The Michigan Daily - SPORTSWednesday - September 3, 1997 - 15
GATUONS Rumors gsurround team
LIOUD''iv siain
INVESTIGATION
Continued from Page 13A
"While we are pleased that our system was able to
prevent major violations from occurring, we are disap-
pointed that the internal disciplines and reporting pro-
cedures did not result in these activities coming to our
attention by an appropriate reporting process,"
Roberson said on the day of the report's release.
The following day, Roberson and University
President Lee Bollinger released a statement reaffirm-
ing their support for Fisher and crediting him with pre-
venting further violations.
Rumors and allegations
Allegations appeared in the media just days after the
initial violations were announced. Two unnamed
sources alleged in The Detroit News and the Detroit
Free Press that Martin often gave improper cash and
monetary gifts to players by channeling the funds
through girlfriends and placing cash envelopes in cake
boxes.
Further suspicions arose after the Athletic
Department announced that it planned to conduct a
standard investigation into how Traylor obtained an
automobile, which was leased by his aunt, Lydia
Johnson, in February, because of his relationship with
Martin.
Johnson, a Detroit steel company machine operator,
leased the eight-passenger vehicle, equipped with a
television and two stereos. Lease payments on the vehi-
cle reportedly exceed $700 per month. Traylor respond-
ed to allegations that he may have improperly obtained
the $47,906 customized Chevrolet Suburban.
"The lease of the new car in question by my aunt was
made entirely by her," Traylor said in a press release.
"She works two jobs, has great credit, and selected the
car for both of us to drive. It is her money, and she
should be able to spend her money as she wishes. We
have done nothing wrong."
The most significant charges allege that former
Michigan basketball stars Chris Webber and Maurice
Taylor accepted more than $100,000 from Martin.
If such allegations are proved to be true, the conse-
quences for the team could be damaging.
Webber, who left the University after his sophomore
year in 1993 and currently plays for the Washington
Wizards, first encountered Martin when he was in
junior high. Martin was often seen attending Webber's
high school games at Birmingham's Detroit Country
Day. The newspapers reported that Webber received
financial support from Martin during his college career.
Allegedly, Martin expected Webber to pay the money
back, with interest, after he turned pro. Webber, accord-
ing to the newspapers' sources, did not realize he would
have to pay the money back. Webber repaid Martin, but
apparently Martin was displeased with the amount of
money he received.
After his experience, Webber warned Taylor to stay
away from Martin, the newspapers reported. But Taylor
did not heed Webber's warning, and therefore will also
be expected to pay Martin back with interest, if he did
indeed take the payments.
The newspapers also reported that the University's
investigation into the basketball program has revealed
that Martin's name was listed on Webber's college
apartment lease.
A mysterious booster
In April, further information regarding the night that
first ignited controversy came to light and amplified
suspicions of the program. The five Michigan basket-
ball players who were in Taylor's car as it flipped
allegedly entertained Cleaves at an all-night hotel party
that may have included strippers, alcohol and illegal
drug use just hours before the accident.
The report released by the University also shows that
the players stopped at Martin's home before the party so
he could meet Cleaves.
Examination of the Michigan basketball team's com-
plimentary ticket lists show that Martin may have acted
as a recruiter for the team.
Fisher is quoted in the University's report as saying
REID
Continued from Page 13A
class with a perfect 4.0 grade poin
average, is interested in the business
and pre-medical programs at Michigan.
His father said that Ann Arbor's Lattet
Day Saints community, which is th
religion of the Reid's Mormon faith, is
very strong.
The addition of Reid on the court
came at a crucial time for the already-
thin Wolverines. Guard Brandun
Hughes was dismissed from the team
on June 13. The move left Michigan
with one experienced point guard -
Travis Conlan - for the upcoming sea-
son. Hughes played big minutes at the
point last season and would have
returned as Michigan's fourth-leading
scorer (8.8 points per game last season).
Now with Reid in the picture, the sit-
uation changes. According to Reid's
father, there should be a battle for the
starting point guard job.
"If Robbie didn't think he had a
chance to come in and start, I guarantee
he wouldn't have come to Michi'gan,
Reid said. "There are too many places
he had the opportunity to do that"
But the Reid-for-Hughes swapwas
only one of a litany of changes
thatMichigan basketball coach Steve
Fisher oversaw.
At the end of last season, Fisher was
planning on adding four new bodies -
all freshmen recruits - to last season's
seven-man rotation.
Plans changed.
Fisher's four-man recruiting class
quickly became two.
Days after Dionte Harvey, a junior
college player from Flint, announced he
would play for Michigan, his past came
back to haunt him. He was arraigned on
sexual assault charges and upon discov-
ering the news, Fisher severed
Michigan's ties with Harvey.
Incoming freshman Leon Jpnes
failed to qualify academically due to
low ACT scores. Michigan does not
accept partial qualifiers.
That leaves just Josh Asselin, a 6-11
project and 6-7 swingman Brandon
Smith.
And losing Hughes added insult to
injury.
"Brandun made a commitment 'and
did what he needed to do to enter the
University of Michigan," Fisher said in
a statement. "However, he has failed to
maintain the necessary commitments to
both academics and the basketball pro-
gram."
For the two months following
Hughes's removal, Michigan intended
to enter the season with two experi-
enced guards (Conlan and Louis
Bullock), with junior Ron Oliver con-
tributing minor minutes off the beich.
Enter Reid. The junior, who has two
more years of eligibility remaining in
college, started getting back to the hard-
wood immediately. Right from the day
he arrived home from Greece, he woke
up at 6 a.m. every day, headed to the
weight room and to the courts. Reid's
father knows that he will put in his work.
"Robbie will do whatever it takes to
win," Reid said. "He'll fight his guts out
trying to compete. You're going to have
to kill him. He is such a hard-nosed
guy"
Michigan men's basketball coach Steve Fisher has been noted for a sometimes passionate style from the
sidelines. Documents show that Fisher has strongly defended the basketball program's integrity.
he "never used (Martin) as a representative of our ath-
letic interest in any way," and that his relationship with
Martin was "casual, friendly but distant."
In addition to being a season ticket holder, the list
shows that Martin received 30 complimentary tickets
from the 1990-91 season to the present. On eight occa-
sions, the tickets were given written authorization by
Fisher. For one game in 1994, a hand-written note on
the cover of the complimentary ticket list asks that
recruit Willie Mitchell be seated with Martin.
Mitchell, who had been named that year's Mr.
Basketball for the state of Michigan, was a heavily
recruited high school prospect for the University. The
message was not initialed by anyone, but the full list of
tickets for that day was signed by Fisher.
In an interview with investigators, Fisher said that he
did not believe Martin was harmful to the basketball
program, and therefore he did not ban Martin's contact
with the program.
"I would not have viewed him as a threat to the
integrity or honesty of Michigan or our program,"
Fisher said, according to formerly unreleased tran-
scripts obtained by The Michigan Daily under the
Freedom of Information Act.
Throughout the transcripts Martin's name has been
deleted, but in an interview with The Detroit News,
Martin confirmed that the comments refer to him.
Even after discovering that Martin had been the insti-
gator of two NCAA violations the team incurred, Fisher
maintained that Martin was not damaging to the pro-
gram.
"I didn't think that this was a guy that was detrimen-
tal" Fisher told investigators. "But we were with him
like we were with a lot of people ... if you don't network
and network with a lot of people, you can find yourself
never being able to recruit certain areas."
The relationship between Martin, the Michigan bas-
ketball program and its coaching staff has been the
major focus of a current University investigation into
allegations made against the program.
Fisher adamantly defended his ethics in all dealings
with Martin.
"If there's one thing I take great pride in and I have
said this before, ... my integrity, Fisher first, my family
and a close second to this University and what it repre-
sents," Fisher told investigators. "I have bent over back-
wards to handle myself in situations in a way, that I
would be beyond reproach on that."
Quick start for Michigan women's soccer is best
in team history as Beitel, Berendowsky shine
By Chris Farah
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan soccer team is used to quick
starts - the Wolverines' starting lineup is
dominated by a young group of sophomores
and freshmen, while the team itself has only
been in existence for four years.
Now Michigan has mastered another quick
start, racking up a 2-0 record - the best
start in the Wolverines' short history.
The victories weren't against creampuffs,
either.
Michigan destroyed Missouri, 5-I, last
Friday and went on to beat Kentucky, 2-0, the
following Sunday.
Although even younger than the
Wolverines, the Tigers have a respectable
freshman class. The Wildcats have a national-
ly recognized program and were ranked 24th
entering their game with the Wolverines.
Both contests were hosted by Kentucky.
Michigan's score against Missouri wasn't
indicative of the entire game. Although
Michigan outshot Missouri, 27-6, the
Wolverines' offense didn't really click until
late in the first half.
"First half, it was pretty close," Michigan
coach Debbie Belkin said. "We weren't as
dominant as you'd think. We had to change
our formation a little bit, then we fell into our
game."
Michigan didn't manage to score its first
goal until the 42:08 mark, when, appropriate-
ly enough, the Wolverines' first goal of the
elders, senior Ruth Poulin. Junior Jessica
Limauro added the final goal for the
Wolverines just 20 minutes later.
Beitel's assist gave her three points for the
outing - the most ever scored by a
Wolverine in a season opener.
"She came off the bench and sparked us
real well," Belkin said. "She's been playing
well in practice, and - being a freshman -
we had to see how she would do in a game.
But Beitel went in and made an immediate
impact."
The midfielder remained modest about her
personal accomplishments, however, empha-
sizing the overall team effort.
"I was really excited to have an opportuni-
ty to get a goal and an assist," Beitel said.
"But the team has been so supportive of us
freshmen this year. We all work together so
well in practice - our team is very deep, and
we have a lot of talented players."
Other Wolverines also made their mark on
the record book. With Poulin's goal, she tied
fellow senior Debbie Flaherty for most career
points at Michigan with 43. The Wolverines'
five goals also marked a team record for a
season opener
If the Wolverines experienced any kind of
emotional letdown after the excitement of
their first game, they didn't show it in the
match against the Wildcats. Last season,
Michigan battled Kentucky to a draw, so the
Wolverines were eager to prove that they
were the better team this year.
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
Debbie Flaherty and the rest of the Michigan women's soccer team are off to their best start in the
short history of the program, after winning two games on the west coast to open the season.
Flaherty's 43 career points are tied for the Michigan career lead.
opponent, but this time by the relatively mod-
est margin of 9-1.
Berendowsky picked up where she left off
goaltended both games, earning an impres-
sive 0.50 goals-against average.
Freshman Erin Gilhart also stood out on