18 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, June 28, 1995 Howe about that Gordie and sons together again in Motor City By Nicholas J. Cotsonika Daily Sports Editor DETROIT -Gordie Howe stood outside another locker room after another hockey game in downtown Detroit last week, but this time, The Legend was just a father. As his grandson stood at his feet, Howe greeted his oldestson, Marty, after he coached Roller Hockey Intemational's Motor City Mustangsto their first-ever home victory, 11-5 over the Minnesota Blue Ox. Two days later, Gordie donned the blades himself, warming up with the Mustangs as part of a promotion before their game with Orlando. Current Mustang owners and Detroit Red Wings Shawn Burr and Dino Ciccarelli made Gordie a sixth-round draft pick earlier this year, hoping he'd do more. But the man many still consider to be the greatest hockey player of all time can do little more than watch now. His sons are the ones determining the future of Detroit hockey. Marty is the first coach of Detroit's newest sports franchise and Mark is a Red Wing defenseman. For the past two weeks, the Howe family has been reunited. With the Red Wings playing for the Stanley Cup and with the Mustangs opening their inaugural season, Gordie came down from his home in Traverse City to lend his support -equally. Different night. Different arena. Same love. "Ijust like being here and watching them work," Gordie said. "I've been around a lot of hockey down here, and it would be nice tosee another Stanley Cup. Hopefully, Mark will get his name on it and Marty will win something here (with the Mustangs)." The Howes have been synonmous with Detroit hockey for decades. In fact, Gordie was on the last Cup champion in 1955. The past two weeks were much like the first time all three Howes had been in the same city, involved in hockey, in 1979. Back then, Gordie had returned to the NHL after retirement to play with both Marty and Mark as Hartford Whalers. He was finishing a career in which he would amass 801 goals, 1049 assists and 1850 points. Marty and Mark were just starting out. "That was a fun time," Gordie said. "But this is justas fun. Watching them will always be fun." It was ajoy for Gordie when his Mustang jersey, the one he wore in warm-ups, was auctioned off following Motor City's 6-5 win over the Orlando Rollergators on June 18. His son Marty's team was then 3-0, and Gordie was confident. "(Roller hockey) is all pretty new to him," Gordie said. "But he's caught on quick. He's knows the game and he's going to do really well." Mark was hoping for the same thing - to do really well. Just down the COURTESY OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS Gordie Howe accepts the puck for his 545th goal from Sid Abel. street from the Mustangs home at Cobo without doing what his father did - Arena, the Red Wings were in the win the Stanley Cup. Yet, no matter Stanley Cup finals against the New what happens, the Howes will be fine. Jersey Devils. Gordie was there too, They have memories, distinguished sitting in a rocking Joe Louis Arena. careers and, of course, the Mustangs to Different night. Different arena. watch. They will always be a part of Same love. Detroit hockey, on the ice and the But Mark was not as successful as SportCourt (roller hockey surface). Marty. He played the first two games of "I'm happy for Marty," Gordie said. the finals in Detroit, and the Red Wings "The team looksogood and he's going to dropped both. His last chance to win the do a good job. Fans will grow to like this Cup in his stellar 22-year career likely game. It's fast and there's a lot of action. ended a week later in New Jersey. I'll be back to watch." The Wings lost 5-2in Game Four But Marty's new Mustangsocan't and were swept by the Devils. Mark was numb the pain he feels for Mark. in the press box. Benched. After the final game of the finals,The "(Wingscoach Scotty Bowman) has Legend found Mark, and hugged him. to do what he thinks is right," Gordie Father to son. "I cried more than he did, said. "It's too bad for Mark. I don'tknow Gordie said. what is going to happen." Different night. Different arena. Many feel Mark will retire soon, Same love. INTRAMURAL SPORTS , PROGRAM COMPETM VEI UPCOMING ACTIVITIES SOFTBALL Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 715 5:30pm IMSB Instant Scheduling: Weds 7/5 5:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $50.00 per team Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (Hil/ivisio/oover) SAND Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/5 6:30pm IMSB VOLLEYBALL Entries Taken: Weds 7/5 6:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $40.00 per team Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (HimIvsion/oover) 3-on-3 Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/5 7:30pm IMSB BASKETBALL Entries Taken: Weds 7/5 7:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $25.0 per team Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (HIivisionHoover) The deadline for Tennis (Singles and Doubles) entries is Thursday July 13 while Golf (2-person team scramble) entries are due Wednesday July 19. OFFICIATING OPPORTUNITIES OFFICIALS NEEDED for Summer SOFTBALL Clinic begins: 7:00pm Wednesday July 5 at the IMSB. For additional Information concerning LM Activities and oimatingcontact: IM Sports Program 763-3561 IMSB SPORTING VIEWS: Who really deserve the., Stanley Cup? W vs robbed by formenr la ughing stocks ofNHL Give me a break. The New Jersey Devils are the Stanley Cup Champions? New Jersey? The Devils? I remember the days before the uniform change. Back then, New Jersey players looked more like Christmas trees in their red and green than hockey players. Well, the NHL must have felt sony for them. All those years of being laughed at gave them the liberty of slowing the Red Wings down - illegally. During the regular season, the Devils were the ninth-best team in hockey. Why? Referees called holding, interference and roughing. Back then, Detroit was the best team in the NHL. Why? They couldn't be held up. In the playoffs, with the zebras' whistles down their throats, the former Christmas trees became Grinches and stole the Cup from its rightful owners. Merry Christmas New Jersey. You didn't earn it. -Nicholas J. Catsonika Devils'sweep proves New Jersey no/luke Make no mistake. The best team on the ice last week was Jacques Lemaires' New Jersey Devil's squad. Don't get me wrong. I'm a much bigger Red Wing fan than even Mr. Cotsonika is, but I'm not quite as blind as he is. The Devils are a superior hockey club. Detroit came in with better players, but New Jersey came in with the better team. The Devils are solid allithe way around the ice. Second-year goalie Martin Brodeur is the best in thebusiness. Captain Scott Stevens and wonder-kid Scott Niedermayer lead a balanced and talented corps of defensemen. And defense wins games. Lemaire has installed an excellent fore-checking defensive system that his players not only believe in, but embrace. Playoff hero Claude Lemieux and Stephane Richer mount a tremendously underrated offensive attack. Veteran center NealBroten and winger John MacLean add more scoring punch than even the Wings have. The Eastem Conference was terribly underrated this year. And because there was no interconferenceg play in the lockout shortened season, nobody had any idea how good the teams were in the East. Especially the Devils. -JohnLeroi Notes Michigan swimmer Alecia Humphrey and gymanst Beth Wymer were named to the GTE Aca- demic All American at-Large teams this week. Humphrey, the 1993 and 1994 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and winner of three NCAA titles in 1995, was named to the second tea Wymer, a three-time Big Ten gymn of the year and winner of an unprec- edented three-consecutive NCAA Championships in the uneven bars, was named to the third team.