Advertisement

In Sports from United Press International

West takes on Grizzlies challenge

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 30 (UPI) -- Jerry West, who's credited with much of the success of the Los Angeles Lakers, has decided to take on the challenge of turning around the downtrodden Memphis Grizzlies, who never have won more than 23 games in a season during their seven-year existence.

Advertisement

In a news conference at which a community embraced a sports hero, the Grizzlies Tuesday named West as their president of basketball operations. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is believed that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley lured West with a multi-year contract worth about $5 million annually.

"People asked me 'How in the world can you do something like this' and I never even dreamed it was possible for me to leave the Lakers," said West, who turns 64 in May. "I'm a pretty old guy but I'm terribly excited about this. Mr. Heisley convinced

Advertisement

me that he will do everything absolutely necessary to bring a winning team to Memphis."

Heisley fired General Manager Billy Knight two weeks ago after finishing 23-59 this past season -- the franchise's first in Memphis after moving from Vancouver.

Heisley was laughed at for undertaking what many believed was a fruitless task when he pursued West, who generally was regarded as the best team executive in the NBA when he resigned as vice president of basketball operations for the Lakers in August 2000, ending four decades with one of the most successful franchises in sports history.

"All I know is that Jerry West is a winner who builds winners," Heisley said. "I cannot put into words how much he will mean to this franchise and this community."

In all, West collected seven championship rings with the Lakers, six as an executive and one as a player. Yet he has somehow maintained a humble demeanor and was especially touched by the warm welcome he received at Tuesday's news conference.


Flyers dump Barber

VOORHEES, N.J., April 30 (UPI) -- A nightmarish postseason performance and player unrest by the Philadelphia Flyers cost Coach Bill Barber his job Tuesday but long-time General Manager Bob Clarke survived.

Advertisement

With a payroll of $55.5 million, the Flyers were expected to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Instead, they scored only two goals in losing to the Ottawa Senators, four games to one, in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

"This was not an easy decision, given all that Bill Barber has meant to the Flyers organization over the years," Clarke said.

"Billy was a teammate, and he is a friend, and when we extended his contract last summer, we all hoped and expected that it would be a long-term relationship. We're all deeply disappointed that it didn't turn out that way."

A year after winning the Adams Trophy as coach of the year, Barber watched his team collapse late in the regular season and in the playoffs. Barber's fate was sealed when several players were openly critical of his coaching style.

Flyers Board Chairman Ed Snider met with the disgruntled players Monday before the decision was made to fire Barber.


Payton on NBA all-defensive 9th time

NEW YORK, April 30 (UPI) -- Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton joined Michael Jordan as the only players to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times when the league announced its selections on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Joining Payton on the All-Defensive First Team are fellow guard Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, center Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons -- the winner of the Defensive Player of the Year Award -- and forwards Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The All-Defensive Second Team consists of forwards Bruce Bowen of the Spurs and Cliff Robinson of the Pistons, center Dikembe Mutombo of the Philadelphia 76ers and guards Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings.


Royster gets permanent job with Brewers

MILWAUKEE, April 30 (UPI) -- On the heels of a winless six-game road trip, the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday removed the interim tag from Jerry Royster and named him as the full-time manager only through the 2002 season.

The Brewers also announced that Cecil Cooper has accepted the role of bench coach through the end of the season.

Royster, 49, was named interim manager on April 18, when Davey Lopes was fired following the worst 15-game start (3-12) in franchise history.

Advertisement

The move paid immediate dividends as the Brewers won their first four games under Royster, sweeping a home series against the St. Louis Cardinals. But the Brewers were swept in back-to-back three-game series' against the Montreal Expos and New York Mets, dropping them to 4-6 under Royster and 7-18 overall.

The Brewers have not had a winning season since 1992.


Royals name Mizerock interim manager

DETROIT, April 30 (UPI) -- The Kansas City Royals, who have endured seven straight losing seasons, Tuesday named John Mizerock interim manager.

Kansas City (8-15) fired Tony Muser after Monday's 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Muser did not get to see his final win, though, as he was ejected in the third inning for arguing a called strike.

Mizerock, 41, spent the last 10 years as a coach and manager in Kansas City's minor league system before being named bullpen coach prior to this season. He managed the Triple-A Omaha Royals the last two seasons, compiling a record of 134-153.

In 1999, Mizerock was named Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America after guiding the Double-A Wichita Wranglers to an 83-57 record and the Texas League Championship.

Mizerock, a former first-round pick of the Houston Astros, spent parts of four seasons as a catcher with the Astros and Atlanta Braves. He retired after spending 1990 with Triple-A Richmond and began his coaching career with the Eugene Emeralds in 1992.

Advertisement


Father's death to idle Duncan

SAN ANTONIO, April 30 (UPI) -- Superstar forward Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs will miss Wednesday night's Game Four of the team's Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Seattle SuperSonics because of the death of his father.

Duncan left practice early Monday after learning that his father, William, had been hospitalized. The elder Duncan died later in the day in North Carolina. Spurs Coach-General Manager Gregg Popovich confirmed on Tuesday that Duncan will not play.

The Spurs lead the best-of-five series, two games to one. If the SuperSonics win on Wednesday, Game Five will be Friday night at San Antonio.


Rod Woodson signs with Raiders

OAKLAND, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- The Oakland Raiders on Tuesday signed free agent safety Rod Woodson, a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and a starter on the 2000 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

The 37-year-old Woodson was waived by the Ravens in February for salary cap purposes, but Oakland appears to be the perfect fit for him. The Raiders got poor play from free safety Anthony Dorsett last season, and Woodson will likely move in as an immediate starter.

Advertisement

"Rod Woodson is a player who has distinguished himself in the NFL," said new Raiders Coach Bill Callahan. "The Raiders have always embraced players who have experience, and we welcome Rod to the Silver and Black."

Wide receiver Jerry Rice, safety Ronnie Lott, cornerback Larry Brown and kick returner Desmond Howard are among the players on Super Bowl championship teams who have signed with the Raiders as free agents.


Top seed ousted at Munich

MUNICH, Germany, April 30 (UPI) -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov has yet to find his footing on clay.

The top-seeded Russian suffered his third straight defeat Tuesday, falling 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to Nicolas Kiefer of Germany in the first round at the $400,000 BMW Open.

Kafelnikov is 2-4 on clay this season, with his two wins coming indoors in Davis Cup action. He is 15-11 this season overall, losing five of his last seven matches. Kiefer won only his third match in 11 outings this season and improved to 5-6 lifetime against Kafelnikov.

The 24-year-old German will face Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the second round.Stepanek crushed Dennis Van Scheppingen of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-0, in a battle of qualifiers.

Advertisement

Second seed Tommy Haas of Germany held off David Nalbandian of Argentina, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. But, third seed Thomas Johansson of Sweden was upset by Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Latest Headlines