The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 7, 2000 -13 El-Amin may make the jump to NBA STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Kalid El-Amin may have played his last game in a Connecticut uniform. The Hartford Courant reported yesterday that the junior guard will announce in the next few days he will forgo his senior season and declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. E8-Amin, who is from M i n n e a po is, ivcnt home over the weekend to discuss with his family whether to go pro or stay at Connecticut, according to the newspaper. Coach Jim Calhoun would E-Amin neither confirm nor deny that El-Amin had made a decision. Underclassmen have until May 14 to declare for the June 28 draft. The 5-10, 200-pound E-Amin, a faint-team Big East selection and Associated Press honorable mention All-American, is being projected as a late first-round or early second- round choice in the draft by seven NBA general managers and two pro scoats interviewed by The Courant last month. Boy earns $1M for Marlins' accident FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) - A boy who was struck in the head with a baseball before a Florida Marlins game in 1997 has been awarded more than S1I milLon by a jury. Andrew Klein was awarded 1.05 millon from the team and stadium by the state court jury. He has permanent brain damage since being struck by a ball during batting practice as he took part in a pregame program at Pro Player Stadium. Andrew, then 8, had been selected to take part in the Marlins' "Bullpen Buddies" program, where he and about 100 other children were brought down near the field to ask questions of team officials and receive player autographs. But the St. Louis Cardinals were tak- ing batting practice while the program 9 was taking place and a line drive hit by Ray Lankford came into the stands and struck Andrew in the left temple. "I saw the ball coming and I jumped and screamed because it was headed for the children,"' said Mark Klein, Andrew's father. "It's tough to describe. It was like watching your child get shot." Andrew suffered a frontal lobe injury to his brain. It will affect him the rest of his life. Senator Levin wins bets over Florida official, wins oranges WASHINGTON (AP) - With Michigan State University's 89-76 win over Florida in the national basketball championship, won a bet with Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.). If the Spartans had lost, Levin would have owed Graham Michigan apples. Levin wore a national champi- onship hat as he collected his win- nings. He congratulated the Florida team on its achievements in making it to the championship, but said he never doubted that he and the Spartans would win. U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Flint), also will benefit from Michigan State's Final Four performance. He bet Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wisconsin), that the Spartans would win in the semifinals played Saturday. Kildee offered a meal of Flint coneys, Vernors ginger ale and Michigan cherry pie. But since Michigan State knocked off Wisconsin 53-41, Kildee will get Wisconsin cheese and bratwurst. The payoff reception is planned for sometime next week. Under the terms of the bet, Kildee will have to wear a Spartan jersey while they eat. 2001 Final Four tickets available INDIANAPOLIS --Ticket applica- tions for the 2001 NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours will be available through April 28. The Men's Final Four is March 31 and April 2 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Tickets are $142 and $122 and will admit the bearer to all Men's golf swings to put to gether a string of wins By Jeb Singer Daily Sports Writer On their home course in Ann Arbor, Michigan golfers can never predict where snow or sunshine will emerge at any given hour. However, down in Huntington, W Va. the weather is warm, and the players must continue to be on fire. "Every tournament from here on out is extremely important," Michigan assistant coach Ed Klum said. The next four tournaments can extend the season. Poor play will ensure that the group will not be going to the regional championships in Victoria, Texas or the NCAAs in Opelka, Ala. The top six teams in District IV will qualify for these 24-team regional tour- naments. This is an enormous goal because 18 teams from districts will go on to NCAAs in the last frontier. As of now, Michigan is like the last kid cut from the middle school basketball team - stuck in seventh place. But if the boys in maize and blue ride the success of their third-place finish in the Pottsboro, Tex. Dr. Pepper Intercollegiate, they might have a chance to see some polar bears. "We beat all the teams in our district (at Pottsboro)," Klum said. "We have to beat the teams that are directly ahead of us. That's it only six teams will make it", The Wolverines believe that they have what it takes and senior co-captain Michael Harris continues to provide the spark. "Mike has played especially well all year long," Klum said. "He is playing well enough to carry us on his back" While Klum was not suggesting that Harris has the back muscles to be a caddy, he did acknowledge the fact that Harris could continue playing after this year. "There is no doubt in my mind that he has a chance to play pro golf," Klum said of Harris. "I don't think though that saying this is anything new. He obviously has the physical tools, but he also has the mental ones" Harris is not alone at the top though - the team as a whole has the goals believing in their success. "We feel that we have the ingredi- ents. It all starts with Mike and Andy (Matthews);' Klum said. Harris is used to this sort of responsi- bility and respect, he was the Big Ten champion last year, but this year it's time to lead the team back to the NCAAs for the first time since his freshman year in 1997. "The hardest part is qualifying for the regional," Klum said. "Most of the teams we see in the upcoming tourna- ments are District IV teams." And so could they, through the dog days of the season. Michigan's eyes are on the prize. Poor performances this weekend and in others could seal Michigan's fate. Follow the leader If they step up, the team rises up. When at least three players on the Michigan golf team come up big, the reamh-as always placed in the top four. Here is a look at top 25 finishers and the teams overall place; Tournament Top 25 finishes Team finish Nelson Invitational 0 19 Stan Sheriff Invitational 4 4 Mauna Ken Resort Invitational 3 4 Wolverine South Invitational 3 3 Silver Springs Shores Invitational 1 9 Dr. Pepper Collegiate Invitational 3 3 THE MICHIGAN MODEL SEARCH (Males & Females) li-tss, nn THE MICHIGAN MODEL SEARCH Open Auditions Michigan Union Crofoot Room April7&8 4to 7pmt ihig TONIGHT AT Thee 6:45 & 8:4 5 3 E. Liberty Street - Ann Arbor d LO I I I 'qbwAA.W .119M db ' V40F, %W W q I W AF W''