Ducks suffer
lack of big
name recurits
Whether it be the
football team's going to two
straight New Year » Day
bowi games or the women *
basketball team's being
invited to the NCAA Tour
nament for the past two
years in a row. the Ducks
have made a lot of noise
lately.
But despite this, it is ques
tionable whether Oregon
will ever be a powerhouse in
any particular sport.
Why is this? Is it the
coaching? Is it the players?
rwgon sports have
seen muc h suet ess
in return years
Moytm It a
a little bil
of both. but
moat of alt.
it** the
recruiting
ing is lh«*
most
import .mt
wart of col
lego sports
nan day*. It is not only
nnowsary to meruit the besi
in statu athletes. but also to
expand to hit other states
that have strong athletes
Oregon is at » disadvan
tage in recruiting. There are
i urrently ?B high schools in
the state that are designated
as 4A schools That give*
the state at least 40.000 Stu
dent* who are eligible to
participate in high school
sport*
H half of those people
play that** 20.000 athlete*
But must schools have far
loss than half of their stu
dent bodies in s|n>m Many
athletes do come out of
smaller high schools in the
stale, but that still doesn't
come close to the number of
athletes in other states
Statw such as California
and Texas most likely have
as many athletes participat
ing in their medium-size
cities at Oregon has at its big
schools. like any other state.
Oregon produces some out
standing athletes, but the
smaller the state, the smaller
the number of standout*
As is the case in any other
state, the best players have
the pick of the schools they
want to go to. If somebody
from Bend is being recruited
by Nebraska. UCLA. Notre
Ifcime and the Duck*, state
loyalty can only go so far •—
many athletes want to play
on a team that has a chance
to contend for the national
title.
Recruiting people from
out of state is equally tough
Oregon is not a school with
a lot of national
exposure Even when Ore
gon's team* go to howl
games and NCAA tourna
ments. the Ducks (ust aren't
as well-known as the big
Tum to DeYOUNO Page 12
mmaKmmmmummmmmim
.£_
CMc Stadium wilt ba hopping with
Portland Stngtagama Em ticket* go on
action one* again whan tha Eugene EmaiMt atari than Tt-gama acheduie m mid Jtma againai
aata on June 1.
Emeralds baseball just around the corner
■ BASEBALL: ^he Erns
open their season on
June 18 against the
Portland Rockies
By Trevor Kearney
St<m fflMor
Mid M«y and no bateball in
Eugene* Not for long.
The Eugene Emerald*. »h«
Atlanta Brave*- Clatt A-abort
MMMum affiliate, are gearing up
for I heir Mwauo opener by open
mg the gate* for all tingle game
reaarveri ticket* on June 3
Up uniil then, ihe only Eras
lit Lett available are tmiaon tick
et* Bui on lime I, all tit ket* go
on tale, including one* for the
popular July Firework* K*frav
agaric* on July 4 and Turn Bark
th* (Hock Nlghi on |uly 20
Aia wiling to Out* Me**., Em
Director of Ticket Sale*. them*
ticket* go the iMtnl
"{On |un»
3| p«upU
like to pkk
up their
Fourth
of July
reserved
ticket*. *
a* it it our
mutt popo
Ui it
pW£t3,
lar ft*m« of *
y<w wary ymu.' M**t* sanl,
adding that season tu.ket sales
have gone well *o tat this year.
*S«Mw»n ticket sale* «i* going
vary well at thut point With the
mmmm |u*t under a month two
things ere starting to heal up
Emeralds tussettall is m pop
ular «• KVWt.”
The Km* mater will he ossein
bled in tnul June, when player*
will he assigned ft* Eugene prt •
mefily from two iourt.es the
tune bswagent draft end extend
ed spring training in West Palm
<• Beet h. He A hendful of play
era could also tunw from the
* Macon Bravo*. Atlanta* t 3m*
|r A affiliate tn the South
Atlantic league
After the roster is ftlled, the
pteyer* congregate fur a short
mtm t amp before opening the
mason at home against PortUuut
on June 1ft
Eugene plays ?8games U»
of which are home games — in
the Northwest league in eight
team league (hat includes Port
land. Bolin, Yakima. Snoiane,
Itellingham, BnwNt and Smith
ern Oregon The Km* finished
Imi MMkMtn with 137 M rword.
(<>» third In the Northw«*i
t.«*gU« South
Ticket price* (ut Individual
game* are ft* fur adult nwerved
ho* ■»««!*. $s for aeninr and
child bo* *nat». $4 fi* adult gen
«»f«d atimiciion ami f I for wmlor
and child general admitsion
.s«?a»>.»n ticket* * an be pur
t hated UI a full ta ker plan (5175!
or the "10 pack" option (fool
The «w«m continue* through
S«pt I. when the Kim play the
Southern Oregon Tlmlwrja* k*
Ticket* can t*> pure hated by
phone at J42 S.tti? or at the
K mere Id* ticket office at CIvli
Stadium
Jordan was not even challenged in MVP race
■ NBA: The Chicago Suits’ superstar
wants his accomplishment to be
recognized in the form o! a raise
NORTHBROOK, 111 (AP| - For the fourth
time in hi* celebrated career. Michael Ionian
it the NBA'* Mult Valuable Player Tbl*
lime he want* hi* pay to match hi* value.
Jordan, who won an unnrecedented eighth
league touring title in leading Chicago to the
beat regular season record in NBA history,
received the MVP trophy Monday — a day
after demanding at lea*! $36 million to play
the next two season* for the Bull*
He received 108 of 113 ft rat-place vote* —
96 i percent, the high eat percentage tince
the media began saiecting the winner in
1960-6!. Iordan had 1,114 pointa. almoat
double the $74 of runner-up David Robinson
of San Antonio Orlando'* Anfernee Hard
away finished third with 360 points.
Iordan, who also was MVP in 1967-88,
1990 91 and 1991 92, ha* been relatively
underpaid hi* entire career Hi* salary for
thlft wuuft Is JU»t uml»* $4 million. tau than
many player* who am younger and havn not
put up the number* (hat he ha*
Shaquille O'Neal. Aloiuo Mourning and
luwan Howard — good young player*, but
JORDAN
hardly athlete* of Jordan*
Mature — have talked about
Ctlng upward of S2Q mil
n par »<wxm beginning
ne*t year
Of hU two-year. $36 mtl
lion demand. Iordan told
the Chicago Tribune on
Sunday: "That'* the
absolute botiom figure.**
He went on to my. "If they
viuuiiu wiui bw unro,
which I don't think they will, i'll go else
where for whatever l'|] play un another
teem for StO million leu III have to. )u*l on
principle. They’ve made a lot of money here,
and it's time to gtve a little back "
Iordan, who make* an ealimated $40 mil
lion annually in endorsement*, didn't want
to talk about hi* contract at hia MVP news
conference Monday
"Were In the prat*** of trying to win •
championship For m« to start complaining
or negotiating would he a vary selfish art."
•old Ionian who lad tb* (lulls In NBA titles
In Hint, iwi and 1M3 and has the team
within seven wins of another this year My
attorneys haven't talked I haven't commu
nicated with (team owner| ferry Reinsdorf.
It'a purely speculation "
When told that the spur illation apparent
ly was his own. fordon said his quote* were
"taken a little nut of contest,” and that he
"didn't understand the intentions of what
was happening *
Tribune sports editor Tim Franklin said
columnist Bob Verdi made sure “Michael
was clear an the terms of the conversation."
"At no point did Iordan dispute the facts
in the story at his press conference."
Franklin said
Iordan said the business of basketball
sometimes overshadows the enjoyment of
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