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 ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haha ha ha ha TOM PARKS ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha sat. oct17 8pm $300 union ballroom N F 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 - ..