2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 27, 2003
CLUBSPORTSWEEKLYa
Synchronized skating to represent country
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
By Kasma Akpan
For the Daily
Recently attaining club varsity status, the
Michigan synchronized skating team has been
hard at work in preparation for their upcoming
competitive season.
Although it now has club varsity status, the
majority of team expenses are still paid by the
skaters themselves, which is sure to leave a hole in
the pockets of the team members this season.
The team has become a part of the U.S. Figure
Skating Association's international lineup by join-
ing "Team USA." As a part of Team USA, Michi-
gan has been selected to represent the United
States at the Prague Cup in the Czech Republic
this coming January.
The financial costs of the trip are immense, but
a minor obstacle in the eyes of the team.
"It's definitely a big financial expense, but the
exposure to international judges and experience
gained from our trip to Prague will be well worth
it," vice president Stefanie Glasgow said.
At the cup, the team will potentially have the
opportunity to compete against teams from Cana-
da, Finland, Sweden, France and Germany.
"We are very excited about this opportunity to
represent our country and the University at this
prestigious international competition," said
Meghan Hughes, a sophomore on the team.
In addition to the four regular on-ice practices
per week, the team has been receiving help from a
variety of outside sources in preparation of the
upcoming International competition.
"We have a lot of special and key people com-
ing in to work with our team," coach Anne Copp
said. "We are training for our season by a lot of
off-ice things, in terms of working with a hip-hop
teacher, working with exercise physiologists and
getting nutrition information from U of M nutri-
tion specialists."
On the ice, the team has been working hard on
their choreography and skills.
"We are doing on-ice choreography with two
Canadian coaches that are top world coaches, and
we are working with a pairs coach, and we are
also going to be working with a dance coach,"
Copp said.
This past weekend the team had the honor to
work with the one of the best synchro coaches in
the world.
The team members are hoping that all the extra
work will pay off during their trip to San Diego in
March for the 2004 Nationals, where last year they
placed fifth. Until then, the team hopes to receive
support from the student body at their ice shows
offs and local competitions, including performing
in front of the University community at Michigan
hockey games.
"We love performing to a crowd," Glasgow said.
The team's first competition will be held Nov.
15 in Bowling Green at the Bowling Green Inter-
collegiate competition.
Who: Knox Cameron
Hometown: New York
Sport: Soccer
Year: Junior
Why: Cameron posted his first collegiate hat trick yesterday, while lead-
ing the Wolverines to a 4-2 victory at Penn State. The win gave Michi-
gan (12-5, 4-1 Big Ten) a program-best 12th win of the season. It marks
the first time Michigan has beaten Penn State and assures the Wolver-
ines at least the two seed in the Big Ten Championships.
A
Cameron
M SCHEDULE
0
Monday, Oct. 27
W Tennis at ITA Midwest Regional
M Tennis at ITA Midwest Regional
Tuesday, Oct. 28
W Tennis at ITA Midwest Regional
W Tennis at ITA Midwest Regional
Championships (Kalamazoo)
Championships (East Lansing)
Championships
Championships
Rockets' Griffin in legal trouble
M
NOTES
HOUSTON (AP) - Suspended
Rockets forward Eddie Griffin is being
investigated by police, who were told he
beat and shot at a woman at his home.
No warrant had been issued for Grif-
fin's arrest and police haven't found him,
police spokesman Alvin Wright said Sat-
urday. He said police just want to get a
statement from Griffin.
Wright said the case will be referred
to the police department's family vio-
lence unit.
"It's his word against hers and we can't
find him," Wright said. "Nobody saw
him do anything. There are no witnesses."
Joann Romero, 21, alleged in a call to
police early Saturday that Griffin had
punched her and shot at her, Wright said.
She was treated at a hospital for facial
injuries, he said.
Wright said officers found two shell
casings and blood at Griffin's home after
a male identifying himself as Griffin
called police and said somebody had
broken into his house. The report came
about 25 minutes after Romero's call,
Wright said.
When police arrived at Griffin's home,
they found a relative of Griffin's and
another woman. Both said they didn't see
or hear anything, but the woman said
Griffin and another woman had been
there arguing.
Rockets spokesman Dan McKenna
said the team was aware of the situation.
The team suspended Griffin indefinitely
Oct. 16 after he missed practices and a
flight.
Griffin's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said
the two have not spoken. Hardin added
he has spoken with others involved in the
matter and contends no one was shot at.
Griffin has an unresolved marijuana
possession charge against him stemming
from an April arrest. He averaged 8.7
points and 5.8 rebounds in two seasons
with the Rockets.
RILEY BOWS OUT TO A VAN GUNDY
AGAIN: Pat Riley had a simple question
for Stan Van Gundy: "Are you ready?"
It was early Wednesday morning, only
a couple hours after Riley decided he
didn't need to coach anymore. Van
Gundy didn't really know how to
respond.
"That conversation's taken place two
or three times in last 18 months," Van
Gundy said. "And it's never come to
fruition. I didn't put any stock in it. I
could tell he was serious, but at the same
time I just sort of thought in my mind,
'Let's wait until tomorrow and see where
he is with it."'
Riley resigned Friday as coach of the
Miami Heat at a hastily called news con-
ference, only four days before the team
he reloaded with young but largely
unproven talent opens its season. He will
remain as team president; his first offi-
cial order of business was hiring Van
Gundy as the fifth coach in franchise
history.
"I just believe that with this new team
and these guys and the flexibility that we
have that another voice is needed on the
court," Riley said. "I'm firmly convinced
about that. And I think it's Stan's voice.
That's why I did this."
Riley, 58, ranks second in NBA histo-
ry with 1,110 victories, and he led the!
Los Angeles Lakers to four champi-
onships in the 1980s. Riley won six divi-
sion titles in his eight years in Miami,
but only made the Eastern Conference
finals once, losing to Michael Jordan's
Chicago Bulls in 1997.
But the Heat missed the playoffs the
past two years, finishing at the bottom of
the Atlantic Division last season at 25-57
- Riley's worst record in 21 years as an
NBA head coach.
Swimmers start
with 'W' - again
Michigan's victory Friday against
Eastern Michigan at Canham Natato-
rium marks the 36th consecutive year
the Wolverines (1-0) started with a
dual meet win.
In the 168-115 victory, Michigan
swimmers touched the wall first in
14 out of the 15 events, including the
final three races.
The first Michigan win belonged
to captain Dan Ketchum, who won
the 100-yard butterfly. Davis Tarwa-
ter kept the momentum going with
the team's second win. He placed
first in the 100-yard backstroke, and
he later won the 50-yard freestyle.
Others scoring points were Christ-
ian Vanderkaay, Brendan Neligan,
Peter Vanderkaay, Chris DeJong,
Dusty Garwood, Mike Porth and the
400-yard freestyle relay team ofTar-
water, DeJong, Vanderkaay and
Ketchum.
Michigan swims Friday at home
against Florida.
- Krystin Kasak
Rowers excel at
Head of the Elk
Michigan sent four boats to
Elkhart, Ind., to race in the 2.5-mile
Head of the Elk yesterday, and all
four came home with top-five finish-
es. The first varsity eight led the
team, placing fourth out of 18 teams
in the "A" division. The second varsi-
ty eight won the "B" division, and the
third and fourth varsity eights placed
second and third, respectively, in the
"C" division.
Michigan State won the 'A" divi-
sion.
-Ian Herbert
Wednesday, Oct. 29
W Soccer at Notre Dame, 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24
M Swim/Diving vs. Florida, 6 pm.
Volleyball vs Purdue, 7 pm.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Football at Michigan State, 12:10 pm.
Field Hockey vs. Penn State, 1 pm.
Volleyball vs. Indiana, 7 pm.
M Soccer at Ohio State, 7:30 pm.
Ice Hockey vs. Niagara, 7:35 pm.
Wrestling at Eastern Michigan Open
Sunday, Oct. 26
M Cross Country at Big Ten Championships (East Lansing), 10:45 am.
W Cross Country at Big Ten Championships (East Lansing), 10:45 am.
I
NHL STANDINGS
NFL STANDINGS
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East
4
THE MICHIGAN
DAILY CRITICS'
PRESEASON PICKS
*bold denotes NBA champion
Pistons Record
Eastern Champion
Western Champion
Surprise Team
Worst record
League MVP
Most underrated player
Most overrated player
Rookie of the Year
Best unifoms ever
Worst uniforms ever
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W
New York Islanders 4
Philadelphia 2
New York Rangers 2
New Jersey 2
Pittsburgh 1
Daniel Bremmer
47-35
New Jersey
L.A. Lakers
Chicago
Milwaukee
Shaquille O'Neal
Eddy Curry
Keith Van Horn
Carmelo Anthony
Retro New Jersey
2003 Denver
Sharad Mattu
51-31
New Jersey
Sacramento
Miami
Utah
Kevin Garnett
Sam Cassell
Antoine Walker
Carmelo Anthony
Retro Denver
2003 Orlando
0
Ian Herbert
48-34
New Jersey
Minnesota
Memphis
Golden State
Kevin Garnett
Kwame Brown
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Retro Washington
Retro Detroit
Northeast Division
Boston
Ottawa
Montreal
Toronto
Buffalo
Southeast Division
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Florida
Carolina
Washington
W
5
5
5
4
4
W
6
4
3
1
1
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
W
Detroit 5
St. Louis 4
Chicago 3
Nashville 3
Columbus 3
OTL
0
1
0
0
0
OTL
0
1
0
0
0
OTL
0
1
0
0
0
OTL
0
1
0
0
_0
OTL
0
0
0
0
0
OTL
0
0
0
1
0
New England
Miami
Buffalo
NY Jets
South
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Houston
Jacksonville
North
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
W
6
4
4
2
W
6
6
2
1
W
4
3
3
2
L
2
2
3
5
L
1
2
5
6
L
3
4
5
5
West
W L
Kansas City 6 0
Oakland 2 5
San Diego 1 5
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
East
W L
Dallas 5 2
Philadelphia 4 3
Niants 3 4
Washington 3 4
South
W L'
Carolina 6 1
New Orleans 3 5
Atlanta 1 6
North
W L
Minnesota 6 1
Green Bay 3 4
Chicago 2 5
Detroit 1 6
West
W L
St. Louis 5 2
San Francisco 3 5
Arizona 2 5
PF PA
154 129
118 77
138 110
111 118
PF PA
208 126
224 167
121 200
127 184
PF PA
160 132
138 156
115 130
132 179
PF PA
191 115
184 141
125 161
115 169
PF PA
150 116
119 136
134 140.
135 171
Northwest Division
vancouver
Colorado
Calgary
Edmonton
Minnesota
Pacific Division
PF
141
150
172
114
PA
125
97
191
220
W
4
4
4
3
2
W
5
4
3
2
PF PA
141 125
200 166
121 192
117 184
PF PA
170 131
203 129
172 142
98 193
Dallas
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Anaheim
Marlins crowned after Beckett throws gem NHL GAMES
L
NEW YORK (AP) - Champagne-
soaked and still looking to celebrate,
several Florida Marlins headed to
Monument Park to snap souvenir pic-
tures and rub Babe Ruth's bronze head.
When they get back home, they may
want to build their own shrine - to
Josh Beckett
The wild-card Marlins wrapped up
their wild ride with a most improbable
World Series championship, stunning
the New York Yankees 2-0 Saturday
night behind the strong right arm and
sheer determination of Beckett.
"You'll believe me now that anything
can happen," Marlins manager Jack
McKeon said. "This guy has the guts
of a burglar."
McKeon was second-guessed the
moment he said Beckett would start
Game 6 on three days' rest. But the 23-
year-old fastballer, called "Rook" by his
manager, made McKeon look brilliant.
Starting on short rest for the first
time in his career, Beckett threw a five-
hitter to give the Marlins their second
title in seven seasons.
Beckett outdueled Andy Pettitte and
defeated a Yankees team that had won
four of the last seven crowns, never
allowing a runner past second base.
"They're a tough squad. They have
27 championships," Beckett said.
Said Yankees manager Joe Torre:
"That kid showed that he was going to
be a great one down the road, if he has-
n't already. When you're that young,
you don't know what fear is."
Not since 1981 had another team
won a Series championship on the field
at Yankee Stadium. When the Los
Angeles Dodgers did it then, Yankees
owner George Steinbrenner apologized
to the city for the dismal performance.
"It makes you sick," Yankees star
Derek Jeter said of the Marlins' cele-
bration. "How else can you feel?"
Yankees general manager Brian
Cashman and former star Reggie Jack-
son, chins resting on hands, watched
from a box with the same incredulous
look on their face.
"I feel emptiness," Torre said.
It was as if the sellout crowd of
55,773 couldn't believe what it was see-
ing - then again, Florida has been an
upset special this October in improving
to 6-0 lifetime in postseason series.
The Marlins' postgame celebration
spilled from the clubhouse back onto
the field, where players and their fami-
lies hugged and kissed, and their kids
circled the bases.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria took a
victory lap - with good reason.
After the franchise was stripped of
its stars in cost-cutting moves follow-
ing its 1997 championship, Loria came
in later and helped rebuild it. Though
the Marlins were outspent 3-to- 1 by the
Yankees, they brought in the right mix
of players to put them back on top.
"In our mind, it's not an upset at
all. In everybody else's mind, it's a
humongous upset. Nobody gave us a
chance," said Jeff Conine, the only
Florida player who also was a mem-
ber of that 1997 team.
The resilient Marlins dropped the
opener to Barry Bonds and the San
Francisco Giants in the division before
winning three in a row. They overcame
a 3-1 deficit in the NL championship
series, beating Cubs aces Mark Prior
and Kerry Wood at Wrigley Field.
In this 100th World Series game at
Yankee Stadium, Beckett and the
Marlins never gave the Yankees much
of a chance. Florida became the
fastest team in the post-expansion era
to win two titles, having joined the
majors in 1993.
In the NLCS, Beckett saved the
Marlins' season with his first major
league shutout, a two-hitter against
Chicago in Game 5. He then came
back on two days' rest to pitch four
innings on one-hit relief in Game 7.
Beckett's shutout ended the career of
Roger Clemens, who he grew up idol-
izing. The Yankees pitcher is retiring.
Beckett seemed to take it all in stride,
speaking with little emotion afterward.
"I can't believe we don't have a
game tomorrow. Not to say that win-
ning the world championship isn't a big
thing," he said. "It's kind of relief to get
to go deer hunting now."
Yesterday's games
Chicago at ANAHEIM, inc.
Buffalo at COLORADO, inc.
Phoenix at VANCOUVER, inc.
Today's games
Montreal at P1ILADELPHIA, 7 P.M.
Atlanta at TORONTO, 7 P.M.
Tuesday's games
San Jose at CAROLINA, 7 P.M.
Minnesota at BUFFALO, 7 P.M.
Anaheim at NEW YORK RANGERS, 7:30 P.M.
Chicago at PHOENIX, 9 P.M.
Columbus at VANCOUVER, 10:30 P.M.
Boston at MONTREAL, 7 P.M.
New Jersey at NEW YORK ISLANDERS, 7 P.M.
Nashville at ST. Louis, 8 P.M.
Calgary at CoLoRADo, 9:30 P.M.
Wednesday's games
Florida at NEW PHILADELPHIA, 7:00 P.M.
St. Louis at DETROIT, 7:30 P.M.
Calgary at DALLAS, 7:30 P.M.
Anaheim AT WASHINGTON, 7 P.M.
New York Islanders at PITTSBURGH, 7:30 P.M.
NFL GAMES
Yesterday's games
Dallas 0, TAMPA BAY 16
St. Louis 33, PITTSBURGH 21
Carolina 23, NEW ORLEANS 20
Cleveland 3, NEW ENGLAND 9
N.Y. Giants 29, MINNESOTA 17
Tennessee 30, JACKSONVILLE 17
Seattle 24, CINCINNATI 27
Detroit 16, CHICAGO 24
Denver 6, BALTIMORE 26
San Francisco 13, ARIZONA 16
N.Y. Jets 17, PHILADELPHIA 24
Houston 21, INDIANAPOLIS 30
Buffalo 5, KANSAS CITY 28
Today's game
Miami at San Diego, 9 pm
Next week's games
Carolina at HOUSTON, 1:00 pm
Indianapolis at MIAMI, 1:00 pm
Jacksonville at BALTIMORE, 1:00 pm
New Orleans at TAMPA BAY, 1:00 pm
N.Y. Giants at N.Y. JETS, 1:00 pm
Oakland at DETROIT, 1:00 pm
San Diego at CHICAGO, 1:00 pm
Cincinnati at ARIZONA, 4:05 pm
Pittsburgh at SEATTLE, 4:05 pm
Philadelphia at ATLANTA, 4:15 pm
St. Louis at SAN FRANCISCO, 4:15 pm
N.Y. Jets at PHILADELPHIA, 5:15 pm
Washington at DALLAS, 4:15 pm
Green Bay at MINNESOTA, 8:30 pm
New England at DENVER, 9:00 pm, 11/3
4
4
AP PHOlTn
J