Michael Tate

The scowl is more appropriate for Saturday Night at the Fights than An Evening at the Pops, but Michael Tate is fast becoming the unlikely favorite of student bands everywhere he goes. In Norman, Okla., they chant his name when he's out of the game. In Tempe, Ariz., they growl just like the UC Irvine junior does every time he snatches a rebound and snarls his customary bark of self-approval.

The scowl is more appropriate for Saturday Night at the Fights than An Evening at the Pops, but Michael Tate is fast becoming the unlikely favorite of student bands everywhere he goes. In Norman, Okla., they chant his name when he's out of the game. In Tempe, Ariz., they growl just like the UC Irvine junior does every time he snatches a rebound and snarls his customary bark of self-approval.

Ventura College basketball player Michael Tate, who helped lead the Pirates to the junior college state championship game, signed a letter of intent Monday to play for UC Irvine. Tate, a 6-5 sophomore, averaged 13 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for Ventura, and was named to the All-Western State Conference team and the state championship all-tournament team. Tate also considered Utah, San Diego State, Utah State and Pacific.

Ventura College basketball player Michael Tate, who helped lead the Pirates to the junior college state championship game, signed a letter of intent Monday to play for UC Irvine. Tate, a 6-5 sophomore, averaged 13 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for Ventura, and was named to the All-Western State Conference team and the state championship all-tournament team. Tate also considered Utah, San Diego State, Utah State and Pacific.

The state Supreme Court ruled Monday that persons charged with possessing marijuana cannot claim as a defense that they needed it for medicinal purposes. The court reversed a 1984 appeals court ruling that said Michael Tate, a 23-year-old quadriplegic, could argue before a jury that he had no reasonable choice but to smoke marijuana to relieve recurrent muscle spasms. The case will now go to trial.

Long Beach State lost to Global Sports in overtime, 91-88, Tuesday night at the Pyramid to finish its exhibition season without a victory. Guard Brandon Titus had 21 points and center Brian Yankelevitz had 16 points and 16 rebounds for Long Beach, which lost its other exhibition game by two points. Michael Tate, formerly of UC Irvine, led Global Sports with 21 points and eight rebounds. Long Beach opens the regular season Nov. 25 against Wyoming at the Pyramid.

* WASHINGTON STATE (6-1) at UC IRVINE (3-3) Time--7 p.m. Radio--KMNY (1600). Irvine's Dec. 21 loss at San Diego was the kind of defeat that can break a team. The Anteaters lost a 16-point first-half lead, their cool and the game to the Toreros, 81-78. Sophomore forward Kevin Simmons had a career-high 27 points and leads the team in scoring, averaging 18 points. Sixth man Michael Tate is the top rebounder (6.9).

Selected by the First Interstate Bank/Amateur Athletic Foundation BOYS / (3-A Div.) Chris Ford (Fremont), Sr.; Michael Tate (Fremont), Sr.; Robert Hill (North Hollywood), Sr.; Jahmin Assa (Marshall), Sr.; Dorian Dan (Hamilton), Sr.; Marquis Burns (Reseda), Jr.; Todd Whitehead (Fremont), Jr.; Tyron Thomas (Venice), Jr.; Michael Crawford (Van Nuys), Sr.; Eric Wright (South Gate), So.; Willie Thomas (Locke), Sr.; Robert Moore (Fremont) Sr.; Alex Espinoza (Garfield), Sr. GIRLS (3-A Div.

It is on to Oakland for Fremont High, which routed Santa Barbara, 78-59, in the Southern Regional State Division I championship game Saturday night before a crowd of 7,267 at the Sports Arena. Senior center Michael Tate scored 14 of his team-high 15 points in the second half as Fremont (33-1) snuffed a Santa Barbara rally and pulled away to win handily. The Pathfinders will play Alameda St. Joseph's, the Northern champion, Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena for the state championship.

Looking to add a bit of intrigue to the Thanksgiving menu? Santa Monica-based KCRW-FM (89.9) will be dishing up a new drama series: "Mean Streets USA: A Collection of Short Crime Fiction." The program consists of 10 short stories by writers such as Ross Macdonald, Elmore Leonard, Walter Mosley and Sue Grafton, read by John Michael Higgins, Tate Donovan, Sharon Lawrence, Meshach Taylor and other performers.

* Lee Ann Womack, right, SheDaisy, Neal McCoy, Diamond Rio and Ty Herndon are among the acts at the third annual KZLA Country Cookout, Nov. 12 at the Universal Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale Saturday. . . . Saturday is also the on-sale date for several Palace shows, including Soulfly on Sept. 24, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on Oct. 26 and Bad Religion on Nov. 2, 6 and 7. . . . Strung Out will be at the Palace on Oct. 7, with tickets available today. . . .

UC Irvine turned a blowout into a blow-up Thursday night, losing a 16-point lead, its poise and finally the game. A season that swelled with promise after a victory over St. John's in New York a month ago, was deflating faster than a punctured Macy's Day parade balloon after the Anteaters lost, 81-78, against the University of San Diego in front of 1,271 in the Sports Center.