THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150356
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: SPRINGFIELD, MASS. LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Former Old Dominion standout Nancy Lieberman-Cline, four-time NBA scoring champion George Gervin and controversial coach Jerry Tarkanian head a list of 20 nominees for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
An individual needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for induction. The new inductees will be named Feb. 5, 1996, with induction scheduled for May 6.
Lieberman-Cline, a three-time All-American at ODU, led the Lady Monarchs to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979-80. She made history in 1986 when she became the first woman to play with a men's professional team, signing with the Springfield Fame of the USBL.
Gervin spent four seasons in the ABA with the Virginia Squires before joining the NBA's San Antonio Spurs in 1974. With the Spurs, ``The Iceman'' won three straight NBA scoring titles from 1978-80, and added a fourth in 1982.
Tarkanian, whose nickname ``Tark the Shark'' also reflects his many legal battles with the NCAA, owns the best win-loss record in NCAA history with an State and Nevada-Las Vegas. He was named head coach at his alma mater, Fresno State, in April.
Tarkanian said he was thrilled.
`It's never been a goal of mine, but obviously it's the biggest honor you can get in this profession,'' he said.
Hall of Fame president Joe O'Brien said some would have qualms about the nomination of Tarkanian. But ``he is certainly qualified.''
Also on the list announced Tuesday were Texas-El Paso coach Don Haskins, Houston coach Guy Lewis, longtime college and professional coach Tex Winter, and Antonio Dias-Miguel, who coached Spain's National Team for 27 years.
Nominated as players were:
Jo Jo White, who helped boost the Celtics to two NBA titles after starring at Kansas.
Defensive ace Dennis Johnson, who won championships with Boston and Seattle.
David Thompson, who led North Carolina State to the NCAA title in 1974 and then starred for the Denver Nuggets.
Dick Barnett, who won two NBA championships with the New York Knicks.
Roger Brown, who boosted Indiana to three ABA titles.
Gail Goodrich and Jamaal Wilkes, who starred for UCLA a decade apart and then the Lakers.
Larry Costello, who played for 12 years with Philadelphia and Syracuse before turning to coaching.
Artis Gilmore a standout at Jacksonville before an 18-year pro career.
Kresimir Cosic, an international star who played at Brigham Young.
Nominated by the veterans committee were:
Arnie Risen, a rugged rebounder who helped boost Rochester to the 1951 NBA title.
George Yardley, who in 1958 became the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in one season.
Carol Eckman was nominated as a contributor. In 1969, while serving as head coach of West Chester State College, Eckman organized the first National Women's College Invitational Tournament. ILLUSTRATION: Nancy Lieberman-Cline would follow ex-teammate Anne Donovan,
class of '95, into the hall.
by CNB