Notes `n’ quotes ...Bobby
Jackson wanted playing time. That’s why he left the Minnesota Timberwolves via free
agency.
He also wanted money, saying last month
that he was looking for a seven-year contract worth between $25-30 million.
The Salisbury native had to settle
(settle?) for $13.5 million over five years. He won’t have to settle for sitting on
the bench, however.
Expect the newest Sacramento King to play
— and play a lot when the 2000-2001 season begins.
Starting point guard Jason Williams will be
serving a five-game suspension at the beginning of the year for violating a drug policy.
Tony Delk has gone to Phoenix.
“I think Bobby will get a lot of
playing time right away,” said Kings coach Rick Adelman. “He does not back down
from anybody and that’s the type of thing we hope will carry over into games as well
as practice.”
Jackson seems elated with the deal. He
joins a team with big men Vlade Divac and Chris Webber.
“What young player could look at this
team and not want to play for them,” asked the 27-year old. “I didn’t want
to go to the Eastern Conference. You know how some of those teams walk the ball up the
floor. I didn’t want to do that.”
But most fans know Jackson is all about
defense.
“That’s my specialty,” he
told reporters. “I’m an energy guy. I think if the big guys see a point guard
playing defense, that becomes part of everybody’s game.”
Everyone seems to think it was a great
deal, including Jackson’s agent Andy Miller, who told the Sacramento Bee, “It
just seemed more and more like the Kings were a perfect fit for Bobby.”
n
And the best thing about the deal for
Jackson’s fans in Salisbury?
Sacramento is on TVa lot more than the
Timberwolves. We’ll just have to stay awake later for those West Coast games. Better
yet, tape ‘em.
n
Just a couple of weeks ago, Buck Joyner
didn’t even think he had a chance to become the Livingstone head basketball coach. He
had talked with Blue Bear officials and figured they were going in another direction. In
fact, he said the school had told him he was no longer being considered.
But the Winston-Salem native told John Dell
of the Winston-Salem Journal last week, “God works in mysterious ways and when they
came back to me and offered it, I was happy they considered me again. I’ve wanted to
get closer to home to Winston and now, I’ll be right down the road about 30 minutes.
“I think what happened was they
decided to go with somebody who was familiar with the CIAA,” he told the Journal.
Joyner was the athletic director as well as
basketball coach at St. Paul’s but won’t have to worry about double duty
anymore, with Clifton Huff serving as Livingstone’s AD.
The other two candidates for the job were
Kentucky State’s women’s coach Antonio Davis and Barber-Scotia’s James
Stinson.
Details of a contract should be worked out
within the next week.
n
Somebody referred to Dennis Miller as
“hip.”
The new ABC football announcer retorted,
“Idon’t think I’m hip. I’m doing Jetsons’ references.”
n
And could we can the “Miller will ruin
Monday Night Football” whining, please? All of you holier-than thous out there should
shut up, sit back and enjoy the guy. He is funny.
You’re probably the same ones who say
you turn the sound down on Dick Vitale — when you really don’t.
n
Matt Doherty’s first act as UNC
basketball coach is to demand that the team wears the jerseys with “North
Carolina” on the front instead of the interlocking “NC.”
All you have to do to be convinced is watch
the tape from 1993 when the Tar Heels came back from 20 down in the second half to beat
loudmouth Sam Cassell and the Florida State Seminoles. Ibrought that tape out last night
and watched it.
During the rally, with the crowd roaring,
the camera zoomed in on Kevin Salvadori’s “North Carolina” for a few
seconds.
Neither Mike Patrick or Dick Vitale said
anything. They didn’t have to.
n
Cy Alexander, a 1975 graduate of Catawba
College, and like Joyner, a Winston-Salem native, looks like he is going to remain at
South Carolina State for a while. His contract was renewed through the 2003-2004 season.
Alexander is one of those guys who are
always mentioned for other jobs at bigger schools. Last season, he was a finalist at
American University and Hampton University.
n
Joe Paterno should pass Bear Bryant’s
all-time win record this season. The Penn State coach is only seven behind the Alabama
legend’s 324.
And Florida State’s Bobby Bowden, at
70, could also move past Bear in a couple of years. He is at 304.
n
Who said punters don’t have statistics
you can rattle off?
Tommy Barnhardt of South Rowan fame is
starting his 14th season in the NFL.
Ready for this? In 154 games, he has punted
729 times for 31,049 yards. He has 75 touchbacks and 205 kicks inside the 20. His
career-best is 62 yards.
n
The Carolina Panthers have an incredible
home schedule this year. The Redskins, which employ Barnhardt, are coming, along with New
Orleans (with former Boll Weevil Ricky Williams and Livingstone star Wilmont Perry),
Seattle (North Rowan’s Shannon Myers), Green Bay (with Kannapolis’ Mike Morton)
and San Francisco (with West Rowan’s John Milem.)
Dallas will also be coming to Ericsson
Stadium.
n
And finally ...
Only 28 more days until Livingstone travels
1.2 miles to play Catawba. Be there.
n
Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of
the Post.
|
Ronnie