The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, April 20, 1988- Page 15 Eli sours in Big Apple, returns to Detroit By MIKE GILL In an age of wayward sons, this one has come home. Detroit's own wayward son, sportscaster Eli Zaret, has seen the light and returned to the Motor City. Start spreadin' the news. ZARET did not want to be a part of it - nor did his boss want him to - in ol' New York. So Zaret headed back to those "little town" blues - and is glad he did. He was led astray. Now he is waking up in a city in which he once was king of the hill, top of the heap. He hopes to regain the title of Detroit's No. 1- rated sportscaster from his replace- ment, Bernie "We got highlights" Smilovitz. Working at WJBK for close to a month now, Zaret pro- fesses, "I have my own game plan to recapture the top spot." Zaret left WDIV in 1985 to be- come the top sports anchor at WABC in the Big Apple. Originally from New York, Zaret attended the University, be- ginning in 1968. "I learned a lot at U of M," said Zaret in a recent in- terview. "Reading the Daily, listening to CBN, covering some games on local cable TV - I've got some very fond memories of my years in Ann Arbor. ZARET continued to live in Ann Arbor until 1976, b u t specifically recalls one incident irom a college class that had a great impact on him. "I remember taking Speech 425 with Dr. (Frank) Beaver and I remember doing a really bad job on a demonstration. I got a 'C' in that course. One of the comments was that I acted in an unprofessional manner, which was probably true. "It was very gratifying that as I got more serious about radio and television I had him in some later classes and did much better. It's re- ally neat to think he's still there." Joining the "Go Four It" station as a weekend sports anchor, Zaret quickly saw his stock rise. After a career solely in radio - namely WABX, WJZZ, and WRIF, Zaret experienced early problems adjust- ing to the television aspect of the communications business. But he began a "meteoric rise" to the top of the Detroit marketplace in a very short time. Zaret got his big break by co- hosting the Tiger pre-game show. Zaret, earlier known for his zingers on ' radio - tough-hitting commentary - was now recog- nized as the person who reported on the Tiger's good fortune. "My challenge is now to become No.1 without that kind of vehicle to ride," said Zaret. HE SAID covering the 1984 Tigers along with the 1980 Winter Olympics were his greatest thrills. He points to one incident, while hosting the pre-game show live in Toronto, that was his big moment in the broadcasting business. "I was interviewing Rick Leach," said Zaret. "As the show was ending, Marty Castillo hit me in the face with a pie. It seemed to become a trademark for me. People saw it and they just thought it was really neat. "I think it showed my relation- ship with the Tigers, that I was close enough with them that they could play pranks and treat me as one of the guys. I think it was both humorous and it endeared me to them and helped my public image too. It never hurts to be the butt of a joke, to show you can laugh at yourself." While in New York City, Zaret was the butt of a joke he would rather not be. Working at a station which consistently finished last in the ratings, Zaret was canned after two years on the job. While WABC refused comment on the matter, Zaret holds no grudges. "It was a great experience," he said. "I certainly learned a lot about the business. I learned a lot about why I was successful here. Getting away from it and seeing the busi- ness from a different perspective in the No. 1 market just gave me a richer understanding of it all." While in New York, Zaret faced the likes of Warner Wolf, Mary Albert, and Len Berman. "It was very exciting," Zaret said. "Nobody in my profession can face a more difficult challenge than that. I thought there were many nights where I had more and did a better job than they did." COMING TO WJBK and Detroit with a new multi-year pact gives Zaret a "safe, secure, and familiar zone." Christine Sloat, news director at WJBK, said she has received many letters from people who are glad to have Zaret back in town. Sloat said there has been no power struggle between Zaret and sportscaster Fred McLeod, who has seen his role at the station diminish since Zaret's arrival. "They are working together. Any reports that there are big feuds are all phony and I don't know where they are com- ing from." Zaret insists that McLeod would have a reason to be upset. "Any time you get two guys battling for left field, two guys for the starting quarterback job, or two guys bat- tling to be No. 1 in the market, you have a chance at conflict. We're both very competitive, we both want to be the best. If I'm cutting into his air time, I expect him to be a little resentful. So far there haven't been any incidents." Now Zaret is singing hello to Detroit once again. He looks for- ward to returning to a familiar market - a little wiser, a little more mature. "You never want to think that any farewell is final," Zaret said. This time the wayward son's farewell wasn't final. And this wayward son has come home. -Associated Press New Jersey's Roy Hinson slams against Atlanta's Kevin Willis last night.} Celtics trcahPistonsK BOSTON (AP) - Kevin McHale matched his season high of 33 points and Robert Parish scored 25 as the Boston Celtics defeated Detroit, 121-110, last night and won the battle with the Pistons for homecourt advantage throughout the NBA's Eastern Conference playoffs. Boston broke a two-game losing streak, both on the road, a n d improved its record to 56-23, while Detroit fell to 52-27. With each team having three regular-season games left, the Pistons cannot pass the Celtics for the conference's best record. The two teams met in the East finals last season and Boston, which had the homecourt advantage, won in seven games. Tuesday night's victory was the Celtics' 22nd in a row at home against the Pistons. It was the 17th straight win by the home team in games involving the two clubs as Detroit has won its last eight home games against Boston. Detroit got the first four poits on baskets by Isiah Thomas and Adrian Dantley, but Boston took the lead for good on a dunk by Parish that made the score 10-8 with 8:50 left in the first quarter. A 12-2 run put the Celtics ahead 18-10, and they led 31-24 after one quarter. Leading 52-43, Boston got nine of the next 11 points, all on free throws, to take a 61-45 advantage. The lead was 61-47 at intermission and ranged from 11to 26 points the rest of the way. An 8-0 run, in which McHale and Parish had four points each, gave the Celtics their biggest lead, 83-5,7, with 6:09 left in the third quarter. The closest Detroit got after that was the final score. The Pistons, who had their three- game winning streak snapped, Jtad eight scorers in double figures, lpd by Thomas with 21 points and James Edwards with 16. | " f we Red Sox beat Tigers, 7-3 th feel that abut each ther. I was DETROIT (AP) - Roger en route to his.first career victor at 'ding back when he was nothing. Clemens struck out 11 in eight Tiger Stadium. Clemens strucl t ruse Jack and the Tigers were innings as the Boston Red Sox beat at least 10 for the third time in oer .cessful, it really helped me too. the Detroit Tigers and Jack Morris, starts and leads the American League 7-3, last night. with 44 strikeouts. It was the 24h Clemens, 3-0, allowed seven hits time he has struck out 10 or more WHAT'S A DEGREE GOOD FOR? PRE-APPROVED CREDIT FROM FORD CREDIT ( ) $400 CASH BONUS FROM FORD (py/) ALL OF THE ABOVE AT NORTH BROS. Congrats. Un Kappa Few. The fun's just beginning. Best wishes to the class of '88 from the beers that are in a class by themselves. HJ and HJ LIGHT There's no smoother or better way to celebrate your success. Thesmootherthe better.