Will Notre Dame join the Big Ten, mak- ing the conference even less aptly- named? Read next week's Daily for Monday details. June8,998 The- d .f thewro id No Gufnness and fries, just effort By Rick Freeman Daily Sports Editor BUFFALO, N.Y. - I never really understood why Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated singled out track and field for his wrath when he wrote about his perfect birthday. I understood his desire to consume enough Guinness and chili cheese fries to meet the natural gas needs of the entire upper peninsula. Who wouldn't want that? But among his most fervent birthday wishes were, "Track ----------------- canceled," and "Field canceled." And I Track dida't understand the motivation for his two passing swipes at a sport that, well, Commentary probably never did anything to hurt him. ----------------- But after watching four days of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, I think I'm beginning to understand his frustration. And this is why: Run the damn race, people! The track isn't getting any faster! Here's how your Average Everyday NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships race goes. 6:15: Starting blocks placed on track. 6:19: T-shirted volunteers appear behind blocks, stand around bholding big laundry baskets. 6:23: Runners clad in numerous layers of warmups amble towards starting blocks. 6:25: Athletes jump up and down repeatedly. 6:28: Hem. 6:31: Haw. 6:35: Athletes remove warmups, place in laundry baskets, jump up and down. 6:37: Officials try to shoo everyone else off track. This includes other athletes jumping up and down, athletes running back and forth and photographers with lenses large enough to see potato bugs in France. 6:40: Athletes place feet in blocks, assume look of intense See GUINNESS, Page U Sullivan, A Longe end careers By Rick Freeman IDaily Sports Editor BUFFALO, N.Y. - The only thing Kevin Sullivan took home from hisfin. NCAA Championships this weekend were the scratches on his right elbow Michigan's best chance for a national title came crashing to the UB Stadium track, just 700 meters from glory. His friend and teammate John Mortimer, though, found himself on the podium twice, helping the men's team to a 23rd place finish. He finished second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and se enth in the 5,000-meter run. Senior Tant Longe, Katie McGregor- who finished second in the 5,000 - and Nicole Forrester also contributed tothe women's 15th-place team score of 15. Elizabeth Kampfe missed the podi- See NCAAS, Page 11 Michigan's Tania Longe wasn't happy with her performance in most events of the heptathion. But lar Elizabeth ampfe - 10000 she decided a seventh-place overall finish wasn't that bad, after all. Twtia LOng - OptathI n Field of dreams awaits 'M' five Recruit and four others picked in baseball draft By T.J. Berka Daily Sports Editor Throughout the United States, thou- sands of little boys dream about becom- ing major league baseball players. Five Michigan players took a step towards obtaining that dream, as they were selected in Major League Baseball's 1998 first-year player draft, which took place last Tuesday and Wednesday. "It is an unbelievable feeling," said senior outfielder Derek Besco, a 25th- round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. "I was so happy when I found out that I didn't know what to do. I'm still floating in the clouds right now." Drew Henson, a high school senior who has committed to play football at Michigan in the fall, was the first player with Michigan ties to be drafted. The New York Yankees nabbed him in the third round. Henson, a third baseman, holds the national high school record for career home runs with 68. The first Michigan student to be picked in the draft was junior pitcher Bryan Berryman, who had his name called by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round. Berryman was 4-5 this season with a 6.16 earned run average. Hard-throwing junior J.J. Putz was the other Michigan pitcher to be drafted, as the Minnesota Twins selected him in the 17th round. The 6-5 righthander battled injuries throughout the season, going 1- I with an 6.44 ERA. Putz is currently playing in the Cape Cod League in Massachusetts, a non- affiliated professional league popular among prospects. Wednesday saw the last Michigan player, third baseman Mike Cervenak, get selected. Cervenak, Michigan's lead- ing hitter this season with a .385 average and 10 home runs, was picked by the Oakland Athletics in the 43rd round. Cervenak, like Putz, is also involved in summer ball, currently playing in Alaska. While Berryman, Cervenak and Putz will likely return next spring - all three are juniors - Besco is already getting acclimated to his new job, leaving yes- terday for a minicamp in Lakeland, Fla., before joining the Tigers' A club in Jamestown, N.Y. "Playing for the home team make this moment even more special," said Besco, a native of Westland, a Detroit suburb. "It's every player's dream to play for his hometown team." Another player who might be playing baseball soon is Henson. While Henson was recruited as a quarterback, NCAA rules allow him to play college football and minor league baseball if he chooses. Whether they play this year or in t future, the five Wolverines are one ste closer to fulfilling a popular boyhood dream. Third baseman Mike Cervenak led the Wolverines in batting average and home runs I season. The Oakland Athletics noticed Cervenak's play and drafted him Wednesday.