Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 15

Lansing State journal Sports Editor Jeff Rivers: 377-1071 CldSSifiod I en Patriots can't handle blitz Unexpected rush of fans causes confusion for playoff ticket sales in New England. Page 5C Bucks dump Pistons Detroit only scores 28 points in second half as Milwaukee rolls to an 86-76 victory. Page 3C I -WWW inaex Digest 2C NHL roundup 3C Prep basketball 4C Big Ten basketball 6C First in line: Patriots fan Jim Doiron celebrates after getting the first tickets to go on sale. Wednesday January 8, 1997 Sports 1 SPORTS LOCKER NBA Tuesday's results: Bucks 86, Pistons 76 Clippers 87, Raptors 80 Krucks 102, Mavericks 72 Nets 90, Spurs 74 Magic 109, 76ers 88 Hawks 105, Suns 103 (OT) Pacers 95, Cavaliers 90 SuperSonics 94, Heat 85 Rockets 104, Timberwolves 95 Nuggets vs. Kings (n) See coverage, Page 3C NHL 0 Tuesday's results: Penguins 5, Islanders 3 Flyers 7, Bruins 3 Oilers 5, Blues 2 Flames 4, Maple Leafs 3 Sabres vs.

Sharks (n) Canucks vs. Kings (n) See coverage, Page 3C Big Reds stay unbeaten in league play Stories still 1WWI comffictiE NX I BASEBALL Ex-Tiger Evans becomes manager Darrell Evans, who spent 21 seasons in the major leagues, was hired Tuesday to manage the Tyler WildCatters of the Texas-Louisiana League. Evans, who in 1987 became the only 40-year-old to hit over 30 homers, is 24th on the career home run list with 414. He and Reggie Jackson are the only players to hit 100 or more homers with three teams. The two-time All-Star played for Atlanta from 1969-76, San Francisco from 1976-83, Detroit, from 1984-88 and finished with the Braves in 1989.

Lugnuts touted as future stars Baseball Weekly magazine recently named several 1996 Lansing Lugnuts as future stars in the Kansas City Royals organization. Infielder Jose Cepeda, first baseman Gary Coffee, catcher Matt Treanor, pitcher Blaine Mull and outfielder Carlos Beltran made the "up and coming" list. Cepeda was singled out for additional attention, with Baseball Weekly calling him a "steady, heady ballplayer." It was also noted his defense needs to improve. Pitcher Todd Thorn, second baseman Carlos Febles, infielder Jose Amado and outfielders Mark Quinn and Juan Rocha made the "sleepers" list. mm If nil 4'jrV 1 -j.

Jf 4. 1 Spartan coach Saban again the object of rumors in New York By Jack Ebling Lansing State Journal EAST LANSING Someone isn't telling the truth. And by the end of this week, we should know whether Michigan State football coach Nick Saban or the New York Giants management has a major credibility problem. At least three New York new-papers are saying today that Saban will interview for a vacant head coaching position this week or already has citing a highly placed, always-reliable source in the team's front office. Meanwhile, three top MSU officials said Tuesday that Saban told them Monday he has no interest in the Giants job.

And Saban, clearly frustrated by a steady stream of innuendo and unnamed sources, said late Tuesday night, "I'll make a statement about all of this in the next few days." Saban was in Atlanta Monday for Smith classy It's not often that we applaud an athlete for accomplishments off the field. But Steve Smith deserves a standing ovation after making the best play of his career. Smith, a former Michigan State All-America basketball piayer, donated $2.5 million to the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center on Monday. He donated the money in the name of his mother, who died of cancer during the first year of his NBA career. Smith's contribution is believed to be the highest amount ever donated to a school by a pro athlete.

But Smith's choice of donations might be even more significant than the amount. Smith didn't give money to just the program which ne benefited from in college. Many athletes 1 Jeff Rivers do that. Instead, he gave it to a source that will benefit ail athletes. The center, which will open in the spring of 1998, will serve more than 800 athletes in 25 sports.

How many athletes are unselfish enough to help programs that didn't directly benefit them? And Smith didn't give the money to an athletic program. He gave it to an academic program. His donation may never help MSU win another basketball game. But it will certainly help MSU athletes win in their post-athletic life. And by making the donation in his mother's name, Smith showed he hasn't forgotten what was impor- 7 ROD SANFORDLansing State Journal Deflected: Steve Ordiway of Eastern has his shot blocked by Sexton's Daniel James (34).

Ordiway scored 18 points but Eastern fell to Sexton, 82-67. Sexton tops Eastern a $2.5 million pledge to the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center from her son, ex-Spartan basketball star Steve Smith. There, he spoke with MSU President Peter McPherson and other administrators during the trip and talked to close friends and influen-cial alumni on the way home. None of those associates thought he was headed to New York to talk to the Giants or was interested in leaving MSU to coach the Detroit Lions or any other NFL team. Yet speculation grew stronger Tuesday, fueled by leaks from New York, that Saban would meet with Giants General Manager George Young.

Tuesday night, it seemed that could all be irrelevant, with a published report that Phoenix offensive coordinator Jim Fassel has moved from being the betting favorite to an imminent choice to succeed Dan Reeves. Saban has downplayed all NFL interest since coming to East Lansing from the Cleveland Browns. Saban has said repeatedly that he's planning to coach at MSU next season and is looking forward to the challenges awaiting a third-year Big Ten program. makes move Clara Bell Smith Steve Smith tant to her. A contribution to the basketball program wouldn't have meant nearly as much.

His gift will prove to be a much bigger contribution to MSU than his outstanding feats on the basketball court. Lions make right calls Most Detroit fans didn't object to the firing of Wayne Fontes. They just feared the hiring of the next coach because it was always scary to ponder who they might hire next. But recent candidates, or non-candidates, show that even the Lions may have learned something. That they even talked to North-western's Gary Barnett, who told them thanks but no thanks, and are talking to San Diego's Bobby Ross, is a good indication Detroit won't settle for a mediocre coach.

Barnett was a long shot who would have had to be bought out of his Northwestern contract. But he would have been a good choice. Ross could be an even better one. He has already shown he is a better coach than Fontes, taking the Chargers to the 1995 Super Bowl. The Chargers lost 49-26 to the 49ers, but Please see RIVERS, 5C Inside force: Robert Traylor (54) of Michigan shoots over Michigan State's Ray Weathers in a game last January.

Traylor's freshman season was interrupted when he broke his arm in an auto accident. i Free throws make difference in 82-67 win By Matt Galnor For the Lansing State Journal Free throws. They were free points for Sexton, but Eastern could not seem to buy any Tuesday as the Big Reds remained unbeaten in the Capital Area Conference with a 82-67 victory. Larry King led Sexton (2-0, 4-3) with 18 points and 1 1 rebounds. Da-Velle Hoskins also scored 18 for the Big Reds, who made 16-of-17 from the free-throw line.

"We haven't shot free throws well all year and Sexton played better when they had to," said Eastern coach Wesley Youngblood. Marcel Terry scored 23 points to lead Eastern and Steve Ordiway added 18. Eastern made only 14 of its 23 free-throw attempts. Sexton clinched the victory with a 9-0 fourth quarter run to lead 72-57 with 2:35 to play. Sexton led 55-48 after the third quarter extended the lead to 61-49 after the first minute of the fourth quarter.

"Early in the game we were pressing hard, but Eastern was ICE SKATING Call us with rink information We are compiling a list of area skating rinks to run in the paper and would like to know about your town's rink. Send us the name of your rink, the hours it's open and any pertinent information like admission fees, warming facilities and skate rental. Call us at 485-5463 and press 9073 and leave the information or fax us at (517) 377-1298. JOURNAL JEOPARDY Today's question: What professional team was Dave DeBusschere on before he came to the Detroit Pistons in the 1962-63 season? Call 485-5463 and press 9017 to answer the question. Leave a spelling of your name, your hometown and phone number.

The first caller with the correct answer will appear in the following day's paper. Tuesday's answer: The Detroit Piston players who have not missed a game this season are Joe Dumars, Lindsey Hunter, Terry Mills, Otis Thorpe and Grant Long. Tom DuByne Haslett Traylor Michigan center is healthy and improving By Joanne C. Gerstner Lansing State Journal ANN ARBOR Fate provides no blueprints set in stone. Take Michigan sophomore center Robert Traylor.

The 6-foot-8, 300-pound player from Detroit Murray-Wright was one of the most heralded prep stars in the nation in 1995. Nobody could stop Michigan's Mr. Basketball. After an agonizing process, he decided to attend Michigan over Michigan State. Wolverine fans salivated at the thought of a true dominating center playing in Ann Arbor.

Nobody was going to stop him. Traylor felt the same way. He was coming to Michigan to have fun Majors said. "It was a great ball game and really could have gone either way." Coye Bouyer added 16 points for the Big Reds, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. "We played really well as a team and as unit," Bouyer said.

"If we can keep it up, we'll go as far as God will allow us to go. The victory keeps Sexton atop the CAC along with East Lansing, the only other team unbeaten in the conference. "It's technically only the first week of conference play, but if the teams play like they are capable of the league will be very tough," Youngblood said. Arty Ordiway added 12 for the Quakers (1-1, 2-3). "This was Sexton's sixth game and they just finished a tournament last weekend with some tough teams," Youngblood said.

"They play hard and they've played against some tough competition." Eastern never really got started in the fourth quarter and Sexton turned two early turnovers into layups to take a 61-49 lead. "We had great teamwork and we really played together tonight," said Sexton guard Deocco Long. "We worked real hard and hustled great." attitude out, but he now calls the experience a blessing. He sat and watched his teammates play, thinking about basketball and life. "I think it was God's plan to show me a different way," Traylor said.

"I was living my life a little bit wrong way. The accident and being out changed all of that. I got to start my life all over again. I need to get my education, I need to know how to do the right things. I have a long life ahead of me.

Friend and teammate Taylor said he's seen the changes in Traylor, especially on the court. "He's calmer this year," junior forward Taylor said. Last year, he was so full of emotion. I saw the emotion hurt his game, when he would foul out. Now, he's set himself to be more calm.

He's the emo- Please see TRAYLOR, 4C Inside Prep basketball roundup. Page 4C breaking it and getting good looks," said Sexton coach Mike Majors. "In the second half, we pulled back and they seemed to rush a few shots." Sexton started the game with an 8-2 lead and stayed ahead until Arty Ordiway's 3-pointer tied the game 27-27 with 5:01 left in the second quarter. Eastern opened up 33-29 lead, but Sexton went on a 7-0 run and led by one at halftime. "They had guys hit a lot of 3's in the first half, tmt they cooled off a little later on," Majors said.

Sexton struck quick again to start the second half with seven straight points, including a NBA range 3-pointer from Hoskins. "You really have to give them credit," Youngblood said. "We didn't play a bad game, but they really played when they needed to. Eastern got as close as 50-46 near the end of the third quarter, but King's three-point play put the Big Reds up seven again. "This was a pivotal game for us early in the conference season," Thursday's game Illinois at Michigan DTV: 7:30 p.m., ESPN College roundup.

Page 3C Big Ten notes. Page 3C had a break shaped like an in my arm. I started thinking all kinds of things. Maybe I won't play again, maybe I won't get to use my right arm ever again. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life." Traylor missed 10 games of his rookie season with the injury, leaving a big hole in the Wolverine lineup.

He was second on the team in rebounds, third in blocked shots and fourth in scoring, having reached double figures in six of his last nine games. It hurt Traylor just as much to sit back with new playing basketball and win. But something did stop him in 1996. Traylor, along with Wolverine teammates Maurice Taylor, Willie Mitchell, Louis Bullock and prep star Mateen Cleaves (who now plays for Michigan State), were involved in an early morning roll-over car accident on Feb. 17.

The group was returning from a party in Detroit when driver Taylor fell asleep. His Ford Explorer careened off the highway and overturned. Ann Arbor police found no evidence of drugs or alcohol as a in the crash. No one was seriously injured, but Traylor took the worst of the damage. He broke his right arm, landing in the hospital.

"When I woke up, I was just laying in a hospital bed," Traylor said, unconsciously fingering his right arm. "The X-rays were there and I ROD SANFORDLansing State Journal.