THE SPORTING VIEWS By MARTIN FRANK One year has passed since ex-Maryland basketball player Len Bias tragically died of a cocaine overdose in his dorm itory room. It appears athletes have not learned from Bias' disastrous mistake. After Bias' death, only two weeks passed before Cleveland Browns' safety Don Rogers died of a co- caine overdose. Later, ex-Villanova star Gary Mc- Lain lamented Bias' death while using cocaine, New York Giants' perennial all-pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor sought treatment for substance abuse, and San Francisco Giants' outfielder Eddie Milner and New York Mets' pitcher Dwight Gooden completed month-long stays in drug rehabilitation centers. There have been other instances in the past year as well. Two guards from the Houston Rockets, Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd, received lifetime bans from the NBA for their use of cocaine, and several players from the Phoenix Suns have been implicated for their drug use as well as a possible point-shaving scandal - which, of course, was linked to cocaine. It is small wonder why people such as New York Post columnist Dick Young think these offenders should be banished from the sport and thrown in jail to ponder their mistakes. Unfortunately, calling for New Yorkers to "stand up and boo" for Gooden or other athletes upon their return from drug rehab centers is not the answer. WHILE DRUG users should not be applauded for their behavior, they should be applauded for their attempts to correct their problems and restructure their lives. To say that Gooden, or any other drug user, is over his problem is ludicrous. But for Gooden to know that people are behind him can only help him. When more than 51,000 fans in Shea Stadium stood up and cheered for Gooden upon his return, it showed that New York fans want him to succeed in overcoming his problem. More players today are coming forth for help because professional leagues have instituted rigorous drug relief programs, but many others still are not. With people such as Young around, it's no wonder. Admitting to a drug problem certainly is hard enough for anyone in today's society let alone for a professional athlete who has to answer to the press and to the millions of fans he supposedly "let down." The situation becomes much more difficult Athletes should learn from Bias when writers such as Young call for their heads. Young has placed these athletes on an incredibly high pedestal just because they can hit a baseball, shoot a basketball, or run better than 99 percent of the population. This is unfair because after all, they are human beings and are prone to the same kind of mistakes everyone else is. When people say that Gooden broke eight million young hearts by admitting to drug use, they overlooked something. They overlooked that Gooden was brave enough to admit he made a mis- take and needed help. Gooden's confession becomes all the more courageous when one considers the 40 million New York press hounds breathing down his neck and searing into his private life. AND IF GOODEN'S reception at Shea Stadium is any indication, it looks as if at least 51,000 of those hearts have mended. Athletes are not the superhuman role models who are supposed to be inspirations for children everywhere. They are normal people and they deserve the compassion that people like Gooden have received when they ask for help. Just the other day a friend asked, "Why do these guys go out and use drugs after seeing what happened to Bias?" Why do people drink and drive? Why do people enjoy Rambo movies? Who invented liquid soap and why? Why did Donna Rice go home with Gary Hart - why not with me? The truth is that nobody knows, but that's not the point. The bottom line is that drug users - ath- letes or not - need help. The sooner people realize this, the sooner other drug users in sports will come forth and seek help and hopefully cases like Bias' will never happen again. If drug users see that their peers are encouraged to mend their habits, they too will come forth for support. The athletes who should be booed are the ones who don't try to help fix their problems, because they are the ones letting everybody down - themselves, their team, and their fans, who pay good money to see them perform. One year after Len Bias' death itsis clear that drugs are not out of professional sports, nor will they be anytime in the near future. Bias' death haunts us still, but it's not too late to learn from his tragic example - just ask Dwight Gooden. The Michigan Daily-Friday, June l'9, 1987- Page 11 First-round choice Deasley makes 'M' history (continuedfrom Page10) going to go at me harder because "He's in a really good program," I'm a first rounder, then I am going MacNeil said. "We're pleased to to go out stronger after them." have a player that belongs to us -Senior Joe Lockwood, too old under a coach like Red Berenson. to be taken in the entry draft, was Berenson is a great coach, who will taken in the supplemental draft by maximize his potential. the New York Rangers. Lockwood "We think this guy is eventually scored 13 goals and five assists going to be a big strong left winger from his right wing position last with us in the NHL." season. His five short-handed goals Deasley now ranks ahead of is a team record. teammates Todd Copeland (second round, 1986), Jeff Norton (third, Morris featured '84), Myles O'Connor (third, '85), Jamie Morris, the only running and Brad Turner (third, '86) on the back to lead Michigan in rushing in list of current Michigan draftees. his first three seasons, is featured in The sophomore does not expect this year's Sporting News' College his lofty status to effect the Football Yearbook. workman-like play that enabled him The magazine rated Morris to score 13 goals and assist on 11 second in the nation at halfback, others last season. behind UCLA's Gaston Green and "It feels great to be the first ahead of Michigan State's Lorenzo number-one choice for Michigan White. hockey," he said "but I'm going to continue to play as a team player. I Morrow on Pan Am won't play as an individual." Pitcher Vicki Morrow, whose Deasley also believes that the 26-9 record led the Michigan extra pressure of being a number- softball team to a second-place Big one pick will be good for his game. Ten finish, was named to the U.S. He certainly won't back down when team that will compete at the Pa an opposing player challenges him. American games held this July in "It might even give me more Aicana es. incentive," he said. "If a player is Indianapols. NEED TO DOCTOR YOUR MCAT SCORE ? If your MCAT scoremneeds a shot in the arm, come to the experts intestpreparation-Stanley H.Kaplan. Our test-taking techniques and educational review will help you be in top condition test day We'll not only sharpen your scientific knowledge, but your read- ing, problem-solving, and essay-writing skills too. Summer courses are registering now So call the best in test prep-Kaplan. And get an MCAT score that you deserve. IKAPLAN STANLEY H.KAPLAN EDUCATIONALCENTER LTD. 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