THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170670
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Discounted rookies: By finishing third in the voting for NBA rookie of the year, ``our own'' Joe Smith joins Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Penny Hardaway, Kevin McHale and Karl Malone on the list of players who did not win the award.
Just asking: At the beginning of the season, who could have imagined that Jerry Stackhouse would receive only two votes for rookie of the year?
Leaving well enough alone: By keeping the format of the ACC basketball tournament the way it is, the athletic directors followed a time-tested doctrine - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Futurewatch: Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer says that ``the worst thing about next year'' for the Hokies is visits to Miami, Syracuse and Boston College.
Wondering: If ESPN3 is added to the cable menu as planned, what will its programming feature, home videos of office softball games?
Noting history: Sometimes it's best not to think about the roots of certain traditions, such as carrying the Olympic flame from Greece. It was a Nazi idea in 1936 to illustrate Aryan superiority.
Moving on: Now that the Knicks are out of the playoffs, the NBA - and the rest of us - can get back to basketball.
TV timeout: Of all the network talking heads, perhaps only Bob Costas would possess the presence and wit to observe the following: ``Did it ever occur to you that if it weren't for his ability to rebound and defend, Dennis Rodman would be just another pathetic exhibitionist hoping for 45 minutes on the `Ricki Lake Show'?''
One to watch: The marquee for the Michael Jordan-Penny Hardaway matchup should read Air Jordan vs. Heir Apparent.
Worth remembering: Curious how Magic Johnson's sudden re-retirement seems to be leaving everyone with the impression that his comeback was something of a disappointment. In truth, it's amazing that, at 36, he was capable of playing a significant role in most games.
Opening Day: Olympic organizers are hoping for a big turnout Saturday when the 85,000-seat Olympic Stadium debuts with a Grand Prix track and field meet. Just in case the facility itself is not enough of an attraction, 40,000 free tickets have been distributed. We're talking track and field, after all.
Long-distance romance: Former Romanian tennis eccentric Ilie Nastase leads in the polls in the race for mayor of Bucharest, though he and his family still live in the United States. This shows, perhaps, that Romanians, like the rest of us, prefer to put some distance between themselves and their politicians.
It's always something: Poor Davey Johnson. He drops Cal Ripken to No. 7 in the batting order for one game and the media run to tell him that it's the lowest Cal has hit in the lineup since 1982. ``I didn't realize it was a milestone,'' said Johnson.
Olympic clinic: Thomas Fitzgerald, a member of the U.S. team handball squad, says of his sport: ``It's water polo without the water, soccer but you use your hands, lacrosse but you don't use sticks.'' Confused yet? by CNB