ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
From Associated Press reports Stephon Marbury, acquired in a draft-day trade, signed a three-year contract Thursday with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.
Marbury, who left Georgia Tech after one season, will be paid $5.67 million - $1.64 million in his rookie year, $1.89 million in his second year and $2.14 million in the third year.
The contract terms were set by the league's rookie salary cap. Marbury will be paid according to where he was chosen in the draft, fourth overall. The 6-foot-2 point guard was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the Timberwolves' original pick - Ray Allen at No.5 - and center Andrew Lang.
``Stephon is excited to be a member of the Timberwolves,'' said Kevin McHale, the club's vice president. ``It's a bonus to have him signed and involved in our system at such an early point in time.''
At Georgia Tech, Marbury averaged 18.9 points.
In other NBA news:
* Free-agent guard Bryant Stith has decided to remain with the Denver Nuggets, although the former Virginia star said he had more lucrative offers.
Stith, the Nuggets' captain, is close to signing a deal believed to be worth $22 million over five years. Seven teams courted Stith, including Detroit, New York and Indiana. Miami's offer of a seven-year package was especially hard to resist, he said. Ultimately, his decision came down to loyalty.
``My mother asked me if I wanted to play for money or did I want to play for a team with all my heart?'' Stith said. ``I really wanted to play with Denver from the heart.''
* Kenny Anderson will sign with the Portland Trail Blazers within a few days, The Oregonian reported. The newspaper cited unidentified NBA sources, although the club has yet to confirm the deal for the free-agent point guard.
The Oregonian also cited renewed reports the Blazers might be going after Isaiah Rider of Minnesota and Latrell Sprewell of Golden State.
* Free-agent forward P.J. Brown left the New Jersey Nets to sign with the Miami Heat, saying he wanted to play for a team ``going in the right direction.'' Brown's seven-year contract reportedly is worth $36 million.
Point guard Tim Hardaway has re-signed with the Heat, coach Pat Riley said, but Riley refused to disclose contract terms.
GOLF Sullivan
leads PGA event
Mike Sullivan closed a 7-under-par 65 with three consecutive birdies and took a one-shot lead in the opening round of the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic in Madison, Miss.
Sullivan, who hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the B.C. Open last year, leads Kirk Triplett, Robert Gamez, Dudley Hart, Bryan Gorman and Hisayuki Sasaki by one after the first round at the Annandale Golf Club. Six golfers, including Tommy Armour III and Dave Stockton Jr., were two shots back after 67s. (Scores in Scoreboard. B4)
* Brandie Burton used her putter and Mardi Lunn used her driver, but both ended up in the same place. Burton and Lunn shot 5-under-par 67s to share the first-round lead at the LPGA Friendly's Classic in Agawam, Mass.
Margaret Platt, Marianne Morris and Dottie Pepper were at 68. Two-time U.S. Women's Open champ Annika Sorenstam of Sweden led a group at 69 that included Shelley Hamlin and Sherrin Smyers. (Scores in Scoreboard. B4)
ETC. Disney will be
truckin' in 1997
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series announced it's going to Disney World to open its third season.
The racing series begins Jan.19 at Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando. It will join other events recently secured by Walt Disney World Sports, including spring training for the Atlanta Braves, national headquarters for the Amateur Athletic Union and new home of the Harlem Globetrotters.
IMS Events, an affiliated company of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and operator of motorsports events at Disney's speedway, will promote the race, which precedes the Indy 200 on Jan.25 at Walt Disney World.
* The Oklahoma-based Miami Indian tribe has withdrawn its longtime support for Miami University's use of Redskins as a nickname for sports teams, the Oxford, Ohio, university announced. The university's board of trustees said it will consider in September whether to drop the moniker at the end of the 1996-97 school year, as the tribe requested.
* Washington resembled Wimbledon West, with steady rain washing out almost the entire day's play at the Legg Mason Classic tennis tournament. Organizers plan to play the third round and quarterfinals today.
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB