European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Mavs sign Buckner Jackson Dallas up a the Dallas Mavericks on thursday hired former Aba player and current television analyst Quinn Buckner As their new coach and surprisingly announced the signing of first round draft Choice Jim Jackson. Jackson Star guard with Ohio state had refused to negotiate with the Mavericks throughout the season and last week s trading deadline passed without a Deal being made for him. Jackson however agreed to a 6-year Deal at the same time the Mavericks were Sekaly grabs 34 boards see Page 33 com their with _ a negotiations Buckner who will not take Over the team until next season. Quot we Are committed to making this the Best sports franchise in the world Quot Buckner said. Quot and 111 Tell you How great that commitment is. I asked for a 4-year contract and they gave me a 5-year  until Buckner takes Over next season the Mavericks remain in the hands of in ? term coach Gar heard for the rest of what could turn out to be the worst Campaign in league history. The Mavericks have won Only four games this season. The fewest number of wins Ever in an 82-game season is nine by the Philadelphia 76ers 20 years ago. Buckner 38, has no coaching experience. In addition to his work for Abc he serves As a color commentator for the Minnesota Timber wolves telecasts. The stars and strip sports 1&Quot 1 -�4 a March 5,1993 b Page 36 m a a it f a Chi v y it q. A. S it it i lit ass so Harper Boxer Riddick Bowe talks with Herb Ruffin standing of Vilsick during Stop in Frankfurt. Seated with Bowe Are his manager Rock Newman and sgt John Nichols of  says pictures to Tell Story starving somalian changed the life of Champion Riddick Bowe fore Chantilly a. A delivering Relief Aid to a Quot a heavyweight forever he said. Quot the pictures that you see Back Here on television Don t begin to Tell the Story a Bowe said on his return wednesday from a two week trip to Africa and Europe. Quot it s truly one of the planet s most desperate places people just living out in the Sand wandering aimlessly Quot Bowe and his manager Rock Newman went to a refugee Camp of More than 50,000 people in the Remote Border area of Mandera Somalia to deliver $1.3 million in Relief Aid. A $100,000 contribution from the Boxer paid for the shipping of the Aid. Quot it was very difficult to be with those kids to see those kids a Bowe said. "1 just Hope that More athletes become involved because the area really needs help Quot at the Airport Newman read a letter from president Clinton praising the boxers efforts to fight hunger. Bowe and Newman also were presented with the Hon. Congressman Mickey Leland award by Africa re and the constituency for Africa. Bowe also Vised Italy England and Germany. In South Africa Bowe met with african National Congress president Nelson Mandela. He also had a Brief private audience with Pope John Paul u in Rome. Quot i think Nelson Mandela is a very Sweet person a Bowe said. Quot meeting him and the Pope was a real highlight for  Mercer bribe offer rumours touch off an investigation by Hal Bock new York a did Ray Mercer offer a $100,000 bribe to Jesse Ferguson to take a dive in their heavyweight fight at Madison Square Garden on feb. 6? both fighters say nothing like that happened. But the chairman of the new York state athletic commission has launched an preliminary investigation into the affair. Equipped with a lip Reader to try and interpret ring conversation Between the fighters chairman Randy Gordon was to View Hob s tapes on thursday of Ferguson s unanimous 10-round decision. Rumours surfaced Over the weekend that Mercer aware that he was losing the fight and a subsequent $2.5 Mercer million pay per View payday against Champion Riddick Bowe tried to get Ferguson a Journeyman fighter to quit. Ferguson whose purse for the Mercer fight was $10,000, said no bribe offer was made. Quot if he offered Money i did no to hear it Quot he said. Quot the Bottom line was he did no to have it that night. That a what he said to me. He said a i swear on my Mother i done to have it 1 told him a you did no to train any he for me did you he took me lightly Quot and what about a bribe Quot there was conversation but he did t sat thing like that Quot Ferguson said. Quot i think  started because  Foreman on Hob. He brought it on. He said stay is talking to him. He must be trying to bribe him. I watched the tape and heard him say that Foreman and the Hob broadcast Crew used the Ferguson Mercer fight As a rehearsal for the Bowe Michael Dokes fight. Hob showed Only highlights of Ferguson and Mercer before the main event. Mercer said he talked to Ferguson but not about by bribe. Quot i never mentioned anything Tike that Quot t said. Quot i talk to All my opponents. I kept saying a lets do it. Lets  Quot i knew 1 was losing i got tired around the fifth or sixth round. I Wasny to in shape for it. I tried to get into his head make him punch himself  Mercer said he thought the bribe rumours had with his former manager Mark Roberts. He s trying to Hurt me Quot Mercer who Snow managed by Jack Dale said. Gordon said he first heard rumours about a bribe Over the weekend from referee Wayne Kelley who worked Ferguson Mercer and repeatedly warned the fighters about talking in the ring. Quot last weekend at a fight card on Long Island a Well respected Trainer congratulated Kelley for the Job he did on the fight Quot Gordon said. Quot he asked Kelley if he jihad heard anything about $100,000. Kelley said he haunt but reported the conversation to me. When i heard that i decided to take it