Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1995)
Blazers nestle in for average year It's about 40 games into the NBA season for most teams now. and high, preseason promises have had their chance to either blossom (Sacramento, I..A l-akers, Utah. Orlando) or wilt away as most do (Golden State, Milwaukee. Atlanta). But the thing we Oregonians c an really appreciate about the National Basketball Association is the very special gift they gave us some 25 years ago — a mediocre basketball team. I'm neither a Blazer fan nor am I one of those individualists who thinks it's hip to despise the Blazers. But no matter where 1 stand in the Blazer scheme of things. I can't help noticing how incredibly average the Blazers continue to be year in and year out. So with 38 games under their belt this year, the mighty Trail Blazers are 20-18, a .526 clip. And last year, surprisingly enough, they were 23-15 at this point in the season. I'm actually one to stick up for the Blazers from time to time. They won the whole shebang in Chris Mn / 1976-77 Not too had Just ask Dallas. Atlanta or the Clippers how cool it would be for them to have just one NBA Chatnpi onahip banner raised to their rafters, such as the Blazers do Perhaps Janet Jackson puts it best though, when she begs the eternal question, "What have you done for me lately?" It hasn't been that long ago when Portland seemed just a breath away from another title Oh so close in 1990, and as a token visitor against the Bulls in 1992. the Blazers and their fans are not that far removed from success on a major scale. Blazer fans should look at it this way — at least things are a bit easier to gauge these days. For as sum ns the sun shine* and the day is long, it's safe to bet that the Blazer*, for the third year in a row, will be nowhere near the top of the heap when the season is all -und and done About the only interesting things that have happened this season have been off the court (e\< ept for Hod Strickland's best Kix k\ impressionagainst olden Polyline) Trade demands, front office shifts and new arena s have hidden the fact that A P J Carlesiitio hasn't turned around the franchise overnight like tome had hoped. B The Blazers still haven't traded for anybody, or more importantly, gotten rid of any body C. Finally, you can drink a beer in the seating area at the Memorial Coliseum — a net es sity to stomaching any game that Chris Dudley is involved with Damon Stoudamiros com ments on Monday guaranteeing a victory over Oregon at Mi Arthur Court confuse me a little bit Mure and more these days, hokey comments such as thss seem to pop up Does Michael Irvin ring a boll'? It's dist ouraging to see people react to them, because they're just that — comments After further analysis, the one thing Stoudamirn probably didn't need to do was to give the Mac (-i>urt faithful any mom rea son to get up for the big clash A sellout crowd, already ( homp trig at the bit for a shot at Ari zona. will undoubtedly give Stoudaimre a wonderful wel come in tonight's game ns a result of his promises of victory So much for his hornet tuning I would also think that the Wildcats' 3-2 Pac-JO record would worry Stoudaimre and the rest of his team at least a lit tie bit 1 know it's early in the season, but I would certainly expect Arizona to tome into Mat; Court with a speak softly and tarry a big sink" kind of attitude Chris Metn is the sports editor for lhr Emerald Sapolu savors chance at a fourth rinq MIAMI (AP) — Of all the players in Sun day’s Super Bowl, only Jesse Sapolu has a chance to win his fourth ring, and he's dividing his time between looking forward to the prospect and looking back on how he got this far, “Just to see the elite group I will join if I win my fourth Super Bowl ring, it almost humbles you." the San Francisco 49ors left guard said Wednesday "You almost feel like, 'Do 1 deserve it' A lot of players don't have one and worked just as hard as 1 am.' It's just one of those things that 1 sit in my room and think about it, lie thankful about it." Sapolu was a member of the 4llers' last three Super Bowl teams, though he was injured for San Franc isco’s victory over Mia mi following the 1084 season. Joe Montana. Mike Wilson, Keena Turner. Ronnie laitt and Kric Wright are the only players who played on all four San Francisco Super Bowl teams "This year, 1 apprec iate it a lot more," said Sapolu. who will be matched up against San Diego Chargers’ defensive tackle Shawn Fee in the Sti(>er Bowl "When W'e won them back to track the last SUPER BOWL 49ers vs. Chargers JANUARY 29, 1995 I i m e . you almost M Ilka t h » S u p e r B o w l trophy belongs to you," he uid '' VV h i? n y o u ‘ r e a w a v from it for a long turn* ami have another team step up and try to take over dominance, you're just so hungry that you appret iate coming t>ai k Sapolu is < barat ten site of San Francis* o's quit knt’ss and agility all along the offensive tine, which struggled early in the season because of a rash of injuries only to key the •tiers' resurgence when it returned to health "They work together like a machine." said Chargers' defensive tackle Reuben Davis "They know each other's movements and in Steve Young they have a great quarterback back there He can get the liall out there in a short amount of time and a lot of times they don't have to block for very long " Added I ee "I think they fit in well with what they do They're not that big. but for the style they play, they don't need to tie San Francisco is returning to the Super Howl for the first time since su< i essivu vic tories following the t'lHH and seasons There's no doubt in tny mind we're going to win this game, no doubt in my mind." Sapolu said "I'm not going to say the word 'guarantee' but I wouldn't lie here if I didn't Ihink we re going to win Iks ause we knovs we re good enough to win. and to tell you the truth. 1 hope San Diego feels the same way.” Sapolu enters the game coming off con m'i utive i'm How i seasons, ai bowed it i en ter in l'l'H and at left guard this season It was a switc h he made to help the team make up for the free agenc y loss of (.u> Me Intyre by signing another free agent, center Hart ( kites "There aren't many players in this league who are asked to say. 'Yeah, you're an all pro at this position I ant s move you to some new position. Make that sac rifii.e for the team," Oates said ■ WEDNESDAY’S TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL AL ■ CALIFORNIA ANGELS- Sgned Lance Reborns, second baseman NL ■ FLORIDA MARLINS- -Announced a one rear nrortung agreement *>th the Campeche Pvaias o) the Meucan Summer League, electee Feb t FOOTBALL NFL ■ ClEVELANO BROWNS- Promoted Ret Ventun. secondary coach, to de*ensrv* coordr natar Named Jen Bases defensive assstant coach ■ NEW YORK JETS-Retamed Richard Mann to coach recovers and agw ends ■ PITTSBURGH STEELERS-Named Ok* LeBeau defensive coordinator CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE ■ Mf MPHIS—Named I'(KW ftodgen coeeh ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE ■ ST LOUS STAMPEDE -Signed John Kaieo. quarterback; and Gene Tnonaj Oanyf Hammond and Ban> Aagn*x mde 'eceneri Aarved Faianda Newton, safety, John Shannon, tnaman. Jeny Wood* wo» '«can •r HOCKEY RCXLER HOCKEY ■ ANAHEiM BULLFROGS—Named Chm McSortey »ector o> player personnel MORSE RACING ■ NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION— Announced resignations of Brnc* Lombard, racing secretary, and Renard HamAcn. slew a«2. effective the middle of February SOCCER NATIONAL PRO LEAGUE ■ NPSl--Suspended Ffanfckn Mclmosh. Ba&more mxiMder. kn one game and fined him an undadosed amour.! Ice kghtmg m a game on Jan 22 Fined Fk* Bush. Jon P»ry, Kevin Steer U*e Stankov*. Omd Namar. Chns Morgan. Lance Johnson. Jam* Onst*. Bead Smith. Bany $eu. Jason Owter. Derrick Marcarw. Bah.more payers, and Dave MacWifeams, Bafcmore coat*, an undndosed amount. to» leaving the bench ce (NTtopang m (he a?tercabon M DAYTON DYNAMO- Feed Terry f*chdl coach Continental Index* Soccer League ■ MEXICO TOFtOS- Named Jorge E spwira coach TENNIS ■ UNITED STATES Tf NMS ASS0C1A TON- Named Ja atoms to the nabonal piayer dev«ttpr*nt coacNng stafT COLLEGE ■ ASHt ANO—Nar*o Davit Ovm t»»si taS ooatfi k* th* r«l ot tbs ■ ElAtlOR-PforwIed H#*y Mito. men's mlwtm taskasal coacfv to men's basketball coacb and signed h*m to a ttveyear contract ■ CtEMSON—Named Tieva Ada» soccer ooach ■ M06ART-Announced the ttsignahjn ot W*am Mai»«8. tooftal coach N*ned Ucfjei Oagg tootbaH coach ■ WEST VIRGINIA - Announced iNe resign* bon o! U*e Jacobs assistant tootb#* coach, to take a simter post a ONo Stats January 26, 1995 Volume lX>, Iiiik 85 Names in the game AM VV A!’) Half-speed lastbatis" ilia! went jus! 55 feet brought a srmie to (he face ot Colorado Rockies pacher Armanoa ncynoto Reynoso throw from a pitching mound for the first time in more than eight months to catcher Jayhawk Owens 5 teet >n front of home plate After 45 pitches Reynoso was beaming I've been working for this moment," said Reynoso, who tore the ulnar collateral liga ment m his fight elbow Mi*y 20 l didn’t think about it I’m going to feel bad Just think positively This wilt give me more motivation because I've been looking to progress " LOS ANGELES (AP) Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie, have adopted a baby gel I tie adoption took place in Michigan last week, John son's agent. Lon Rosen, said Wednesday Trie baby, f hsa. is 2 to 3 weeks old Mamed three years ago the couple also have a 2 year old son. f arvin III The retired Los Angeles Lakers star, from a previous relation •.hip also has a son Andre, 13 who live-, with hi<> mother m Michigan. ATlANIA(Af’) Denver : Shannon Sharpen' ; • *? .«•» ,! taco one count each of sim ple battery after an alterca tion at his home in northeast Atlanta Mane Arc 1 > ee also was charged with one count of destruction of property, Atlanta police spokesman Benjamin Sims said. Young takes Player of the Year MI AM I (AC) :,•) Y O'. - ■' t j joined former teammate Joe Montana on Wednesday as the only two winner of the NR Player of the Year Award ft's an amazing thing. Young said the second time makes it even more artvt/mg '* Ttie San Francisco 49ers' quarterback also won the award m 1992 Montana was the wmnor in 1989 and 1990 The 49ers will taco San D ogo m Sunday's Super Bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium San Francisco set a team scoring record, and Young set an NR. record with a quarterback rating of 112 8 fn a lot of ways l was abto to get votes because our offense i$ so great." Young said And they think. Welt, thea offense is so groat, let s give it to Steve Young ' "I don't teet like it's |ust me It it was just mo. I don't think I would make it"
