Wednesday. June 16, 1993 - The Michiaan Daily Summer Weeky -15 CHEERLEADING Continued from page 14 He confimed that only four cheer- leaders traveled to the first and second games of the tournament, but did not say why Michigan took such a small number - the NCAA allowed for the cheerleaders to provide 11 athletes, a mascot, and a coach. Long said he did not know why Michigan sent four cheerleaders. Schmidt said that as a result of the reduced squad, the team was belittled and embarrassed by television sports- casters and boosters. "We were accosted by fans who wanted to know why we only had four cheerleaders," she said. Schmidtsaidsheneverhadameet- ing with Bradley-Doppes to discuss the incident and does not feel that the incident is justification for her firing. "Administrators should discuss problemsandsolutions,"Schmidtsaid. "Nothing like that had ever taken place. Schmidtalsocriticized the Athletic Department for not taking her coach- ing record into consideration. The cheerleadingsquadhastakenfirstplace honorsinregionalcompetitionsfor the last four years. "Youcan'ttellmel'mabadcoach," Schmidt said. She added that this was the first year the squad was taken toevery away football game - for this reason, she feels the decision to fire her stemmed from the incident involving her fundraising activities for the NCAA basketball tournament, rather than the squad's performance.. Bradley-Doppes refused to say if Schmidt's dismissal was related to the tournament incident. "I'm not in any position to discuss any situations," Bradley-Doppes said. "That is what Personnel is for." Schmidt said Bradley-Doppes had threatened to fire her before-after an incident at a Michigan women's bas- ketball game last year. According toSchmidt,Doppeshad ordered the cheerleaders out on the 0 basketballcourt during an injury time- - out.Schmidtrefusedtheorderandsaid it was improper behavior. "You do not cheer when aplayeris down," Schmidtsaid. "She threatened me with firing if I did not send my cheerleaders out." Doppes, she said, did not approach her with the order to cheer. Instead, Bradley-Doppes told the varsity cap- tain to take the team on the floor. Schmidt said she later met with Bradley-Doppes to resolve the inci- dent. Bradley-Doppes could not be reached for comment on the issue, but several sources in the Athletic Depart- ment confirmed Schmidt's story. Three years ago, the Athletic De- partment investigated Schmidt amid allegations from members of the cheerleading squad who maintained she was an incompetent coach, prac- ticed favoritism and had siphoned money from the program. An internal investigation proved Schmidt innocent-clearing her of all the charges. Members of the varsity cheer- leading squad reacted with mixed emo- tions at the news of Schmidt's firing. "I feel really bad," senior cheer- leader Kristin Kaleniecki said. "I don't like the way it was hn ied." She said she had the impression that the Athletic Department was al- ways holding the threat of firing over Schmidt's head. She said former team members had made past complaints to theDepartment,questioning Schmidt's coaching abilities. "A change could be good," Kaleniecki said. Brent Lignell, alsoa senior, saidhe wasnot surprisedby Schmidt's firing. "It'sbeenexpectedjustfromknowl- edge of her relationship with Peggy Doppes," Lignell said. He said there were incidents be- tween the two,butrefused toelaborate. "It's definitely upsetting,"he said. Junior cheerleader Tanneisha Barlow said she was surprised by the announcement and felt it was unjus- tified. "I thought the Athletic Department had it out for her," Barlow said. Schmidt said she is unsure of her future plans. She has retained an at- torney to determine the possibility of future litigation. "I'll have to think thisthroughcare- fully and see if this is worth pursuing," Schmidt said. PETER MATTHEWS/Daily Former pitcher Dave Dravecky greets tykes seeking his autograph at a local cancer center. Drvecky speaks of career, recovery at cancer center By KEN DAVIDOFF DAILY SPORTS EDTOR Little hasbeen heard of former All- Star pitcher Dave Dravecky since he losthisleftarm tocancerin early 1991. That is not to say, however, that he hasn't made any noise. Dravecky appeared Sunday as the keynote speaker at the opening of the Robert H. and Judy Dow Alexander Cancer Care Center. In an approxi- mately half-hour long speech, Dravecky discussedthevalueoflaugh- terrelivedhisrise to the major leagues and urged people to "live for today." "(You should)make today the best day that we can possibly make it," Dravecky said. "And part of that is realizing what we can give to other people." Dravecky and his wife Jan nowrun the non-profit Dave Dravecky Foun- dation, which offers encouragement to can-ce crvioiecamnnt-e e nd thmce who have experienced depression. "What wedoas far as depression is concerned, or cancer, or amputees, is just to write letters of encouragement to (victims of these afflictions)," Dravecky said. "We geta lotofphone calls and a lot of letters referring to struggling with the issue of cancer. They're depressed, or they're think- ingaboutthepossibilityofamputation. ..."Sowhatwedoiswejustgetonthe phone, andI'lljusttalk tothem,justbe alisteneras they share their story with me. And in the process, if there's something I can share with them that might help them or encourage them, I will." Dravecky began his major league career with the San Diego Padres in 1982 and pitched against the Detroit Tigers in the 1984 World Series.In 1987, the Padres traded him to the San Francisco Giants. His left arm was first diagnosed with cancer in 1988. He made a well-publicizedcomeback in 1989, but he broke his arm in his second appearance. InNovember 1989, the cancer re- turned, and Dravecky announced his retirement from baseball. In early 1991, doctors removed Dravecky's left arm, shoulder blade and left side of his collarbone. Draveckysaidhestillfollowsbase- ball, and he pooh-poohed the chic thought that baseball is no longer the "national sport." "Ithinkmaybeinsome cases we're jumping the gun by saying thatbase- ball is (on the way down)," Dravecky said. "I'm not quite sure where the numbers are this year, butIknow that last year was another successful year for baseball in attendance. "(Fans) love the game of baseball. 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