European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse 1 us Lonba bulls arrived magic departed by Mike Barnes United press International no one suspected that when magic Johnson and Michael Jordan squared off in the Aba finals last june it would be More than a marquee matchup of two of basketball a greatest players. As it turned out it would also Mark the final games of Johnson a spectacular Aba career. In 1991, the Chicago bulls humbled the los Angeles lakers in five games to win their first Aba championship. The first . Olympic team featuring Aba players was unveiled. Pat Riley returned to the league to coach the kicks. Akeem became Hakeem. But everything paled in comparison to the announcement Johnson made nov. 7. Where were you when the Laker Star stepped to the microphone at the forum and told the world he had tested positive for the aids virus and was retiring immediately it was an unforgettable moment. Quot in a going to be a spokesman for the his virus Quot he said. A i want Young people to realize you can practice Safe sex. Sometimes you re a Little naive about it and you think something like this can never happen to you. It has happened but in a going to Deal with and with that Johnson a new career had begun a As the head of the magic Johnson foundation to combat aids. As a full time businessman. As a practice player a he works out with the lakers. As a potential owner of an Aba team a he stalked with commissioner David Stern about buying a franchise. Johnson a final season was one of his Best despite the fact the lakers fell to the bulls. Los Angeles had been upset in the second round by Phoenix the previous year and the team entered 1990-91 without Michael Cooper and coach Riley. Yet the lakers bolstered by the addition of free agent Sam Perkins won 58 games and downed Houston Golden state and Portland a a year of drama the sports acini a magic Johnson Waves to the forum crowd in first appearance As an sex los Angeles Laker. Which had won a league High 63 games a in the playoffs to Advance to the finals for the ninth time in Johnson a 12-year career. The bulls however would not be stopped. After winning a franchise Best 61 games Chicago went 15-2 in the playoffs losing Only on last second 3-pointers by Philadelphia a Hersey Hawkins and Perkins. Jordan averaged 31.5 Points a game to capture his fifth straight scoring title a Only Wilt Chamberlain with seven had a longer Streak a but for the first time he had help from a solid supporting cast led by Scottie Pippen Horace Grant and John Paxson. A we shocked a lot of people a said Jordan the a bad a most valuable player for the second time. A but we earned it. No one gave it to Johnson still Hopes to play with Jordan on the . Olympic team this summer in Barcelona. Pippen Patrick Ewing David Robinson Karl Malone John Stockton Charles Barkley Chris Mullin and Larry Bird also were selected to the squad coached by Chuck Daly. Elsewhere in the Aba in 91 a Johnson became the Aba s All time assist Leader april 15 when Terry tag la took his pass and Sank a Baseline jumper against Dallas. The assist broke Oscar Robertson a record of 9,887. A Akeem Olajuwon added an a a he to his first name but had 25 games subtracted from his season because of a broken Bone below his right Eye caused by a Bill Cartwright Elbow. But Houston went 15-10 without Olajuwon and Don Chaney was named coach of the year As the rockets won a team record 52 victories. A Isiah Thomas who missed 32 games with a wrist injury returned before the playoffs but the pistons were swept by Chicago in the conference final and failed to win a third straight title. A Denver using the helter shelter style of new coach Paul Westhead allowed 130.8 Points a game the most in league history. Sacramento finished the season by losing a record 37 straight Road games a stretch that reached 43 until the Kings beat Orlando nov. 23. A Golden states a run tic Quot Trio of Mitch Richmond Mullin and Tim Hardaway combined for 72.5 Points a game the second most Ever. The warriors then pulled off the upset of the playoffs when they eliminated san Antonio in the first round. On opening night this year Richmond was traded to Sacramento for former Syracuse standout Billy Owens the no. 3 pick in the Aba draft. A Dennis Rodman of Detroit was named defensive player of the year for a second straight season. Other award winners included Derrick Coleman of new Jersey Rookie Scott Skiles of Orlando most improved and detlef Schempf of Indiana sixth Man. A Charlotte won the Aba lottery and selected Larry Johnson with the no. 1 draft pick. One of four players from Nevada Las vegas to go among the first 29 selections Johnson signed a six year contract Worth almost $20 million. And what about this season Malone left a 40-stitch imprint above Thomas a Eye during a jazz pistons skirmish Cleveland blitzed Miami 148-80 in the most lopsided game in Aba history and the bulls who won 14 straight in one stretch again appear the team to beat. College hoops Duke finally ended title frustration by Jim of Connell a basketball writer Duke ended six years of frustration with a National championship and in Lvi a Jerry terkanian ended 14 years of confrontation with the school and Mcaa by submitting his resignation. Those two schools provided College basketball with its ultimate Good Guy bad Guy matchup in 1991 when they met in the National semifinals. Dukes fourth consecutive final four appearance and fifth in six years meant meeting the unbeaten running rebels the defending champions and winners by 30 Points when the two met in the previous years championship game. Playing with the utmost Confidence and employing defense univ was used to using rather than seeing the Blue devils won 79-77. Their biggest win was still to come. Duke then beat Kansas 72-65 for the title and and Mike Krzyzewski finally got to climb the ladder to snip the strands of net. A a it a never been a Monkey on my Back a Krzyzewski said of the comparisons with nil bridesmaids Denver and Minnesota. �?o1 Hope we do it again. I wonder when we will do it the Blue devils who lost one starter and one key Reserve from the championship team were no. 1 in preseason and by the third poll of this season were a unanimous Choice. Univ had been no. 1 All last season and was a unanimous Choice nine of the last 10 polls. That All went for naught with the devastating loss to Duke in the Hoosier dome. A a in la never have a group like this again Quot Tarkanian said. A this was a very special group of kids. They did everything Well All two made the All America team a Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon a and four starters were drafted by the opening pick of the second round l Pahe Aba. They had their Chance to repeat because univ reached a settlement with the Mcaa which would see this seasons team banned from live television and postseason play for violations the program committed under Tarkanian in the 1970s. On june 7, 13 Days after photos were published showing former univ players with convicted sports fixer Richard Perry Tarkanian resigned alter 18 seasons at univ saying he would coach Only this season despite one More left on his contract. A the latest round of inaccurate but damaging rumours has proven to be the final Straw a Tarkanian said. Duke and univ Only seemed to dominate every College basketball headline in 1991. North Carolina won its 1,500th game and the coach synonymous with most of the Success Dean Smith won his 700th while returning to the final four for the first time since 1982. Chris Corchiani of North Carolina state became the first player to break the 1,000 assist Mark. Kevin Bradshaw of . International became the 12th player to break the 2,800-Point Mark for his career. The 26-year-old Navy Veteran had the highest single game last season with 72 Points against Loyola Mary mount and the school went bankrupt after the season. Two All americas who could have returned this season a Billy Owens of Syracuse and Kenny Anderson of Georgia tech a did no to. But player of the year Shaquille of Neal of leu did come Back for his Junior year. Stanford won the National invitation tournament while other National championships went to North Alabama division ii Wisconsin Platteville division Iii and Oklahoma City naia. Women a National champions were Tennessee division 1 North Dakota state division ii St. Thomas minn., division Iii and fort Hays state naia. Page 18 the stars and stripes wednesday thursday january 1/2, 1992
