Wednesday, April 2, 1969
Against
The philosopher athlete
on 3.1 'worth of coffee
By DAVE BEEMON
Fred Rodney looks like any ordinary "jock." A senior on the
gymnastics team, he stepped into the 'Jug' Wearing his 'M' jacket.
His neck was kind of large; his hair clipped short. We sat down for
the interview and he told me he was a physical education major. I
immediately glanced at his hands, to see if there were any calluses
from basket weaving.
Three hours and five cups of coffee later my wall of prejudice
had been torn down. We had talked about girls, love, life, the uni-
verse, God; the need for change in our society.
As Rodney poured out his thoughts, his achievements in gymnas-
tics (a 3rd place in the NCAA vaulting finals, two years ago) seemed
kind of superficial. His Montreal background seemed irrelevant. He
represented more than that. He wanted to talk about more than that.
In one night he destroyed my stereotyped image of the physical edu-
cation major.'
Rodney talked seriously about his education. "It's true t h a t,
if you wanted to, you could make a physical education a Mickey
Mouse major. However, too many people get involved with just one
aspect of the university; either studies or atletics. I'm not limiting
myself.to lether, and I've managed to get a richer knowledge of what
life's all about.
"I SPEND a lot of time thinking about philosophy and possible
answers to our existence. I like to explore all the possibilities. Too
many people have limited points of view."
"For instance, when I say I'm from Canada, people immediate-
ly think of dogsleds and assume that I play hockey. It's amazing
how many people would believe me if I told them I'm on an ice
fishing scholarship. You run into people all the time, who have
prejudices against athletes, but you learn to cope with it. It's just
another case of people with restricted points of view."
We were on our third cup of coffee now, and Rodney was starting
to open the throttle. He was talking about the limitations of our
society, and getting more eloquent all the time.
"Sociey today has too many prescribed rituals and definitions
which force people to act with inhibitions. Human expression is so
restricted today. This is why there is such a need for booze and pot."
"I LOOK VERY ADVERSELY to marriage, not'that it's a bad
institution, but because there are so many ill matched people, who got
together at the wrong time. Too many people get married simply be-
cause they feel they have to, by a certain age. I'd like to take the time
to find my emotional and physical conpatibilities before I jump into
anything. Too much emphasis pis placed on the institution itself. The
relationship is what's important."
By 12:30 Rodney was in high
gear, pausing only to grin at the
waitress, and request another re-'
fill. He talked about the future -
and how things would be drasti-
cally different.
"This is an age of dynamic
change, but nothing is really in-
novative today. There is a need *..
for change and I think that we're
approaching a sort of dark age.
There will be a revolution which#
is going to last for a long time.
"After this dark age, however,
a real explosion will take plac'e.;
There will be a renaissance; some-
thing totally new. Try to imagine
something that will surpass nue->
lear power. Try to imagine t h e f.
human body, completely decom- .
posed and put together again. Try>
to imagine -human expression
completely unrestricted, honest and used to its fullest."
"AFTER THIS RENAISSANCE, life may take place in a dimen3
sion inconceivable to us now. Perhaps there will be an existance
through light. Anything is possible. Human beings are so limited by
their senses. The highest form of human accomplishments may be
achieved by machines."
As the night grew late, and our waitress grew less friendly, it
became evident that Rodney had indeed received a solid liberal edu-
cation. He threw Sarte, Voltaire, and Freud at me. He talked about
God.E
"I feel that there is a God playing with dice. I don't believe in
a planned universe. The world is a product of accidents. God is like
Santa Clause; he is a defense mechanism for that which is unknown,
or beyond. People are afraid of the unknown, so they label it some-
thing which is known."
He tied gymnastics into his philosophy. "I don't want to .live an
ordered life. Gymnastics has'helped me to have an open mind, by not
preoccupying me with merely being trained to fit into our society.
The sport has helped me to relate to other modes of existence."
IT WAS OBVIOUS that Rodney had thought about other ways
of life; alternatives to our society. Another' thing was also evident.
He loved gymnastics.
"I don't know what I'll be doing in my future. I'd like to go fur-
ther in gymnastics. I don't feel that I've peaked out yet, and I'd- like
to go to the '72' Olympics."
Rodney wants to travel; he doesn't want to be tied down. He
doesn't worry about his future, as long as he can view the world with
an open. mind. HIe resents the "dumb athlete" stereotype. Obviously,
he doesn't fit it.
WE WERE KICKED OUT OF the 'Jug' at 2 a.m., having spent
a total of 3,1 cents; the wrath of the management upon us. It was
snowing and Rodney buttoned up his 'M' jacket. I buttoned my World*
War II Army tank coat. As he walked away he suggested that I.
"Come down to the gym some time and put on some shorts." He would:
teach me a trick or two. As I walked back to my apartment, slightly'
dazed, I figured he was probably right. He must, indeed, have an array
of tricks up his sleeve.
why cart all those.
clothes home?
Call Greene's Cleaners today!
We'll deliver a storage bo*-
Fill it with your winter garments-
We'll pick it up-clean your garments-
Mothproof them and
C o . sa, .a :.n eu.... - 4 -J naA :rJ -::
THE MICHIGAN DAILY Pge Sev
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6 o Urinesecon b aseman
.-.,.*: .opes for future pro career
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-Daily-Andy Sacks
H AD COACH 'BO' SCHEMBECHLER talks things over with his top three quarterback prospects
juniors Don Moorhead, Bill Berutti, and Jim Be tts in yesterday's initial drill of the spring. It was
the first chance the new coach has had to see his entire squad on the practice field.
Gridders open
I
By CHRIS TERAS
There were no bands, no scream-
ing throngs, and no glory for the
Michigan football team yesterday.
Coach Bo Schembechler led his
charges thru the first of 20 prac-
tice sessions to be held between
April 1st and May 6 with time out
for exams.
When questioned about the
squad's r e t u r n i n g lettermen,
Schembechler said, "There's ten of
them over there," as. he humor-
ously pointed to a group of last
season's seniors who had "return-
ed" to watch the workout. Among
them was Ron Johnson. The 1968
captain is headed for a pro career
with the NFL Cleveland Browns.I
The former tailback commented
on his contacts with the 'new
coaching staff. "The relationship
between the coaches and players
seems closer than before. I've
noticed that the coaches are more
enthousiastic, too. I think one rea-
son is that they're generally closer
in age, but just the fact that
they're new means a lot."
Johnson also noted how the
staff would even try to participate
in conditioning exercises like play-
ing basketball, to try to become
closer to the men they will be
coaching this season.
Schembechler, as head of the
operation, was too busy to say
much about his team, but did
have a few words to say. "Our of-
fensive set-up will depend on who
we play at fullback."
76ers win to stay alive;
NHL playoffs open today
practiece
Concerning a replacement for
Johnson, Schembechler stated,
"We have about four boys who
have the best chance right now to
play tailback. John Gabler, the
flanker last year is one. Others are
Glenn Doughty, Lance Scheffler,
IMTrack
Six new records were set last
night as Huber House easily
won the Residence Hall indoor
track championship at Y o s t
Field House. Five old track re-
cords were shattered, and a
mark was set in a new event,
the '70 yard high hurdles for
future quaddies to shoot at.
The new records are: Pole
Vault - Don Willis (Scott
House), 12'-0"; High jump -
Mike Katauskus (Michigan
House), 6'-<f.1; Long Jump, -
Tom Smith (Huber House), 20'
-2Y_,1; 440, Yard Dash -- Lee
Marburger ( Huber House), 54.2
seconds; 880 Yard Run --
Mack Feishner (Van Tyne
House), 2:06.9; 70 Yard Hurd-
les - Dave Fenton (Van Duren
House), 9.4 seconds. Following
Huber for the team title were
Wenly House and Van Duren
House.
and Bill Taylor. Doughty and Tay-
Jor are sophomores." Gabler is a
senior and Scheffler is a junior.
Among the approximately 90
candidates vying for a position on
Michigan's 91st grid team, only
Scheffler was not at full strength,
as he is troubled by a pulled ham-
string muscle.
At quarterback, Schembechler
will chose from Jim Betts, a pass-
catcher last year, Bill Berutti, and
Don Moorhead. Only Moorhead
has experience to speak of, but
even he saw very little action
during the 1968 acmpaign.
life,' says Steve Forsythe. second
baseman on the Wolverine baseball
squad, "and I'd like to continue
in it as long as I can. But I know
that I need to have a good year
to be drafted by the pros.
The senior active of Sigma Chi
fraternity started for the first time
daily
sport s
NIGHT EDITOR:}
ELLIOTT BERRY
A1
at second base during the end of
the spring trip of his sophomore"
year and has been a regular ever
since. Steve had a fine sophomorej
season hitting .300 in the Big Ten
but could only manage a .227 mark
last year.-
"I'd rather not talk about that,"
he states, "I just wasn't meeting
the ball well all season." After a
slow start this spring, Steve has1
begun to connect and is presently
batting .255. "I was moved froml
eighth tho second in the batting
order, which I like since I get to
the plate more often," he adds. l
The first impression 'one gets of 1
Forsythe is that he is reserved and
rather shy person, a fact with
which he concurs. "Yes. I am
pretty quiet and don't talk too
much," admits the Lyndhurst,
Ohio native with characteristic
modesty.
The second sacker, who spends
a lot of time sitting and absorbing
the words of others, rarely talks:
basball, even when in the company
of other team members. He pre-
fers, it seems, to discuss football,
a sport he played all through high
school. "The first thing I missed
when I first came to Michigan
While a sophomore. Steve room-
ed with Wolverine wrestling leg-
end Dave Porter and consequently
was able to satisfy his love for
wrestling with his friends. One of
his favorite tricks is to break up
a quiet discussion by yelling,
"Fumble," and pouncing on the
nearest possible adversary for
some good-naturedgrappling. It
is also rumored that Steve feels
that he has some fine pitching
ability which as yet remains un-
discovered.
As a freshman at Michigan,
Steve was enrolled in LSA but
transferred to education after one
year. "My grades were around a
three point.' he states, "but Lit
School seemed just like high
school and I didn't want any more
of that. I'm really glad I trans-
ferred because I've always wanted
to go into coaching."
After the end of this school
term Steve will still have a month
of baseball left to play for Michi-
gan. "I'm looking forward to May
since I won't have any homework
to do after practice," he continues.
Of course the thing that bothers
us players the most is that there
are only about 20 people in the
stands in May - it's a lot like
Laugh-In where there's just one
person clapping."
"As far as my future goes I'd
have to say that it's uncertain,"
concludes Forsytlhe but if the pros
draft me I would play at any posi-
tion they wanted me to. But right
now we have a Big Ten title race
to worry 'bout and that's my
main concern."
UNIVERSITY. CH-ARTER
FLIGHTS TO LONDON
July'8-August 17.$214
May 7-June 24 ............ $199
May 15-August 20 ................ $204
June 27-August 25...............$229
Phone 665-8489 1-5 P.M.-72$ N. Univ.
Sponsored by University of Michigan Graduate Assembly
Steve Forsythe
BOSTON (P)-Archie Clark led
the way with 29 points and Hal
Greer hit two clutch baskets and a
pair of free throws in the frantic
closing minutes last night as the
Philadelphia 76ers upset Boston
119-116 to stay alive in their
dpening National Basketball Asso-
ciation playoff. series.
The Celtics lead 3-1 in the best-
of-? series in the. Eastern Division
which now goes back to Philadel-
phia for a fifth game Friday.
The score was tied at 109 when:
Greer, whose lack of scoring punch
has hurt the 76ers in this series,
hit on a long jumper with 2:18
left to give Philadelphia a lead it'
never relinquished.
Matt Goukas sank a free throw,
and then Greer tossed in his two
charity throws and another basket
to keep the 76ers in front.
" * *
The Montreal Canadiens open
defense of their Stanley Cup
championship tonight when the
National Hockey League playoffs
get underway in Montreal, Boston,
St. Louis and Oakland with open-
ing round games in best-of-seven'
series.,
The Canadiens, winners of the
East Division title, meet the New
York Rangers, while the, West
Division champs, the St. Louis
Blues, face the Philadelphia
Flyers. Both the Rangers and
Flyers finished in third place in
the regular season.
Bill Ibo a rd 3
The fifth in a series of meet-
ings with representatives of
athletic organizations sponsor-
ed by the Advisory Committee
on Recreation, Intramural and
Club Sports will be held on
Wednesday afternoon in the
Student Activities Building,
SGC chambers at 4 p.m. The
meeting will be held with ath-
letic chairmen from South Quad,
West Quad, Fletcher, Newberry,
and Barbour. All interested stu-
dents are invited.
The Michigan lacrosse club will
open its season today against
Bowling Green State University
at Wines Field at 3:30.
I
Let the People Vote for President
This Oetition asks for a statewide vote by the people on whether Michigan should
have a presidential primary. In a presidential primary, the people can vote for their
choice for president before the nominating conventions.
HOW A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WORKS
" The names of all major contenders for each party's presidential nomination will
be automatically placed on the ballot. The voter votes for hischoice.
w To assure proportional representation, national convention delegates will be elect-
ed in both local districts and on a statewide basis. Each delegate is pledged
to the presidential candidate getting the most votes in the constituency
which elected him.
" The regular statewide primary will be advanced about a month in presidential
years ONLY, so that the presidential primary wilt involve NO ADDITIONAL
EXPENSE to the state.
I
SUMMER SESSION
Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies
JUNE 16-AUGUST 23
TEN WEEKS OF TUTORIAL-TYPE INSTRUCTION
in
Languages, Area Studies, Teacher Education
REGISTRATION JUNE, 1044
V.
on- REPRESSION and DISSENT
ERY INS
A private liberal arts college
Accredited by the Western Association
of Schools and Colleges
I
For information
Write to REGISTRAR
P.O. Box 1978
Monterey, California 93940
16 semester units in lower division language
study are equivalent to the normal college
foreign languagerequirement.
I
=NNW
"Perspectives on World Religions"
(Wed. Noon Book Review Luncheons at the Union)
Programs start at noon and last not later than 1 :30
P.M. All sessions held in Cafeteria Room No. 1 at the
South end of the Union basement. Go through the
cafeteria line or bring your lunch. All interested
persorns' invited.
THIS NOON
'"Thp. Mpn..n.nn ad .End n Rplini.."
II
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