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Page 12 -The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, September 15, 1987




THE SPORTING VIEWS

Poor leadership takes
roar out of the Lions

Stickers edge EMU,

1-0

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By BILL HOBSON
The Detroit Lions. Enough said
-- the name speaks for itself.
Any fan, no matter how loyal,
has to admit the NFL team in
Michigan has been consistently bad
for the last three decades and isn't
making progress. So now, it's time
to pose the big question - who is
to blame for the last thirty years of
losing?
The quarterbacks? The blame for a
sad franchise history cannot be
placed on the shoulders of the signal.
callers. It's hard for anyone to look
impressive when the play calling
consists of three runs and a punt. All
the QB can do is work with what
he's given. For example, take the
Billy Sims' era in Detroit. Before
Sims' arrival, Eric Hipple was
already established as a loser. Hipple
telegraphed every pass and never
seemed to get the job done.

Then came Sims. His presence
gave Hipple someone to work with,
and Hipple began to receive some
attention. When Sims' career
suddenly ended in Minnesota, Hipple
again went downhill.
To get to the real problem, one
has to look past even the hunched
shoulders of Darryl Rogers to the
men who are responsible for hiring
within the organization. Owner
WilliamhClay Ford and General
Manager Russ Thomas combine to
form one of the most ineffective
management combinations in sports.
Ford bought the franchise in 1963
for $4.5 million and immediately
promoted then assistant coach
Thomas to Personnel Director.
This dynamic duo has brought
nothing but frustration to the Lion's
faithful. Improvement (Detroit won
the NFC Central with a 9-7 record in
1983) never seems to last. That's

because Ford and Thomas are more
concerned with attendance figures
than the Lions' record. Thomas is
very fortunate Detroit fans support a
loser. I
Perhaps the worst part of the
Ford-Thomas regime, is their
reluctancy to make changes. Monte
Clark stayed in Detroit long after it
was clear he was taking the Lions
nowhere. Instead of looking for a
replacement, Thomas simply rewrote
his wait until next year speech.
This year, Thomas surprised
everyone by cutting team leader
Leonard Thompson, in an effort to
put together a younger, more
effective team." This more effective
team stepped onto the Metrodome
turf and lost to the Vikings. The
young players on the team,
excludi &g Chuck Long, were
virtually nonexistent. Tight end Rob
Rubick dropped a touchdown pass as
did Pete Mandley.
The Lions are headed for another
losing season, one which will help
cement them as one of the league's
worst teams. A predicament that
would cause a Jimmy Devallano,
Bill Lajoie, or Jack McCloskey to
make major changes. Compare the
moves made by the Red Wings',
Tigers', and Pistons' General
Managers to those made by Thomas.
But then again, what else can you
expect from an Ohio State graduate?

By ROB LEVINE
The impressive 1987 start for the women's field
hockey team continued last night as the Wolverines
defeated Eastern Michigan at Tartan Turf, 1-0.
Michigan's record is now 5-0 while EMU's record fell
to 0-3 and 2-11-1 lifetime against the Wolverines.
Senior Trisha Mondul scored the game's only goal
at 6:27 of the second period. She leads the Wolverines
in goals scored with three, having scored two on
Sunday in Michigan's 2-1 victory over Miami of
Ohio.
"She's (Mondul) playing exactly the way I want
her to play," said Michigan head coach Karen Collins.
"I think she's going to be a threat all season."
The Wolverines put heavy pressure on EMU's
goalie all night, totaling 24 shots on goal. Mondul
and junior Sara Clark played most of the game around
EMU's goal. The Hurons, though, were unable to
put any shots on Michigan goalie Gillian Pieper.

Pieper has not allowed a goal this season, chalking
up eight saves in four shutouts.
EMU head coach Chris Loscalzo, who recently
took over as coach of the Hurons, did not have high
expectations going into the game. "We've only had a
week's practice," said Loscalzo, "and we were going
into these games (pre-MAC conference) with the
attitude that these were practice for us.
"We wanted to win the games and went out to win
the games, but these were just games to prepare us.
We're playing a whole new system. We have a great
defense, now we're trying to work with our offense."
Michigan's defense continued to shine with first-
year student Tricia Maran and senior Katrina Warner
not allowing EMU any good scoring chances.
Collins is looking forward to this weekend's road
trip to Rhode Island, nationally-ranked Massachusetts
and Springfield. "We're very confident right now,"
said Collins. "It should really be a good test for us
before we start the Big Ten season."

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Gri:even the Pope plays-


Mets rally
New York (AP) - Gary Carter,
Darryl Strawberry and Keith
Hernandez drove in two runs apiece
last night as the New York Mets
rallied to defeat the Chicago Cubs,
6-5.

past Cubs
Rick Aguilera, 9-2, pitched six
innings for his sixth straight
victory, five of them since being
activated from the disabled list on
Aug. 24. Jesse Orosco went the final
three innings for his 15th save.

AUDITIONS
OPEN CALL!!
Residence Hall Repertory Theatre
Auditions:
Sept. 15& 16,1987
7:00-9:00 pm
West Lounge, South Quad
The Residence Hall Repertory Theatre will rehearse
4:00-6:00 pm every Tuesday and Thursday
and will perform Wednesday evenings.
"TALK TO US"
Auditions:
September 15& 16,1987
7:00-9:00 pm
West Lounge, South Quad
"Talk to Us" will rehearse 4:00-6:00 pm on Wednesdays,
and will either perform or rehearse on Sundays,
4:00-6:00 pm.

Many celebrities have played
Griddes over the years. There is a
new face playing this week; a face
that hasn't been seen in this country
in over five years.
Yes, none other than the leader of
the Roman Catholic Church and a
staunch supporter of Notre Dame and
Boston College, Pope John Paul II
has sent in his Gridde picks.
Inside sources from the Vatican
have told Griddes staffers that John
Paul II, on his visit to Detroit on
Saturday, would be willing to watch
a quarter or two of the Michigan
State-Notre Dame game on
television after addressing a record
crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome.
After Notre Dame's convincing
win over Michigan last week, the
Pontiff, who had predicted an Irish
win and 33 total points in the game,
was heard saying, "I could have won
Griddes last week, if only I had
entered the country just one day
earlier."

Determined not to waste another
opportunity, John Paul II rushed off
to his nearest New Orleans post

office yesterday to make sure that he
did not miss this week's deadline,
Whereas you may not receive the,
ovation given the Pope for turning
in your Griddes picks, you too could
be a Griddes winner.
Pick the winning team in the 20
games listed below and bring your
entry form to the Daily, 42(
Maynard, second floor, before 5 p.m,
Friday. The winners will receive a
prize to be named later.

a

Our Ads
Get Results.
13 aiI ,

The Pope
... gridde hopeful

"Let Confidence Do Your Kicking!"
KOREAN KARATE

1. Washington State at
MICHIGAN
(pick total points)
2. Michigan State at Notre
Dame
3. Northwestern at Missouri
4. Louisville at Purdue
5. E. Carolina at Illinois
6. Oregon at Ohio State
7. Indiana at Kentucky
8. California at Minnesota
9. Utah at Wisconsin
10. Iowa at Iowa State
11. S. Carolina at Miami,
Fla.
12. Florida at Alabama
13. Georgia at Clemson
14. Boston College at USC
15. Washington at Texaj
A&MA
16. Stanford at Colorado
17. Virginia at Virginia Tech;
18. W. Virginia at Maryland
19. Stephen F. Austin a t
McNeese State
20. New Haven at SLIPPERY
ROCK
WEEKEND
MAGAZINE
Fridays in The Daily
763-0379

Good News for North Campus Students!
Your Textbooks
are at the
North Campus
Commons Bookstore.
Textbooks for all North Campus and
Medical courses are here. We also
stock a full line of school supplies
and Michigan clothing.
All art supplies are
discounted up to 20%
for U of M students.
RTORF HOTITR.

Trial
Lessons
$9.95
Bring a friend,
no extra
charge!

At
The Academy
Achievement Center
Master Keith Hafner
The Academy
220 S. Main
Ann Arbor, MI
994-0333

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