European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Commentary 76er thugs deface Aba masterpiece by Mike littwin the Baltimore Sun lets try to reduce the discussion to its simplest terms the incorrect Way to treat the Mona Lisa is to try to rip the smile off her face. It seems to me the same logic should apply to Michael Jordan another work of Art. The Philadelphia 76ers disagree. These Are the Guys who never saw a painting they did not think could be improved with a Spray can. They Are not after Art. They Are after putting their own signature on it and that signature is often the Bottom of a sneaker on somebody a neck. Pro basketball is not pro wrestling. It is not indoor Lacrosse. It is not a tractor pull. It is not even a presidential Campaign. It is fantastic though and in its Best form it is something like another Well known Contact sport Ballet. I know that because i saw it on one of those fantastic commercials although i bet you the Only thing Baryshnikov Ever dunked was a doughnut in his Coffee. On the other hand you know Jordan could four in in air All night Long 1 love to watch four in in air Jordan and who  Well the 76ers, i guess or any her team forced to play against him. In their series against Jordan a Chicago bulls the 76ers have declared a no Layup Rule meaning that if you come to the Basket you have a better shot of getting Laid out than a Layup. The idea is to scare Jordan and the bulls a finesse team out of their game. Rod Thorn director of operations for the National basketball association has warned the 76ers against hard fouls. Charles Barkley a hard foul waiting to happen put his spin on the directive. A Rod Thorn said he did no to want us to Hurt anybody a Barkley said. A the said he did no to want us to maim anybody. But he did no to say he did t want us to hit anybody. You can hit someone without hurting  you can. I could hit Barkley All Day and he would never notice unless i picked up a Hammer. But when Barkley or his slam dance partner Rick Mahorn hits someone the person tends to remember. You have to love Barkley. He is a great player and a funny Guy. You can like Mahorn too even it be plays like a thug. He is a Bright Guy with a great sense of humor who has made himself a career out of winning by intimidation. They both play by the rules it is the rules that need changing. What makes the game special is the play in the Lane the Dunk that turns your head the spinning drive to the Basket that makes you shake your head. One was handed Down from or. J. To air Jordan the other from Earl Monroe to Kevin Johnson. Whatever rules changes the Aba enacts Are generally to enable players to get to the Lane. That is a nyx Vandy coach Dies Nashville Tenn. Apr former Vanderbilt football coach and athletic director Billy Joe a a Bill Pace has died of a heart attack. He was 58. Pace who had no history of heart problems collapsed monday about 1 30 . During a meeting at his Southern trophy shop. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Southern Hills Hospital. Pace joined Vanderbilt in december 1966, succeeding Jack Green As head coach. He compiled a 22-38-2 record Over the next six years. He succeeded Jess Neely As athletic director in 1971. Aba masterworks Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan 23 wrestle for position on sunday in Philadelphia. The zone defense was outlawed. The purpose of the three Point shot is to spread the defense giving players More room to operate. Clobbering a Guy on the drive conversely is designed to shut Down the Lane. 11 is the same principle As placing land mines a to discourage movement in a certain area. A a it a not clean basketball a Jordan said sunday. He went on to say that this form of defense was the latest in High technology and he would adjust. Actually its the lowest technology which is just Plain old brute Force. Why not suit up Lyle Alzado so what do you think happened sunday the 76ers did All the talking and the bulls not to be intimidated provided All the muscling. In the fourth Quarter Barkley went Down hard twice looking like a Bull on the wrong end of a rope. He took a swat in the face from de Nealy and frowned really hard. Earlier Bill Cartwright had tackled Hersey Hawkins. Mahorn tried to hold up his end but u was too Little too late. But now you have to worry As game 5 looms wednesday night that the 76ers, after watching their Star get mugged will go after Jordan in Earnest. Maybe if they do you will see a rules change. Once the los Angeles lakers of Showtime Fame. Were solely a finesse team. That was until the Boston celtics beat them up in an Aba Linal. With Kevin Mchale s clothesline foul on Kurt ram hts the clincher. The lakers knew they had to gel tougher and no one is saying pro basketball should not be a physical game. But now the lakers who have not been Able to control Kevin Johnson Are trying to keep him out of the Lane by making him pay a toll for entering. That is not the Way the game should he played. The Aba has virtually eliminated the dangerous foul on a breakaway by legislating against it. If you foul a player on a breakaway the players gets two free throws and his team keeps the Ball. That was enough. Unnecessarily hard fouls can be treated the same Way a two free throws and Possession. That is not to say a player cannot try to Block a shot and in the process Knock somebody Down or even out. But you know 1 know and the officials know when a player simply knocks someone Down for effect or hits someone gratuitously. Just because a player is attempting to shoot a Ball should not. At the same time make him a free target. Let s have a Price to be paid in both directions. Or do you realty want to see someone someday shoot a High flying Jordan right out of the sky Jones taking Over sonics. Quot n sonics . Jones Seattle apr . Jones who coached the Boston celtics to a pair of Aba championships in the 1980s, will be head coach of the Seattle super sonics at the Start of the 1990s. Sonics spokesman Jim Rupp confirmed tuesday that Jones 58, will replace Bemie Bickerstaff next season. Jones was Bickers gaffs assistant this past season. Bickerstaff who coached the sonics the last five years will become vice president of basketball operations Rupp said. Sonics president Bob who Silt was not available for comment when the associated press called his Home. He earlier told the Seattle Post intelligencer that Jones would be coach the newspaper reported tuesday. "1 can guarantee you this is Bernices wish a a Rupp said. A never since the ulcer thing. Ber Nic has had his Eye on leaving coaching and moving into the front  Bickerstaff. 46, was hospitalized and forced to miss six games because of a bleeding peptic ulcer during the 1988-89 season. He did not miss any games during the 1989-90 season. Rupp said the sonics were expected to hold a 1 . Put news conference tuesday to announce Jones As their new coach. Rupp would not confirm the Post  a report that Jones had signed a three year $900,000 contract. �?o1 Don t know where they got those numbers a Rupp said. A a we re not missing a beat with k.c�?T. Replacing benue a sonics president Bob Whitsitt told the Seattle Post intelligencer. Lie called Jones a a Winner. No. 1 on my list of head  Bickerstaff compiling a 202208 record with Seattle. The sonics missed the playoffs with a 41-41 record this season. Jones coached the celtics five seasons a from the 1983-84 season through the 1987-88 season. Whitsitt said Bickerstaff Quot is not being kicked  a Abc rec s strength is evaluating Talent and his experience will be invaluable in the decisions we make in the upcoming draft a Whitsitt said