Nathan Davis

Getting fired was probably the best thing that ever happened to Nathan Davis. "It was kind of a relief, a liberating feeling," says the Chicago native, whose job termination at age 59--after 25 years as a salesperson for a wholesale drug company--gave him the opportunity to return to his first love: acting. Now, at age 77, Davis is making his Los Angeles stage debut in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at the Westwood Playhouse.

Nathan Davis did not become a full-time actor until, nearing 60, he was fired from his job as a pharmaceutical sales representative in 1976. Over the next 30 years, Davis racked up an impressive list of theater, TV and movie credits, winning plaudits for nailing roles that ranged from kindly grandfathers to wily gangsters. Davis, 91, died Wednesday at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said his son Andrew, a film director whose credits include "The Fugitive."

Getting fired was probably the best thing that ever happened to Nathan Davis. "It was kind of a relief, a liberating feeling," says the Chicago native, whose job termination at age 59--after 25 years as a salesperson for a wholesale drug company--gave him the opportunity to return to his first love: acting. Now, at age 77, Davis is making his Los Angeles stage debut in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at the Westwood Playhouse.

Nathan Davis did not become a full-time actor until, nearing 60, he was fired from his job as a pharmaceutical sales representative in 1976. Over the next 30 years, Davis racked up an impressive list of theater, TV and movie credits, winning plaudits for nailing roles that ranged from kindly grandfathers to wily gangsters. Davis, 91, died Wednesday at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said his son Andrew, a film director whose credits include "The Fugitive."

Pacific 59, Cal State Fullerton 54--The Titans (8-10, 3-4 in the Big West) cut a nine-point deficit with four minutes to two with 18 seconds but could get no closer to the Tigers (9-10, 4-3) in having their home winning streak end at six. Fullerton pulled within 56-54 on Brandon Campbell's dunk with 18 seconds left and got possession three seconds later after Pacific's Nathan Davis made one of two free throws.

Mike Preston scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, powering Pacific to a 64-58 victory Thursday night over Pepperdine at Stockton. Preston scored nine of his points in the final six minutes as the Tigers overcame an early nine-point deficit to improve to 4-6. Pepperdine slipped to 8-5. A three-pointer by Craig Lewis cut Pacific's lead to 59-58 with 47 seconds remaining. Preston followed with a layup after a missed free throw and added a dunk for a 63-58 lead with nine seconds to go.

Ventura College student Nathan Davis struggled to articulate his feelings on hearing about the not-guilty verdicts reached in the trial of four white policemen accused of beating black motorist Rodney G. King. "I felt as though somebody had hurt me or hurt my family," said Davis, 26, president of the campus' African-American Alliance Club. "As a black man, I feel racism every day."

Robert Richardson, the top-ranked wrestler at 275 pounds, pinned Dana Hills' Blake Dossey in 31 seconds, but it was too late because 10th-ranked San Clemente already had lost to Dana Hills in a South Coast League meet Thursday at Dana Hills. The final score was 30-27. The Dolphins (4-0) are in sole possession of first place with one meet left in the regular season. San Clemente is 3-1. Late in the meet, Dana Hills' Nick Toland scored a near fall on Josh Pridham, 13-4.

1998 RECORD: 6-4-1 overall, 4-1 in league COACH: Mark Cunningham (54-82-5 at school) RETURNING STARTERS: 7 on offense, 7 on defense TOP RETURNERS Masam Aslanpour, OT, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Art Cairo, DT, 6-1, 230, Sr.; Colin Cavannaugh, RB/DB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Jon Chang, OG, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Kevin Conlin, TE, 6-1, 205, Jr.; Mike Dale, FS, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Nathan Davis, OG, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Frankie Gamboa, NG, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Seung Han, CB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Nick Johnston, DE, 6-1, 220, Sr.

Normally you'd expect a pianist to name another pianist in citing his or her primary influence. But Geri Allen, described by bassist Charlie Haden as one of the most original pianists to enter jazz in the last 20 years, cites a trumpeter, a drummer and a saxophonist. "I was raised in Detroit, where I went to Cass Technical High School," she said, detailing her novel path. "My mentor there was the trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, who had a group called the Jazz Development Workshop.

1997 RECORD: 1-8-1 overall, 1-4 in league COACH: Mark Cunningham (48-78-4 at school) RETURNING STARTERS: 7 on offense, 6 on defense TOP RETURNERS Keith Burke, OL, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Colin Cavanaugh, RB/DB, 5-8, 160, Jr.; Will Chou, OL/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Nathan Davis, OL/LB, 6-0, 230, Jr.; Andy Dennis, QB/LB, 6-3, 180, Sr.; Chris Gray, SS, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Chris Hearn, LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Chet Johnson, FS, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Matt Kirby, DE, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Justin Lin, NG, 5-10, 180, Sr.