The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - March 25, 1991 - Page 3
Q'&4 / /A4 Z
Spitz
dais i hand, the swimmer
Mike Gill
r
e
speaks ab
In the 1972 Summer Olympic
;Games in Munich, Germany, Mark
;Spitz put on perhaps the most spec-
e, tacular Olympic performance ever.
In seven swims, Spitz won seven
gold medals and in the process set
tseven world records. Spitz then re-
tired and in 1989, came out of re-
tirement, in hopes of qualifying for
the 1992 Olympic team. At the U.S.
Olympic Trials next summer, Spitz
will be 42, and will be competing
against swimmers half his age. Daily
Sports Writer Ken Sugiura spoke
*;with Spitz about his return to the
:pool and his future in it.
D: What initially made you de-
cide to come back and try again?
S: Well, it was a calamity of a
bunch of different things that hap-
pened - some friends suggesting it
;and investigating the possibilities
'of what would happen if I got back
into shape - if my times would
still be competitive in the events
:that I had participated in in the
:Olympic Games in Munich.
I observed that one of the events,
,the 100-meter butterfly, would
,still be very competitive and that
:some of the guys in Masters swim-
:ming programs who were training
only like three or four times a week
:for an hour a day were doing times
£faster than they did in their 20s, and
;these were past Olympians and stuff
like that, so I figured what the heck,
I'm not getting any younger.
H OLDREN
Continued from page 1
attracted to Michigan's success on
the gridiron.
"They were a real powerhouse
Zvery year," Nate says. "They were a
eam that everyone followed back
iome, so I sort of followed them
and stayed with them."
= As Nate goes to sleep this night,
he is the only person in the state
with a smile on his face, and with
visions of Rose Bowls dancing in his
biead.
Autumn is a time for harvest in
the state of Washington. Harvest of
;apples, and harvest of football stars.
On one fall Friday night during his
unior year, Nate shows he is ripe
or the big time college football
bickings.
As the Richland High football
beam sits in the visiting lockerroom
in Kennewick, Wash., the four-year
dome winning streak of Kennewick
Nigh - which holds a 15-0
hialftime lead - seems to be out of
fiarm's way.
Richland coach Ben Pearson
fiopes to change his team's fortunes
ty opening up the attack an offense.
4 Let's go to you, Nate," Pearson
said.
Kinnewick's stadium is quickly
ransformed into a field of dreams
for Nate. He has a game that people
* n Washington continue to talk
about to this day.
Nate scores three touchdowns as
the quarterback, makes 18 tackles as
A linebacker, and leads Richland to a
:19-18 upset. He plays every snap of
the entire game, including special
teams. All in front of 13,000 fans.
"That game was the turning
;point in Nate's career," Pearson
days. "I was thrilled by how he
:commanded the field. That game
swas the convincer to everyone,
including Nate."
Not that anyone needed
convincing. Nate had received
letters from USC even before the
season had begun. But this
performance opened the recruiting
floodgates into Richland.
"When I got the first letter
0 from USC, I was pretty impressed,"
Nate says. "That's when it all
;started. I began to get all the phone
calls and all that other junk."
More than 40 schools chased
after Nate - the 1989 Washington
Player-of-the-Year - but he soon
narrowed his list down to five. The
list reads like a Who's Who of
;college football: Notre Dame,
Washington State, Texas A & M,
-Miami (Fla.l and Michigan.
)out his comeback
D: What was it like initially -
the first couple weeks you started
training again?
S: It was like hell week. It was
terrible. It was like going into basic
training, I guess, in the army.
D: What has been or what do
you think will be, your biggest
challenge in returning?
S: Well, for me the biggest chal-
lenge was to stay in the training.
And of course I've done that for a
year and a half, so it's like water un-
der the dam at the moment.
D: Physically, you probably
aren't at the level of the 20 or 22-
year olds you'll be competing with.
What kind of advantage do you
think you might have over them in
other phases of swimming?
S: Well, for openers, my physi-
cal strength and my ability is equiv-
alent to those of the 20-year olds.
I'm swimming and training very,
well against them. And mentally of
course, I've got the experience that
they don't have.
My problem is the physical as-
pect -- that I'm prone to a little
more injury than they are. Where I
never thought that I was injury-
prone, at my age of course, some
times I wake up with sore muscles
and sore back, and whatever.
D: Do you fear at all, at least for
the younger generation, if you come
up short, that the only Mark Spitz
they'll know is the one who came
back and didn't make it instead of
the one who won seven gold
medals?
S: No, they'll know that I won
seven gold medals. I mean, that isn't
going to be something that can be
taken away. I mean, that's a fact, it's
there. It has nothing to do with
what I'm doing now. Now, it's just
a question of I'm so old and we'll
see how far I go.
You don't all of a sudden say,
two weeks or two months before
the Olympic Trials, "Hey, you
know, I'll get into the water and do
my thing," and then go to the
Olympic Trials. You're leaving
yourself a tremendous opportunity
of failure.
And for me, I've been really, sort
of, I think, paying my dues by get-
ting into the water and swimming
and working out hard.
And I'm sure that I'm going to
have a tremendous amount of disap-
pointments along the way. And
hopefully I'll have some great ex-
periences along the way.
It's the idea to make it to the end
- not to be a flash in the pan and
burn out or in this case, not prepare
properly. And for me, I think it's
more critical that when somebody's
making a comeback, they take their
merry time about it and go about it
slowly - get their body back into
shape as best they can.
And then, working with what-
ever age you are, and perhaps some of
the drawbacks that age may have an
effect. And for me, it's definitely
I'm rustier in the morning than I am
in the evening. I always felt I was
better in the evening anyway, even
when I was 20. But now, more so.
D: Where do you feel you are
along in your training? Do you feel
that you still need a lot of time to
come back to be at peak?
S: I feel that it's going to take
me all of the two and a half years
that I've set aside to compete. But I
do need to get in the water, and I do
need to race.
And I need to become what I call
race-smart, race-wise. And the race-
smart comes from participating in
the same event with somebody, cre-
ating that same scenario of pressure.
That's what these exhibitions are
all about.
D: What would be the ultimate
goal for you in 1992?
S: Well, I think first of all,
let's put it in three stages. One is to
get into as good shape as I was when
I was 22 and try to equate the same
time, if not swim faster. And that, I
feel that I'm on track.
If I'm swimming fast enough,
and my time might be fast enough to
make the Olympic Games, then
that's like phase two. And when I'm
at the Olympics of course, whatever
I get would be phase three. So, I've
got to take each one at a time. And I
haven't got to phase one yet.
with Michigan football. He was
completely sold on the Wolverines'
program. He stopped leaving bread
crumbs along the national
recruiting trail.
Nate was coming. But no one
outside Ann Arbor was happy.
"As soon as you tell the other
schools that you're not interested,
they give you a bad attitude," Nate
says. "They'll say, 'Are you crazy,
why would you not want to go
here?' Then they just cross you off
their list and go to the next
person."
But Michigan got the top choice
on its list, and coach Gary Moeller
knew it.
"He has great speed and can
really throw the ball," Moeller
says. "But we really liked him as a
kid as well. He has very good desire
and motivation."
Oh yes, Coach. Nate is coming.
'die world of professional
baseball wants Nate Noldren badly.
So badly that it tried to lure him
away from a college education, and a
football career. He said no, and the
pros are scared to death because they
may not get another chance.
player."
These complaints from the pro
ranks may just be sour grapes. The
Giants know that they have some
competition for the services of a
prime-time prospect. Such double
duty has hindered the development
of many fine athletes.
Holdren is missing out. There is
little doubt that by playing four
years in the minors with longer
seasons and better competition,
Holdren would help himself much
more than he is now. Or would he?
"He has made the choice to play
two sports," Freehan says. "Are
there any absolutes? Is Nate
guaranteed that if he stops playing
football right now, he would be a
baseball star? Probably not. But he
is keeping his options open and
enjoying himself.
"Pro baseball sees things one
way. But it is missing the ability to
back up a kid's talent with a college
education. If he were to come here
and not spend his time working on
baseball, his opportunities pro
baseball-wise would be diminished.
But there is no question in my mind
that he has the physical gifts that
not that many people have in the
game of baseball."
.s with any rookie college
athlete, Nate's future is uncertain.
Watching him work on the playing
fields is like watching a James Bond
film.
He encounters threats and
obstacles now and then, but you
know the good guy always wins in
the end.
Holdren's football career hit one
of those obstacles during his
redshirt season last fall. Holdren -
whom Ben Pearson says is "the
most informed, studious
quarterback I've seen in my 15 years
at Richland" - saw Elvis Grbac's
two remaining years of eligibility
standing in his way.
As a studious quarterback, he
saw that the only way to get any
playing time before 1993 was to
switch positions. So he chose middle
linebacker.
The transition should be smooth;
at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Holdren
was an All-State linebacker twice in
his prep career.
"Nate was a great, not good,
linebacker in high school,"
Michigan quarterback coach Cam
Cameron says. "He could have been
a heck of a quarterback. But he wants
to play, and has a chance to
contribute on defense next year.
"However, if he wanted to come
back and play quarterback, we
would be thrilled to death."
hard," Moeller says. "He can't lose
out this spring due to baseball."
Holdren must compromise. If he
focuses on only one sport, he will
develop even faster than he already
has. But he will not be happy.
"I've played baseball all my life
and I've played football all my
life," he says. "It's just too hard to
decide on one."
Freehan wishes he had Holdren's
talents year-round, but he has
nothing to complain about so far.
He has started at either left field or
designated hitter for most of the
young season.
"If he had been with us all fall,
there would definitely be a level of
improvement over what he is now,"
Freehan says. "But he will certainly
be able to help us substantially."
That help will be in the form of
Holdren's offensive firepower -
which Freehan says is as good as can
be found in college baseball.
"He has outstanding power, but
he is not just a big guy who
swings," Freehan says. "He's an
intelligent hitter who is able to
react to many different pitches. But
he's got to improve his defense."
Holdren's batting average of
.346 is currently the third highest
on the Michigan team. He is among
the leaders in extra-base hits and
total bases.
He made his impressive debut
against Tampa during the February
spring trip to Florida by hiting two
home runs.
It all seems too easy for this 19-
year old phenom. And not just in
football and baseball. He was even
an All-Conference basketball
standout, averaging 20 points and 10
rebounds per game in high school.
Nate Holdren is what a pro
scouts have called a "sure thing."
All his coaches say he has the
talent and dedication to reach either
the NFL or the major leagues. But
there are no true sure things for any
first-year college athlete.
"If things fall into place as they
should, he'll have his chance of what
he wants to do," Moeller says. "But
it's too early to be saying those
things."
That may be so, but it is not too
early to hope.
"Everyone in Richland talks
about it," Lukson says. "They all
look forward to someday watching
him on TV."
Whichever sport that may be, no
one will be surprised. The Giants
have already shown that pro
baseball is ready, willing and able
to have him.
"I would love to play
professional sports," Holdren says.
"I have goals, and I know what I
'M' icer Ward closes
successful first chapter
BOSTON - Minutes after Michigan's season mercifully ended
Saturday night at the hands of Boston University, Aaron Ward scurried
back and forth in the hallway next to the teams' lockerrooms.
Occasionally, he'd stop in the somber confines of his team's dressing area,
but soon he'd be back out.
Ward's season concluded in the second period of the Terrier's 8-1
shellacking of the Wolverines when he received a game disqualification
for spearing. While his teammates wiped the tears away and showered
Ward canvassed the hallway like an old politician, explaining his actions.
"My stick was on the ice, I couldn't have speared him," he said, his in-
tonation rising, his head shaking back and forth. "Then all of a sudden,
the linesman comes over to the bench (Ward whistles) 'Number five!'
and I'm gone. Maybe holding, but not spearing."
Soon, the defenseman is asking others what the radio broadcasters
said. He explains himself again and again. He talks to parents and friends
of the team.
Aaron Ward is never not a part of the action. He wants to be in the
middle of it. While Michigan's storied season came to a crashing halt,
Ward's Michigan story has just completed the first chapter, his rookie
year. And from what Michigan fans have seen so far, Ward will be a de-
light to have around three more years - both on the ice for his aggres-
sive play, and off it, for his incredible honesty, friendliness, and sense of
humor.
With this in mind, it's not too surprising that Michigan coach Red
Berenson will find Ward wandering the hotel hallways the afternoon of
a game. It is a time that most players nap and relax, but Ward can have no
such part of that activity, or lack thereof. He will roam down to the ho-
tel lobby, looking for friendly faces.
Berenson is asked to compare this 6-foot-2, 200 pound, just turned 18-
year-old from Gloucester, Ontario to someone else.
He ponders the thought, then smiles and says, "He's Aaron Ward, he's
his own kid."
He's a kid who thought his chances of coming to Michigan were
spoiled when on his recruiting visit, a swear word accidently slipped
from his mouth while on a walk with an assistant coach.
He's a kid who on the same trip again mistakenly sat on the coach's:
desk, and when he realized what he did, he again thought his chances of
landing in Ann Arbor were all but slot down.
And he's a kid who started sw a ting profusely, his face beet red,
while on this recruiting trip before Michigan faced Ohio State. Berenson
recalls asking him what was wrong. Finally, Ward replied, "I'll tell you
after the game."
After Michigan lost, Ward turned
up all smiles. He said, "I can play
here." He knew that despite the tal-
ent base Michigan was building, there
would be a spot for him.
As the youngest player in the
CCHA, Ward's season could best be
summed up as the kid in the candy
store. No matter what the activity, he
has embraced it full throttle. Life is
just too much fun.
Each day, he stops in at Coach and
Four to visit with Jerry the Barber.
Each day is a new treasure hunt on
the trail of life. Something new.
Something to discover. The Huck
Finn of the hockey team.
Sophomore defenseman Pat Neaton recalls when Ward came to town
in mid-summer. Pat and his father invited Chris Tamer and Ward to at-
tend a Tiger game with them. It was Ward's first professional baseball
game.
"My dad just couldn't stop laughing," Neaton recalls. "We all
wanted to leave, it was 8-3, and Aaron wanted to stay so he could catch a
foul ball. He's sitting there, stuffing down hot dogs. The guy is just so
gung ho about everything he does."
It took a gung ho attitude to put Ward in shape. When he arrived in
Ann Arbor, he thought he was in fine condition. Then, he ran the
Michigan Stadium stairs, and was dying. He pleaded for other players to
sing the fight song to him to keep him going.
"I'm sure my teammates thought I was the biggest recruiting mistake
in Michigan hockey history," Ward says, without a flicker of humor.
"Man, I was so slow, the pylons were speeding by me," he adds.
One day, Berenson called Ward into his office. He placed a cord around
his neck. On one side, he placed a 10-pound weight, on the other a five.
"How would you like to carry this around all day?" Berenson asked.
It didn't take Ward long to pick up on the implied message. Lose
weight. And fast. He did - and with it his speed picked up, as did his at-
titude.
When Ward entered the University of Michigan, he was young, and
not exactly mature. It took him longer than his fellow rookies to gain
the acceptance of his teammates. He was overweight. He didn't take jokes
very well. He didn't spend much time with the other players off the ice.
Now, they'll tell you about the more mature Aaron Ward that has
come as the victories have mounted this season. He's slightly older; he
can take a joke; he spends time with his teammates.
And there is no doubt that he has come of age on the ice - some even
project him as the second pick of this year's NHL draft. None of this
phases him, except that he may get an NHL trading card if drafted among
the top five selections. In addition, he would have the opportunity to
make a speech.
That fact has him excited. Yet Ward, who can skate in front of thou-
sands, maintains he hates being seen with his helmet off.
"The only time I'm vulnerable during a hockey game is the national
anthem. Watch me, I'll sway back and forth."
When Ward appears in a group and begins talking, his face will turn
red. It's happened ever since he was a kid. "Look at me now - my face is
probably turning red," he says.
And it is. Two weeks ago, when he came to the podium to receive an
award for being named to the CCHA all-rookie team, he turned purple.
But that's just the nature of Aaron Ward, as superstitious a person as
they come.
For instance, if he needs to go to the bathroom before practice, his
hockey stick must go with him.
Then there is the pregame routine. Set a coke on top of the locker.
After stretches, have a word with Tamer. Never put a jersey on until
Berenson says his "famous words - 'Okay boys, let's go."' Put your left
foot on the ice first. Make sure IOU is written on your stick - as in "I
Owe You A Hit." Work an entire drill during the pregame skate with
Doug Evans, which includes curling toward each other with a fast skat-
ing handshake.
That's superstitious. And that's Aaron Ward.
__ .- .. - . . -. . . 1_. - ' - - s
Holdren was drafted by the San
Francisco Giants in the ninth round
of last June's Major League Draft.
They knew that his Wolverine plans
were set in stone, yet the sales pitch
began immediately.
"We thought that there might be
an outside chance that he would
change his mind," Giants Director
of Scouting Dave Nahabedian says.
"It was a gamble we took, because
we were well aware of the
circumstances.
"We felt he has athletic ability
and potential as a professional
baseball player. We felt that if we
had signed him and got him to play
only baseball, then we could use
him."
The Giants are afraid that pro
football could use him too. But they
maintin thaitnrn nnritc e not a