding Bill Walsh. The club, though, also is anticipating the retirement or departure of linebacker Keena Turner, comerback Eric Wright and wide receiver Mike Wilson, who with Lott and Montana were the five 49ers to play on all four of San Francisco's Super Bowl teams. Meanwhile, the 49ers signed eight Plan free agents, their most since the implemen- See PLAYER LOSSES Page 2, col. 1, this section 'v By JENNIE REES Staff Writer LEXINGTON, Ky. The president of Keeneland the esteemed association known for its six weeks of racing and six-figure thoroughbreds might seem more likely to come out of a bank than a barn.

But Bill Greely, five years ago named the Keeneland Association's sixth dent, is as comfortable with a shank as with a sheik. He literally grew up in Keeneland's backyard, across Rice Road on a knob known as Skunk Hill, the son of a second-generation trainer. Greely, 53, walked his first horse when he was 7. Trainer Herb Stevens recalls the youngster always under foot. In fact, he vividly remembers the boy's dog stealing off with his horse brushes.

"He's like everybody else," Stevens said. "His daddy was a trainer, and they just grew up around their daddy." But this tyke becoming president of Keeneland? "I wouldn't have thought it, I tell you the truth. Nobody else did, and he didn't either," Stevens said. "(But) it's a whole lot better for a horseman to run a race track than some jerk who comes from down on Main Street or something." Greely's evolution from a pint-size hotwalker to the track's top executive included stints in almost every capacity there except mutuels. He has worked in the shedrows, press box, and the racing and general offices of tracks across the country.

He's a rare racetrack head Calder's Kenny Noe is the other notable example whose roots are as horsemen. "I suppose I'm more aware of the stable area and what goes on back there," Greely said, "because I've slept in stalls, in tack rooms and know what life is about back there." In his five years as president, the track that trumpets "thoroughbred racing as it was meant to be" has undergone momentous changes, maybe none more dramatic than the institution of Sunday racing this meet, which runs Friday through April 26. iMgSlli 'lit Will STU-F PHOIO BY SltWAHI BOWMAN Bill Greely, who grew up near Keeneland and worked his way from hotwalker to track president, has made significant changes since taking over the track, but some things won't be altered because "this place was built tor the horse." tucky Derby to the Saturday three weeks sorship for races. before. Keeneland has gone from eight to And it enclosed the second and third nine races daily, instituted a stakes a day floors to accommodate the intertrack wa- during the spring and bought financially gering crowd.

troubled Wichita Farm adjacent to the Three constants remain, however: no trsck. It has added a Pick Six, Pick Three and See KEENELAND'S additional exacts. It got corporate spon- Page 5, col. 1, this section This meet also marks the unveiling of 22 corporate skyboxes and the Phoenix Room for group dining (a dual project that resulted in the addition of a fourth level the size of a football field) and a gift shop. Also on Greely's watch, the track has moved the fabled Blue Grass Stakes from the Thursday nine days before the Ken 1 4 M)Vt Redbirds' Maclin fits mold of Cardinals outfielders I 'fY'f refill in! 'frftf tf'll' Umpires' union files a grievance against big leagues Associated Press PHILADELPHIA Major-league umpires filed an unfair labor practices charge against the American and National leagues yesterday, claiming they plan to lock out umpires from opening-day games unless they reach a contract agreement.

"I think that right now they seem to be intent on it," umpires union chief Richie Phillips said. Six days before the start of the regular season, Phillips called an agreement unlikely "if baseball maintains its present posture." Phillips did not provide specifics on contractual differences but said the sides were "very, very far apart." He said issues included compensation, pensions and postseason selection procedures for umpires. Phillips' handwritten filing said the leagues "unilaterally changed the terms and conditions of employment" by withholding April pay from the 60 umpires. "In addition, the employer, through this and other action, has failed to bargain in good faith in violation of the National Labor Relations Act," the Major League Umpires Association said in the two-sentence statement filed with the National Labor Relations Board. At a news conference, Phillips also complained about the assignment of replacement umpires to games, the lack of assignments to regular umpires and long delays in responses to contract issues raised by umpires.

The NLRB filing only specifically cited the lack of pay for April. See UMPIRES' UNION Page 5, col. 4, this section By GEORGE RORRER Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. First in line in nine seasons of star Louisville Redbirds outfielders was Willie McGee.

The future National League Most Valuable Player and two-time batting champion set a standard of excellence. McGee was followed by Vince Coleman, Curt Ford, Lance Johnson.Alex Cole, Bernard Gilkey, Ray Lankford and others. Now it's Lonnie Maclin's turn. Maclin, a 24-year-old St. touis native, is the type of outfielder the Cardinals like.

He is small (5 feet 11, 160 pounds) and quick. Maclin is confident to the point of cockiness. If the Cardinals need him to lead off and steal 100 bases a la Coleman, he said, he can do that. If they need him to bat third and keep rallies going with some extra-base hitting, he said, he can do that, too. There is some basis for Maclin's confidence.

He took two swift steps up the ladder last season, moving from Class A St. Petersburg to Class AA Arkansas, then finishing the season with 17 games with the Redbirds. His combined batting average of .331 was tops among all St. Louis farmhands who batted as many as 250 times. That earned him his first invitation to spring training with the Cardinals' varsity, and it has whetted his appetite.

"I'm as hungry as Gilkey was," Maclin said. "Hey, I've got to get on with it. This is St. Louis, my hometown and Gilkey's. We have more opportunities there than anybody else." Gilkey and Lankford spent one season in Louisville and moved into the St.

Louis outfield late last season when McGee was traded and in anticipation of Coleman's leaving as a free agent. Maclin hopes he gets a similar shot. "Right now we're all in the same position," he said. "They played well at Louisville and went up. The thing for me, though, is where am I going to play?" St.

Louis has Felix Jose in right field, completing an outfield full of highly regarded young players. "I guess I might have to be a backup man, or maybe fill in when somebody's hurt," Maclin said. "But you never know what will happen." Even though Maclin's spring with St. See REDBIRDS MACLIN Page 2, col. 3, this section Redbirds outfielder Lonnie Maclin Is "a hitter," said St.

Louis Cardinals official Ted Simmons. "He'll play In the major leagues some day soon. PHOTO BY STAN DENNY INSIDE McEnroe, Krickstein lose in Hong Kong Sports People Pro baseball Scorecard PRO FOOTBALL MOST PLAN PLAYERS SIGNED Green Bay 13 San Diego 8 Cleveland 11 San Fran. 8 Minnesota 9 MOST PLAN PLAYERS LOST San Diego 12 AtlNE 9 Miami 10 KCTBPhx 8 4 5 Rose's halfway-house term about to end I See Page 5 IjUHC jr17 Thoroughbred racing See Page 5 iiiiiin i.