Wednesday, April 7, 1993 The Champion, Page 13 Barkley returns to Philly By BRIAN SPERLING into the Spectrum to welcome Bar­ Champion Reporter NBA Roundup kley home, there was not one person It finally happened last week. The rooting against the Suns. The warm Harris feerer event was nine months in the making, and energy in an effort to give the city reception was only fitting. but the homecoming finally took a winner, yet distractions and unde­ Barkley did not score 60 points as place. Charles Barkley returned to his serving criticism snowballed to the some thought he might, but he did net old romping grounds on the floor of point that the Sixers felt compelled to 35 to lead his Suns to victory. Surpris­ the Spectrum. trade him last June. ingly, Philadclphiaonly lost by acount PRICES This time Barkley was in a different mm ioirV During his career, Charles has been of 110-100. Considering that the uniform representing a completely arguably the most hungry player in Sixers have lost two games this year different team than the one he used to the NBA in terms of possessing the by 50-plus points, it was surprising LOW PRICE play for at the Spectrum. desire to win the world champion­ the Suns did not make it a third time. One had to wonder how it felt for ship. Barkley has always just been The first return to his original home HAMILTON HONEY GLAZED SPIRAL SLICED Sir Charles to arrive early that morn­ himself, trying to do what he could to is now in the past, but Charles will ing for the shoot around. The Spec­ help the team win. probably never forget it. He will now WHOLE OR trum was empty except for the occa­ And so the game took place. Char­ try to give the people of Phoenix what sional maintenance man scurrying les was introduced along with the rest they have never had the opportunity HALF HAM around. It must have been an eerie of his Phoenix Suns to play the woeful to savor: an NBA title. If any single feeling for Barkley to take in thearena Sixers. It seemed odd to see the man player in the league deserves it, Char­ in which his legend had been built. in which the team's image had been les Barkley is the man who must He must have seen images of the formed taking the court against them. capture it. many game-winning shots that he had The Sixers have looked like an Charles is surrounded by talent that made in his efforts to help the Phila­ empty shell all season, spiraling to­ he never had in Philly, so the Suns delphia 76ers rise to the top, where ward the abyss at the bottom of the should go far this spring in the play­ they had been in 1983. league standings. offs. You can count on many Sixer Sir Charles had poured out his heart On a day when 17,000 plus packed fans rooting Phoenix to win it all. HOUSE OF RAEFORD Trading flurry starts year SELF BASTING GRADE "A" By JOSHUA COOLEY going 5-19 and 9-18, respectively. Champion Reporter MLB Roundup In the National League, Cincinnati Professional baseball has been busy is leading the pack winning 16 and with news of the major accident with two homeruns and 15 RBI in 161 at- losing 7. Right behind them is Phila­ runic, the Indians' pitchers and a flurry of bats before he suffered an injury last delphia with a 14-8 record. Also in the trades just prior to the beginning of year. Jackson accumulated a .249 Senior Circuit, the expansion Florida the season. average, 17 homers and 70 RBI in Marlins are bringing up the rear with BREAST » Concerning the accident, new find­ 587 at-bats in '92. a mark of 11 -15. The Colorado Rock­ ings have surfaced in the tragic boat­ Toronto also released left-handed ies, also in their first season, are 15-13 ing accident which killed Indians pitcher David Wells and sold south­ in spring play. CALIFORNIA FRESHDIET COKE OR pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews paw Bob MacDonald to Detroit. The top three batters in the Ameri­ and seriously injured fellow pitcher Other action has been taking place can League this spring are: Boston BROCCOLI COCA-COLA Bob Ojeda. around the leagues as well. slugger Mo Vaughn, collecting 29 Investigators have found that Lefty Matt Young was dropped by hits, five homers and posting a .460 BUNCH 2 LITER Crews, the driver of the boat, was the Red Sox; Jason Grimsley, a right- average; Texas Ranger David Hulse, operating the machine while intoxi­ handed pitcher, was cut by the Astros with 22 hits and a .440 average; and cated. His blood-alcohol content reg­ and first baseman Lee Stevens re­ Minnesota star Kirby Pucketl, who is istered 0.14, exceeding the state of ceived the pink slip from Montreal batting .423 with 22 hits. Florida's limit of 0.10. after the Expos acquired slugger Jack In the National League this spring, On the general manager's side of Clark from the Red Sox. there are some unusual faces at the top baseball, there have been a few last In the standings this spring in the of the batting charts. minute trades and changes before American League, the Yankees have Scott Pose, a Marlin who only opening day 1993. the best record with an 18-9 mark. played Double-A ball last year, is Toronto traded left-fielder Derek Baltimore is behind them with a 13-8 hitting .449 with 22 hits. Darren Bell to the San Diego Padres for fel­ record and Minnesota is in third with Daulton, Philadelphia's catcher, has low left-fielder Darrin Jackson. The a record of 16-10. posted a .412 mark. Number three on Jays also received $300,000 in cash Detroit and Boston have had the the list is rookie Expo Wil Cordero, from the Padres. Bell hit .242 with worst spring in the Junior Circuit, who is hitting .404. NHL plans '93 realignment By BRIAN SPERLING NBA, the league also developed a Champion Reporter NHL Roundup new and improved playoff format. HARRIS TEETER... LOW PRICES ALL DAY, EVERY DAY It would seem that the NHL read Gone will be the divisional format in last week's roundup and agreed to Buffalo, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa favor of the top eight teams in each SPECIAL ROAST ADC OR P/R change the divisional and playoff and Hartford; conference. The teams will be seeded FOLGERS 39 format as the league adopted an NBA- •Central: Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, one to cightand play through a bracket WORK AT COFFEE H.5 0Z. I style setup which is justas good, if not Winnipeg, Dallas and Toronto; identical to the NBA. The two confer­ better than, the suggested NFL for­ •Pacific: Edmonton, Calgary, Van­ ence survivors will meet to decide the SELECTED VARIETIES mat. couver, Los Angeles, San Jose and Stanley Cup champions. THE BEACH! DUNCAN HINES Gone will be the conferences known Anaheim. The scheduling will still be slightly CAKE MIX } 8.25-18.5 oz. as Wales and Campbell. These will be The team most affected by the rea­ similar. The major difference here is .78 replaced with more applicable East­ lignment is the two-time defending that divisional opponents will not have REGULAR^ LITE OR CHOCOLATE A A ern and Western Conferences. champion Penguins. This move to play each other eight or nine times. OUR MYRTLE BEACH BIRDS EYE COOL WHIP O Q There will still be four divisions, clearly makes the Northeast the most In the east, each club will play its AND HILTON HEAD TOPPING 8 oz. BOWL $W W but the names will be changed. Pat­ competitive division in hockey. divisional opponents five times. LOCATIONS ARE The teams will meet teams in the rick, Adams, Norris and Smythe will In the Atlantic, wishes were taken NOW HIRING FOR THE MILD, SHARP OR EXTRA SHARP be removed in favor of Atlantic, into consideration as Tampa Bay and other conference division four times. 09 The west will see intradivisional se­ SUMMER. IF INTERESTED, HUNTER CHEESE Northeast, Central and Pacific. This the new South Florida franchise APPLY AT THE MYRTLE BEACH STICKS soz. makes the NHL easier for the casual wanted to be together. The league ries go six games with four against the i fan to follow. The old names are still granted the two Florida clubs a guar­ other division. Interconference play AND HILTON HEAD(> honored in terms of individual awards. anteed rivalry that will probably pro­ will pairclubs against eachothertwice LOCATIONS OR The league has also realigned a few duce a fight for the cellar during the during the season. MAIL APPLICATION IN THE DELI-BAKERY of the clubs in an effort to make things next few seasons. In evaluating the realignment, the TO: more interesting, making the NHL The Western Conference was not NHL has improved on all fronts. Look BUNNY very intriguing. changed as drastically, but it is funny for five of the eight playoff seedings CAKES Here are the new divisions which to see Dallas in place of Minnesota logo to the Northeast with its strength JERRY ALLEN will go into effect next year: next year. The North Stars will move next year. That will leave a battle for HARRIS TEETER, INC. •Atlantic: Philadelphia, New Jersey, to Reunion Arena to become the Lone three seeds in the slightly weaker LITCHFIELD LANDING New York Rangers, New York Is­ Stars.