Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 November 2002 — Page 18
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New NCAA president addresses graduation issues I By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer Incoming NCAA president Myles Brand believes graduation rates ought to be computed more fairly and that incentives and penalties based on those rates should be included in future academic reform packages. Brand, who takes over as president of college’s largest governing body Jan. 1, has been a leading proponent for academic reforms since making a speech in Washington, D.C., in January 2001. On Monday, he told The Associated Press that changes should include quicker snapshots of academic progress. “We want to have a semester-by-semester, or quarter-by-quar-ter, representation. Then you’d have a real-time estimate of how each student-athlete is doing and we’d catch problems quicker,” Brand said at his Indianapolis office. Graduation rates are now determined on a six-year basis. According to the most recent NCAA figures released in September, 38 percent of male basketball players and 28 percent of Black basketball players graduated while 60 percent of all Division I athletes graduated. Those numbers were compiled on students who entered college in 1995. The biggest problem, however, is that such figures can be skewed dramatically in a sport like men’s basketball where NCAA rules limit recruiting classes to no more than five in one year or eight in two. Players who turn professional early or transfer count against the school, regardless of academic performance. If one player declared for the NBA and another transferred out of a university’s four-player class, the best graduation rate a university could earn is 50 percent. Men’s basketball players have been declaring early for the NBA draft in greater numbers since the mid-1990s, and Brand believes any new calculations should reflect an athlete’s progress toward graduation when he leaves school. “I think that’s a legitimate concern by the coaches,” Brand said. “If you leave in good academic standing right now, it counts against a coach and that ’ s not fair.” Changing just that element could win broad support from basketball coaches, Purdue coach Gene Ready believes. Ready, a former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said he’s bothered by the fact that if one of his players transfers and earns a degree from another university, Purdue still counts that player as one who has not graduated. “I would love it,” Ready said when asked of Braid’s proposal. “I think they all would. You should be given credit if a kid’s graduating.” By changing the formula, Brand believes it would present a more accurate accounting and also would give university presidents a better opportunity to implement incentives and penalties based on graduation rates. Brand will continue to be president of Indiana University until he takes over at the NCAA. He is the first university president ever chosen to lead the NCAA. How to deal with schools that have routinely posted good or bad graduation rates has been under discussion by the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors since January, h was suggested then that schools add or subtract a scholarship hared on graduation rates. Another penalty under consideration is defining schools inehgMe for postseason play if they have a pattern of substandard fig-
Pacers defense sets pace for best start ever
By JAMES M. KEOUGH JR. Sports Writer When the Indiana Pacers watched Rik Smits retire, and shipped the rest of the 2000 Eastern Conference championship nucleus to different teams in the National Basketball Association via trades and free agency, the Pacers appeared to be looking towards the future. Marie Jackson signed with the Toronto Raptors as a free agent. Dale Davis was traded to the Portland Trailblazers for Jermaine O’Neal and Larry Bird retired as head coach. Isiah Thomas, who succeeded Bird as head coach, inherited a young nucleus of raw talent and huge shoes to fill. Certainly, the Pacers retained Reggie Miller, Derrick McRey, Travis Best, Austin Croshere, Jalen Rose (now in Chicago) and Jeff Foster from the 2000team as building blocks. But the additions of Jonathan Bender, O’Neal, A1 Harrington and later Jamaal Tinsley and Ron Artest, signaled the Pacers were preparing for the future while struggling to remaining competitive today However, the future may be now for the Indiana Pacers. Despite all the talk about building for the future, it appears the Pacers are poised to make a ran in the Eastern Conference today. The Pacers currently sport the best record in the Eastern Conference (6-1) and appear to be gaining momentum. Thomas, who was beginning to be scrutinized by local media and fans for the Pacers play the last couple of seasons, attributes
the team’s winning ways to a tenacious style of play, particularly on defense. “Team defense is our constant. Offense will come and go. Shoot-
ing will come and go. Our defensive execution has been great. You have lo give our players a lot of credit because they are doing it,” said Thomas. “They’re defending,
sticking to things we want them to do. Their concentration is great on defense. They’ve been fantastic.” How fantastic is the start of the season for the Pacers?
Indiana’s 6-1 record is its best start after seven games ever in the NBA and is the best since also starting the 1971-72 American Basketball Association season with a 6-1 record. The Pacers have won eight straight games at Conseco Fieldhouse dating back to last season. How do you spell success for the Pacers? How about, d-e-f-e-n-s-e ? On Tuesday night, the Pacers stifled the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers en route to a 20-point victory. They limited the Cavs to 31.3 percent shooting for the game. The Pacers have held fivejof seven opponents to 84 points otfess and less than 40 percent shooting from the floor. Artest has been one of the ringleaders. His tough, physical style of play on defense has helped set the pace for Indiana. He has also averaged over 22 points over the past three games and six out of 10 from three-point range. “The Pacers defense is impressive. I thought we played good defense but they are impressive. Artest really makes the difference for their team. He plays great defense,” said Mavs head coach John Lucas. For Artest and the Pacers, playing defense is becoming a cultural norm. “I thought we really played focused defense and that’s been stressed since training camp," said Artest after the Cavs win. “Defense has become our main priority. You make a good defensive play, your offense is not going to be far behind.”
Irsay’s chair for children
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Provant Child Abus* Indiana recently sponsored “Chalrlsh the Children”, a fundraiser during which participants could bid on chairs from artiste and celebrities around Indiana. Andrea Mitchell, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, Joins Cherish the Children Committee member Chris Anderson as they pass out cute Items donated by Jim Irsey, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. (Photo/8. Williams)
Knight sues III, alleging wrongful dismissal
extend talks last month in hopes of BLOOMINGTON, Ind.(AP)— reaching an agreement, but those Former Indiana University basket- negotiations collapsed late last ball coach Bob Rnight has sued IU week. over his September 2000 firing af- Under Indiana law, the statute ter weeks of negotiations between of limitations allows Rnight two attorneys for Rnight and the uni- years to take legal action after he versity collapsed. was fired. Francie Grubb, a deputy clerk in A key issue in the talks is whether the Monroe County Circuit Court, IU should pay Rnight for lost insaid that the lawsuit had been filed come and how much it should be, Tuesday, the last day that Rnight attorneys have said could take legal action. Russell Yates, Rnight’s DenRnight, who was fired Sept. 10, ver-based attorney, has said the 2000, by IU President Myles Brand, coach probably lost $3 million in gave IU notice in early 2001 that he salary and outside income due to might sue for wrongful dismissal, his firing. Rnight took a job as Rnight’s notice claimed he suf- men’s basketball coach at Texas fered more than $7 million in dam- Tech University six months after ages, including lost income, men- being fired from IU. tal humiliation and interference Brand fired Rnight because the with his prospects for employment, president said he violated a “zeroThe two sides had agreed to tolerance” policy that IU officials
had imposed on him to try to keep his behavior in check. Rnight has disputed the reasons for his firing. About 45 fans filed a lawsuit against Brand and the trustees in April 2001 over the firing. They allege Brand and the trustees violated Indiana’s Open Door Law the day before Rnight was dismissed by holding two secret meetings about the firing without a majority present. In September, Rnight agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by former assistant coach Ron Felling. Rnight, who admitted to shoving Felling in anger, also agreed to cooperate with Felling in a lawsuit against the university, according to attorneys. The lawsuit alleges that the university was negligent in supervising its former coach.
SPORTS BRIEFS Tamika (Patchings to host basketball camps WNBA Rookie of the Year Tamika Catchings will be hosting “Catch the Fever” basketball camps over the next several weeks. The next camp will take place Nov. 16 and 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Riverside Family Center, 2420 Riverside Dr. Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt, water bottle, a ticket voucher to a 2003 Indiana Fever basketball game, as well as lunlli. Each camp will include a guest speaker, awards and a personalized assessment of each camper. The fee b 5 coined food items that will be donated to Gleaners Food Bank. For further information, contact Catch the Fever Basketball Camp. P.O. Box 53557 Indianapolis, IN 46258, or (317)328-0174. .
Kenyan runners sweep top prizes at New York Marathon
By GABRIEL PACKARD NEW YORR (GIN) — Renya swept the board at this year’s New York Marathon, confirming its status as the world’s leading mara-thon-running nation. Runners from Renya won both the men’s and the women’s gold medals. The Renyan Christopher Ripkenboi, who finished second in the men’s race, had never ran a marathon before. In total, Renyan men filled four of the top 10 positions, including first, second and third; Renyan women also took four of the top 10 positions. “In some races, there are only Renyans in the top 10,” says David Monti, the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the New York Marathon. “World marathons are saturated with Renyans.” Speaking of the Renyan victories, Monti says, “I’m not all surprised.” Renyans in the top 10 included winner Rodgers Rop at 2:08:07; Christopher Cheboiboch at
2:08:17, and Laban Ripkemboi at 2:08:39, and Stephen Ndungu at 2:13:28. Women winners were: Joyce Chepchumba at 2:25:56; Esther Riplagat at 2:27:00; Margaret Okayo at 2:27:46 and Lornah Riplagat at 2:28:41. “Rodgers Rop, the men’s winner was no surprise,” says’ Monti, who works for the New York Marathon identifying, recruiting, contracting and looking after the world’s top distance-runners. “He came in third last year, and this year he won the Boston Marathon.” A former member of the Nairobi Police Department, Rop carries on the New York mantle of Ibrahim Hussein, Douglas Wakiihuri, John Ragwe and Joseph Che bet, the last Renyan to win here, in 1999. Rop engineered a masterful race to win $120,000 and the title. A relative novice, Rop started training seriously three years ago. In fact, Renyan men have won the Boston Marathon every year for the last 11 years, except in 2001 when a Rorean won. Renyans have achieved four of the top 10 fastest
ever men’s marathon times, and five of the top 10 fastest women’s. Monti lists four reasons why Renyans currently excel in marathons. “Number one,” he says, “the economy of Renya is very poor. There is 40 percent unemployment, and many people turn to marathon running.” “In the West, there are many choices,” he says. “Why would someone endure the physical hardship of training to be a long-dis-tance runner when they could make money designing Web sites?” “Number two, many people live and are raised at altitude,” continues Monti. “This suits endurance sports.” “Number three, European coaches and managers have set up a number of training camps and programs,” he says. “And like a wonderful garden that’s been tended to they’ve begun to yield excellent fruit” “And last is Renyan culture,” he says. “Young people want to become runners. Kenyan marathon runners are national heros.”
Joyce Chepchumba
As for Chepchumba, she trained in Switzerland and in Germany. A portion of her $105,000 purse ($80,000 for winning; $25,000 for time) will go to her parents. Some will pay the school fees of her nephews and nieces. The rest she says, “is for my son and husband... That’s what we can do. For us, we have an extended family.”