Pastner featured in national newspaper

Katherine K. Gardiner Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior guard Josh Pastner tries to escape senior Michael Dickerson during yesterday's practice. Pastner was featured in USA Today for his coaching aspirations.

Now, the rest of the country knows the sophomore forward as well.

Pastner, who dreams of one day becoming a Division I basketball coach, had his story featured in yesterday's USA Today College Extra section.

In the story, Pastner's teammates and coach Lute Olson credit him with much of the team's success during last year's run to the national championship.

"He holds us together," UA forward Michael Dickerson said. "The extra shooting was a key to our championship."

The paper also quoted St. John's assistant coach Tom Billiter who compared Pastner to a certain television doctor.

"I call him the Doogie Howser of college basketball," he said. "He has set himself up for success."

Red-Blue to include special events

The annual Red-Blue game will get off to a rousing start on Saturday night with a tailgate party and Lute Olson look-a-like contest beginning at 6 p.m.

The tailgate party is outside McKale Center on the lawn adjacent to it and the contest is open to anyone to who feels they can do a good Olson impersonation.

Arizona sports marketing club member Trina Schwimmer said the three finalists will strut their stuff for the crowd during the intra-squad scrimmage's halftime with the added benefit of a Lute Olson hairpiece.

"The same guys that make the cheese heads for the Packers are making these things called 'Lute Lids,'" Schwimmer said.

Olson's hair, of course, is real.

The school will also honor the fans at halftime by raising a jersey with a No. 1 on the front and "fans" on the back to the rafters of McKale Center in their honor. The 1997-98 year is being honored as "the year of the fan."