SPORTS/The Charlotte Post
Thursday, April 18, 1996
Bulls lay claim to best ever
Continued From 8B
greatest team of my era, the
greatest team I’ve ever seen.”
So what is it that has made
these Bulls so special? Why is
this team ready to do what no
other could?
There’s the Jordan factor.
Jordan will win an unprece
dented eighth NBA scoring
title. He’s also favored to earn
his fourth MVP award. With
an explosive first step to the
basket and a deadly jump shot,
with a combination of power
and panache unmatched in
league history, Jordan can’t be
stopped.
Another reason Michael
Jordan is probably the best
player ever: He simply refuses
to lose.
Of course, Jordan hasn’t car
ried Chicago to the champi
onship every season. After
coming out of retirement last
year, he even made a number
of costly mistakes as Orlando
knocked the Bulls out of the
playoffs.
More times than not, howev
er, Jordan’s will to win lifts the
Bulls to victory. Whether it’s
the playoffs or the preseason,
an obviously important regu
lar-season game or a seeming
ly meaningless one,"T want to
win so badly,” Jordan said,'!
can feel it in my bones.”
"Michael is clearly head and
shoulders above everybody
else in this league, even the
other All-Stars,” teammate
Steve Kerr said.
"Everybddy knows how com
petitive he is. Most nights, he
simply will not let us lose.”
Rhodes lifts play with UNCC
Continued From 8B
myself, they were the ones
who kept me up and that's the
situation I've always been in,”
. Rhodes said.
Left fielder Jimmy Anderson,
who played against Rhodes in
high school, makes sure his
teammate stays focused. 'They
keep a friendly competition
going, checking each other
stats, a rivalry that's been
going on for years.
“When I’d see him on the
other team. I’d always be striv
ing to do better than he did, so
we always stayed competitive
like that,” Anderson said.
UNC Charlotte’s move into
Conference USA this year
means playing in a more com
petitive league than the Metro
Conference. The 49ers shared
the Metro Conference regular
season title last year but fal
tered in the conference tourna
ment and were denied an at-
large bid to an NCAA tourna
ment. Rhodes knows it will be
tougher this year in the new
conference.
“It's probably one of the best
baseball conferences in the
country, top to bottom,” he said.
“Any team in the conference can
beat any other team in the con
ference, on any given day.”
Hibbs expects big things from
the 49ers. They have a potent
line-up but have to improve
the pitching and defense, if
they hope to win a fourth
straight conference title.
“The whole deal with our
program, it's all about matur
ing and accepting responsibli-
ty on a daily basis,” Hibbs
said, “and we have not done a
real good job of that to this
point.
“But I expect it will continue
to improve, just as it has with
Nick and Jimmy. Those guys
have grown up a lot in the last
two years and learned to
accept responsibity on how
they perform, in the classroom
and on the field every day.”
A guide to the 1996 NFL draft
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Team-by-team capsules for
the first round of the 1996
NFL draft, in order of selection
(1995 record in parentheses):
1, New York Jets (3-13).
NEEDS: Offensive line; wide receiv
er; running back; defensive line.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: The fans
want Southern California receiver
Keyshawn Johnson, the game-breaker
the Jets lack. Coach Rich Kotite, who
is running the draft, probably will
make them happy, and also look for
backfield and defensive line help later
on.
2, Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12).
NEEDS: Both lines; wide receiver;
running back; secondary.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Kevin
Hardy of Illinois is the only defender
worth taking this high. If Tom
Coughlin, a career offensive coach,
sticks to his roots, UCLA tackle
Jonathan Ogden, Nebraska running
back Lawrence Phillips or Ohio State
wideout Terry Glenn are possibilities.
Coughlin should tend to the lines in
later rounds.
3, Arizona Cardinals (4-12).
NEEDS: Offensive line; tight end;
safety.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Ogden
would make lots of sense if he is avail
able. So would trading down a bit if
Ogden is gone, getting extra picks and
perhaps taking a tight end (Ohio
State’s Ricky Dudley).
4, 26, Baltimore Ravens (6-11).
NEEDS: Defensive line, running
back, linebacker.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: New coach
Ted Marchibroda likes a wide-open
passing game and has the tools at
quarterback (Eric Zeier) and receiver.
He would love to have Dudley to fit in,
but also wouldn’t mind a Phillips after
coaching Marshall Faulk the last two
seasons.
5, New York Giants (6-11).
NEEDS: Offensive line; wide
receivers; linebackers; kickers.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: They figure
to go for defense, unless coach Dan
Reeves convinces Young they need a
longball threat (Glenn or Marvin
Harrison of Syracuse).
6, 13, St. Louis Rams (7-9).
NEEDS: Running back; quarter
back; placekickers.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Rams want
Phillips, but might need to get higher
for him. With no quarterbacks around,
they might go for Glenn to put oppo
site Isaac Bruce.
7, New England Patriots (6-10).
NEEDS: Receiver; safety; defensive
line.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Look for
Parcells to address the defense, as he
always does, although Glenn would be
tempting. One of the defensive line
men or Rice, if he’s still around, should
interest him.
8, Carolina (7-9).
NEEDS: Speed on offense; more
blockers; pass-rushing defensive line
men.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: One of the
top runners or defensive ends should
entice GM Bill Polian. But Glenn or
Harrison also would be appealing.
9, Houston Oilers (7-9).
NEEDS: Offensive and defensive
line: linebacker to replace Eddie
Robinson.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: They’d love
to get a shot at a top defensive line
man, preferably an end (Baylor’s
Daryl Gardener?), or Rice. Later
rounds figure to be used for bulk, too.
10, Cincinnati Bengals (7-9).
NEEDS: Both lines; secondary.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: A tackle or
guard should be top priority, and the
line might be addressed several times.
Options for first round include Willie
Anderson of Auburn and Jermane
Mayberry of Texas A&M-Kingsville, or
perhaps Jermain Stephens of North
Carolina A&T, which could be a reach.
11, New Orleans Saints (7-9).
NEEDS: Pla3Tnaker8 on defense.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Except for
cornerbacks, the Saints will be looking
for all kinds of defensive help. Any of
the top lineman or possibly linebacker
Ray Lewis of Miami would fit.
12,22, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-
9).
NEEDS; Cornerbacks; defensive
linemen.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Despite the
second-worst offense in the league
(238 points), the Bucs have people in
place. New coach Tony Dungy, a defen
sive wizard, could do worse than tak
ing a pass-rushing type with No. 12
and a defensive back, perhaps Walt
Harris of Mississippi State or Deron
Jenkins of Tennessee, at No. 22.
14, Seattle Seahawka (8-8).
NEEDS: Defensive line; comerback;
running back depth.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: With only 28
sacks, the Seahawks must do some
thing about the pass msh. If none of
the top linemen are around,
15, Denver Broncos (8-8).
NEEDS: Cornerbacks; pass-rush
ers; young quarterback.
DRAFT PROSPECTS; Will devote
most of selections to defense, with
lineman who can get to quarterback a
priority, of couree.
16, Minnesota Vikings (8-8).
NEEDS: Bulk inside on defense;
linebacker; running back; tight end.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Defensive
tackle Marcus Jones of North Carolina
or a linebacker likely choice, but run
ner such as George, Biakabutuka or
fullback Mike Alstott of Purdue might
be tempting.
17, Oakland Raiders (8-8).
NEEDS: Offensive line, especially
tackle; quarterback; defensive depth.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Having
done so well in free agency, the
Raiders could gamble on a project.
That might mean outside linebacker
John Mobley of Kutztown (Pa.).
18, Chicago Bears (9-7).
NEEDS: Kickers; tight end; wide
receivers; comerback.
DRAFT PROSPECTS; No
receivers were acquired to replace
Graham, so Harrison, if still available,
is a nice fit. Dudley also would work,
as might Mississippi State’s Harris at
comerback.
19, Indianapolis Colts (9-7).
NEEDS: Pass-rushing linemen; sec
ondary; receiving depth; placekicker.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Unlikely to
get top defensive lineman, so might
look at Harris or Molden, if around.
Could go for speedy receiver if one is
left (Eric Moulds of Mississippi State
or Notre Dame’s Derrick Mayes?)
20. Miami Dolphins (9-7).
NEEDS: Linebacker; secondary;
speedy running back.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Johnson
works the draft as well as anybody,
but lacks the ammunition to fire any
major shots. With Bryan Cox gone,
linebacker Ray Lewis is possible. So is
one of the many top runners, perhaps
UCLA’s Karim Abdul-Jabbar.
21, 23, Detroit Lions (10-6).
NEEDS: Offensive line; linebacker;
kick returners.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: They’d love
to package these two picks and per
haps a later one to move up and find a
starter.
24, Buffalo BiUs (10-6).
NEEDS: Wide receiver; tight end;
depth in secondary and at linebacker.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: With all the
top wideouts, Buffalo should get one.
And if Dudley slips this low, he’ll be
the guy. In later rounds, the Bills will
look for depth.
25, Philadelphia Eagles (10-6).
NEEDS: Linebacker; offensive line;
tight end; quarterback.
DRAFT PROSPECTS:
Somewhere, the Eagles will take a
quarterback, perhaps Bobby Hoying of
Ohio State on the second round.
27, Green Bay Packers (11-5).
NEEDS; Offensive line; backup
quarterback; inside linebacker.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: Will look to
beef up protection for Brett Favre and
try to find a young QB Inter on. If
sleeper Jermain Stephens isn’t
grabbed, he could go here.
28, Kansas City Chiefs (13-3).
1996 DRAFT: Tamarick Vanover,
fresh from the CFL, was a major addi
tion on the third round. A premier kick
returner, he should become a prime
target at receiver this year.
NEEDS: Quarterback; linebacker;
placekicker.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: The old
"best player” theory certain to be
employed. The Chiefs have many
strengths, particularly on both lines,
and no glaring weaknesses aside from
kicking.
29, Pittsburgh Steelers (11*5).
NEEDS: Quarterback; depth in
offensive line; running back.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: With Bam
Morris in trouble and Erric Pegram
not considered durable, the Steelers
figure to shop for a runner. Abdul-
Jabbar, Purdue fullback Mike Alstott,
Auburn’s Stephen Davis and
Oklahoma’s Jerald Moore have been
mentioned.
30, Dallas Cowboys (12-4).
NEEDS: Linebackers; wide
receivers; young quarterback to devel
op.
DRAFT PROSPECTS: It’s time to
start thinking about grooming a young
backup to Troy Aikman. But that will
come later in draft. First, a linebacker
or two and a pass-catcher. If Mobley
slips this far, he’d fit.
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