The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 11

Badgers fare a Rose Bowl pro UW reduces costs by 28 By Rob Schultz The Capital Times The University of Wisconsin athletic department claimed another Rose Bowl victory Monday. But this one was won on a spreadsheet instead of a football field. A financial summary of the UW travel partys trip tp Pasadena for last months game showed that expenses did not exceed revenues. It wasnt the granddaddy of all profits, but the net income of $239,882 from the 2000 Rose Bowl was a huge im- $326,248 to meals (from $270,567 to entertainment (from $34,426 to $11,599) and official party costs (from $208,479 to There were some other notable reductions. The athletic department was criticized in the audit last year when it spent $69,100 on 628 unused tickets.

(The financial summary released Monday claimed it spent $57,310 on unused tickets). This year, the athletic department spent $9,350 on 85 llBlKipH tiplfAtC The football team spent $96,968 on awards, which was a reduction of $86,683 from 1999. The biggest awards cost cut was for apparel, where $46,968 was spent compared to $110,763 in 1999. The cost of watches also was reduced, from $24,695 in 1999 to $7,750 in 2000. See ROSE BOWL, Page 3B A smaller travel group was the main reason the athletic department reduced its expenses by 28 percent from a year ago.

Although the llws total revenue from the trip was about $500,000 less than in 1999, the travel party included 118 fewer people than went to the 1999 Rose Bowl. The football team had three more players than in 99 and the band took 19 more members than in '99. But the athletic department took 93 fewer people and the official party including UW Board of Regents, Athletic Board members and university and system officials took 46 fewer people. Thus, there was a reduction of air travel expenses, from $673,712 in '99 to $489,862 in 2000. There also were reductions of expenses for lodging (from UW ATHLETICS provement over the $286,700 deficit from the 1999 Rose Bowl.

That deficit helped trigger an audit of the athletic department last year by the Legislative Audit Bureau. The audit was extremely critical of the athletic departments control of bowl expenditures. UW Athletic Director Pat Richter said keeping bowl expenses in line with revenues demonstrated the type of cost containment-that the athletic department is committed to making as part of its five-year financial plan. I guess if we were politicians, we would say we have a slogan of Promises made, promises said Richter. Hook voir roll on tie road VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Sooner or later, coach George Karl hopes, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to turn a two-game winning streak into something bigger.

Karl was busy wondering about his up-and-down Bucks after they overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Vancou-ver Grizzlies, 92-87, Mon- NRA day night. The victory marked the third time this season that Milwaukee following Saturdays 101-99 win at Seattle has won two straight on the road. And overall, the Bucks havent been much more consistent. While improving to 25-20, Milwaukee hasnt been able to string together more than three wins all season. Maybe this is the start of something big.

All year long, every 10 games we win five or six. We dont ever explode, said Karl, whose team is in the midst of five road games in seven nights. It gives us an opportunity to snowball some momentum. Were learning and growing. I think were gaining some respect, but we still have a long, long way to go.

Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell overcame poor starts and each scored 1 1 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victoiy. Robinsons 16-footer with 2 minutes, 2 seconds left put the Bucks ahead for good, breaking an 80-80 tie. After the Grizzlies failed to inbound the ball on their next possession, Cassell drained a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach. See BUCKS, Page 6B From staff, news services Vegas prep hasnt ruled out Wisconsin The on-again, off-again recruitment of Las Vegas defensive tackle Lynn McGruder appears to be on for the University of Wisconsin football program. Last weekend, it was reported that the 6-foot-3, 285-pound McGruder had given a verbal commitment to Tennessee.

Since then, McGruder has had a change of heart. I was leaning toward Tennessee on Saturday, but right now, theres a lot of confusion going on, McGruder told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. I let my emotions get me too soon. Im not committed right now. McGruder said he would reconsider his top three choices: Tennessee, Wisconsin and Texas.

Because of his size and speed, McGruder is rated as one of the top defensive line prospects in the country. Although McGruder was raised in Texas, he has spent the last two years in Las Vegas, attending Cheyenne High School, while living with his uncle, Hunkie Cooper, a former UNLV player. Wednesday is the official signing date for national letters. "Im not going to rush anything right now, McGruder said. Im going to go back to the drawing board and do it right.

The Badgers are also waiting on another top defensive prospect linebacker Traison Lewis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) who has been vacillating between Wisconsin and Southern Cal. Mike Lucas Vermeil wont say how long hell coach Dick Vermeil isnt ready to walk into the sunset yet. A day after he justified his coaching comeback with the St. Louis Rams Super Bowl victory, Vermeil hedged on his future. Vermeil, 63, is under contract for two more years and insists he hasnt decided what to do yet.

If I say Im definitely coming back and change my mind, youll say You lying son of a gun. I'm not going to be trapped, Vermeil said. Vermeil's closest friends dont know what hell do. Longtime broadcasting partner Brent Musburger called Vermeils decision a jump ball. Musburger said he never doubted Vermeil could come back, even after a 14-year absence.

Hes the only analyst I ever worked with who actually could have coached either team on a Saturday afternoon," Musburger said. McCleaiy facing long recovery Trent McCleary is recovering from life-threatening injuries suffered in a National Hockey League game Saturday night. McCleary, the Montreal player struck in the throat by a slap shot in the Canadiens' 2-2 tie with the Philadelphia Flyers, underwent surgery Monday to a repair a complex fracture of the larynx. The four-hour procedure was the second surgery in less than 48 hours for McCleary, who underwent an emergency tracheotomy Saturday, and was also treated for a collapsed lung. My wife and I went up to see him before I came to practice and he was very upbeat," Canadiens goalie Jeff Hackett said.

I went up to see him Saturday night and he was still sedated and then Sunday, I saw him and he was veiy scared, very confused, because he didnt know what was going to happen. McCleary probably will be taken off the respirator Tuesday and released from the hospital next week. He faces a recovery period of about six months. In addition to speech therapy, he will have to cope with weight loss, because he is unable to eat and is being fed intravenously. ASSOCIATED PRESS Milwaukees Sam Cassell tumbles to the floor while defending Vancouvers Bryant Reeves (50) Monday night at General Motors Place.

Also defending is Bucks forward Darvin Ham (21). Milwaukee defeated the Grizzlies, 92-87. MIKE LUCAS Raven star faces murder charges I NFL ATLANTA (AP) Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was supposed to be in Hawaii this week, preparing for his third straight Pro Bowl. Instead, the star linebacker has become the second NFL player to be charged with murder in less than a month. Lewis is accused of stabbing two people to death shortly after Sunday night's Super Bowl.

Lewis, the leagues leading tackier this season, was charged after police spent most of the day investigating the slayings, which happened in Atlan-tas trendy Buckhead neighborhood about 4 Monday. Wearing a red prison uniform and with ASSOCIATED PRESS Iowas Jacob Jaacks (left) and Wisconsins Kirk Penney battle for a loose ball during the Hawkeyes victory Saturday at the Kohl Cen-- ter. The Big Ten has seen Its share of physical play this season, with Jaacks being one of the primary bruisers. Big Ten game is combat sport Where do you draw the line on physical combat in the Big Ten? When does it become counterproductive to the postseason aspirations and preparation of conference teams? Did Purdue and the University of Wisconsin cross the line during last Wednesdays scrimmage in Madison? Because of their teams respective personalities, Gene Keady and Dick Bennett knew that they would be walking a fine line with their responses during Mondays Big Ten teleconference. The Badgers and the Boilermakers whacked each bther around for the worst part of 40 minutes, resulting in 45 free throw attempts (25 by the home team).

"I thought it was too physical, Keady reiterated. I think basketball has to have some finesse in it someplace. There was too much grabbing, which can be curtailed early in the game." For openly bringing attention to the disparity in team fouls in the second half Purdue had eight, Wisconsin had three by pointing to the overhead score-board in the Kohl Center, Keady was summarily tagged with a technical foul. I'm still not sure what I got my technical for, Keady said. "Its Lewis tioned by police but cleared of any I cooperated fully," Lewis told The Sun.

As for the I have no comment. Two men were stabbed during.a fight that broke out about 2Cp yards away after a party at the Cobalt lounge. Witnesses said six. men fought and argued with the two victims before fleeing in a black stretch limousine, firing at least five gunshots as they drove away. The 24-year-old player was the only suspect identified by police.

Investigators found the vehicle in a parking lot behind a hotel near the shooting scene, police spokesman John Quigley said. He declined to release others details of the investigation or a possible motive. Charles Cook, operating partner of the Cobalt, said there was no altercation at the club, which closed about half an hour before the slayings. He said Lewis had1 been at the club earlier in the week but did not know if he was there Sunday night. The Cobalt is a sleek, upscale lounge featuring vinyl-covered chairs and chrome-plated fixtures.

It is in the heart of Atlantas nightclub district, where thousands of revelers spill into the streets every weekend. The Cobalt has come under fire from neighborhood businesses because of an earlier killing. On Jan. 1 7, a man was shot to death near the club. 1 The stabbing victims were identified as Jacinta Baker, 21, and Richard Lollar, 24, both of suburban Decatur.

One man died at the scene, the other at Grady Memorial Hospital. See LEWIS, Page 2B uot eJU nquotefl maybe he was implying that the Badgers were the aggressors. I'm not saying that," he insisted. "The referees need to call it early so we dont get into a grabbing and pushing deal. One of the things that Ive always been proud of in this league is that weve never had any fights, never had any team scuffles.

And we don't need that. Its not what basketball is all about. This league has always been good about playing hard, playing physical, but within a limit. Later, when Bennett came on the teleconference, the ball was rolled into his court. "It was a physical game, that's for sure, Bennett said of Wisconsins 55-45 victory over the Boilermakers.

Gene is a master. 1 wouldn't dispute anything he says. See BIG TEN, Page 6B Scoring woes are haunting Badgers, 2B. one of those things where if I got it for being up too much, I should have been warned earlier. Bennett, in fact, drew a warning from official Tom Rucker, who was not overly impressed or pleased with his sideline gymnastics.

I dont think basketball needs to be THAT phyiscal," Keady repeated. "Good defense is the key, but sometimes maybe the referees need to call fouls earlier to curtail it. I like to see the kids play hard, play together and play smart. But I dont like grabbing. Was only one team grabbing? "We were probably doing it, too, Keady said.

The referees were telling me that we were doing it, too. And if were doing it, I dont like it, either. I'm not pointing any fingers. I just think somebody needs to check their hold card on, Is this is going to help the Big Ten play better in the NCAA? Thats all I care about. Keady was quick to cover his flank when It was suggested that his hands shackled in front of him, Lewis was in court today for a preliminary hearing on the charges.

The hearing was postponed until Feb. 24 at the request of prosecutor Larry Gardner, who said he needed more time to confer with witnesses and police. Lewis was held without bail. His lawyer, Max Richardson said Lewis is innocent. Were taking the position that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Richardson said outside the courtroom.

From what Ive gathered from law enforcement officers, they know Ray didn't kill these unfortunate victims. They don't know where the other two men who were involved ne, so they arrested Ray." He did not identify the other men. Before his arrest, Lewis told a Baltimore newspaper he was ques Phil Mushnick in the New York Post, on Tom Osbornes run for the U.S. Senate: Were told hell run a get-tough-on-crime campaign, provided the criminals eligibility has expired. i tPiimp.innml What Is the record for the longest touchdown pass play in the Super Bowl? Answer hi Sports Briefs, Page 2B.

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