Nationally
Boise State football looks at move to Big West
Moving Boise State's football program into Division I-A status in the Big West Conference would bring more cash and publicity to the school, a special committee contends. The 16-member task force chaired by BSU Executive Vice President Larry Selland issued a draft report Thursday.
Joining the Big West could mean a net gain of $455,500 for BSU in 1995, the earliest such a move could be made. That would rise to $710,000 in 1999. Some of its opponents would be former Big Sky foe Nevada, New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.
At a March meeting, presidents of Big Sky Conference schools voted to reduce the number of football scholarships from the 65 now allowed at the Division I-AA level to 45 over the next three years. Big Sky leaders reserved the right for two schools to petition the league to withdraw from football competition.
Idaho and Boise State have served notice they might withdraw their football programs from the Big Sky because of the cutback.
"This action to reduce football scholarships provided Boise State with the opportunity to assess the future of football at the university," said the preliminary report.
University of Idaho athletic director Pete Liske said Big Sky schools might force the Vandals to leave the conference if they approve a proposal that would make it mandatory to play Big Sky football.
Lions sign James Jones
PONTIAC, Mich. - Unrestricted free agent running back James Jones signed with the Detroit Lions, the team that made him a first-round draft pick in 1983. The 32-year-old Jones spent the last four seasons with Seattle after six seasons with the Lions.
Lowery holds 1-shot lead at Atlanta
MARIETTA, Ga. - Steve Lowery, winless in six seasons on the PGA Tour, shot a 7-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Dillard Pruitt, Mike Hulbert and Mark Carnevale after the first round of the Atlanta Golf Classic.
Mark Calcavecchia, Nolan Henke, Billy Andrade, John Huston, Larry Nelson, Neal Lancaster, David Ogrin and Russell Beiersdorf opened with 67s on the Atlanta Country Club course.
Schott says she may not return
TORONTO - Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott told the Toronto Globe and Mail that the commotion surrounding her suspension has damaged her health and she may not want to return to baseball when eligible.
Schott was suspended for one year and fined $25,000 by baseball's executive council for slurring blacks, Jews and Japanese. She can apply for reinstatement Nov. 1 if she completes a mandatory multicultural training program.
Alabama's Robinson to enter draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - James Robinson, Alabama's leading scorer and an All-Southeastern Conference selection last season, announced he's passing up his final year of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Nijdam tops LeMond's record at Tour DuPont
WILMINGTON, Del. - Jelle Nijdam of the Netherlands broke Greg LeMond's course record with an 11-second victory Tour DuPont's prologue. Nijdam completed the 2.98-mile course in 5 minutes, 55.070 seconds to break the record LeMond set last year by more than 23 seconds.
Sabres' Mogilny breaks leg
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo star Alexander Mogilny broke his right leg in a second-period pileup in the Sabres' 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal in Game 3 of the Adams Division final. Mogilny tied Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne for the NHL lead in goals with 76.
Locally
Shannon Miller to visit Janus Funds Kids' Fair
Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller will appear at the Janus Funds Kids' Fair at the Salt Palace Exhibition Hall Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Miller will conduct question-and-answer and autograph sessions and do balance-beam exhibitions.
Admission to the Kids' Fair, which begins today, is $2 for children aged 3-12 and $5 for adults.
St. George Buck-a-thon set for May 29
ST. GEORGE - If it don't buck, it don't count no-how. That's how the folks at Diamond G Rodeos Inc. think as they present their third annual Buck-a-thon Saturday, May 29, 7 p.m. at the Dixie Sun Bowl in St. George. No ropin' or racin' events, just nasty animals trying to unseat some of the world's best riders.
Top rodeo cowboys like Ty Murray, Clint Corey and Jim Sharp have competed in the past Buck-a-thons.
Diamond G says it will provide 24 bucking bulls, 12 saddlebroncs, 12 bareback broncs and eight junior bulls for the one-night roughstock extravaganza. Many of the animals have been used in the National Finals Rodeo.
Buck-a-thon tickets are $12, $8 and $5 and sold at Jolley's Ranchwear in Cedar City and St. George, Gilbert Development in Cedar City or by pone (801) 586-5138. Tickets will be available May 28 and 29 at the Dixie Sun Bowl.