Big Daddy

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Gonzaga did it again. No, this isn't a reference to its 82-76 win yesterday over No. 2 seed St. John's, supposedly an upset because of the Bulldogs' No. 10 seeding in the West Regional. Nor is this a reference to another appearance by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Gonzaga made it to the West Regional final a year ago, and except for a loss against eventual national champion Connecticut, the team is perfect against "superior" teams in the past two years of the NCAA tournament.

The secret of Adam Sandler's success is still obscure in "Big Daddy," a lackluster but sweet-natured comedy in which the comic phenomenon plays a would-be foster father. The setup is funny, and Sandler is ably supported by one of the cutest moppets to hit screens since Jonathan Lipnicki stole "Jerry Maguire," but why this unexceptional performer is the comic sensation of the year remains a mystery.Sandler plays Sonny Koufax, a law-school graduate who is leading the life of a committed slacker.

Sometimes, sponsorships are less than meet the eye.Going into this season, Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce had signed $6 million in contracts with race teams. But just three months later, two of those teams have severed the agreements because of Big Daddy's failure to make payments and a third is working diligently to preserve the relationship.Dan Lloyd, the owner of Big Daddy's BBQ, feels caught in the middle.Sitting in his Oklahoma City office, suffering with a massive headache and pneumonia, Lloyd, 54, explained why he has not met his obligations.

In her production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," director Molly Smith has attempted to adhere to Tennessee Williams' intentions, staging his rarely produced original ending. It's a bold and admirable effort with many illuminating moments.The production marks Smith's debut as artistic director of Washington's Arena Stage, and for the most part, this is a "Cat" that purrs.But while the playwright's intent may be clearer -- in that the characters seem more consistent and unbending -- two disappointing lead performances mute the overall effect.

Tennessee Williams always objected to the original Broadway production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," in which director Elia Kazan injected a note of hope into the third act.In his 1955 published script, the playwright explained that he felt the "moral paralysis" of Brick, the male lead, "was a root thing in his tragedy," unlikely to undergo a sudden change of heart.With that in mind, one of the most impressive aspects of the powerful production at Everyman Theatre is that director Vincent Lancisi has managed to have it both ways.

When Dan Wilkinson became the first player selected in the 1994 NFL draft, he was long on potential and expectations and short on experience.A 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive lineman, he had just turned 21 and had played only two years at Ohio State when the Cincinnati Bengals made the player nicknamed "Big Daddy" a big part of their future.Not surprisingly, Wilkinson, now just 24 as he enters his fourth season, struggled at times as he made the adjustment to the NFL.Wilkinson, though, says youth and inexperience were not his only obstacles.

Milton "Big Daddy" Brown, who as a boy began his career as an a-rabber selling produce on Baltimore streets from a horse-drawn cart, died of a heart attack March 16 at Bon Secours Hospital. He was 75.Mr. Brown also owned the horse stables off Retreat Street in West Baltimore -- an almost surreal inner-city setting where he boarded and cared for as many as 44 horses at a time. Goats, chickens and a mule also had the run of the yard."He was a premier horseman," said Leon Remner, a longtime friend who worked at the stables in the 1980s.

Burl Ives was a beloved balladeer who sang so convincingly of being a Wayfaring Stranger that he instead became a longtime friend.The rotund folk singer, Academy Award-winning actor and concert hall artist, once called by poet Carl Sandburg "the mightiest ballad singer of this or any other century," was 85 when he died yesterday. He had a history of circulatory problems and congestive heart failure.Last summer, doctors discovered that he also was suffering from mouth cancer and had undergone "a number of little surgeries in the last few months," said Marjorie Schicktanz Ashley, his longtime agent.

Headed back to RaidersDefensive end Scott Davis said he will rejoin the Los Angeles Raiders today, ending a mysterious two-week absence from the team, the Los Angeles Daily News reported yesterday.Saying that he "just had some business I had to take care of," Davis said he also would be able to reveal more today.Raiders coach Art Shell said he had not spoken to Davis for several days but would not be surprised by news of the player's return."I've been saying all along the guy had business to take care of and he was doing it," Shell said.

Same, old RaidersRaiders defensive linemen Chester McGlockton and Aundray Bruce were ejected yesterday for fighting. "One of them gave me a right cross in the chin," Seattle quarterback Rick Mirer said. "That is not the way we play. But two of them got kicked out, so who won?"Chop shopVikings offensive lineman John Gerak was fined $7,500 last week for chop-blocking the Packers' Reggie White, and he's likely to get hit again. Gerak was penalized for doing the same to the Lions' Tracy Scroggins in the fourth quarter yesterday.