THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030503
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Chill: It's a little late for people to be complaining that a wrassling match will tarnish Lawrence Taylor's image. His weakness for drugs did that long ago. Considering some of Taylor's off-the-field follies, a brush with wrassling can only help lend him some dignity.
For safety's sake: In the wake of the brain injury to Gerald McClellan, George Foreman says he favors the use of headgear for professional bouts. Of course, George is accustomed to fighting with extra padding.
Circus act: Rosa Lopez, defense witness in the O.J. Simpson trial, has received better coaching than the Duke basketball team.
Anxiety attack: The fear in Indiana is that Bobby Knight will retire after this season. What, and leave it to another coach to kick around the media? Never happen.
Talent pool: A North Carolina team that features a future No. 1 lottery pick (Rasheed Wallace) and another player who was just named Sports Illustrated's undergraduate of the year (Jerry Stackhouse), should not have to struggle so hard for a share of first place in its conference.
A third tower: As good as Wallace and Joe Smith are, they trail Wake Forest's Tim Duncan in rebounds and blocked shots.
Wasting time: As if the baseball players' union isn't unpopular enough, it had to go and file a grievance for Darryl Strawberry against the San Francisco Giants. While holding its nose, one hopes.
The smarter sex: There is something, after all, that women's college basketball can teach the men. Six members of No. 1-ranked Connecticut are on the dean's list.
Hoop dreams: The next time anybody sees suspended UMass guard Michael Williams, he could be playing at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
In the wings: It's almost a sure thing that Don Nelson will be coaching next season in the NBA, and it shouldn't surprise anyone if it's with the Boston Celtics.
For what it's worth: There's no reason why Wake Forest's Dave Odom shouldn't be ACC coach of the year.
Looking back: You'd be hard pressed to explain how Clemson was able to sweep both Duke and North Carolina State in basketball.
Seniors' circuit: That somebody still thinks Phil Simms can quarterback at 39 is less of a compliment to the former Giant than a dismal commentary on the state of pro football.
Consolation prize: The NIT selection committee can invite a sub-.500 Duke to its party because it can do anything it likes, and because nobody cares about the tournament anyway.
Real pros: You've got to root for Utah Jazz sidekicks Karl Malone and John Stockton, if only for their toughness. Malone has missed three games in 10 seasons; Stockton four in 11.
Seeing red: Baltimore Orioles maverick owner Peter Angelos, on acting commish Bud Selig: ``Watching him is like watching a person put his hand in a buzz saw. You want to shout, `You're splattering blood all over the rest of us!' '' by CNB