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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 2000)
m. r Mayhem at McArthur Court Emerald columnist Jeff Smith explains why YOU need to come support YOUR Ducks tonight against Cal. page 13 The Flash Phills killed CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets was killed Monday when he wrecked his speeding Porsche after a morning practice at the team’s arena, police said. Witnesses said teammate David Wesley, driving another car at the scene, also may have been speed ing, police spokesman Keith Bridges said. Phills, a 30-year-old guard, had just left a shootaround at Charlotte Coli seum at about 11 a.m. when the three-vehicle accident happened, club spokesman Jonathan Supra nowitzsaid. Rocker apologizes John Rocker admitted Wednesday that his racial and ethnic comments in a magazine article made him sound like “a complete jerk.” In his first interview since the up roar, the 25-year-old relief pitcher spoke to ESPN at his home in Ma con, Ga., and again apologized, re peating that he is not a racist. He pointed out that several minority players stayed in his home while they were playing for the Braves mi nor league affiliate in Macon. “I’ll reiterate again and apologize one more time to anybody I’ve of fended,” Rocker said. “It certainly was not my intent.” Tyson could be barred from British boxing LONDON (AP)—The promoter of Mike Tyson’s Jan. 29 fight against Julius Francis in Manchester says the bout is still on. But the former heavyweight cham pion might not learn if he can enter .England until he gets off the Con corde on Sunday at Heathrow Air port and walks to the immigration desk. The Tyson debate began Tuesday when several lawmakers asked that he be barred from Britain because of a 1992 rape conviction. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed the dispute in Par liament. Best Bet NCAA Basketball Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 6 p.m., ESPN Thursday January 13,2000 Volume 101, Issue 75 Effgald Ready to ■ Junior college transfer Eugene Harris has overcome a serious knee injury to become one of the Ducks’ best wrestlers Eugene Harris Hometown: Las Vegas, NV Yean Sopho more—trans fer Weight: 157 Record: 16-9 overall, 5-9 dual matches Major: Psy chology 1997 Nevada high school wrestler of the year By Brett Williams Oregon Daily Emerald When the going got tough, Eugene Harris got tougher. As a freshman last season at Lassen Community Col lege in Susanville, Calif., Harris was coming, off an outstanding prep career that garnered him numerous honors, including Nevada’s wrestler of the year and the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the state championships. But in just his second meet of his freshman season, Harris saw his future flash before his eyes. An awkward twist of Har ris’ knee left him with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that has been known to jeopardize many wrestlers’ careers. Nonethe less, Harris felt he had no other option but to wrestle on a knee that, according to him, was 40 percent die whole season. “I put it through torture all last season,” said Harris, a psychology major. “I really shouldn’t have been wrestling on it.” Still, Harris refused to let the injury get the best of him and dominated his weight class at Lassen en route to Ju Azle Malinao-Alvarez Emerald Eugene Harris has a 16-9 record at 157 pounds while recovering from a torn ACL nior College All-American honors. After the season Harris had surgery to repair the ligament. Following his surgery, doctors told him there was an other factor that would be slowing his rehabilitation. “The doctors told me there was muscle atrophy, and the strength of my knee was a big problem,” Harris said. “When I got [to Oregon], the trainers said they weren’t having me do the right therapy in Las Vegas, and that I needed to do more. ” Harris did do more, and now it is paying big dividends for him on the mat. Harris said his knee is “85 percent now, and is getting better everyday,” and it shows with his impressive 16-9 record so far this season, 5-1 in dual matches. Two of those victories came against wrestlers from Oklahoma State and Cal-State Bakersfield, teams that are nationally ranked. Although Oregon coaches mourned the loss of last year’s’ NCAA qualifier, 157-pound Daryl Christian, who grad uated, Harris is filling in nicely. He is filling the role so well that the Ducks’ head coach Chuck Kearney said he be lieves the sky is the limit for his sopho more standout. “Eugene is extraordinarily talent ed,” said Kearney, who was an All Turn to Wrestling, page 8A Kent, UO eager to treat fans to Pac-10win Jeffrey Stockton Emerald Freddie Jones and his teammates are hoping to electrify a boisterous crowd tonight against California. ■ Oregon aims to go 2-0 in Pac-10 play as it faces talented California tonight By Jeff Smith Oregon Daily Emerald Oregon head coach Ernie Kent can’t wait. After seeing his Ducks (10-2,1-0 Pacific-10 Con ference) dominate the first edition of the Civil War on Saturday in Cor vallis by a score of 67-49, he is eager to see what will happen tonight when Oregon hosts the youthful California Gold en Bears (9-5, 0-2 Pac-10) tonight at 7:05 p.m. at McArthur Court. “I’m excited because I’m looking forward to seeing this team play here at the Pit and how they respond to the con Turn to UO men, page 8A On Tap: What: Men’s bas ketball Who: Cal vs. Ore gon When: 7:05 p.m. Where: McArthur Court
