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