The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - October 14, 1991 - Page 3 Krickstein The Grosse Pointe native discusses a 10-year career on the tennis circuit Jeff Sheran A local boy from Grosse Pointe, Aaron Krickstein entered the pro tennis scene at the tender age of 15. Although he has not dominated the circuit, he has remained a promi- nent figure for nine years, triumph- ing over a mass of injuries to stay competitive. Recently though, Krickstein was in the spotlight, los- ing to Jimmy Connors during Con- nors' amazing run in the U.S. Open. Krickstein spoke to Daily Sports Writer Ken Davidoff about this match and life on the tour. Daily: How did you deal with the disappointment after losing to Connors in the U.S. Open? Krickstein: Well, it was pretty tough at first. It was one of the few 'The umpire had the Saudacity to say he didn't hear him, when everyone else on TV did' matches, probably the only match, where I had trouble sleeping for a few nights after it. The night after, I didn't sleep but one minute. With all the hype, it was a big match. And even though he's 39, it was labeled "Connors-Krickstein," a big Labor Day CBS match. I was kind of fired up and I knew since Becker had lost I had a good chance that, if I could win this match, even though I had never beaten him, I could possibly get to the semis. And then the way the match turned out, after having so many chances and then with the-crowd be- ing like they were, it was a tough one to lose. But I guess if there was one person I wouldn't mind losing a match to, Connors and I are pretty good friends. But it was a tough one to lose, and there's no doubt it's one I'll remember for a long time. D: What did you think about his tactics during the match? K: Well, I knew what to expect going in. I figured the crowd would be 80-90 percent for him, it was 95 percent. I usually have pretty good support at the U.S. Open, and it was obviously a different atmosphere for me to deal with here. I felt pretty good about my chances, I was playing pretty well in the first set. And in the second set, he started acting up and really got the crowd into it. If it was any other player, maybe besides McEnroe, he probably would've gotten at least a point or a game or maybe even defaulted for the things he said to the umpire. Then the umpire had the audacity to say he didn't hear him, when every- one else on TV did. I kind of expect that. I didn't think they'd do much about it. I could've seen if they had defaulted him, (the crowd) probably would've done anything from nuk- ing the stadium to killing the ref- eree. I mean, they were crazy. That was the wildest crowd I've ever played in, outside of Davis Cup, but he got away with murder, that's for sure, the whole Open. D: Looking back, are you happy with your decision to enter the pros when you were only 15? K: Yeah, overall, I don't have any regrets. I think if I had been a little slower to develop and not done so well in the juniors like that; I mean when I was 12 I was beating guys 15, and then when I was 15 I was beating guys 18 and 19 in the juniors. I didn't want to turn pro until I felt my game was ready to compete at a professional level. After my sophomore year in high school I got to the fourth round of the (U.S.) Open, and I started being able to compete with them pretty good, and financially I was getting quite a few pretty big deals from some manu- facturers - shoes, rackets, clothes - and some other things. So, I would have had to play on the pros two years as an amateur before go- ing to college. I would've liked to go to col- lege. If that would've been my last year in high school I would've prob- ably went a year and then probably went out, but since I had two years left, I thought it was best to do it then, and, outside of the injuries, I have no regrets. D: You see a lot of players com- ing out younger now; the obvious example is Jennifer Capriati coming out at 13. She got so much attention. Do you think that could contribute to burnout later? K: I don't know, it possibly could. I think it's a little different in the .men's game than in the women's game. I think she just hits the ball so much better than the other women and is a lot more talented and stronger physically. I think she'll be able to win, maybe not to be No. 1, but I think she'll always be able to be a top player. In the men's game, if you lose that little bit of an edge, then you can fall right out of contention. But I think it's definitely a factor. When you're that young and you make a ton of money like she's do- ing, and then by the time you're 17- 18 you have more money than you'll ever need, I think it definitely takes its toll as far as desire and things like that. I think that's what's hurt (Andre) Agassi. He's made so much money, I think now he's finally re- alizing he'd like to win. But I think the last few years, he's just made so much money, how can he be moti- vated sometimes, for at least any other tournament outside the Slams? D: You've had a lot of injuries throughout your career. Did you ever think about just packing it in? K: Once I did, in '87. It was the fourth consecutive year I had a stress fracture, this one was in my left leg. I was out for four months, from July to October, and then the first day back in practice, I was in New York and I got into a taxi cab accident. Giant bruises and broken ribs. I was out for two more months. So after that, I felt like I was a little snakebit. I was having a hard time. It was the fourth consecutive year I was getting these stress frac- tures. It was a pretty tough time, but I figured I'd give it one more shot and try to get in better shape. I've had some minor injuries since then, but I've stayed away from any major ones. D: What do you consider to be the high point of your professional career? K: Well, '89, probably, when I got to the semis of the U.S. Open and I won three tournaments. I fin- ished the year ranked eighth, and then the next year I got to six, but that was my best year, most consis- tent. I was playing really well, and I won Tokyo, when I beat Edberg. That was my biggest tournament . D: What about the low point? K: '87, when I was out for eight months, was pretty bad. I was really frustrated to be out that long. When you're out that long, sometimes it's good, you have a lot of time to think about what you're doing and how lucky you are, because tennis life, the tour itself, is kind of unrealistic, it's not the real world. A tennis player's life is kind of fantasy. You get to travel all over the world, you get to do something you enjoy and yet make a good liv- ing. I think a lot of players, when their career is over, they get kind of W scared because you do that all your life and then there's still a lot of life left.... Yeah, I'd say '87 was pretty low. I've had some downers this year, I haven't done that well this year. Hopefully, I'm playing better now. I think I'm back on track, so next year will be a big year for me. Hopefully, the next few years are going to be big for me. D: Is there a tournament which means the most to you? K: Well, my favorite is the U.S. Open. I've played well there since the first time I played there, and probably that first year gave me the confidence. I feel comfortable there, and I just play really well there. I think that's one tournament I'd like to win one day, and I think I've got a legitimate shot if I improve a cou- ple of areas of my game to win ei- ther that or the French Open. D: What areas? K: Well, I've got to improve my serve somewhat. It's getting better each year, a little more consistent. I Tomahawk chop sends bad message Since the end of August, fans of Major League Baseball have seen the Atlanta Braves challenge for the National League pennant. Likewise, fans of college football have seen Florida State assert its dominance over other college football teams. And in the Midwest, fans of the Big Ten have seen Illinois race to the top of the conference standings. The three sports organizations have each met with success these last few weeks. But they share more than victories in common; they share an emphasis on Native American rituals. All three teams - the Braves, the Seminoles, and the Fighting Illini - take their respective fields while their home crowds engage in what has become the most popular cheer since the wave: the tomahawk chop. Performed, appropriately enough, by chopping one's arm through the air in a tomahawk motion, the tomahawk chop has spread with the suc- cess and popularity of teams with Indian logos. At a time when sensitivity toward Native American issues is escalat- ing, a time when universities are taking steps to eliminate offensive ref- erences toward Indian tribes, this revived emphasis on their rituals seems anachronistic. In January, Eastern Michigan President William Shelton abandoned the "Hurons" as the school's logo. Controversy ensued, some parties claiming the logo was a show of respect for the Huron tribe. In addition, the decision may have been an effort to become politically correct, to ease the guilty consciences of a few administrators. Nevertheless, its overall effects have been positive. Similarly, in 1989, Central Michigan removed the Chippewa from the school's logo, while preserving the Chippewas as its nickname and using a "C" as its logo. These actions represent a movement toward correcting the image of Native Americans nationwide. However, the resurgence of the tomahawk chop impedes this movement. "What they're doing (using Indian logos) is not an honor," said Julie Bloch, former president of the Native American Students Association. "If they really wanted to honor the tribes, they'd go to the tribes and ask the right way to do it. A lot of what they're going on is stereotypes and myths." It's not that Native American logos and mascots are inherently of- fensive. But athletic competition manufactures a hostility toward an op- ponent, and in this case, that opponent is an ethnic group. "Even if you do honor the tribe," Bloch added, "the opposing team comes in and says things like, 'let's beat the Hurons, let's kick the Hurons' butt."' And newspapers write headlines like, "Chiefs Scalp Cowboys." And fans paint their faces and run around in ridiculous war dances. And a man in a loincloth and a headdress rides a horse around a football stadium wielding a spear. And people develop antagonistic attitudes toward Native Americans. My high school's nickname was the "Chiefs." I remember attending football games, sitting in the stands, watching the marching band, the cheerleaders, and the two students clad in Indian headdresses. It never occurred to me that this weekly ritual could be offensive to some. In the same manner, I don't think Jane Fonda, Ted Turner, or Jimmy Carter, whom America saw in the front row of Saturday's Braves game doing the tomahawk chop, believe it could be offensive. But it is. The chop may not offend enough people that we care to elim- inate it, but let's not pretend it's not offensive. 'A tennis player's life is kind of fantasy. You get to travel all over the world, you get to do something you enjoy and yet make a good living' think I volley pretty well. I don't use my whole game like I'm capable of doing. I need to learn to use my transition game from the backcourt to the frontcourt; try to end some points shorter and make it easier on my body just because the game's getting a lot tougher now and it's tough just to win from the baseline. So I think I'm gonna have to add a little bit in the next couple years, which I think I can do. Even though I've been around a long time, I still think I haven't played my best ten- nis yet. The best is yet to come. I PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS PSI CHI The National Honor Society in Psychology is now accepting applications Requirements include. -12 graded credits in Psychology beyond intro level - Major or Minor in Psychology - 3.3 Overall GPA - 3.5 GPA inPsychology (including stats) DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1991 Pick up Applications in K-106 West Quad I CONVENIENT LOCATION Huntington, Long Island campus is easily reached by public or private transportation. DAY AND EVENING CLASSES Select either a Full-Time Day, Part-Time Day, or Part-Time Evening schedule. TC CO an affirmative action! K equal opportunity institutionm ACCREDITATION The Law Center is Fully Approved by the American Bar Association. If you wish to receive admission materials and/or arrange for a campus visit, you are encouraged to contact: Office of Admission Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center t0 300 Nassau Road GE Huntington, New York 11743 Phone (516)421-2244 J~'ext. 314 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance set an entire A generation on the path. Now,.at last, the extraordinary journey continues. ROBERT M. PIRSIG Author of ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE AN ILNQUI['RY INTL ORALS )UP )L BEt LAMA Join students on campuses across the country in a day of learning and working directly with local agencies in the commu- nity. Opportunities will be available to work in the areas of: Homelessness Education Children and Youth Hunger Environment Senior Citizens Community Revitalization/Clean-up The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, author of Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality; and Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, visits U-M/Ann Arbor Oct. 14-16. The following events are open to all students, faculty and staff: 12 noon Gathering for students, faculty, staff. Brief remarks, Q&A. League, Rooms 4 & 5 4 pm Seminar discussion: "The Authority of Scripture" League, Rooms 4 & 5 8 pm Talk at Canterbury House: "Sex and the Church" 21R N. Division Ct (Cn-ponsnrs .Canterburv ".I If