12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 12, 1993
THE SPORTING VIEWS:
Death is cruel reminder
of athletes' mortality
Victory the only thing
on 'M' harriers' minds
By RACHEL BACHMAN
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
Between spring training and the
Super Bowl, sports fans can get caught
up in the kickoffs, tipoffs and All-
Star games. The excitement of the
playoff game, the importance of
intrastate rivals - they're what make
sports so much fun to watch.
Then something happens that
makes those ESPN highlights seem
insignificant.
Someone dies.
Seven years ago, a young basket-
ball star at Maryland died from co-
caine intoxication.
His name was Len Bias. Most
people have heard of him, because the
story of his death shocked this coun-
try into realizing the extent of its
problem with drugs.
It also made sports fans aware of the
relative unimportance of games.
Lonise Bias, Len's mother, came
to speak at the Chemistry Building
last night. She has devoted her life to
speaking out against drug abuse and
other ills of society.
She has become famous not be-
cause her son was famous, but be-
cause he died famous, a soon-to-be
Boston Celtic.
"We have to keep losing things be-
fore we appreciate them,"Lonise said.
Young athletes are not supposed to
die. We, the fans, forget that there is a
greater context in which they athletes
live. It is not on a hardwood floor with
painted lines, but everywhere else.
When athletes die, we feel be-
trayed. They can no longer dazzle and
amaze us, give us material for a con-
versation over a beer or a burger.
So often, athletes believe their ath-
letic ability will immortalize them,
yet it rarely happens. Look up into the
rafters of your local arena to count the
jerseys and find out just how rare
immortality is.
"Spotsarenotlife," Lonise said.She
was right. It usually takes much more for
us to realize the humanity of athletes, and
how quickly we forget them-
It's too bad that Len Bias is more
valuable to this nation dead than as a
living human being.
By AARON BURNS
FOR THE DAILY
Fresh off its victory at the Big Ten
Championships, the Michigan women's
cross country team continues its quest
for an NCAA title at tomorrow's Dis-
trict IV Meet in Bloomington.
Theheavily favored Wolverineswill
tell you quite frankly thatanything short
of avictory would be adisappointment.
"We're definitely confident going
in," coach Mike McGuire said.
If the Wolverines were not confi-
dent enough, tomorrow's competition
promises to be less imposing than that
at the Big Ten meet. Penn State, the
second best team in the conference, is
also the only one that does not compete
in Michigan's district.
Among tomorrow's non-confer-
ence foes, Notre Dame presents the
biggest challenge, but Michigan has
already defeated the Irish this year.
"If we run according to form,"
McGuire said. "We should prevail."
Something about this scenario may
seem too easy. The Wolverines stand
out among the competition with their
No.3 national ranking and would most
likely getan at-large bid for the Nov.22
NCAA meet even if they do not finish
first or second tomorrow.
So how does Michigan getpsyched
for this sort of meet?
For starters, there is the haunting
memory of last year. After winning the
Big Ten crown, Michigan turned around
andlostatDistricts. "Ididn'tdo agood
job getting them focused," McGuire
said. "This year we are."
But more than that, this team has a
legitimate shot at winning the national
title. Getting "psyched" for Districts,
or any meet for that matter, is simply
nota problem fora team of this caliber.
"We are determined to go to Dis-
tricts and dominate," said junior Karen
Harvey. "Weneedtogo into theNCAA
meet with confidence."
The only other two undefeated beams
in the nation, No. 1 Arkansas and No. 2
Villanova, should win theirDistricts. The
Wolverines would lose a significant psy-
chological edge if they faced them at the
NCAA meet with a blemished record.
Although a first or second place
finish would give them aberth, Harvey
will only settle for first. "If we finished
second, I think we'd be embarrassed to
come back to campus," she said.
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9
9
DOUGLAS KANTER/Doly
Lonise Bias, mother of Len Bias, speaks last night at 1800 Chemistry.
U I
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13
Men's cross country strides towards Districts
Blue hopes to grab NCAA invitation, first-ever District victory
r
U of M's only coed a cappella ensemble
By BARRY SOLLENBERGER
DAILY SPORTS WRITER
What a difference a few weeks
make.
The Michigan men's cross country
team was a decided underdog to Wis-
consin and Penn State at the Big Ten
Championships Oct. 30. Now, the
Wolverines are the favorites to win the
NCAA District IV Meet tomorrow in
Bloomington.
The No. 9 Wolverines have their
best shot in recent memory to capture
their first-ever District IV crown.
Forty-three teams will contend for
the title, with the top three finishers
going on to compete at the NCAA
National Championships Nov. 22.
Michiganhasaccomplished its goal
of winning the conference. Now the
Wolverines hope to take the district
title and then finish in the top five
nationally.
The Wolverines struggled early in
theseason, butaccording toCoach Ron
Warhurst, the early-season troubles
weren't a concern.
"I knew we were good, we just had
to put it all together," he said.
The seven runners who "put it all
together"for Michigan at the Big Tens
will race again tomorrow.
Led by freshman Kevin Sullivan,
seniors Shawn McKay and Matt
Schroeder, juniors Ian Forsyth and
Jim Finlayson, and sophomores
Scott MacDonald and Theo Moll,
the Wolverines will try to make a
District IV crown areality for Michi-
gan.
"We're looking to go in and win
this meet," Sullivan said. "Coach
Warhurst hasn't won a district meet,
and I think for the team to build even
more confidence going into nationals,
it will be really goodif we can win this
meet."
Much has been made about
Sullivan's success this season. His first
place individual finish at the confer-
ence championships helped him earn
the 1993 Big Ten Athlete and Fresh-
man-of-the-Year awards.
The fate of the Wolverines tomor-
row could well lie in his hands.
"Kevin will have to finish in the top
three (for us to win)," Warhurst said.
An advantage for Michigan,
Warhurst said, is that the race will be
akin to the Big Ten Championships.
"The race will be similar to the one
held at Michigan State and will set the
tone for us going into nationals,"
Warhurst said. "(The course) is wide
open, fair, rugged and nice. Everyone
(on the team) has run on the course
except Kevin, but it doesn't seem to
matter where he runs."
Indeed it hasn't.
The true freshman from Brantford,
Ont., has run well in every meet for
Michigan this season.
He has emerged as the best runner
in the conference and one of the tops in
the nation.
As for tomorrow, Sullivan is once
again looking to spark the team.
"I'm just hoping to continue my
success, help the team win and I'll
also be looking to win individually
again," Sullivan said. "It'll be a few
of the same guys I've raced against,
so I have an idea of what I'm up
against."
Perennial rivals standin Michigan's
way.
Wisconsin, still smarting from its
loss to the Wolverines at the Big Tens,
and Notre Dame will look to outrun
Michigan.
0
'"'+ "
a bunch of songs
Friday, November 12, 1
993
8:00 p.m.
Rackham Auditorium
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107
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1993-94 SENIOR PLEDGE PROGRAM
The Co-Chairs and Advisor of the 1993-94 Senior Pledge Program
cordially invite you to join them for the kick-off of this year's program!
The Senior Pledge Program is a annual volunteer effort by students to support the ongoing
educational mission of the University of Michigan. The Senior Pledge Program Committee works
from November through March of each year to get the word out about the need for private
support at the University of Michigan. What we leave behind as a "Class Gift" is more lasting
than a bench or a rock. What we leave behind is the chance for future students to get the same
quality education we all received. Last year we raised over $55,000 from graduating seniors.
This year we want to do even more!
ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH
Announces
a lecture by Professor Frank Beaver
Department of Communications, University of Michigan
In God's Theafer: A Cafhotks Response to parables and Atums in Contemporary Media
The second In a series of presentations on faith and thought and the interplay between a
Catholic religious commitment and the profession of teaching and intellectual
Open to aInterested students, facuNy and others
Wednesday, November 17, 7:00 p.m.
at the Newman Center 331 Thompson Sheet
Discussion tpic
1) Where can we find important religious lessons in media storytelling?
2) How should/can Catholics respond to the controversial materials in todays
film and television programs?
Al
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