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Page 10--Tuesday, April 15, 1980-The Michigan Daily
The Sporting Views
Contact Lens Special
" Soft and hard* contact lenses $178.50
includes exam, fitting, dispensing, follow-up visits,
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*includes a second pair of hard lenses
Offer expires April 18
Dr. Paul C. Uslan, Optometrist
545 Church Street
769-1222 by appointment
MISCELLANE
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. SIDE
NTRANCE
F THE
ICHIGAN
NION
By BOB WOJNOWSKI
A few years back, when the city fathers decided
to upgrade Detroit's image - calling it a
Renaissance - they never envisioned that their
greatest opposition would come from the city's
sports teams.
With the most incredible string of decadent
teams any city has ever experienced, Detroit has
acquired the coveted title - formerly an Atlanta
possession - of "Loserville, U.S.A." Indeed the
combined efforts of the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings
and Pistons over the past four years have done as
much for Detroit as Iran's Khomeini has done for
the world's ayatollahs.
Why, in the fifth larges metropolitan area in the
country, are victories by a local sports franchise
so few and far between?
There is, for sure, no lack of fan support. Detroit
sports-goers are undeniably the most loyal our
country has to offer. For example, the Pistons and
Red Wings won't lead their respective leagues in
attendance this year, but they won't finish last
even though a combined won-loss record of 42-109
warrants it. In fact, the Pistons achieved the
second largest season mark in club history and the
Red Wings consistently drew 14,000-15,000 per
home appearance.
The Tigers, perennial fifth-place finishers, are a
sure bet for a million and a half every year while
the Lions, who had maintained some semblance of
mediocrity until last fall's 2-14 mark, led the NFL
in attendance in 1978 while compiling a 7-9 record.
It's tough to blame the coaches for dismal team
performances, seeing as plenty have passed
through the Motor City in recent years. The list is
long - Bob Kauffman, Dick Vitale, Richie
Adubato, Tommy Hudspeth, Monte Clark, Bobby
Kromm, Marcel Pronovost, Ralph Houk, Les
Moss, and Sparky Anderson with a few more to be
added in the near future. The point here is that
coaching changes have had no noticeable effect on
any team's performance.
So the problem must be a decided lack of talent.
Not true, if you believe the team owners.
According to William Clay Ford, the Lions
should have won their division last year. The Red
Wings, says Bruce Norris, are a talented bunch
that just aren't living up to their vast potential. To
hear John Fetzer tell it, the Tigers are a young
team now beginning t
Piston's roster is pac
mer No. 1 draft picks.
So where does the1
owners' glowing asse
teams does nothing1
themselves, combin
general managers, ar
The owners are, abo
long as the turnstile
profits. continue to ris
Following is a rund
ders committed by t
teams and a quick ass
done to right the situa
PISTONS: Pistons+
Oscar Feldman hav
Pistons the worst
professional sports.1
minimal sports know
their marked tendency
In a move that c
ridiculous, the Piston
this season without
following the dismiss
i'nitial appointment re
tality.
To prove he wasn'
general knowledge of
Boston GM Red Auerl
perience. In a movet
for years to come, Aue
Bob McAdoo was wor
round draft picks.
The Piston's draft
great deal to be des
hometown sentimenta
only decent choice of
the Pistons had, as
recovering from knee
was a poor shooter in c
The only hope for s
Pistons make a ma,
their No. 1 pick and on
an established star. D
rumored available.
RED WINGS: The R
fering from a severe
headlines. If they we
think they are, the Sta
Detroit sports.*
.. .life in the cellar
Joe Louis Arena come May.
o jellanto a winner. And the Red Wing owner Bruce Norris occasionally
ked with no less than six for- loses his head and spends a little money, as in the
case of free-agent Rogie Vachon' two years ago.
blame go? As I see it, the However, he regained his senses long enough to
ssments of their respective axe veterans Dennis Hextall and. Terry Harper
to hide the fact that they from the team in mid-season last year. In ad-
ed with their incompetent dition, he moved the Wings from comfortable
e totally at fault. Olympia Stadium to the unfamiliar Joe Louis
ve all else, businessmen. As Arena midway through this season to gain the ex-
s continue to turn and the tra revenue. There is little doubt that the move
e, the owners will stand pat. cost the Red Wings some points in the standings,
own of the most recent blun- as their unfamiliarity with the Joe Louis Areria ice
he management of the four obliterated any home-ice advantage.
sessment of what needs to be Not much can be done to improve this team in
tion. the near future unless. the players decide to start
owners John Davidson and hustling or the Red Wing brain trust swings a steal
ve combined to make the of a deal.
managed team in all of TIGERS: The quintessential "cheapies" - the
Indeed their lack of even staid, ultra-conservative John Fetzer and his GM
'ledge is exceeded only by Jim Campbell will lead you to believe they im-
y for frugality, proved themselves this year with the acquisition
can only be described as of Dan Schatzeder. In essence, they have only
n proprietors went much of saved themselves a few dollars by dealing away
full-time general manager Ron LeFlore to the Expos.
sal of Dick Vitale. Vitale's This Tiger team is no better than last year's
eked of hometown sentimen- edition and chances are it will be no better next
year. As long as Campbell fights his players for
t picked for his savvy and every penny they earn they will become disgrun-
the pro ranks, look at how tied and will ask to be set free. Lou Whitaker and
back exploited Vitale's inex- Alan Trammell won modest raises through ar-
that devastated the Pistons bitration cases, but the wounds of the arbitration
erback convinced Vitale that hearings will never fully heal. It will be only a
rth M. L. Carr and two first short while before manager Sparky Anderson
realizes the futility of it all and bails out.
picks last year also left a To better themselves the Tigers have no choice
ired and again smacked of but to enter the 20th century via the free-agent
alities. Greg Kelser was the market. And to ask them to do that is to waste your .
the three first round picks breath.
s Phil Hubbard was still LIONS: What can you say about a team that on-
damage and Roy Hamilton ce made an offensive tackle by the name of Lynn
college. Boden their No. l draft pick? To improve, the
tarving Piston fans is if the Lions have got to draft Billy Sims and pray that
jor trade, possibly dealing Gary Danielson's knee still functions.
ne or two of their rookies for It is indeed a distressing situation that currently
)enver's David Thompson is exists in the town known as the Renaissance City.
And as long as the present owners continue to run
Red Wings are currently suf- their respective teams by love of money instead of
case of reading their own sports, it will not change. The Renaissance of
re half as talented as they Detroit may have already begun, but the
nley Cup would reside in the Renaissance of its sports teams is a long way off.
c."
4:'
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r=
r
N.
Er
M
CAMP RAMMACK
Good Summer jobs still
available at Brighton
and Ortonville, MI.
ItieAwing Apr. 4 17
SUMMER PLACEMENT
Call 764-7456
for appointment
Open house for 1980
staff, 7:30 pm Hillel
fresh Air Society
6600 W. Maple Rd.
W. Bloomfield, MI 48033
313/661-000
Call or write for further
information
BA TSMEN C
Tough
By DREW SHARP
With a weekend sweep against
Michigan State tucked safely away, the
Michigan nine today engage the state's
top-ranked college baseball team, the
17-7 Chippewas of Central Michigan, in
a doubleheader at Fisher Stadium at 1
p.m.
Armed with the dual victories over
MSU, 7-0 and 4-1, Michigan coach Bud
Middaugh said he's optimistic about his
team's chances against Central
Michigan.
"WE'RE PLAYING well together of-
fensively and defensively," said Mid-
daugh.
"Our pitchers have really come
through for us. It (pitching) has been
very consistent so far this season. For
Central, we'll probably use (Scott)'
Dawson and (Scott) Elam, if the
weather holds up.
"If not, we'll use two other guys
because I don't want to risk an injury
happening to some of our top pitchers."
SINCE COMING up north,
Michigan's victories have been charac-
terized by the Wolverine starting pit-
cher going the distance.
Concern has been expressed over the
condition of rightfielder Jim Paciorek's
right shoulder, which was injured when
he collided with the fence while chasing
a home run ball during the Western
Michigan game.
"Jimmy's shoulder is still hurting
some and that's why we've been using
him as the designated hitter the past
two games," said Middaugh.
"WE DON'T want to chance him in
the outfield unless that shoulder is
completely healed," he said. "We don't
want him to throw just yet so we'll con-
tinue to have him in the DH spot."
Middaugh also expressed respect for
the Central Michigan team.
"They were voted the number one
team in the state last week by the
coaches and I assume they know what
OMING OFF WINNING WEEKEND
MU challenges Blue
A
Central's two top pitchers, Mike
Brecht and Kurt Young are not
scheduled to pitch today against the
Blue nine.
"We don't intend on using Brecht or
Young against Michigan. We'll counter
with Brent Erickson and Mark
Fellows," said CMU head baseball
coach Dave Keilitz. I
"HOWEVER, I PLAN on using at
least four pitchers during the
doubleheader;" added the coach.
In the Wolverines' Sunday contest at
East Lansing, it was the Tim Miller
Show as the first baseman went 4-for-4.
He slammed a home run and knocked in
three RBI. Freshman Steve Ontiveros
went the distance for Michigan.
In Saturday's game, junior pitcher
Mark Clinton extended his streak of
scoreless innings to 22 as he tossed a
six-hit shutout at the Spartans.
Paciorek belted a homer for the
Wolverines.
WORKWEAR FOR FUN
Laxmen
win one,
lose, one
10
.Dawson
...probable starter
they're talking about. Central has a
great, great team and we'll have to play
like we have in the past to take them."
THE CHIPPEWAS have a heavy ar-
senal. Their leading hitter, shortstop
Dave Pagel, is batting at a .377 clip. His
supporting cast is led by second
baseman Doug Wabeke, first baseman
Kurt Wiese and leftfielder Randy
Meier.
Two races approx.
4 & 8 miles
Starts in Diag
Register the
mornin'g of
the race in the
Diag 7-8 A.M.
Saturday, April 19
race begins 9 A.M.
CHI OMEGA
presents
BY KIM HANAFEE
Last Wednesday, midfieldman Tom
Shields indicated that he hoped this
past weekend's games would be "a tur-O
ning point." Shields said that the team
especially wanted to "make sure we
win the one on Sunday."
Saturday the Wolverines played Kent
State and won as expected, outscoring
their opponents 15-0. Coach Pete Lod-
wick said that the winning goals were
spread out among the team but that,
"Goalie Rico Silvera did a fine job
which resulted in his first shutout."
THE GAME Sunday'against theO
Cleveland Lacrosse Club, which *as
Shields said is "fairly strong," spoiled
the Blue laxmen's hopes of winning
both games.
After losing by a score of 5-4, Lodwick
said, "It was a disappointing game
because we outplayed them completely
but couldn't get the ball in the net."
The Lacrosse Club, will be playing
Notre Dame this Wednesday for the
League Championship.
A
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American League
Boston 3, Detroit 1
Texas 7, Cleveland 4
National League
Pittsburgh 5, chicago 4
Cincinnati. San Francisco S