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The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 23

Publication:
The Tennesseani
Location:
Nashville, Tennessee
Issue Date:
Page:
23
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2C Mondiy, July 12 1999 THE TENNESSEAN CP SPORTS: PAGE 2 Make college the minor leagues for NBA prospects But this "draft-as-entertainment" By MICHAEL MRSLEY they are developing. play college basketball. bankrolled athlete would keep paying room and board. Perhaps he could move into a dorm with the amenities a potential NBA star deserves unencumbered by annoyances as residents studying nearby. Since there are at least 100 colleges with a shot at the big-money "March Madness" postseason tournament every year, how would you spread the wealth of only 29 NBA teams over that large a minor-league system? No problem.

There's nothing to prohibit any one NBA team from sponsoring multiple minor-league college teams, and hiring coaching staffs for each team. Set the whole thing up like Class AAA, AA and A baseball, if you wish. Move your prospects up and down the system depending on how well features a stage set that makes the Dating Game and Newlywed Game look like high-production theater. And, finally, the conversational stylings of David Stern and Rod Thorn, the NBA's date-or-divorce arrangers on draft day, make Newly-wed host Bob Eubanks' lines sound like Shakespeare. That's all the more reason to eliminate this college-bored, draft-bored game and implement that modest proposal.

Incidentally, it may already be too late to get this into place before the NBA drafts a seventh-grader. I'm not sure. I couldn't make out if the TV guy identified that surprise pick late in this year's draft as a lean eager from Transylvania or a teenager from Pennsylvania. Chicago Tribune CHICAGO Swiftly speaking, before the first seventh-grader is selected in the NBA draft, a modest proposal is in order. Do away with bothersome college educations for aspiring NBA prospects who don't want hang-time in class.

Make college basketball the official minor leagues of the NBA, instead of the unofficial minor leagues of the NBA. Implement the "kids play, pros pay" system. Let NBA teams draft talented youngsters at whatever age a scout spots that first glimmer of potential. Then, let teams assign those draft picks wherever they want, including college teams, and immediately begin paying for each kid's future. Start Sanctity, shmanctity.

How could the sanctity of that showcase of amateur athletics, the Olympic Games, possibly be preserved if you let NBA superstars play as the U.S. Olympic basketball team? Actually, Olympic competition suggests other sports should perhaps try the "kids play, pros pay" approach. But for now, let's stick to basketball, where there's a bonus in this modest proposal: It would spare us the agony of watching that sleep-inducing NBA draft. (In file event this modest proposal doesn't fly, maybe the annual draft telecast could at least add a few interesting "presenters" Spike Lee, Dyan Cannon, Jack Nicholson, the Luvabulls, anyone?) Colleges would keep the revenue generated by their not-ready-for-prime-time players. NBA teams would pay prospects earlier and longer, but maybe not as outrageously in the long run.

With the NBA footing the bill for basketball players and coaches, more college funds would be freed for academic scholarships. Speaking of students, they would still be able to try out for college teams, and perhaps belatedly qualify for NBA benefits. (This, incidentally, would give credence to anyone who is dubbed a student-athlete.) Now, naysayers might question how the sanctity of amateur athletics could possibly be preserved if you let paid professionals and non-students with a signing bonus, then add an appropriate amount for whatever perks the lad needs to squeeze out of his NBA "allowance." Eliminate the middle man, whether it be a college recruiter, zealous alum, agent, college coach, the What if a kid actually wants to go to college? Fine. A college education should be easily affordable on the most conservative NBA allowance. There's plenty to be squeezed here.

What if a kid flunks his classes? Fine. As an official NBA minor-league affiliate, any college can keep any player it wants on the roster regardless of whether that athlete is a student. Of course, the NBA- MEDIA WATCH SPORTS AM. Compiled from staff and wire retorts by John Maynard 5 Newsjhm mdio, print journalism and the Internet Women's soccer final sets ratings record The success of the American team in the Women's World Cup produced the most-watched soccer game ever on U.S. television.

The victory over China on Saturday afternoon posted a 13.3 overnight rating and a 32 share on ABC, 4 more that the previous record, a 12.8 for the 1994 men's World Cup final, also played at the Rose Bowl. ABC estimated 40 million viewers in the United States watched the Americans' 5-4 victory on penalty kicks following a scoreless tie. The highest rating for the U.S. men is a 10.4 overnight and 27 share for a 1-0 loss to Brazil in the second round of the "94 World Cup. Saturday's rating was nearly double the 6.9 over 1 -r'iu A 'V -'K.

W- ft VV mm. Coulthard wins British GP David Coulthard finally won a race, capturing the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England, yesterday for his first victory in 15 months. Michael Schumacher, however, might be through for the season. His day lasted just 30 seconds after an early crash left him with a broken leg. Schumacher lost control of his Ferrari's braking and steering as he tried to turn out of the longest straightaway on the circuit His team said he broke his right leg in two places but had no back or spine injuries.

He was operated on at Northampton General Hospital and is expected to be released today, doctors said. Coulthard won for the fifth time in his career and led a strong finish for the home country, with Britons taking three of the first six places. Eddie Irvine of Northern Ireland was second in a Ferrari with Ralf Schumacher third in a Williams. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fourth for Jordan. Jordan's Damon Hill of England, who has postponed an announcement on retirement for few days, was fifth, followed by Sauber's Pedro Diniz.

FITTIPALDI WINS It was pretty obvious Juan Montoya had the best car, even after his gearbox began to malfunction. But don't ask Christian Fittipaldi to feel sorry for the rookie, whose brilliant run in yesterday's Texa-coHavoline 200 in Elkhart Lake, ended when his gearbox finally failed six laps short of the checkered flag. "We have all had those misfortunes in racing," Fittipaldi said, basking in his first CART FedEx Series victory. "This time it was his misfortune and it was my turn to have the good fortune." Montoya somehow held the lead until the gearbox gave out midway through lap 49, giving the lead to the 28-year-old Fittipaldi, a Brazilian in his fifth CART season. Montoya failed to finish for the first time this season.

Teammate Michael Andretti chased Fittipaldi's Swift-Ford across the finish line by 1.060 seconds several hundred yards. Adrian Fernandez finished a distant third, followed by Greg Moore, the backup car of Max Papis and Tony Kanaan. In the points race, Andretti moved from fourth to second and now trails Montoya by 18 points, 113-95. Gil de Ferran is third with 87, followed by Dario Franchitti with 85, Fittipaldi with 82, Moore with 81 and Fernandez with 79. i una-'-.

VA7 The damaged Ferrari of Michael Schumacher is lifted onto a flat bed truck, after Schumacher crashed it into a tire wall on the first lap of the British Grand Prix yesterday. 1 Da Silva upsets Capel in 100 Lynx beats Liberty at buzzer night for last year's men's World Cup final between Brazil and France. "No one expected these kinds of numbers," ABC spokesman Mark Mandel said. "It proves the power of big events on network television. You can still bring in nice numbers." Overnight ratings measure the top 44 markets in the country, while the nationals, which will be released Thursday, measure the entire country.

Generally, the national ratings for sports slip about 10. The Women's World Cup finale easily topped the NHL's Stanley Cup ratings, a 3.4 average for the three games on Fox. The rating for the women's final is expected to be about the same as this year's NBA Finals, which averaged a 11.321 in prime time for San Antonio's 4-1 win over New York. However, that series went just five games and did not have the benefit of a winner-take-all game. The semifinal match between the U.S.

and Brazil was viewed in 2.9 million homes, making it the largest number of households to watch a telecast on ESPN. The rating is the percentage of TV households in the United States tuned to a program, and each point represents 994,000 homes. The share is the percentage tuned to a program among televisions in use. Prime time golf: ABC might not show all 18 holes of the Aug. 2 Tiger Woods-David Duval prime-time (7 to 10 p.m.) match-play golf exhibition.

The PGA Tour is insisting that the event begin at 6:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. at the Sherwood Country Club in Los Angeles) to guarantee enough time to complete a round. ABC would join it in progress. "The history of match play shows it takes between three hours and 20 minutes and 3:40," said Henry Hughes, the chief of operations for the PGA Tour.

Channel surfing: TNN will broadcast The Life and Times of Davey Allison tomorrow at 7 p.m. The program includes interviews with Richard Petty, car owner Robert Yates, and Allison's widow, Liz. Turner Sports has shifted all of its golf coverage to TNT, starting with the PGA Championship. TENNESSEAN NEWS SERVICES Brandy Reed hit a running 10-foot jumper at the buzzer and the Minnesota Lynx snapped the New York Liberty's five-game home winning streak in a 58-56 victory yesterday. Reed finished with 19 points' for the expansion Lynx (7-5), who have won three of their last four games.

With the game tied at 56, the Liberty ran down the clock for the final shot and Vickie Johnson missed a three-pointer with four see onds left. Reed then went the length of the court for the game-winner. SPARKS 67, MERCURY 58 Lisa Leslie scored six of her 13 points during a decisive second-half run as Los Angeles beat Phoenix for its seventh win in its last eight games. Florida track and football star John Capel was late out of the blocks yesterday and unable to catch Brazil's Andre Domingos Da Silva in the 100-meter final at the University Games in Palma Da Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Da Silva won with a time of 10.34 seconds.

Capel finished second at 10.35 and South Africa's Matthew Quinn took the bronze in 10.42. In men's basketball, the United States moved within one victory of its sixth straight gold medal by getting past Spain 88-80 in the semifinals. Yugoslavia defeated Mexico 85-60 to secure the other spot in today's final. The United States will face Spain in the women's gold medal game, also today. Monty wins in Scotland Woodruff wins 2nd title Dream Team whips Canada Colin Montgomerie hated the reminders: He had Kevin Garnett scored 17 points and the US nation Former Tennessee star Chris Woodruff capped a comeback from a serious knee injury by defeating Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 yesterday to win the Miller Lite Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I.

The title was the second of Woodruff's career, but his first since tearing knee cartilage in December 1997. He only played one tournament last year. Ranked 116th entering the tournament, he is the lowest rated player to win an ATP Tour event this year. Woodruff was ranked 30th at the time of his injury. never won a title before his adoring fans in Scotland and had never won a major.

He took care of one of those shortcomings Saturday by rallying for a three-stroke victory at Loch Lomond. And now, he hopes, that elusive first major might just be around the corner at Carnoustie. "I can only go into the British Open with confidence and that's what many players cant say," he said after his third victory of the year put him on course to become the leading money winner on the PGA European Tour for the seventh straight year. al basketball team tuned up for its appearance in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament of the Americas with a 97-69 rout of Canada in Orlando, last night Allan Houston had 14 points and Tom Gugliotta added 12 for the U.S., whose only anxious moment came was when Tim Duncan fell awkwardly when he was fouled late in the second half and limped off with a mild left foot sprain. The injury isnt Duncan had 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Jason Kidd finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Armstrong takes eighth stage, overall lead St. i ON THE AIR Teleinsion and mdio listings TODAY Time Event Station PRO BASEBALL 7 p.m, All-Star Home Run Derby ESPN CYCLING 7:30 p.m. Tour de France (tape delay) ESPN2 ARENA FOOTBALL 8 p.m. Florida at Arizona ESPN2 RODEO 10:30 p.m.

Calgary Stampede (tape delay) ESPN2 TOMORROW Time Event Station PRO BASEBALL 7 p.m. Major League All-Star Game Fox Also on 560-AM MOTORSPORTS 7 p.m. Legends Summer Shootout Series Sports South CYCLING 7:30 p.m. Tour de France Stage 9 (tape delay) ESPN2 RODEO 10:30 p.m. Calgary Stampede (tape delay) ESPN2 AROUND TOWN Community ports happening? UPCOMING PRO BASEBALL Nathvilie Sound have home games vs.

Memphis on Thursday (doubleheader, 5 p.m.), Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (6 p.m.), and Sunday (4 p.m.) at Greer Stadium. Tickets are $8 for box seats ($7 tor children) and $5 tor general admission ($4 tor children). Call 242-4371. ARENA FOOTBALL: Nashville Kats' final regular-season home game Is Friday vs. San Jose at 7:35 p.m.

at Nashville Arena. Tickets are Call 254-KATS. SOCCER: TenneeaM Rhythm has home games Friday vs. San Francisco and Sunday vs. Sacramento at 7:30 p.m.

at Battle Ground Academy Stadium in Franklin. Tickets are $8 for adults. $6 for youth. Call 591-9545. PRO WRESTLM: Summer 8izzte featuring Vokozuna vs.

Tatan- ka wM be held Jury 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Tickets are $10 and $15. CaH 255-9600. PRO WRESTLMQ: WCW event featuring Goldberg vs.

Diamond Dalle Pag on July 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium. Six other bouts will also be held. Tickets are $18 and S12 and are available at auditorium box office and TIcketMaster. Call 862-6390.

GOLF: Th Winy Pre-Cetobrrry ImrurHonal wiN be held Aug. 2-3 at the Golf Club of Tennessee in Franklin. Tickets are $12 (good for both days) and event starts at 9 a.m. Cal 790-7755. VOLLEYBALL: The 12th Mud Voftoybafl Tournament for Epftopsy wi be held Aug.

7 from 9 a.m.-7 m. at NashvMe Shores In Hermitage. Team entry fee is $150. Call 269-7091. h.

vim- I Associated Press METZ, France Along the roads of the Tour de France this year, fans chant for their favorite French, German and Swiss riders. Now they're shouting another name, too: "Armstrong!" Lance Armstrong won a crucial time trial yesterday to regain the overall lead of the Tour de France. He led at every checkpoint and called his performance "one of the greatest victories of my life." The 27-year-old Texan has a lot of admirers these days. Many see his comeback from testicular cancer to the very top of cycling as nothing short of amazing. Wearing the red-white-and-blue jersey of the U.S.

Postal Service team, Armstrong powered through the 34-mile course in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 36 seconds. He rode at an average speed of nearly 30 mph. Now Armstrong, once so severely ill almost everyone assumed his career was over, is a clear favorite as cycling's biggest race hits the Alps this week. Another American did not fare so well in yesterday's eighth stage. Bobby Julich, who came in third overall last year, fell on a steep descent and is out of the race.

Julich was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with bruised ribs. Nothing was broken, except his hopes for this year's Tour. The 27-year-old rider from Glenwood Springs, fell at the 19-mile mark on a descent where speeds reach 46 mph. He was in 20th place overall going into the stage. Another American, Tyler Hamilton of U.S.

Postal, came in fifth. "It's incredible," said Mark Gorski, the team's general manager. Finishing second in the stage was Alex Zulle of Switzerland, 58 seconds behind. He was followed by France's Christophe Moreau, 2 minutes, 5 seconds behind. Thf, Stages of the Tour de France with stage winner and overal leader in parentheses: July 3 Prologue: Puy-du-Fou, France (Lance Armstrong, United States) July 4 1st stage: Montaigu to Crallans (Jaan Kirsipuu, Jury5 2nd stags: (Platens to Saht- Nazaire (Tom Steels, Belgium; Kirsipuu) July 6 3rd stage: Nantes to Laval (Sleets; Kirsipuu) July 7 4th stage: Laval to Btois (Mario Clpoffirri, Italy: Kirsipuu) July 8 5th stage: Bormeval to Amiens (QpolSni; Krsbuu) July 9 6th stage: Amiens to Maubeuge (CipcM, Kirsipuu) July 10 7th stage: Avesnes-surtebe to Thbnvile (ppoW; Kirsipuu) Yesterday 8th stage: Metz (Armstrong; Armstrong) Today Rest day Tomorrow 9th stage: Le Grand Bomand to Sestrieres (132.5) I Wednesday 10lh stage: Sestrieres to; L'AipedeHuez(137) (j Thursday 1 1 th stage: Bourg (fOrsars to SaW-Etienne(123) Friday 12th stage: SaW-Galrnier to Saint-Flour (125) Saturday 1 3th stage: Saint-Flour to A (147) July 18 14th stage: Castres to Saint-J Gaudens(1235) July 19 Rest day i July 20 15th stage: Saht-Gaudens to Pi-au-Engaly(1075) i July 21 16th stage: Lannernezan to feu (119) Jury 22 171h stage: Mourenx to Bor-1 deaux(124) July 23 18th stage: Jonzac to Futurc-i scope (116) I July 24 19th stage Futuroscope (35.5) July 25 20th stage: Arpajon to Paris (89) AP American Lance Armstrong waves from the podium after winning yesterday's eighth stage of the Tour de France.

He also became the race overall leader. world time trial champion, Abraham Olano of Spain, came in fourth, at 222 behind. Overall, Moreau is second, followed by Olano and Australia's Stuart O'Grady. Spain's Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano is fifth. Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu had been the overall leader but dropped to 11th.

In a mainly European sport, the American rider also has picked up huge support on the continent "His comeback is great" said Christian Kohl, 19, of Neustadt Germany, waiting for an autograph before the race. "He was so sick, and now he's one of the favorites." In October 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. He underwent surgery to remove his right testicle and lesions from his brain. After long months of rehabilitation, Armstrong returned to racing early last year and has been steadily improving. He was considered a favorite for the time trial since winning the race prologue, also a time trial.

He wore the yellow jersey for two days before losing it to Kirsipuu. by Aran Arontn. CmM 15H2S2 to tierqrJa Ma. -Compid.

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