The Michigan Daily-Thursday, June 4, 1981-Page 15
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Tracksters prepare for NCAA's
hurdler, should fare well, despite tough to beat in their events, the 100- collegiate record.
By JOHN FITZPATRICK having a cast on one arm. Johnson has and 200-meter dashes. Bruce, who "National class" is something w
he weather and the competition competed with the cast (for a broken competed for his native country, of best describes long jumper Ja
uld be sizzling hot at the NCAA wrist) through much of the season, and Trinidad in the Moscow Olympics, Ross, who jumped over 26' last
k championships at Baton Rouge, sailed to a 13.92 clocking in the 110 stands an excellent chance of scoring in and has two jumps over 256" tc
this week. Michigan's men's team meter high hurdles with it on. He also the 100 meters, as his best time of 10.25 credit this year. Ross could com
have nine members participating, has a fast 50.77 to his credit in the 400- (recorded when he won the 100 at the with a surprising leap in this, his
eral of whom could garner All- meter intermediate hurdles, one of the Big Ten meet) has been bettered by few collegiate meet for the Maize and B
erican honors by placing in the top fastest times in the country this season. collegians. Woolfolk's time of 10.40, Michigan's distance men -may
of their event. JOHNSON'S TEAMMATES, Andrew though slower than what he is capable perform well in the hot, humid wea
helby Johnson, the Wolverine's top Bruce and Butch Woolfolk, will also be of doing, is still a national-class time. endemic to southern Louisiana,
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THE SPORTING VIEWS
College baseball...
... replacement for minors?
By JOE CHAPELLE
W ITH MANY FINE players competing in theCollege World Series and
swarms of pro scouts prowling the stands at Omaha's Rosenblatt
Memorial Stadium this week, one question comes to the mind of many
baseball aficionados. Should college baseball be allowed to continue on a
course which could lead to the eventual substitution of college ball for the
minor leagues as the primary source of major league talent?
Many fans don't feel it should and many baseball sages think that it won't.
Yet, the thought of the amalgamation of college baseball's interests with pro
interests causes concern for the college enthusiast.
In the early days of professional football, college grid supporters wrestled
with the same type of problems that face college baseball supporters today.
Football coaches and athletic directors in the 1920s, University of Chicago's
Amos Alonzo Stagg and Notre Dame's Knute Rockne among them, em-
phatically opposed the signing of college prospects on the grounds that the
player needed a four year degree in order to make a decent living.
Today, the problem of the early signing of college recruits seems to be
somewhat different on the surface. Because of the gigantic salaries that
many major league stars receive, and the more than adequate pay average
players take home, there is no clamor among college baseball coaches to
force the big league clubs to wait four years before signing an amateur
prospect.
With today's pay scales, most college players are more than willing to
trade in the aluminum college bat for the wood'bats of the big leagues.
Yet, the old arguments against players entering professional sports early
would still seem to hold water. Large checks or not, injuries often shorten
the careers of even the finest talent. Furthermore, some college batsmen,
lured into pro ball, never do break into the big leagues. To the horror of
people like Stagg and Rockne, these athletes, who did not take advantage of
the opportunity to receive a college degree, must now face a competitive job
market.
College baseball fans and coaches also suffer when a player decides to
leave early. After developing a winning team, a college coach may unexpec-
tedly find himself in a rebuilding situation. Fans are often disappointed each
spring when they discover that some of last year's stars won't be returning
to the lineup.
However, the situation may not be so bleak for college fans, players, and
coaches after all. Some baseball sages do not foresee college ball replacing
the minor leagues as a pro baseball talent pool. Milwaukee Brewers
manager Buck Rodgers feels that the role filled by the minor leagues will
never by replaced for two main reasons. First, college ball does not work to
develop pro talent. At the college level, competitive coaches are more in-
terested in achieving team spirit and victories. Rodgers points this out.
"A guy like Sandy Koufax could not make most college teams," said
Rodgers. "He's too wild. Most college coaches can't take a chance and pitch
somebody like that because they have to worry about their jobs. They have
to win."
Another drawback present in the' college ranks can be found in the
slugging department. The aluminum bats that most universities use, for
financial reasons, make it easier for college batters to hit well. Consequen-
tly, pro scouts have a hard time evaluating a college prospect's batting
talent.
"You can bring a .400 hitter into the majors and have him hit only .200,"
said Rodgers. "The hitters are hard to judge."
No one knows whether college baseball will continue to play an ever-
increasing role providing the big leagues with a source of talent. In addition,
nobody can predict what ramifications this relationship will have for college
baseball. Even Rodgers concedes the possibility that in the distant future
college baseball will have a special relationship with the big leagues. "The
vision is there," said Rodgers. "Ten years ago nobody thought we'd have
four minor leagues."
The favorite in the 100 is Houston's Carl
Lewis, whose 10.00 this year is a
Gerard Donakowski (qualifying time of
29:13 in the 10,000 meters), Dave Lewis
(29:16.5 in the 10,000), and Brian
Diemer (8:45.48 in 3,000 meter
steeplechase) are sure to give it their
all.
Stifling heat may adversely affect the
distance runners, but freshman high
jump sensation Dave Lugin won't be
hindered by it. Lugin won the Big Ten
outdoor title in this event and has jum-
ped 7'2/4" this year.
Another freshman, Johnny Neilson,
will be going against a tough field in the
shot put. Neilson's best of 60'21/",
though spectacular for a freshman,
pales in comparison to the 67'-68' range
of Southern Methodist's Mike Carter,
and the 65' throws of Illinois' Mike
Lehmann and OSU's Kevin Akins.
Johnson
... handicapped hurdler
Tampa pieked as' site
for '84 Super Bowl
DETROIT (AP) - Tampa was awar- Hugh Culverhouse, owner of the
ded the 1984 Super Bowl by the National Bucs, made a "V" sign with his fingers
Football League owners at the con- as he emerged from the closed-door
clusion of their two-day meeting meetings.
yesterday. The other cities bidding for the 1984
The Florida bay city received 24 of a Super Bowl included New Orleans,
possible 28 votes, according to NFL Pasadena and Dallas, although the lat-
Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Pasadena, ter gave only a brief presentation by
Calif., and Miami received one each, one man - far less than the 15 minutes
while two owners were absent, Rozelle allowed. Presentations by Miami and
said. Detroit were aimed at 1985, rather than
THE SUPER BOWL extravaganza is 1984.
considered a prime tourist plum. The Rozelle said that the site for the 1985
sporting event and the week of hoopla game would be selected within the next
leading up to it generates $50 million to year and hinted that Miami, on the
$70 million for the host city, according strength of its strong presentation
to various estimates. yesterday, was the front-runner.