THE LATEST LINE: JUSTICE SERVED IN CURL TRIAL

There's a big difference between breaking NCAA rules and breaking the law.

In my book, justice was definitely served this past week when former Southeast Missouri State University assistant basketball coach Randy Curl was found innocent of stealing by deceit.

It's one thing to commit some NCAA violations, but it's another thing to think that Curl had ripped off a little more than $600 for his personal gain.

The NCAA infractions committee, in its final report that led to SEMO's basketball program being put on probation, had stated that any work study checks made out to a player that had been cashed by any members of the coaching staff went to repay a loan that the coaching staff had made to that player.

Now, while loaning money to a player is clearly an NCAA violation -- and was deemed to be by the infractions committee -- nothing at any point in the official NCAA report pointed to a coach having stolen any money.

And to single out one assistant coach and to have him face criminal charges -- and to run that coach's name through the mud by having the public believe he had stolen some money -- was in my book nothing short of a travesty.

There is certainly a big difference between breaking NCAA rules and breaking the law and it's fortunate the jury was able to see the difference.

* The drama was definitely missing from last weekend's National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional as the host McDowell Capahas rolled to the title by outscoring the opposition 51-10.

Capahas manager Jess Bolen sounded almost apologetic following the tournament because the field was so weak, but Bolen is certainly not to blame. He tried to get better teams to come here, but none would.

Bolen said he hopes next year's tournament would again be strong, like it has been in the past.

As a baseball fan who enjoys seeing exciting, evenly-matched games, I hope it happens.

* Although the seedings won't be determined until today, the District 14 American Legion baseball tournament is scheduled to get under way Monday at Capaha Field.

Cape Ford & Sons is serving as the host for the week-long event and Cape will also host the Zone Tournament the following week, meaning Ford & Sons receives a zone berth regardless of how it fares in the district.

Entering weekend play, Cape, Chaffee, Sikeston and Dunklin County were all vying for the top spot in the district standings, with the other three district teams -- Jackson, Poplar Bluff and Van Buren -- well off the pace.

The tightness of the regular-season district race should make for some pretty exciting baseball this week.

* John Muench, president of the SEMO Football Officials Association, says his organization is in need of high school football officials, not only for the coming season but also for the future.

Anybody interested should call Muench at 334-2256.

* Good luck to former SEMO football star Angel Rubio as he attempts to make the Pittsburgh Steelers roster.

The All-American defensive lineman was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers this year. Pittsburgh's full training camp begins Monday.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian