Page 10-Tuesday, October 6, 1981--The Michigan Daily THE SPORTING VIEWS 1981 season a farce .. . ...playoff revamp nee ded I 1 By RICK GOLDMAN We have just about come to the end of the 1981 Major League Baseball season. A season where the "traditional" game of baseball suffered a severe setback due to the prolonged strike that lasted for 51 days, and interrupted the season right in mid-stream. To make up for that interruption, the team owners, the princes of baseball, adopted a proposal called the "split-season," where there would be a first-half winner, as well as a second- half winner, with a special round of playoffs being held to determine the division winner as a whole. The format allowed for teams that were in dead last, or quite close to it at the time of the strike to actually be able to make the playoffs at season's end, regardless of their overall record. This for- mat has caused so much controversy since its adoption, that perhaps the owners should have considered other proposals in their attempts to make up for lost revenue. Let's admit it. 1981 has been nothing but a farce as far as the game goes. Players sold themselves out to settle, and the owners still haven't changed a bit towards adopting a fair Free-Agent system. But, for the sake of further argument, let's forget about that one until another day. There is another format that could indeed be tried by the owners if they are hard pressed for ex- tra revenue at season's end, a format that would create more competition, competition between all teams fairly, and would bring fans back to the ballparks in droves. The plan? Have the first place team in the East play the second place team in the West, and vise versa, creating a four team inter-divisional playoff at season's end. This would be Round One. Round'Two, of course, would pit the two survivors against.each other for the League Championship. Sound crazy? A little bizarre maybe? Not really. In fact, it is quite sensible since the owners and Bowie Kuhn, the Czar of M.L.B. want to institute a full-time playoff format such as like they have this season, for 1982. Look at it this way. Suppose New York of the A.L. East was to finish in first at the end of the season. Behind them finish the Detroit Tigers, only game back. That is truly too close for com- fort after 162 games played. In the West, Billy Martin's Oakland club finishes on top, followed by Kansas City only 1 games back. Again, this is too close for comfort. Now then, New York would take on K.C. in a best-of-five series, as would Oakland take on Detroit. The winners would meet for the A.L. Championship. There are arguments on both sides as to whether or not this would work. Those who defend it say that this format would give other teams a fairly good shot at winning, especially if they are this close at season's end. They look at it, this way: football can have wild-card teams, as can basket- ball, so why not baseball? In the A.L. East alone, the competition there is so fierce there usually is no guaranteed winner until the last week or so of the season. By this format, there would be NO set guaran- tee at all that the Division "winner" will make the championships of their league. Which is good, if you really look at it. Baseball is competitive in all aspects, but having only one team from each division in the playoffs leaves the others who are close to the top out in the cold. Those who oppose it say that the entire concept is ridiculous. They say that the division winner is just that, the winner, and the team should automatically qualify for the championship round. They easily forget, however, that the 1980 Oakland Raiders of the NFL were a wild-card team, not division winners, and they ended up as World Champions. Or, that the Houston Rockets of the N.B.A. had a poor record, but made the Playoffs as a wild-card type, and went to the N.B.A. Cham- pionship round in 1980. Of course, again faced with reality, those who oppose the baseball format just look at you and say, "well that's other sports, not baseball." Truly a change is needed from this present for- mat. Kansas City; an overall fourth place club has won the second-half of the 1981 season. Whereas, if the above format were to be added, nothing of the sort would occur. It works. It can't hurt anymore than the present system does can it? What do you think? Let me know if you have any ideas that are worthwhile; I'll attempt to compile them, and have them prin- ted. Just write me here at the Daily. After all, isn't it about time the Voice of the Fan stops being taken for granted? 0 0 ., SHORT OR LONP Hairstyles fdr Men and Women DASCOLA STYLISTS Liberty off State........668-9329 East U. at South U.......662-0354 Arborland ..............971-9975 Maple Village ...........761-2733 1M SCORES SATURDAY Women's Softball Thronson 4, Alpha Omicron Pi I Hunt 15, Alpha Omicron Pi3 Thronson 7, Ambalana 5 Hunt 4, Thronson 0 Ambalana 10, Alpha Omicron Pi8 Playoff schedule k Rebate offered Oct. 5-9 Only S IENCE AND POLICY: Cost-Benefit An- a ys/ S-Its Uses & Limits, is an under-graduate level mini- course consisting of public lectures and debate by nationally- known experts from a broad range of disciplines and fields. The class meetings will include attendance at the Sci- ence and Policy Colloquium on Cost-Benefit Analysis be- ing held on Friday & Saturday, November 13 & 14, 1981. In addition, four class sessions of lectures will be given. For more information, call 764-2553 (weekdays, 8:00-noon). 1632 Haven Hall. Tuesday,,Oct. 6 NATIONAL LEAGUE West Division Los Angeles (Valenzuela, 13-7) at Houston (Ryan, 11-5).8:15 p.m. SPOR~iTS 0iil IP FOOTBALL at Michigan State, Oct. 10 MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY OPEN FEDERATION, Oct.10 WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY at Western Michigan, Oct. 10' FIELD HOCKEY at Albion, Oct. 6. WESTERN MICHIGAN, Oct. 7 WOMEN'S GOLF at MAIAW, Oct. 9-10, Mt. Pleasant. VOLLEYBALL at Eastern Michigan (Ferris St.), Oct. 6 at Grand Valley (Northern Michigan), Oct. 9. at Michigan State, Oct. 10. F MICHIGAN BOOK STORE 3 1 7lk L ______________________I The career decision you make today could influence national security tomorrow 4 For professionals at NSA contribute to the dual missions of foreign intelligence production and communications security Our Electronic Engineers, Computer Scientists and Mathematicians are working with systems at the cutting edge of technology. Career opportunities and challenge await you in any of these NSA career fields. Electronic Engineering: There are oppor- tunities in a variety of research and development projects ranging from individual equipments to very complex interactive systems involving large numbers of microprocessors, mini-computers and computer graphics. Professional growth is enhanced through interaction with highly experienced NSA professionals and through contacts in the industrial and academic worlds. Facilities for engineering analysis and design automation are among the best available. Computer Science: At NSA you'll discover one of the largest computer installations in the world with almost every major vendor of computer equipment represented. NSA careers provide mixtures of such disciplines as systems analysis and design, scientific applications programming, data base management systems, operating systems, computer networking/ security, and graphics. Mathematics: You'll work on diverse Agency problems applying a variety of mathematical disci- plines. Specific assignments might include solving communications-related problems, performing long-' range mathematical research or evaluating new techniques for communications security Linguists: NSA offers a wide range of challeng- ing assignments for Slavic,;Near Eastern and Asian language majors involving translation, transcription and analysis/reporting. Newly-hired linguists can count on receiving advanced training in their primary languages and can plan on many years of continued professional growth. NSA also offers a salary and benefit program that's truly competitive with private industry. There are assignments for those who wish to travel and abun-. dant good living in the Baltimore-Washington area for thoselwho wish to stay close to home. Countless cultui4, historical, recreational and educational opportunities are just minutes away from NSA's conyenient suburban location. At NSlyour future will be linked to the nation's. The vital role that the National Security Agency plays demands and ensures constant challenge and profes- sional grovth. lb find ut more about NSA career opportunities, schedule aninterview through your college placement office. For anditional information on the National Security Agency, fill in the information blank below and send it to Mr. Bernard Norvell, College Recruit- ment Manager, National Security Agency, Attn: Office of Employment (M32R), Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755. An Equal Opportunity Employer. U.S. citizenship required The National V, ( Nw, gency More than just a career r----------------- ------- -- I Ed like more information about career opportunities with NSA. I Name (print) _ Address[ Phone No. _ L I Y. Degree Level Major - ( University L------- ------------------- J--' AMERICAN LEAGUE West Division Oakland (Norris, 12-9) at Kansas City (Leonard, 13-12), 3:10 p.m. GRIDDE PICKS Sparky, Monte, Scotty and Wayne. It has been said that teams could not win with coaches who have first names like these. And if this weekend was any in- dication, that might be true. Not only did the Tigers and Lions lose big games, but the Pistons and Red Wings will soon open their usually depressing seasons. And to add insult to injury all of these prestiguous sports figures lost one more battle this weekend, the Griddes championship. Steve Hirtle, of Union Drive, correctly picked 16 games correctly to edge out these four sports giants and 42 other sports fans. Whether you have a normal name o* not you can be eligible for the free one- item pizza from Pizza Bob's and a chance to compete with the "experts" from the Daily football staff. Just turn in your picks at the Daily, 420 Maynard, before midnight Friday. 1. MICHIGAN at Michigan State (pick score.) 2. Indiana at Iowa 3. Ohio-State at Wisconsin 4. Illinois at Purdue 5. Northwestern at Minnesota 6. Florida State at Notre Dame 7. Oklahoma at Texas 8. UCLA at Stanf6rd 9. Arizona at Southern Cal 10. Oklahoma State at Kansas 11. Baylor at SMU 12. Maryland at Florida 13. Navy at Air Force' 14. Columbia at Princeton 15. Central Michigan at Western Michigan 16. Washington at California 17. Virginia at Clemson 18. Slippery Rock at Indiana (Pa.) 19. Graceland at Mid-America Nazarend 20. Daily Libels at Moo U. BILLBOARD 'October 15 marks the last day th Pasadena Tournament of Rose Association will accept postcard entries for the annual public sale of 3,500 tickets to the New Year's Day, 1982, football classic. To enter the ticket drawing, send your name and address on a postcard to Rose Bowl Ticket Drawing, P.O. Box 1800, Pasadena, CA 91109. Entries are limited to one per family. For additional information, call (213)449-4100 or 681-3724. Wednesdays & Thursdays 8:00 pm to Closing BEER % PRICE! PIZZA 25% OFF! ON WED. ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE OLD TIME MOVIES... Laurel & Hardy The 3 Stooges. Charlie Chaplin W. C. Fields Buster Keaton On Thur. come dance to Rock n Roll of the 50's & 60's. - - . c , , I4 Nw -* . h I _ _ __ _