Page 12 -- The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 7, 1988
MSU
Continued from Page 1
outgoing senior players.
"I WOULDN'T even like to
think about that (losing)," Michigan
senior defensive tackle Mark
Messner said. "It's like your mom
saying when you're young, 'Don't
spill the milk, don't spill the milk.'
I don't even think about it. I'm sure
they feel the same way."
For anyone who needs reminding,
the Spartans defeated Michigan last
year in East Lansing, 17-11, en
route to the Big Ten title and a
victory in the Rose Bowl. Michigan
State intercepted seven Demetrius
Brown passes, four of them by
defensive back John Miller.
"The thing I remember most
about that game was going to the
sidelines, getting a drink of water
and then hearing those words,
'Sudden change,"' Messner recalled.
Sudden change meant another
Michigan turnover.
THE SPARTANS have exper-
ienced their own version of a sudden
change so far in 1988. Michigan
State (0-3-1 overall, 0-0-1 in the Big
Ten) finds itself without a win after
four games. The offense has sput-
tered, averaging just over eight
points per game. The Spartans
scored a season-high 13 points
against Rutgers in their opener.
The ever-wary Schembechler calls
Michigan State the best winless
team in the country, citing the
Spartans difficult early schedule as
the reason for their slow start.
"The game is played without
thought of record, and who's
supposed to win and why," Messner
said. "I don't think anyone cares
what the school's have done in the
past."
Messner will line up across from
Michigan State's own Incredible
Hulk, senior offensive tackle Tony
Mandarich (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) for
the fourth and final time. "It will be
a great battle up front," Schem-
bechler said. "There's no question
about that."
MANDARICH returned to the
Spartans' lineup last week against
Iowa after sitting out a three-game
suspension for entering his name
into the NFL's supplemental draft,
an NCAA violation.
Mandarich keys Michigan State's
running attack, led by junior tailback
Blake Ezor, the team's leading
rusher. Mandarich pass blocks
equally well for quarterback Bobby
McAllister and his favorite receiver,
Andre Rison.
The Spartans' backbone continues
to lie on defense. Michigan State
ranks second to Michigan (2-2, 1-0)
in the Big Ten in total defense.
Junior middle linebacker Percy Snow
tops the team in tackles with 53.
"In this game every yard is going
to be important," Schembechler said.
"You're going to have to scratch for
everything."
Both coaches agreed that
Saturday's game could make or break
their respective team's chances of
winning the conference. "The winner
of this game is going to be in
excellent shape," Perles said.
And if that's not enough
incentive, the intrastate rivalry will
take care of that.
"We just hate to lose to
Michigan senior cornerback
Arnold said.
'em,"
David
Camp opens with
Associated Press
Pistons forward Dennis Rodman and Los Angeles Laker
Magic Johnson scramble for a loose ball during last
NBA Finals.
guard
year's
Thomas signing
BY ADAM BENSON AND JODI LEICHTMAN
SPECIAL TO THE DAILY
WINDSOR - With the Tigers done for the winter, and the Lions
soon to follow, Detroiters can prepare for the return of Detroit Pistons.
If yesterday's training camp opening in Windsor is any indication,
the Pistons' Isiah Thomas is again the featured player.
Rumors indicated the seven-time all-star would hold out if his
contract was not renegotiated, but the two parties finished a deal late
Wednesday night for a reported $16 million over eight years.
Entering Windsor's St. Denis Arena, Isiah was almost barreled over
by the local media. He was embarrassed by the attention to his new
salary.
"Anytime you're talking about a million dollars for playing
basketball, nobody deserves that type of money," said Thomas. "You
can never live up to it, but the only thing you can do is say to yourself
you must make a lot of people happy."
Isiah credited Pistons owner Bill Davidson, who directly involved
himself in the contract talks.
"Davidson and (Thomas's agent, John) Frasco had to have creative
minds to get this deal done," said Thomas. "We worked all of Monday
night trying to come up with a solution, but we finally came up with
one."
Pistons General Manager Jack McCloskey and Frasco tried to avoid
ugliness in the Thomas contract talks.
"Isiah's agent and I one time jumped at each other, but nothing
spectacular," said a tired McCloskey. "It was really a very amiable
negotiation. I wasn't sure it was going to be solved before training
camp, but there was no question that it was eventually going to be
solved because the numbers had been agreed upon."
Isiah's appearance was almost overshadowed by William Bedford's
absence. The 7-foot-i-inch center will not start camp because of
continuing drug rehabilitation. Wednesday morning, McCloskey was
told by Bedford's doctors that Bedford could not participate, for now.
"He has not failed a drug test, but we feel there's certain obligations
he has he didn't fulfill," said McCloskey. "So consequently they (the
doctors) are not permitting him to start camp. Hopefully they will next
week."
The Pistons will use camp to look at rookies Fennis Dembo,
Michael Williams, and veteran center Darryl Dawkins, trying to
comeback after sitting out most of last season.
The Pistons now prepare for the 1988-89 season and try to repeat as
Eastern Conference champions.
"Training camp is the most important time of the season," said
Thomas. "It's the time when you establish the type of mindset that
your team's going to play in, the goals that you set in terms of
winning the division and the championship."
"We had a great team last year, and we have some people here that
will hope make us better," said Piston forward Dennis Rodman. "It's
going to be our mission to make it back to the finals."
SEE I lnitcri
JOHN MUNSON/Daiiy,
Tailback Tony Boles, who compiled 179 yards with three
touchdowns last week against Wisconsin, hopes to continue
his success against Michigan State tomorrow.
Brelandbout leads
e dh
is October 15th
Tell your Sweetheart
with a Daily Personal Ad.
The Michigan Daily
Classifieds 764-0557
The Office of Major Events
Present
RICHARD
and
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WJA INWRIG;HT
IFIII
4 Saturday
October 29
8 pm POWER CENTER
Tickets available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office and
all Ticketmaster Outlets. Order by phone Call 763-TKTS.
local fgh1
BY JOSHUA RAY LEVINt
Michigan sports fans will have a
great opportunity tonight to
experience a longstanding sports
tradition, the local fight night. The
Palace at Auburn Hills hosts a great1
boxing card featuring 1984 Olympic
and former pro welterweight
champion Mark Breland.1
Whereas professional football's;
backbone is its' television popu-]
larity, professional boxing has tra-
ditionally been an attendance sport.
Boxing demands being seen in per-
son to truly appreciate its beauty and
brutality. However, boxing now suf-
fers from a paucity of name talent
and the disappearance of popular
local fighters that has led to the
decline of the local fight nights.
This detracts from the overall
popularity of pro boxing, because
the only fights that gain any atten-
tion are the multi-million dollar big-
name fights that are impossible to
get into, and can only be seen on
expensive closed circuit or cable
broadcasts.
THE PALACE, which will
offer fight cards regularly throughout
the year, is the fortunate exception
to the rule. Because of its proximity
to Detroit, The Palace can recruit
great local talent from the Kronk
Gym, one of the all-time classic
boxing factories. The co-main
feature, along with Breland vs. Ozzie
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O'Neill, is Kronk light-heavyweight
sensation Michael Moorer vs. Carl
"The Truth" Williams. There will be
seven bouts on the undercard.
Breland comes into tonight's bout
hoping to climb back .up the
welterweight ranks and regain his
championship status. Marlon Stat-
ling broke the 1984 gold medalists
20-bout winning streak and took
Breland's belt in a stunning eighth
round KO last year. In their rematch,
Breland was lucky to get a draw, and
found himself cast out of the boxing
elite. His comeback continues
against O'Neill, a respectable opp-
onent sporting a 19-6 record.
Moorer has quickly gotten the
attention of local boxing fans witfa
perfect 8-0 record. He hopes to catch
the eye of national promoters with a
big win over "The Truth." This
"Truth" is not to be confused with
Carl "The Truth" Williams, the E
former heavyweight contender,
though one would suspect that the
promoters won't complain if ticket
buyers make that mistake.
The Palace is a.fantastic place to
see boxing, or any other sporting
event. Although the building's
exterior leaves a lot to be desired, the
actual arena inside is spotless,
comfortable, and one can see from
every seat in the house. On fight
nights, there are also floor seats,
right up to ringside. It features a
great set of large screen clear-color
TVs, and actually edible food as
well. The inside of the Palace is
often compared favorably with the
Joe Louis Arena.
The Palace at Auburn Hills is
located right off 1-75 as one
approaches the Pontiac Silverdome.
Plenty of good seats remain, and
tickets can be bought at the door.
Prices range from $40 to $10, and
the first bout starts at 7:30.
Michigan Daily
SPORTS
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