w
EX-
Ex1 i'
" eager
McGee
finds
,niche
with
Lakers
By MARK FISCHER
"Everything cool."
Those two simple words, spoken by former
Michigan basketball standout Mike McGee after he
and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates defeated the
Detroit Pistons in East Lansing Thursday night, ser-
ve to sum up McGee's present situation quite well.
MCGEE, PICKED in the first round by the Lakers
in last spring's NBA draft, signed a four-year pact
with the club in August, and says that he is very hap-
py with it.
"There's not a better organization to get into," said
'Geeter.' "We're winning, and I'm happy about
that."
McGee is also happy about his role on the Lakers,
because it is a part he has been playing for his entire
hoop career-that of the scorer. As a senior in high
-school, McGee pumped in 38 points a game. At
Michigan, the 6-5 Omaha native tallied over 20 per
outing in the process of setting various all-time
Michigan and Big Ten scoring records.
NOW THAT HE'S a pro, McGee's job, according to
Laker coach Paul Westhead, is "to come off the ben-
ch and get us some scoring punch." Westhead said
that McGee is now the Lakers' eighth man, but that
"it's a key eighth spot" because, the coach explained,
the sixth man is defensive stalwart Michael Cooper,
the seventh is rebounding specialist Mark Lan-
sberger, and the eighth is McGee "to come in with,
some scoring."
"So eighth man doesn't necessarily mean eighth,"
Westhead continued. "He could be sixth."
Although he admitted it was hard to tell, Westhead
projected that McGee would log a significant amount
of playing time this season-"About 15 to 18 minutes
in a real (meaning close) game."
MCGEE ECHOED his coach's comments. "My
main role is to come off the bench scoring, and give
the starters a little rest," he said. "If we up, we'll
stay up, or maybe go up four or five (points)."
In the current NBA exhibition season thus far, the
Wolverine scoring king has lived up to his expec-
tations as a point producer.
"In the first game against Seattle, he came off the
bench and hit two shots in three seconds," said
Westhead, with perhaps just a touch of exaggeration.
McGee went on to score ten points in that contest,
which he followed with a six-point performance.
Against the Pistons, he hit on two of four tries from
the field for four points in 13 minutes of playing time.
"I'VE BEEN taking about four or five shots a
game," said McGee, who said that he realizes that he
is now a pro, and that there are other guys on his
team who can score, too, including Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar. "Got to go in to the big fella," said McGee of
Jabbar.
A forward in college, McGee is now adjusting to
playing shooting guard/small forward in the pros, as
The Michigan Daily-Saturday, October 17, 1981--Page 9
well as to the NBA's speedier pace. "It's a faster
game, and there's just a lot of great players in the
league," he said. "But that's OK, I can get up and*-
down the floor pretty good."
Westhead agreed, noting that McGee "has a lot of
tools which will make him a good player in our
league. We're impressed with his quickness and
scoring ability. He just has to get experience."\ Cyr___
MCGE E'SDEFENSIVE capabilities have long
been suspect and were sometimes criticized when he
was at Michigan, but he says his defense is getting
better.
"We're trying to train him to be a consistent defen-
sive player," said Westhead. "He's learning the skills
and the reality of NBA ball. He's got to recognize the
toughness of our league."
Unlike most rookies, McGee didn't get to taste the
NBA "reality" of.playing in the California Summer
Pro League this summer because of a sprained ankle
he suffered in Ann Arbor during a pickup game last
April. He has done a lot of ankle exercises and_ _ _ _
swimming since his cast came off in July, however,
and now says that the ankle is about "100 percent-it
doesn't bother me."
McGee has an apartment in sunny Los Angeles McGee
("real nice") and a new Mercedes sports car to go
along with his new team. Like McGee said, . . scoring for L.A. now
"everything cool."
SPORTS OF THE DAILY:
w Blue harriers race past Spa rtans,
ALAN GOLDSTEIN of Sigma Alpha Mu, relaxes while dribbling for the
American Heart Association. Goldstein is one of two "Sammies" planning to
dribble for the entire 24-hour marathon.
SAM bounces balls
e
for heart association
By DREW SHARP'
What force could drive a person to dribble a basketball on the Diag for 24
hours? Could it be the chance that Bill Frieder will walk by? Or could it bew
the opportunity to impress a young female passerby with some fancy han-
dwork? In the. case of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, the reason is sim-
ple-raising money for the American Heart Association.
For the fifth year, the "Sammies" are stationed near the Graduate
Library bouncing basketballs back and forth, hoping that the people walking
past them will stop momentarily to contribute some change.
"WHEN WE STARTED five years ago, we took in only about $600," said
James Sprayregen. "Last year, we took in $3,500 and this year we are
projecting a take-in of $4,000 or more."
The University chapter is not the only one which runs a "Bouncing for
Beats" marathon. According to Sprayregen, it's a national event.
"All 40 chapters around the country have a fund raiser similar to-this,"
added Sprayregen. "All of them are supposed to take place in March, but
since there is usually still some snow lingering around here, we decided to
have it in October."
IN ALL; 65 Sigma Alpha Mu members and pledges will have dribbled
basketballs when the 24-hour marathon ends at noon today. Two of the 65,
Jeff Rothstein and Alan Goldstein, are going the full distance.
"One of the reasons I'm going the full 24 hours is that I'm one of only three
people in the world who never sleep," joked Rothstein. "There's me, one in
Australia, and another one in Europe. We're a rare breed.
"Seriously, it is because I'm doing it for a great cause," he continued. "It's
a lot of fun and you do meet a lot of people out here on the Diag."
As far as pledge participation is concerned, Sprayregen adds, "Well,
somebody has to work the three to six morning shift."
Special to the Daily
EASTI ANSING-Michigan's men's cross
country team had four of the top five
individualfinishers yesterday as it ran
away to a 21-35 victory over Michigan
State. The win was the eighth straight
for the Blue harriers over the Spartans.
Wolverine senior Gerard Donakowski
won the meet with a time of 30:39, 14
second better than runner-up Michael
White of MSU.
THIRD, FOURTH and fifth place
belonged to Michigan as the
Wolverines' Bill O'Reilly, Jim Schmidt
and Dan Beck registered times of 30:51,
31:04 and 31:11, respectively.
The Spartans' Ted Unold captured
sixth place in 31:22, followed by team-
mate Tom Irmen, who was one second
slower at 31:23.
Michigan's Steve Brandt finished
eighth. followed by Martin Schulst of
MSU and the Wolverines' Bill Brady.
The victory over the Spartans oc-
cured in Michigan's first and only dual
meet of the season. The Blue harriers
next action is Oct. 31 in the Central
Collegiate Championships in Ypsilanti.
Icers edge Ferris, 3-2
Special to the Daily
BIG RAPIDS- Joe Milburn's power
play goal, 15:39 into the third period,
sealed a Michigan comeback as the
Wolverines squeaked past Ferris State,
3-2. The contest was the final scrim-
mage exhibition game for the Blue
icers.
Ferris took a 2-0 advantage into the
final period on goals by Paul Cook and
Jim Watchorn.
THE WOLVERINES started their
resurgence when Brad Tippett drilled
home a rebound shot, off Dennis May's
stick, past Ferris goalie Steve Falcone.
The tally cut Ferris' lead to one at the
4:56 mark of the period. The tying score
was made by freshman Jeff Grade, who
tapped a deflected shot by Mark Perry
into the Ferris net.
The winning goal occured while
Michigan was benefiting from one of
Ferris' 18 penalties. With an assist from
co-captains Dave Richter and Steve
Richmond, Milburn slipped the puck
between the legs of goalie Rob
Hughston, who replaced Falcone mid-
way through the third period.
The Wolverines used all three of their
goalies against Ferris State. Peter
Mason started and had five saves to his
credit. And freshmen Jon Elliott and
Mark Chiamp occupied the net for the
final two periods, collecting seven and
nine saves respectively.
Michigan will open its 1981-82 season
next weekend against Michigan Tech.
Koonce waived
PONTIAC (AP) - Donnie Koonce, a
rookie guard, and two-year veteran-
Keith Herron were placed on waivers
yesterday by the Detroit Pistons, who
reduced their preseason roster to 13,
the National Basketball Association
team said.
Koonce, who played at North
Carolina-Charlotte, was the Pistons'
fourth-round choice in this eyar's NBA
draft.
The Pistons unsuccessfully tried to
trade Herron, who was told last week
that he would not make the team, said
Bill Kreifeldt, a team spokesman. If
Herron is not claimed by another team
or doesn't sign as a free agent, the 6-7
guard-forward plans to play in Italy.
Madlock inks contract -
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Bill Madlock,
fresh off his third National League bat-
tling crown, announced yesterday he
Pas signed a six-year contract with the
Pittsburg Pirates that contains a
unique "weight clause."
Money terms were not disclosed, but
the Pirates had 'reportedly been of-
fering Madlock $900,000 a year.
BOTH SIDES confirmed that the deal
contains a clause that will penalize the
Piirate third baseman if the fails to
maintain proper poundage.
"I'm glad to get it over with, and I'm
looking forward to"a long and .suc-
cessful career in Pittsburgh," said
Madlock, attending a news conference
with his wife, Cynthia, and his agent,
Steve Greenberg.
"He is one of the finest players in the
game, and we're looking forward to Bill
being with us and giving us the kind of
leadership that is going to bring us
another championship here in Pit-
tsbugh," said Pete Peterson, the
Pirates' executive vice president.
Hall's eligibility in doubt
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Univer-
sity of Minnesota has confirmed that
senior guard Mark Hall, the Gophers'
second-leading scorer last year, is
scholastically ineligible to play basket-
ball, although Hall insists that he is.
"I feelthat I'm eligible," said the 6-2
speedster, who averaged 14.5 points a
game in 1980-81. "I've got the grades
and I've got the hours. It doesn't make
sense that I'm not eligible.
HALL IS NOT enrolled in a four-year
program and is therefore ineligible for
at least the fall quarter, the school's
admissions and records office said.
Hall cannot practice with the team or
play in Minnesota's non-conference
games, but he may become eligible af-
ter Jan. 1, when the Big Ten season
starts.
"There are always two worries when
something like this is in front of the
public for so long," said Coach Jim
Dutcher. "One is that somebody is
going to bend over backward to get him
eligible when it's not ethical to do so.
Or the opposite, when somebody pur-
posely hinders a guy's progress."
OAKLAND (AP) - Graig Nettles and
Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees'
teammates but longtine antagonists,
said yesterday that a misunderstanding
between their families had sparked a
heated fight during the club's
celebration of its 33rd American
League pennant.
Nettles, the veteran third baseman
and winner of the Most Valuable Player
Award in the Yankees' three-game
sweep over the Oakland A's in the AL
Championship- Series that ended Thur-,
sday night, apparently got the best of
the brawl. Eyewitnesses said Nettles
knocked down Jackson with a punch to
the mouth.
The incident, which lasted only a few
minutes, occurred at Vince's, a
restaurant near the Oakland Coliseum
and the Yankees' hotel, shortly after a,
series-clinching 4-0 victory had moved;
New York into the World Series.
Nettles by TKO
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
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ha ha ha TOM PARKS ha ha
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sat. oct17 8pm $300
union ballroom
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I
.
Ali comes back-again
0,
C.
NEW YORK (AP) - Muhammad Ali,
the three-time heavy-weight champion,
is scheduled to meet Trevor Berbick
in a 10-round bout at Nassau, Bahamas,
Dec. 11, the promoters announced
yesterday.
The bout previously had been set for
the same site Dec. 2.
ALI, 39, hasn't fought since being
stopped by World Boxing champion
Larry Holmes in the 12th round Oct. 2,
1980.
BOTH FIGHTERS will receive
guarantees.
James Cornelius, a spokesman for
Sports Internationale Ltd.,. said at a
Playboy Club news conference that
there would not be home television or
radio, only closed circuit and cable TV.
He said seats at the Queen Elizabeth
Sports Centre would be price from $50
to $1,000. A gate of $2.3 million is expec-
BILLBOARD
The U-M Alumni Association will hold
its fifth annual "Go Blue" Brunch prior
to the Michigan-Northwestern football
.d& ame. from 10-12:15 in the Trace and
ted, Cornelius said.
Ali has a record of 56 wins and four
losses. Berbick, 28; a native of Jamaica
who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has
28 victories, two losses and one draw. -
In a telephone hookup from Nassau,
Ali said he has been training there for
three weeks. He said he was in ex-
cellent condition and said he had un-
dergone checkups at UCLA, the Mayo
Clinic and the New York Medical Cen-
ter.
~1..,
.-
4/).
Al.
.. refuses to give up
rr
- ..