Joe Morrison’s cardiologist says the South Carolina football coach was an ideal patient after his heart troubles surfaced in 1985, but a friend says he foresaw Morrison’s fatal heart attack because he refused to stop smoking and worked too hard. Morrison died of a heart attack Sunday night after playing racquetball with defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and two other friends. USC AD King Dixon will coordinate the football program until Morrison’s successor is named, although the university “won’t start steps toward naming a replacement until after the funeral,” school spokeswoman Debra Allen said. There will be a funeral service for Morrison at 10 a.m. Thursday in Childs Funeral Home in Lima, Ohio, which is Morrison’s hometown. Burial will follow in Lima’s Memorial Park Cemetery, according to Dunbar Funeral Home here, which is handling the arrangements. Morrison was remembered at a private service Tuesday afternoon in Columbia, S.C., as a quiet, determined leader who had “the rare ability to listen better than he talked.” The school will hold a public memorial at Williams-Brice Stadium Friday…
SANDERS HEDGES ON DECISION
Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders refused to confirm or deny a report in his hometown newspaper that he had decided to return to Oklahoma State University for his senior season instead of opting for the NFL draft. Sanders was in Philadelphia to pick up the Maxwell Trophy as the outstanding college player of 1988. The Wichita Eagle-Beacon quoted Sanders as saying he would return to OSU. Said Sanders: “I don’t remember saying that. I’ve done a thousand interviews this year. I can’t remember what I say.”…
Kevin Gilbride, a former assistant in the CFL, has been hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Cincinnati. Gilbride, 36, has coached the past two years at East Carolina in the same capacity.
BROWNS HIRE EX-STEELER AIDE
Assistant coach Jed Hughes, fired by the Pittsburgh Steelers last month, said he has signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. Hughes, 41, will coach linebackers or defensive backs. The Browns also have interviewed former Steelers defensive coordinator Tony Dungy…
Wide receiver Cris Collinsworth, a UF graduate, says the Cincinnati Bengals misdiagnosed a knee injury that hobbled him late last season. Collinsworth, who is miffed at the Bengals for their decision not to include him on the team’s offseason list of protected players, says that the Bengals did not properly diagnose the injury to his right knee that hampered him during the last four weeks of the regular season and the playoffs. Bengals Assistant GM Mike Brown disputes the claim.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROSS, EX-CREIGHTON PLAYER, CONVICTED OF FELONY CHARGE
A judge has convicted one-time Creighton basketball player Kevin Ross of felony criminal damage to property for hurling a roomful of furniture off a hotel balcony. Circuit Judge Fred G. Suria convicted Ross of felony criminal damage to property and sentenced him to two years’ probation and ordered him to pay $7,500 in restitution. Ross was accused of ripping out plumbing and tossing furniture off a balcony of the Near West Side hotel in July 1987. The defense said he was temporarily insane at the time. Ross gained national attention when he left Creighton in 1982 after three years, acknowledging he could barely read or write. He then entered a Chicago prep school, learned to read and write and later attended college again…
The NCAA is studying newspaper reports of wrongdoing in the Missouri basketball program but not yet conducting a probe, enforcement chief David Berst said. There have been reports of a player being bought an airline ticket to return home and of players receiving cash from assistant coach Bob Sundvold, brother of Heat guard Jon Sundvold…
Undeclared outside income estimated at $10,000 by Kentucky assistant coach Dwane Casey was among information obtained by school investigators looking into NCAA allegations against the basketball program, his attorney says. Casey’s attorney said the income was from speaking engagements…
Edward S. Steitz, 68, author of sweeping changes in college basketball in his 22-year tenure as national editor of the rules committee, announced his retirement as athletic director of Springfield College in Springfield, Mass.
BASEBALL EX-TIGER RELIEVER HILLER MAY HAVE LEG AMPUTATED
John Hiller, a top reliever in the ’70s for the Detroit Tigers, says he’s accepted that doctors will be forced to amputate his leg. The Iron Mountain, Mich., resident, who drove last weekend to Lakeland to work at the annual Fantasy Camp, said that doctors last year diagnosed a blood-flow blockage behind his right knee. “I can’t stand on it. I can’t walk on it. I can’t stand cold. It’s frustrating. But it’s not life threatening,” said Hiller, 45, who had a heart attack in 1971. “The long-range outlook is I will lose the leg,” he said. In 1974, Hiller matched the American League record for victories by a reliever with 17…
Greg Vaughn, a former UM outfielder, signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit .301 with 28 home runs and 105 RBI at Double-A El Paso last season. The Brewers also signed former manager Del Crandall as a scout…
Joe Garagiola, the former catcher and NBC color commentator, was named to succeed former pitcher Ralph Branca as president of the Baseball Alumni Team, which raises money for needy players… The first old-timers’ game at the baseball Hall of Fame will be played Saturday, June 10 at 2 p.m. on Doubleday Field as part of the Hall’s 50th anniversary celebration… Robin Ventura, Tino Martinez, Ken Ritter, J.P. Wright and Rheal Cormier are the nominees for the Dick Howser Trophy, presented annually to the top college player. The winner will be announced March 27 at Lakeland. Mike Fiore of UM was the winner last season.
TENNIS KRIEK WINS AT CHICAGO; MECIR UPSET AT ROTTERDAM
Robbie Weiss and Johan Kriek won easily in opening matches of the Volvo Chicago tournament. Weiss defeated Rick Leach 6-2, 6-4 and Jim Pugh of was ousted by Kriek of Naples, by an identical score. Brian Page beat John Ross of Gainesville, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and defending champion Tim Mayotte had first-round byes…
Top-seeded Miloslav Mecir, the defending champion, suffered a humiliating first-round defeat in the Rotterdam, Netherlands, tournament, falling to West Germany’s Patrick Kuehnen 7-5, 6-1…
Brazilian Luiz Mattar, the top seed, defeated countryman Cesar Kist 6-2, 6-2 Tuesday in the first round of the Chevrolet Classic at Guaruja, Brazil…
Top-seeded Spaniard Conchita Martinez, 16, breezed past Swede Cecilia Dahlmann 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the Fernleaf Classic at Wellington, New Zealand. No. 7 Donna Faber of Bradenton beat Lindsay Bartlett of Portola Valley, Calif., 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.
BOXING GREEN ARRESTED AGAIN FOR REVOKED LICENSE
Former professional boxer Mitch Green, best known for losing matches to heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in the ring and on the street, was arrested in midtown Manhattan, police said. Green, 32, was arrested at 1:20 p.m. for driving with a revoked license. The former boxer was also wanted on a warrant for assault, said a police spokesman, detective Jim Coleman. Green has been arrested for driving infractions at least 54 times…
British Commonwealth middleweight champion Nigel Benn will defend his title tonight in London against Michael Chilambe, although Benn was recently injured. Benn’s right hand had been hurt when a person tried to make a citizen’s arrest, mistaking Benn for a murderer being sought by police. Scotland Yard admitted it had used a retouched photograph of Benn when making an artist’s sketch of the assailant. Benn (20-0) is expected to fight Hallandale’s Anthony Logan this year in London.
FISHING PENNSYLVANIANS CATCH, RELEASE FOUR BARRACUDA
Pennsylvania winter refugees Dave and Margie Bates and Jacki and Mike Chieppor caught and released four barracuda weighing as heavy as 35 pounds during a Friday trip aboard the Bahia Mar charterboat Happy Day Today with Capt. Tom Zsak. The barracuda were caught on spinning tackle and on a variety of live baits dangled beneath kites. All strikes came while drifting over artificial reefs north of Port Everglades. Mike Chieppor also fought a cobia estimated at 40 pounds for 70 minutes on light spinning tackle before the gamefish broke free. Howard Blitstein, who owns the private vessel Prince of Dania, fished with Pembroke Pines guide Bouncer Smith the same night for the same species in a different spot but did equally as well. Blitstein caught and released three tarpon estimated at 60-80 pounds while using live shrimp in Miami’s Government Cut.
