SPORTS
Page 9
i.
he Michigan Daily
Thursday, October 29, 1981
'M' TRACKSTER TURNS PRO
Meyer runs for the i
By CHUCK JAFFE
In the world of long distance running,
Greg Meyer is a pro-literally. Meyer
has given up his amateur status, and
decided to earn his living by running
road races for pay.
Meyer's decision was made official
last month, when he was stripped of his
amateur standing by The Athletic
Congress (TAC), after he accepted
prize money in the Cascade Run-Off.
This ruling also means that Meyer can-
not compete in TAC-sponsored events,
which include the New York and Boston
marathons..
"I'M THE one that made the
decision," Meyer said. "They (TAC)
are trying to sell athletes on an old
system. I think everybody realizes that
for top athletes, there are no true
amateurs."
"We'd like to see him work with TAC
and get his amateur standing back"
said TAC spokesman Pete Cava, "but
apparently, he's expressed no interest
in working with TAC."
The reason Meyer doesn't want to
regain his amateur status is simple -
he would make less money.
"I MADE a pretty good living as an
amateur, and believe me, I looked into
it before I made the switch" Meyer
said. "I wouldn't have switched if I
couldn't have done better.
Big Ten 3000-meter steeplechase
record-holder, and the first Michigan
native ever to run a sub-four minute,
mile. In addition, he currently holds
the American record in the 20-
kilometer run.
"HE NEEDED some coaching at fir-
st," said Michigan cross-country coach
Ron Warhurst, "But when you get to be
as good as he is, 90 percent of it is
natural ability."
Warhurst and Meyer have become
close friends, and Meyer calls his for-
mer coach a few times a month for tips
and criticisms.
"Ron's the person who got me run-
ning well, and everyone needs a critic,"
Meyer said. "He helps with my
training schedule and is an excellent
coach."
"SINCE HE graduated, he's gotten a lot
stronger," Warhurst said. "He can run
his race with almost anybody. It just
depends on the competition as to how
he'll run it."
Meyer plans on choosing his com-
petition carefully.
"If I am going to run for money, I'd
none
be a fool if I didn't gear myself for the
major races," he said. "I'll still take
time out to run small races, if I can
though."
THOSE SMALLER races could be the
more meaningful ones. Meyer spends y
much of his free time raising money for
charitable organizations. He
organized, and won, a 10-kilometer race
in his hometown of Grand Rapids for
the benefit of the Catholic school
system there. He is currently raising
money for the Special Olympics.
But despite Meyer's affinity for
raising money for himself and others,
he still views track as being enjoyable.
"You've got to remember that it's
still fun," Meyer said. "If it weren't,
I'd give it up.
"Being a professional isn't a big
change," he added. "When it comes
down to whether you want to keep
dreaming or become responsible for
your family, there can only be one right
choice."
Greg Meyer will keep on running,,,
now as a pro. But he won't be running
away.
"Everybody has to earn a living, and
I want to make mine by running," he
continued. "The pro set-up allows
everyone to make money, instead of
just the people good enough to make it
under the table."
Meyer has been good enough to make
it ever since he first came to Michigan
in 1973. He was a three-time cross-
country All-American, captain of both
the cross-country and track teams, the
Sports Information Photo
FORMER 'M' GREAT Greg Meyer -shows his All-American form as he
crosses the tape in the anchor-leg of a Wolverine relay. The current
American record holder in the 20-kilometer run has been stripped of his
amateur status and is now running as a professional.
Sharp
By DREW SHARP
.War or the Roses .. .
...It's just getting good
FROM "ZERO TO none" to "It's anybody's race" in just one week. That
is how Michigan coach Bo Schembechler has described his Wolverines'
chances of returning to Pasadena for a New Year's Day engagement at the
Rose Bowl.
Michigan's up and down season has caused everything but laughter with
its fans. With four games remaining in the season, confusion seems to
predominate Wolverine followers - confusion surrounding the format for
deciding the Big Ten championship in case of a tie. The following are the Big
Ten regulations governing participation in the Rose Bowl game.
a. The conference champion shall be the representative team. The
championship shall be determined on the percentage basis of conference
games (tie counts I/2 win and 1/2 loss).
b. If there is a tie, the winner of the game between the two teams shall
represent the conference.
c. If there is still a tie, or if the tied teams did not face each other, the
representative team shall be determined on the percentage basis of all
games played.
d. If there is still a tie, the most recent team representing the conference
shall be eliminated.
Now where does Michigan fit into all of this jargon. Considering the
Wolverines are no longer stung by the "upset" bug for the remainder of the
season, here is how they tie into the title picture.
Category A - If Iowa and Wisconsin, Michigan's two defeats this
season, lose one more game, the Wolverines would be the champ because
they have a better percentage than Iowa, which plays one fewer conference
game.
Category B - If Iowa loses one, but the Badgers do not, Wisconsin would
make the trip to California. Michigan would be knotted with the Badgers,
but due to its season opening loss in Madison, the Wolverines would yield to
Wisconsin.
Category C - This situation could only involve the Hawkeyes and the
Buckeyes since they are the only conference teams who will not face each
other this season.
Category D - The Wolverines played in the Rose Bowl last January so
they are automatically eliminated in this category.
There it is. Now you try to figure it out.
Women's Big Ten now a reality
By DAN NEWMAN become really competitive in every sport," commented
With a better future for women's athletics in mind, Ocker, adding that the conference may very well bring added
representatives of the women's Big Ten conference convened publicity and prestige to Michigan's women's athletic
in Chicago yesterday. The representatives discussed con- program.
ference scheduling and tournaments for the 1982-1983 season "I hope we will bring as much acclaim to Michigan as
after convincing the final holdout. men's sports has in the past," she said. "So far we're moving
Two weeks ago, Minnesota became the tenth and final Big in the right direction."
Ten school to accept guidelines and recommendations made FUTURE RECRUITING may be further enhanced by the
by a special conference task force concerning Big Ten establishment of the conference. "As competition becomes
reorganization. The other nine conference schools made their more involved in post-season play, the conference may
commitment at the Big Ten conference August 3-5. become more of a recruiting asset," explained Ocker. But
WHY DID WOMEN'S athletics in the Big Ten hesitate until she also added that usually when Michigan tries to recruit
this year to form an organized conference? other players, it is not just competing with the conference
"Forming a conference is a complicated practice which schools. Therefore, it's difficult to speculate on such an issue.
must come under the president's consent from each school," "It's too early to tell what effects (if any) the conference
explained Phyllis Ocker, Michigan's women's athletic direc- will have and to what degree," she said.
tor. "In the past, there wasn't much incentive or motivation How about the AIAW?
to form." "IN THE PAST, the teams (in conference) have been able to
However, Ocker feels that there has been a recent shift in choose between the NCAA and the AIAW," said Ocker. "But
attitude (not only in the Big Ten) towards the establishment the AIAW is a conference of independents and it has not
of conferences: "More and more schools are going the con- recognized any conference affiliation."
ference route," she said. What will happen with the relationship between Michigan's
THE WOMEN'S athletic director believes that numerous women's sports and the AIAW is also flexible. "At this point
factors caused this change in attitude, adding that an in time it's hard to say what the AIAW will do," said Ocker,
established conference will be beneficial because it will who added that the AIAW has been very good to Michigan.
guarantee a good schedule and also create natural rivalries. "The AIAW has broken down because the teams are
The feeling towards the conference is reflected in Ocker's moving towards conferences," Ocker said. "I wouldn't be
optimism. surprised if the AIAW changed and decided to recognize con-
"We're hopeful that Michigan's women's teams will ferences."
SCORES
NHL
Toronto 5. Pittsburgh 3
Edmonton 5, New York Rangers 3
Buffalo 6, St. Louis 2
FOLLETr'S
IM IC H IG A N OK.. T R
ELMARKO. FLAIR'®
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Michigan Hockey Statistics
Individual
Statistics
Team Statistics
MICHIGAN
It_____________________
No. Name Pos.
16 Spears C...........
14 Tippett LW ............
25 Brandrup LW..........
19 Kobylarz RW.........
7 Richmond D........
5 Richter D...........
3 Lundberg D..........
18 D. May RW ............
11 Grade C ...............
21 Milburn C...........
17 Yoxheimer C........
30 Elliott G ............
G
4
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
PTS
4
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
P/M
1/2
1/2
2/4
2/4
2/4
2/4
3/6
1/2
2/4
2/4
1/2
1/2
Goals............
Shots on goal.
Goalie saves......
Penalties..........
1 s s
3 3 0
23 13 20
15 16 18
6 10 4
OT Totals
- 6
- 49
- 20
OPPONENTS
Goals ...............
Shots on goal........
Goalie saves........
Penalties.........
1'
16
20
5
1
17
10
6
0
18
20
4
2
- 51
- 50
- 15
11
"A virtuosity that could set a hall
ablaze! A great performer! A master virtuoso!9
1 - The New York Times
C 198
S
ID
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Nathan MilsteinViolinist
Pergolesi: Sonata in E major
Bach: Adagio & Fuga from G-minor Sonata
Brahms: Sonata in D minor
Paganini: Caprices, Nos. 13 & 16
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz (trans. by Milstein)
Tchaikovsky: Meditation
Sarasate: Introduction e Tarantelle
Thursday,Oct.29, at 8:30
Hill Auditorium
Tickets at $13.00, $11.00, $10.00, $9.00, $7.00, $5.00