8B- The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - January 26, 1998
After seeing so much in 4 years, the reason for doing this job becomes clear.
o Schembechler wrapped his strong fin-
gers around his golf club a couple of
years ago, wound up and smacked a
drive off the tee with a gruff grunt. SPLASH!
The ball went straight into a water hazard about
15 feet away. Though it was a charity tourna-
ment, Bo was in no mood for smiles after that
shot. His face contorted into a sour expression
- until I said hello.
Then, it got worse. Let's face it: Hitting a
horrendous golf shot is bad enough, but turning
around to find a sports writer waiting for you
afterward just makes it worse. I tried to butter
him up by telling him I worked for The
Michigan Daily, thinking his fierce stare might
soften a bit for someone from his school. But
he was unmoved. I might as well have been a
referee who had just made a bad call.
"You work for the DAILY, huh?"
Schembechler barked. "So I guess you want to
be a JOURNALIST."
"Yes, sir!" I said proudly.
"Why would you want to do THAT'?"
Schembechler said, only half-kidding. "Didn't
your mother hope for better for you?"
"Urn," I said.
I tried to force a laugh, but all I could do
was squeak out a question at that point. Bo
didn't hurt my feelings or anything -- you
learn to build a thick skin for this job -but
he did make me think. Why would I want to
do this? The pay is bad, the hours are long
and the athletes dislike you almost as much as
the coaches (and the general public). But I
kept at it.
Now, as I conclude my 3 1/2-year Daily
career, its time to give an answer. My answer
has been long in coming, but that might be
because the reason for it has been long in com-
ing, too.
When I walked into the Student Publications
Building the week before my first class as a
freshman, writing was little more than an
escape. My athletic hopes had been dashed by
a hand injury not long before, and I had
nowhere else to go. It seemed to me at the time
that, in the sports world, most people have the
ability to perform great athletic feats - or the
ability to describe them. That way, everyone
has something to do.
Without one ability, I thought I'd see if I had
the other. And I'm glad I took the chance.
Most people think sports writers are
wannabe jocks; they're right to think so. There
is no doubt that I would rather be hitting home
runs or scoring touchdowns for my school,
wearing the winged helmet and singing that
valiant fight song with distinction. The
Michigan tradition is important to me. It is
something I cherish, and I respect and admire
all those who uphold it.
But what I didn't real-
ize until late in my
, ' - , junior year was this:
There is more than one
way to carry on the
Michigan tradition.
Being a part of that great
NICHOLAS J. Michigan pride means
COTSONIKA more than stepping into
some athletic arena. It
Has Spoken means pouring yourself
H___s__p__k__ into whatever it is that
you do and doing it with
care and selflessness. It means pursuing excel-
lence.
I've made my share of mistakes in this paper.
Just ask Lloyd Carr. I said he didn't belong in
his job and that his team would finish fifth in
the Big Ten in 1997. Well, he showed me. But
then again, I've seen a lot here, and I've had
many more good times than bad.
On the job, between classes I've attended
and classes I should have attended. I've seen
three teams from this school win national
championships. I was there in Indianapolis with
the men's swimming team in 1995, there in
Cincinnati with the hockey team in 199%, there
in Pasadena with the football team earlier this
month.
I've seen other huge victories. I was in Sault
Ste. Marie with the hockey team in 1995 when
it beat Lake Superior in the final minute. I was
in Ann Arbor for two upsets of Duke in men's
basketball. I was in Boulder, State College and
Columbus when the football team did the
impossible.
I've seen some of the nation's best athletes
perform in their prime, and I've gotten to know
some of them. I chilled with Tom Dolan while
he mixed some rap tracks at home, then
watched him win a gold medal in Olympic
swimming. I talked hockey with guys like
Jason Botterill, Brendan Morrison and Marty
Turco, then watched them perform magic on
the ice. I sat on Brian Griese's couch and
laughed at him during an interview when he
said he'd quarterback the Wolverines to the
Rose Bowl. then stood in awestruck silence as I
watched him do it.
I've seen the work of three top coaches, who
taught and developed me as much as they ever
did their players. Jon Urbanchek was so nice to
me when I covered swimming, I learned to love
my job. Red Berenson demanded so much of
me during hockey season, I was ready for the
big time afterward. Carr questioned me so
often, I fine-tuned nyv craft and learned to be
more fair.
Seeing those things alone made this job
worth doing, and I owe an immeasurable
amount of thanks to all who made them possi-
ble. But those things weren't the end of it. After
I saw them, I sat down and typed them into a
computer. Tradition was translated into words
for my fellow students to read, putting the
Michigan spirit to paper, carrying it on to a
place where it will reside forever.
This is where history begins - on newsprint
- and I can only hope the moments and mem-
ories my words contain never fade. But then
again, somehow, I know they won't.
- This is Nicholas J. Corsonika s final colunmn.
He can be reachedl via e-mail at
cotsonik ;, umich.edu.
Longe goes a long way in
leading Michigan women Friday
Unscored invitational meet served as a warm-up, let stars shine
40
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Writer
Philosopher Grantland Rice once said, "It's not
whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game."
The Michigan women's track team can take this state-
ment at face value after hosting the Red Simmons
Invitational on Saturday. The invitational wasn't scored,
allowing individual performances to shine brighter than
e usual.
But the nature of the meet didn't douse the competi-
tive fire of the Wolverines. Michigan showed the com-
petitiveness and the tenacity that has many picking them
to finish in the top three of the Big Ten this year, cap-
turing seven events.
Senior Tania Longe turned in a stellar performance in
the 55-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 7:89. She beat
out all other collegiate competitors, but finished second
behind an unattached runner. Longe broke the school
record by one-hundredth of a second with her perfor-
mance.
"I had a lot more speed on my last three hurdles,"
Longe said. "I just let my speed take over."
It was business as usual for distance runner Katie
McGregor. McGregor followed up her NCAA provision-
al qualifying performance at Indiana last week with
another provisional time, winning the 3000 meters in
LLORY S.E. FLOYO/Daily 9:32.
rce to contend But McGregor is still in pursuit of the perfect race, "I
nis Building. was hoping to run faster to qualify for an automatic bid."
Freshman Tamika Craig proved her victory at Indiana
was no fluke by winning the 400 meters again in a time
of 57:15.
The presence of Craig and fellow freshman Regine
Caruthers in the lineup have solidified the long sprints
for the Wolverines.
Lisa Ouellet led a big Michigan pack in the mile run.
Ouellet captured the mile in a time of 5:01, and three
freshmen tagged along. Erin White (5:04), Lena
VanHaren (5:07) and Katie Ryan (5:10) helped the
Wolverines win four of the top five spots.
"The freshmen are really stepping it up," McGregor
noted. "Everyone's starting to get sharper."
Michigan combined solid performances in the running
events with a strong field events showing. Nicole
Forrester bettered her NCAA provisional qualifying
height, clearing the 5-foot-10 bar to earn her the victo-
ry.
Nicole Keith led a sizable Michigan force in the shot
put. Three of the top four spots belonged to Wolverines,
led by Keith, who threw a distance of 46-8 3/4 for her
first victory of the season.
Sophomore Brandi Bentley closed out a fine team per-
formance in the field events with her victory in the long
jump (18-7). Bentley, a sprinter, has shown versatility by
doubling in the 55 meters and the long jump.
Bentley made it clear where the team's concentration
rests in 1998.
"Every time we get on the track, we think about win-
ning the Big Ten championship," she said.
MA
Blue women ran past competition in a day when the individual shined. Freshman also proved they will be a for
with in years to come when Michigan played host to the Red Simmons Invitational at the Indoor Track and Ten
McGregor said.
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Calligraphy
Learn the basic calligraphy strokes. Three styles of writing
will be taught: Basic Italic. Uncial. and Gothic. Participants
should purdiase at lease one calligraphy marker or kit prior to
class (price $1.79 and up).
SUPER BOWL
Continued from Page 1B
The Packers hurt themselves with
three critical penalties late in the
game. They included a holding call
and a false start on rookie left tackle
Ross Verba that bottled Green Bay
deep, and a face mask on Darius
Holland that gave the Broncos 15 key
yards on their game-winning 49-yard
drive.
But nonetheless, it was Elway's
game. "In kind of a strange way -
John Elway, I've always enjoyed
him," Packers coach Mike Holmgren
said. "I just wished he hadn't done it
against me."
Elway scrambled 8 yards to set up a
touchdown, and scored on a 1-yard
run - a lot like the young Elway. He
finished 12-of-22 for 122 yards and
threw one end-zone interception.
If this wasn't the best Super Bowl
ever, it was close to it, despite a lot of
sloppiness -- 15 penalties and five
turnovers by the two teams. Elway's
mistake came at the Green Bay 22
when the Broncos had a chance to go
ahead by more than a touchdown late
in the third quarter.
But otherwise, it was two heavy-
weights going punch for punch -
Favre threw for three TDs, two to
Antonio Freeman, and Davis ran for
three.
1.
Instructor: Betsy Sundholm
Jan.29 & Feb. 5
Thursday, 6:00-8:00 P.M.
Conference Room 4
Fee: $12.00
®r.,
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Handwriting Analysis
Learn about graphology, which is the scientific term for
handwriting analysis. In this workshop, you will learn about
your personality, emotional disposition, talents, interpersonal
relationships, job suitability, and others through your
handwriting strokes analyses. Avery interesting and fun
workshop.
Instructor: Liza Mills (nationally recognized lecturer
and teacher of graphology)
lwl ..Feb.1I1 & 18
Wednesday, 6:00-8:00 PM.
Conference Room 4
Fee: $12.00
The "ABCs" of Astrological Chart Reading
This workshop will teach you the basics of astrological chart
reading.,Also, you will learn the necessary requirements of
astrological interpretations. Find out where your sun and moon are
located in order to make you better understand yourself. Bring
notepad and pen and you may also want to bring a small tape
recorder if you are interested in taping the sessions.
I
The Gentlemen of Pi Kappa Alpha
Invite You to
RUSH PIKE
The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
1601 Washtenaw Avenue
Mon, Jan 26 - Thurs, Jan 29
6:0.pm-10:00pm
"We got behind 17-7 and battled
back. We used so much energy. It was
like a basketball game," Holmgren
said. "They got us at the end."
Each team scored a touchdown on
its first possession, the first time*
that's ever happened in a Super Bowl.
Then Denver jumped to a 17-7 lead
before a 17-play, 95-yard drive by the
Packers, second longest in Super
Bowl history. That cut it to 17-14 at
halftime and Green Bay seemed to
have momentum.
But Elway engineered a 92-yard
drive of his own to give the Broncos
a 24-17 lead. Then, after Elway threw
the interception, the Packers went 85
yards in just four plays to tie it. 9
The third quarter did not start well
for Denver.
Davis fumbled on his first carry of
the second half, and Brian Williams
recovered at the Denver 26.
That led to Ryan Longwell's 27-
yard field goal that tied it at 17. An
offside penalty on a successful 39-
yard kick had given the Packers a
second chance at a TD, but they
couldn't take advantage.
Late in the third quarter, the
Broncos moved nearly the length of
the field on 13 plays for a touchdown
on Davis' I-yard run.
Elway combined with Ed
McCaffrey on a 36-yard play and
helped set up the score with an 8-yard
scramble that ended when he was
sandwiched by tacklers and spun
around in the air at the Green Bay 4.
Then came a bizarre sequence.
Freeman fumbled the kickoff and
Denver's Tim McKyer recovered at
the Green Bay 22. But on the next
play, Elway's pass into the end zone
was intercepted by Eugene Robinson
and returned to his own 15.
Instructor: Robin Johnson
Mar. 12& 19
Thursdav. 6:00-8:00 PM.
Room A
Fee:$12.00
Wild Bird Sketching
Explore the basics of sketching birds and creating a nature
jdurnal. Award-winning nature watercolor artist Susan
Falcone will share her techniques and experience. Field and
detail sketching will be presented, along with exercises on
learning to observe and note birds' shapes and habits. Bring
any sketchbook (or sketch pad or plain paper), pencil, and
eraser. Pens, colored pencils, and crayons are optional.
I
Pori
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Instructor: Susan Falcone
Apr.2&9
Thursday, 6:00-8:00 PM.
Conference Room 4
Fee: $12.00
4m
REGISTRATION FORM
Register early...space is limited!
All Workshns are held in the Michigan League.
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