The Sporting News back issues from February 1996:
Curtains
Feb 05, 1996; ... This victory celebration, of course, was different from the first two. This time it was Barry Switzer, not Jimmy Johnson, who received the Gatorade bath. This time it was Switzer, not Johnson, who touched the Lombardi Trophy and who could proclaim the Cowboys the best damn football team in the ...
Do as we say, not as we do
Feb 05, 1996; ... Call me old-fashioned, idealistic, even naive. But of all the pressing issues facing college sports, none are more critical than sportsmanship and ethics. Problem is, every time sportsmanship and ethics are about to get their rightful -- and necessary -- place in the spotlight, they get ...
Forget 'prime time'--Brown is 'right place at the right time'
Feb 05, 1996; ... Larry Brown is kind of an anti-Cowboy. He doesn't wear jewelry, strut, woof or specialize in ego embellishment. He may not be swimming in money -- at least not yet -- but his situation is dripping in delicious irony. In the Land of Playmakers and Limousines, it was Larry Brown, ...
Label this 'bonehead' a champion
Feb 05, 1996; ... The spunky Sparky Mortimer, playing reporter, put his CBS-TV microphone up near Barry Switzer's chin and asked a good question. When Switzer shouted, "We did it] We did it] We did it]" what did he mean by that? What was the message to the bazillion television viewers and the thousands of ...
Untarnished mettle
Feb 05, 1996; ... In the mad moments immediately after Super Bowl XXX, the little coaches' corner in the Steelers' locker room gave Dick LeBeau his first chance for some quiet reflection. There, in something of an oasis amidst the desert swarm of postmortems, 1989 first crossed his mind. 49ers 20, Bengals ...
Voices -- Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey into the Secret World of Figure Skating by Christine Brennan
Feb 05, 1996; ... Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey into the Secret World of Figure Skating (By Christine Brennan. 319 pp. Scribner. $23). In the wake of the hoopla surrounding Super Bowl XIM, it is good to remember that women's figure skating is the second most popular sport on U.S. television, behind ...
Y. A. Tittle through his daughter's eyes
Feb 05, 1996; ... Giants & Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y.A. Tittle (By Dianne Tittle de Laet. 261 pp. Steerforth Press. $25). The "note on the author" on the last page of this distinctive book calls Dianne Tittle de Laet "a poet and harpist dedicated to the recreation of women's voices from the ...
All that's Jazz
Feb 05, 1996; ... The toughness and precision that have made Utah a perennial 50-game winner generally are credited to Karl Malone and John Stockton, the NBA's most durable and resilient tandem. And true to form, the Jazz, through Sunday, are 27-14 and on a pace for a 54-victory season. But Stockton and ...
Arizona Cardinals
Feb 05, 1996; ... Signs of life: There finally are some detectable signs that Owner Bill Bidwill has made headway in his search for a general manager and coach to replace Buddy Ryan, who was fired a month ago. Bidwill interviewed Dwight Clark, the 49ers vice president in charge of football operations, during the ...
A Senator;s debate
Feb 05, 1996; ... Those who think the Ottawa Senators franchise began play in October 1992 are wrong. That was the old franchise -- the one that had no money, no direction, no purpose. The December 12 hiring of Pierre Gauthier to replace Randy Sexton as general manager was the first big step for the ...
Atlanta Braves
Feb 05, 1996; ... Making his pitch: Pitcher Steve Avery is upset the team wants to cut his $4-million salary by 10 percent in what could become a nasty arbitration case. The team is offering $3.6 million; Avery is asking $4.2 million. "If they want to cut me, I told them, well, well see them at the table. I can't ...
Atlanta Falcons
Feb 05, 1996; ... Open the vault: Team officials insist they won't let quarterback Jeff George become a free agent this month, but there has not been much movement in negotiations. Signing George would have a substantial impact on the team's salary cap, but not signing him would mean introducing a new quarterback ...
Baltimore Orioles
Feb 05, 1996; ... Manto moves on: Third baseman Jeff Manto, who hit 17 homers in 254 at-bats last season, accepted a one-year contract with the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants that could be worth as much as $1.5 million, a far cry from the $140,000 he earned last year and far more than he could have hoped to get from the ...
Boston Red Sox
Feb 05, 1996; ... Loading up: The team signed 30-year-old outfielder Alex Cole to a minor league contract, invited him to spring training and added him to the center-field mix. Cole, who hit .342 in 79 at-bats with the Twins last season, would vie with Dwayne Hosey for the starting centerfield job if Lee Tinsley ...
Breaking pitch
Feb 05, 1996; ... Everyone has potential, but every now and then it is the other way around. That is the case with Ben McDonald. Potential has him the way he used to stronghold those gators back in the bayou. He will report to Arizona this month with the Brewers' pitchers and catchers, bringing more major league ...
Buffalo Bills
Feb 05, 1996; ... Catchy role: Now that Steve Tasker has had a taste of being a regular wide receiver, he wants more. He hopes his impressive work in the final third of the '95 season will convince the coaches that that should be his new role rather than kick coverage, for which he is a seven-time Pro Bowl ...
California Angels
Feb 05, 1996; ... Money games: Outfielder Darin Erstad, the No. 1 selection in last June's draft, has a strange "non-incentive" clause in his contract. He gets a $25,000 bonus if he's not called up to the big leagues by September -- in effect, a bonus for not doing well. He'll get an additional $100,000 if he's ...
Carolina Panthers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Three-way focus: Coach Dom Capers says the organization is keeping its options open regarding how it will use its first-round draft pick, which will be either the eighth or ninth overall selection depending on a coin flip with the Oilers. Capers says the team is considering players from three ...
Chicago Bears
Feb 05, 1996; ... Gazing Arizona: The team will keep an eye on goings-on with the Cardinals that could significantly affect the Bears both on the field and on the sideline. There are whispers that the Cardinals are leaning toward putting their franchise-player tag, not on defensive tackle Eric Swann, but on ...
Chicago Cubs
Feb 05, 1996; ... Third degree: Team officials, professing to be comfortable with contact hitter Dave Magadan playing third base, added third baseman Leo Gomez as a minor league invitee -- just in case. "He certainly adds pop to the position," says General Manager Ed Lynch, who watched third basemen Steve ...
Chicago White Sox
Feb 05, 1996; ... Taking shape: With a new-look outfield of Tony Phillips in left, Darren Lewis in center and Danny Tartabull, Manager Terry Bevington can now work on his lineup. Phillips will lead off and second-year man Ray Durham probably will be given the chance to bat second. The lineup allows Frank Thomas ...
Cincinnati Bengals
Feb 05, 1996; ... Number crunching: Only in the salary-cap era -- the Bengals are prepared to let their most athletic secondary player leave a unit that allowed the most passing yards in club history. Free safety Darryl Williams, a former No. 1 pick, is a transition free agent, but General Manager Mike Brown ...
Cincinnati Reds
Feb 05, 1996; ... The rock of ...: When last season ended, Triple-A sensation Steve Gibralter faced the prospect of having three center fielders ahead of him -- Thomas Howard, Darren Lewis and Jerome Walton. But payroll constraints forced the team to part with Lewis and Walton, leaving Howard the lone incumbent ...
Cleveland Browns
Feb 05, 1996; ... Belichick to Miami? Owner Art Modell may be willing to let Coach Bill Belichick go to the Dolphins to become Jimmy Johnson's defensive coordinator. Johnson says he "talked to Bill about a lot of different things," but "cannot speak directly" about hiring Belichick. Modell says his team is in for ...
Cleveland Indians
Feb 05, 1996; ... First and third: Although General Manager John Hart and Manager Mike Hargrove talk about Eddie Murray, Herbert Perry and Julio Franco as co-equal first basemen, it's likely that Franco will play the position most of the time, with Murray as the designated hitter and Perry as the backup at first ....
Colorado Rockies
Feb 05, 1996; ... Swift progress: Bill Swift threw 31 pain-free pitches -- all straight fastballs -- off a mound last week. It was the first time he had taken the mound since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on a frayed right labrum in October. And what made it special was the normally low-keyed Swift even got ...
Dallas Cowboys
Feb 05, 1996; ... The squeeze: Because of free agency and the team's already skin-tight salary cap, several players, including defensive tackle Russell Maryland, cornerback Larry Brown and linebackers Dixon Edwards and Robert Jones, might have played their last game with the team. The team will open free agency ...
Denver Broncos
Feb 05, 1996; ... Down-sizing: With free agency less than two weeks away, General Manager John Beake has been the busiest guy in the Broncos camp, attempting to downsize some fat contracts. Among those believed to be on his list are wide receiver Mike Pritchard at $1.6 million, cornerback Ray Crockett at $1.487 ...
Despite offensive shortcomings, Dampier will go high in draft
Feb 05, 1996; ... If Mississippi State junior center Erick Dampier enters the June draft as expected, he likely will be among the first five or 10 players selected. Wake Forest's Tim Duncan and Massachusetts' Marcus Camby are at the top of the NBA's most-wanted big man list, with Dampier close ...
Detroit Lions
Feb 05, 1996; ... Second thoughts: Quarterback Scott Mitchell, who has one year remaining on his contract, won't move quickly on a long-term extension. Mitchell, who said late last season that he wanted to stay in Detroit because he believes the offense is destined for great things, has become leery after Owner ...
Detroit Tigers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Duo divided: Alan Trammell says it'll be strange going to spring training knowing that Lou Whitaker won't be there. "I called Lou to ask him what he thought of my going back," says Trammell, who will play his 20th season with the team. "He said, 'Tram, if you go back and play, I'll come out and ...
Florida Marlins
Feb 05, 1996; ... Reliever's reprieve: A year ago at this time, Bill Hurst was bracing for a third consecutive season out of baseball. But on March 11, 1995, Hurst was persuaded to attend the team's open tryout. One of about 350 wannabes, Hurst's 6-foot-7 frame caught the eye of team officials. "I watched him ...
Green Bay Packers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Still calling signals: Quarterback Brett Favre was one of the most sought-after people at Super Bowl XXX, yet his team didn't even make it to the big show. Since winning the Most Valuable Player award, Favre has been as busy as a bee attending dinners and interview sessions. This week, he'll ...
Half empty
Feb 05, 1996; ... The 1995-96 season is half over. This might be a good time to stop and start all over again. Wait. On second thought, just fast-forward to the playoffs. Quick. You call this a season? The quality of competition has never been cheesier, thanks to expansion. That's ...
Here are the most-asked questions--And answers--At Super Bowl XXX
Feb 05, 1996; ... Are you saying this was just another normal Super Bowl week, filled with pseudo-news stories and bombastic boasts? Well, everything seemed about the same until a Phoenix group decided to award two free tickets to anyone performing the most outlandish stunt. You know it brought out some ...
Hiring Walsh could be offensive to the 49ers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Let me say this first about Bill Walsh: The former 49ers head coach is one of the most influential men in the history of professional football, a man whose influence is evidenced not only by the growing proliferation of his famous West Coast offense, but by the dozens of head coaches and ...
Houston Astros
Feb 05, 1996; ... Berry signs: Third baseman Sean Berry agreed to a one-year deal worth $995,000, leaving one arbitration candidate -- catcher Rick Wilkins. Berry, acquired from the Expos for reliever Dave Veres, was seeking $1.19 million. The club's offer was $800,000, but the two sides agreed to a contract ...
Houston Oilers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Draft priorities: After scouting the bowl and all-star games and evaluating the list of underclassmen, coaches and scouts agree the strongest positions in the draft are wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle. That's good because the team needs all three. They will have the eighth or ...
Indianapolis Colts
Feb 05, 1996; ... Probin' Tobin: The status of defensive coordinator Vince Tobin remained up in the air as the Cardinals received permission to interview Tobin for the head coaching vacancy. Tobin had admitted recently a desire to be a head coach, and it is believed his stock went up as the team made it to the ...
Jacksonville Jaguars
Feb 05, 1996; ... Center spread: The team may have a new center in 1996. Dave Widell had a solid season pass-blocking but did not get the type of movement needed up front to sustain a running game. But Widell is such a good leader in the locker room -- he had a major impact on rookie left tackle Tony Boselli -- ...
Kansas City Chiefs
Feb 05, 1996; ... Defending the draft: President Carl Peterson defended the club's 1995 draft that, after one season, looks to be a complete bust. Only wide receiver/kick returner Tamarick Vanover, a third-round pick, was a contributor last season. "You'll see that the other players from this draft will begin to ...
Kansas City Royals
Feb 05, 1996; ... Bip on the field: No one, including Bip Roberts, is sure where he'll play this year. It could be second base, third base or left field. He's more comfortable about left field. "We'll figure this out in spring training," he says. "I don't know. I have no idea." The problem with left field is ...
L.A. could once again be Magic's kingdom
Feb 05, 1996; ... Maybe the coast is clear this time. Maybe Magic Johnson can return to the game and not worry about what Karl Malone has to say. Maybe he can play to cheers instead of whispers. Maybe he can live his life the way he wants, instead of the way others think he should. Maybe Magic ...
Los Angeles Dodgers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Smooth infield: It's the team's thinking it has put together its finest infield since the days of the Steve Garvey-Dave Lopes-Bill Russell-Ron Cey foursome, one that remained as a unit for a major league-record eight seasons (1974 through '81). One thing about this one -- first baseman Eric ...
Miami Dolphins
Feb 05, 1996; ... Jimmy's list: Coach Jimmy Johnson wants playmakers on offense and more quickness on defense, and he needs a running back capable of carrying the load for the team. Bernie Parmalee has undergone reconstructive knee surgery, and doctors say he'll be back by training camp. But that may be a bit ...
Milwaukee Brewers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Singled out: Speed and defense were supposed to provide outfielder Duane Singleton with a ticket to the majors. But in the end, an inability to adjust to big league pitching earned him a ticket to Detroit. Once regarded as a top prospect in the organization, Singleton was sent to the Tigers for ...
Minnesota Twins
Feb 05, 1996; ... Dot, dot, dot: The club and second baseman Chuck Knoblauch exchanged salary-arbitration figures -- the club offering $3.75 million and Knoblauch seeking $4.67 million. He made almost $3 million in 1995 while finishing second in the A.L. with a .333 batting average and compiling 46 stolen bases ...
Minnesota Vikings
Feb 05, 1996; ... Stepping up: Foge Fazio, a 24-year coaching veteran and last season's linebackers coach, has replaced defensive coordinator Tony Dungy. A former head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Fazio has worked for the Falcons and Jets, but this is his first NFL coordinator job. "Replacing someone ...
Montreal Expos
Feb 05, 1996; ... Far apart: First baseman David Segui thinks his chances of signing a multiyear deal "left with Kevin Malone." Segui, the team's 1995 player of the year, was $900,000 away from the club's offer when he filed an arbitration salary request of $2 million. Segui, who has publicly stated his desire to ...
New England Patriots
Feb 05, 1996; ... Looking around: The team's chances of getting an impact wide receiver in the draft received a significant boost when Ohio State speedster Terry Glenn announced he will skip his senior year to enter the draft. Glenn is expected to be the second wide receiver taken -- after Keyshawn Johnson -- and ...
New Orleans Saints
Feb 05, 1996; ... Comeback planned: Frank Warren, who spent 13 seasons as a defensive lineman with the team, has decided to resume his playing career after working the past year as an assistant coach. Warrens comeback, however, apparently won't be as a Saint. Warren, 36, informed Coach Jim Mora about his ...
New York Giants
Feb 05, 1996; ... Tag team: The team must decide what to do with the franchise-player tag currently placed on veteran offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott. Although the Giants would like to re-sign Elliott, they might try to do so without a franchise tag. One option is to change the franchise designation to a ...
New York Jets
Feb 05, 1996; ... QB speculation: The team reportedly told the Redskins it would be willing to trade its first-round pick (No. 1 overall) for Gus Frerotte, the Redskins' first-rounder (No. 6) and another starter. Personnel Director Dick Haley confirmed that the club spoke to the Redskins, but he downplayed the ...
New York Mets
Feb 05, 1996; ... No power play: One day after Bernard Gilkey became the team's left fielder last week, G.M. Joe McIlvaine discounted the possibilities of importing a slugger, an objective that seemed primary a month earlier when the club had varying degrees of interest in three American League third basemen -- ...
New York Yankees
Feb 05, 1996; ... Key's progress: Jimmy Key has been making excellent progress working out at the club's Tampa headquarters and may be ready much earlier than first believed. Key, who had shoulder surgery last season, already is throwing off a mound and might be able to start the season in the rotation. Key's ...
Oakland A's
Feb 05, 1996; ... Goodbye, Danny: Mark McGwire liked the idea of Danny Tartabull batting behind him in the Oakland lineup in 1996. But with Tartabull traded to the White Sox, it isn't going to happen. "I've never had anyone (with great home run potential) batting behind me in the nine-plus years I've played," ...
Oakland Raiders
Feb 05, 1996; ... Fox to depart: Assistant head coach/offense Joe Bugel will stay with the team, but defensive coordinator John Fox apparently is on his way out. The team began interviewing candidates to replace him last week. Former Buccaneers defensive coordinator Rusty Tillman visited El Segundo to speak to ...
Ogden will take his shot at track before going pro
Feb 05, 1996; ... UCLA senior offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden went to Oklahoma City last week for the formal presentation of the Outland Trophy, the award presented by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's outstanding interior lineman. When he arrived at the black-tie dinner and got his ...
Oh, pioneers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Valerie who loved to play basketball. She had posters of John Havlicek and Jerry West on her bedroom wall. She wore basketball shoes designed for boys. And when it came time to leave her home in New Jersey and go off to college, she was one ...
One-night stand turns Muller, Leafs into an item
Feb 05, 1996; ... It started as a reservations mixup but ended as a perfect match for the Maple Leafs. When they were in Los Angeles in mid-December, the Maple Leafs stayed at the same hotel as exiled Islanders center Kirk Muller. Both sides were embarrassed because it fueled rumors that Muller would soon ...
On the map
Feb 05, 1996; ... Before the Dream Season, the 10-2 record, the first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949, the Charlton Heston overdose and the purple mania, there was this: "Uh, this is Coach Smith of Northwestern University, which is located near Chicago and is a member in good standing of the Big Ten ...
Philadelphia Eagles
Feb 05, 1996; ... Sharpe curve: The team had considered signing former Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, but its medical staff advised against the move. Sharpe, 30, suffered a serious neck injury late in the 1994 season and underwent an operation last February to repair the top two cervical vertebrae of his ...
Philadelphia Phillies
Feb 05, 1996; ... Left out? Insisting his knee and back are fine and admitting there are people who doubt he can rebound from consecutive off years, Lenny Dykstra sent a message to the brass concerning where he wants to play this season. Dykstra's message was delivered amid reports the team was close to acquiring ...
Pittsburgh Pirates
Feb 05, 1996; ... Reality check: Denny Neagle's first big season and first year of arbitration eligibility helped land him a $2.35-million deal this winter. Neagle made $740.000 last year. Although he's the club's only reliable starter, management will be watching him to make sure he builds on last year's success ...
Pittsburgh Steelers
Feb 05, 1996; ... Greene day: Outside linebacker Kevin Greene, 33, says he is good for 10 sacks a season for two or three more years if someone signs him in free agency. Greene's three-year contract has expired, and he doesn't think the organization will offer him a new one. "We'll see if anyone out there wants a ...