Page 12- The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 10, 1988 Looking for something different?... How about the all-new NBA? Adam 's Rib BY ADAM SCHRAGER /Associated Press Los Angeles Laker guard Magic Johnson shows some of his team's frustration from Tuesday night's loss to the Detroit Pistons. BigTen's Duke to retire in '89 FROM STAFF REPORTS age 34. Wayne Duke announced Tuesday Duke is only the f o u r t h that he will retire as Big Ten commissioner in the 93-year history commissioner in December 1989 of the Big Ten. Previous comm- after running the conference since issioners were Major John L. 1971. Griffith, 1922-1944; Kenneth L. "Announcement of these plans at (Tug) Wilson, 1945-61 and William this time will provide the board R. Reed, 1961-71. ample opportunity to screen During Duke's tenure, the Big candidates for the position and Ten has expanded its football bowl provide an orderly transition for game participation after years of conduct of conference business," being limited to only the Rose said Duke, who plans to serve as a Bowl. Nine of the conference's consultant to the Big Ten after teams have participated in 51 retiring. different bowl games since the "It is reassuring to me to be conference changed its policy in leaving the conference at a time 1975. when our performance is ex- Also Duke has helped the Big ceedingly strong." Ten expand its basketball programs. Duke, who will be 61 when he Since the first conference cham- retires, was the youngest chief pionship was won by Minnesota in , executive officer of a major athletic 1906, new rule changes such as the conference when appointed comm- 45-second shot clock and the three- issioner of the Big Eight in 1963 at point goal have been implemented. There's an all-new motif pervading our society these days, revolving around the phrase, "The All-New." First, in the entertainment field, we have "The All-New Dating Game," "The All-New Newlywed Game," and "The All-New Holly- wood Squares." Next, in the political department, we have the "All-New," not wimpy, George Bush, separate from his Ronald Reagan shadow. Finally, in sports, we have "The All-New NBA." This "All-New NBA" evolves from the fact that for the first time in five seasons, the Boston Celtics won't be in the NBA finals and the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers have been shown to be vincible. The Celtics slipped and lost two games on their infamous Parkay margarine floor to the Detroit Pistons, who won the Eastern Con- ference series in six games. In this six game series, the Pistons' defense forced Boston to shoot under 45% from the field and held Celtic star Larry Bird in check. Now, many will question whether the Pistons won the series or whether the Celtics lost the series, but there is no question as to which team is playing in the finals. With a tight defense led by Dennis "The Worm" Rodman on Bird, who regularly arrives two hours before game time practice his shooting, all previous conceptions of the early- bird getting the worm have been obliterated. The Pistons once again defied all odds Tuesday by holding the Lakers to a menial 39% from the field and thrashing the defending champions, 105-93. Skeptics galore figured Detroit would be content with beating Boston and get blown out by the Lakers, who had not lost their first home game in a series in seven years. In perhaps the key play of the game, Piston guard Isiah Thomas stole an inbounds pass and hit a three-pointer at the first half buzzer. Thomas, who has been Detroit's leader throughout the playoffs, gave the Pistons a 17 point halftime lead. "He just read it and stepped up and made the play," said Pistons assistant coach Ron Rothstein. "It wasn't by design. But great players make great plays at crunch time." While the entire country remains shocked and perplexed as to what transpired on Tuesday, I propose that it is no more mystifying as someone being a contestant on "The All-NewDating Game" solely to get a free vacation to somewhere exotic. The Lakers, while posting the NBA's best regular-season record, have been pressed to the limit by their last two playoff opponents, the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz, respectively. Both teams pus- hed the Lakers to seventh games and the brink of elimination. But in those deciding games held at the L.A. Forum in front of many a celebrity, the Lakers put on an Oscar winning performance that would have even made the strictest of Hollywood critics offer kudos to the L.A. braintrust. First, Utah, led by the United States Post Office's newest and bestest buddy, Karl "The Mailman" Malone, beat the Lakers once at the Forum and also pummeled and embarrassed them in game six in Utah before exiting graciously. In the next series, it was a new cast of characters that posed problems for L.A. The Mavericks possessed talent led by true maverick Mark Aguirre and the NBA's Best Sixth Player in Roy Tarpley. But in the end, the Lakers stayed alive. Smiles, laughs, and predictions exuded from L.A. following both series and yet there was something new. Something all-new. Espe- cially after Tuesday night. There were injuries and doubts. There were question marks and fatigue. And there were the same previously invincible Lakers wondering. Wondering. Who would have ever thought that the Lakers would have to wonder? I didn't. Now, phrases such as "Could the Lakers," or "Can the Lakers," are prominent. No longer are there statements saying "When will the Lakers win," or "How will the Lakers win," but instead people are wondering. The Pistons will evidently come out for game two more relaxed than someone following accupuncture. Will the Lakers win? I don't know, but even thinking about it is something all-new. I Beginners classes are taught by Sensei Takashi Kushida, 8th degree black belt from Japan. Cost: $20 for five sessions. Two new classes start in June: -Thursdays 6:30-7:30 pm (Starts June 16) -Saturdays 10:30-11:30 am (Starts June 18) NEW: Women's Class Join anytime. Classes meet Wednesdays and Fridays, Noon-1:00. Classes are held in the Genyokan Dojo in Ann Arbor, 749 Airport Blvd. (behind the State Rd. K-Mart). For information, call 662-4686. 'He just read it and stepped up and made the play. It wasn't by design. But great players make great plays at crunch time.' -Pistons assistant Ron Rothstein on Isiah Thomas' steal and three-pointer at the halftime buzzer. CORNER OF STATE AND HILL 994-4040 ALL YOU CAN EAT PIZZA Every TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY $3.50 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m.