12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 28, 1999
The Daily Grind=
Fans a
Yankees
snub Gray
Chad Curtis rounded third
base, his teammates waiting
around home plate to mob
the unlikely hero. Curtis had just hit
his second home-
run of Game 3 of
the World Series, JOSh
this one a tenth- Kleinbaum
inning blast to
cap a stirring 03
five-run come-
back and all but % ยง
bury the Braves.
Meanwhile,
Jim Gray, NBCs
reporter covering
the Yankees APOCLYPSE
dugout, YOW
approached the
plate, preparing to interview Curtis.
Little did he, or anyone else, expect
what came next.
"Because of what happened with
Pete," Curtis said on live television,
"we decided not to say anything."
Curtis walked away, abruptly end-
ing Jim Gray Interview II (more on
Jim Gray Interview I to come), a
sad act in a sadder story.
Pete, of course, is Pete Rose,
baseball's all-time hit king and the
focus of Major League Baseball's
latest firestorm.
Ten years ago, Rose signed away
his baseball life, agreeing to a life-
time ban for betting on baseball.
Ever since, he's denied betting on
his team, despite evidence in a
report submitted to Major League
Baseball in 1989 which says he did
just that 52 times in a three-month
span in 1987.
Rose should be in the Hall of
Fame. He's payed his penance, ten
years of embarrassment. Despite his
bets,'he never compromised the
outcome of the game being played
on the field, as the 1919 Black Sox
did - regardless of his bets, Rose
managed games to win them.
The fans voted Rose to Major
League Baseball's MasterCard All-
Century team, announced this past
Sunday in Atlanta during Game 2 of
the World Series, voicing their sup-
port for him.
Betting on 52 baseball games:
$50,000.
Not being in the Hall of Fame:
Priceless...
Naturally, debates on Rose's base-
ball status grew to a fever pitch.
Then came Jim Gray Interview 1:
The Rose Interview.
Gray asked Rose a simple, obvious
question: Would he consider admit-
ting that he bet on baseball, and apol-
ogize for it?
Rose said he had nothing to apolo-
gize for, he didn't bet on baseball.
Gray pressed, maybe too hard. Rose
questioned the timing and appropri-
ateness of the question, as 18 of base-
ball's best living players gathered
together.
The public became enraged. Web
sites demanded Gray's job.
After the public outcry, which
included anti-Gray sentiment from the
Yankees and their manager, Joe Torre,
Gray apologized for doing his job
(after pressure from Team of the
Century sponsor MasterCard).
"After viewing the videotape, I can
understand the reaction of many base-
ball fans," he said. "I thought that it
was important to ask Pete Rose if this
was the right moment for him to
make an apology.
"If in doing so, the interview went
on too long and took out some of the
joy of the occasion, then I want to say
to baseball fans everywhere that I'm
sorry about this."
For Chad Curtis and the rest of the
Yankees, this wasn't good enough. So,
supporting a team-wide ban, Curtis
snubbed Gray.
Curtis and the Yankees thought they
were doing the right thing, making a
statement in support of Rose and
baseball.
They were wrong. If anything, they
were hurting the game.
As a baseball player, Curtis plays a
game for a living. He answers to his
customers, his fans. After his game-
winning home run, when he's still on
an emotional high, those fans wanted
to hear from him.
He wasn't talking.
Curtis made his point, but at what
cost? Should athletes be able to pre-
vent the media from doing its job -
and in the process prevent their fans
from getting the best coverage - for
the sake of a personal opinion?
Soccer to play for pride versus SEC
By Dan Williams
Daily Sports Writer
,q While the Michigan soccer team is still a
< !week away from the all-important Big Ten
' Tournament, this weekend's out of conference
{ 9 ~ games could have serious post season ramifica-
. tions.
When Michigan travels to Lexington to play
Alabama on Friday and Kentucky on Sunday, it
will be looking to assure itself a berth in the
NCAA Tournament. Despite the fact that the
Wolverines has an impressive overall record and
finished second in the Big Ten regular season,
Michigan coach Debbie Belkin believes that the
team hasn't wrapped up post season play and
needs to finish the regular season strongly.
The NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Oay uses a formula for selecting tournament teams,
The Michigan soccer team faces Kentucky and Alabama and one factor is how the teams perform at the
this weekend in a Big Ten/SEC showdown,
Tourney bye on the line
end of the season. Michigan could be in trouble
if it rolls off a losing streak down the stretch.
"We don't want to risk losing any more games
and not making the tournament,' freshman Amy
Sullivant said.
But NCAA positioning won't be all that's on
the line this weekend as Michigan plays for con-
ference and regional pride against two
Southeastern Conference foes. The event in
Lexington has been dubbed the Big Ten/SEC
challenge, and Michigan and Minnesota will test
the soccer strength of the north against the
Crimson Tide and the Wildcats.
"The SEC is a really good conference,"
Sullivant said. "Beating SEC teams would make
us look good going into the Big Ten Tournament
and the NCAAs."
Alabama (3-6 SEC, 6-11 overall) has had a
disappointing season so far but won't be a
walkover for Michigan. Kentucky will provide a
real challenge for Michigan. The Wildcats come
into the match ranked 14th, riding a thirteen-
game winning streak.
"Kentucky is having a good year and they've
beat some good teams,' Belkin said. "It's a bat-
tle every year when we play them."
Michigan has 2-0-1 all-time record against
Kentucky. Last year, Michigan's all time goal
scoring leader, senior Amber Berendowsk*
scored the games' only goal in Michigan's I
win.
While Michigan has had a strong season, this
weekend offers the Wolverines a chance to put
the Wisconsin loss that cost them a share of the
Big Ten title further out of memory.
"Michigan has done a good job not dwelling
on that tough loss'; Belkin said. "Michigan has
come back ready to practice hard and play hard."
By Michael Kern
Daily Sports Writer
Last year, the Michigan field hockey team lost
its final game of the regular season, finishing
one game behind Penn State for the regular sea-
son title. The Wolverines had a chance for
redemption in the Big Ten Tournament finals
against Penn State, but lost, 3-1.
This weekend, No. 8 Michigan will need wins
against No. 4 Penn State and No. II Ohio State
and an Iowa loss to Northwestern to prevent
playing the role of the bridesmaid for the third
time in the last two seasons.
While the former is possible - four weeks
ago the Wolverines defeated Ohio State and fell
to Penn State by just a goal - Northwestern has
vet to win a conference game this season and
Iowa has only one loss this season.
"It's out of our hands who wins the champi-
onship'" Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said.
"Iowa is in the driver's seat at this point, and we
are just going to worry about doing the best we
can.
The game this Friday against Penn State is
critical for the Wolverines because it means the
difference between second and third place in the
Big Ten standings.
"If we finish first or second we get a bye in the
first round of the tournament, which is huge,"
Pankratz said. "Every team is really very diffi-
cult, and to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it's
almost impossible to win the tournament."
Penn State has been the Wolverines' nemesis
over the years, holding a 16-2 advantage in the
all-time series. The Nittany Lions have won the
last five meetings between the two teams,
including the last two Big Ten Tournament
finals.
"Penn State plays well against us. They always
seem to bring their 'A' game," Pankratz said.
"But for the first time since I've been here, we
played them really tight at State College (this
year). I think we'll play a very good match
against them here because we always play better
against them here"
The first time Michigan and Ohio State met
this season, the Wolverines upset the then-sev-
enth-ranked Buckeyes, 3-2. But this time,
Michigan is ahead of Ohio State in the standings
and the polls and has to worry about a let down
after what will likely be an emotional game
against Penn State.
"It's very dangerous," Pankratz said. "Penn
State is the first game of the weekend and they're
the big ranked team. I don't want the girls to
overlook (Ohio State), and they won't because
the team knows how dangerous and how strong
Ohio State is."
Since both games are against ranked oppo-
nents, they are also very important for the
Wolverines as they make a push for their first-
ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"If we win, then it really solidifies us for the
(NCAA) tournament," Pankratz said. "If we
don't win this weekend, then it becomes a lot
more iffy, but we can't really worry about that
because being selected is out of our control.
Playing well and beating Penn State is in our
control, and that's what we are going to focus
on.
Courtney Reid
and the Michigan
field hockey team
need wins
against Penn
State and Ohio
State and an
Iowa loss to
Northwestern to
tie the Hawkeyes
for first place in
the Big Ten.
JEREMY MENCHICK/Daily
Spikers seek first road wim
Golf ready for West Coast
By Sam Duwe
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan men's golf team's journey to
California this weekend can be called a hor-
nets' nest, a challenge, or a reckoning.
"This tournament has the strongest field that
I have ever taken a Wolverine team to since
I've been with the program," Michigan coach
Jim Carras said. "And I've been with the pro-
gram for 20 years."
The Nelson Invitational will commence
tomorrow at the Stanford University Golf
Course in Palo Alto. It's a three-day tourna-
ment format with 18-hole rounds ending
Sunday. Scoring will be done on a five-score-
four format, where five golfers will compete
per team, but only the top four will count.
Michigan's lineup will be identical to it's last
tournament. Captain Michael Harris and Andy
Matthews will be followed by Mike Affeldt,
Andy Chapman and Scott Hayes. Hayes won a
qualifier this week to earn the final roster spot.
"I didn't play as well as I could in the other
tournaments, especially at the Xavier
Invitational," Hayes said. "This weekend I
hope to really contribute to the team's score
and make a difference."
The Nelson will contain 20 top teams from
around the country, with nine ranked in the top
25. The only other Big Ten schools competing
are Penn State and No. I Northwestern.
Hot off a first place finish at Xavier two
weeks ago, the Wolverines have begun to show
what Carras calls solid play. But, the quality of
competition at the tournament has the ability to
humble the team's pride.
"We're really excited and we have a lot of
confidence, but we are still searching for the
'round'," said Affeldt, referring to the highest
level of play Michigan can achieve. "I would-
n't call it nervousness, but it's a different feel-
ing facing so many great teams."
Although past tournaments have been chal-
lenging, The Nelson proves to be the toughest
of the season, according to the players.
"Realistically, if we finish in the top five it
would be remarkable," Carras said.
But winning in California isn't the top prior-
itv for the coach and his team.
"This is a real chance to show that Michigan
is a real competitor on the national level,"
Carras said. "If we rank in at least the top
eight, we'll be very proud."
After this weekend's action, the team will
conclude with the Hawaii Invitational on Nov.
22.
With a hectic schedule, the team has limited
time to soak in the warm temperatures and
beaches.
When asked about how he'll budget his time,
Affeldt replied, "There's always time for look-
ing."
By Dena Krischer
Daily Sports Writer
Hypothetical situation: A volleyball team
that starts its season off strong, wins eight of
its first nine games, has the potential to win the
conference title and has the other coaches on
their toes, plotting ways for their own team to
get past this SuperTeam.
Suddenly, these coaches found SuperTeam's
kryptonite.
SuperTeam's strength was drained. Its only
hope to become super again was to defeat
those who possessed the kryptonite.
For the Michigan volleyball team, this isn't
hypothetical. Its kryptonite is the Big Ten con-
ference.
The Wolverines have been able to overcome
the power of the Big Ten just three times, all on
their own court.
Enough already.
Michigan knows it's better than that and can
somehow redeem its 3-6 Big Ten record.
The Wolverines want a change; they want
their first road win Friday against Iowa, a team
they've already defeated.
"Our outlook for this weekend is to get a win
on the road," senior Maggie Cooper said.
"When Iowa came here, we played hard, we
played consistent and came together as a team.
We're looking to do the same thing there."
Saturday, the Wolverines hope for more than
a three-game sweep at the hands of Minnesota,
who swept Michigan earlier this month.
"It's a very intense atmosphere there,"
Cooper said. "We're looking to go in there and
give them a hard match. They're ranked pretty
high in the Big Ten, and hopefully we'll just
play our hardest and see what happens."
To the Wolverines, the lack of success is baf-
fling. For two years, they've beaten top-ranked
teams during pre-season, but fell apart in the
Big Ten.
"We don't know why," Rosen said. "If things
happen the same way as they did last year, it
would be more coincidental than anything else.
I don't think it's because of last year that we're
struggling, or we're going down the same ro,
as last year. We're not winning games because
we're not playing consistently. What happened
last year, I don't know. I wasn't here."
And it's not like every game has ended with
a brutal sweep.
But not every game has ended with a victo-
ry, either.
"We have lost some on the road," Rosen said.
"But it's not like we've played poorly, it's just a
matter of good, quality teams, and being on to
of your game.
"I don't think we've played noticeably dif-
ferent on the road, I think part of it is that the
other teams play better at their home. We don't
play badly on the road, but we do play a little
better at home."
Rosen sees a silver lining-in Michigan's loss-
es. It's just more experience under Michigan's
belt.
"We know that we're losing matches," Rosen
said. "We know that we've been inconsistent,
and we're trying to work on that. We're playin
hard, and we're not letting the frustration w4
us over. We're competing as much as we can
and practicing hard. That's all we can ask. If
they do that, then sooner or later, the results
will come along."
When that happens, Michigan will again
become SuperTeam.
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