(AP) —Mikhail Prokhorov got a chance to meet Larry Bird the other night, though he could be forgiven if he didn’t recognize him. The Bird he knew, after all, was the young blond he saw in grainy videotapes wearing tight shorts and taking on Magic Johnson.

A lot has changed in 30 years, not the least of which is the shorts.

Back then, the Cold War was still raging. The U.S. and Soviet Union boycotted each other’s Olympics, and the idea that one day they might compete in sports without political overtones seemed preposterous.

‘I COME IN PEACE’—New Jersey Nets new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, of Russia, speaks to reporters during a news conference, May 19 in New York.

My younger sister, Taylor Doaty, a senior at Oakland Catholic High School, won’t be walking across the stage with her graduating class on Friday. Although the seniors of Oakland Catholic will participate in the commencement ceremony for their high school careers, she will be in Shippensburg, Pa., for the PIAA state track meet.

Taylor Doaty

The main event featured “War” Saunders who promoted, sold tickets and defended his WBF light heavyweight title by stopping Bruce Rumbolz, of Sterling, Ill., in the eighth round.

From the first round Saunders was the aggressor. He came in with lefts to the body followed by rights to the head, leaving Rumbolz to cover up most of the fight.

RAYCO SANDERS and son, JELANI, show they are champions.

Johnson, 67, of sewickley, died May 16 at The Good Samaritan Hospice House in Wexford. He started officiating after graduating from Michigan State University while living and working in Michigan and Illinois in computer sales and service for companies such as Hewlett Packard and IBM before moving back to western Pennsylvania.

PIAA TRACK LEGENDS—Leonard Johnson, left, is shown with Norm Crawford, who died last summer.