Thursday, April 20, 1972 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Eleven '" i.'J ON W4.1 it liworth Tennis ... . . and the student Randy Phillips- PEOPLE EASILY forget bad times when good times soon fol- low. And now that the sunshine is out more often than not and the winter weather has passed us by, the varsity tennis players and other student players will be apt to put their com- plaints about the inadequacies of indoor tennis facilities at the back of their minds and look forward to a fine spring and summer of tennis. But come next fall, it is probable that the same inadequacies will persist. Only there will be more students wanting to play tennis and the varsity will be even better than this year's. The acuteness of the problem becomes apparent when one notices that the only indoor courts are the converted basketball courts at the Men's. Intramural Building. These four courts are available for only short periods of time to the general student body due to the great demand for bas- ketball facilities, and they are a disgrace to the top level varsity tennis program at Michigan. Less than two weeks ago, Michigan hostea two Big Tuet teams, Minnesota and Iowa in conference matches on the slick wood surface. The Wolverines won both matches convincingly, * but weak Minnesota managed to take two singles matches - at numbers one and five. At one, Joel Ross for Michigan was hav- ing trouble with his serve while his less talented opponent, Jim Ebbits, was sharp. Despite Ross' problems he might have won the match out- doors, because the slick surface on the basketball courts great- ly favors a big serve and volley game. Other aspects of the game tend to lose importance. In addition, the shoddy shape of the nets, the baskets float- ing over the court area, and poor lighting make the IM facility totally inadequate for Big Ten play. Most other Big Ten schools have indoor courts. Wis- consin's Neilson Tennis Center has 12 courts covered. At Iowa and Michigan State there are four and there are others. Michigan has been conference title holder for nearly every year in the last decade and a half, and next year with the probable signing of several outstanding freshmen the Wolverines could challenge for the NCAA crown. The IM building just isn't enough. The varsity has been practicing all term at night at the Huron Valley Tennis Club in Dixboro, but transportation prob- lems, rental fees and the change in study schedules don't make that an ideal place either. Besides, it is not available to stu- dents for use, and there is at least an equal need for indoor courts for students and faculty as there is a need for them for the tennis team. An indoor facility would allow the expansion of a weak intramural tennis program, and would allow the expansion of instructional classes. Three would also be the possibility of selting up a women's tennis program at a club level, and pos- sibly a men's club level for those who are not quite up to var- sity ability. But as always the problem is money. Athletic Director Don Canham and Varsity Coach Brian Eisner have been looking into the costs and feasibility of several plans. One plan was to put a bubble enclosure over the five courts adjacent to the IM Building, but there have been vandalism problems at other places where this has been done, and the cost would be about $200,000. There is no money for such an expenditure, according to Canham, though, and the department is looking to "gifts" to finance any building. Costs have also disposed of a plan for a permanent steel enclosure over the courts - a project that would cost around $450,000. Canham thinks that the students might be able to fi- nance a building themselves if they assess themselves a fee. But this may be impractical. Not all students would be will- ing to pay for tennis facilities even on a guaranteed refund basis, since not all students would benefit. And what about faculty? Perhaps they should contrib- ute. This case, in one large way, is different than the stu- dent bookstore. In the bookstore case, all students need books, and a student bookstore has the tendency to keep prices down in the privately owned stores as well. All stu- dents benefit. Something has to be done though, and even Canham sees the acuteness of the need for indoor courts. He said: "If I could borrow $400,000 to build a facility, I wouldn't hesitate." But he added that the chances for a new indoor facility in the next couple of years are not very good. But there may be some short run solution. Yost Fieldhouse could have a new floor surface put in to accommodate both tennis and basketball. This would be cheaper than a new structure, although it would not solve the problem of the joint demand for more basketball and tennis facilities. The athletic department is looking into this possibility, and should have some ideas about costs in a short time. I believe that this solution would work out until more funds are found. And I believe this plan to be necessary. A renovation of Yost along with the installation of some new outdoor courts - especially on North Campus - should be placed at the top of the athletic department's priority list for next year. Birds' By The Associated Press BALTIMORE - Boog Powell's opposite - field double, following an intentional walk in the eighth, drove in the tie-breaking run as the Baltimore Orioles whipped the Detroit Tigers 5-2 last night. After Powell's hit down the left field line put the Orioles ahead 3-2, Paul Blair rapped a two-run single which chased Detroit start- er Mickey Lolich, 1-1. held to four hits through the first six innings, Baltimore tied the score 2-2 in the seventh on consecutive doubles by Dave John- son and Andy Etchebarren. It was Johnson's third hit of the game and the second run batted in forI Etchebarren. Consecutive singles by Blair, Johnson and Etchebarren had opened the scoring for Baltimore in the second, and Lolich allowed just one hit over the next five inn- ings until the seventh. Don Buford opened the winning rally with an infield hit and a sacrifice bunt, Brooks Robinson t ;I I bats badger bra Mingori with one out in the ninth. duel between Carlton and GibsonI tty Bengals was walked intentionally before Powell connected on a 1-2 pitch. A double by Ed Brinkman and. a single by Aurelio Rodriguez, off Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar tied it for Detroit in the third, and Willie Horton's run-scoring dou- ble put the Tigers ahead in the fourth. The winner was Doyle Alexan- der, who hurled the final two inn-. ings. I Mingori got the final two outs. The Michigan lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame last night, losing a sud- den-death 6-5 decision. After seemingly winning the game on a goal by Don Holman, the refs said no and the Irish scored shortly after to win the game... Buddy Bell had three his first in the sixth inning when Willie Montanez laced a triple into the right field corner and scored on Deron Johnson's single to center. Although Gibson suffered the defeat, he reached a milestone in his great career when he struck out five to move into fourth place on the all-time list of major league strikeout artists. Bucs blast PITTSBURGH - Bob Robert- son's two-run homer triggered a four-run rally in the eighth inn- ing that carried the Pittsburgh Pi- rates to a 5-2 victory over the Chi- cago Cubs last night. Robertson connected for hir first home run of the season on a 3-2 pitch from Juan Pizarro aft- er Roberto Clemente opened the inning with a dingle. Sutton pitched a two-hitter and Bill Buckner and Manny Mota drove in the runs as the Los An- geles Dodgers stopped the Atlanta Braves 4-0 yesterday night. Sutton, 2-0, allowed only a sec- ond inning double to Rico Carty and a bloop single by Marty Perez in the third. Phil Niekro, 0-2, pitched al- most as brilliantly for the Braves before being lifted after eight innings. He retired 18 Dodgers in a row after the first inning when Los Angeles actually scored the daily sports' NIGHT EDITOR: CHUCK DRUKIS winning run on Maury Wills' lead- off triple and a bouncer by Buck- ner. Major League hits and Tom Mc- Indians inch Craw and Ray Fosse two each in BOSTON - Gaylord Perry, a'the Indians' 10 - single attack veteran of 10 National League against Boston's Marty Pattin and campaigns, gained his first Amer- Luis Tiant. ican League victory yesterday ads when he pitched the Cleveland In-lu dians to a 3-1 decision over the PHILADELPHIA - Left-hander Boston Red Sox. Steve Carlton blanked his old St. The 33-year-old Perry, acquired Louis teammates on three hits yes- from the San Francisco Giants in terday night at the Philadelphia a trade for Sam McDowell, check- Phillies beat the Cards ace Bob ed the Red Sox on five hits, all Carlson, 1-0w singles until relieved by Steve The Phillies broke a scoreless Professional League Standings AMERICAN LEAGUE East I NATIONAL LEAGUE East W L Pet GB Baltimore 3 1 .750 Detroit 2 1 .667 12 Cleveland 2 2 .500 1 New York 2 2 .500 1 Milwaukee 1 2 .333 p4 Boston 1 3 .250 2 W L Pet GB Montreal Philadelphia Chicago Pittsburgh New York St, Louis 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 1.000 - 2 .600 1, 2 .500 1, 2 .500 1% 2 .333 2 4 .200 3 Celtics keep hopes alive BOSTON (A) - The Boston Cel- tics, faced with virtual elimination midway through the fourth per- iod, rallied behind Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens for a 115-109 victory over the New York Knicks last night, keeping alive their hopes in the National Basketball Association's Eastern Division fi- nals. The Celtics, who lost the first two games of the best-of-seven series, built a 55-47 halftime lead but then had tocomerfrom be- hind in the final quarter. Bill Bradley sparked a New York comeback in the third per- iod, scoring 14 points. The Knicks maintained their advantage and were ahead 96-92 midway through the finale. Then White hit on a basket and Cowens banged a jump shot to tie the score. Cowens followed with a lefthanded hook shot and a free throw, sending the Celtics ahead to stay. With the Knicks in foul trouble, the Celtics played in cool the rest of the way, and New York was unable to close the gap although Bradley pulled his teammates to within one point, 103-102, with just over four minutes remaining. I > ' r L Folletts bookstore does so much more for me". r i I I COLD BEER & WINE DELIVERED To Your Door (Dorms Included) THOMPSON'S PIZZA 761-0001 PIZZAS CHICKEN SHRIMP FISH I I NO DELIVERY CHARGE! who want to go places. 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