THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120750
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Brave new world: Cowboy Michael Irvin is corralled in a cocaine bust, Bam Morris gets caught with marijuana, Quentin Coryatt starts trouble with a gun, and every other week, it seems, some other pro football player is in the news for beating his girlfriend or wife. Under the circumstances, why would anyone question whether woman batterer Lawrence Phillips is welcome in the NFL? Phillips, who just happens to be the best prospect in this year's draft, couldn't be a better fit.
Pound for pound: It's a good idea for overweight umpires to go on some sort of diet, as long as it isn't Cecil Fielder's.
Futurewatch: With Syracuse's success in the NCAA tournament, expect more teams to play a 2-3 zone next season.
For what it's worth: In case anyone needs reminding, Dave Odom, just signed to a contract extension by Wake Forest, was Terry Holland's first choice to succeed him as U.Va. basketball coach.
All-around prospect: The full scouting report on Philadelphia high school basketball star Kobe Bryant reads: Speaks three languages, has a 3.0 grade-point average and scored more than 1,000 on his SATs. If he jumps directly to the NBA, it will not be for lack of smarts.
For the bird: Once the Baltimore pro football team began calling itself the Ravens, a name inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Art Modell's wife, Pat, said she would rename her three dogs Edgar, Allan and Poe.
Where's the magic? After Cedric Ceballos checks out to go water skiing and Nick Van Exel checks an official into the scorer's table, you have to wonder when the Lakers are going to begin benefiting from Magic Johnson's leadership.
Add Magic: Disgusted by the immaturity of his teammates, Johnson says, ``I've been through more in one year than I did in 11 or 12 years with my other squad. I should have stayed retired, I guess.''
Florida bound? This latest Laker incident will only increase speculation that Magic is headed to Miami next season to play for Pat Riley.
His own Bull market: The most intriguing free-agent story in basketball this year may belong to Phil Jackson.
Sight gag: A photo of Steve Howe pitching at frigid, stormy Yankee Stadium on Oening Day showed a lot of white, powdery stuff swirling around him and . .
Not a vacation: At 32, what Sweetpea Whitaker has to fear most in his fight with Wilfredo Rivera in St. Maarten is his own complacency.
Side by side: The same year Magic Johnson comes back to the NBA, Buster Douglas makes plans to return to the boxing ring. Which is another way of saying that each sport got what it deserves.
Money madness: Reports out of Arizona the other day didn't say whether officials for the expansion baseball Diamondbacks blushed while announcing that their best seat will go for $50. The top ticket at Baltimore's Camden Yards is $20.
Sounding off: Driving around town listening to his $40,000 car stereo system gets Shaquille O'Neal noticed; the Orlando police regularly cite him for violations of the anti-noise ordinance. ``Happens all the time,'' says the Magic master blaster. ``I just take my ticket like a gentleman and pay my $18.''
Net results: You can take all the people in America who care that the U.S. just lost to the Czechs in tennis, stick them inside the Davis Cup and still have room enough for Andre Agassi's clothes designer. by CNB