12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 14, 1995

Baywatch actress not welcomed by
everyone in last week's trip to Michigan

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Things that makes you go hmmmm...
When new Baywatch actress Gena
Lee Nolin came to town last week to do a
piece for the television show "Extra", not
everyone was happy to see - or look- at her.
Apparently several Michigan female
athletes watching her parade up and down the
Michigan Stadium sideline found her to be
quite offensive. They felt what Nolin was
wearing - no, not her Baywatch outfit -
was degrading to women and that she had no
business on the sideline.
The fact of the matter is that Nolin was a
vorking member of the press who was issued
icredential. On that pass it says, "NO
CHILDREN ALLOWED." Should it also say,
'NO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN ALLOWED?"
What is Sports Information Director Bruce
Madej supposed to do?
Deny credentials for
people that look too
good?
It may be possible to
f lobby the athletic
department to add
women's sports but it's
preposterous to think
ANTOINE you can legislate what
PITTS journalists should look
Pitts like on the sideline.
Stop Personally, I think
seeing some of these
potbellied journalists
working the sideline is degrading to men.
The athletic department recently named
Mark Rothstein to head the new women's
crew team. Rothstein previously coached the
club team at Michigan.
You mean there weren't hundreds of
candidates knocking down the door wanting
to become a crew coach at Michigan? Of
course not.
Because of the scarcity of people participat-
ing in crew around the country - look hard
you might just find a team somewhere - the
athletic department didn't have much to chose
from. Thus, they chose the club coach to be
the varsity coach.
When women's soccer was elevated two
years ago, they were able to conduct a

nationwide search and come up with a+
nationally-recognized exceptional coach in
Debbie Belkin.;
Let's be honest, folks. Considering the high
startup and operating costs, lack of partici-
pants and lack of opponents (unless you plan
on going to the East Coast every week),
there's only one reason why women's crew
went varsity. It gives women 60 spots, 20 of
which have scholarships, in the athletic
program. It means Michigan can say that it is
achieving a so-called gender equity in its
program by elevating inconsequential sports.
If that's the way sports are going to be
chosen at Michigan, look out for women's
football. With 100 potential spots and 85
scholarships it very well could be next.
In an effort to increase its fan base, the
men's club soccer team has moved its
practices and most games to Elbel Field at S.
Division and Hill Streets. The team will still
play a few games on the intramural mod sod
at Mitchell Field. They're hoping the move to
Elbel will give people closer to campus a
chance to see the team.
The women's varsity team has helped the
men's team in the past by donating old
equipment but don't count on anyone
allowing them to use the new soccer field
behind Schembechler Hall - that's for
women's soccer only.
Athletic director Joe Roberson will go on
a retreat later this month with AD's from
around the conference. Topic No. I will be
the agreement with the Rose Bowl - set to
expire in 2000.
Roberson believes there are some athletic
directors who may be willing to change the
current deal to work out some kind of national
championship contract. It is a moot point, though.
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and the
presidents of the Big Ten schools seem dead
set against anything that would lead to a
national playoff.
After looking at the current deal, I wouldn't
want to change it myself. The conference will
rake in at least a combined $14.1 million in
bowl payouts this year to be split between the
11 schools. Think about that.
Here's something else to ponder: Could

Gary Moeller's 1993 Rose Bowl win over
Washington be the Wolverines' last appear-
ance/victory in the game this decade?
Michigan has only four more chances in the
90's to get there.
New Michigan baseball coach Geoff
Zahn has begun leading the Wolverines
through fall drills.
It's been years since Zahn has spent an
entire winter in Ann Arbor. Look for him to
be on the next plane back to Pepperdine when
the mercury dips below 40 degrees. To tell
you the truth, I'll join him.
In the spirit of Cal Ripken, I have
attended 14 consecutive classes to begin the
year. That will unfortunately end tomorrow
morning when I fly to Boston for this
weekend's football game.
One of those classes, I have to admit, was
just a brief stay. However, I did go the
required four and half innings to get credit for
the appearance.
The Michigan football team plans on
staying in Boston after Saturday night's game.
With an 11:00 curfew at Logan International
Airport and the game ending no earlier than
9:30, it would be nearly impossible to get out
of town until Sunday.
The team plans to take a three hour
historical tour of the city that includes a
Boston Harbor cruise. A three hour tour, a
three hour tour.
I wonder if anyone from the Michigan
contingent will be taking a look at the improve-
ments to Boston College's Alumni Stadium. In
addition to a 12,000-seat expansion, 24 luxury
boxes have been added - 12 in each endzone.
The idea for boxes at Michigan Stadium was
heavily shot down by the athletic department
last year. They claimed it would take away from
the natural charm of the stadium and detract
from the University's tradition.
As far as tradition goes, I think they kind of
got away from it when they sold themselves
to Nike. As for the charm of the stadium, I
don't know what I would do if I didn't have
the spectacular view of the Crisler Arena roof
every Saturday.
- Antoine Pitts can be reached at
apitts@umich.edu.

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JOE WESTRATE/Da
Gena Lee Nolin, a new actress on Baywatch, worked last Saturday's Memphis-Michigan game as a
reporter for the television show "Extra. " The show Is doing a series on college football traditions
at four other schools around the nation. Nouln's appearance was applauded by many fans, but ther
were others who felt she had no business on the sideline at a Michigan football game.


guys n\Qver catch

Golfers
open year
in East
By Alan Goldenbach
Daily Sports Writer
Tee time forthe Michigan women'
golf team will be Saturday morning it
East Lansing, as the Wolverines wil
be among 18 teams participating it
the Spartan Invitational.
Joining Michigan in the toumamen
are Big Ten foes Illinois, Northwest
em, Wisconsin and the host Spartam
Other notable teams making the tril
to the Forest Akers West Golf Cours
are Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Cin
cinnati, Ferris State and Illinois State
The Wolverines are coming int
this season with a positive take on i
- and with good reason. They retur
their top two scorers from last yea
captain Shannon McDonald an
Wendy Westfall, and have lost onl
one player, Jenny Zimmerman, t
graduation.
Coach Kathy Teichert echoes thes
high hopes.
"I think our team is both anxiot
and excited to get the season under
way," Teichert said. "They know who
to expect and what is expected."
In addition, Michigan welcome
three freshmen to the squad, Sar
Lindholm, Katy Loy, and Sharon Parl
and Teichert insists that they aren
going to sit around for the ride. Si
expects them to contribute.
"We have a very competitive ro,
ter," Teichert said. "In addition t
Shannon and Wendy, there is a rez
battle for a spot on this first travi
team between some of our returnin
letterwinners and the freshmen.
"But whoever we take, we're goin
into this opening tournament expec
ing to be among the top three team
and challenge to win."
The Wolverines are concentratin
on improving their average score pt
tournament from last year. In 11 meet
Michigan averaged a score of 321.
strokes, a mark that Teichert woul
like to see drastically reduced.
"Our goal is to be 10 strokes bette
than last year," Teichert said. "W
have been a good five to seven stroke
better in qualifying play during Ot
practices and that's encouraging."

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