Basketball: A Draw for Tark the Shark

After 13 years of legal overtime, the contest that began in 1977 between the NCAA and basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, over recruiting violations ended last week in a draw. In an unprecedented reversal, the NCAA lifted the ban it had imposed on the Runnin’ Rebels, which would have prohibited the 1990 collegiate champions from defending their title this spring. In exchange, UNLV agreed to forfeit live-TV appearances next season and sit out 1992 postseason games.

The purpose of the compromise was to avoid punishing today’s players too severely for 1977 violations. “I am pleased for the kids and fans that we will be allowed to compete,” cheered Tarkanian. “Let’s put these matters behind us.” Not quite. Although the 1977 dispute is closed, the school faces another NCAA investigation into its recruitment of Lloyd Daniels, a former prep star who was arrested on drug charges in 1987.