Sports

Pac-10 Invites Anbara Universities to Join Conference

Los Angeles (AP) - The Pacific 10 Athletic Conference today officially invited Anbara’s three top universities to join the conference in all sports effective June 1, 1996. The University of Anbara-Westmore, Anbara State University, and Central State University were all been given tentative approval by the Pac-10 Board of Directors to begin inter-conference play during the 1996 football season. Administrative and sports officials from the three universities welcomed the invitation, and final approval of the offer should be announced within three weeks by each institution. “We’re elated by the decision,” Anbara State University President John Santos responded during a press conference immediately following the announcement. “It was a hard choice for our community to make, but we’re confident that it will be one that benefits the university and the state.” “It will bring needed diversity to the state’s collegiate community and increase exposure among the western states. We’ve felt the need to move to the Pac-10 for a long time, and it’s finally come,” Central State University President Donna Terrance-Davidson said in a released statement. For two years the three universities had jointly negotiated to be admitted to the athletic conference. Dissatisfied with their current status within the AKAEHI (Alaska-Anbara-Hawaii) Conference, the three schools sought the move as a way to increase their athletic competitiveness. The three schools have dominated the AKAEHI Conference in all sports since its inception in 1985. Other conference members include Stohlton University, the University of Alaska-Anchorage, the University of Hawaii, Mauna Loa, and Loyola-Marymount University. 1996 defending NCAA basketball champion Stohlton University had also expressed interest in joining the Pac-10. However, Pac-10 officials postponed extending an invitation to the school, citing their concerns over admitting an institution with a campus of fewer than 25,000 students. Some Washington, Oregon, and Arizona institutions also disapproved of Stohlton’s entry into the conference, claiming that it would have unfairly balancing the conference in the Island state’s favor. Stohlton University would have been the fourth Anbara university admitted to the conference. “It’s definitely a disappointment to Stohlton, to have to seek competition elsewhere. Anbara, Anbara State, and Central State are our best competitors,” Stohlton University spokesman Mark Bagalia said today, “But we plan to appeal the decision in the near future and hopefully will begin play in the Pac-10 around the turn of the century.” In recent months the question of joining the Pac-10 has been one of turbulence for the three incoming Anbara universities. In May, conference representatives from Oregon and Washington sought to reject Central State’s bid to join the league, arguing that only the Island state’s two top institutions should be invited into the conference. Pac-10 officials dismissed their objections and continued to include Central State in negotiations. In July the University of Arizona blocked Anbara State University’s application to the conference on the basis of refusing to share the same mascot, the ‘Wildcats’, in inter-conference play. Conference officials then stipulated that the Anbara State Unversity change or modify its mascot, turning down ASU’s argument that the university had used the name ‘Wildcats’ for over 70 years. On September 10 Anbara State University’s administration held a devisive campus vote over the issue and suggested that the name be modified to the ‘SeaCats.’ Opponents called the change ‘administrative blackmail’; supporters cited the benefits of joining one of the most prestigious athletic conferences in the country. By a razon-thin 19,243-18,897 vote ASU students and faculty chose to adopt the ‘SeaCat’ as their mascot, opening the way for Anbara State’s acceptance into the conference. Anbara State football coach Marty Pennington summed up the views of ASU faculty and students, saying, “In the next year or so you’re going to see a very lively rivalry develop between Arizona and ASU. We plan to show them who has the better mascot.”

The New Face of the Pac-10 Conference

• Anbara State University SeaCats
• Arizona State University Sun Devils
• Central State University Panthers
• Stanford University Cardinals
• Oregon State University Beavers
• University of Anbara Gatewaymen
• University of Arizona Wildcats
• University of California Golden Bears
• University of California-Los Angeles Bruins
• University of Oregon Ducks
• University of Southern California Trojans
• University of Washington Huskies
• Washington State University Cougars

Future of AKANHI Conference Uncertain

Farreta, November 15 - Some win, some lose. With the announcement today that Anbara State University will join the Pacific-10 Athletic Conference along with the University of Anbara-Westmore and Central State University, the break from the AKANHI (Alaska-Anbara-Hawaii) Conference is complete for the conference’s three most competitive universities. The gap leaves the future of the conference uncertain. The University of Alaska-Anchorage, Univesity of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Hawaii-Hilo, University of Hawaii-Mauna Loa, Loyola Marymount University (California), University of California-Irvine, Stohlton University, and University of Nordstrom remain in the conference. Stohlton unsuccessfully petitioned to join the Pac-10 conference, but it will appeal the decision next year. Stohlton is also considering joining the Big West Athletic Conference. AKANHI Conference spokesman Don Givens released a statement today stating that the conference would continue inter-conference play through August, 1996 in its current form, although he acknowledged that the stature of the conference would be diminished as a result of the moves. The conference will announce within two weeks whether it plans invite new institutions into the conference or dissolve into individual state conferences. The AKANHI was formed in 1985 from the remains of the original Anbara Island Athletic Conference. Hawaiian and Alaskan institutions had previously been independent, and the two Californian institutions joined the conference in 1990. University of Anbara-Nagosha, University of Anbara-Portsmouth, Dover-Avidell University of Sydney, and University of California-Santa Barbara, and Pepperdine University have all expressed interest in joining the conference. Also uncertain is the fate of the Tropic Bowl, an Anbara New Year’s tradition among the state’s football teams. With Anbara State Univesity, Central State University, and the University of Anbara locked into competition for the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, AKANHI officials are undecided as to whether the bowl should remain the domain of the conference or expand to include nationally ranked, non-conference universities. Currently, the champion of the AKANHI Conference meets a ranked member of the Big West or Big Ten conferences. With the conference’s three biggest football competitors deserting it for the Pac-10, conference officials are unsure whether to open it to all ranked teams.

NHL HOCKEY

Sea Dogs Christen New Arena With Win

November 18 - The expansion Nordstrom Sea Dogs skated yesterday to a rare 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks in their debut at Victory Center. The win gives the Sea Dogs a 3-11-4 record while the hapless Sharks fall to 2-14-4. It was the second meeting for the two cellar dwellers in the Pacific Division. The Sharks won their first meeting 6-3 in San Jose. A sold-out crowd of 21, 195 turned out to witness the victory. It was power forward Eric Levin, picked up last week after being released by the Detriot Red Wings, who posted an unassisted hat trick to give the Dogs the lead goal with just 1:31 left to play. Right wing Doug Aleovaros tied the game with an assisted power play in the 2nd period. The Sea Dogs had planned to begin play in the new $322 million Victory Center at the beginning of the 1995-96 hockey season, but ice machine problems and a leaky roof forced the new NHL expansion team to play in the Spiral Arena for the first month of the season. The new Victory Center is a new addition to the renovation of State Stadium and the Anbara State Fairgrounds in Nordstrom. Construction problems also forced the Nordstrom Knights to play the first part of the NFL season in Hatchapee’s Vallivue Stadium. The American League Nordstrom Islanders played their entire 1995 baseball season at Macmillan Stadium in Queensbury while construction continued on State Stadium.

NFL FOOTBALL

Federals Stop Knights 33-10

Nordstrom, November 19 - The Farret Federals won seasonal football bragging rights in the Gateway State yesterday by blowing out the Nordstrom Knights 33-10 before a crowd of 62,353 at the newly renovated State Stadium. The 10-1 Federals made easy work of the Knights, whose record fell to 4-7, by finishing the game with over 500 yards on the day. Nordstrom showed promise as Quarterback Greg Faast opened the game with a 10-play 7 point drive. The Federals answered the early lead with 27 unanswered points. Federals’ Quarterback Mario Gaglione finished with another stellar day, passing for 315 yards and rushing another 54. Running back Mark Druzio rushed for 117 yards, his seven consecutive 100+ yard game. Wide receiver Anthony Daly also rushed for 105 yards. The Federals move closer to an end-of-the-year shootout with the 9-2 Kansas City Chiefs and 8-3 Oakland Raiders in the AFC West. Farret beat Kansas City on October 15 and lost its only game to Oakland on October 22. The defending Super Bowl champions are looking to repeat. They meeting Kansas City in a rematch next week and the Raiders on December 3. The Knights are tied with the New Orleans Saint for the worst record in the NFC West and hope to win their next three games to avoid a losing season. Unfortunately, they meet the 49ers next weekend in San Francisco.

NBA BASKETBALL

Hawthorne's Season-High 48 Leads Seals to Victory over Fix

Sydney, December 8 - Power forward Kenny Hawthorne scored a season-high 48 points to lead the Syndey Seals to a 119-115 victory over the visiting Nordstrom Pacifics. Kareem McKnight also added 23 point to clinch the victory in the first battle between the state’s two top NBA teams. Charly Gaines led Nordstrom with 35 points. The Fix led 61-56 at half time and 95-92 at the start of the 4th period, but an 8-0 run by Syndey with just 3 minutes remaining gave the Seals the victory. Despite the loss, the Fix remain atop the Pacific Division with a 13-4 record after the Sacramento Kings fell to the Seattle SuperSonics 120-103. The Hawthorne-led Seals improve to 10-7.

Stohlton U, Anbara Rewarded with NCAA Tournament Berths

March 7 - The Stohlton University and University of Anbara men’s basketball teams are a bit closer to New York. Central State University was conspicuously missing. The NCAA today invited Stohlton and Anbara to the NCAA tournament. For the third year in a row, conference champion Stohlton (24-5 overall, 9-1 conf.) earned an automatic berth in the tournament. Anbara’s surprise showing in the regular season (20-9 overall, 7-3 conf.) gave it the notice it needed to bump perenniel contender CSU (18-11 overall, 6-4 conf.) from the tournament.