The Michigan Daily-Saturday, May 12, 1979-Page 13 AaicActll Johnson goes for NBA riches T LANSING (AP)-Declaring suicide," Heathcote said wryly. "And I "I'm giving up a lot-the students, Lakers. Published repot allenge of playing pro basketball might still do both." But he declared he my teammates, the chance to have a lot said Los Angeles propos ghts even the millions of dollars was behind Earvin whatever his of fun," he said. "But I always want a contract worth at least $2 arn, Michigan State star Earvin decision. challenge-every year I want But Johnson stressed n decided yesterday to cut short Johnson said he stayed up until 4 a.m. something to strive for." have dollar signs in his e college career and turn Friday making up his mind-and there HE SAID HE expects "a nice con- lot of advice to grab them sional. were plenty of arguments pulling him tract," in the range of $600,000 a year in can. 19-year-old sophomore, noting toward home. Midnight was the a four- or five-year pact, although he Johnson led Lansing I ccomplished about everything deadline to announce. said he had "no commitment" from the state high school Class A EAST the cha outwei he'll ea Johnso his profess The he's a rts this week ed a four-year million. he does not yes, despite a noney while he Everett to the championship possible in two years as a Spartan, said he would offer himself in the June 25 National Basketball Association draft. The announcement came as no sur- prise, since Johnson led Michigan State to the NCAA championship this spring after two straight Big Ten titles. But the 6-foot-8 "Magic Man" maintained the decision still was not easy. "IT'S BEEN ROUGH, you know-I've been going through a lot," the Lansing hometown hero told a packed news conference ablaze with television lights. "I thought it would be best for me. It'll be a challenge to me to go to the NBA and test my skills. We did a lot in college that I thought would take four years-but it took only two." "So next season . . . I'll be turning pro." The Los Angeles Lakers pick first in the draft, and have indicated they are keen on Johnson. He went to Los Angeles earlier this week to get a look at the city. "It was nice-the only thing I don't like is the gas thing," Johnson said, referring to California's gasoline shor- tage. SPARTANS COACH Jud Heathcote had a predictable reaction to Johnson's announcement, which he said means the Spartans "instead of a super club, we'll be just a good club" next season. "I thought of two things, vomit and w74P1141 xiG 11Ci1.4 11V \,.Vllltlltl.111{-,.ll It Vlll LIM his senior year, then strolled down the street to MSU, sparking the Spartans to their first national title. His statistics were not breathtaking-17 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.4 assists a game last season-but his court quarterbacking controlled game after game. Johnson knew he could have two more years as the top campus celebrity, but there were few goals yet to conquer. "I've got to go sometime-it might as well be now," he said. "It's goihg to be hard-I'd like to stay around, but I've got to go sometime." HEATHCOTE, MEANWHILE, saw his team lose its top stars. Graceful forward Gregory Kelser, who turned so many of Earvin's lob passes into slam dunks, graduates and will go in the NBA draft, too. "The program will endure," Heath- cote said. "We'll slide a bit ... into a semi-rebuilding year." But he refused to criticize Johnson's decision-despite the fact he urged Earvin to stay in school. "I'm disappointed, but I'm thrilled for' Earvin," Heathcote said. "He's ac- complished a great deal. I wanted what was best for him, and the only one who could decide what was best for him is Earvin Johnson. If anybody can take things in life at a rapid pace, it's the Magic Man. The Earvin era is over but the aura stays with us." AP Photo IN A MOVE THAT surprised few college basketball followers and predictably saddened Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote, Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced yesterday he'll be playing for NBA riches next year, skipping out on his last two years of college play. Johnson is now eligible for the June 25th NBA draft, in which the Los Angeles Lakers have first choice. Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke indicated yesterday that chances are "very good" that the Lakers will tab' Johnson as their first pick. SPORTS OF THE DAILY Chicago sells Lagrow to Dodgers ByThe AssociatedPress The Chicago White Sox announced yesterday they have sold the contract of right-handed pitcher and former Detroit Tiger Lerin LaGrow to the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. LaGrow, 30, led the White Sox bullpen in saves in 1977 and 1978, but got off to a For more sports, see page 14 slow start this year, permitting 27 hits and 21 runs in 17% innings. He was 0-3 in the American League this season with one save. The White Sox recalled Joe Gates from its Iowa farm club. Gates recently was reinstated by Iowa after recovering from a thumb injury suf- fered during spring training. He has been hitting .308 with Iowa and last year led the Southern League in batting with .333. LaGrow has pitched in 243 major league games, winning 29 and losing 51. He was acquired by the White Sox from St. Louis in 1977. Walsh Nugget coach DENVER - Donnie Walsh, an in- terim coach who guided a troubled team into the National Basketball Association playoffs, officially became the Denver Nuggets' head coach yesterday for at least the next two years. The 38-year-old Walsh took over the floundering Nuggets on Feb. 1 when Larry Brown resigned. At that time the Nuggets were 28-25 and struggling for a playoff berth., He was reluctant at the time to accept the job and said he had no intention of coaching after the season was over. But Walsh guided the Nuggets to a 19- 10 record the rest of the season and into the mini-series with Los Angeles. The Lakers won the series 2-1, but Walsh's effort found favor with Denver fans and the Nuggets' management. Cotton coach of year NEW YORK - Cotton Fitzsimmons, who directed theKansas City Kings to a first-place finish in the National Basketball Association's Midwest Division, was selected 1978-79 coach of the year, the league announced yester- day. Fitzsimmons received 37 votes from a panel of 66 sports writers and sportscasters from the league's 22 cities. Gene Shue of the San Diego Clip- pers was second with 11 votes, while Atlanta's Hubie Brown and Seattle's Lenny Wilkens tied for third with 55 / votes each. Others receiving votes were Jack Ramsey of Portland, Dick Motta of Washington and Kevin Loughery of New Jersey. Astros to be sold HOUSTON - The parent firm of the Houston Astros announced today a substantive agreement has been executed for the sale of the National League club to John J. McMullen, a New York naval architect and a linited partner in the New York Yankee ownership. Astrodomain Corporation now is owned and operated by Ford Motor Credit Co., which assumed sole control in 1978 after Ford and General Electric Corp. took over the crumbling financial empire of Judge Roy Hofheinz in 1976. Hofheinz developed the idea for building the Astrodome and was one of the original owners of the Astros when the team began National League play as the Colt 45s in 1962. MIXED LEAGUE BOWLING Wednesday nights SIGN UP NOW- UNION LANES 504 per game- Open 11:30A.M.--Mon.-Fri. 1:00 P.M. Sat.-Sun.