Page 10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 26, 1988
THE SPORTING VIEWS
BY STEVEN COHEN
Those in attendance at last Saturday's football game
had to be pleased with the aggressive attitude the
Wolverines displayed in overwhelming the Hoosiers,
the novelty of a reverse-flea-flicker, and with a 31-6
victory.
But some fans might not have been so pleased when
other spectators showed they too could act in novel
ways and display aggression.
The new trend I am referring to might tentatively be
known as "marshmallow hurling." The name derives
its origin from a ritual practiced by several people in
the student section.
But these people will not only throw
marshmallows. Aspiring hurlers will fling anything
that is not glued down. These items often include hot
dogs (with condiment), beer cans (with beverage) and
pretzels. These people often gather in groups, like
vultures. I will focus my attention on marshmallow
hurling because marshmallows seem to be one of the
more benign items thrown by students.
FOR YEARS Michigan students have had several
activities to keep themselves busy during games.
These include the band, cheerleaders, the wave,
popcorn, and rowing. But recently this hasn't been
enough to keep some students occupied, and they have
increasingly turned to more aggressive means of
expression.
In theory, it is really not that bad of an idea.
Students bring marshmallows to chuck in celebration
of an occurrence favorable to Michigan. Surely, the
soft marshmallows couldn't cause too much discomfort
to a person they happen to hit. Quite clearly this is not
the case.
Granted, the flingers often have desirable motives.
Namely, to get those people who find it absolutely
necessary to stand during the entire game to sit down.
These people must share a great deal of blame as their
standing often creates a domino effect in which
thousands of people must stand to see even the most
routine of plays.
But fellow students, there has got to be a better
Throwing candy
no fluffy business
means of communication.
THOSE HIT with marshmallows will first notice
that the sensation of the impact is not quite so gentle
as the light patter of newspaper confetti. Those who
politely ask the pack of hurlers to please stop throwing
are looked upon as killjoys and the throwing usually
continues.
Those who constantly find it necessary to pelt
fellow students with these spongy white confections
are those who are spoiling the fun of a game for
others. Some people in section 28 who went to the
fights last Saturday, might even have noticed that a
football game was going on.
The common scenario goes like this: Students go to
a football game, to cheer on their beloved Wolverines.
They go to socialize among friends, and for a few
hours leave the frustrations of the previous week and
the anxieties of the future aside. They may have a little
to drink, which further encourages their rowdy
behavior.
They get to the game, sit with their friends, partake
in the various cheers, and whether an event of the game
prompts them or not, eventually throw things in
jubilation or in malice.
BUT JUST as there must be someone to throw
the marshmallow there is invariably one who must get
hit. The student who gets hit, often without support of
his own, will sometimes take offense and either
threaten, insult, or strike the perpetrator.
I suppose that anyone who does not like to sit
among warring factions, flying objects, and reduced
sight-lines could migrate to the other sections and sit
with the class of 1947, but this would be to ignore the
problem.
The problem is not just that there are fights and
rowdiness. This can be expected with any large crowd
attending a sporting event. The problem is that those
bickering and fighting are classmates. Somehow, I felt
that a lot of the events which serve to amuse the fans
are designed to impart a sense of camaraderie, not to
bring people apart.
6
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Associated Press
Dodger utility-player Mickey Hatcher bashes forearms with teammates after swatting a two-
run homer in the fifth and deciding game of last week's World Series. Hatcher equalled the
combined home run total (2) of Athletics' sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.
The Holl Truth
BY JULIE HOLLMAN
Enthused Hatcher
helps dispatch A's'.
Top lawyer to defend Rogers
DETROIT (AP) - Detroit Lions
defensive lineman Reggie Rogers has
hired prominent defense attorney
Elbert Hatchett to help him in his
involuntary manslaughter case,
another lawyer representing Rogers
said yesterday.
Hatchett, of Bloomfield Hills, met
for two hours yesterday with Rogers'
parents and fiancee to review the Oct.
20 crash in which three teen-agers
died and Rogers and an 18-year-old
female companion were injured, said
attorney Harold Curry of Rochester.
Rogers suffered a fractured neck, a;
partially amputated thumb and other
injuries in the crash in downtown
Pontiac. He was expected to remain
in Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital at
least through this week, Curry said.
Authorities say Rogers, 24, was
drunk when he ran a red light and
slammed into a car carrying Kenneth
J. Willett, 19, of Drayton Plains and
two of the young victim's cousins,
Kelly Ess, 18, and Dale Ess, 17,
both of Versailles.
Rogers was to be arraigned on
involuntary manslaughter charges
within 72 hours of his release from
the hospital, Curry said. He wouldn't
say yesterday how his client would
plead.
Curry said he was pleased to have
Hatchett join the case. "I think he's
the best lawyer in the universe,
myself, "Curry said.
Hatchett represented Detroit Lions
running back Billy Sims in a lawsuit
filed in 1983 by the Houston
Gamblers of the now-defunct United
States Football League against Sims
and the Lions. A federal jury in
Detroit ruled that Sims's contract
with the Lions was valid and one he
had signed with the Gamblers wasn't.
Hatchett, who is listed in the
"Who's Who of Black Millionaires,"
faces legal problems of his own. He
was found in contempt of court
earlier this year for refusing to give
the government information that
could let it collect more than $1.5
million in back taxes
Today, when the World Champion
Los Angeles Dodgers meet the
president, the players will be
standing around with their hands in
their pockets, smiling respectfully,
and attentively listening to Reagan's
speech as he accepts a satin Dodger
baseball jacket.
Every player but one, that is.
Mickey Hatcher will probably be
pacing up and down the White House
South Lawn - not with a disregard
for presidential posh and pomp, but
with innocent jubilation for the
moment. The same type of ex-
uberance he showed through the
World Series.
Hatcher was the one Dodger who
can say he never spent time on the
bench during the five-game series. He
couldn't. His energy and enthusiasm
constantly bubbled over like water
left on a hot burner. Even when he
was taken out of the game in the
later innings he was too busy pacing
to take a seat on the pine.
HATCHER'S attitude typifies
the ideal image of baseball in
America. A player totally engulfed in
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the spirit and competition of the
sport. A player who plays just to
touch a baseball and not just to touch
money.
But the image of Mickey Hatcher
is admirable beyond his fondness for
the game. The picture is appealing
because, in spite of his success,
Hatcher does not look like a
professional baseball player.
In fact, he doesn't look like an
athlete. Hatcher is the type of player
who makes a spectacular catch only
to have fans say, "Hey that looked
athletic. He must have tripped."
FANS DON'T expect him to
perform spectacular feats and when he
does, they never seem to be quite
perfect anyway. But still his fervor
shines through.
Whenever he does something
significant, he follows it up by doing
something ridiculous. When he hit a
two-run home run in the final game
of the series to give the Dodgers an
early lead, he ecstatically ran back to
the dugout and bashed forearms with
his teammates, a la Oakland Ath-
letics Jose Canseco and Mark
McGwire. He bashed and bashed. He
bashed so hard he hurt his arm just in
time for the camera to catch him
wincing in pain.
But his clumsy appearance and
proven success should serve as an
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inspiration. Hatcher serves as proof
that if a person works hard enough,
the rewards will come.
Mickey Hatcher. Who is this guy?
Where did he come from? Before last
week, only Dodger fans cared. But
this week, everyone is singing the
praises of Mickey Hatcher.
TAKING INTO consideration
the events in all five games, Hatcher
should have won the Most Valuable
Player award, not Orel Hershiser. He
led the Dodgers through the World
Series with consistent play night
after night.
He not only hit safely in every
game, but he confidently and happily
played where ever manager Tommy
Lasorda pointed his finger. Left field,
right field, first base. Hatcher was the
ultimate utility player. Moreover, he
matched the combined home-run
power of Oakland's sluggers Canseco
and McGwire. One for Canseco, one
for McGwire, two for Hatcher.
But ironically, or perhaps
fittingly, Hatcher was overshadowed.
In the beginning, he was outshined
when his Game 1 home run went,
unsung because of gimpy Kirkl
Gibson's heroics. And in the end, he
exited stage right when Hershiser
topped off a godlike two months of
pitching, with a title-clinching,
complete-game performance.
THE FACT that Hatcher was
passed over, however, adds to the
appeal of his character. There would
be something tacky about
glamorizing his accomplishments.A
crystal trophy and Mickey Hatcher's
hands don't connect.
How could the only man ini
baseball who sprints around the bases
after hitting a home run be wrapped
up in material tributes? Knowing
that he played a major role in earning
his team's World Series rings is
probably enough.
Hopefully when he's in
Washington today, Mickey Hatcher
can stand still long enough to let a
photographer take a picture of him
standing proudly with President
Reagan. But, then again, he probably
wouldn't want one anyway.
WINE TASTING
November 10 to December 8
Thursdays 7-9 pm.
Snobs aren't the only people who can be connoisseurs.
Learn the fine skill of wine tasting,
taught by Ann Arbor's own wine expert, Dick
Scheer
Participants MUST show proof that they are 21 and
they must be either Unversity students, staff, or faculty.
Space is limited, so sign up now in 2105 Michigan Union
Class fee $35.00
Call 763-1107 for morn info
T va..an " vv 1 v " 1 VI 11IVi V it II' ,I
Christmas Savings
20th Anniversary
SALE te
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Five Days Only Oct. 26-30
20% off All Books
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20% off All1989 Calendars
20% off All Music
All records $3.96
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