The Michigan Daily-Thursday, March 2, 1978-Page I I THE SPORTING VIEWS CAGERS MUST WIN AT MINNESOTA: It's do or die for Blue .......... AF P South African tennis . 0. . ... a touchy affair By BOB WARREN Apartheid politics. For what possible reason could this issue appear on the sports page of The Michigan Daily? The answer is simple: the United States is playing and hosting South Africa in a Davis Cup tennis match, Mar-. ch 17-19 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The match should nottake place! "South Africa is unique among the community of nations," said Dr. Richard Lapchick, chairperson of the American Coordinating Committee for Equality in Sport and Society (ACCESS). "It is the only country where domination of non-whites by whites is constitutionally enshrined as official government policy." Many people say sports should have nothing to do with politics. If it did, the United States should not compete against the Soviet Union or China in any competition sports because those governments and societies are an- tagonistic towards ours. But we do compete with those countries. Yet, this is a different situation. The American government, Vanderbilt University and for that matter Michigan, are more concerned with their lucrative investments in a racist knation than with moral issues. This is almost analagous to the situation in 'modern day sports where money is more important to the athletes than the athletic participation. Blacks exploited In the United States, where racism is allegedly suppressed, black athletes have made tremendous progress in sports, to a level where they ex- cein sports such as basketball, track, baseball and football. However, once these athletes reach their peak of excellence they are exploited by great 'money-making schemes such as "Black-exploitation" films starring Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Rich whites make money off talented black athletes, and the Davis Cup is not an exception. To appease the sentiment against the Davis Cup, the South African team, most likely at the.urging of the USTA (United States Tennis Associa- tion), Vanderbilt and sponsor Davis Coals, Inc., has named Peter Lamb, a Vanderbilt sophomore and a South African of mixed race, to the team. He is the first non-white ever named to the team. The move is obviously a further example of exploitation and injustice levied to a black athlete (Lamb, a talented tennis player, will play on the "junior" team). In a move that will help the cause against the apartheid government, South African star player Ray Moore, quit the Davis Cup team in protest of the political involvement in sports. Moore said," I neither embrace nor en- dorse apartheid politics." American black tennis star Arthur Ashe endorsed Moore's action. Not enough Moores People like Moore are an exception in his country. South Africa does not do n thing for its potential black athletes, members of a significant majoritypopuiationwthat are without any word in the government of their cuatr : If -the United States plays South Africa it will be, as Fisk University President Walter Leonard says, "sanctioning, aiding and comforting South Africa and its government," and repressing the development of black athletes in tennis and in other sports. It is true that the USTA is a member of the Davis Cup Federation and agrees to compete with any member of that group. Yet, nations have with- drawn before from competition against South Africa, allowing the apartheid nation to win Davis Cup matches uncontested. As South Africa wins more and more matches through this route, nations will realize what a farce South Africa is making of the Davis Cup and their withdrawal from the federation will convince the sponsor to reconsider its permission of South Africa's membership. One sponsor, NLT, a withholding company in Nashville, has. already pulled its financial backing from the Davis Cup in response to the protests of the match by anti-apartheid groups, the NAACP, the many black schools in the state of Tennessee and numerous other human rights groups. In this sen- se sports could be used as a tool to pressure a change in morals by the South African government, although divesting and cutting ties would be a more potent weapon. Fight for rights This tennis match has great importance in the fight for human rights in South Africa and civil rights in America. The racists have come out to demonstrate their feelings about concerned Americans towards civil rights. Davis Cup protest leader Lapchick was brutally assaulted by two racists in his office. He was beaten unconscious and had the word "nigger" carved into his stomach. If this is the way people feel here where we have equality, imagine the degradated position of a black in South Africa. An attack like this is reason enough for the United States to show its human rights' policy and cancel the match. It's hard enough for a black* athlete here to make it big in sports and come out "clean" afterwards, and a sanctioning of South African policy is an endorsement of the stifling of black athletes in South Africa. Tennis is one of the quickest growing sports in the world. However, it's "rich man" character has made it impossible for any blacks to star in it with the exception of Ashe, a star who has repeatedly been refused admission to South Africa to compete in tennis competition. If the United States used this Davis Cup as an opportunity to show its policy of equal rights, perhaps this would open up avenues for blacks to develop in this sport at a much larger scale with the confidence of a supportive government. A cancellation of the Davis Cup match at Vanderbilt and a refusal to compete against South Africa in athletic endeavors, as the Olympic Com- mittee has sanctioned in the past, would serve many useful functions. It would show the United States' sincerity towards equality; it would be an example for other countries to follow, adding pressure to the apartheid government; and it would be an inpportant step for equality in sports for black Americans, black South Africans and many other repressed minorities throughout the world. By ERNIE DUNBAR Special to The Daily MINNEAPOLIS - While Michigan's hopes of winning the Big Ten basketball title were extinguished during the mid- dle portion of the conference race, the slight chance of a post-season tour- nament bid still flickers on. And when the Wolverines tangle with Minnesota tonight at 9:05 p.m., Ann Ar- bor time, the Gophers will have plenty on the line as well. SITTING TIED with Purdue for second place with an 11-5 record, Min- nesota must come up with two con- secutive victories if it has any chance of tying league-leading Michigan State (13-3) for the Big Ten title. A Spartan loss tonight at Wisconsin would mean the Gophers would face MSU here on Saturday for a tie of the conference crown. But first, the Gophers must get past Michigan (10-6), who also need two vic- tories in their final Big Ten games for an outside shot at a tournament bid. Minnesota is coming off two straight losses, however, while Michigan sports a two-game winning streak. The Gophers fell victim to Ohio State at Columbus in overtime, 94-87, last Thur- sday and then traveled on to Indiana where the Hoosiers proceeded to knock them off, 68-47. MICHIGAN'S impressive offensive outputs in the 107-96 Illinois win and the 82-76 Iowa victory should give the Wolverines a slight psychological ad- vantage over Minnesota. Yet Michigan coach Johnny Orr feels the effects of UPI All-Big Ten Earvin Johnson (F)..........MSU Walter Jordan (F).........Purdue Mychal Thompson (C)....Minnesota Ronnie Lester (G) ............'. Iowa Kelvin Ransey (G) ............... OSU Note: Michigan's Mike McGee was named to the second team. playing in Williams Arena will offset any edge his team may possess. "That (Minnesota's two straight losses) won't 'have an effect playing here," Orr said. "If they were out of the Big Ten race it might make a differen- ce. But you' have 18;000 people screaming against you here." , Once again the outcome of the game will rest, on the effectiveness of the Gophers' standout center, Mychal Thompson. Thompson netted 23 points in the game at Crisler Arena, but his ef- forts were negated by Wolverine for- ward Mike McGee's 27 point perfor- mance. And it is McGee's shooting ability that Minnesota coach Jim Dut- cher fears the most about this Michigan team. "WE HAD trouble shutting off the outside shooting of Mike McGee," Dut- cher commented of the freshman who leads the team with a 19:5 scoring average. "We'll work on containing McGee a little better this time." But the key to the Gopher success is Thompson. Minnesota thinks enough of their 6-10 senior that his number 43 jer- sey will be retired by the university at halftime of Saturday's game. Thom- pson is leading the conference in scoring and sports an overall scoring average of 22.3 points per game. His rebounding mark is nothing to glance over, either, as he commands a 10.9 average. THOMPSON WILL battle Michigan's own Thompson, Joel. Joel sprained his left ankle in Wednesday's practice and only shot briefly in the team's Thursday workout. But the injury does not appear to be serious according to team trainer Dan Campbell and should not keep the 6-8 center off the court. So what changes have the Michigan coaches drawn up for this game? "We've worked on some new defen- ses," remarked assistant coach Bill Frieder. "It all depends on the fouls, the score, and who's ahead whether we'll zone or not. You can zone easier when you're ahead." Trying to counter these changes in addition to Mychal Thompson will be 6- 10 Dave Winey (6.3 ppg) and 6-11 Kevin McHale (12.4 ppg) at the forward'$ slots. James Jackson (10.1 ppg), a 6-4 sophomore and 6-2 Osborne Lockhart (13.1 ppg) will handle the backcourt assignments. "We're going to have to play excep- tionally well for us to have a chance t4 * win," said Frieder. "Playing here i tough. It's hard to communicate with" your players," he added, referring to the fact (that the players' benches arO -. three feet below court level. BUT REGARDLESS of the con' ditions, Orr realizes that this .Minnesotad game is the hump his team must get" over if it is to go on to post-season play. "We feel we'll at least go to the NIT if, we win our final two Big Ten games,?N Orr said. "If we pull it off and win at' three (Minnesota, Northwestern;, UCLA) it will be the miracle of the cen-. tury and I think we will certainly get a- tournament bid." Big Ten Standings Michigan State ...................... Minnesota ........................... Purdue ............ ............... Indiana ............................. MICHIGAN.................... Ohio State ....................... Illinois........................... Iowa............................. Wisconsin ..................... Northwestern ... w 13 it II 6 4 4 I. 3 5 5 6 6 8 to 12 12 13 4 Pci. .813 .6i88" .588 .625 .62,E .500 .375 .250 .250 .188' i Tourney tumbling Men, women gymnasts face tou By JEFF FRANK Construction zone. Do not enter without a willingness to be surprised. Women at work: building a reputation. Throughout the entire gymnastics season, Michigan's womens team im- pressed 'observers with its rapid im- provement and level of success it has shown in only its third year of com- petition. The tumblers get a chance to enhance their reputation next week, as they travel to Columbus for their first team encounter with regional competition, in the MAIAW championship meet. Sixteen teams from the six state region qualify for the regionals. Qualifying is based on the scores registered in each state's championship meet. This method of qualifying sets up unusual situations in the regionals, as inconsistencies in judging between states in the region cause teams from some states to be seeded higher or lower than they actually should be. The importance of these inconsisten- cies becomes apparent when con- sidering the format of the regional meet. Teams are seeded in order of their qualifying scores, with the highest scoring teams competing last. Flights of four or eight teams com- pete at one time, and as the competition goes on, scores received by performers climb. Such has been the case in past meets. Individual competitors from teams that didn't qualify for regionals are placed in the first flight, with the lowest scoring qualifying teams. This is the position that faced Michigan captain Ginger Robey last year. Robey topped the all-around standings after the first flight, but when the competition was over, every Michigan State tumbler had outscored her in every event, including vaulting, in which she was the state co-champion. As scores stand now, Michigan is in the eighth position, pending the results of the Indiana state championship. However, Indiana State is the defen- ding regional runner-up and is expected to post an upper division score. Coach Anne Cornell has established some team gols for regionals. "We're hoping to score 132, and I'd like to see some of our all-arounders qualify for nationals," she said. "We'd like to finish in the second group of four, from fifth to eighth place." Indiana State, Michigan State, Southern Illinois and Kent State are considered the teams to beat. The Blue tumblers warm-up for their trip to Columbus next, Thursday by traveling to Mt. Pleasant for a tri-meet against Central Michigan and Illinois State this weekend. By PETE LEININGER With duel-meet action having con- cluded, the Michigan gymnasts can now concentrate on what's really im- portant, the Big Ten Championships to be held in Champaign on March 10-11. The two-day affair will begin with compulsory action on Friday night at seven followed by optionals on Satur- day at 1:00 p.m. The gymnasts with the top six combined compulsory and op- tional scores will qualify for the finals held Saturday at 8:00. Michigan coach Newt Loken finds himself in a position that has become quite unaccustomary for him over the years. "On the basis of our won-lost record, four teams have beaten us in the Big Ten," said Loken. The two teams battling for the top spot will be Minnesota (having scored 215.15), and host Illinois, who has scored 214.45 earlier this year. Despite the unliklihood of a team championship for Michigan, the Wol- verines do possess a number of out- standing performers, capable of placing high or even winning their event. Freshman floor exerciseman Jim Varilek noted that any thing can hap- pen during the two-day meet. "I'll just go out and do my best," commented Varilek. Sidehorse specialist Brian Carey [ghest foes agrees with Varilek that it's tough to say how one is going to end up. "It's dif- ferent from other invitations. With Ben Tens I must do good on compulsories, options and finals. I'm just going out to hit my routine," stated Carey. Other individuals that have a good chance to place high will be Hal Dar- dick on sidehorse, Gordie Higman and Darrell Yee on rings, and Carl Badger on vaulting. John Corritore,'Big Ten champ and NCAA runnerup last year, and co-cap- tain Bob Creek (high bar), are consid- ered favorites to win their events. . All-arounder Nigel Rothwell, who scored a 52 last week, placed second in all-around last year. "I'd like to make the top three (which qualifies a gym- nast for the NCAA championships). It should be tougher this year," said Rothwell. mo Thump snA rtments furnished efficencies 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available for Fall 1978 occupancy Located of corner of William and Thompson call 665-2289 WomeniCankers host midwest championship By BOB WARD -L Some of those people who won't be second. going to Florida over spring break SWIMMER LORI HUG will get to swim in warm water seeking cutoff times in anyway. freestyle, 1650 yard frees Michigan's women tankers are 200 yard butterfly. She wi hosting the competition for the Midwest down for this meet, u Association for Intercollegiate having lighter workouts Athletics for Women (MAIAW) at Matt skin tight bathing suits Mann pool today, tomorrow, and Satur- usual suits. day at 7:00 p.m. Some 30 schools are to Supposedly the advar be represented bringing 215 individual swim suits is that they he athletes to Michigan's last home meet "I'm not sure of the of the season. plaination," said Hugh MICHIGAN LAST participated in this mainly a psychological th meet three years ago and placed third. As for the divers, Isaac MSU took first while Bowling Green competition won't be near finished second. Two years ago the Big Ten's. I think we Michigan did not participate and highest, and Chris Seuf Bowling Green claimed the title. Last Bachman have to be the year the meet was not held because no this meet." one would host it. this year's Big Ten champion Michigan hopes to win the event. "For us it's a matter of pride," said orayo1r# n Michigan coach Stu Isaasc. "We want or anY oher tum to prove we're the best in the midwest." you know w "It's going to be tough," said Isaac, be here. "we're not going in with our strongest line up." This is because women like U -M STYLI Katy McCully and Lisa Matheson have already made national cutoffs in their at the best events. Those who haven't UNION qualified or want qualification in other events will be featured. Usually they've missed qualifying by only tenths of a a Charter Travel Corporation A GHES will be the 500 yard style, and the ill be tapering which means and using the nstead of the ntage to the ave less drag. scientific ex- es, "but it's ing." said, "Diving rly as tough as will score the ert and Julie e favorites in Wrestling Classic Coming To Crisler Arena March 4-5 Big Ten Championships Michigan's Mark Churella in Action Four NCAA Finalists Battle For Titles Mark Churella (150) of Michigan and Wisconsin's Lee Kemp (198) are defending NCAA Champions, and among the four eak e, STS -I!w 1 GUARANTEED CHARTERS & PRICES!! * Let history be the judge. In 1977 not one of Charter . l'il