The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, February 3, 1988-Page 13 THE SPORTING VIEWS 1 By RICHARD EISEN Usually, it makes me sick to my stomach to see Los Angeles Dodger Manager Fat Tommy Lasorda get his fat hands on any good talent. Check that. It makes me very sick to my stom- ach. My stomach rests a little easier this time, be- cause Fat Tommy took Tigers slugger Kirk Gibson to the National League. My stomach settles because my favorite team is in the AL East and since Fat Tommy lured away Gibson, my team will probably not have to worry about the Tigers this year. Gibson and the rest of the 1985 free agents were let out of their contracts last week by arbitrator Tom Roberts, who ruled that the owners were colluding to close the free agent market in 1985. IN 1985, Gibson couldn't find a team that wanted his fantastic talents. In 1988, he got his sec- ond wind and ran off to the Land of Fat Tommy. And the Tigers blew it. The Tigers tried the same disgusting contractual strategy with Gibson, that they used in 1985 - Here's our offer, Kirk. Take it or leave it. They tried the same approach on Gibson that they used last year on Jack Morris and Lance Parrish. Here, Kirk. Take it or leave it. He left it. And the Tigers blew it. So far, Tigers General Bill Lajoie has been a Magician for his team. Last year, when the Tigers needed a good right-handed hitter, the Magician had Bill Madlock up his sleeve. Madlock helped lead the Tigers to a pennant. When :he Tigers needed another pitcher to finish out the season, 'ol Blackstone Lajoie got Doyle Alexander. Alexander practically handed the Tigers the pennant. WHEN LAJOIE made Parrish disappear, he pulled a rabbit out of his minor league hat with Matt Nokes. Nokes was a fantastic rookie, hitting more home runs than Parrish did last year. But this time the hat will be empty. There will be no way for Lajoie to replace Gibson. He probably won't be able to replace Gibson's bat, speed, and popularity with the fans. And he surely won't be able to replace Gibson's leadership qualities. "We have some players in our (minor league) system, we'll move some players around," said Lajoie on the day Gibson left. "We'll change our batting or- der a little bit and we'll certainly get by." Without Gibson, Tigers declawed But they might not get by. As any Tiger fan will admit, the Tigers minor league organization is weak, too weak to fill up the huge hole that Gibson left in the Tigers' lineup. BILLY BEANE is probably the minor league player that they will look toward to fill Gibson's shoes. Beane was brought up to the majors early last year when Gibson was injured, and performed admirably. But he was, and is, no Kirk Gibson. Gibson meant more to the Tigers than power and speed. He was their leader. He was a Tiger incarnate. He was tough and gruff. When he screamed, it looked as if he was roaring. Whenever Gibson was out, the Tigers were hurt. "When is Gibson coming back?" Tiger fans would ask, hoping that the Tigers could stay in the thick of things until Gibson could return. In 1986, when Gibson snapped his ankle sliding back into first base, the Tigers took a nose dive from which they could not return. Last year, Gibson was injured from the start of the season until May 4th, which hurt the Tigers. He came back and the Tigers went on to win a pennant. GIBSON WAS the Tiger's leader. When the Tigers depended on him to come through, he did. Down 1-0 against Toronto in the heat of the pennant race, Gibson hit a ninth inning home run to tie the game. The Tigers won the game in extra innings. That one home run symbolized Gibson's importance to the Tigers. Whenever the Tigers needed a home run, Kirk supplied it. Whenever you think of the Tigers championship season in 1984, you think of Gibson hitting a Goose Gossage fastball all the way to Hamtramck. Gibson was literally a Tiger. When Gibson was off the field, the Tigers were not the ;same. And to think that Gibson is perma- nently off the field is devastating for the Tigers . But as I said, that's no skin off my nose. My favorite team is in the AL East. They might not win it all, but at least they won't have to worry about the Tigers, for Gibson will be hitting home runs in Los Angeles this year. And as Gibson rounds the bases this summer and returns to the dugout, he won't be smiling at Sparky, but at Fat Tommy, And my stomach won't turn. ai -Associated Press' Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka pictured above as both a player and a coach, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday. Dietka elec M' wrestler Fisher won't quit until he reaches top By STEVEN COHEN Every person is faced with cir- cumstances which test character and determine fate. It is how one reacts to these situations which deter- mines one's success. Michigan star wrestler John Fisher is a veteran of such situations, and more often than not he comes out on top. Last night was one of the rare Soccasionswhen Fisher did not come out on top. Fisher was defeated by Oklahoma State's John Smith in a close contest, 9-4. The two met in a tournament at the University Of Northern Iowa, a meet at which only the top two wrestlers in each weight class were welcome. Fisher earned his invitation by being the nation's second-ranked wrestler at 134 pounds. Fisher faced the herculean task of ending the defending national champ's 77-match winning streak. SMITH has been the thorn in Fisher's side this season, costing him his only two losses. Fisher came close to beating Smith during a 12-8 loss at the National Sports Festival. A stronger performance is expected from Fisher during his ex- pected match with Smith at the NCAA championships. "Yeah, Smith is a machine," said Wolverine co-captain Joe Pan- teleo, "but so was Barry Davis." Fisher's victory over Davis dur- ing his first season at Michigan is proof of what one with a strong mental attitude can accomplish. During -his first year at Michigan, Fisher knocked off NCAA champ Davis, 14-3, in what has been called one of the biggest upsets in college wrestling history. "If he loses, he's even more de- termined. Some guys, once they lose to a guy, the next time around, they lose the match before they even go out there because of past experiences. They're psyched out. John is even more determined to beat the guy because he strives to be the best," said teammate Will Waters. EVEN IN victory, Fisher can be demanding of himself, as he showed during a recent match against Northwestern's Joey Bales. "The last time around we had a close match (6-4), but I didn't feel I wrestled well, and when he came off the mat he was kind of happy, he's thinking 'I went close with John Fisher'. This time I bet in his mind he doesn't think he can beat me and that's the way I want him to think," Fisher said after the match. Fisher feels that 95 percent of wrestling is mental. He would not have the positive mindset without help from his family and friends. His girlfriend, teammates, and coaches have all been supportive, but John credits his mother in par- ticular for helping him develop a winning outlook by "always believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself." FISHER recounts an incident that occurred during his sophomore year in high school. "That year, my mother thought I could beat this particular wrestler. She kept on telling me 'You can beat this guy' and I didn't really think I could. I lost to him, 4-4, in the semifinals, and he went on to win the States. I was thinking from now on I'm definitely going to be- lieve in my mother. Ever since then I'm always believing in myself. You've got to believe in yourself and never sell yourself short." This type of self-confidence has helped Fisher win the Amateur Wrestling News' Freshman of the Year award following the 1984-5 season, and win a Big Ten Cham- pionship last year. Now his sights are on the nationals. "1987 was Smith's year. I want 1988 to be mine," he said. CLASSIFIED ADSI Call 764-0557 Canton, Ohio (AP) - Mike Ditka said it really wasn't fair to have had as much fun as he did playing football and still be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chicago Bears coach was elected yesterday along with Fred Biletnikoff, Jack Ham, and Alan Page. "It's mind boggling," said Ditka, who played 12 years in the NFL as a tight end. Biletnikoff, a flanker with the Oakland Raiders famed for his tim- ing and exacting pass routes, said, "I can't tell you how excited I am. It's a big, big thrill for me." Ham, a key performer in the Pittsburgh Steelers' "Steel Curtain" during four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, said, "I'm ecstatic, I'm going in with some pretty good B.J. shoots Iowa offense into gear (Continued from Page 12) practicing. "If you start reading the clips, that could be your downfall, so consequently I never even read the paper." Armstrong might not read the sports page, but chances are he glances at the business section. In addition to playing for the United States at the 1987 World University Games in Yugoslavia last summer, the communications major and business minor worked as an assis- tant to a stockbroker at Securities Corp. of Iowa. HE EVEN found time to shed his sneakers and his suit coat to put on a pair of water skis. "I wouldn't mind being a stock- broker," Armstrong said. "It's really interesting to me. You never know how the market's going to fluctuate from day to day. I think it would be exciting for me since I have that kind of attitude and that kind of personality." Armstrong does not disregard the possibility of playing professional basketball either, but he refuses to dwell on it. He would rather keep all of his options open. company." Page, a cornerstone at defensive tackle on the Minnesota Vikings' famed 'Purple People Eaters' defense said, "(My) whole career was a highlight." Ditka, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, was named NFL rookie of the year in 1961 after catching 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns. Three years Rent a Car from Econo- Car OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK later, he had 75 catches, a record for tight ends that stood for 16 years. The 6-foot-3, 225 pound native of Carnegie, Pa., did not miss a start in 84 games with the Bears and earned All-Pro honors his first four sea- sons. He had 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career. After being traded to Philadelphia in 1967, Ditka finished his career with four seasons at Dallas. r+ f WE RENT T019 YR. OLD STUDENTS! * Choose from small economical cars to fine luxury cars. * Special weekend rates * Pick-up services upon request. " We accept cash deposits. ECONO-CAR REM-A"GAR 438 W. Huron 761-8845 ANNARBOR j 00p, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 AT 7:30PM MICHIGAN UNION PENDELTON ROOM ETHNIC SLUR OR HARMLESS FUN? Join "Talk to Us," Hillel's issue-Oriented theater company and Dr. Gary Spencer, Professor of Sociology fron Syracuse University in a performance-discussion on the concept of the "Jewish American Princeess." Sponsored by: U-M Program on Judaic Studies, U-M Program on Women's Studies, U-M Department of Sociology, th uJewish Feminist Group of Ann Arbor, A IIM Hill Street Forum, U-M Office of Ethics and Religion. The All My Muffins "MUJFFETS" A Soup expires feb * present * & Muffin Special... ONLY $1.79! (save O}), A& .29 1220 S. University 747-7009 Explore Career Plans and Opportunities * Over 100 major employers in business, industry, government and education * Graduate schools representing a variety of disciplines The University of Michigan's 14th Annual C4A REER CONFERENCE 0 S , . . n *iDsa. Wednesday, February 3 10:00 am-S:00 pm ThursdayInformal discussions with Michigan League Thursday, ~employers and graduate ~ ot nal February'4 c gan,,sdur.,, 227 South Ingalls Febrary 4 schools. Interviews scheduled 900 am-5:00 pm for Thursday. The Michigan League is n__ barrier-free. If you need It's time we thanked them, don't you think? CALL FOR NOMINATIONS THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS I