THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050709
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Too bad: Sweetpea Whitaker defending his title in a ring set up over the infield at Harbor Park would have created a unique happening for Hampton Roads and its favorite fighter. Instead, Whitaker looks ahead to another bout in a casino town before the usual group of jaded gamblers. He's been there, done that.
Art imitating art: For punching a police horse, Cincinnati basketball player Art Long appears to be guilty of assault - and of attempting to recreate a scene from ``Blazing Saddles.''
Go, Canada! The fiscally responsible attitudes of the governments of Winnipeg and Quebec toward their NHL teams must look odd in America, where cities are perfectly willing to mortgage their children's future rather than stand up to the strong-arming tactics of sports franchises.
Typecasting: Before his arrest the other night, just-resigned Michigan football coach Gary Moeller was incoherent, belligerent, uncooperative and trying to pick a fight. Except for the part about drinking too much, this sounds like a description of most football coaches.
Quick hit: The Baltimore Orioles bullpen is less dependable than the O.J. jury pool. Both should be sequestered.
Reloading: Pity the North Carolina basketball program now that Rasheed Wallace has entered the NBA draft. It will probably take Dean Smith all of a week to find himself another future NBA center.
Kid's stuff: With Wallace leaving Chapel Hill after only two seasons, ACC fans have lost out on the opportunity to watch the full range of his tantrums.
Add Rasheed: Seriously, though, if Wallace can develop some mental toughness to go along with his athleticism, there's no reason he can't be a spectacular pro.
The big winners: When the overall graduation rate for big-time college football programs is 58.6 percent, you cannot say enough about Duke, Wake Forest and Boston College, which graduates at a rate of 95 percent.
Lighten up: All the best to the U.S. national women's soccer team as the World Cup approaches, but that Nike commercial featuring the American players is really pompous.
TV timeout: Thursday, ESPN2 began its 20-game minor league baseball package. Yet another reason to be glad we don't have The Deuce in Hampton Roads.
Over the line: If you saw the scenes of rowdiness and anarchy in the stands and on the field at Tiger Stadium earlier this week, you might have thought it was Michigan Militia Day.
In passing: The current collection of Celtics is a reminder that great players made Boston Garden what it is, not the other way around.
Let's get going: A round of games between the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic just might make the playoffs worth watching.
Sky high: Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls in time to help the NBA's ratings on NBC jump 13 percent from last season.
Moneyball: Once Steve Avery's salary is determined, the five Atlanta Braves starting pitchers will make in the neighborhood of $21 million, more than the entire payrolls of either the Brewers or Expos.
The mad rush: It didn't take long for Fresno State to illustrate how easily economics triumphs over ethics. Since signing Jerry Tarkanian to coach its basketball team, the school has received more than 25,000 season-ticket requests. by CNB