Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504260073
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The announcement, rumored for months, came at the end of an NBA regular-season in which Wilkens moved ahead of Red Auerbach to the top of the NBA list for coaching victories.
``I do look forward to participating in this huge event,'' said the Atlanta Hawks' coach. ``Certainly, being an assistant coach on the 1992 team whetted my appetite to do it. It's just a tremendous honor.''
USA Basketball President C.M. Newton said three assistant coaches will be chosen in June - one from the NBA and two from the college ranks - and the first group of players will be picked in late July or early August.
Wilkens, 57, recalled the end of his college career with Providence when he was named the MVP in the National Invitation Tournament, but wasn't invited to try out for the Olympic team.
``It was a big disappointment at the time,'' he said. ``Every youngster in college would have loved to be on the Olympic team. I never thought much about it later.''
Wilkens will have input in completing his staff and selecting the players for the '96 Games, but Newton said the same committee that picked Wilkens - the USA Basketball men's senior national team committee - will make the final determination.
Magic Johnson, the former NBA star who played on the 1992 gold medal team after revealing he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has said he would like to be on the 1996 team, as well.
``I think it's great that you see players want to be a part of this,'' Wilkens said. ``It will be a decision made by the U.S. Olympic Committee.''
Montana may buy into racing team
One week after retiring from pro football, Joe Montana is to become the latest former NFL star to buy into an auto racing team, sources told The Associated Press.
Montana is scheduled to appear at a news conference today at the Target Center in Minneapolis, and it has been widely reported on the Indy-car circuit the quarterback will become a part-owner in the Target-Chip Ganassi Racing Team.
Two sources confirmed Montana will buy into the team, which is based in Indianapolis and is sponsored by Target discount stores of Edina, Minn.
Montana's representative, International Management Group, said in a statement the news conference will concern his ``entry into an exciting new sports venture.''
The Ganassi team, named for the former Indy-car driver, features drivers Bryan Herta, a rising star, and Jimmy Vasser.
During the winter, Walter Payton, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, became a partner in an Indy-car team. He joined former driver Dale Coyne to form Payton-Coyne Racing.
Joe Gibbs, who coached Washington Redskins Super Bowl champions in 1982, '87 and '91, owns his own team on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit.
by CNB