Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 19

SCORECARD 2 SPORTS DIGEST 2 CLASSIFIED 6 3ftc (Clarioii-Jctlat February 7, 1986 FRIDAY Ditka bids good riddance to Ryan and vice versa lineup at midseason only after Ditka insisted. Ryan indicated that denigrating Perry was just one of his tactics for getting the most out of a player. "It sure worked, didn't it?" he said. "Things like that affect the whole organization, the coaching staff, the scouting staff," said Ditka. "It's a slap at the entire organization.

I backed him up but that doesn't mean I have to agree with him." Despite their disagreements, Ditka said he and Ryan "only had one major blowup at halftime of the Bears' only loss, a 38-24 decision in Miami. "That was major," Ditka said. "I wanted to know what we were doing on the field on defense, how we were trying to cover three different receivers." "(Ditka) didn't know what was going on on defense and we cussed each other out," said Ryan. "But we'd do that every three or four weeks. Maybe it stands out in his mind." Of the Bears, he said, "I know the players will miss me but I'll miss them more." The Associated Press CHICAGO Mike Ditka, coach of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, says he's glad to see the last of Buddy Ryan and accuses his former defensive coordinator of playing favorites and hogging credit for the Bears' success.

"I'm not happy he's gone, I'm elated," Ditka said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Never again in history will an assistant coach get as much credit as Buddy did," said Ditka. "I handled it well. It will be interesting to see how he handles it now that he's the head coach." Ryan, who put together the vaunted "46" defense that helped Chicago to an 18-1 record this season, left the Bears shortly after their 46-10 Super Bowl victory over New England to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan made it clear he feels Ditka was fortunate to have him.

"I should be so lucky to have a Buddy Ryan around," he said. "I'd like to have somebody around to take care of anyone else. Why doesn't (offensive line coach) Dick Stanfel get more credit? We led the league in rushing three years in a row," Ditka said. "I never favored any players, I treated them all alike," said Ryan. "I'd jump on an all-Pro as quick as I'd jump on a rookie.

Some you have to pat on the back, some you have to kick in the butt. I never had any buddy-buddy system." Ditka never has been a proponent of the "46" defense, in which six or seven men can rush the passer, leaving cor-nerbacks and linebackers in one-on-one coverage. "Hell, the defense should have been great this season," said Ditka. "They were on the field 20 minutes of the game. The offense was on the field for the other 40 minutes." But he said he backed Ryan even when they disagreed.

"I even sat back at what happened at Platteville," said Ditka, referring to the time Ryan called rookie defensive tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry "a wasted draft choice." Perry was inserted into the starting me. But Ryan said the Bears have such a weak schedule next season, they have a good shot at another NFL title. Among their games is one at Soldier Field with the Eagles, 7-9 last season. Ryan came to the Bears in 1978 with head coach Neill Armstrong. He was kept on by the late George Halas, when Halas fired Armstrong after the 1981 season and hired Ditka.

By most accounts, Ditka and Ryan never hit it off well, in part because of differing philosophies on defense and handling players. Ditka said Ryan had a "buddy-buddy system" and played favorites. "I believe in playing the best 11 players," said Ditka. "I don't believe in having favorite players. I want challenges, not preconceived situations.

I want everybody to have a chance to play." He also said Ryan took more than his share of the credit. "He took a lot of bows and I let him take them," said Ditka. "But he didn't let any of his assistants take any bows. "Some people don't give credit to 'I should be so lucky to have a Buddy Ryan around Buddy Ryan Tm not happy he's gone, I'm elated Mike Ditka 5-foot-l Utica mighty mite bridles opponents in short fashion NCAA suspends Memphis State star for two games Cardinals clobber Gobblers. 4C The Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn.

William Bedford, the star center for Memphis State University's third-ranked basketball squad, will be sidelined for two games because he borrowed luxury cars from school boosters, the university said Thursday. The suspension was ordered by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. "This is a stiff penalty, but the NCAA has its rules and regulations and as members of the NCAA we must abide by them," said Memphis State athletic director Charles Cavagnaro. Bedford, who replaced Memphis State's all-time scoring and rebounding leader Keith Lee in the Tiger lineup this year, is averaging 18.4 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. The 7-foot junior also leads the team in blocked shots with 58.

With Lee, Memphis State made it to the semifinal round of the NCAA playoffs last year, and team observers speculated on the Tigers chance of a repeat performance after the All-American's move to the National Basketball Asso- caition. But the Tigers, with Bedford in the starting lineup, had their best start ever this season, winning their first 20 games. Cavagnaro said Bedford will be sidelined for Saturday's road game against ninth-ranked Nevada-Las Vegas and a home-court contest against Florida State on Monday. Memphis State is 21-1, while Nevada-Las Vegas is 21-2. Bedford refused to comment on the suspension, saying "Nope, nope, nope," as he showed up for practice Thursday afternoon.

Memphis State coach Dana Kirk said 6-9 sophomore Dewayne Bailey and 6-7 freshman Marvin Alexander will alternate in the lineup to replace Bedford. "I think we can play without him," Kirk said. He declined to discuss the NCAA violation. "Everybody makes a mistake here and there," Kirk said. The suspension stems from allegations last year that Bedford was involved in a minor traffic accident while driving a 1 983 Jaguar owned by a team booster.

Wo I -'5. t. s. By LEE BAKER Clarion-Ledger Sports Writer UTICA Basketball, even the day Dr. Naismith nailed the peach baskets to the wall in the Springfield, YMCA, never has been considered a game for midgets.

Utica Junior College's Don Jones just might bridle a bit at that description, but considering how accurately a dictionary definition as "a very small person" applies, the young man from Monroe, probably would accept it. Jones long ago accepted his lack of height as a boon, rather than a handicap, in playing his favorite game. So how tall or perhaps "how small" is Don Jones? "I really don't know how tall I am," he insists. "When anyone asks, I say, then they laugh." Which partly tells the matter, 5-feet, 6-inches not being all that sizable among male basketeers or female, come to mention it, yet laughable when anyone alongside assesses Jones. While not actually having been measured to determine the matter with exactness, Jones does concede that 5-1 is a good guess.

Admitted, too, is that he never has come up against anyone so small from his earliest days of playing back in elementary school. "Ever since I've been playing, I've been the littlest one out there, but I never felt any different than the others," says Jones. "Everybody has been taller than me as long as I can remember." His athletic skills led not only into gyms, but through junior high to football fields and through high school to baseball diamonds. "I was a flanker in football, but I hurt an ankle and gave it up after junior high. In Bama receivers coach may take job at State RICK MUSACCHIOThe Clarion Ledger foot-1, has stood tall along with 6-6 forwards Jammie Johnson, 32, and Jimmie Johnson, 42.

TWIN TOWERS TINY Utica Junior College guard Don Jones, at 5- vid, or to anyone else, for that matter. Offensive coordinator is too important of a position to rush into anything. I want to have some time to think about this and make the right choice. I want to wait until I'm ready and able to put some more time into it." Rader was an assistant at Alabama with Felker the last three seasons. He was the quarterback coach his first two years and switched to receivers last year when head coach Ray Perkins took over as quarterback coach.

Rader, who could not be reached for See State, 3C By RUSTY HAMPTON Clarion-Ledger Sports Writer Alabama receivers coach David Rader appears to be the leading candidate to become offensive coordinator at Mississippi State. But new Bulldog football coach Rockey Felker said Thursday no decisions will be announced until after Wednesday, the first day high school recruits can sign letters of intent. "David is one I'm considering, because of our close friendship and the similar views we have about offensive philosophy," said Felker. "But right now, the job has not been offered to Da eryone get plenty of help from the others." Two years ago, when Jones finished at Wassman, Nelson passed him over because, "we already had the small playmaker in Anthony Hall (now at Southeast Missouri State). But the next year, when his high school coach, George Belton, a personal friend who knows what kind of players I need, told me Don was available, I grabbed him." Senior college coaches seemingly are not going to let Jones dangle when his UJC playing days are done this winter, quite a few already lining up to converse about his joining their programs.

baseball, I played shortstop, starting all three years at Wassman High. I enjoyed baseball, but basketball more, so when I got to Utica, I've only played basketball. "It's hard trying to play more than one sport in college, especially that combination. Baseball already has started before we finish basketball, and, of course, they've been practicing a long while before I ever would be able to get out to try making the team." Not surprisingly, UJC coach Earl Joe Nelson usually operates defensively from a 2-3 zone, thereby keeping opponents from posting up the Monroe mite inside as would happen if the Bulldogs went man-to-man. And if Utica has to go "man," then what? Why, Nelson says, "we just play a help-out defense.

But that doesn't happen much because he psyches out his guy so much. Anyone he's playing doesn't want to get close to Don." Nelson pauses for a moment, then adds, "I tell you, we would be awesome if I had four who could play with him. He is just such a tricky, smart play-er." Confident, too. "I kind of like playing man-to-man, especially when we're pressing all over the court," Jones said. "What I like best is worrying the ball handler, trying to force turnovers.

But the zone is okay, letting ev- See Jones, 2C WAPTs Hone eagle 9 operation often causes empty nest TVRADIO COLUMN added another," Anderson said of his one-man army days. "It wears you down. If you take pride in what you're trying to do, it's tough going up against those odds. WAPT general manager Ben Strickland said he expects to make an announcement "shortly" on who will fill that station's sports void. He also said an expanded sports staff is "very possible.

We consider it constantly." "The competition between news departments overall is intense and I would say sports is a part of that. I wouldn't single out sports as being any more competitive." Maybe not. But here's something to mull over. The sports staff at WLBT has an aggregate longevity of 15 years. WAPT, with Daniel's departure, is down to zero.

According to Arbitron, WLBT's 6 p.m. news show had a ratings of 30 and a 45 share in the Oct. 30-Nov. 26 period. WAPT had a 7 ratings and an 1 1 share in the same time span.

WJTV was a solid second place. (Ratings are measured by the people in the market area who own TV sets. A share is how many of those set-owners have those tubes on and are tuned in to that particular channel.) In no particular order, WJTV has had Kerry Kendall, Jeff Jacobs, John Danahy, John Bassfield, Lawrence West, Dan Faber and, currently, Knox Nunnally. Dave Garrett, Henry Harrison, Anderson and Daniel have been at WAPT. If there were others, they've escaped Rubenstein's memory.

"TV is such a changeover industry. I'm sure I'm way against the national norm for length of time at one place," Rubenstein said. "But that's typical at this station. It's very unusual that way." Rubenstein credits WLBT's management. His bosses, he said, "spell commitment M-O-N-E-Y." His one-man show ended about four years ago when WLBT brought in Eric Wesson fulltime.

Wesson since has left. Now Rubenstein is joined by Clay Hall, Dave Duckett and photographer Don Cash. WJTV has Nunnally, Rick Whitlow and Rodney Orr. WAPT, sans Daniel, has asked Bob Burks, who normally co-anchors the weekday news segments, to fill in on the sports desk. "When I was there (WAPT), both (WLBT and WJTV) had two fulltime reporters and since Bill has been there they've By DAVID PUTNAM Clarion-Ledger Assistant Sports Editor For the second time in 2Vi years, WAPT-Channel 16 is looking for a sports anchor.

And for the zillionth time in 9V2 years, Michael Rubenstein of WLBT-Channel 3 has advice for the newest face to Jackson's expanding montage of TV sports anchors. "I think anyone who comes in here and they're not ready to run full-court, four quarters is not going to be able to play against us," Rubenstein said, "because we go after it every day." Bill Daniel passed through WAPT's doors for the last time eight days ago just as his predecessor, Ken Anderson, did in 1983 without another job in sight. Daniel cited monetary reasons and, again like Anderson, too many hours without enough help. The rigors of being a one-man staff against WLBT's four-man crew and the three-man staff at WJTV-Channel 12 proved too much. Anderson stuck it out for 3 V2 years.

Daniel took over in August 1983. "You just can't put out the amount of different quality local stories that I wanted to put out," Daniel said. "That preyed on me." Daniel broke the recent stories on Mississippi State's hiring of athletic director Charlie Carr and football coach Rockey Felker. However, the Monday-through-Friday basics, plus the additional features the fringes to a quality TV sports report were too grinding over a 2 V2 -year period. "Yeah, I'm burned out," Daniel said.

"I love this business, but I do need some time away from it." Rubenstein can sympathize, having operated a one-man show for his first five years at WLBT. On the other hand, the competition did the same. Still, WLBT's weekday news shows are No. 1 according to the ratings service, Arbitron. One factor, in the sports segments at least, has been Rubenstein's longevity in what he terms, "essentially a carpet-bagger industry." INSIDE Metro score Louisville 103 Virginia Tech 68 -Page 4 SEC score Auburn 67 Florida 65 Page 4 BACH TO STAY John Bach, coach of the Golden State Warriors, gets permission to finish out the year with the NBA's worst team.

Story, 4C Other scores Ga. Tech 87 76 Indiana 78 Wisconsin 69 Duke 77 Virginia 65 Old Dominion 74 W. Kentucky 6 1 Michigan 80 Purdue 79 Pao-P 1 UTEP72 Wyoming 58 rage REBS HONORED oie Miss' Jay Schimmel and Stevon Moore were picked by the Football News as second-team All-American freshmen. Story, 3C.