2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 25, 2002
A
CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY
April showers will send
water skiers to practice
Avalanche in net
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Who: Marissa Young
Hometown: Santa Ana, Calif.
Sport: Softball
Year: Junior
By Maria Sprow
Daily Sports Writer
competed,
when hev
love to wa
April may just be another word for Those v
"month of showers" to most people, hr ve thre
but, to members of the University's Sslom, t
water ski club, it signifies something women a
to look forward to: Practice. against ea
Though the club will not partici- a combina
pate in any tournaments or competi- performan
tions until its season starts again in Membe
the fall, members said they are look- ments, th
ing forward to getting back out to on winnin
Lake Belleville, their official prac- The co
tice site after winter. about ha
The team has grown considerably other sch
since its formation a decade ago and time at th
is now ranked among the top schools Denner sa
in its region. The region includes one was o
teams from Wisconsin, Michigan ing, but ti
State, Purdue, Ohio State and Illi- out with a
nois State. don't nor
Though the team is competitive, But De
members said competition is just aspect of
half of the team's purpose. to him tha
"We're a two-fold club," club "My br
President Bryan Maloney said. "We State and
are a competition team and then we rivalry co
are just people who like to ski." "Every w
He said about half the team's 30- slalom to
to-50 person membership can When i
choose not to compete in any given team's sea
year. ments. TI
Since the team is multidimension- region go
al, it attracts a variety of skiers - made by
some who have never skied before or Though th
have very little experience with the to go in 2
sport and others who have been return trip
learning tricks since junior high ' Malone
school. team's re
"There's no talent requirement to season is
join the club," Maloney said, adding fall, but i
that when he joined he had never any time.
The 'Perks' of s
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Not many
people knew about Craig Perks. Few will forget his
theatrical finish yesterday that brought him an
unlikely victory at The Players Championship and a
trip to The Masters.
In a roller-coaster round expected out of a new-
comer to such a pressure-packed stage, Perks com-
pleted a day of high drama with an
eagle-birdie-par finish to become the first player
to earn his first victory at the event, regarded as
golf's fifth major.
"You're unbelievable," defending champion Tiger
Woods told him at the trophy presentation.
"Absolutely unbelievable"
Perks, 35, closed with an even-par 72, a score
that doesn't even begin to reflect his wild adven-
tuks on a firm, punishing TPC at Sawgrass.
"That was the easiest 72 I ever shot in my life,"
Perks joked after his two-shot win over Stephen Ames.
He made only two pars over his final 14 holes,
none after No. 10.
Perks easily could have seen his chances disap-
pear when his approach from 199 yards on the par-5
16th came perilously close to the edge of the water.
It hung up in the thick collar of rough just right of
the green.
With his feet pressed close to the wooden frame-
boards, he holed the pitch from 21 feet for eagle to
take a one-stroke lead.
He handled the next test with ease, finding land
on the island-green 17th and holing a 28-foot birdie
putt for a two-stroke lead over Ames, who closed-
with a 5-under 67 some three hours earlier.
Breathing room? Forget it.
Instead of playing it safe off the tee, Perks hit
though he did start skiing
was 10 years old. "If you
ter ski, we'll take you."
who do choose to compete
e events to choose from:
trick and jump. Though
nd men do not compete
ch other, the final score is
ation of men's and women's
rces.
ers said even at tourna-
e focus is not completely
g.
mpetitions "were mostly
nging out with kids from
pools and having a good
e lakes," Club treasurer Jim
id. "During the day, every-
out to do their best in ski-
he great part was hanging
bunch of people that you
mally get to see."
nner said the competitive
the team might mean more
n to other members.
other skied for (Michigan)
I ski for Michigan - the
uldn't be better," he said.
week we fought hard in
see who could beat who."
t starts in September, the
ason includes four tourna-
he top two teams in the
on to nationals, a trip last
team members in 2000.
.e club didn't get a chance
001, they are hoping for a
in 2002.
y said the majority of the
cruitment happens as the
gaining momentum in the
nterested students can join
improved to 0.85.
What: Young was a Ca dinal-killer this weekend with ba.:k-to-back
shutouts over t uisville. In yesterday's 3-0 win, she threw seven innings
with -x strikeouts. Young (12-4) went the distance on Saturday, as
well, in Michigans' 1-0 victory over the Cardinals. Her 14 strikeouts on
the weekend upped her team-leading total to 141 while her E.R.A. .
Young
AEOITBRIEFS
AP PHOTO
Colorado's Patrick Roy (33) and Martin Skoula (41) pound on the Red Wings' Kirk
Maltby. Detroit won the war and clinched the Western Conference title with a 2-0 win.
Sndr1Im not
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Even Missouri
though other schools might come a final fou
calling, Quin Snyder says he is finals Satu
staying at Missouri. After the
During a rally early morning yes- doubt abou
terday welcoming the Tigers from "I'm not1
the NCAA West Regional in San St. Louis P
Jose, Calif., Snyder spoke of his Asked if1
long-term plans for the Missouri. der told th
"More important than any single ise."
game is the fact these guys have Missour
built a program ... a program that Alden said
will one day play in the Final Four," rally that S
Snyder told about 200 fans at years rema
leaving
lost 81-75 to Oklahoma,
ur team, in the regional
rday.
e game, Snyder left Lale
t his future.
leaving," Snyder told the
ost-Dispatch.
that was a promise, Sny-
e paper: "That's a prom-
i athletic director Mike
in an interview after the
nyder has more than four
aining on a renegotiated
signed last summer.
Shanahan nets 500th,
as Wings clinch West
DENVER (AP) - Brendan Shana-
han scored his 500th career goal,
breaking a scoreless tie at 7:48 of the
third period as the Detroit Red Wings
beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 on
Saturday, clinching the top spot in the
Western Conference.
Dorginik Hasek had 31 saves for his
61st career shutout, top among active
goalies.
Shanahan beat Patrick Roy from the
left circle on a 5-on-3 advantage. He
had gone eight straight games without
a goal in pursuit of No. 500, a mile-
stone that has already been reached by
teammates Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman
and Luc Robitaille.
Mirer finds residence
with sixth NFL tem
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Rick
Mirer signed with the Oakland Raiders
on Saturday, the former Notre Dame
quarterback's sixth NFL team in nine
seasons.
Mirer, 32, spent most of the past two
seasons with the San Francisco 49ers
as a backup to Jeff Garcia.
Mirer was the second overall pick in
the 1993 draft by the Seattle Seahawks
and went on to earn rookie of the year
honors that season with 274 "comple-
tions, 486 attempts and 2,883 passing
yards.
He spent four seasons with the Sea-
'M tSCHE3DULE
hawks before joining the Chicago
Bears in 1997. He played for the Green
Bay Packers in 1998 and the New York
Jets in 1999 before going to the 49ers.
Mirer, a three-year starter for Notre
Dame, has passed for 10,702 yards and
47 touchdowns over his career, includ-
ing a career-high 13 touchdowns in
1995.
Referee beaten by
Greek soccer fans
ATHENS, Greece - A referee was
kicked and punched by fans after a
Greek league game yesterday, with
fighting at the stadium spilling into the
streets.
The referee was sent to a hospital with
facial injuries following the game
between Greece's two most popular
teams. A prosecutor has begun an investi-
gation.
Fans of Panathinaikos Athens and
Olympiakos Pireaus ripped out plastic
seats, threw flares on the field and
hurled coins and rocks at players.
Several fans were hurt in the fighting
at Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium, police
said. At least 15 youths were detained
and about 2,500 police officers were on
hand for the game.
"The league is a joke. I call on the
prime minister to intervene," P. Athens
chairman Angelos Philippidis said.
Fans of Panathinaikos Athens
stormed the field after the 1-1 tie. Ref-
eree Ioakim Efthimiadis awarded
Olympiakos a penalty kick in the last
minute of injury time.
M
Hearnes Fieldhouse.
contract he
1
.ccess: Free trip
driver over the rough and behind the trees. He
punched out to the fairway, then went over the
green.
Needing to get up-and-down to avoid a playoff,
Perks pitched in from 29 feet. He raised his wedge
as it trickled into the cup, then slammed his cap into
the grass to celebrate.
Perks, who finished at 8-under 280, became the
first player since Hal Sutton in 1983 to win The
Players Championship in his first try. No one in the
28-year history of the tournament had ever made it
his first victory.
Perks and Paulson both asked themselves Satur-
day night, "Why not us?"
The question after another day of drama and dis-
aster was, "How did that happen?"
The stunning finish came after Perks missed a 2-
foot par putt on the 15th hole that dropped him out
of a share for the lead. He showed amazing resilien-
cy and no quit, the traits that belong to winners of
The Players Championship.
Perks won. $1,080,000, the richest prize on the
PGA Tour, but the perks don't stop there. He earned
a three-year invitation to The Masters and his
exempt at all the major championships this year.
Rocco Mediate, who lives on the TPC at Saw-
grass, did his best to make in interesting by holing a
10-foot eagle putt on No. 16 to get to within one
stroke of the lead. He had two long birdies chances,
but couldn't convert and finished third after a 73.
Carl Paulson, the 54-hole leader by one shot over
Perks, bogeyed four straight holes on the front nine
and closed with a 77 to finish at 284, along with
Sergio Garcia (71), Scott Hoch (72), Billy Andrade
(72) and Jeff Sluman (74).
to The Masters
AP PHOTO
Craig Perks, with a 72, won The Players Championship -
giving him a berth Into the Masters and a $1 million prize.
Woods failed to become the first repeat winner in
The Players Championship. He didn't make a birdie
until the 10th hole and finished with a 74, the first
time he has been over par in the final round since
the Nissan Open two years ago.
Given the swirling winds and brown patches on
the dry, firm greens, Woods had a feeling that six-
or seven-under might be enough.
"I just wasn't able to get off to a good, solid start
today and post some birdies," he said. "I made my
share of mistakes."
Today
W Golf at Lady Seahawk Invitational (Wallace, N.C.)
Tomorrow
Softball vs. Bowling Green, 3 p.m.
W Golf at Lady Seahawk invitational (Wallace, N.C.)
Wednesday, March 27
Baseball vs. Western Michigan, 3 p.m.
M Tennis vs. Notre Dame, 3 p.m.
Thursday March 28
M Swim/Diving at NCAA Championships (Athens, Ga.), 11 a.m./7 p m.
W Tennis at Michigan State, 6 p.m.
Friday, March 29
M Swim/Diving at NCAA Championships (Athens, Ga.), 11 a.m./7 p.m.
Baseball vs. Iowa, 3 p.m.
Softball vs. Penn State, 3 p.m.
M Track/Field at Raleigh Relays (Raleigh, N.C.)
M Golf at Johnny Owens Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
Saturday, March 30
M Swim/Diving at NCAA Championships (Athens, Ga.), 11 a.m./7 p.m.
M Golf at Johnny Owens Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
Baseball vs. Iowa (DH), 1 p.m.
Softball vs. Penn State, 2 p.m.
Rowing hosts ACC/Big Ten Double Dual
M Track/Field at Raleigh Relays (Raleigh, N.C.)
M Track/Field at Stanford Invitational
W Track/Field at Stanford Invitational
Sunday March 31
Softball vs. Ohio State (DH), Noon
W Tennis at Wake Forest, Noon
Baseball vs. Iowa, 1 p.m.
M Track/Field at Stanford Invitational
W Track/Field at Stanford Invitational
DAILYSCO.E a 3A RD
I
Iverson wiO play with
cast and avoid surgery,
I
I
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Allen
Iverson had the option of surgery or a
cast to repair a broken bone in his hand.
It was an easy decision.
"I didn't want them to cut me
again,"Iverson said yesterday.
Iverson, who led the NBA in min-
utes, steals and scoring with 31.5
points a game, is expected to get his
cast Tuesday and have it changed
every week until he returns, probably
in the playoffs.
Surgery might have helped him get
back on court quicker but Iverson said
there were other factors.
"With surgery, you have to deal with
infection and they'd have to cut me
open, put bones in, put screws in," he
said in his first public comments since
breaking his nonshooting hand Friday.
"I think I'd come back faster with sur-
gery, but as you know, I don't want to
be cut on anymore. I got surgery on my
elbow and I think it's worse than what it
was before."
The league's reigning MVP said he
has to think long-term.
"I'm just trying to do what's right,"
he said. "I don't want this to carry over
into next year. Hopefully I just sit out
these last 14 games and be able to play
in the playoffs."'
The 76ers are 0-8 this year without
Iverson but held a five-game lead over
a drive to the basket in the first quarter
Friday. Iverson finished the half, scor-
ing 22 points before going to the hospi-
tal at halftime.
"When he did it, I knew it was
broke," Iverson said. "I could feel
something wasn't right. I just didn't
want to come out of the game. I guess I
was just feuding with myself."
The Sixers moved Iverson to the
injured list yesterday, replacing him
with Samuel Dalembert. The rookie
has been off the roster for 12 games
with bursitis in his left knee. Coach
Larry Brown could use Dalembert to
give Derrick Coleman more rest.
The 76ers have been hobbled by
injuries all season.
Aaron McKie, the NBA's defending
Sixth Man of the Year, had missed 23
of the last 26 games with an ankle
sprain. He announced yesterday that he
was returning to the lineup, partly
because of Iverson's injury and partly
because he was going to return this
week anyway.
Coleman has been battling a sore left
knee and remains day-to-day. He first
thought he had a cartilage or ligament
tear, but team doctors have concluded
he hyperextended it and that he needs
to rest it, something that may not hap-
pen until after the season.
Iverson. who will be replaced in the
NBA STANDINGS
NHL STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W
New Jersey 44
Boston 39
Orlando 37
Philadelphia 37
Washington 32
Miami 31
New York 26
Central Division
W
Detroit 41
Milwaukee 37
Charlotte 36
Indiana 35
Toronto 31
Atlanta 28
Cleveland 25
Chicago 17
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
W
San Antonio 48
Dallas 48
Minnesota 42
Utah 38
Houston 25
Denver 20
Memphis 17
Pacific Division
W
Sacramento. 49
L.A. Lakers 48
Portland 43
Seattle 39
LA. Clippers 36
Phoenix 31
Golden State 17
Yesterday's games
TORONTO 92, washington 91
DETRoIT 109, Boston 101
Charlotte 99, INDIANA 84
Pct
.638
.557
.536
.536
.457
.456
.382
Pct
.594
.544
.522
.507
.457
.412
.362
.243
Pct
.696
.696
.609
.551
.368
.299
.246
Pct
.731
.706
.623
.557
.514
.449
.250
GB
5.5
7
7
12.5
12.5
17.5
GB
3.5
5
6
9.5
12.5
16
24.5
GB
6
10
22.5
27
31
GB
1.5
7.5
11.5
14.5
19
32.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W L
Philadelphia 38 20
N.Y. Islanders 34 25
New Jersey 32 26
N.Y. Rangers 31 34
Pittsburgh 27 33
Northeast Division
W
Boston 39
Toronto 37
Ottawa 35
Montreal 29
Buffalo 29
Southeast Division
W
Carolina 30
Washington 30
Tampa Bay 25
Atlanta 19
Florida 19
L
21
21
23
28
32
L
23
31
32
42
40
Pts
88
79
77
70
65
Pts
90
87
84
73
68
Pts
79
71
63
50
50
GF GA
210 162
203 192
173 165
197 227
174 209
GF GA
209 174
206 176
217 184
183 191
183 176
GF GA
192 199
198 216
151 175
170 255
154 218
4
I
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
W L
Detroit 50 14
Chicago 36 23
St. Louis 35 24
Nashville 26 34
Columbus 20 39
Pts GF GA
108 225 154
85 195 185
82 191 164
63 171 193
52 144 209
Northwest Division
W
Colorado 40
Edmonton 32
Vancouver 34
Calgary 27
Minnesota 23
L
25
26
29
31
30
L
Pts
88
78
77
68
64
Pts
GF GA
184 151
183 167
218 190
172 195
169 203
GF GA
Pacific Division
m
W
I VL
0 0
A