The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 9

B-5 La Crosse Trixne, Tuesday. February 11. 1992 V. rT3 SU Kulig carries Independence to victory over Arcadia B-6 6 liU to sfi BONNIE BLAIR celebrates winning her first gold medal Cathy Actwmnn of tho Tilbura staff GUARDED: Birmingham Bandits Jim Farmer is surrounded by La Crosse Catbirds guards Mark Wade and David Rivers during the first half of Mondays CBA game at the La Crosse Center. Ex-Badger returns from exile Knight-Ridder News Service ALBERTVILLE, France Americas girl-next-door won Americas first gold medal at -the Winter Olympics on Monday and didnt have to travel far to tell the neighbors.

They were all sitting in the stands. The scene was right out of Happy Days: Speedskater Bonnie Blair, 27, won the 500-meter sprint in 40.33 seconds, approximately 39 seconds more than it took half of Middle America to begin celebrating. Her 73-year-old mother, Eleanor, from Champaign, 111., was there. Her three sisters were there. Her brother was there.

Neighbors from Milwaukee were there. More than 40 friends and relatives from Alaska, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, Dallas, Colorado, Utah, Montana, California, Alaska, New Hampshire, Ohio and Washington were there. -f Da Blairs. People from this many states usually dont get together unless somebody is trying to elect a president. Before we go to Disneyland, were going to party, Rob Blair, Bonnies brother, shouted between hugs and kisses.

There was every reason to pop the top on a little Olympic spirit. Blair had just become the first American woman to win gold medals in two Winter Olympic. In speedskating or any other sport. Her time was more than a second slower than the world-recordLHfshe posted at in 1988, but the weather was warm and, even after an hours delay, the track was mushy enough to run the Iditarod. I held my breath the entire race, Eleanor Blair said.

Bonnies got to go a little faster. I cant keep it in that long. It wasnt her fastest race, but it was fast enough. The silver medal went to Ye Qiaobo of China, who finished .18 of a second behind. Blair will skate the 1,500 meter race Wednesday and the 1,000 on Friday.

The 1,500 is not a distance for which she trains, but she is undefeated this season in the 1,000 and favored to win. Which means her entire entourage will be back at the speed-skating oval, wearing purple jackets autographed by Blair and hanging banners made in Milwaukee-area elementary schools. The banners carried the best wishes of children, so they were not overwrought with arrogant urgings of USA, USA. They were simple greetings of good luck. Dear Aunt Bonnie, Go Fast.

Love, Brittany. Suddenly, a worldwide event had a small-town appeal. This was the Olympics but it could have been a high school football game, fans traveling to support the locals from half-filled bleachers. Friends cheering on a friend. Coming to France for the Winter Games was no different from walking across the street to a backyard barbecue.

Only one thing made the day less than a complete celebration for the Blairs. Bonnies father Charlie died of cancer on Christmas Day of 1990. Charlie Blair was the patriarch of an entire family of speedskaters. Five of the six siblings have been national champions. In fact, Charlie Blair was watching another of his children skate when Bonnie was born.

It was his dream that Id be in the Olympics before it was my dream, Blair said. He said, Youre going to win a gold medal. I thought he was crazy. Im glad he was there to see it in '88. This medal definitely goes to him.

Blair waved at her entourage after she crossed the finish line, slapping a couple of long-distance high fives. She was a two-time gold medalist but she was still Eleanor Blairs youngest child. Shes still got to do the dishes and make her bed, Eleanor said. back, hes healthy, hes ready to Sometimes when you havent been playing, you get a little more hungry. They told me no promises or anything, we just want you to come in, Jones said.

Itll be different being in a situation thats solid. I dont even know how to act yet. One thing is certain: The Catbirds, who have had six players called up to the NBA this season, will be a step up from his previous team. That would be the Las Vegas Funjets, a barnstorming team sponsored by a Milwaukee travel agency. I played with them in two or three tournaments.

We won em all, Jones said. But I really wanted to get back (to professional basketball). Last season, Jones averaged 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a rookie with his home- town team, the Rockford Lightning. However, he began this season with an injured left calf, averaging 10 points in 13 games. Jones was traded to the Grand Rapids Hoops on Dec.

9. He never made it to Michigan. I tried calling them immediately after (learning of the trade), and someone in their office said theyd get back to me within an hour," Jones said. Four days went by, and they never returned my call. The Hoops released Jones on Dec.

17, sending him into two months of professional exile. I spent a lot of time rehabbing my injury," Jones said. But I've been ready to go for a while." By ART KABELOWSKY Of the Tribune staff Danny Jones didnt know how or why he got caught in professional basketballs black hole. But there he was, a real nowhere man. That is, until the La Crosse Catbirds called Monday morning.

One four-hour drive later, Jones the University of Wisconsins career scoring leader became the newest Catbird. Ive been hanging around for the longest time, just waiting for a call, a grinning Jones said upon his arrival in the La Crosse Center at 6:45 p.m. Monday. He watched the Catbirds game with the Birmingham Bandits in street clothes, and will make his playing debut in Wednesdays home game against Tri-City Catbirds coach Flip Saunders said the 6-foot-6, 240-pound forward was signed to give another former Badger, Patrick Tompkins, a chance to recover from a wrist injury suffered a week ago. Patrick needs seven to 10 days where he doesn't do anything, so that he's ready for the stretch run," Saunders said of Tompkins, a CBA Rookie of the Year candidate averaging 9.1 points and 6.5 rebounds.

A lot of people thought Danny was gone overseas or something, Saunders said. Now hes By ART KABELOWSKY Of the Tribune staff One long night boiled down to one short shot Monday. And because of the long arm of Leonard Allen, the La Crosse Catbirds came up short. The 6-foot-8 Allen tipped Mark Davis driving layup with three seconds to play, saving the Birmingham Bandits 114-112 victory over the Catbirds. All he got on it was a fingertip, but that was enough, said Davis.

I wanted to shoot it over his hand so it gets all net, but he nicked it. If not, it was going in. Because it didnt, the 25-13 Catbirds won only two of seven possible CBA standings points, suffered their second consecutive loss and had a six-game home winning streak snapped. Its back to the drawing board, said Coach Flip Saunders, who plans to continue shuffling the Catbirds lineup to get them ready for the stretch run. My concern is not the losses, my concern is the way were playing, Saunders said.

Were not quick enough, were not sharp defensively we were very, very Were a fragile team right now. The Catbirds were able to hang with a fired-up Birmingham team for most of the night, building a 10-point lead in the third quarter. But the Bandits (17-23) took charge down the stretch, hitting 17 of 19 free throws and committing only four second-half turnovers. And in the game's final 5' a minutes, Birmingham failed to score on only two possessions. Its frustrating.

You work hard to stay in a close game, and you dont get the little things to go your way in the end," said Catbirds point guard David Rivers, who scored a season-high 37 points and added 11 assists. Davis pitched in 26 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Catbirds, while 4lrian Rahilly had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Ken Rcufield played only 25 minutes and had 11 points, missing most 92 WINTER OLYMPICS 26 points, 16 of them on free throws. And center Dave Popson had 19 points, including a 15-foot umper with 14 seconds remain-ng that proved to be the game-winner. We've got to get our big guys to step up to the pump defensively," Saunders said, if a team is smart, the way they play us is to isolate and take our players one on-one.

And it wasn't Mark and David they were posting up." Former Catbird Michael Outright made a 3 point shot with 7 minutes, 57 seconds to play, and of the fourth quarter with six fouls. Patrick Tompkins didn't start because of a wrist injury, prompting Saunders to go with his "Smurfs" lineup of Rivers and Mark Wade at guards. Wade chipod in with two 3-point shots and eight assists. Even though both Rivers and Wade were guarding bigger opponents, the Bandits gave La Crosse the most trouble on the front line: Forward Irving Thomas had 21 of his 30 points in the second half. Forward Skecter Henry had Jim Farmers driving score made it 92-88 with 7:25 left.

It took a 3-pointer by Rivers with 1:10 left to tie the game at 110, and a pass from Rivers to Tompkins for a dunk to tie it at 112 with 37 seconds left. You let a team get going on the road, like we did with them, and you give 'em an opjxirtunity to beat you," said Saunders, whose Catbirds play at home Wednesday and Friday. "Weve got to figure out a way to put a stop to that. sun Battling In tba NBA I B-7 On TV Today 6-8 a.m. (CBS): (live) mens slalom combined, women's biathlon, hockey.

Noon-5 p.m. (TNT): (la-ped)women's biathlon, pairs figure skating, hockey, luge, men's combined slalom, speedskating. 7-10 p.m. (CBS): paped) pairs figure skating, men's combined slalom, men's luge, hockey- p.m. (CBS): The day In review, a wrapup of day's events.

Dont count Magic out Monday's highlights way, the birthplace of crosscountry skiing, won its first medals ever In the mon's 30-kl-lomotor. Norwegians finished i Today's highlights ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Magic Johason's remarkable All Star game performance should silence talk that he will make only a token appearance in the Olympics. It also could renew speculation Unit he'll lie able to return to the Los Angeles Laker. Johnson had 23 points, nine assist and live rebound In 29 minute of the Western Conference's 133 113 victory Sunday.

It wn hi first game since retiring on Nov, 7 after testing positive for the AIDS virus. "I asked Magic at halftime If he was still the property ol the Piker," the Suns' Jell llornacrk said "tf not, we'd like to sign him (or the playoff run Johnson, however, wasn't talking alxiut making a comrbaik beyond his planned appearance In the Olympic "This wa like the perfect ending to the story," he said. Theres talk about this being his last gamo. Im not so sure about that. blah Thomas Islah Thomas, ene of Johnson' closest friends, though otherwise.

There's talk alxiut this Itclng hi last game." Thomas said "I'm not so sure alxiut that Johnson rapped his near nerfect day with three 3 point goals ttt the final 2:42. The last 3 pointer was the final basket of the game, with 14 seconds left. "It was a stnrvbook ending." Chris Mullin said. "Why did that last shot go in? Because he's Magic, It's as simple as that 'MEDALS: Bonnie Blair won America's first modal with a gold In 500-motor speedskating. Austria loads with sevon medals, three ahead of Germany.

LUCE: American Duncan Kennedy missed out on a medal, but his 10th-piace finish was the best ever lor a S. luger. HOCKEY: The Unified Team got another rout, 6-1 over Norway. France gave another favorite fits but lost, 64, to Chechoslovakia. CROSS COUNTRY: Nor MEDAL EVENTS: Models at stake In three events: pairs figure skating, mon's combined skiing, women's 7.5-kilo-nieter biathlon.

Top American In action: Cammy Myter begins her medal quest women's luge. HOCKEY: United States vs. Germany, Sweden vs. Italy, Finland vs, Poland. MAGIC JOHNSON displays his MVP trofthy after Sunday's NBA All Star gamo.

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