Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 29

Longview News-Journal, Thursday, January 31, 2002 3D NFL legend 'Night Train' Lane dead at 75 3 cans' 1 a-, i By JIM VERTUNO Associated Press AUSTIN Dick "Night Train" Lane hounded wide receivers with his ferocious tackles and quarterbacks with his interceptions. An undrafted free agent who would become one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history during his 14-year career, Lane died Tuesday night after a heart attack at the assisted living facility where he lived. He was 73. A member of the NFL's All-Time Team for its first 75 years, Lane was an aggressive tackier whose signature hit a clothesline-type move dubbed the "Night Train Necktie" was banned by the league because it was too dangerous. Lane was a big hit his rookie season when he had 14 interceptions in a 12-game season, a mark that has stood for 50 years despite the' schedule increasing to 16 games.

At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Lane was often bigger and faster than wide receivers. His 68 career interceptions remain among the most in league history, and he returned them for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns. Lane spent four years in the Army after junior college and signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. He was traded to the Chicago Cardinals in 1954 before going to the Detroit Lions in 1960. He made the Pro Bowl six times in a career that ended when he retired after the 1965 season.

Lane was selected the all-time NFL cornerback in 1969 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. Hall of Fame football player Richard "Night Train" Lane died Tuesday of a heart APPhoto Lennox Lewis, the WBC and IBf world heavyweight boxing champion, shows the leg that Mike Tyson allegedly bit last week during a news conference Wednesday in London. Lewis still wants to get Tyson in ring A tough kid growing up in Austin, Lane earned the nickname "Cue Ball" for having thrown one into the back of the head of a boy who ran from a lost pool bet. He didn't get the nickname "Night Train" until he was a pro. He would stop by a teammate's dorm room when the Buddy Morrow song "Night Train" was playing on the phonograph.

Lane was married and divorced three times, including his marriage to Washington, who was known as "Queen of the Blues." After his playing career, Lane spent a short time as road manager for comedian Redd Foxx Former NBA star Robertson sentenced to prison married with three children and now runs a construction company, was more than halfway through a 10-year probation he received in 1996. That followed his conviction of breaking into the apartment of anther former girlfriend, slashing clothes and furniture and taking jewelry. The criminal mischief charge involved vandalism to the woman's car. Robertson rose in court Tuesday to express his displeasure with the justice system. "I came in here with criminal mischief charges and now I'm an alleged rapist," he said in a clear, strong voice.

"Ever since I've been in the system, for each and every allegation I've had to stand up and (prove my innocence). I am here now to tell "I played with him and against him, and he was the best I've ever seen," former New York Giants kicker Pat Sum-merall once said. Once married to jazz singer Dinah Washington, Lane was listening to jazz the night he died, said Terry Yates, the personal care worker who helped Lane for the last two years at the Five-Star Personal Care facility. Lane's mother was a prostitute and his father was a pimp known as Texas Slim. Abandoned in a dumpster when he was 3 months old, Lane was found by a woman who at first thought his cries were a meowing cat.

A widow with two other children, she adopted him. was disrespectful of her during a sexual encounter that was consensual. In probation revocation hearings, a finding of absolute guilt is not necessary; prosecutors need only show that it's likely a violation occurred. Robertson has not been criminally charged in the alleged rape, and prosecutors said they still are considering their options. Robertson was the San Antonio Spurs' top draft pick out of the University of Arkansas in 1984.

In 1986, he was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. Robertson last played for the Toronto Raptors, who released him after the 1995-1996 season. At the time the sex allegations surfaced, Robertson, who is who could create a scheme around his personnel," Jones said. "I believe we've been able to bring in a man who will take our offense to the next level, where it needs to be." Reilly, the Cowboys' quarterbacks coach in 1997, rejoined the team two years ago to run the offense that suited quarterback Troy Aikman. But Aikman played only eight games for Reilly in 2000, then was released and retired.

Dallas used four starting quarterbacks last season, with rookie Quincy Carter seeing the most action. Former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf also is on the roster and Chad Hutchinson, a former minor-league pitcher, was signed Saturday. that the police have also been investigating a second sexual assault complaint against Tyson. It could be "a few days or several months" before a decision is reached on either case, Bell said.

Meanwhile, promoters in both South Africa and Denmark said they would welcome the fight, which raises the question of whether Tyson would leave the United States. "We're not in a position to charge him yet," Bell said. "We would be reluctant to let someone leave the country if we had any doubt we could find him if we needed to, but he's easy to find." So it would appear the rape allegations would not affect Tyson fighting anywhere if he can get a license either in or out of the country. An indictment would change things. As far as the second sexual allegation is concerned, Booker Evans, a Tyson lawyer, said Wednesday that Clark County "has committed to allow Mr.

Tyson's legal team to present favorable evidence prior to any charges being filed." In London, Lewis said he required a tetanus shot after Tyson bit a chunk of flesh out of his left thigh during a melee at news conference in New York last week. But the champion described the fracas and the Nevada ruling as "minor setbacks" and hopes a venue for the fight can be found. "He took a bit of me and I want to take a bit of him," the WBC and IBF champion said. By ROBERT MILLWARD Associated Press LONDON Lennox Lewis still wants Mike Tyson. He talks like a fighter who needs Mike Tyson.

"My main aim for staying around is Mike Tyson," Lewis said Wednesday. "It's the last notch on my belt, icing on my cake. I would love it to happen before I retire." Lewis often has been criticized for what some say has been a lack of serious opposition and for his two one-punch knockout losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, both of whom he beat in rematches. His heavyweight title defense against Tyson on April 6 was knocked out of Las Vegas when the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to deny Tyson a boxing license. So where, when and if it will be held and who will stage it are now boxing's big questions.

Another state could license Tyson to fight, but political pressure could be brought to bear on any state considering it, especially in the wake of the revelation of two sexual assault complaints against Tyson. Last week, Las Vegas police said they found probable cause to charge Tyson with sexual' assault after a woman complained in September that he raped her at his Las Vegas home On Wednesday, Stewart Bell, the Clark County (Nev.) district attorney, confirmed i'i" APPhoto attack in Austin. He was 73. and. had coaching stints at Southern University and Central State in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Bothered by diabetes and chronic knee problems, Lane moved into the assisted living facility two years ago. He also had back surgery. He continued to sign autographs but had used a wheelchair for the last year and half Lane was scheduled to be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame next month. He is survived by two sons, Richard Lane of St. Louis, and Richard Walker of Detroit.

Funeral services were planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at the King-Tears Funeral Home in Austin. you that I would never sexually assault anyone. "I absolutely did not rape anybody. I never committed a sexual assault.

I'm screaming in the wilderness." The judge was not swayed. Harle ruled that Robertson had violated his probation by using drugs and alcohol and by committing a sexual assault Financing Available 236-3488 UCTACUB00951BE a call ori in SAN ANTONIO (AP) Two-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist Alvin Robertson has been sentenced to three years in prison for a probation violation involving a rape accusation. Robertson's sentence came despite his long-time girlfriend recanting the rape account she made to police the morning of the alleged attack. State District Judge Sid Harle, in imposing the sentence, said he found it "more likely than not" that Robertson, 39, raped her during the visit to her San Antonio residence on Nov. 17.

Robertson's girlfriend, appearing Monday as a hostile witness, testified she had accused Robertson of rape to get even with him after she felt he Cowboys From Page ID next season. Jones also indicated that other staff changes were possible, but that quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson given a three-year contract the day Reilly was ousted will remain in his position. Coslet was a student of former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, the architect of the short-drop, quick-throwing system used by many of the NFL's most prolific offenses. Coslet played for the Bengals in the 1970s when Walsh was offensive coordinator and began his coaching career on Walsh's 49ers staff in 1980. Coslet was just 47-78 in nine seasons as coach of the Jets (1990-93) and Cincinnati (1996-2000), and has been out of football since resigning after the Bengals lost their first three games in 2000.

But Coslet was successful as an offensive coordinator for the? Bengals, who had the NFL's top-rated offense, in 1986 and 1988 and led the league in rushing in 1988 and 1989. "We wanted somebody that has exhibited a creative mind, Donate younpaper.v,. Pine Tree, Lufkin girls battle to scoreless draw goalkeeper Lindsay Williams held Lufkin in check. "We dominated the game," said PT soccer coach James Wright. "It was a good game, we just couldn't finish." Wright credited Jana and June Wilson with good games offensively, and Blair Fitzhugh on the defensive end.

The Lady Pirates play host to Shreveport Byrd on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Pine Tree Stadium. Give us FROM STAFF REPORTS LUFKIN Despite nearly doubling their shots on goal against Lufkin, the Pine Tree Lady Pirates couldn't penetrated the Lady Panthers' goal, settling for a 0-0 tie in a non-district match Tuesday night at Jase Magers Soccer Complex. The Lady Pirates (9-1-2) out-shot Lufkin 24-13. While Pine Tree was held scoreless, Lady Pirate Hollis (903) 237-777 or (800) 825-9; i 1 Lorisvir.v major in either business or, engineering.

Hollis joins teammate' Willie Andrews, who verbally committed last week to Baylor. The Lobos posted a 7-5 record, reaching the area round of the Class 5A playoffs, in earning their first postseason berth in four years. North Texas won the Sun Belt Conference after opening the season 0-5, earning it first bowl trip in 42 years. The conference champion gained an automatically berth in the New Orleans BowL The Eagles lost 45-20 to Colorado State. FromPagelD "He feels good about it, and I feel good about it He's exceptional young man.

He's one of our people who has fought it hard in that classroom and deserves this opportunity." Hollis visited the UNT campus this past weekend in Denton. He had previously gone on official recruiting trips to Stephen F. Austin and University of Louisiana-Monroe. "I liked the professors, the academics and the sports environment," said Hollis, who plans to If lliptl 1 deliver. Every day.

in (evefopir.j.