No More Yakety-Yak: Here Comes `Yak Attack'

A Yakima Valley Community College committee started with more than 100 suggestions before coming up with the new Yaks nickname for its athletic teams.

The list first was trimmed to 10, including Steelhead, Sun Rays, Harvesters, Legacy, Wings and Golden Wings. In April, the committee narrowed it to three finalists: Eagles, Heat and Yaks.

Then came the final choice, which awaits trustees' approval as a replacement for the previous nickname, Indians.

"I think people will like it," student Roberta Allen said. "I like Yak attack, actually."

They said it

-- Nadezda Bondrova, 65-year-old mother of the Washington Capitals' Peter Bondra, on why she won't watch live broadcasts of the Stanley Cup finals on Slovak television: "I can't watch them smash him into the glass; it's too much for me. I watch the repeats, when I know what happens, and even that makes me nervous. . . ."

-- Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capital goaltender, on his attempts to stay relaxed: "I'm always going to get nervous, but as long as I can vent, I'll be fine. My venting takes different forms. Sometimes it's yelling an obscenity. Sometimes it's breaking a stick. I don't take anything home with me. It all stays at the rink."

-- Jud Buechler, Chicago Bulls, on how to tell Michael Jordan fans from Dennis Rodman fans: "Dennis is the Elvis of the Underground. He brings some creatures out from the night. That's his fan club. Michael just has the regular All-America kids. You never really see a good, clean-cut kid wearing a 91 jersey. And if you do, you kind of shake your head. . . ."

Compiled by Chuck Ashmun, The Seattle Times