European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In by Jim Cour. Seattle a the Denver nuggets have come a Long Way since the disastrous Paul Westhead years. Anybody who did no to realize that before saturday knows it now. The nuggets pulled off one of the biggest upsets and biggest comebacks in Aba playoff history with an improbable 98-94 overtime Victory Over Seattle. Denver became the first eighth seeded playoff team Ever to beat a no. 1 seed coming Back from an 0-2 deficit in the Best-ot-5 series. Only four other teams have done likewise. A i can to believe it i could t believe we won this game a shot blocking hero i Kimbe Mutombo said. A a we really did no to expect to win this series. We just wanted to make a Good  the nuggets certainly did that. And More. They did it with exceptional performances from a pair of Bench players a Robert pack and Brian Williams a Aba playoffs and two critical blocked shots late in the extra period by  it was our Best performance of these Riesz pack said. At no Point did we crack even when they were up by 11 in the third  Denver which tied for the worst regu Lar season record of any team in the play offs completed a turnaround from being one of the. A bad a worst franchises when it won Only 24 games two seasons ago the second and last of West a cad a Short tenure there. A i  be prouder of our kids a current coach Dan Issel said. A the first game in Seattle was a throwaway game a we were observers. But the next four we played the Best team in the Aba head to head a it was a bitterly disappointing loss for the sonics who had a franchise Best 63 regular season victories and were ensured of the Home court advantage through the postseason. A i. Thought this team really did have a Chance to win the championship a Sam Perkins said. A a we re doing a lot of soul searching right  a i can to believe its Over a the sonics Nate Mcmillan said a a in a sitting Here try Irig to figure out what happened. In a going to gel up tomorrow and have nothing to do and its May a. It was Only Seattle a fifth loss at Home All season and broke a 14-game sonics Home court winning Streak. A a we were tight and they were Loose a Seattle coach George Karl said. �?o1 can to deny that the butterflies Felt like  Denver moved into the Western conference semifinals against Utah a 3-1 first round Winner Over san Antonio. That Best-of-7 series will open tuesday night in Salt Lake City. Utah beat Denver in four of five regular season games. In overtime the nuggets committed four 24-second violations but scored the the stars and stripes May 9,1994 Page 32 final five Points after Shawn Kemp put Seattle ahead 94-93 with a five foot Hook shot Over Mutombo with 2 29 to go. A Layup by Laphonso Ellis Ana his free throw after being fouled by Gary Payton gave Denver a 96-94 Lead with 1 26 left. Mutombo blocked Schrempf Layup attempt with 1 18 to go but Denver was called for a 24-second violation with 32.9 see Denver on Page 309-1 Gin is Toast of Derby by de Schuyler or. Louisville by. A it was the kind of front running performance that was expected from holy Bull. Only it came from go for Gin. Win less in his three previous starts go for Gin dominated the 120th Kentucky Derby on saturday in the Way Many people thought holy Bull might or perhaps Brocco would the Bay Colt a 9-1 betting Choice Ridden by Chris Mccarron was second going into the clubhouse turn and first coming out of it. He stayed there to win the Derby on a Damp Day Over a Sloppy Churchill Downs track by two lengths Over Strodes Creek. Holy Bull who has led most of his previous eight races and went wire to wire in five of his seven victories struggled Home 12th in a Field of 14 3-Ycar-Olds. The 2-1 bettors Choice became the 15th consecutive beaten Derby favorite. The last betting Choice to win was spectacular bid in 1979. Brocco the second betting Choice finished fourth after being third at the top of the stretch. A month ago the 46-year-old Trainer Nick Zito who won the Derby in 1991 with strike the Gold had predicted that go for Gin would win the Derby. During Derby week however he would not go quite that far. A i done to know if he a up to the status of holy Bull and Brocco but he a close a Zito said. On saturday go for Gin stomped the status of holy Bull and Brocco into the mud. A a in la be at the Preakness with Bells on a shouted Zito during his second trip in four years to the most famous winners Circle in racing go for Gin was second behind Ulises going into the first turn and ahead of that member of the Mutual Field coming out of it. Mccarron took go for Gin to the rail then for the run to the roses. At the top of the stretch it quickly became obvious who the Derby Winner would  when stepped on the pedal at the 3-16ths pole he Cut a Mccarron said. A Al was really Happy when i looked Back under my legs and did no to see anyone  Mccarron 39, who won the 1987 Derby on Al she a guided the Winner Home in 2 03 3-5 on the first Sloppy track for a Derby since citation won in 1948. It was the third off track at the Derby in the last three years. A crowd of 130,594 cheered go for Gin to the wire especially those who wagered on him and collected $20.20, $8.40 and $5.80 for a $2 bet Strodes Creek Ridden by Eddie Delahoussoye and trained by 81-year-old Charlie Whittingham the oldest winning Trainer in Derby history returned $7,so and$6. Jockey Chris Mccarron rides go for Gin across Kentucky Derby finish line ahead of runner up Strodes Creek. Burnin affair Ridden by Jerry Bailey finished 2 lengths behind Strodes Creek and three quarters of a length ahead of Brocco paying $8 to show. Completing the order of finish were soul of the matter Tabasco cat Southern rhythm Powis Castle mahogany Hall Smilin singin Sam Meadow flight valiant nature and Ulises. Scandal a was scratched because of a track made Sloppy by hard rain on Friday and earlier saturday afternoon. Holy bulls performance was a disappointment to 74-year-old owner Trainer Jimmy Croll who on wednesday was named to the National racing Hall of Fame holy Bull was bequeathed to Croll by Rachel Carpenter a longtime Croll client and partner who died aug. 14,1993, the Day the Gray Colt won in his debut. Holy Bull was so docile in the Post Parade that he did no to need the assistance of a Lead Pony. And that lethargy never left him after the Gate opened. As Mike Smith holy bulls rider walked from the track a befuddled Croll came up to him spread his arms and asked a what happened a a it just Wasny to meant to be a Smith said. A the got away really bad and he got away Flat footed. Every step he tried to take was the wrong  Bull who was not used to looking ahead at horses never was better than fifth and that was with three quarters of a mile still to run once go for Gin got into the Lead there was nobody to press him. A this horse is a Superior off track horse a Zito said. A a he a a free running horse a go for Gin now has three wins and two seconds in five starts on a Sloppy or Muddy track. It was the second visit to the Derby winners Circle for owners William j. Condren 60, and Joseph m. Cor Nacchia 61. They also owned strike the Gold with b. Giles Brophy. Go for Gin earned $628,800 from a purse of $878,800, boosting his career earnings to $1,018,340 on a record of five wins and three seconds in 10 starts