The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 60

G2 The Sun THURSDAY, August 16, 1990 ALEIDOSCQPE Cooper gets boot; waived by Lakers 55" V11 aim irosn tacKie pnd the atomic drop Hearn credited Cooper with being "one of the greatest three-point shooters in the clutch in the history of the game." Cooper is the NBA career leader in three-point baskets in playoff games, with 124 in 316 attempts. Hearn, speaking on behalf of Lakers owner Jer Chances are, University of Miami defensive kckle Dwayne Johnson won't slap a figure-four glock on his opponent while trying to stop an "Michael Cooper has been so much more than a teammate of mine," said Johnson, three times the league's most valuable player. "One thing I won't miss, though, is getting smacked by Coop in practice. Everyone here in Los Angeles will miss him. But the memories will always live in our hearts.

he ends up in Italy, I'll be checking for the 'Coop-A-Loop'" the Johnson-to-Cooper alley-oop pass." Other NBA teams have until Friday afternoon to claim Cooper. However, Cooper's agent has sent messages to each of the NBA teams saying that the player's contract demands would be prohibitive, because of the reported multimillion-dollar contract awaiting him in Italy. Cooper had one year left on a contract reportedly worth $600,000 annually. Asked how long he thought he could play in Italy, Cooper said, "Bob McAdoo is still playing and he's 39. "The hours aren't as rigorous and the practices can't be as hard as Pat Riley's boot camp." Cooper said, referring to practices under the coach who resigned after the season.

"I'm hoping for four or five years." The Lakers of the 1980s have been splitting up in the last two years, with the retirement of NBA career scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Riley's resignation to enter broadcasting and now Cooper's waiver. Associated Press INGLEWOOD Michael Cooper, the graceful defensive specialist who was a key performer in five NBA championship teams in the 1980s, parted company with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday to seek a new basketball career in Italy. Lakers assistant general manager Mitch Kup-chak said the Lakers placed Cooper, an 11-year veteran, on waivers at his own request. If Cooper, 34, isn't claimed by another NBA team, he would be free to sign a multi-year contract with the Italian League's II Messaggero of Milan. The announcement was made during a news conference in which both Cooper and longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn wiped away tears.

"We're not certain that it's Italy. Things are still in the talking stage. If that were to happen, I think that would be great a chance to experience a different lifestyle," Cooper said. "Kurt Rambis (a former Lakers teammate) told me I'd get a whole new league to intimidate." Cooper referred to his fame as a defensive specialist, holding down his opponents' scoring leader and being unafraid to challenge the biggest players although he is only 6-foot-7 and a skinny 176 pounds. Cooper was voted to the NBA's all-defensive team eight times, five times on the first unit.

ry Buss and general manager Jerry West, neither of whom were present, said: "We cannot overemphasize the contribution Michael has made to this team and this town. "The times Michael dove into the press table in pursuit of loose balls, his six three-pointers in the finals, the time he picked a fight with Bob Lanier (6-11, 270 pounds) in Milwaukee." Cooper joined the Lakers at the start of the IP Michael Cooper championship era and teamed with Magic Johnson and Byron Scott to form one of the greatest outside combinations in the league. Although Cooper averaged only 9.4 points per game, his contributions to the Lakers were more evidenced by his 1,236 career steals. Puerto Rico edges U.S., 81-79 Lucero takes his first scratch main at EMS Associated Press The Sun off-tackle burst. But it's possible.

The freshman from Bethlehem, comes from a rich professional wrestling background that exposed him to some of the greats of the business. His father is Rocky Johnson, who held the World Wrestling Federation tag-team title with Tony Atlas; his grandfather was the first Samo-an of pro wrestling; and his uncles are Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and former WWF tag-team champs The Wild Samoans. I Johnson, whose mother Ata is Samoan, said if he hadn't taken up football as a junior at Free-; dom High School and fallen in love with it," he would have become a pro wrestler after his se-; nioryear. "You have to be competitive and have the will to succeed and all that goes with it," said Johnson, adding he would still like to wrestle if a career in the NFL doesn't materialize. "There's a lot of showmanship involved, but the punches and slams and blood are all real." What is also real is Johnson's lofty status among Miami's freshmen.

"I can't wait to see him in pads," said Miami coach Dennis Erickson. "Among the freshmen, 1 he is the one who is standing out." That's called capitalism, comrade Yuri Korolev, VP of the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation, in calling for restrictions on Soviets wishing to play in the NHL: "Hockey is just one example of what's happening in all aspects of our society. Anyone who has the chance to gel lots of money, to give his children a better life, will go." Just think if he'd waltzed Said lightweight boxer Greg Haugen, after losing a decision to a dancing Vinny Pazienza: "I didn't know you could score points with a fox trot." It hurts so good Cardinals left fielder Vince Coleman came i under attack by ex-manager Whitey Herzog dur-j ing the offseason when he called him his fourth I outfielder. Said Coleman: "The mental abuse I Whitey put me through last year really made me a better person. It wasn't going to destroy me.

I I guess, in a sense, I should thank him." I Gee, they're both presidents, too The paradoxical question of the day comes from Houston Astros reliever Larry Andersen: I "Is it just coincidence that Lincoln and Wash-J ington were both born on holidays." drought on a rebound basket by Chris Gattling with 1:47 left and two free throws by Gattling 23 seconds later for its final lead of the game. George Torres hit a three-pointer with 1:04 to play and then Billy Owens, who played for the United States after injuring his back in the opening minute of Tuesday's game, missed two free throws with 43 seconds left. Jose Ortiz, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds, scored on a dunk with 25 seconds left for a four-point Puerto Rico lead and Gattling's side jumper with 11 seconds left was the final margin. Ortiz, the center on the starting front line which all played collegiate ball in the United States and finished with 51 points and 31 rebounds, 18 on the offensive end. DEVORE Riverside's Steve Lucero captured his first scratch main victory at the Inland Motor Speedway this season with a three-bike length triumph in the four-lap event in front of 3,064 fans on Wednesday night.

Colton's Mike Faria finished second and Bobby Schwartz tlnird. Faria won the eight-lap handicap main by about half the straightaway. Larsen was second and Alan Christian of Murietta third. Harley Hall of Costa Mesa won the five-lap second division main. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina Puerto Rico's front line dominated inside and the United States was unable to finish off a number of fast breaks on Wednesday as Puerto Rico won the battle of unbeat-ens in the World Basketball championships 81-79.

Both teams had already qualified for the semifinals. The United States will play Yugoslavia, the top seed from the other group, in one game on Friday, while Puerto Rico will most probably get the Soviet Union in the other. The United States held a 73-68 lead with 7:34 to play, then went scoreless for almost six minutes as Puerto Rico took a 76-73 lead. The United States finally broke the scoring One bad inning blows out Spirit By DAVID DOMKE Sun Sports Writer SAN JOSE The Spirit starting pitching, bullpen and defense basically, the stuff that wins pennants fell apart Wednesday night in one ugly inning. The Giants scored seven runs in the fourth and added at least one more in in each of the next three innings for a 11-1 victory over San Bernardino before 3,005 at Municipal Stadium.

Consider the following: Dave Evans (12-9), who entered the night having won 1 1 of his past 14 decisions, did not make it out of the fourth. He worked out of jams in the second and third only to give up six runs (three earned) in the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CADILLAC DEALERS U.i,l.iH.-..n all Front-Drive mifdek Then Get SI, 500 Cash Back Direct From Cadillac on ''Hi Fleetwoods in Dealer Stock. Then Gel $1,500 Cash Back Direct From Cadillac on '90 De Villi's in Dealer Stock. I I ran alert on rural roads Be means slow moving vehicle A message from SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CADILLAC DEALERS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CADILLAC DEALERS Che Calif. Farm Bureau BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES PERFORMANCE iSPORTS IN BRIEF I Alabama semipro team beats Indians I WICHITA, Kan.

Victor Valley High (School graduate Tom Irwin gave up a ninth-in-Ining grand slam home run to Darell Landean arid the Hartselle, Ala. Expos defeated the San (Bernardino Indians, 7-5, in the National Base- ball Congress semi-pro baseball Tournament on Wednesday. Right fielder Monte Skidmore (an Eisenhower" HS coach) went 2-lbr-4 and scored once for the Indians, who fall into the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament and must 'win three times to play in the championship Jround. San Bernardino took a 5-0 lead with two iruns in the eighth on an RBI double by third Jbaseman Ruben Ayala and an RBI single by Jcenter fielder Dave Schuler. The Indians will play the Mat-so, Alaska Li- Jdhsat 10 tonight.

I Seles advances in L.A. tourney MANHATTAN BEACH No. 2 seed Mon-pca Seles rode a high-powered serve to a 6-2, 6-2 jyictory over Audra Keller in second-round action of the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles tourna-Bient. In an earlier match, seventh-seed Jana No-fvotna beat Mary Pierce 6-4, 7-5. Novolna trailed Pierce 3-1 in the second set, but won six of the Jnext eight games to move on.

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Brian Turang, the Spirit's usually steady second baseman, made two errors, one each of the mental and physical type, to prolong the marathon fourth. Turang, who has not had a day off since before the All-Star break, later added another error. San Bernardino. 29-27, has lost 10 of its past 14, dating back to Aug. 1, when it was in first place by a half-game.

The Bakersfield Dodgers, with their 4-1 victory over Modesto, now lead the California League's Southern Division by 2Va games on Visalia and by 3' on the Spirit. Bakersfield has 14 games remaining; San Bernardino has 15. Steve Hosey led San Jose with a double and home run for four RBI. Giants starter Jim Foley (4-4) pitched five eventful innings he stranded eight San Bernardino runners for the victory. "Foley is what I call a top-stepper," San Jose manager Tom Spencer said.

"I'm always on the top step of the dugout when he's pitching. That's the way he always seems to pitch. "His fastball seems to pick up velocity when he gets in a jam." Foley's most serious trouble came in the fourth. Bobby Jones' single, Jeff Keitges' intentional walk and Lipso Nava's back where he took an errant Foley fastball filled the bases with two outs for Arguelles. He struck out.

The Giants sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning as they opened a 7-0 lead. With one out, Adell Davenport singled and scored on Pat Brady's double off the left-field wall. Dan Fernandez followed with a single, Brady stopping at third, arid Reuben Smiley walked. It went downhill from there. Jeff Brauning grounded slowly to Turang, who thought about throwing to second, then went to first too late.

That made it 2-0. Patterson followed with a liner off Evans' glove that Turang tried to pick up but ended up kicking toward third base as everyone was safe. McDonald came on for Evans and retired Lewis on a liner to left fielder Tim Stargell for the second out. Hosey then cleared the bases with a double, for a 6-0 lead, and scored on Frank Carey's single. The Spirit got one run back in the fifth on Star-gell's RBI single.

San Jose immediately added an unearned run to push its lead to 8-1. "There was a misplayed ball at second and then a ball off (Evans') glove," Kniffin said. "He could have been out of the inning. Then it got out of hand after that." Spirit notes In a season marked by inconsistency in most areas, the Spirit has been carried by its offense. Until recently.

The team batting average was .282 on Aug. 1. Over 14 games in August (entering Wednesday), the team was batting .239, dropping the season average to .277. Among those struggling in August are Tow Maynard Frank Bollck 191). Ruben Qomalez 267).

Brian Turang (170). Fernando Arguelles 042) and John Hoffman 000 in 14 at-bats). Not all is gloom and doom, however Jeff Keltgos 405) and Bobby Jones .370) are pulling more than their weight. "I think the thing that's really hurt Is (Tony) Manahan being out of the manager Keith Bodie said. Manahan, suffering Irom a sore right (throwing) arm.

has not played since Aug. 7. eight games ago. The Spirit left San Jose after Wednesday night's game and drove to Bakersfield. Tonight, the Southern Division-leading Dodgers and San Bernardino meet for the final time this season.

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NHL might cancel Soviets games NEW YORK The NHL will cancel this Season's entire exhibition schedule with the Soviet Union if the Soviets won't confirm by Friday their participation in a three-team visit to North America, league and players association officials said Wednesday. BRIEFLY NOTED: Former world bantamweight champion Jimmy C'arruthers died after a long battle with lung cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was 61. C'arruthers won the world bantamweight title in 1952, becoming Australia's first undisputed world champion. The race to join the NHL officially began with 10 cities applying for the next two expansion franchises.

Eight American cities Milwaukee, Settle, San Diego, Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Tampa and St. Petersburg, and two Canadian entries, Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario, lach submitted applications. The University Colorado has been penalized by the NCAA a minor recruiting violation that will reduce tie school's football recruiting manpower for ix weeks, coach Bill McCartney said. From Sun News Services I INCLUDES PARTS AND LABOR! NEW PADSLININGS TURN DRUMS ROTORS RE-PACK WHEEL BEARINGS WE CAN RAISE OR LOWER MOST CARS At TRUCKS! QQ SEMI-MET AIUC EXTRA. MOST U.S.

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