2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 23, 2002 CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY Soccer club thrives in spite of varsity success We'll miss you abe £ibigwu 1I4 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK By Chris Burke Daily Sports Writer When the Michigan men's soccer team was granted varsity status in 2000, the future of the school's club soccer program was very much in doubt. Current varsity coach Steve Burns joined his players in making the jump to the varsity world, leaving the club team without a coach, and without much in the way of a roster. But just over two years later, the Wolverines' club team has nearly returned to its back-to-back national championship form of 1997-98 and, perhaps more importantly, their still having a rockin' good time. "We don't have to worry about all of the pressures and hassles of playing to keep our scholarships,' said club veter- an Russell DeWitt, a midfielder and forward. "We don't have to get too wor- ried about screwing up and. getting ripped into by our coach - although it does happen sometimes." Last year, Michigan made a serious run at getting back the national title, knocking off Texas A&M in a shoot-out to finish as a semifinalist at nationals. The club team is off and rolling again this year, having cruised to a 5-0 overall record, good for first place in the Mid- West Alliance Soccer Conference. The MASC pits Michigan against Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Michigan State and Toledo. In order to maintain the high level of club competition, Michigan's club play- ers each pay $300 in dues per year and receive funding from a few other sources, including a $1,000 donation from National City Bank this year. "We practice three times a week - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, right now," DeWitt said. "Last year when we went to nationals we were practicing pretty much every day to get ready. "We'll probably do that again this year when we get that far." That practice paid off Saturday, as the Wolverines won twice at Dayton, knocking off the host Dayton team, 2-1, and then following that up with a 2-0 triumph against Wright State. Michigan will hope to keep their undefeated season alive this week, as it leaves its normal home confines of Mitchell Field to take on arch-rival Michigan State in a "feature game" in Novi on Wednesday night. DeWitt emphasized the ability of the club players to be more laid back than the varsity players, enjoying the atmos- phere of intercollegiate athletics while being able to maintain the normal life of a college student. "Another thing we do better than the varsity is drink," said DeWitt while referring to the club team as a "drinking team with a soccer problem. "We formally challenge them any- time, anywhere." The ability of the players to enjoy themselves on and off the field is some- thing that can translate to anyone who happens to take in a Michigan club soc- cer game. "We win a lot of games so people should come watch us," DeWitt said. "Everyone is encouraged to come see our games and yell and scream profani- ties at the opposing team and referees as much as possible." Si i BUT lilyail I-.1 ga P 1l CO 17 ! 1 Who: Stephanie Johnson Hometown: Houston, Texas Position: Defender Sport: Field hockey Year: Junior Why: Johnson scored 8:16 into overtime yesterday to help Michigan pull out a dramatic 2-1 win over No. 12 Northeastern. The junior defender also notched two goals in the Wolverines' 8-0 trouncing of Temple at home on Friday at Ocker Field. ionfl5UH 'MSCHEDULE Friday. Sept. 27 Field Hockey vs. Ohio State, 3 p.m. M Cross Country at CCC Championship (Ann Arbor), 4 p.m. Volleyball at Iowa, 8 p.m. M Soccer at Evansville, 7:30 p.m. W Soccer at Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 Field Hockey vs. Boston University, 2 p.m. Football at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Volleyball at Minnesota, 8 p.m. M Golf at The Northern Intercollegiate (Bloomington) W Golf at Lady Northern (Iowa City) Sunday. Sept. 29 M Soccer at Dayton, 1 p.m. W Soccer at Minnesota, 2 p.m. M Golf at The Northern Intercollegiate (Bloomington) W Golf at Lady Northern (Iowa City) Mets' problem-s are lying in the weed AP PHOTO A fan holds a sign honoring Detroit Tigers' announcer Ernie Harwell yesterday at Comerica Park. It was Harwell's final game in Detroit. S2ozRs. BRIEFS 6 / NOTES Women rowers prepare for new season The Michigan women's rowing team welcomed Michigan State and Eastern Michigan to Belleville Lake on Saturday, as the three teams par- ticipated in an untimed, unscored exhitibion in preparation for the upcoming all season. Next Saturday, Michigan will hold its annual Boathouse Day at Belleville Lake. Events begin at 10 a.m. and conclude with an alumni row at 12:30 p.m. There will also be two former U of M rowers who are now competing in the eight for the U.S. National Team at the 2002 Rowing World Champi- onships. Last year's Michigan women's rowing team won the Big Ten out- right and placed second in the NCAA's. This years team consists of three gFoups of eight and one of four. The team is coached by Mark Rothstein. Former tumbler has to settle for 'Miss D.C' Former Michigan gymnast Sarah- Elizabeth Langford was unable to bring home the Miss America title at the 2002 competition held Saturday. Langford, who was representing the District of Columbia in the competi- tion did not qualify into the final round which consists of 15 women. The winner of the crown was Erika. Harold, the 22-year old Miss Illinois representative who plans on heading to Harvard Law School. Langford was an All-American member of the Michigan gymnastics team from 1997-2000. Bail set in case of Royals coach attack CHICAGO (AP) - A Cook County judge ordered a man who ran onto the field at Comiskey Park and attacked a Kansas City Royals coach held on $200,000 bond Saturday. During a hearing, a prosecutor described how William Ligue Jr. tele- phoned his sister before Thursday night's attack and told her to watch the White Sox game because he was going to be on. When she couldn't find the game on TV, he told her to watch the news because he'd be on it, Assistant State's Attorney Colleen Daly said. It was just a short time after that call, Daly said, that Ligue and his 15- year-old son ran onto the field in the ninth inning of the game between the White Sox and the Royals and attacked Tom Gamboa from behind. Ligue was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery in a pub- lic place of amusement. Daly said Ligue told police after his arrest that he charged the field because he was angry the White Sox were losing, but Daly said the attack was premeditat- ed. She said shortly before he ran onto the field, Ligue handed his keys, cellular telephone and jewelry to another of his sons. She said Ligue was wearing a pocketknife on his waistband when he ran on the field. Ligue's 15-year-old son has been charged with two juvenile counts of The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports REC Intramural Sports Program SPORTS www.recsports.umich.edu REC SPORTS INTRAMURALS aggravated battery, one for attacking Gamboa and the other for hitting a White Sox security guard, an off-duty police officer. The teenager was initial- ly released to his mother, but was later taken to a juvenile detention center after authorities reviewed the case. He is due in court today. Accused brother of Dele falls into coma PAPEETE, Tahiti (AP) - The brother of missing former NBA player Bison Dele reportedly is on life sup- port, and FBI agents were wrapping up their investigation yesterday at the crime scene in Tahiti. The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that Dele's brother, Miles Dabord, is "dead, living only through artificial means," according to his mother. Dabord was found uncon- scious Sept. 14 in Tijuana, Mexico, and taken to a hospital in California. He has remained in a coma since, and the FBI only learned his identity last Thursday. The Los Angeles Times reported that Dabord's mother, Patricia Phillips, said doctors discovered severe damage to her son's brain, injuries they have told her are the result of an insulin overdose and Dabord not taking his asthma medication. The FBI arrested Dabord on suspi- cion of impersonating his younger brother while trying to buy $152,000 in gold in Phoenix. Phillips had told the Los Angeles Times she fears her son may have tried to commit suicide because he was overcome with guilt, believing he was responsible for his brother's disappearance. Investigators in Tahiti believe Dabord killed Dele, Dele's girlfriend and the French captain on board Dele's sailboat in July. Dele, his girl- friend Serena Karlan and the skipper, Bertrand Saldo, haven't been seen since July 8. A team of FBI-led investigators found what they believe are blood- stains on the catamaran, which Dabord docked at a Tahitian port on July 18 before departing the French territory. Tiger challenged by Goosen in Ireland THOMASTOWN, Ireland (AP) - Tiger Woods got a bigger fight than he expected yesterday, then a real surprise at the end - his first and only bogey of an otherwise flawless victory in the American Express Championship. It was about the only thing that did go wrong during a week in which his worst round was a 67. Woods went 51 consecutive holes with nothing worse than a 4, and he claimed his fifth World Golf Cham- pionship event. But it wasn't easy. Woods had a five-stroke lead going into the final round, closed with a 6-under 66 and still had to hit his best shot of the week - a wedge from deep, gnarly rough - for a birdie on the 17th hole to stave off a spectacular charge by Retief Goosen. Goosen played six holes at 6- under par, including a 6-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole to get within one shot, and he had a career-best 62 to finish second. It was also one of Woods' most consistent tournaments striking the NEW YORK (AP) - New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon admitted he is concerned about the team's image fol- lowing reports of widespread marijuana use by players. "I am personally embarrassed with what has happened in the last few days," Wilpon said Saturday. "I'm embarrassed not only for myself and my family, I'm embarrassed more so for the organization." Wilpon was not available for com- ment Friday, when general manager Steve Phillips denied "rampant" drug use by players on New York's major league roster. Tony Tarasco, Mark Corey and reliever Grant Roberts were identified by Newsday as among at least seven players who had used marijuana this season. The paper, which did not name any other Mets, cited unidentified sources close to the team. "I think the organization has an image problem now, in terms of what we saw yesterday or today in the news- papers or in the media, and we're in the process of correcting it," Wilpon said. Earlier this week, the Mets restruc- tured their executive officers. Wilpon now serves as chairman and chief exec- utive officer in the newly created office of the chairman. His longtime partner Saul Katz is president, and his son, Jeff Wilpon, is executive vice president and chief operating officer. "This organization will be a world class sports and entertainment compa- ny," Wilpon said. Players on 40-man major league ros- ters are not subjected to random testing for marijuana. As part of their new labor agreement, players agreed to mandatory random testing starting next year for illegal steroids. Wilpon thinks the new labor agree- ment will help cut down on suspected drug use in the big leagues. In the clubhouse, some players sat in front of their lockers reading a memo- randum from union head Donald Fehr on the steroid testing that will begin next year. "I think the new collective bargaining agreement is going to help," Wilpon said. "It might not be a perfect system, but it's a good step in the right direction and I think that's going to be helpful." Despite the embarrassing story, Wilpon said this is not the low point of his 23 years with the Mets. "This isn't even close. We have been through times that have been much dif- ferent than this,"he said. The 65-year-old Wilpon also talked about having lunch Saturday with his 8- year-old grandson Benjamin, who asked questions about the marijuana story. "He asked me about it. I was going to address it anyway," Wilpon said. "I told him what I thought was right and what was wrong and how he should lead his life, that his role models should be people who live good, clean lives." DMAf SCOREBOARD 0 MLB STANDINGS NFL STANDINGS AMERICAN CONFERENCE East INTRAMURALS 734-763-3562 Entries due: Wed, 09/25. 5:00 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $70.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Thur, 09/26 6:00 PM IM Building Tournament Dates: 09/27, 09/28, 09/29 Mitchell Fields Sc ftbaII Entries due: Wed, 10/02 5:00 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $9.00 per doubles team $5.00 per Individual Tournament Dates: Sat 10/05 & Sun 10/06 UM Tennis Center Tenns Singes & Double AMERICAN LEAGUE Eastern Division New York Boston Toronto Bat i more Tampa Bay Central Division Minnesota Chicago Cleveland Kansas City Detroit West Division Oakland Anaheim Seattle Texas NATIONAL LEAGUE Eastern Division Atlanta Montreal Philadelphia Florida New York Central Division St. Louis Houston Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chicago Milwaukee West Division Arizona San Francisco LosAngeles Colorado San Diego w 98 89 72 67 53 W 89 78 70 60 54 W 98 96 89 70 W 97 79 78 75 74 W 91 82 75 69 65 54 w 94 90 87 72 65 L 57 66 84 88 102 L 65 77 86 96 101 L 57 59 66 85 L 57 77 78 81 81 L 64 74 81 87 91 101 L 61 66 68 84 90 Pct .632 .574 .462 .432 .342 Pct .578 .503 .449 .385 .348 Pct .632 .619 .574 .452 Pct .630 .506 .500 .481 .477 Pct .587 .526 .481 .442 .417 .348 Pct .606 .577 .561 .462 .419 GB 9 26.5 31 45 GB 11.5 20 30 35.5 GB 2 9 28 GB 19 20 23 23.5 GB 9.5 16.5 22.5 26.5 37 GB 4.5 7 22.5 29 New England 3 Miami 3 NY Jets 1 Buffalo 1 South W Indianapolis 2 Jacksonville 1 Houston 1 Tennessee 1 North W Cleveland 2 Pittsburgh 0 Baltimore 0 Cincinnati 0 West W San Diego 3 Denver 3 Oakland 2 Kansas City 1 NATIONAL CONFEREN East W Philadelphia 2 NY Giants 2 Washington 1 Dallas 1 L 0 0 2 2 T 0 0 0 0 L T 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 1 L 2 2 2 2 L 0 0 0 2 ICE L 1 1 2 2 L 0 0 1 2 L 1 1 3 3 L 1 2 2 3 PF 115 100 47 99 PF 64 48 25 68 PF 90 31 7 13 PF 81 75 61 94 PF 105 48 48 44 PF 90 62 45 47 PF 94 64 76 59 PF 50 62 37 36 PA 59 37 105 104 PA 49 44 57 76 PA 75 60 35 54 PA 24 53 34 103 PA 47 43 80 76 PA 63 28 26 51 PA 100 65 93 117 PA 47 67 49 64 , <. . Entries due: Tues, 10/01 5:00 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $25.00 per team $5.00 per individual Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Tues, 10/01 6:00 PM IM Building Entries due: Wed, 10/02 5:00 PM IM Building SEntry Fee: $35.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Thurs, 10/03 6:00 PM IM Building Tournament Dates: Sat 10/05 &zSun 10/06 Mitchell Field - m ! - t South New Orleans Carolina Tampa Bay Atlanta North Green Bay Chicago Minnesota Detroit West San Francisco Arizona St. Louis Seattle W 3 3 1 0 W 2 2 0 0 W 2 1 0 0 MLB SCORES Yesterday's games NY Yankees 4, DETROIT 3 ATLANTA 4, Florida 1 Montreal 5, NY METS 1 Philadelphia 4, CINcINNATI 3 Toronto 12, TAMPA BAY 6 Boston 13, BALTIMORE 2 PITTSBURGH 5, Chicago Cubs 4 Cleveland 6, KANSAS CITY 5 San Francisco 3, MILWAUKEE 1 ST. Louis 7, Houston 3 COLORADO 11, Arizona 7' OAKLAND 7, Texas 5 SEATTLE 3, Anaheim 2 Los Angeles 4, SAN DIEGO 3 Minnesota at CHIcAGO Sox, Inc. Today's games Boston at BALTIMORE, 7:05 p.m. NFL GAMES Yesterday's games Cleveland 31, TENNESSEE 28 (oT) MIAMI 30, NY Jets 3 Carolina 21, MINNESOTA 14 NEw ENGLAND 41, Kansas City 38, (OT) New Orleans 29, CHICAGO 23 PHILADELPHIA 44, Dallas 13 Indianapolis 23, HOUsTON 3 San Diego 23, ARIZONA 15 DENVER 28, Buffalo 23 GreenRBay 37. DETROIT 31 SAN FRANSIscO 20, Washington 10 Meet Rates: Thurs, 10/03 UM Varsity Track .... .. - a - a ( , I IL I aw