Who said Bruce Lee is dead? Prosecutors decided Tuesday not to file charges against former Dodgers star Willie Davis, who was arrested for allegedly threatening his mother with a samurai sword and ninja-style throwing stars. The move clears the way for Davis' release from jail, where he had been held on $150,000 bail. Prosecutors, however, left open the possibility of filing charges pending further investigation. 0o Wednesday March 20, 1996 Seniors hope to end careers with a win - in the NCAA tile game Mike Knuble was a phenom- enal college hockey player. He led the nation in goals and his team in determination last season. He finished his illustrious career with 103 goals - good for fifth-place on Michigan's all-time list. Knuble was admired by fans and teammates alike. Kids want to be like Mike. But you can bet Kevin Hilton has no aspirations to follow in his footsteps.h Mike Knuble left Michigan with a heart- JOHN ache. His Wolverines - and make no Out of mistake, they Bounds were his - lost to Maine last season in what is regarded as one of the best tournament games in NCAA history. Michigan bowed out in the semifi- nals in triple-overtime after it had numerous chances to earn a berth in the finals. Knuble's senior season ended abruptly. "It's like when somebody dies," he said last summer. "If you keep busy and don't really think about it, it isn't as bad." Hilton, Steven Halko, John Arnold and Mark Sakala don't want their college careers to end that way. None of them want to be like Mike. And the Wolverines certainly don't want to see their season end in the same fashion as last year's. But only one team can go home with a win in its last game. The other 11 fortunate and successful enough to make the NCAA tournament have to deal with some- thing they are not used to - losing. "Nobody likes to lose," Michigan forward John Madden said after the Wolverines slipped by Lake Superior State, 4-3, in the CCHA championship game last weekend. "I'm just glad it wasn't us." Now every game could be Michigan's last. Playoff hockey is something different; something special. But the trick to winning those postseason games isn't. There's no one mystic strategy, no pep talk, no system to point to that guarantees a playoff win. Sure, offense wins games, and defense wins championships. But a high-octane offense will only win you games against poor clubs, but a solid defense is just as valuable against the country's top teams during the regular season as it is in postseason play. Look at the numbers: Minnesota - Michigan's likely opponent Sunday - downed the Wolverines, 3-2, in the College Hockey Showcase in November. Michigan's win over the Lake State last Saturday was also a one-goal affair. Three weekends ago, the Lakers won 5-4 in overtime against Michigan in Sault Ste. Marie. The other two matchups between the CCHA's top twP squads were blowouts. The winning margins were four goals or more. Defense is an integral factor in tournament success, but it's also an integral part of a good team. As far as the other cliches, goaltending and special teams fall into the same category: essential in both regular and postseason. "We just want to improve from lastO weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We had a big win over Lake State, but we have to play our best hockey from here on out." That's really the key if you need to single something out. Mistake-free hockey wins championships. By the time Michigan takes the ice at 2 p.m. Sunday in East Lansing, only six teams will still have ice to skate on. And you can bet all will be excellent teams led by experienced coaches and* talented players. Just like last year and the years before, it will be the team that makes the fewest mistakes that will win out. -John Leroi can be reached over e-mail atjrleroi@umich. edu. Kevin Hilton and the Michigan hockey team take the puck on the road to the NCAA tournament in East Lansing. The Wolverines, seeded No. 2 in the West, are in action Sunday. WALKER VAN DYKE/Daily Pizza, pizza, pizza ...r We were going to print the leaders of our NCAA men's basketball tournament contest, co-sponsored by Cottage Inn. But then we realized the leaders were all of three points ahead of the 50th- place contestant, with two- thirds of the contest's points yet to be decided. So printing leaders' name is pretty much pointless, except to give the top contestants an unfounded ego trip. However, we do have this bit of important news - you can still enter! Yes, you can still enter! E- mail us at daily.contest@umich.edu. There is only one condition - all of your Final Four teams have to come from the Big Ten. Home opener marks debut of new COach Zahn at RyFisher Stadium By James Goldstein Daily Sports Writer Geoff Zahn has sat in the home dugout of Ray Fisher Stadium before - as a Michigan player. But today Zahn will make his home debut as Michigan's head coach against Eastern Michigan (2-9) at 3 p.m. The Wolverines are 1-13 in his inagural sea- son. The new skipper spent the 1995 season as an assistant coach at Pepperdine. He helped guide the Waves to a 36-19-1 overall and 23-3-1 West Coast Confer- ence record, grabbing the conference championship in the process. ZahnwasnamedMichigan's 17th head coach in September by Athletic Director Joe Roberson. Roberson didn't stray far from the Michigan family with his pick. The48-yearoldnative ofToledo, Ohio, was a starting pitcher for the Wolverines from 1966-67. Zahn compiled 3-1 and 9-1 records in those two seasons and set the single sea- son overall record for best earned-run average at that time with a 1.19 ERA. The left-hander had a short tenure with the Wolverines because he was drafted four times before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. Previously, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. Zahn spent 12 years in the majors with the Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs, the Min- rOnthis field, you can't stand around and wait for the three-run homer, because that's not going to happen" - Geoff Zahn Michigan baseball coach nesota Twins and the California Angels. His career record in the major leagues was 111-109 with a 3.74 ERA. His best season came in 1982 when he went 18-8 for the Angels and finished sixth in the Cy Young voting. In his career, Zahn was at his best early in the season, going 25-6 in April. As Michigan's coach, Zahn has gotten off to a rocky start and the Wolverines might not even get the chance to get their second win today. The game may not even be played. The weather forecast calls for snow in the morning and afternoon. One to three inches are expected to accumulate by late morning with more possible. If the game is played, Zahn knows not to expect the long-ball in these cold- weather conditions. He is focusing more on the little things that are so crucial in the game of baseball. "I've told the kids, 'You will know how to bunt, you will know how to hit and run, you will know how to slash,"' Zahn said. "Everything is dictated by the talent you have. We may bunt in the first inning. We'll hit and run to move runners. "On this field, you can't stand around and wait for the three-run homer, because it is not going to happen. When you're playing in the very cold, inclement weather, you have to make it happen." That's easy for him to say. The Wolverines are coming offa week- end road trip in which they were swept by Oklahoma - 14-2, 7-4, 13-8. Michigan couldn't pitch or field well, committing eight errors in the series. And the Wolverines didn't start hitting until Sunday's game when they accounted for 14 hits in the loss. Utility-fielder Mike Cervenak and sec- ond-baseman Kirk Beermann did put up some impressive statistics. Cervenak went 8-for-9 in the series and Beermann rapped out four hits Sunday. Senior Mark Temple will start today and pitch limited innings because Zahn looks to give other pitchers some work. Temple has a 0-3 record and 9.49 ERA in 12.3 innings pitched. Pitching has been the main problem in the Wolverines' losses. No one hurler has an ERA below 4.70. In fact, Michigan's team ERA is a ghastly 8.58. That's where Zahn fits into the picture. The skipper hopes that his pitching expe- rience will benefit in his teaching of the pitching staff. "I am notgoing to take my strength and turn it into aweakness," Zahn said. "Pitch- ing is a big part of the game. I am hands- on with the pitchers." i FILE PHOTO/1 The loss of shortstop Ryan Van Oeveren is only one factor in Michigan's 1-13 record this season. The Wolverines' youth could make Geoff Zahn first year as head coach an interesting one. Lecture Note. Resume.Srvces { Faxn Servicet BOOK-O Self Serve Wednesday 0 11:30-3pm zpeciai COUNTRY LAGER A full-flavoured bohemian pilsner with a distinct, happy nose. BLACK &TAN A blend of classic stout and traditional pilsner lager. Dark, smooth and delicious. SPECIAL RESERVE DARKALE A medium-bodied dark ale.Well balanced bitemess with a smooth satisfying finish. A Grande Gold Medal winner. ROYALAMBER LAGER The blending of three select malts with choice Hallertau hops gives this amber lager a truly distinctive taste. COPIES 8.5x11 20# white $2.99 Cheeseburger & Fries 1/3 lb. of lean ground chuck Drink Special 9pm-Close $1.00 off all English Pints of Beer 338 S. State 996-9191 Grade A Notes at Ulrich's Bookstore Second Floor " 549 E. 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