Page 10 -The Michigan Daily-Thursday, October 4, 1990
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SPORTING VIEWS
Locker room is no
place for the press
by Theodore Cox
Daily Sports Writer
Item: Following Monday night's football game, Cincinnati coach
Sam Wyche barred USA Today reporter Denise Tom from the locker
room.
Item: Five New England Patriots allegedly sexually harassed Boston
Herald reporter Lisa Olson after a game last week.
The law: Women shall be allowed as much access as male reporters.
The defense: "Our guys don't want a woman to walk into a situation
like that," Wyche said. "I'm not doing it to these guys. I'm not doing it
to their wives."
Many reporters have portrayed the above mentioned men as 'sexist,'
saying women should have the same access to players as men.
However, the question that hasn't been asked yet is: Why do reporters
need to be in the locker room at all?
Last year, I covered both women's volleyball and women's basketball.
I never considered entering the locker room, and frankly, I didn't need to.
While the women were changing, the coaches came out to talk to the
reporters. The players soon followed.
Granted, sometimes I had to wait five to ten minutes before the players
trickled out of the locker room, and a few times players slipped by me. If
I was working on a deadline story, I could lose valuable time by waiting
for the players.
But there was an easy way to deal with this: I grabbed the players that
I needed to talk to before they left the playing surface. I have done this on
a few occasions when a story had to be written in less than 15 minutes.
For a deadline story, a reporter is never going to need more than a minute
or two with a player, and the athlete usually doesn't mind.
The main reason reporters like locker room access is because they can
always find the player there at some point. And players are forced to say
something because they have to finish dressing before they can go any-
where else.
I have been in several men's locker rooms for professional sports. It
was one of the strangest feelings I've had. Here I was in nice clothes, act-
ing as professional as I could, interviewing a grown man who was naked.
Put yourself in the athletes' shoes. Here you are, hot and sweaty, so
you take a shower. But as soon as you step out, you are faced with cam-
eras and tape recorders while you're putting on your underwear. Now
imagine if there are some females behind some of those recorders.
It's embarrassing.
So how do some players handle the situation? They make crude jokes.
Though I don't condone these remarks, I do understand their motivation.
The naked player is making the comment in order to cause the reporter to
feel just as awkward.
You can't allow men in the locker room and then turn around and deny
women access. So the only solution is to bar all reporters from the locker
room. Set up a press conference outside.
The locker room was never intended to be a media room. It is a place
for the players to change and talk among themselves. It should be the one
place in the stadium or arena where they don't have to face a camera.
All-American
returns for more
by Jeff Lieberman
Daily Sports Contributor
The Michigan cross country team
did a strange thing last year. They
redshirted a senior All-American
track star.
Brad Barquist is that All-Ameri-
can. After watching his team place
eighth in the Big Ten last season, he
is ready to help bring the Michigan
men's cross country team back to
the top of the standings.
By redshirting Barquist and two
other seniors, Jeff Barnett and Tony
Carna, some of the younger runners
on the squad were able to gain more
experience. This has set up a much
stronger team for the 1990 season.
"It was in the best interest of
both the team and myself, that the
three of us redshirted last year," Bar-
quist said.
Now the two-time All-American
in track is looking to attain his first
All-American honor in cross coun-
try, after just missing it two years
ago.
However, All-American honors
are secondary to Barquist. He would
rather see his team win a Big Ten ti-
tle. "I've put the burden on myself
to carry the team," he said.
Cross country coach Ron
Warhurst, who has developed his
share of All-Americans during six-
teen years at the helm of the Wolver-
ines' cross country team, is pleased
with Barquist's attitude.
"This year he's taken on the role
of leading by example," Warhurst
said. "He has made a commitment to
the team and it has showed."
Barquist has finished first and
second in the team's two meets this
year while the team has won both.
"I've never experienced anything
like it in racing," Barquist said. "I
turned around and looked over my
shoulder and all around there were
Michigan jerseys. It was such a feel-
ing of dominance in the race.
"In the past two years, the focus
was more on individual placing,
where this year we're so much more
concerned about the team score."
Barquist said the key to this unity
is running a more strategical race
rather than running for personal
records. The team can pick up im-
portant points by placing more run-
ners near the top of the pack. Bar-
quist has done an excellent job thus
far, slowing up the pace just enough
to allow more teammates to enter
the front pack.
Dominating races is nothing new
to Barquist. Two years ago, Barquist
finished second in the 8,000 meters
at the Big Ten Championships with
a time of 24:25. In addition, he is
eighth on the Michigan all-time list
for the 10,000 meters and holds
Michigan's fifth best time in the
3,000-meter run.
feel that you've got to earn that po-
sition," Barquist said. "I think I've
put my time in."
"He's got all the tools to be a
great one," Warhurst said. "He's just
got to get them channelized and or-
ganized. So far, he's doing a heck of
a job."
If all goes well this year, Barquist
could reach All-American status in
cross-country, joining a long list of
Michigan runners before him.
John Scherer, who has won thr
NCAA championships, is the laP
All-American Warhurst has coached.
Scherer also ran on the same team as
Barquist for three years.
"He's kind of on top of things,"
Scherer said. "It's given him an extra
charge to know that he's the guy set-
ting the pace up front."
Said Warhurst: "Brad kind of ran
in his (Scherer's) shadow over the
years. But now, I think it's Brad's
turn."
Barquist believes both he and
Scherer benefited greatly from train-
ing together and pushing each other.
This year, he's hoping that every-
thing will fall into place and lead to
a top finish in the Big Ten.
'it was in the best in-
terest of both the
team and myself, that
the three of us red-
shirted last year'
- Brad Barquist
It has been a long four years, but
Barquist is now the team leader. "I
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Fielder hits 50, 51
NEW YORK (AP) - Cecil
Fielder became the first American
Leaguer to hit 50 home runs since
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did
it 29 years ago, connecting yesterday
night in the fourth inning of the fi-
nal game of the season.
Later in the game, Fielder ripped
his 51st homer.
The Detroit first baseman is the
11th player to hit 50 homers and the
first since George Foster of the
Cincinnati Reds in 1977. The feat
has been accomplished 18 times.
FOR THE BEST:
Crew Cuts-Flat Tops
Princetons-Military
THE DASCOLA
STYLISTS
Liberty off State 668-9329
-50 years of service-
New-look
open seas(
by Jason Bank
Daily Sports Contributor
Two and a half years ago, the Red
Wings were poised for greatness after
making it to the Campbell Confer-
ence finals two years in a row. Last
season, they had the third worst
record in the league.
In 1988, Jacques Demers won his
second straight NHL Coach of the
Year award. This year, Demers is out
of coaching, and is commentating
for Quebec.
The Detroit Red Wings' descent
last season was almost as perplexing
as their dramatic turnaround after the
1986-87 season.
The Wings will try to regain
their lost form and pride under Brian
Murray when they begin their season
tonight at New Jersey. The former
Washington Capitals coach is taking
over in the dual role of General
Manager/Head Coach for the Wings.
Here's a preview:
Despite the team's disaster last
year, Steve Yzerman had another
MVP caliber season, finishing sec-
ond in goals scored and third in over-
all points. Gerard Gallant and Joe
Kocur combined with Yzerman to
form Detroit's only solid offensive
line.
The underrated Gallant is one of
the best left wings in the game.
Kocur had the best year of his career,
proving he can score goals and also
punch out the opposition.
After a year plagued by injury,
Jimmy Carson will try to regain his
prolific scoring touch that once made
him a 50-goal scorer. He will have
plenty of help in heavyweight Bob
Probert.
Love him or hate him, the Red
Wings need Probert. They win with
Probert in the lineup, and, as last
year proved, they lose when the big
guy is not in there. Probert's intimi-
dating presence should give Detroit
the intensity it lacked last year when
Probert was forced to sit out most of
the season.
With the exception of Kocur, De-
troit lacks consistent right wingers.
Brent Fedyk has had great training
camps the last few years, but tends
)fl tonight.
to disappear during the regular sea-
son. Randy McKay and Daniel
Shank are physical players with po-
tential, but are unproven thus far.
Keep an eye on Soviet defector
Sergei Fedorov. If he is able to ad-
just to the NHL's physical play, he
could make an immediate impact.
The injury ridden defense had
horrible season last year, and mane
off-season transactions were made.
Rick Zombo is a future all-star
and Lee Norward is a rugged veteran,
but after that some big questions
remain. Steve Chiasson has become
a major disappointment and could be
traded or sent to the minors if he
doesn't perform well this year.
Although newly acquired Rick
Green and Brad McCrimmon are vet
erans with Stanley Cup experience,
the Red Wings' disastrous veteran
signings of years past make fans
skeptical of the contribution that
Green and McCrimmon can make.
Tim Cheveldae's outstanding
work between the pipes late last year
was one of the Wings' few bright
spots. Former Black Hawk Alain
Chevrier and veteran Glen Hanlor
should be dependable backups, and
Greg Stefan should retire right now.
Dave Gagnon, who backstopped
Colgate to the NCAA finals, waits
in the wings in Adirondack.
Bryan Murray is the ninth most
successful coach in league history,
but unfortunately he has the reputa-
tion for not being able to win the
big games. Murray is a strict disci-
plinarian who should be a positive
change for the Red Wings.
As long as the Red Wings stay
injury free, they should improve
dramatically over last year. Injuries
to the defense and Cheveldae could
really cripple this team's chances.
Look for the Red Wings to finish
third in the Norris Division this year
behind Chicago and St. Louis. If
this team can stay healthy and kee
improving throughout the year,
don't be surprised if they beat
Chicago in the playoffs to get to the
Campbell Conference Finals. If they
make it that far, they will certainly
be swept by Edmonton or Calgary.
I"
(ings
AP Phfoto
Former Soviet national team hockey player, Sergei Fedorov, 20, has his eye
attended to by Detroit Red Wings' athletic therapist, Kirt Vickers. Although
Fedorov later had stitches put in, he should be ready for the Wings' season
opener tonight in New Jersey.
MASS :MEETING
STUDENT'S COUNSELING OFFICE
NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
S.C.O. is an office run
by students for students.
We offer:
*Peer counseling services
*Course evaluations
*Large old exam file
*Largest grad school catalog
library on campus
To volunteer requires only a 2-3 hour
commitment per week.
'tnrBTT 111.1'VI
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