THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310731
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Wondering: First there was Georgetown's Fred Brown, with his mystifying pass to James Worthy. Then came Chris Webber and his infamous time-out. If North Carolina reaches another title game, who will clinch the Tar Heel victory this time?
Another look: A casual viewer of the NCAA tournament, unfamiliar with the media's spin on North Carolina's success, might identify guard Donald Williams, not Jerry Stackhouse, as the Tar Heels best clutch player.
Add Tar Heels: Speaking of North Carolina's backcourt, playmaker Jeff McInnis is good enough to average 20 points for any other team. He can pass and defend, too.
One on one: If Jack Nicholson shows up again in the UCLA rooting section, Oklahoma State might want to counter by leaving a ticket for Forrest Gump.
Three's a crowd: With Michael Jordan back and Scottie Pippen still Pippen along, Toni Kukoc plays like a guy waiting for a bus.
The long view: When Jordan scores 55 and his team wins by two, it says more about Michael than the Bulls' chances in the playoffs.
Cruel and unusual: After losing to Andre Agassi in their Florida final, Pete Sampras flew with his flashy rival to New York later that afternoon in time for both to catch Agassi's girlfriend, Brooke Shields, in another performance of ``Grease.'' It must have led people to wonder, ``Hasn't Pete suffered enough for one day?''
Image control: Having passed the stage where he can be considered the best ``young'' coach, Kentucky's Rick Pitino is rapidly approaching the point where he will be knocked for not having won the big one. Just watch.
Wondering: Is it my imagination, or have teams in the NCAA tournament been more 3-point happy than usual?
A new face: You know Oklahoma State basketball doesn't get much exposure when Randy Rutherford, a future first-round NBA draft pick who averages 19 points and leads the nation in 3-pointers, remains virtually unknown outside the Dust Bowl.
Streaking: Thanks to the Tar Heels and Duke, this makes the eighth year in a row a school from North Carolina has reached the Final Four.
The studio audience: Don't envy too much those who will be watching the Final Four from a seat in the Kingdome. Like most domes, the place has terrible sightlines for basketball. Binoculars should be included in the price of a ticket.
Off the bench: The San Antonio Spurs are humming along without Dennis ``Easy Rider'' Rodman thanks to the play of J.R. Reid.
Phoning it in: Orioles' pitcher Mike Mussina's phone message says, ``Hello, and welcome to the replacement baseball season. If you are having trouble reaching your trash collector, accountant or local contractor, you may want to try Florida or Arizona. ...''
Losing ground: As bad as the Redskins were the last two seasons, you would have figured the last thing they had to worry about was losing a pair of offensive linemen - Raleigh McKenzie and Mark Schlereth - to free agency this week.
Joint venture: Obviously, Ricky Watters didn't consult his knees and ankles before taking Philadelphia's money to run the ball on the Eagles' concrete field.
Idle thought: Mike Tyson praying is a more perplexing sight than Tyson preying. by CNB