14 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 14, 2000 Martin testimony brings to light question: what has really changed? 0 By Raphael Goodstein Three and a half years ago Michigan basketball coach Steve Fisher was fired. A new regime was brought in to runt a clean basketball program, and new Athletic Director Tom Goss led the crusade promising to, "change the prograr." After (toss fired Fisher, he appointed an BASKETBALL interim, just Commenta y days before the first practice of the 1997 season. Goss called up recently hired assistant coach Brian Ellerbe to fill the position, even though the players publically asked for assistant coach Scott Trost to receive the promotion. Ellerbe was months removed from a 34-47 record at Loyola College in Baltimore. Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, rumors and allegations of NCAA impropri- eties continued to swirl. Many of those rumors and allega- tions centered on booster Ed Martin, a retired Ford electrician, who was notorious for being close to Detroit prospects during Fisher's marred reign. Fast forward three and a half years. What has "changed?" Well, Final Four hopes have been replaced with a 52-42 record these last three years, 27-33 since the interim label was removed. But that's not the main point. What has really changed is what once were only rumors have become truths through testimony. Former players Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock admitted to accepting money from booster Ed Martin while at Michigan. T]here are strong impli- cations that Bullock and Traylor accepted this money under Ellerbe's watch. The real question here then is should Ellerbe receive the blame? Fisher, who was more successful than any other coach in Michigan basketball history, was replaced over concern about the program's image. This isn't a story designed to ques- tion anyons's job status. Fans have questioned Ellerbe's credentials to coach Michigan since he was given the full-time job. A Big Ten fournament title high- lights a three-year regime that has had more dowts than ups. A 51-point loss this past season to rival Michigan State marks the low- point of the program's history, not to mtention Ellerbe's reign. But perhaps more important than any one win or loss are the famous last words uttered to Fisher by a man whio later would be run out of town himself. Have we really changed the progran? After this past week's develop- mients, whether or not the program has changed should be re-evaluated. Traylor and Bullock are testifying that they accepted cash at Michigan. DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Louis Bullock (Above) and Robert Traylor testifited this past week that they accepted money while at Michigan. The very rumors of similar activities led to Fisher's fall from grace. Three and a half years ago, some argued that Fisher's firing had to do with the hope that a new regime would not be punished for whatever the NCAA could dig up on Fisher. This hope is now moot. The only thing worse than rumors of player payoffs is testimony from the players that received money. Whose watch was ticking when those payments were msade? Bill Martin; Goss's successor, this will your first riddle to solve. PO BREFS' Malchow, 15-year old Mediate wins Buick Holyfield decisions headed to Sydney Open; Woods 11th Ruiz, wins WBA belt INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - With Tom Malchow leading the way, 15- year-old Michael Phelps became the youngest male swimmer in 68 years to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team Saturday night. Malchow was on pace to break his own world record in the 200-ineter butterfly before fading badly in the final 50 reters. He still got on the Olympic team with a wiingi time off I minute, 56.57 seconds I- 1.69 off the mark he set tune 17 in Charlotte, N.C. "I got my ticket to Sydney", Malchow said. "Now, the battle begins. It ' didn't make the team, that might have been m career." Closing fast, Phelps touched at 1:57.48 to earn the second Olympic berth. He becomes the youngest member of the men's team since 13-year-old Ralph 1lanagan, who competed in the 1932 Los Angeles Games. "Phelps is awesome," said Malchow, 23, of Ann Arbor, Mich. "I might have retired a little sooner with someone like that coing {iup" GRAND BLANC (AP) -- The record crowds that turned out to see Tiger Woods saw quite a show on Sunday -- by Rocco Mediate. Mediate, who never led the entire tournament and trailed by one stroke going to the last hole, made a 12-foot birdie putt and w son the Buick Open whets Chris Perry missed a 10-foot putt for his first bogey in 29 holes. Mediate birdied two of the last three holes and closed with a 6- under-par 66 to wilt for the fourth time it ihis career. He finished at 20-under 268 and earned s486,000. "I knew if I made birdie, I might get it a playoff," Mediate said. "I didn't expect this." Oily six players with the 54-hole lead alone have gone on to win the Buick Open. Perry figured to be an exception until he clrove into the left rough on the i8th, played short of the green and then ran a pitch about 10 feet past the hole. "We both played great," Perry said. "He just made one more putt." LAS VEGAS (AP) - Evander Holyfield set out to prove something by winning the WBA heavyweight title against John Ruiz. Unfortunately, he wound up proving the wrong thing. Yes, Holyfield won a title for an unprecedented fourth time, just as he had planned. But what Saturday night's narrow but unanimous deci- sion really showed was that Holyfield might rethink his career plans as lie nears his 38th birthday. The fighter who staged thrilling wars with Riddick Bowe and pule one of boxing's biggest upsets agatist Mike Tyson looked just like what he has become against RUiz --- an aging fighter whose reflexes are increasing- ly suspect. "Everything is hard for me," Holvfield said. "Im accustomed to it. If it's not hard, it's probably not worth it. I'olvfield became a heavvweigI champion once again by using the ring generalship acquired in 19 previ- ous title fights to take the 12th round and win by one point on two ringside scorecards, and four on a third.