full court
PRESS
BenCh-warmer Rob...
... weighs a starting job
By DAVE RENBARGER
"Many of us here have something in common with this next
young man in that we too would be a lot quicker and more agile if we
could lose some weight. "
- Howard King, introducing Mike Robinson at the Basketball
Bust
"This year was my worst year ever. I can't see how a year could
be any worse. I've got nowhere to go but up."
- Mike Robinson
FOR MIKE Robinson, the talented but untried Michigan center, it has
been a long winter. In the brief span of one year, the 6-11 'Big Fella' has
been relegated from his All-American, MVP status in junior college to that
of a fourth-string benchwarmer in the big leagues. Rob used to get more
time in one game at DuPage than he got all year long at Michigan.
The Wolverines played 27 games this past year, but Rob only played in 14
of them. Thirty minutes - a half an hour - was the sum of Rob's con-
tribution to Michigan's 16-11 effort.
What happened to Mike Robinson?
From Day One, Rob has had that same monkey on his back - his excess
baggage. Back ir1eptember, people were saying he was overweight. And at
last week's Bust, a gala event that is supposed to honor the Wolverines, they
were still saying the same thing. Emcee King, Crisler's P.A. announcer,
delivered the tactless intro.
"I was very surprised," said Robinson of King's remarks. "He could have
thought of something nicer than that to say about me."
Weight-loss the key
i couldn't agree more, but according to King he was merely trying to
"give Mike a boost. It certainly wasn't meant to be insulting."
But Rob already realizes that solving his weight problem and solving his
playing time problem may be one in the same. And he intends to do
something about it before they tip off again next fall.
"Last summer I wasn't concentrating enough on my weight," said Rob,
who reportedly came to town at nearly 300 and never really got below 260. "I
should have seen that once I lost the weight, it'd have been so much easier to
get into shape."
This summer Rob is taking no chances, planning full-time workouts and
a part-time job rather .han vice versa. Rob will be looking to reduce to a
more reasonable playing weight (240-250), as well as improving upon his
overall speed, quickness and jumping ability.
And the best part of the whole story is that the friendly giant seems to be
dead serious in his endeavors. One year of sitting has taken its toll on Rob,
and he is ready to do something about it. Lesser athletes might take an
easier way out, maybe transfer to another school, maybe hold a grudge
against the coach for a couple of years. But not Rob.
He has a confident but not cocky attitude about his prospects for 1978-79,
and doesn't have a chip on his shoulder toward the Michigan coaches.
"I underestimated things a bit-last year," Rob admitted. "I took it for
granted that I would start. Now I'm just going to have to work hard so that
when I come back, I'll be able to play. I can't worry about any of the new
recruits. I'm only concerned with getting myself ready to play.
Won't jump ship
"I'm definitely going to finish my career at Michigan," he continued,
killing a rumor that he may be headed to Evansville to help, rebuild that
devastated program. "I came to Michigan to play, and I still think I can play
at Michigan."
But does Orr think that he can? That is the hang-up. For many a year
Orr has been big on things like hustle in practice, quickness and defense,
none of which are Rob's strongest suits.
If there is any bad blood between Rob and Orr, then Rob is hiding it well.
Although it is pretty clear that the two did not see eye-to-eye concerning the
optimal use of the team's personnel, Rob is careful not to get down on any of
the coaches.
"I expected to get more time, but obviously Coach Orr didn't think that I
deserved it. I'm not really down on anybody here. I'm more upset at myself
than anybody.
"If they still are thinking about moving (Phil) Hub(bard) to forward next
year, I'll be there this time," promised Rob.
Wouldn't that be nice? A strong 6-11 center flanked by a pair of All-
American forwards. Can Mike Robinson make it happen? He already has
my vote.
The MichiganDaily-Tuesday, March 21, 1978-Page 13
ROSE WALL CANNED IN CI VI TAN
Gerulaitis a it in
By ERNIE DUNBAR
and BOB MILLER
It was tennis for charity last night at
Crisler Arena, as Vitas Gerulaitis and
Ken Rosewall served and volleyed for
the benefit of the Special Olympics and
Civitan International Foundation.
The scene was the third annual
Civitan Tennis Classic, with Gerulaitis
downing Rosewall in straight sets, 6-4,
6-4.
PROCEEDS from the estimated
crowd of 2,000 will be donated to the-
Special Olympics, a program of sports
training and athletic competition for
mentally impaired children and adults,
and the Civitan International Founda-
tion, which is heavily involved in
providing funding for the National
Association for Retarded Citizens.
Gerulaitis, who arrived in Ann Arbor
after playing Davis Cup for the United
States Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee,
wasted no time in putting himself in the
drivers seat in the first set.
His break of Rosewall's serve in the
first game was all he needed to coast
through the set. About the only dif-
ficulty he encountered came in the ten-
th game where he and Rosewall battled
to deuce six times before Gerulaitis
finally took the game and the set.
WHEN ASKED what the difference of
playing Davis Cup and the Civitan was.
the 23-year-old Gerulaitis responded,
"It (this match) was a little more
relaxed. It was more fun playing here.
"I do maybe 20 of these exhibitions a
year," he continued. "I spend a lot of
time helping the kids in the public parks
in New York because that's where I
learned how to play."
Gerulaitis, who's currently ranked
number four in the world, had to work a
little harder in the second set, trading
games with Rosewall until the ninth
game when he broke the Australian's
serve. He followed the break by holding
serve to win the last three games and
wrap up the Civitan Classic.
celebrit
IN ANALYZING his play, the 43-
year-old Rosewall commented, "I had
quite a few chances in the first set. But I
hit the ball well and am quite happy
with the way I played." Rosewall,
currently 13th ranked in the world, said
this was his first singles match in about
a month.
The evening's festivities began, as is
customary, with a couple of exhibition
contests, highlighted by a match with
four members of the Michigan men's
tennis team.
In that event, an eight game pro set,
the Big Ten defending champions at fir-
st doubles, Jeff Etterbeek and Jud
Shaufler, held off a furious, but late
rally to defeat Brad Holland and Jack
Neinken, 8-7 in a 5-3 tiebreaker.
ybenefit
HOLLAND AND Neinken, also Big
Ten defending champions in their
category of second doubles, erased 2-0
and 6-2 deficits to take a 7-6 lead.
Shaufler sent the match into the
tiebreaker by holding serve. After the
teams split the first six points in sudden
death, Etterbeek hit a winner down the
alley and Neinken returned a serve into
the net to clinch the victory for' the
number one doubles squad.
IESCORES
NBA
Indiana 127, Cleveland 104
Exhibition baseball
Detroit 6, Cincinnati i
RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTDOORSMAN,
CAMPER, BACKPACKER, FISHERMAN,
offered to student free to travel starting in June on 8 to 10
week minimum trip in Pick-up Camper to Seattle via Yellow-
stone and Tetons.
At Seattle we board ship with camper and travel Inland
Passage, with stop enroute, to Shagway and on to Fair-
banks and down Alaskan Highway. Only clothing and person-
al spending money required. All other expenses paid.
Write, in brief, personal information including outdoor
interests and camping experiences if any. Include phone num-
ber. Will call for meeting and more detailed plans. Reply
Box 13 Michigan Daily.
Daily Photo by BRAD BENJAMIN
VITAS GERULAITIS reaches for a Ken Rosewall volley during last night''
Civitan Tennis Classic at Crisler Arena. Gerulaitis swept his older opponent in
straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 before a crowd of 2,000 spectators.
IV
I
I
Rec Spots
I
The Department of Recreational
Sports is sponsoring a fitness film -
"Alive and Feeling Great" on Satur-
day, March 25, 11 a.m. in 2230 CCRB.
On Thursday, March 23, the Depar-
tment is sponsoring a women's con-
ditioning clinic at 7 p.m. in the weight
room, CCRB.
All non-enrolled continuing students
will have to pay a fee for use of the
Recreational Sports Department indoor
facilities (CCRB, IMSB, NCRB) this
upcoming spring/summer term. The
fee is equivalent to the fee enrolled
students pay, $10/term. If you were
enrolled winter term 1978 or have pre-
registered for fall 1978 you are eligible
to purchase this special summer pass.
For more information call 763-3084.
I
I
I
1
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
1
Student Newspaper at The University of Michigan
r-- -- - - - - - - WRITE YOUR AD HERE! ----u--1
1 1
1---1
1I
1 1
1I--
1________1
1 1
I- I
1 _
1
1 I
-----------.ClIP AND MAIL TODAY!------------
USE THIS HANDY CHART TO QUICKLY ARRIVE AT AD COST
ne sty
for sDrin
les & colors
a & summerQ
WORDS
0-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36.40
41-45
46-50
1 day
1.15
1.40
1.65
1.90
2.15
2.40
2.65
2.90
3.15
2 days
2.30
2.80
3.30 4.35
3.80
4.30
4.80
5.30
5.80
6.30
5.00
5.65
6.30
6.95
7.60
8.25
3 days
3.05
3.70
4 days
3.80
4.60
5.40
6.20
7.00
7.80
8.60
9.40
10.20
5 days
4.55
6 days addi.
5.50 6.40
6.45 7.50
7.40 8.60
8.35 9.70
9.30 10.80
10.25 11.90
11.20 13.00
12. 15 14.10
5.30
.75
.90
1.05
1.20
1.35
1.50
1.65
1.80
1.95
Please indicate
where this ad
is to run:
for rent
for sale
help wanted
roommates
personal
etc.
Seven words per line. Each group of characters counts as one word.
Hyphenated words over 5 characters count as two words-This includes telephone numbers.
iI 1!.
,
.I
.