Coaching Legend Mcguire Remembered Fondly

Frank McGuire, the Hall of Fame basketball coach who led North Carolina to its first national title (1957) and turned South Carolina into a national power, was remembered today as much for his courage and charm as for his talent as a coach.

McGuire, 80, died yesterday at his home in Columbia, S.C., of complications from a stroke he suffered two years ago.

"I'm really going to miss Coach McGuire," said Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Cremins, who played for McGuire at South Carolina from 1967-70. "He's the reason I left New York and went south like so many New Yorkers."

Indiana Pacer General Manager Donnie Walsh played under McGuire at North Carolina and was his top assistant at South Carolina for 11 seasons. Walsh said McGuire taught perseverance to all those around him, adding, "He was like a second father to me and to a lot of players."

McGuire had a college record of 549-236 over a 30-year career that ended in 1980 when he was eased out at South Carolina after becoming the winningest coach in school history.

Golf

Back spasms sidelined Paul Azinger today in San Antonio, Texas, placing in jeopardy his chances of playing in the Texas Open.

"I don't want to speculate" about whether he will be able to compete in the event that begins tomorrow, Azinger said after withdrawing from today's pro-am. "If I play, it will be without a practice round, not exactly what you want to do.

Azinger, on a comeback from successful cancer treatment, said, "I want to keep my streak alive," referring to his string of seven consecutive years with at least one victory, currently the longest on the PGA Tour.

Colleges

The NCAA Council probably won't oppose the Presidents Commission move to let freshmen who meet only some eligibility requirements still practice and receive scholarships - but not compete - during that first year.

The council is preparing legislation for the January convention in San Diego.

The commission voted last month to push for continued use of SAT and ACT scores as part of the freshman eligibility requirements.

But the presidents also agreed to let partial qualifiers receive scholarships and practice with the team. The commission said that was a major concession to black coaches and educators who claim standardized tests are racially discriminatory.

Currently, freshmen who don't meet the requirements must pay their way their freshman year and cannot practice with their teams.

Tennis

Fourteen-year-old Martina Hingis needed just 45 minutes to beat Helena Sukova 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round of the Porsche Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany.

-- Steffi Graf, the world's top-ranked women's player, has pulled out of next week's international tournament in Brighton, England, because of a back injury.

-- The United States will meet France in the first round of the 1995 Davis Cup tournament.

Miscellany

Glen Beram, 23-year-old owner of a sports memorabilia store on Long Island, N.Y., was arrested on charges he sold many items with forged autographs, including those of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson.

-- Soccer great Pele returned to his famed Santos club in Brazil after the team president who fired him was ousted for mismanagement.

Miguel Kodja Neto, who had fired Pele last month after a dispute over administrative policy, was fired after being accused of embezzlement and granting unwarranted salary increases to players.

Deaths

Hugh Hindman, a former Ohio State athletic director perhaps best known for firing Woody Hayes as football coach, died of complications from pneumonia today in Columbus, Ohio. He was 67.

-- Carl Gehlhausen, a race-car owner whose drivers included A.J. Foyt and Tom Sneva, died Friday at the age of 67.