Page 8 -The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 13, 1985

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THE SPORTING VIEWS

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Clay molds to

job

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NBA East...
...Celtics, Bucks should repeat
By DOUGLAS VOLAN
Part one of a capsule summary of the NBA. Today, the East and
Central divisions.
Boston Celtics: The Celtics will be back and better than ever. With the
offseason acquisitions of Jerry Sichting and Bill Walton, the Celtics now
have the much needed depth they craved for last season. Sam Vincent
was a steal in the draft and will provide back up for starters Danny Ainge
and Dennis Johnson. The frontline of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and
Robert Parish could be the best in basketball.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers will put a lot of pressure on the Celtics
this season. They return with their starting five of Moses Malone, Charles
Barkley, and Julius Erving up front, with Maurice Cheeks and Andrew
Toney on the backline. Leading the bench will be the always reliable Bob-
by Jones and rookie Terry Catledge, who should see a lot of time this
season.
The Sixers though have to face the problem of age, however. Moses
Malone is in his twelfth season and his knees might not be able to take
much more. Julius Erving is 35, and Bobby Jones is 33.
New Jersey Nets: New Nets coach Dave Wohl is going to take this team
far. But not this year. Wohl's biggest challenge will be to motivate guard
Micheal Ray Richardson and center Darryl Dawkins. If these two players
play up to their abilities, the Nets will make a lot of noise in the east. Otis
Birdsong combines with Richardson to form one of the best backcourts in
the NBA.
New York Knicks: With the addition of Patrick Ewing, Knicks fans ex-
pect a big season from the team. Ewing, however, will not be enough to
change the Knicks' fortunes. The Knicks must have a healthy Bernard
King and Bill Cartwright to stay competitive. In other words, the Knicks
won't be competitive for a while.
Washington Bullets: The Bullets underwent a facelift in the offseason,
trading away two members of their front line, Rick Mahorn and Greg
Ballard. The two new starters at forward, joining all-star center Jeff
Ruland, will be the aging Dan Roundfield and Cliff Robinson.
Gus "the one man fast break" Williams will run the show at point and
will be joined by the sharp shooting Jeff Malone in the backcourt. The big
project on the Bullets is 7-7 Manute Bol, who could become the greatest
shotblocker in NBA history.
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks should once again capture the Central
division crown, but they're going to have some fight from the Pistons and
the Bulls. The Bucks have a strong nucleus of Sidney Moncrief, Terry
Cummings, and Paul Pressey, but they have trouble at pointguard (Craig
Hodges) and center (Alton Lister). Lister is good, but is not able to stand
up to the likes of Moses Malone or Robert Parish.
Detroit Pistons: The Pistons have loads of talent but are too incon-
sistent to capure the title from the Bucks. Isiah Thomas, last year's assist
champion, runs the Piston offense and is joined in the backcourt by scorer
John Long. Up front the Pistons still have the underwhelming Bill Laim-
beer, Earl Cureton, and Kelly Tripucka.
The newly acquired Rick Mahorn leads a good bench which also has
Vinnie Johnson and rookie Joe Dumars to lend support to Thomas and
Long. The holdout of Terry Tyler is going to hurt.
Chicago Bulls: The Bulls with the spectacular Michael Jordan and with
unheralded Orlando Woolridge, could have the most talented roster in the
NBA. However, they lack a quality big man, and as has been shown, a
championship cannot be won without a good center. So Bulls fans will
have to be content this year with Dave Corzine.
Cleveland Cavaliers: After last year's great showing in the playoffs
against the Celtics, Cavalier fans expect big things from their team.
World B. Free leads the way along with the emerging Roy Hinson. The
Cavs also have the beef up front to compete with the bigger teams, with
such players as Melvin Turpin, Lonnie Shelton, Ben Poquette, and Edgar
Jones. The underrated John Bagley will return to run the offense and he
will get help from newly acquired Ennis Whatley.
Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks are led by the ever-exciting Dominique
Wilkins who will try his hand at guard this season, switching there from
small forward. Atlanta also has a lot of height with seven footers Tree
Rollins, Kevin Willis, and first round draft pick Jon Koncak.
Recently acquired Ray Williams will join the Atlanta backcourt which
has rookies Spud Webb and John Battle, and holdover Randy Whittman.
Indiana Pacers: This could be the season that the Pacers finally make
the playoffs. They have what could be the best front line in basketball,
with Steve Stipanovich, Herb Williams, Clark Kellogg, and rookie Wayman,
Tisdale.
The backcourt, previously a disaster, has sharpened up with the additions
of veterans Quinn Buckner and Clint Richardson. They join two second-
year players with a lot of promise, Vern Fleming and Terence Stansbury.
THINK
THICKON

Miller makes adjustments on offense

By MIKE REDSTONE
While most people think of clay as a
soft, pliable substance, Michigan's of-
fensive line counts on its hunk of
'Clay' as a source of strength and
solidity.
Clay Miller, a 6-4, 273 pound
lineman, has been a stabilizing force
for Bo Schembechler's offense over
the last several seasons. The fifth-
year senior has started every game
since the 1983 season as Schem-
bechler's strong tackle.
LAST SATURDAY against Purdue,
however, Miller was moved to strong
guard in an attempt to strengthen an

offensive line decimated by injuries.
Despite playing guard for the first
time since his high school days, Miller
took the adjustment in stride.
"When you play offensive line for
the last three years, you know what
everyone else is doing." said the
Norman, Ok. native. "I've been
there for so long I know what every
position is supposed to do. That's one
of the reasons they moved me to
guard."
MILLER BEGAN his career at
Michigan in 1981 as a 238-pound defen-
sive tackle. He started three games
for the Bluebonnet Bowl bound
Wolverines that year before being

sidelined with an injury to his left
knee.
The following year, Miller was
switched to offensive tackle after
gaining about thirty pounds. He ac-
cepted the switch as just another
challenge in his football career.
"Offensive line has got to be one of
the toughest positions," said Miller.
"You've got to be big and physical,
but it's a controlled aggression. You
just can't go wild like an animal out
there-trying to tear somebody's
head off. You'll end up looking foolish.
"YOU'VE GOT to be smart, too,
because when they (opposing defen-
ses) throw different stuff at you,
you've got to be able to adjust, like

coming behind people to pick
somebody else up."
And if brains are a necessity for an
offensive lineman, then Miller was
destined to be a good one.
Coming from an academic
background (his father is a law
professor at Oklahoma University),
Miller earned entrance into the
National Honor Society while piling
up six letters in football and basket-
ball at Norman High School.
LAST YEAR Miller's academic honors
continued as he was named to the
Academic All-American second team.
He was also the recipient of
Michigan's Robinson Award for
academic excellence.
With his academic record, Miller is
not worried about his life after
graduation, but he is hoping to play
professional football in 1986.
"I'n not banking on it (playing pro
football). I'd very much like to play

'You just can't
wild like an animal
there - trying to t
someone's headc
You'll end up look
foolish.'

go
out
ear
off.
sing

I

- Clay Miller
Michigan guard/tackle

4

Daily Photo by DAN HABIB
Michigan offensive guard Clay Miller congratulates fellow lineman John Elliott during the Wolverines 47-0
romp over Purdue. Because of injuries, Miller was moved from tackle to guard for last week's game.
Goalie' s organsdonated

T

)V

STRATFORD, N.J. (UPI) - The
family of Philadelphia Flyers goalie
Pelle Lindbergh, brain dead since
crashing his sports car, decided
yesterday to remove him from a
respirator and donate his vital organs
for transplant.
A team doctor, speaking for the
Swedish athlete's family, said they
hoped the transplants would mean the
all-star goaltender's "ultimate save
might be to save some other people."
LINDBERGH, 26, the flyers' most
valuable player and the National
Hockey League's top goaltender last
year, will be removed from a
respirator and other life support
measures after the transplant
operation.
Flyer team physican Dr. Edward
Viner declined to specify when the
operation would take place, citing the
desire of Lindbergh's parents and
fiancee for privacy.
Lindbergh, known to love high-
performance cars and fast driving,
was declared brain dead Sunday after
he missed a curve and drove his
custom-built Porsche into the con-
crete steps of a school in Somerdale,
N.J., near Philadelphia.
"From a purely medical point of
C
z r
a k
t
PASS
IT
AROUND!

view, he's been dead since 5:40 Sun-
day morning," said Viner, acting as a
spokesman for the family. 'They have
accepted the finality of his condition."
Tests showed Lindbergh was legally
drunk at the time of the accident with
a blood-alcohol level of .24 percent,
more than twice the limit for drivers
in New Jersey. Two passengers in

GRIDDE PICKS

William (The Refrigerator) Perry
has become the hottest thing since
sliced bread. With television and
promotional appearances, the Fridge
is quickly gaining status as a national
hero.
What most people do not know,
however, is where the Refrigerator
obtained his girth. As a child, William
continually won Griddes, and the full-
tray Sicilian pizza or Chicago stuffed
pizza or whole sub sandwich from
Pizza Express, and Dooley's guest
pass that goes to the winner. To the
Fridge, Griddes isn't a game, it's a
snack.
1. MICHIGAN at Minnesota
(pick total points)
2. Indiana at Illinois

3. Iowa at Purdue
4. Wisconsin at Ohio State
5. Northwestern at Michigan State
6. Notre Dame at Penn State
7. Auburn at Georgia
8. Air Force at BYU
9. Arkansas at Texas A&M
10. Toledo at Bowling Green
11. Maryland at Clemson
12. Southern Cal at Washington
13. Southern Mississippi at Alabama
14. Mississippi State at LSU
15. Colorado at Oklahoma
16. Navy at South Carolina
17. Mississippi at Tennessee
18. North Carolina at Virginia
19. Nevada-Las Vegas at Nevada-
Reno
20. DAILY LIBELS vs. Aluminum
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Lindbergh's car were also injured in
the crash.
"The family is very distressed
about the issue of alcohol because in
Sweden, certainly, that's a very
negative thing," Viner said. "He
wasn't a drinker. I want to emphasize
that again and again."

and I think somebody will give me a
shot somewhere," said the economics
major. "If I'm good enough, great,
but if I'm not I can handle it."
AS A FIFTH-YEAR senior, Miller is a
leader on the team and has been one
of the main contributing factors to the
turnaround of this year's squad after
last season's 6-6 finish.
With two big games left, Miller is
hoping to help the Wolverines earn a
bowl bid which will keep him away
from home on New Year's Day.
"I wasn't satisfied last year," said
Miller, whose parents both went to
Michigan. "I am very happy so far
this year. I have rno regrets.
"If we win the last two we'll be,
somewhere nice on New Year's day.
I'm very confident of that."
AND IF THE Wolverines hope to win
their last two games, the rebuilt of-
fensive line will have to continue
opening holes for tailback Jamie
Morris and providing Quarterback
Jim Harbaugh with the necessary
time to throw the ball.
Of course, Miller will be there as the
clay to mold the offensive line into a
solid unit.
"For some places, 6-6 is a high
point," said Miller, "but we don't
think that way here. I didn't want to
end my career at the U of M on a sour
note. That's what I came back for."
UPI Top Twenty

Thursday
Only $4.00 for a
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and extra thick crust.

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STUDY IN LONDON, SUMMER, 1986
Comparative Health Care Systems: The British National
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classroom, field trips and individual placements
July 6- August 8, 1986
at
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1. Penn State (34).........9-0-0
2. Nebraska (4)............8-1-0
3. Ohio State (1)..........8-1-0
4. Air Force (3) ...........10-0-0
5. Iowa.................8-1-0
6. Oklahoma ...............6-1-0
7. Miami, Fla..............8-1-0
8. MICHIGAN ............7-1-1
9. Arkansas.............8-1-0
10. Oklahoma St.........7-1-0
11. UCLA ..................7-1-1
12. Georgia ................7-1-1
13. Auburn ................7-2-0
14. Florida St..............7-2-0
15. Brigham Young ........8-2-0
16. Baylor...............7-2-0
17. Tennessee............ 5-1-2
18. Louisiana St.........5-1-1
19. Texas A&M ............6-2-0
20. Texas ..................6-2-0

614
560
498
489
415
406
391
295
281
252
211
139
126
75
57*
55
40
38
19
13

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