European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Safe football bows out by Christopher Allbright suit writer after 48 seasons a Safe a tackle football program has become a victim of the draw Down. Dick Mullins a Safe a sports chief said base athletic directors knew about the program s demise in Early june but he was waiting on. Approval of a new sports plan before making it known to the before the official announcement Strong indications Pom Ted to the program s cancellation no schedules were planned and Only one team was formed and. Practising. The programs death seemed to be an open secret at the in past years teams in the Continental sports conference in Germany and the Netherlands and the . Sports conference in England were by now beginning to practice in pads. This year the practice Fields were empty. A it s going to be pretty quiet this fall a said Rhein main coach Fred Kirken doll dream by David Droschak Charlotte pc. A at 7-Faot-1,. 300 pounds its pretty hard to hide Shaquille of Neal on the Bench. The Orlando Center did no to Start in dream team ii s opening exhibition game tuesday night against the German National team because it was at the Charlotte coliseum 1�? Alonzo mourning a Home court. But once in the game of Neal quickly intimidated the germans with his monstrous dunks and powerful inside moves As the . National team downed the 1993 european champions 114-81 in a tuneup for next months world championships in Toronto. Detroit a Joe Dumars also had a Strong game As a substitute scoring 16 of his 20 Points in the second half and handing out nine assists. Coach Don Nelson who said he will rotate his lineups started mourning and Larry Johnson but the two hornets quickly got into foul trouble after the United states reeled off 12 straight Points to Start the game. Nelsons first substitute at the 12 02 Mark was of Neal for mourning and the 1993 Aba Rookie of the year received a loud ovation from the sellout crowd of 23,690. The germans trimmed the score to 2114 before of Neal made seven of eight shots in the final 9 43 of the first half several on follows and several More on thunderous slams he also grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots. A i was just hoping those Guys would move out of the Way a Dumars said of of Neal a dunks. A they could get Hurt. No really they could get Hurt. If you get in his Way and he is coming in there like that. I was saying a of god please let them a in addition of Neal wearing no 13 instead of his customary no. 32, showed the Hustle Nelson is looking for in the second group of Aba players to represent the United Stales in International basketball Competition. Of Neal dived Over Germany a Bench at one Point knocking Over players and chairs in his Wake. A i worry like any coach a Nelson said of of Neal a extra Effort. A the made two dangerous plays but in a Happy he made them. Any superstar who Wilt make plays like that really distinguishes himself Quot after he staggered to his feet Nelson who led the reigning Champion rockets to three straight Safe titles 1991-93. The draw Down and air Force base closings were cited As reasons for the decision according to Mullins. A a it a strictly a matter of the draw Down. We done to have the bases to support the program. After sept. 30, Only two bases in Germany and three in the United kingdom will be fully operational a Mullins said a the military s priorities have changed. It was a great time but everything comes to an end a said Warren stantcy.,a former Multi sport coach at Rhein main a who led the Rock cos team to Back to Back football championships in 1988 and 1989. Football was the largest Spectator sport in Safe according to Tom Burkett of the Safe sports office. No attendance figures were kept however Burkett said. The program also brought a Little bit of Home to Europe. Quot in the Early years before the 1960s and �?T70s, the attendance at games was Large because we did t have live football on an or Vars to stay at Home and watch movies a Burkett said a football and basketball games As Well were the number one attractions for not everyone is ready for the program to end. A it hate to Sec it go a said Kevin Babbitt a 33-year-old defensive tackle and nose tackle at Sembach Germany. A i understand a lot of the concerns they have with the budget cuts and not having enough teams but i spent 12 years trying to get overseas to play football and now its kind of sad to Sec it go a. �?o1 wish they would still have a league with the Teanis that arc left. That s what 1 was looking Forward to when .1 came to Europe because 1 knew they Laid full Contact said Greg Paliaro 27, scuba cats quarterback. Some have suggested continuing the program despite the apparent problems. A if the number of players is a problem the air Force can go to an eight Man sati and and still maintain rosters a said of \ / a7 a / re i Vav. Quot a a , l Joe Dumars left of dream team ii Battles Germany skai Nurnberg or for the Ball. A greeted the Center at mid court with a handshake. A the said a Good Hustle a a of Neal said of his Chat with Nelson. A a in a not worried about diving Over benches. I have great insurance. I got great of Neal finished with 14 Points spending the final 12 11 of the game on the Bench after picking up his fourth foul. A coach decided not to play me and that s Fine a a of Neal said of his Long second half stint on the Bench. A a in a just going to be a role player and do whatever it takes for us to Reggie Miller of Indiana and Kevin Johnson of Phoenix who both started along with Phoenix Forward Dan Majerle provided Quot Nelson with Good court leadership and the fast Pace he was looking for Early. Miller scored 19 Points while Johnson handed out nine assists. A when you assemble Talent like this everyone plays within the confines of the f co Bury coach Doug Kenyon. A i Sec no reason Why they can continue to have basketball and not football a said. Bobby Simmons 24, a defensive end and offensive tackle for Sembach. Community morale and spirit seem to be the biggest loss to it pumps the base up to watch the am on a sunday. Instead of sitting at iome watching to you can go to a live football game a said Chris Spencer 21, a Sembach defensive end and tight end. The attitude of the base changes when you have a team that a doing Well said Stanley and Kirk Ndell a if you know How to win and like it it reflects on the Kirkendoll said. Being a part of the team created a sense of family. A you had 50 people together from july to november and the football team was like a family. Every body took care of everybody Quot Kirkendoll of the playing Field according to players was one Way of networking see Safe on Page 34 the stars and stripes ports july 2b, 1994 Page 36 team a Miller said. A a that a the biggest the . Team which shot 65 percent wore Down the germans in the second half building the Lead to 34 Points with 9 30 left after a 3-Pointer by Mark Price of Cleveland who had 11 Points off the Bench. Dream team ii which had trouble from the outside against an unfamiliar 21-2 zone for parts of the first half made 14 of its first 18 shots in the second half. Wednesday update astros 7, reds 1,12 innings Cincinnati apr Jeff Bagwell hit his 34th Homer and singled Home the go ahead run in the 12th inning wednesday leading the Houston astros Over Cincinnati that forged a first place tie in the no Central. Ousts . In games semis St. Petersburg Russia apr the United states will have to wait another v/2 weeks for a Gold medal in basketball a in another Eye opening defeat for americans Amateur program the United states lost 81-72 to Italy on wednesday and was eliminated from championship Contention at the Goodwill games. The team of College players led 40-39 at the half but was outplayed in the Sec earlier Goodwill news on Page 35 Ond half of the semifinal game by the bigger and More experienced italians. It was the americans second loss of the tournament following their 77-75 defeat by Russia on sunday. Thursdays final will pit unbeaten Italy 4-0 against puerto Rico 3-1 which overcame a 15-Point deficit to beat Russia 69-65 in the other semifinal. The United states 2-2 gets a rematch against Russia 31 in the Bronze medal game. It was Italy a first Victory Over the United states in major International Competition since 1978. The United states led 40-39 at the half but Italy scored the first seven Points of the second half. Damon Stoudamire the Point guard from Arizona led the United states with 17 Points. Also in double figures were Alan Henderson of Indiana with 12, Shawn res pert of Michigan state with 11 and Cherokee Parks of Duke with 10. To
