1985 February (Sports Focus) by Sports Spectrum

WE'VE GOT THE INSIDE STORY

WHAT IS THE KEY to Dan Quisenberry's success? Why is Julius Erving so respected by players and fans? What really motivates Walter Payton? SportsFocus magazine gives you the inside story on these and other top athletes. All for only $10.97 a year. To begin your subscription, send us the card inside this issue of SportsFocus. You'll get six issues packed with revealing personality fea-

tures, special reports on the issues from today's sports page and the best in sports photography. For the "what happened's," read the sports page. For the "why's," read SportsFocus.

SPECIAL ISSUE

FEBRUARY, 1985

CONTENTS

10 16 Alternate Routes

A Cut Above Julius Erving's popularity extends beyond Philadelphia.

10 The Power of Positive Sinking The Royals find relief in Dan Quisenberry's "down under" style. 14

I'm Okie, You're Okie Everybody loves Sooner basketball , thanks to Wayman Tisdale.

Willie Gault finds there's more to football than catching passes.

20 The Queen Reigns in Her Court

DEPARTMENTS 4

"Julius Erving's Sports Focus" Schedule 5 Trivia Pursuit

Cheryl Miller is the undisputed monarch of women's basketball.

The SportsFocus Quiz

Training Tips

The Times That Try Man's Soul

"How-to's" from Dan Quisenberry and Pete Maravich

Alberto Salazar keeps on runningnot complaining.

Maravich The basketball superstar is finally enjoying life.

30 The Winning Relationship True success centers on one very important relationship.

Cover photo by Andy Bernstein

The Doctor's Hours A publication of New Focus, Inc. PUBLISHER Ralph Drollinger

HERE IS THE PROGRAM schedule systems (ESPN, CBN) and through for the first season of "Julius Erving's syndication to local stations. Check your local listings for days and times. Sports Focus." The program will be broadcast both on nationwide cable

EDITOR John Carvalho ART DIRECTOR Steve Gier ASSIST ANT EDITOR Sara L. Anderson

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Chuck MacDonald, Ken Sidey

New Focus, Inc. EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT Andrew J. Gusich ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Bob Bowman

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bob Stephens (714) 886-0611 EDITORIAL OFFICES SportsFocus magazine 1932 North ESt. San Bernardino, CA 92405 (714) 886-0611 SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS SportsFocus subscriptions P.O. Box 50001 San Bernardino, CA 92412

SportsFocus is published bi-monthly and copyrighted ÂŠ1985 by New Focus, Inc., San Bernardino, California 92412. Business and editorial offices are located at 1932 North E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92405. Subscriptions $10.97 per ye11r (Canada $16.97 per year).

PHOTO CREDITS Cover, Andy Bernstein; p. 2, To m Mills; p. 3 (left), Scott C unningham; (middle), Tom Mills; (right). Philip DeJong; p. 6, Scott Cunningham; p. 7, Focus West; p. 8 (right), Focus West; (lower left), Rick Waltman; p. 9, John Biever/ Focus West; p. 11, Philip DeJong; pp. 12,13, Tom Mills; pp. 14,15, Focus West; pp. 16-19, Philip DeJong; pp. 20-22, Focus West; p. 23 (left), Tim Alexander; (right), Tom Mills; p. 24, Dave Stoc k/Focus West; p. 25, Jack Smith/ Focus West; p. 27, Tim Alexander; p. 30, Philip DeJong.

SPORTS FOCUS

PROGRAM Cover Story: #1 Walter Payton Subject File: Aerobics (Part 1) Now and Then: Carl Erskine Profile: Rosalynn Sumners PROGRAM Cover Story: Dan Quisenberry #2 Subject File: Aerobics (Part 2) Now and Then: Lenny Moore Profile: Rachel Mclish PROGRAM Cover Story: Rick Davis Subject File: #3 Beach Volleyball Now and Then: Pete Maravich Profile: John Denny PROGRAM Cover Story: Betsy King Subject File: Steroids #4 {Part 1) Now and Then: SaiBando Profile: Jim Zorn PROGRAM Cover Story: Gary Player #5 Subject File: Steroids (Part 2) Now and Then: Roger Staubach Profile: Wayman Tisdale

Now and Norm Evans Profile: Andre Thornton PROGRAM Cover Story: #7 Darrell Green Subject File: Sports Wives Now and Then: Stan Smith Profile: Alberto Salazar PROGRAM Cover Story: #8 Bobby Jones Subject File: Soccer Now and Then: Madeline Mims Profile: Willie Gault PROGRAM Cover Story: #9 Mike Gartner Subject File: Stress Now and Then: Bob Lilly Profile: Cheryl Miller PROGRAM Cover Story: #10 Pam & Paula McGee Subject File: "Disc Dogs" Now and Then: Raymond Berry Profile: Tim Hansel PROGRAM Cover Story: #11 Steve Largent Subject File: Heroes Now and Then: Jim Ryun Profile: Meadowlark Lemon PROGRAM Cover Story: #12 Tommy John Subject File: Rodeo Now and Then: Jon Kolb Profile: Terry Cummings

PROGRAM Cover Story: Alvin Davis #13 Subject File: Memories Now and Then: PROGRAM Cover Story: Gene Mayer Rosey Grier #6 Subject File: The Making Profile: Bob Birdsong of an NFL Quarterback SPORTSFOCUS

THE

SPORTsFocus Quiz

c. d.

TRIVIA puRSUIT 8

Roger Bannister Paavo Nurmi

In which sport would • you use a mashie?

a. Fencing b. Lacrosse

How many rounds • are there in an Olympic boxing ma tch?

(

\Vhat NFL place• kicker once 1 0 booted a 63-yard f ield

lltlfHE...

goal?

...

a. Tom Dempsey b. Lou Groza c. Don Chandler d. Pete Gogolak

•••

The New York 11 • Yankees hold the record for most World Ser-

WJIICif. ,::;,,er.z..

ies appearances, having played in the Series 32 times. \Vhich team is second with 17 appearances?

BY GARY KAUFFMAN Match each player • with his uniform number.

1. George Brett 2. Lyle Alzada 3. Wayne Gretzky 4. Larry Bird 5. j oe Theismann

a. 99 b. 7 c. 33 d . 77 e. 5

lVho is the only base-

• ball manager to lead his team in each league to 100 victories in a season? a. Sparky Anderson b. j oe McCarthy c. Yogi Berra d. Casey Stengel In NFL history only • three players have passed for more than 500 yards in one game. \Vho holds the one-game passing yardage t·ecord (554)?

a. b. c. d.

c. Golf d. Hockey

Norm Van Brocklin johnny Unitas j oe Namath Bobby Layne

The original Greek • Olympiad in 776 B.C. consisted of only one event. \Vhat was it ?

a. Marathon b. Wrestling c. Discus throw d. 200-yard run

Brooklyn/ Los Angeles Dodgers b. New York/ San Francisco Giants c. Boston Red Sox d. Philadelphia/ Kansas City/ Oakland A's

Last season Kareem • Abdul-jabbar sank a skyhook against the Utah Jazz to move him ahead of Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list. \Vhich basketball great is third on that list?

2. Philadelphia 76ers 3. Atlanta Hawks 4. Los Angeles Lakers 5. Houston Rockets a. b. c. d. e.

The Summit Oakland Coliseum Forum Spectrum Omni

How much time 15 • does a pro basketball team have to shoot the ball after taking possession?

\Vhat quarter• back once "guaranteed" a win in the Super Bowl? a. b. c. d.

Joe Namath Bart Starr Terry Bradshaw Joe Theismann

\Vhich one of the 17 • following home t·un kings never hit more than 50 in a season? a. b. c. d.

Jimmie Foxx Ralph Kiner Willie Mays Lou Gehrig

Name 18 • events triathlon.

three tn a

In 1930 Bill Terry \Vho holds the 12 • of the New York • dubious distinc19 Giants tallied 254 base hits tion offumbling the most

on his way to a .401 batting average. Since then the most hits anyone as collected is 239. \Vho did it?

a. Bill Russell b. J erry West c. Oscar Robertson d. George Mikan

a. George Brett b. Wade Boggs c. Rod Carew d. Willie Wilson

Since 1940 only one • baseball team has had four players with 100 or more runs batted in in one season. The year was 19 77. The team ?

\Vho was the only • heavyweight boxer to retire undefeated?

a. New York Yankees b. Boston Red Sox c. Los Angeles Dodgers d. Cincinnati Reds

a. Joe Louis b. Rocky Marciano c. Gene Tunney d. Jack Dempsey

Match these bas\Vho was the first man 14 • ketba/1 teams • to run the mile in 7 with the arena in which less than Jour minutes? they play.

a. Glenn Cunningham b. Jim Ryun

Golden State Warriors

SPORTSFOC US

times (105) in an NFL career? a. Johnny Unitas b. Franco Harris c. Tom Matte d. Roman Gabriel

\Vhat f our events 2 0 • make up tennis' "Gmnd Slam"?

ANSWERS

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ULIUS ERVING IS PROBABLY the most popular athlete in the world today, supplanting Muhammad Ali at the top of the list. But while Ali tried to make the publicity mountain come to Muhammad, Erving has not clung to the spotlight. Still, it has followed him throughout 14 years in pro basketball, drawn by a rare combination found in Erving-a flair for showmanship and a commitment to team play. Julius has never been labeled a "hot dog," just "hot." His talent and personality have earned him the love of fans in every league city, not to mention the respect of NBA officials. These days, Julius is a well-paid, successful athlete who does not have to worry about an adversary press or a hostile public. His enviable position can be partly attributed to Julius' acceptance of his role as a public figure. "He is aware of who he is," says Pat Williams, general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. "When you think about his tremendous

BY]OHNCARVALHO fame, you appreciate that he's never insulated himself from p eople." It's something inside that keeps Julius from being just an image-conscious athlete. The reality of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ dominates Julius' life.

That relationship represents the fulfillment of a lifelong search. It replaced an emptiness he once felt with a sense of peace. Erving established himself as one of the top players in pro basketball early in his career. By 1979, he had completed his third successful year in the NBA, building on the all-star reputation he had earned in the ABA. On the outside, it would seem, the only failure in Julius' life was the 76ers' inability to win an NBA championship. But on the inside, Julius was fighting. There were too many unanswered questions. Why had he been at center stage most of his life? \Vhy did he still feel empty? Why did so many so-called "solutions" seem unacceptable to him? As a child,Julius had benefitted from a spiritually-based upbringing. But, he admits now, he didn't understand what it meant to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. He equated the decision with church membership. But, in the summer of

CUT BO Dr. ],s operating procedures

have earned the respect of everyoneeven the 76ers, opponents.

FEATURE SPORTSFOCUS

JULIUS ERVING HAS RISEN TO THE TOP OF THE NBA, NOT ONLY IN PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO IN POPULARITY. SPORTSFOCUS 7

DFAR READER,

I hope you enjoyed watching 'Julius E1·ving's Sports Focus" and that this premiere issue ofSportsFocus magazine is similm·ly pleasing. Both are products ofNew Focus, Inc., a company which I am honored to serve as president. New Focus, Inc., is committed to creating media with a positive message. So much on television today deals with the negative, and there is not much in the way of strong role models. We want to provide an alternative to the negative progmmming, and we believe there's an audience for it. SportsFocus magaz ine, like the television show, looks at sports from a different viewpoint. The athletes featured in SportsFocus magazine share insights gained from their experience in sports. As their lives demonstmte, the Christian faith has a lot to offerpeople looking for help in coping with life today. We hope you enjoy SportsFocus magazine. For more information on how the Christian faith sets these athletes apart, I refer you to the m·ticle, "The Winning Relationship," on page 30. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us at SportsFocus magazine, P. 0. Box 50001, San Bernardino, C4 92412. Again, WI! thank you for your interest in 'Julius Erving's Sports Focus" and SportsFocus magazine, as demonstrated by yow· writing in fat· a free copy. We hope you will be part of our continued audience.

Ralph Drollinger, President New Focus, Inc.

P.S. Ifyou are interested in purchasing a subsoiption to SportsFocus, use the enclosed subsoiplion card. I would also encoumge you to consider gift subsaiptions, whether for friends or local high schools and juuior high schools. I'm confident it will be enjoyed and appreciated by you and the people you buy it J01'.

1979, "in a quiet zone, off the merry-goround," as he put it, Julius saw that he needed a deeper Christian commitment. Julius has always seen himself as the analytical type, one who needs to "set things in columns and rows." But this was a whole new area for him, one that required faith as well as intellect. "There was a lot of uncertainty in my life, and a change had to come," he says. "I decided to put my faith in j esus Christ- not 'Show me, and I'll believe it,' but 'I believe that it will be shown to me."'

SA WELL-KNOWN sports figu re, Julius knew that his Christian commitment would entail extra responsibilities. But he was willing to accept those obligations. "It was a re lief to find the answer," he says. "My commitment embarked me on a new mission. It was clearly the avenue to go on." Now, Julius says, he has a stronger commitment to be a positive role mode l for young people, with tangible results. "There has been so much evidence [of God's work in his life] the last couple of years," he says. "If I had been bombarded by demands in the mid-1970s, I might not have been able to handle it. Now, I'm not totally prepared, but I am better prepared. Christ helped put it all together." Williams has seen the change in Julius' life over the past five years. "Uulius] is more at peace with himself," Pat, a fellow believer in Christ, says. "He has more overall stability, and he's gained a greater ability to handle disappointment." Erving's image draws admiration rather than envy from opponents as we ll as friends. In fact, after the 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA championship finals, the Lakers admitted that there was some satisfaction in knowing Dr. ) had finally reached the goal that had eluded him for so long. There still have been struggles: a much-publicized altercation (i.e.,Jight ) with Larry Bird and the 76ers' failure to repeat as NBA champions. "I don't always win the battle," Julius admits, "but, overall, the war can be won. I dedicate myself to doing good. I fee l as though I've had a good track record. Christ is responsible for that." Even with a few lost battles, Erving's statistics put his money where his mouth isn't. Going into the 1984-85 season, he had scored 26,120 points in his caree r, a 25.3 average. Combining his ABA and NBA honors, he has tallied three MVP awards, nine all-league selections, 13 All-Star Game appearances and two AllSPORTSFOCUS 8

Star Game MVP awards. Erving also was named to the NBA's 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980, one of only two active players ( Kareem Abdul-) abbar was the other ) so honored. On the court, Julius is more than just entertainme nt. If Moses Malone is the Sixers' "hard hat," laboring productively at center, then Julius is the plant manage r, effic ie ntly imple menting head Coach Billy Cunningham's corporate plan. "He represents the ultimate in someone you're looking for as a leader for your team," Cunningham says. "He

Or. J's ability to seemingly hang In mid-air works well defensively, too.

will always give a great effort. It may not always be a great game, but Julius will always give a great effort. I think people appreciate that." The p eople of Philadelphia clo. the 76ers discovered that during the off· season, when news of a possible trade involving Erving leaked out. Tracie talks with the Los Angeles Clippers didn't get too far. Yes, the Clippers did tell the 76ers that Terry Cummings was available in a trade for Erving. True, Philadelphia owner Harold Katz did ask Julius if he would consider such a trade. But when Julius vetoed the deal, that e nded that. Lucky for the 76ers brass. When the L.A. media blasted the news to the public , the Philly fans were mortified. Trading Dr. ) would have been an offense equal to razing Independence Hall to make way for a Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlor. "I don't think the people would have stood for it," Williams says. "There was tremendous outpouring of support. Julius is viewed as a cut above the rest." Julius didn't really believe that he -

'W.enyou

think about his tremendous fame, you appreciate that he's never insulated himself from people'

make a difference in their lives. Julius serves as host for the show. "The show is something exciting and different," he says. "Athletes can show by example. It makes tremendous inroads in making people more open to the gospel." (For more information on "Julius Erving's Sports Focus," see the letter from New Focus President Ralph Drollinger on page 8 and the program schedule on page 4.)

role model, leader and entertainer talk aside - was above being traded. "It simply reinforced what I knew all along: Basketball is a game and a business," he says. "111e beauty is playing, t(1e camaraderie, relationships with other players, the ability to appreciate an opposing player's efforts. The trading of human beings is the business part of it, one of the parts I don't like having to deal with."

HE TRADE highlighted another reality about Julius: He is 35, a 14 -year veteran and in the final year of his contract. NBA basketball is not Camelot for Julius. He realizes that there will be life after basketball ( although he is vague about when he will retire), life that he must prepare for. He's ready. Ray Wilson, Julius' high school basketball coach, is now his business manager. Juggling endorsement and business offers is no easy job. "We have our hands full trying to determine the best proposal," Ray says. "The number would be quite difficult to determine. Sometimes we get bogged down with so many proposals, trying to get to something more in line with the direction Julius \vants to go in." Julius' main business ventures involve Spalding, Converse and Coca-Cola. His involvement with Coca-Cola, besides commerc ial appearances, includes part ownership in a bottling company, the largest minority ownership position in the soft drink industry. One of)ulius' newer ve ntures involves "Julius Erving's Sports Focus" television show. The program features well-known college and pro athletes relating how their personal relationships with Christ

but not as good as my wife," he says. "I'm nice to people, and they can take advantage of me. I'm always looking for someone's good side, until they prove they're a knucklehead. By then, of course, you hope you're not out on the street. But she's my protector." This discernment in personal relationships is but one facet of Julius' people-oriented style. As a young player in the ABA, he was a willing participant in charitable causes. His younger brother, Marvin, had died of lupus erythematosus, an incurable disease, when Julius was 19. "After I got out of college, I blossomed as a player overnight. There was so much de mand from a public relations standpoint, I found it very difficult to say 'no,'" he says. No problem, though, because Julius was a wi lling par· ticipant in charitable causes. "I learned to enjoy this part of public exposure." One of Julius' pet people·oriented projects is the "Reach" program, eightweek summer day camps which stress academic as well as athletic excellence. "Rather than concentrate on athletics, the 'Reach' program exposes young people to other areas, such as computers, fine arts, television and film-making," Wilson says. "That's really important to Julius. It puts kids in a much better position to make a career decision when the time comes." Programs like the "Reach" camps demonstrate Julius' unique attitude toward his position in center stage. It's not something to be exploited for financial gain, or to be feared. Instead, the spotlight is something that Julius may have gained from his immense athletic ability, but he is also determined to earn.

•

LISTS Juuus ERVING'S hard-driving style scored high In both the ABA and NBA and placed him on the combined league list of all-time scorIng average leaders. One key to Julius' success in business is his ability to read people with the same discernment he uses in reading game situations. "He has a great feel for people," Wilson says. "With this ability, he's able to filter through the way-out ideas. He's good at reading people and assessi ng them in terms of their commitment to him." Julius gives a lot of the c redit for that to his wife, Turquoise. " 1 can see a lot, SPORTSFOCUS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 6. 9. 10.

Wilt Chamberlain Elgin Baylor Jerry West Kareem Abdui-Jabbar Bob Pettit George Gervln Adrian Cantley Oscar Robertson JULIUS ERVING Rick Barry

30.1 27.4 27.0 26.9 26.4 26.2 26.0 25.7 25.3 24.6

R OF E G

Dan Quisenberry's pitches from down under leave batters wondering which way is up.

BY CHUcK MAcDoNALD T'S THE FIFTH INNING AT Royals Stadium. In the bullpen, Dan Quisenberry, the American League's premier relief pitcher, has been cracking jokes, planning pranks and maybe working a crossword puzzle. He's even wandered under the stands to consult with groundskeeper George Toma on the best way to strike out the crab grass in Quiz's front yard. Dan admits to not thinking about the game away from the ballpark, and not much about it at all during the first five innings either. But now he's getting restless. He rises from a padded chair, stretches his legs and swings his shoulders from side to side. His

Photos by Tom Mills and Philip De ]ong

SPORTSFOCUS

H1s ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE PUT DAN IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF. SPORTSFOCUS ll

jaws work rhythmically, not on Red Man, li ke many of his teammates, but on jokes. He's polishing his one-liners. Although there might be a rare dissenter in a claim for Quisenberry as the American League's best reliever, there are none when you ask who the league's funniest interview is. Consider these comments: "I don't like to make a big deal about my job," he told one reporter. "I'm just a garbage man. I come into a game and clean up other people's messes." On another occasion, he observed: "The best thing about baseball is there's no homework." In a more philosophical moment, Quisenberry said, "I've seen the future, and it's much like the present, only longer." And, on accepting the RolaidsAward for the top relief pitcher in the American League (he's won four in five years) the Quiz departed from the customary kudos to Grandma and the Little League coach: "I'd like to thank the members of the Kan· sas City Royals for all the great plays they made behind me, and the starting pitchers, who couldn't go nine innjngs, and [Royals manager] Dick Howser, who wouldn't let them." By the sixth or seventh inning, Quiz is lazily throwing his warm-up tosses. Finally the bullpen phone rings. Jim Schaffer, the bullpen coach picks up the phone. (On one occasion with two pitchers warming up, Howser asked, "Which one looks better?" "I don't know," Schaffer replied. "They both look pretty ugly.") This time, there's no question: Howser wants Quisenberry. Usually Quiz comes in only to pro tect a Royals lead , which he has done with computer-like efficiency. In 19R4, his six wins coupled with 44 saves to figure in 60% of his team's 84 wins. This game is still in the balance, as is the Royals' season. Kansas City is in the final week of the pennant race. The Royals have won the first two games of their final series with the California Angels. One more win and the Angels are virtually eliminated. The Royals have just tied the score, 5·5, and they're counting on Q uisenberry to hold the Angels off long enough for KC to score. Quiz strolls to the mound in the ninth inning with the nonchalance of a commuter walking the final block to his bus stop w ith 30 minutes to spare. Planting his foot o n the pitching rubber, Quisen· berry takes a stride toward the plate, then delivers the ball in one·ofthe most unusual manners in the major leagues. Instead of bringing his hand over his head and rifling a 90-mile-per-hour bullet, Qui· senberry crouches, slings his arm downward and then with a snapping hand motion reminiscent of administering a spanking, delivers the ball to the plate. Instead of rocketing toward home, the ball arcs lazily toward the strike zone, looking as easy to smash as a basketball. How can a batter miss? Unfortunately for him, if he's fortunate enough to get a hit, the ball acts about like a basketball. Usually it bounds along the green carpet toward an eager infielder who transforms the threat into a double play. That's what happened in Quisenbert)''S first major league appearance in 1979, and he's

been doing it ever since. The next year, the 1980 Royals pennant-winning season, Quisenberry came from nowhere to figure prominently, saving 33 games and posting a 12· 7 record. The Quiz's star continued to rise even as his devastating sinkerball continued to plumet. He was among the league leaders in saves the next two years and then posted a league record of 45, breaking john Hiller's record of 38, which had stood since 1973.

'Jm garbage man. just a

I come into a

game and clean up other people's messes'

'J don't think God cares whether we win or lose baseball games' SPORTSFOCUS 12

OT ONE TO REST ON HIS LAURELS, Quisenberry comes into this Angels game having already posted 4 3 saves. That made him the most prolific relief pitcher in the major leagues from 1980-84, over Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter and Rich Gossage. After retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the 1Oth, Quiz gets into trouble. Fred Lynn and Juan Beniquez bounce singles off the Kansas City artificial turf, and Reggie jackson and Doug DeCinces are clue up. There could be a home run in the Angels' immediate future. Pressure for the reliever? With the pennant on the line, Quiz looks as uptight as if he's about to d ecid e which station to tune in for the 10 o'clock news. But then, pres· sure is something that relief pitchers always have had to deal with, each in his own way. "I tl1' not to be an emotional player," Dan says. "I don't like to get real excited or real mad. I like to play relaxed. And I think I concentrate better." He hasn't always been so composed. In college he once tried to swallow a shower head after giving up a game-winning home run. "I became more serene ," Dan recalls. "I became a Christian and married janie. The combination of Christianity and Janie made me think about responsibility for my actions." His faith has also helped him to keep afloat and cool in the cauldron of emotions that is a big league ballpark. "Every week it seems that baseball gets too important to me," Dan says. "I start want· ing to be too successful. I want to be the best relief pitcher. I want to win the pennant. I want to beat every hitter that I face. That can make it very pressure-filled to meet all of those goals and expectations. My faith tells me that baseball is not that important. It doesn't help the hungry or the oppressed and it doesn't change any corporate evils or social evils." Quisenberry feels he has a responsibility to combat social problems. He does that one way by giving time and money to The Harvesters, an organization th at distributes mo ney and food to the poo r in the Kansas City area. That's where Dan believes Christian love shou ld find its outlet: in giving. "I think that too much of 'spirituality' is selfishness. We concentrate so much o n 'How do I feel?' 'Do !feel close to God?' he says." "I don't think it's important how we feel. When you're oppressed and downtrodden, you need somebody to love you. If you go out and actively start loving o ther people and trying to help change things, you forget

all about yourself. If we are going to be servants, like the New Testame nt te lls us we ought to be, I don't think w e should be thinking so much about ourselves." Quisenberry's selfless attitude puts things in well-ordered perspective, including baseball. "I don't think God cares whether we win or lose baseball games," he says frankly. "Some Christians would disagree with me, and that's fine if they think that. But I know that if I ever do feel close to God on a baseball fi eld, it's when I've given up a game-winning home run or everybody's booing me. Most of the time it's when something terrible has happened." Baseball might not be the most important thing in his life, but the competitive fires still burn inside

the 6-foot-2, 180-pound fireman. "Now everybody expects me to save games, and I expect me to save games. I expect to be perfect every night. And I'm disappointed if I'm not," he says. "I hate letting clown the manager and the starting p itcher and the press and the fans. We all expect everything to go well every time out. And it's like I can't be human. I know that all I should expect is that I give the best that I have that day and accept the results. But it's not that easy."

'J hate letting down the manager and the starting pitcher and the press and the fans'

Five-and-a-half years and 360 games later, batters still can't ace the Quiz's 'down under' pitches.

fly ball which Royals right fielder Darryl Motley flags clown at full speed. It is the longest stint of the season for Quisenberry- four innings - and his four strikeouts were a career high. ''Vou could've stuck a fork in me," Dan said later. "I was done." The Royals' Steve Balboni makes the Quiz a w inner with a long single in the bottom of the 12th, scoring Dane Iorg from second for a 6-5 win. The game virtually eliminates the Angels from the pennant race. For Quisenberry, it was another typical performance. He had squi rmed Houdini-like out of two difficult situations, managing to look unspectacular all the time. He kept his earned run ave rage and sense of humor intact. When reporters asked if the

Royals could put the Angels completely out of their misery the next day, Quiz replied, "Don't ask me. Ask}eanne Dixon. Or better yet, go to God." â&#x20AC;˘

CHUCK MACDONALD is an editor with Worldwide Challenge magazine. A native of Kansas City area, Chuck enjoyedfinishing off this assignment while the Royals were f inishing off the Am erican League West.

LISTS

N THIS SEPTEMBER NIGHT he's giving his best against the Angels. In typical Quiz style, he induces Reggie Jackson to ground into a force p lay and str ikes out Doug DeCinces on three mean-breaking "basketballs." In the 12th Quisenberry uncharacteristically walks the lead-off hitter, Gary Pettis ( He only walks an average of one batter every seven innings; walks just don't fit into his strategy.). "I really like to throw strikes," he says. "I don't waste many pitches, and I usually don't set guys up. If I'm going to be bad, I want to be bad in a hu rry. Wh atever happens, I want it to be done and over w ith in a hurry." After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to Fred Lynn, Quisenberry strikes out Juan Beniquez on a slider to bring up Jackson, "Mr. October," again. Unfortunately for the Angels, it's a couple of days short of the magic month. Jackson, w ith a chance to knock in the winning run, drives a long

DAN QUISENBERRY'S "down under'' pitches have been bringing him up on the lifetime saves list. This year he moved to fourth on the roster after only 5112 seasons, passing McGraw, Garber and Tekulve. Saves Rollle Fingers (Milwaukee) Bruce Sutter (St. Louis) Rich Gossage (San Diego) DAN QUISENBERRY (Kansas City) Tug McGraw (Philadelphia) Gene Garber (Atlanta) Kent Tekulve (Pittsburgh) Gary Lavelle (San Francisco) Terry Forster (Atlanta) Bill Campbell (Philadelphia) SPORTSFOCUS

324 260 231 180 179 169

158 127 121 119

INTHEOLDDAYS,BEFORE 1982, THE name "Sooner" was primarily associated with Barry Switzer's gridiron greats. Basketball was an irrelevant distraction, a nice place to talk about football recruiting. But move over, middle line· backers, take a hike, tackles. Basketball now suits Oklahoma fans to aT, a capital T, and that stands for Tisdale. Wayman Tisdale is the man who made the oilmen and cattle barons discover that there's more to sports than football, football and, of course, football. In his first year at Oklahoma University, the 6 foot 9, 250-pound center-forward averaged 24.5 points per game. The next year his average shot up to 27.0, and he Jed the Sooners to a BigEightchampionship and to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. Incidentally, Tisdale also racked up 61 points in one game, breaking the con· ference single-game scoring record of 52 points set by a kid named Wilt Cham· berlain at Kansas 27 years previously. As a result, Wayman became the first player in history to be named first-team All-America as a freshman and a sopho· more (the first freshman consensus All· America). He also earned a spot on the 1984 Olympic team that brought the United States a gold medal. Not bad for two years' work. For OU fans, Tisdale is the captain of the court, the lord of the long shot, the rajah of the rebound. Sportswriters have coupled his name with superlatives that would snap most athletes' sweatbands. But " (Wayman] hasn't let it go to his head," says Oklahoma assistant basket· ball coach Mike Mims, who also coached Wayman at Washington High School in Tulsa. "I don't think William would let it." William, a Sooner reserve guard, is Wayman's elder brother, roommate, confidant, partner in the ridiculous and key(alongwith the rest of the family) to Wayman's humility. The close-knit Tis· dales of Tulsa operate on the principle that long-term character is more crucial than short-term gratification. Confidence is cool; pride is the pits. "He's been taught since he was a baby that God is the source of everything," says the Rev. Louis Tisdale, pastor of Frie ndship Baptist Church. And Wayman has taken that teaching to heart. "He recognizes that his talent is God· given, and he's always thanking the Lord for that," Mims says. Of course, that's not the only advice he's gotten at home. When 150 schools tried to recruit him, the Rev. T. inter·

Everybodys an Oklahorna basketball fan now that Wayman Tisdales a Sooner star.

0K J10U1m E, OKIE

SARA L. ANDERSON viewed the recruiters first. And when young Tisdale considered entering the NBA draft in the spring of 1984, Dad again weighed the pros and cons with his son. In the end, the decision rested on Wayman's shoulders-he stuffed the NBA for at least one more year of studies and a Sooner jersey. An education and de· veloping his rebounding (not to men· tion other areas of on-court prowess) took precedent over the immediate pro· fits of pro ball.

UT LEST THE SUCCESS AND stardom seep too deeply into Wayman's psyche, Mother T. warns him, "The media can build you up, and the media can tear you down. Don't ever get big-headed." Rev. T. re· minds his youngest, "Always put the Lord in front, and remember who car· ried you as far as you've gone and who will take you further. That's always the Lord." \Vayman, who made his commitment to Christ as a youth, accepted that bit of fatherly advice by putting God first in his life. He's seen positive results. "I haven't had a bad attitude toward any of the coaches I've had [apparently not even Olympic coach Bobby Knight, college baske tball's answer to Gen. George Patton] . That's come from God," Wayman says. So has his ability to "keep my personality." When he comes home to Tulsa for the weekend, he's the same old Wayman. "He has a great personality," William remarks. "Not one of those stuck-up atti· tudes. Anyone can come and talk to him,

SPO RTSFOCUS

and you can say just about anyth ing you want." When Wayman wants to do the talking, it's usually William who lends the listening ear. "He's been a big brother all alo ng," the youngest Tisdale says. "\Vh en we were small, I just tried to follow in his footsteps." William had decided to play basketball afte r eldest brother Weldon played for the ir Tulsa high school. Wayman came dribbling along after William, even thoug h he drew more splinte rs than free throws in junior high. But nature and \Vayman's competitiveness took over. "He started pressing more, he started growing," Rev. T. says. "He got faster, taller, q uicker." He and William played together successfully in high school. Now little brother starts the games and big brother rides the bench ( knee surgery set him back), but their relatio nship hasn't changed. "William is the best thing that could have happened to Wayman," their father says. " He builds Wayman up when he's clown. Wayman always gets advice from William. Willi am h as n ever shown jealousy." "\Vhen we get down, we have each o ther to tell o ur problems to," \'\' ayman says. When they're up, which is most oft he time, they brighten friends' days with miscellaneous clownings and impersonations ( Wayman sheepishly admits to perfecting a Bobby Knight imitation, but refuses to do it before a camera.). The brothers' mutual support, esp ecially the spiritual di mensio n of it, can be traced back to Rev. and Mrs. Tisdale. "Our parents didn't fo rce us into anything. They made (Christianity] something we learned to like," William says. "We took church real seriously. Since then, we've just grown stronger in the Lord. We're able to talk to Him. He can help basketball and studies in school go a little mo re easy." Wayman says God has helped him relax on the basketball court because he believes the Lo rd is concerned about his well-being. That dissipates pressure and tensio n. Wayman's relaxed atti tude and ability to savor life explode in the basketball ar ena. "He's a crowd p leaser," Mims says. "He e njoys the game; he loves to il1."

\ \1

Unfo rtunately for the opposition, that also keeps him from appearing dangero us. Sooner coach Billy Tubbs was o nce

'He's unselfish, a hard worker, and he keeps basketball in the proper perspectiveit's not his whole life'

quoted as saying, "Wayman m akes the game look so easy, people think he's taki ng it easy. " But appearances can be deceivi ng.

"He's the most devastati ng player I've seen in a lo ng time," Illinois coach Lo u Henson remarked after o ne game. "He's impossible to stop. When he gets the ball, he's going to score." In daily practice, Tisdale's intensity is more obvious. "He's the most serious in practice," Mims says. "He lets out his emotio ns in the game- it's a re lease of a week of hard work." The hard work shows in his stats and in close observatio n of his play. "He's powerful aro und the basket and o ne of the most accurate turn-around jump shooters in Division 1," Mims says. "He's unselfish, a hard worker, and he keeps basketball in the proper perspectiveit's no t his whole life." That's an outlook that would make Rev. and Mrs. Tisdale proud. And since Wayman believes life will go on even after the NBA, he and his family have already considered that, one day, he'll have to get a job to p ay for those trips ho me to Tulsa when he retires. Rev. T. and William agree Wayman would be the perfect businessman. "He's a fun person to work with, and he learns real fast," Will iam says. And with a winning, easy-to-talk-to personali ty, Wayman could p robably sell hockey pucks to Hawaiians. What does Wayman say about his futu re? "I'm going to be a professional busi nessman. I want to be like Dr.J !" he says, laughing. In that case, maybe he'll feel free to make TV appearances- doing that Bobby Knight impersonation. â&#x20AC;˘

LISTS T HE 1984 U .S. Olympic men's basketball team, packed with superstars like Wayman Tisdale, Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, has been called one of Am erica's finest teams. Nobody got to see the 1980 squad play In Moscow, but Imagine a contest between the Soviets and this Olympic team, all first- round NBA draft choices. Player College Drafted By Mark Aguirre . . . . ..... ... .. ... DePaul . ...... . . . . . . Dallas Mavericks Rolando Blackman . . .. ... ... . Kansas State .. . . . . . . Dallas Mavericks Sam Bowie . . ... . . . .. ... .. ... Kentucky .. . ... . .. . . Portland Trail Blazers Michael Brooks . .... . . . .. ... . LaSalle . .. . .. . .. .. . . San Diego Clippers Bill Hanzlik . . . . .... . .. . . . .. .. Notre Dame . .. ... . . . Seattle SuperSonics Alton Lister . . . .... . ... . .. . . . . Arizona State . ... . .. . Milwaukee Bucks Rodney McCray . .. . . ... . . . . . . Louisville . . . . . .. . . .. . Houston Rockets lslah Thomas . . . .. ....... . . . . Indiana ...... . ... . . . Detroit Pistons Darnell Valentine . ... . . ... . . . . Kansas . . .. .. . .. . .. . Portland Trail Blazers Danny Vranes . . .. . . . . . ... . .. . Utah . . ... . . . . . .. . . . . Seattle SuperSonics Buck Williams . . . . .... . . .. . . .. Maryland . . . .. . ... . . . New Jersey Nets AI Wood . . . . .... . . . . . . .. .. .. . North Carolina . .. . .. . Atlanta Hawks SPORTSFOCUS

BY ]OHN CARVALHO

ALTERNATE

ROUTES

With the Bears focusing on their running game, receiver Willie Gault is finding other ways to help the team.

Photos by Philip Dejong SPORTSFOCUS

N CASE YOU NFL DEFENSIVE BACKS were wondering, you should send your hate mail to the International Amateur Athletic Federation and The Athletic Congress. They're the ones who have made life miserable for you by stripping Willie Gault of his amateur standing in track and forcing him to play football. Not that Willie minds. Sure, he'd love to run track as an amateur again, and he'd still be quite competitive-witness a recent 6.13 clocking in the 60-yard dash. But if the IAAF and TAC want to flex their federational muscles, fine. Willie is content to turn each Chicago Bears game into a track meet, with events like the dow n-and-out dash, and the post-pattern sprint. Over the past two seasons, cornerbacks and safeties have gotten mighty tired of chasing number 83 to the six-point finish line. It would have been interesting to have seen Willie's speed unleased in a U.S. O lympic uniform last year. Unfortunately for Willie, however, this is a confusing and hypocritical era in amateur sports. The IAAF, TAC and International Olympic Committee have compiled such a mish-mash of policies that the line between amateur and pro is as big a blur as Willie's feet. For example, lawyers in Gault's legal attempt to w in back his amateur status in track alleged that no t being an "amateur" was costing Willie hundreds of tho usands of dollars in appearance fees at meets. But W illie doesn't miss the mo ney; the Bears have seen to that. Instead, he says he misses the track scene mainly because of the Christian ministl)' he was able to develop. "Track was basically where I had my ministl)'," he says. Willie is chairman of the steering committee of athletes for a ministry called Lay Witnesses for Christ. "Sam (Mings, LWC founder and director] wou ld always come to most of the track meets," Willie says. "We would always have get-togethers- Bible studies and meetings. I miss that. I don't think I developed my full ability o ut of that. It was unfortunate that the system wouldn't let me do it." Based on \'<' illie's past track record, the honors were there fo r the taking. He helped set a world record in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 1983 World Champio nships in Helsinki and won a bronze medal there in the 110 meter-hurdles. Earlier that year, he became the first athlete ever to win bo th the 6 0-yard dash and the 60-yard high hurdles at the NCAA indoor meet. ("It's the first time anybody's been dumb enough to tl)'," he explained at the time.) The Bears' first-round pick of Gault in the draft, falling right in the middle of his successfu l 1983 track season, complicated an already difficult decision. Thus, w hile it seemed like Willie was playing contractual hide-and-seek late in the negotiations, it was more a case ofWillic having a tough time deciding which gold to go for.

LTIMATEL Y, famil y co n s id erations convinced W illi e t o accep t the Bears' four-year, S1.3 million offer. "1 have to think about my fami ly," he said after sign-

}

LAST SEASON GAULT DECIDED TO DASH PAST SECONDARIES RATHER THAN SPRINTERS. SPORTSFOCUS 17

, ing. "After to uring Europe for three or four weeks, my wife (Dainnese] said she really didn't care for that lifestyle. And I didn't want to put her through anything she didn't want to do." As Willie flew to Chicago from Helsinki to announce his decision, he fo und a heavenly source of confirmatio n. "Just before I arrived at O'Hare," he recalled, "I looked out the window of the plane and saw a rainbow. I thought that was God's way of telling me I was making the right decision." Willie hit training camp to rave reviews. "Beautiful!" was Walter Payton's response, tho ugh he noted that the press conference announcing Gault's signing was "bigger than I had." Bears head Coach Mike Ditka said, "Now I have no excuse for not winning." Qui ckly, Willie picked up two nicknames: "X- Ray," because of his "click-click" speed, and "Medicine Man," because wide receivers who had been complaining about training-camp aches and pains sudden ly got better. Defenders who hoped Gault's late preseason signing would give them a reprieve soon found out otherwise. Willie, more than a sprinter with shoulder pads, caught on as fast as he caught. Four weeks into his rookie season, he was leading NFL receivers in touchdowns and yards per catch. "Then, all of a sudden, my supply line got cut," he says. In the last II games of 1983, Willie caught only two more touchdown passes. From the coaches' standpoint, it was a valuable lesson for Willie. "We just explained to Willie that the team comes first," Ditka says. "We try to use each individual as a member of the team." Although Ditka definitely sees Willie as a future James Lofton in statistics, his young receiver is still learn ing. Willie never participated in spring football practice at the University ofTennessee because of track and has missed part of his first two NFL preseasons. "We will throw the ball to him more," Ditka says. "Right now, thoug h, we're trying to spread it aro und. It's hard to see anybody being the main receiver o n our team right now. All of o ur receivers have about the same number of catches." For all his eagerness to help the team by personally escorting the ball to th e end zone, Willie was counseled to accept his coach's direction. "Vince Evans [former Bears q uarterback] and I talked abo ut it," Willie says. "He told me to keep my head up and not get disappointed so much, to just be ready when the time comes, because, in the end, it's going to pay off." However, hungry Chicago sports media sensed a brewing controversy and eagerly fueled the fire. Suddenly, q uarterback Jim McMahon was being quoted as complaining about Wi llie's pass routes, training路camp absences and lack of g usto in breaking up inte rceptio ns. Willie began to realize that Bears' coach Mike Oitka the adjustments to pro football weren't strictly sees Willie as a financial. "I do n't mind talking about the situation r eceiver in training. fconcerning McMahon)," he says. "That was mostly media hype. Jim and I have always gotten along. We had to sit clown and resolve this thing because

Not being an amateur

was costing Willie

hundreds of thousands of dollars

SPORTSI'OCUS 18

it wasn't going to help anyone. I told Jim, 'We're friends, and I don't have anything against you. I love you as a brother.' We went from there, and since then, it's been great." The complexion of the Bears' 1984 offense also changed as r unning back Walter Payton closed in o n Jim Brown's career rushing mark. As he ap proached the record, Walter's over-through-andaround style was stoked with fresh enthusiasm. His game-breaking ability led Chicago to emphasize run over pass w ith effectiveness rarely found in the NFL today. Willie's blinding speed indirectly contributed to Walter's success-opp osing defensive backs couldn't cheat and play too close to the line. But Willie preferred accomplishments that could be measured in more specific terms, like yards, catches and touchdowns. "I'm not where I want to be as far as catches go," he said midway through the 1984 season. "I want to be able to help this team win. I want to get the most o ut of my abilities and co11tribute a lot more. I'm satisfied, but I'm not really satisfied." Not that opp osing cornerbacks take the day off when they cover Willie. He may not catch as many passes as a Lofton, but his per-catch average is mo re super than a Duper. The prospect of Willie flyi ng clown the sidelines, ball in hand and opponents I 0 yards behind, keeps defenders hopping. Willie doesn't help them, either. He's found that, by going full-speed o n every play, he's an even worse distraction.

IS COMM ITM ENT t o C hris t re ceives about the same respect. "He's an excellent example for young people to follow," says Ditka, who is also involved in the Lay Witnesses ministry. (In an interesting turnabout, Ditka, as a member of the steering committee for LWC, reports to Willie.) In fact, Ditka gave his

personal OK for Willie to miss a few days of training camp to be involved in LWC-related ministries du ring the Olympics. Willie's desire to express his commitment to Christ has even cost him money. After winning an exhibition 60-yard dash for NFL sprinters, Willie forfeited the 55,000 first prize when he wore a Lay Witnesses for Christ T-shirt instead of a warmup suit with the sponsor's name on it. Mings contributed to Willie's initial commitmen t to Christ. Willie first heard Sam speak at a University of Tennessee Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting. Willie, like many other young people from a chu rch background, knew a lot aboutJesus, but didn't know what it meant to have a personal relationship with Him.

'Willie has

talent that's scary. Not only is he fast, but he woks fast'

LISTS MucH IS MADE of Willie Gault's speed, but a fleet-footed receiver Is of little use If he's fumble-fingered. The football sticks to Willie like bubble-gum to a theater seat. As a rookie, he placed fourth on the average yards gained per catch list (minimum 20 catches} In 1983.

...

CatchH Yards Average

1. James Lofton (Green Bay) 2. Fred Solomon (San Francisco) 3. Bobby Duckworth (San Diego) 4. WILLIE GAULT (Chicago) 5. Curtis Dickey (Indianapolis) 6. Mark Duper (Miami) 7. Steve Watson (Denver) 8. Willis Adams (Cleveland) 9. Leonard Thompson (Detroit) 10. Cliff Branch (Raiders)

58 1300 22.4 31

662

21.4

422

21.1

836 20.9

483

nesses include 100-meter dash world recordholder Calvin Smith ("I can call Calvin at any time and share my problems or joys.") and Lewis ( "I can't talk to Carl, because he's always gone, but I talk to his recorder."). Between football, track and ministry involvement, Willie has racked up a fair number of acquaintances, so much so that he and Oainnese's June 1983 wedding drew I ,200 guests (easily the social event of the season in a town li ke Griffin, Ga., their hometown). Fellow sprinters Lewis, Stanley Floyd, Mel Lattany and Harvey Glance were among the ushers. Fellow hurdler-turned-NFL receiver Renaldo Nehemiah was one of three best men in the wedding. Still, Willie draws raves more fo r his sp eed than for his friend liness. Linebacker AI Harris and cornerback Leslie Frazier, teammates as well as fellow Christians, get to cover Willie during practice. Frazer says Gault is the fastest receiver in the league. Harris adds, "Willie has talent that's scary. Not only is he fast, but he looks fast. We're defensive p layers. We know how it is when a guy flies past you." Harris and Frazier also earned a spot on opposing defensive backs' rot list. They were the ones who suggested to Willie that he increase his effectiveness by going all out on every play, not just those in which he was the primary receiver. Of course, Harris and Frazier have had to pay the penalty for their advice too. At one practice, when defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan hollered at Harris to cover Gault more closely, Harris echoed the feelings of everyone else in the NFL when he yelled back, "Get me a car!" â&#x20AC;˘

20.1

51 1003 19.7 59 1133 19.2 20 374 18.7 41

752 18.3

696 17.8

"Sam said, 'If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?' I had doubts," Willie recalls. "He said, 'Have you given your life to the Lord? Do you know for sure that you are a Christian, without any doubt?' I didn't know. So at the time, in February of 1980, I made my decision to give my life over to the Lord." Now, Willie's personal relationship w ith Christ radiates through his life as naturally as his speed. "If I hadn't become a Christian," he says, "I probably wouldn't care as much about people as I do now. I love people, because I know they are my brothers and sisters, regardless ofwhat they have or haven't done. If God gave me a second chance, I can give anyone a second or third chance." Willie is part of a nucleus of committed Christian athletes involved w ith LWC. Fellow Lay WitSPORTSFOCUS

uses Cheryl Miller draws undisputed homage as the monarch of womens basketball.

UEE REIGNS IN HER

COURT

HERYLMILLERUSEDTOHIDE in the bushes alongside the neighbo rhood playground while her brother Reggie challenged two unsuspecting guys to a baske tball game. "Against me and my sister," he'd say. The "marks" would look at each other and smile. The Mille rs would hand the m a 5-0 lead. Then they'd pour in 11 straight points to win. Of course, that trick didn't work after awhile. Word got around about that Miller girl. It spread from the Riverside, Calif., playground courts across the whole state when Cheryl led her high school team to four state titles. During her senior year, she ave raged 3 7 points per game, scored 105 in one game and was named a Parade magazine All-America for the fourth consecutive year of her high school career (the only athlete, male or female, to gain such recognition ). But perhaps what attracted even more attention were two simple, little shots out of the thousands she ta llied. Two simple, little one-handed dun ks. Business as usual in the NBA, but as far as anyone knows, Cheryl is the only woman to stuff the ball in competition.

BYKENSIDEY When Cheryl chose USC ove r the 250 other schools that recruited her, she took her show on the national road. She led the Trojans to NCAA championships in 1983 and 1984 and was named MVP in both tournaments. SPO RTSFO CUS

Last August, with her talent commanding even more of an audience, Cheryl and her Olympi c t eammates were beamed live via satellite around the world. The U.S. basketball team was nothing less than awesome and, when the games were finished, golden. So now there's no way to hide Cheryl Miller. Only a couple of guys living in a cave on a desert island could be suckered into playing two-on-two with a gal named Miller ( although even they probably have cable 1V, too). TI1e spotlight is on Cheryl. Not that she doesn't enjoy it, but she does try to duck some of the attention. In sunglasses, t-shirt and sweat pants, she almost blends into the student crowd at USC, where she is studying broadcasting. Almost. She's got an aura, an air, an infectous joy in living. It spills into any room she enters, visible in an effervescent, ever-present smile that bean1s "fun," audible in a laugh, cheerful words and kidding. It's a spirit that verily explodes when unleashed on the basketball court. The sp ortswri ters' adjectives fo r Cheryl's playing style read like a thesaurus listing for emotion. Exuberant. Enthusiastic. Flashy. Intense. Dynamic. Spectacular. Flamboyant.

...

MILLER IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE COMPETITION. SPORTSFOCUS

There is probably no finer woman player in the game today than the 6-foot- 3 forward. Her skills and ability to use them are outstanding.

UT SHE HAS CRITICS. They can't dispute her talent, but when it comes to describing her on-court behavior, they are more given to words like "theatrics," taunting" and "hot dog." The spotlight can get hot, and the criticisms brought on some soul-searching by Cheryl. "I sat down and thought to myself, 'Are you shoving it in anybody's face?' And I don't think I am," she told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm human, and I'm going to make mistakes just like anybody e lse. But I wouldn't go out and defame anybody on the court because I'm not like that, and that's not the way I was brought up." The way Cheryl was brought up has a lot to do with who she is today. Her courtside manner is a moot issue in her own mind, and the role of her family is indisputable. Her father, Saul, was a high school All-American basketball player himself. He tutored his daughter on a court he built in their backyard, videotaping games and practices and reviewing them with Cheryl, and designing and supervising a training program for her. Athletic talent runs rampant through the Miller clan: brother Reggie plays basketball at UCLA; older brother Dar-

rell plays with the California Angels; younger sister Tammy shows talent in volleyball. All of the members of the Miller family share in the fun and the limelight of Cheryl's brilliant career, and she shares much of the credit for her accomplish-

Cheryl (above) cuts up after a big win and (left) shows she's dangerous from the outside too.

title? Or if I'm not All-American again? I could have the worst season of my life, and then who's going to be there? I know He will be." Cheryl says her relationship with Christ has also helped her temperament, both on the court, where opponents are gunning for her, and off, where the media attention is never-ending. By focusing on j esus Christ, she keeps from ge tting

LISTS CHERYL MILLER once scored 105 points In one high school basketball game. If you think that's Impressive, check out the leaders In these categories for both men and women. High School Danny Heater, Burnsville, West Virginia, 1960, 135 points. Marie Boyd, Lonaconing, Maryland, 1924, 156 points. College, Division I Frank Selvy, Furman University, 1954, 100 points. Lorrl Bauman, Drake University, 1984, 58 points. Professional Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelph ia 76ers, 1962, 100 points. Molly Bolin, Iowa Cornets, 1978-79, 59 points.

ments with them. But there is one other person who, Cheryl says, deserves the most recognition for her success: j esus Christ. "I know where my talent came from," she says. "It's easy for lots of people to be proCheryl Miller right now, because things are going well for me. But who knows what's goi ng to happen in the f11ture? What if we don't win another national SPORTSFOCUS

too self-involved. "I wouldn't be where I am today unless He had opened the doors for me," she says. Does she ever worry that things are going too well- that the good times will soon end? Sometimes. But again, she points to her faith in God as the failsafe that keeps the pressure of the presentand the unknown future-from pinning her to the ground. And where is Cheryl going in the future? Can the spotlight get any brighter? Well, there's a third straight NCAA crown to go after. That one would be especially shiny, says Cheryl; with the departure of the McGee twins, Pam and Paula, USC is the underdog this season. And there's a career in sports commentating, maybe some acting, maybe some commercials. " I'm still on my way up," Cheryl says. "There's still lots to improve, in my game and in my life. For me, there will never be any problem motivating myself to do my best in basketball. I'm an athlete, and I'll always strive to excel. Being a good person, and being the best Christian I can be, that's a challenge ... that's a tremendous challenge." â&#x20AC;˘

TRAINING PETE MARAVICH

TIPS

DAN QUISENBERRY

Underhanded Advice

Shootin' Like the Pistol

OME OBSERVERS have tabbed Dan Quisenbe rry "The Australian" because his deliveries come from down under. His unique pitching style has earned him a great deal of success in the major leagues. Quiz feels his style puts less strain on his arm and has enabled him to pitch in so many games ( 360 in 5 1/2 seasons) without experienc ing discomfort in his pitching arm. "I used to say there was a delivery in my flaw because I don' t throw like norma l people do," Dan says. "1 throw from a submarine motion. Technically, I'm not a pure submarine pitc he r, w hich would be almost like a softball pitche r, and I'm not that. I guess I would be in between a sidearm and submarine pitcher." To emulate Quisenberry's style would require concentration and practice, but not necessarily overpoweri ng ability. He considers himself an average athlete and the only 90·mile-an-hour fastballs he's seen are those coming from other pitchers. "Since I do throw fu nny, it's hard to get the mechanics right. I'm throwing submarine, and I've learned that motion, yet it always wants to leave me. My back doesn't want to bend all the time. It would prefer to stay up. And my legs don't want to have to do all that work. "Kent Tekulve of the Pirates helped me with my motion in the spring of 1980. He told me w hen my arm comes

ETE MARAVICH knows a little bit about shooting a basketball. At Louisiana State University, he led the nation in scoring for three straight seasons. He averaged 44.2 points a game in college and finished with a total of 3,667 points. Pete continued to burn the nets in the NBA. During a 10-year career, he scored 15,948 points wi th a 24.2 average. TI1ese days, Maravich operates a Christian basketball camp in Clearwater Beach, Fla. He has dozens ofpointers for scoring, but says there are three primary rules to remember when launching a shot. "No. 1 is fingertip control," Maravich says. "The ball has to be on the fingertips. 1l1e ball should never touch the palm area. If it does, you lose control. "No. 2 is backspin. You get backspin by snapping your wrists when you shoot. Doing fingertip push-ups is a good exercise to help too." "No. 3 is the foll owthrough. Follmv-through, of course, is important in any sport. When you're shooting, wherever your arm goes, that's where the ball goes." Pete also suggests that players set both eyes on the basket. "Many kids are what I call 'one-eye shooters,' he says. "They had a bad p erception of where the target is. Try playing catch w ith one eye closed and then with with both open, and you'll see the difference." •

SPO RTSFOCUS

through to use the same motion as if I was spanking a baby. And it's worked out. It also helps that the Royals have made a lot of great plays behind me. People hit the ball so much against me that our players have to be alert or they're going to get hurt. " It's also very important to concentrate out there. If I don't, I'll probably get sent down to Omaha or get traded. Then the writers are going to be after my head, and the starting pitchers are going to sue me. So I've got to concentrate." •

BYKENSIDEY

Plagued by fatigue and injuries, rnarathon rnan Alberto Salazar keeps on runningnot complaining.

T WAS HIS BEST OF TIMES. It was his worst of times. In New York City on Oct. 25, 1981, Alberto Salazar set the world record in the marathon by running the 26.2-mile course in 2:08:13, beating Canadian Derek Clayton's 2:08:34 time, a record that had stood for 12 years. On Aug. 19, 1984, Alberto crossed the finish line at the Summer Olympics in 2:14:19, his slowest time ever. It was good enough for only 15th place. In less than three years, he had toppled from top contender to also-ran. Alberto Salazar is a different man now, but not in the way most would think. Tough times don't last. Tough people do. The running world held great expectations for Salazar after he won the first four marathons he entered, beating top competition. He began in 1980 with a victory in the New York City marathon, turning the fastest premiere time ever. In 1981, he set his world record (It was broken Oct. 21, 1984 by Steve Jones of Wales.). A year later, he won his third straight in New York. Later in 1982, he won the famous Boston Marathon in course-record time. Sports-page headlines on April 10, 1983 blared: "Salazar Loses First Mara路

Alberto Salazar refuses to make excuses for failure. SPORTSFOCUS

thon." In Rotterdam, The Netherlands, he finished ftfth with a 2: 10:08 clocking. Expectations are demanding. Though Alberto still ran world-class times in an unpredictable event, the win-happy media began to wonder in print, "What's wrong with Salazar?" Then came a lastplace finish in the 1983 World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki. Some said he had burned out (by his own admission, over-training was a problem). Whatever was behind it, Alberto's career had indeed entered a new chapter, a chapter laced with disappointments. There were physical reasons for the less-than-best performances, though Alberto was reluctant to use them in his defense. A groin muscle pull before Rotterdam; bronchitis in Helsinki. After a "make or break" five-mile race in Phoenix in March, 1984, a bewildered, emotional Alberto could only shake his head during the post-race 1V interview. He had finished eighth. An iron deficiency was diagnosed and treated. A painful foot injury plagued him to within days of the Olympic trials in May of 1984, where he was bumped out of the lead 50 yards from the finish but still secured a spot on the U.S. team.

Once leader of the pack, Alberto's recent marathon times have fallen behind his record.

Salazar's 6-foot, 145-pound body is the ideal for a marathoner. His lungs and muscle fibers are perfectly suited for long races. Add to the physical attributes tremendous discipline and an insatiable desire to excel, both of which have not waned during the trying times, and you've got the makings of a world-class runner. So why the tough times? There may be physical explanations, but Alberto, who made a personal commitment to follow Christ in 1978, looks to a higher cause. "God has a reason for letting things happen," Alberto says. "I believe that He

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The heat and unexpected humidity in Los Angeles worked against Alberto. But immediate ly after the Olympic marathon, and several months following, he still eschewed excuses. Yes, he saw improvements to make in his training, but ....

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Tl1e strong track program at tile u mversity of Oregon drew Salazar west. Because.: he lacked sprinting speed in shorter races, he began to concentrate on distance running. Now with Athletics West, Alberto still lives in Eugene, with his wife, Molly, two young sons, Antonio and Alejandro, and a pit bull terrier named Toby.

be something that helps you deal with life. Always winning and being at the top isn't what life is like' control of my destiny. I'll continue o whatever I can to run well and live )Od life, but ultimately, whatever pens, I'll be able to accept it knowHe is in control of my life." ecause of his faith in God, Alberto not only made it through the cloudy Âˇs, but has also found a silver lining, if a gold medal. "I can see that what's pened so far is for my own good. I've n to the top and had the world )rd, but to just stay there would not allowed me to gro\v as a person as :h as I have the last two years. It's le me a tougher person. I've had to I with this adversity and live on. )ports is supposed to be something he lps you deal with life. Always nng and always being at the top isn't tt life is like. If I can't deal with the nt problem of not being the best ner in the world for two years, how I ever deal with real proble ms, like a serious illness or death of a loved one? "Sure, I've been frustrated. Sometimes I've felt like hanging it up for six months and then coming back. But I've never been bitter or angry. God's given me so much it would be a real slap in His face to be angry. "I pray that God will allow me to run again as I'm capable, but if that is not His SPORTSFOCUS

plan, I can accept it. I'll do all I can and live in peace." There's still plenty of time left for Salazar to live up to the world' s-and his own -great expectations. Most marathoners peak around age 30. For the 26-year-old Alberto, that comes right on time for the 1988 Olympics. He feels he can still better his marathon record by two minutes; his 10-kilometer time by 20 seconds before his ambition in competition is satisfied. In better times, there was talk of Salazar as the greatest distance runner ever. Has his career gotten off-track, or can he still achieve that title? Alberto admits it would take a long, consistent career. "Obviously to achieve that, someone would have to come back through a lot of adversity. There has never been a great runner who has not had to bounce back from some disappointment. Being the best does not come easily. You don't win the top races just by chance or by being in good condition once. You have to have mental fortitude as well." All it will take is one victory, Alberto says, and all the superlatives will start again. He's ready for those times to come. â&#x20AC;˘

KEN SIDEY is a free-lance writer in the California mountain community ofCrestline, where, he claims, it's always the best of times.

LISTS Alberto Salazar held the world record time for the marathon. Here are the top 10 26-mile times. 2:08:05 2:08:13 2:08:18 2:08:34 2:08:38 2:08:39 2:08:53 2:08:55 2:08:55 2:08:59

Steve Jones (Wales) 1984 ALBERTO SALAZAR (U.S.) 1981 Rob deCastella (Australia) 1981 Derek Clayton (Canada) 1969 Toshihiko Seko (Japan) 1983 Carlos Lopes (Portugal) 1983 Dick Beardsley (U.S.) 1982 TakeshiSoh(Japan)1983 Juma lkangaa (Tanzania) 1983 Rod Dixon (New Zealand) 1983

1he basketball wizard retired without winning a world championship ring, but now he's truly enjoying life for the first time.

ICH F

ORMY!2THBIRTHDAYiaskcd for a Pete Maravich poster- one of those advertised in sports magazines. When it arrived. I unrolled it to find Pistol Pete dribbling in his Atlanta Hawks uniform, and I immediately tacked the poster to my closet door. "Who needs birthday cake?" I thought. I had "The Pistol." Maravich, then a rookie, had been my favorite player ever since I had seen him on television playing for Louisiana State. There was something special about the guy. A 6-foot-5 guard, he ran his team's offense as if it were a one-man magic act. Indeed, basketball itself became more than a game when Pete Maravich got the ball. He wall turning courts into stages about the time Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were learning to shoot. Out of a hat, Maravich pulled behind-the-back passes, behvecn-the-legs dribbles, 30-foot nonchalant bombs, reverse layups and blind assists. And there was style. If Pete Maravich didn't invent athletic style, he at least collaborated. His moppy, dark brown hair tlopped about with each head fake. His wilted socks loosely surrounded his ankles. Maravich scored, of course. But more than that, he entertained. lie was bigger than most any game he ever played in. The best of his generation? Before his time? No, no. Pete Maravich wa..â&#x20AC;˘, simply one-of-a-kind. He still was one of my favorite players when my younger brother and I went to sec him in Denver in 1976. The National Basketball Association had just absorbed

BY GENE SAPAKOFF four ABA teams, including the Denver Nuggets, and this was Pete's debut in our town. He ended up leading the league in scoring that season with a 31.1 average. After the game, my brother and I decided to stick around outside the arena, hoping to add Maravich's name to our well-kept autograph collection. As the Pistol approached, walking briskly with a travel bag over one shoulder, my brother said, "Mr. Maravich, could I please have your autograph?" and stuck out a pen and a program. Maravich must have heard him, but kept moving and climbed into a cab without a glance. A dozen or so kids left, disappointed, including me. Maravich ended his 10-year pro basketball career in 1980, about I 0 years after he had stopped having fun. From the start he was labeled selfish and a show-off individualist by critics who see NBA basketball as purely a team sport. While many players defended him, others agreed with sportswriters and coaches who believed Pete demanded the ball too much to fit in on a championship team. Maravich-consistcntly deprived of his primary goal, an NBA championship- became depressed and, admittedly, sometimes surly. "I had no fun at all in the pros," he says now, "because sports is either win or lose, and there's no middle ground. But it taught me a great deal. Ifl had won a SPORTSFOCUS 26

championship, I don't even know if I'd be here right now." \Vhere is "here" and what course brought him? The explanation begins 15 or 16 years ago.

SEARLY AS his college days, Pete heard that he needed to trust Jesus Christ for his salvation, but he resisted, "I thought that by becoming a Christian I would have to give up everything, even basketball," he says. Through the years, Pete heard more about Christ, but he didn't quite let it sink in. 'fl1ings came to a head one morning three years ago. "I was in bed about 5,30 in the mornÂˇ ing, and I was sitting up," Maravich recalls. "I was totally depressed, and I couldn't understand it. I was in tears and feeling totally empty. I thought I had eYerything; I recognized that I didn't haYe an}1hing. I did a lot of retlccting about from whence I came and where I was going." Bits and pieces of what he'd heard over the past 15 years came together. "I knew what I had to do-l had to receive Jesus Christ into my life," Pete recalls. "Then the Lord spoke to me. He spoke to me as I am speaking to you. He said, 'Be strong and lift thine own heart."' "I was shocked and startled. I woke up Jackie [his wife, a non-Christian at the time]. I said, 'Did you hear that?' She said, 'You're nuts.' But I decided to turn my life over to Christ- I got on my hands and knees that morning and accepted the Lord into my life." Since then, Jackie has also committed her life to Christ, and Pete has traded in

his pistol to become the Pied Piper of Christian basketball camps. He's in the construction business in Metairie, La., outside New Orleans, and dabbles in real estate. "But the real estate is really a secondary thing," Pete says. "Primarily, I'm here to serve the Lord .. . I didn't really do anything after basketball. It wasn't until I accepted the Lord into my life that things started looking up for me." Maravich mixes his ministry with basketball. He runs a camp at Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and hopes to open another soon near Atlanta. "He's a lot happier now," Jackie says. "Not too many things bother him like they used to. Right now, he wouldn't trade places with anyone." It didn't used to be that way. \Vhen Maravich played in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics, he coveted a league championship ring. He never came close. The Hawks would finish with decent regular season records and then bow out early in the p layoffs. The Jazz never made it that far. When Maravich was finally traded to the tradition路 rich Celtics in 1979-80, his final season, Boston lost to Philadelphia, 4- 1, in the Eastern Conference finals. "The thing I wanted more than anything else in life was to be on a world championship team," Pete says. "That's the only reason I ever played the game. In fact, I said in 1970 [as a rookie] that if we wo n a wo rld c hampionsh ip , I would quit. I would have. I really believe I would have." While Maravich longed for a chance to play with enough tal'ented teammates to make a legitimate run for a title, observers opened fire on his image: "If Pete is such a team p layer, why does he take those shots?" they would ask, among other things. "This man has been quicker and faster than Jerry West or Oscar Rober tson," former teammate Lou Hudson told Spo11s Illustrated in 1978. "He gets the ball up the floor better. He shoots as well. Rawtalent-wise, he's the greatest who ever played. The difference comes down to style. He w ill be a loser, always, no mat路 ter what he does. That's his legacy. It

Playing on non-championship teams st ruck a sour note for maestro Maravlch, who was never too jazzed about pro basketball. Now he feels his life is In tune for the first time.

SPORTSFOCUS 27

,, never looked easy being Pete Maravich." Pete remembers a sign in the stands one night in Philadelphia that made fun of both his style and his 5300,000 salary. It said "Pistol Pete- \Vhy do hot dogs cost 15 cents in Ph illy and S2 million in Atlanta?" "He was very misunderstood as a player," Jackie says. Pete reflects on those times: "I could speak 42 hours on the subject but it really doesn't matter. I played differently than everyone else. I threw behind-the-back passes, betweenthe-legs-passes, and I once took a hook shot at halfcourt- and made it. I wasn't trying to be a clown or a showoff- I just played the game the way I learned it and to the best of my abilities. My style came from many years ofpracticing more than the fundamentals."

ATE IN HIS PRO CAREER, after a knee injury limited his cutting ability, Maravich began looking into religion in general and observing Christians in particular. "I used to see all these Christians and

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say, 'What is it with them? Why are they so you might mistake the retreat for a nutricontent all the time?'" Pete remembers. tion seminar. One-third of the camp "At that time, I had what was more or income goes toward the grocery list, less a convenience belief. If I needed Pete says. All of the bread is baked on something, I called on God. That was campus. There is a 22-item salad bar, no red meat and plenty of fresh fish and about it. "I remember one time I was on an chicken. Bottled water is used for drinkairplane that dropped a few hundred ing and cooking. "There is no salt, no feet. I remember hearing people say, sugar, no canned foods, no artificial 'Oh, God! Oh, God!' It strikes me funny coloring, no fried foods, no additives, no now. Even non-Christian people, they'll nothing," Maravich says. "Then, of course, there is the Chrisscream out for God in a crisis. It's built into our system because He loves us so tian aspect of the camp," he adds. "We have three devotions a day. I bring in much." Pete hasn't looked back since decid- guest speakers to give testimonies about ing to commit himself to Christ. He Christ, and depending on who is talking, reads the Bible "at least two hours a they run from five minutes to 30 min路 night" and prays frequently each day. utes each. If I'm talking, it usually lasts "I wouldn't trade where I am right 30 minutes. It's not a forced situation, now for 100 or 1,000 championship though. There is no pressure. I have kids rings. Nothing can replace Jesus Christ of all ethnic and religious backgrounds in my life. And I want kids to know about come to my camp." that and the finality of this earthly life." To be sure, Maravich draws on his own experience to teach basketball skills He tells them. Basically, Pe te's baseball camp is an ( it still is a basketball camp, after all). He outing in the new Maravich lifestyle. If also continues to listen to his father. not for the backboards and sneakers, Press Maravich grew up in Pennsylvania

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coal country and coached at Clemson and North Carolina State before running the show at LSU when Pete was there. "I think my dad has the best mind in basketball," Maravich says. "Now he may not have won as much as somebody else, but that's not the point. He believed in educating kids and having them work hard, so he didn't need to bend the rules." Father and son have won together and suffered together. Pete's mother died in 1974. Now that they share faith in Christ, however, the two men are closer now than ever. "My dad was raised in church," Pete says. "But since he received Christ in his life, he is a completely changed man. Before I became a Christian, you couldn't put a pin between our relationship. Now you couldn't put a hair between it." Soon, Press will have a few more Maraviches to educate in the ways of the jump shot. Pete and jackie have two sons,Jaeson, 5, and joshua, 2. The family plans to settle in a restored country house 40 miles north of New Orleans. Not long ago, Pete toured China for

28 days with nine other former NBA players, including Rick Barry, Connie Hawkins, Earl Monroe and Bob Dandridge. The group played six exhibition games against Chinese all-star teams. Maravich had a blast. "It was the first time in my life I really smelled the flowers," he said. Maravich showed the Chinese a few of his old tricks, and the youngsters reacted with the same wide-eyed attentiveness American kids showed a decade ago. "I had the greatest time of my life," Maravich said. "And I have over 100 pictures, mostly of kids. They have the cutest kids over there. They were so much fun. Sometimes I would just be spinning a basketball, ancl200 kids would follow me around. They were all wondering, 'Who is this guy?' "If they'd known, they might have requested autographsand this time Pete would have stopped and scrawled his name. There might not be much chance of a Pete Maravich basketball camp opening in Shanghai, but a poster would probably sell pretty well. â&#x20AC;˘

Gene Sapakoff, while not gazing at his Pete Maravich is a sportswriter with the Santa Monica Evening Outlook.

LISTS ALTHOUGH PETE MARAVICH graduated from LSU back In 1969, his collegiate scoring average still stands. And, making those numbers even more Impressive, his nearest challenger lags by almost 10 points. 44.2 34.6 33.8 33.1 32.7 32.5 32.3 32.1 32.0 31.5

PETE MARAVICH {LSU) Austin Carr {Notre Dame) Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati) Calvin Murphy {Niagara) Dwight Lamar (S.W. Louisiana) Frank Selvy {Furman) Rich Mount {Purdue) Darrell Floyd {Furman) Nick Werkman {Seton Hall) Willie Humes {Idaho State)

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