European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Spurs fire Tarkanian John Lucas named head coach san Antonio a Jerry Turku Man was lived Friday after losing More games in less than two months with the san Antonio spurs than he did in three years at univ. Coach i Arnaman has been terminated a team owner red Mccombs said during a hastily called news conference Quot we have a different level of expectation for this team. I appreciate All that l tie coach has  John Lucas who played for seven teams including san Antonio from 1976-1989, was named to replace Tarkanian. Lucas the first Overall pick in the. 1976 draft was in and out of rehabilitation for cocaine addiction during his playing career and has devoted his recent Lile to fighting drug abuse. Tarkanian 62, coached Nevada Las vegas to the 1990 Mcaa championship and compiled a record of 625-122 83.7see Page 25 for More Aba coverage Tarkanian percent in 24 seasons five at Long reach state and 19 at univ. I he spurs expected to contend in the ni1a Western conference this season were 9-11 after thursday night s 121-109 loss to Houston. Tarkanian did no to attend he news con Terence but said liter tiday that his firing a boils Down to what red expected the team to do and what i expected the team to  assistant Rex Hughes handled he team Friday night in a 122-101 Victory Over Dallas. Lucas was named As coach immediately after the game. Tarkanian was hired by san Antonio on april 15, after leading the running rebels to records of 35-5, 34-1 and 26-2 in his last three College seasons. He was in the first year of a three year contract that pays him $500,000 a season. A the losses have been really painful a he said. Quot it s really been hard on me. In be been taking medication for High blood pres sure and in be never done that  a will never coach again. In mall done a Tarkanian said. A i probably  have gotten into it this time. In a 62 years old. I probably ought to be out watering the  Mccombs said Tarkanian  shoulder All the blame. A the put Effort and a great ability into developing this team. We have a very honest difference of opinion a Mccombs  there has been a dispute Between Tarkanian and club management about acquiring another Point guard Mccombs said it was not the Only Factor in the firing. A it goes far beyond that. There a just a different level of expectations for the Talent that is Here Between Tark and myself a he said. Tarkanian announced in june 1991 that he was stepping Down As univ coach after the publication of photos showing former rebel basketball players Iri a hot tub with convicted sports Gambler Richard Perry. Tarkanian later tried to rescind the resignation contending University president Robert Maxson and other officials plotted to get him to leave. The stars and strip sports december 20,1992 b Page 32 nearly 20 years of Battles Between Tarkanian and the Mcaa began in the Early 1970s, when he was coach at Long Beach stale. The Mcaa placed univ on two years probation in 1977 and in an unprecedented move also ordered Tarkanian suspended for two years. Tarkanian fought the suspension in the courts and continued coaching. The Case went to the . Supreme court which with a 5-4 ruling said the Mcaa was a private Agency and did t have to provide due process As Tarkanian had  Roll in Handley s last stand new Yorkus Corey Miller strips the Ball saturday from Kansas City a Todd Mcnair. Last Rutherford . A -11 the new York giants final Home game of the 1992 season has anything to do with it Ray Handley might come Back to coach the team next year. As it is Handley a prospects of returning As next year Are dim. But he can always can remember dec. 19,1992. The giants 6-9 May have played their Best game under Handley saturday As Rodney Hampton ran for three touchdowns and Jeff Hostetler threw for two scores on five consecutive possessions leading new York to a 35-21 Victory Over the Kansas City chiefs. The Victory snapped the giants five game losing Streak a their longest since 1980 a and prevented the chiefs 9-6 from clinching a playoff berth. It also Cost them the chiefs a share of first place in the acc West. San Diego 9-5 can win the division by winning its final two games against the los Angeles raiders and Seattle. Kansas City which beat the chargers twice during the regular season can Clinch a playoff berth by beating Denver next weekend. However the chiefs loss was stunning. The giants came into the game with nothing to gain and in the midst of turmoil. There were reports this week that Handley was going to be fired at the end of the season. There was internal bickering Between players and coaches and concern Over whether Hostetler should even be playing after missing the past three weeks with a severe concussion. Instead of packing it in the giants played like a super bowl team. New York which scored 13 Points in its previous three games with rookies Kent Graham and Dave Brown at quarterback got touchdowns on their final three first half possessions to take a 21-7 Lead then added two More ads at the Start of the third Quarter making it 35-7. The 35 Points were the most the giants scored in a game in Handley s two sea sons. In fact the giants were so Good what was supposed to be a hostile crowd Only once decided to Start chanting a Ray must  and that did no to seem to have much support with new York ahead 35-7 at the time. Hostetler got the onslaught going by capping a seven play 70-Yara drive with a 21-Yard scoring pass to Mark Ingram on a play in which chiefs safety Charles Mincy was picked off on a crossing pattern. Just two plays later linebacker Pepper Johnson picked off the first of two passes that Dave Krieg had intercepted and returned it 38 Yards to the chiefs 4. Hampton scored Over left guard from a Yard out two plays later. Christian Okoye got the chiefs Back in the game on their next series scoring from the 1 to Cap a 13-play, 77-Yard March. But Hostetler and the giants answered right Back featuring Ottis Anderson in the Backfield for one of the few times this season. They marched 70 Yards in 13 plays with Chris Calloway running a Post pattern and making a great diving catch in the end zone on a 15-Yard to pass from Hostetler. A 20-Yard pass from Hostetler to Hampton and a 37-Yard run by Jarrod Bunch the longest of his career set up Hampton a second 1-Yard scoring run Early in the third Quarter for a 28-7 Lead. Hampton tied a giants record for Rushing touchdowns in a game by getting his third on a 20-Yard run around left end with 5 11 left in the third Quarter. An 8-Yard run on third Down by Hostetler and a 15-Yard face mask penalty set up the score. Ukr leg and Tim Barnett combined on the chiefs longest touchdown pass of the season connecting for a 77-yarder two plays later. Tracy Rogers accounted for the chiefs final touchdown recovering a blocked Rubin Rodriguez punt in the end zone with 3 40 to play