Manute Bol

BASEBALL (NL) * Colorado Rockies -- Named Jimmy Lester, Ty Coslow and Edward Santa scouting supervisors.BASKETBALL (NBA) * Chicago Bulls -- Signed Scott Williams (forward-center).* Cleveland Cavaliers -- Activated Mark Price (guard) from the injured list. Placed Jimmy Oliver (guard) on the injured list.* Houston Rockets -- Waived Kennard Winchester (guard-forward). Activated Carl Herrera (forward) from the injured list.* Philadelphia 76ers -- Activated Manute Bol (center) from the injured list.

The good began with a tragedy. The happy story has an awful beginning, the hero's vision turning to reality only after his death. This is probably the only way it would ever happen. Six months ago, a freakishly tall saint who made his home in Olathe, Kan., passed away from a mess of a disease contracted while saving lives. You might remember Manute Bol as the 7-foot-7 shot blocker in the NBA, designated by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the tallest men in history, but there is so much more to his remarkable life.

The 76ers' Charles Barkley yesterday vowed his new autobiography, "Outrageous," won't be released because his ghostwriter, Roy S. Johnson of Sports Illustrated, misquoted him. Then Barkley changed his mind."

Manute Bol, a lithe 7-foot-7 shot-blocker from Sudan who spent 10 seasons in the NBA and was dedicated to humanitarian work in Africa, died Saturday. He was 47. Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition, Tom Prichard, executive director of the group Sudan Sunrise, said in an e-mail. Bol played in the NBA with the Washington Bullets, Warriors, 76ers and Heat, averaging 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks for his career.

Leave it to Manute Bol, last seen talking to the Harlem Globetrotters about a job, to find NBA redemption in a most unlikely place.Bol was in Paris yesterday, negotiating to join the Golden State Warriors as the team prepared to play Charlotte tonight on the league's preseason around-the-world slate.Warriors coach Don Nelson, speaking from his hotel in an NBA media conference call, said Bol could be signed before game time."It's kind of hard to hide Manute," Nelson said. "We tried to keep it a secret.

Manute Bol, a lithe 7-foot-7 shot-blocker from Sudan who spent 10 seasons in the NBA and was dedicated to humanitarian work in Africa, died Saturday. He was 47. Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition, Tom Prichard, executive director of the group Sudan Sunrise, said in an e-mail. Bol played in the NBA with the Washington Bullets, Warriors, 76ers and Heat, averaging 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks for his career.

For the past four years, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld has stressed that the team needs to get bigger in the frontcourt.Bullets general manager John Nash took the first step in that direction last week when he acquired 7-foot, 270-pound Kevin Duckworth from Portland in exchange for Harvey Grant.But Duckworth almost resembles a small forward compared to Gheorghe Muresan, the Romanian the Bullets selected on the second round of Wednesday's draft.At 7-7 and 315 pounds, Muresan is as tall as one-time Bullets center Manute Bol, the tallest man ever to play in the NBA, and is 90 pounds heavier.

HERE IN Baltimore, the first round of the NBA draft this week was notable because the nearby Washington Wizards chose hometown hero Juan Dixon, the University of Maryland star, thereby adding another chapter to his inspiring story of transcending the tragedy of drug-addicted parents who died as a result of AIDS-related illnesses. But across the globe, the annual exercise in divvying up the best basketball talent was eye-catching because it affirmed that the pro game has truly become an international one. Three of the top seven draft picks, and 14 of the 58 taken in the first two rounds, were from abroad.

For the past four years, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld has stressed that the team needs to get bigger in the frontcourt.Bullets general manager John Nash took the first step in that direction last week when he acquired 7-foot, 270-pound Kevin Duckworth from Portland in exchange for Harvey Grant.But Duckworth almost resembles a small forward compared to Gheorghe Muresan, the Romanian the Bullets selected on the second round of Wednesday's draft.At 7-7 and 315 pounds, Muresan is as tall as one-time Bullets center Manute Bol, the tallest man ever to play in the NBA, and is 90 pounds heavier.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Waived P Scott Sanderson for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Purchased the contract of P Phil Leftwich from Triple-A Vancouver.New York Mets -- Optioned P Dave Telgheder to Triple-A Norfolk.San Francisco Giants -- Signed P Steve Soderstrom, their first-round pick, and assigned him to Single-A San Jose.Seattle Mariners -- Signed P Ted Power. Optioned P Bob Ayrault to Triple-A Calgary.Texas Rangers -- Placed OF David Hulse on the 15-day DL. Recalled former Orioles OF Butch Davis from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

HERE IN Baltimore, the first round of the NBA draft this week was notable because the nearby Washington Wizards chose hometown hero Juan Dixon, the University of Maryland star, thereby adding another chapter to his inspiring story of transcending the tragedy of drug-addicted parents who died as a result of AIDS-related illnesses. But across the globe, the annual exercise in divvying up the best basketball talent was eye-catching because it affirmed that the pro game has truly become an international one. Three of the top seven draft picks, and 14 of the 58 taken in the first two rounds, were from abroad.

Leave it to Manute Bol, last seen talking to the Harlem Globetrotters about a job, to find NBA redemption in a most unlikely place.Bol was in Paris yesterday, negotiating to join the Golden State Warriors as the team prepared to play Charlotte tonight on the league's preseason around-the-world slate.Warriors coach Don Nelson, speaking from his hotel in an NBA media conference call, said Bol could be signed before game time."It's kind of hard to hide Manute," Nelson said. "We tried to keep it a secret.

LANDOVER -- To demonstrate the height of second-round draft pick Gheorghe Muresan, the Washington Bullets stretched a 7-foot-7 submarine sandwich across a table -- with a tape measure alongside to verify the length. On a side wall stood a growth chart, comparing Muresan to former Bullets Manute Bol (7-6), Muggsy Bogues (5-3) and team president Susan O'Malley (5 feet).Unfortunately, neither of the two props did Muresan's size any justice.What you had to see was just how much the 315-pound center had to duck as he entered a door, just how small a basketball appeared in his oversized hands and just how much he towered over 6-8 coach and former NBA center Wes Unseld.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Waived P Scott Sanderson for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Purchased the contract of P Phil Leftwich from Triple-A Vancouver.New York Mets -- Optioned P Dave Telgheder to Triple-A Norfolk.San Francisco Giants -- Signed P Steve Soderstrom, their first-round pick, and assigned him to Single-A San Jose.Seattle Mariners -- Signed P Ted Power. Optioned P Bob Ayrault to Triple-A Calgary.Texas Rangers -- Placed OF David Hulse on the 15-day DL. Recalled former Orioles OF Butch Davis from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

For the past four years, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld has stressed that the team needs to get bigger in the frontcourt.Bullets general manager John Nash took the first step in that direction last week when he acquired 7-foot, 270-pound Kevin Duckworth from Portland in exchange for Harvey Grant.But Duckworth almost resembles a small forward compared to Gheorghe Muresan, the Romanian the Bullets selected on the second round of Wednesday's draft.At 7-7 and 315 pounds, Muresan is as tall as one-time Bullets center Manute Bol, the tallest man ever to play in the NBA, and is 90 pounds heavier.

For the past four years, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld has stressed that the team needs to get bigger in the frontcourt.Bullets general manager John Nash took the first step in that direction last week when he acquired 7-foot, 270-pound Kevin Duckworth from Portland in exchange for Harvey Grant.But Duckworth almost resembles a small forward compared to Gheorghe Muresan, the Romanian the Bullets selected on the second round of Wednesday's draft.At 7-7 and 315 pounds, Muresan is as tall as one-time Bullets center Manute Bol, the tallest man ever to play in the NBA, and is 90 pounds heavier.

PHILADELPHIA -- When the Philadelphia 76ers swept their five-game series with the Washington Bullets last season, it was easy to finger Charles Barkley as the culprit.But now Barkley has taken his intimidating act to Phoenix, and the 76ers still are beating up on the Bullets like a ring champion toying with a novice boxer.The 76ers made it seven straight over Washington last night at The Spectrum, using a 10-0 run early in the third quarter to build an 82-70 lead and coast to a 92-86 victory.

LANDOVER -- To demonstrate the height of second-round draft pick Gheorghe Muresan, the Washington Bullets stretched a 7-foot-7 submarine sandwich across a table -- with a tape measure alongside to verify the length. On a side wall stood a growth chart, comparing Muresan to former Bullets Manute Bol (7-6), Muggsy Bogues (5-3) and team president Susan O'Malley (5 feet).Unfortunately, neither of the two props did Muresan's size any justice.What you had to see was just how much the 315-pound center had to duck as he entered a door, just how small a basketball appeared in his oversized hands and just how much he towered over 6-8 coach and former NBA center Wes Unseld.

PHILADELPHIA -- When the Philadelphia 76ers swept their five-game series with the Washington Bullets last season, it was easy to finger Charles Barkley as the culprit.But now Barkley has taken his intimidating act to Phoenix, and the 76ers still are beating up on the Bullets like a ring champion toying with a novice boxer.The 76ers made it seven straight over Washington last night at The Spectrum, using a 10-0 run early in the third quarter to build an 82-70 lead and coast to a 92-86 victory.

The 76ers' Charles Barkley yesterday vowed his new autobiography, "Outrageous," won't be released because his ghostwriter, Roy S. Johnson of Sports Illustrated, misquoted him. Then Barkley changed his mind."