European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Aba playoffs overcome by the associated press fourth Quarter comebacks were the theme of the night wednesday As the Phoenix suns and new York kicks took 2-0 leads in their conference semifinals. The suns comeback was the biggest final period rally in playoff history. Phoenix which trailed by 18 after three quarters and 20 Early in the fourth rallied for a 124-117 overtime Victory Over Houston. A a a. A. John Starks scored eight consecutive Points during an 11-0 fourth Quarter rally that carried new York to a 96-91 Victory Over Chicago. Charles Barkley scored 34 Points Kevin Johnson had six of his 27 in overtime and Dan Majerle added 22 As Phoenix won its second straight at the Summit in Houston. Only one Tea the 1969 los Angeles lakers a has rallied to win a seven game series after losing the first two games at Home. Games 3 and 4 Are Friday and sunday in Phoenix where the suns have won their last 13 games. A if we done twin it now its our own fault a Barkley said. Houston was leading 104-84 with 10 Mii utes left but the rockets scored Only one More Field goal in the Quarter a a 3-Pointer by Sam Cassell with 2 35 to go. The suns closed the Quarter with a 24-4 run. A a a a in overtime Phoenix scored 12 of the first 15 Points and the sellout crowd at the Summit began to file out with More than a minute left. But Robert Horry and Scott Brooks hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it 120-117 with 36 seconds left Johnson and Danny Ainge then hit two free throws each to hold off Houston a comeback attempt. Hakeem Olajuwon led the rockets with 34 Points and 17 rebounds. Houston scored Only eight Points in the fourth Quarter equating the playoff re Cord Low set by the new Jersey nets against Cleveland last year. At new York the bulls managed Only 19 Points in the fourth Quarter on 4-for-16 shooting and shot just 37.5 percent for the game. The stars and stripes May 13,1994 Page 40 new York kicks Anthony Mason right and John Starks celebrate win Over bulls. A a we Haven to been Able to handle their pressure Down the stretch and that has Cost us two ballgames a said Scottie Pip pen who scored 22 Points but once again struggled against the a Nicks tenacious defense. He missed 10 of 15 shots. Patrick Ewing Ted the kicks with 26 Points. Knick Reserve Anthony Mason had his second straight Strong game with 15 Points and 14 rebounds in 34 minutes. Starks finished with 13 Points. New York led 2-0 in the conference finals last year before losing 4-2, their third consecutive playoff series defeat against Chicago a we were in this position a year ago and still won a Pippen said a a in la take our chances. This team Hasni to shown it can dominate us so we feel we can still win. We just need to finish off the game when we have the Lead in the fourth  make it 4 in a Row Over Bruins Boston apr the preliminaries Are Over for the new Jersey devils. Now its on to the team they  handle during the regular season. The devils advanced. To the Eastern conference finals against the new York rangers with a 5-3 win wednesday night Over the Boston Bruins. New Jersey qom won the final four games of the Best-of-7 series after losing the first two at Home. John Maclean had two goals and two assists in game 6 for the devils who open the conference finals sunday in new York. The rangers winners of eight of nine playoff games won All six of their regular season meetings with the devils. A a it a Only fitting. In be Felt All year the Road to the Stanley cup was through new York a said Devil a Forward Bernic Nicholls a former Ranger. A i Felt the whole year they were the Best team. If you can to beat the Best you done to deserve to  in the Western conference final san Jose was at Toronto on thursday night with a 32 Lead the Winner gets the Vancouver canucks who eliminated Dallas. The devils rangers series matches the no la a two Best teams during the regular season. Only the rangers had More than the devils 106 Points and that was largely because new York swept its games against new Jersey a out coring the devils 24-9 in those six games other than the los Angeles Kings who won both their games against new Jersey this season the rangers were the Only nil team with a winning record against the devils. Overland Park Kan. A a playoff system to pick the National Champion in major College football could mean about $62.7 million in a a new income from the sport. A special 24-member Mcaa committee headed by Charlese Young Chancellor of the Urcla meets again june 2-3 in Kansas City mo., for further discussion of switching to a championship playoff. A statistics Laden report released wednesday was prepared by a six member research group also headed by Young after meetings with to and bowl game officials coaches players sports writers and College athletic officials. The committee is considering several division i a playoff formats involving anywhere from two to 16 teams. In projecting the financial implications of a playoff the panel arbitrarily chose an right team seven game format for its calculations and used other estimates on stadium capacities ticket prices travelling parties and other related game management expenses. Under the scenario there would be four quarterfinal games on new years eve and new years Day with the semifinals on the saturday prior to the nil conference championship games and the championship a week later a one week before the super bowl. The calculations project $95 million in income for . Television rights plus $27,690,000 from ticket sales including $s0 per seat for the championship game. With other income of $2.5 million the total would be $125,190,000, offset by expenses of $22.6 million for a total net on the playoff series of $102,590,000. After offsets of the approximately $40 million currently derive Atrom the major bowl games and other sources the total a new Money produced from a College football playoff Yould be $62.7 million the report  depending upon each evaluators assessment of the reasonableness of the assumptions set Forth in this valuation of course this amount might be larger or smaller a it said. The research group did not discuss How the additional Revenue would be distributed sure to be a matter of much debate among Mcaa member schools. Money from the no aah a basketball tournament a which in contrast to College football has seen steady growth in interest and financial Success a is shared with the entire Mcaa membership. Whether that would hold with a football playoff or whether major schools would get most of the Benefit has not been decided. A Resolution adopted it the 1988 Mcaa convention requires a compelling evidence before changing to a football. Yoff system. The special committee will make its recommendation to the Mcaa presidents commission and executive committee but it would take a majority vote of the 106 division i a schools to approve a playoff. If the recommendation is to proceed Mcaa members could vote on it at the annual convention in san Diego next january. A. The report released wednesday said that while Gross receipts from College football bowl games increased 33 percent Over the past six years to $88 million last season Overall interest in College football seems to have levelled off. Attendance and television ratings have not sustained the growth rates seen from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s, it said. In contrast Gross receipts from the menus division i basketball tournament Are up 120 percent to $153 million Over the same six years. I it pc a a -1,a a is 0 246850