Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fast Break

The Spokesman-Review

BASKETBALL

Montana Tech sticks with Sampson

Montana Tech has no plans to change the name of its new basketball court, despite recent allegations against its namesake, former Indiana men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, athletic director Joe McClafferty said.

A recent NCAA investigation found Sampson committed five major rules violations, leading to his resignation Friday.

Sampson, who started his college coaching career at Tech, donated $50,000 toward the cost of renovating the school’s physical education building. His signature was embossed on the gym floor.

McClafferty said Sunday he couldn’t speculate on the allegations against Sampson but noted that Montana Tech still supports him.

“We’re not a big school, but we’re extremely loyal, and we’re not going to get caught up in that whole game,” McClafferty said. “Our court will stay Kelvin Sampson Court. We still love the guy, and if he wants to come back and coach here, we’d sure take him.”

Sampson guided the Orediggers from 1981-85.

BASEBALL

Marlins audition tubby dancers

The Florida Marlins are looking for some footloose fat men.

The National League team is creating an all-male, plus-size cheerleading squad to be dubbed the Manatees. Tryouts were scheduled for Sunday.

The team hoped to recruit seven to 10 tubby men to dance, cheer and jiggle during Friday and Saturday home games this season.

Real manatees, 1,200-pound mammals sometimes referred to as “sea cows,” are not considered the most agile of creatures and often get caught in boat propellers.

The Marlins want their Manatees to have the same dimensions, but to be decidedly more agile. Men were to be judged on how well they danced a choreographed routine.

The Marlins aren’t the only pro sports team capitalizing on Americans’ expanding waistlines. The Chicago Bulls basketball team has the Matadors, a big-man dance troupe that’s entertained fans at home games since 2003.

BASEBALL

Burkett has backup career

John Burkett has some skills in the lanes.

That’s according to US Bowler magazine, which added Jerome Bettis and Tom Candiotti to its top 10 celebrity bowler list.

The former major league pitcher has a 221 average. He started bowling in junior leagues as a youngster and had a job setting up pins. In 2006, he competed in the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships.

Bettis has a 200 average. Candiotti, inducted into the celebrity win of the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2007, averaged 212 last year.