July/August 1993 - Vol 7 Num 6 by Sports Spectrum

1\/1

••••••••••••••••••••••

ss Goes Monthly

F SOME PEOPLE had their way, the three-point shot in basketball would still be considered a thing of the future. If folks who don't like change were in charge, Toronto would never have gotten a Major League Baseball team, football would still consist of two distinct leagues, and Andre Agassi would be using a wooden racket. Yet over the howling protests of staid traditionalists, the three-point shot has become one of the most exciting elements of basketball (especially for those of us who play guard), Major League Baseball has expanded its borders and spread its influence, the Super Bowl continues to grow under the central leadership of the NFL, and Andre uses the best in tennis technology. In life, as in sports, change is refreshing. We all feel invigorated, excited, and renewed by change. At Sports Spectmm, we are experiencing some added excitement right now ourselves, because we are about to make a change. Sports Spectmm is soon to become a monthly magazine. We want to take Sports Spectmm to a new l~!vel , and we think coming to you twice as often will help make that happen. Having watched the magazine grow from about 15,000 subscribers when we first introduced the name Sports Spectrum less than 3 years ago to 55,000 subscribers today, we think we are on the cutting edge of some great things. We think more and

more people want to see athletics in the new light that Sports Spectrum is shedding on the world of sports by featuring men and women who are not just goodbut good examples as well. One of the best ways we can do that better than ever is to keep in touch with you more often. Beginning with our September Sports Spectmm, we will be coming to you each month. Perhaps some among our readers say about this change, "If it' s not broke, don't fi x it." Perhaps those folks would also wish there was no shot clock in the NBA, that baseball still had only 16 teams, and that the forward pass

had never been invented. We hope you are among those who think positive changes are improvements. We hope you' ll enjoy our more frequent visits. And we hope that something we say will prompt you to make any needed changes in your lifechanges that will help you grow closer to the One who changed death into life when He died for us on the cross 2,000 years ago.

~~ Dave Branon, managing editor Sports Spectmm

* Important Renewal Information

Riding the Waves The best of times sometimes turn into the worst of times, but powerboat racer Steve deSouza knows how to respond by Brian Carroll

Starling with your September issue of Sports Spectrum, you'll begin getting Sports Spectrum every month instead of every other month. Take a few moments to see how this exciting change will affect your subscription. The last issue of your current subscription will obviously be moved up because the magazine is coming out twice as often. Rest assured, you will get every Issue you ordered. Plus, here's some more good news: To renew for 12 issues will actually cost less ($17.97) than it did previously ($19.97). Please study this chart to see when your subscription will be ready for renewal.

Issues Left 0 1 2 3 4 5

6 7

8 9 10 11 12

Old Renewal Date New Renewal Date SeQ/Oct '93 SeQtember '93 Nov/Dec '93 Oc tober '93 November '93 Jan/Feb '94 Mar/AQr '94 December '93 Ma~/Jun '94 Januar~ '94 Jui/Aug '94 Fe bruar~ '94 SeQ/Oct '94 March '94 Nov/Dec '94 AQril '94 Jan/Feb '95 Ma~ '94 June'94 Mar/AQr '95 Ma~/Jun '95 Jul~ '94 Jui/Aug '95 August '94 Sep/Oct '95 September '94

The Mental Edge Sports and life both take self-control and mental toughness by David Egner

Photography Credits: Cover. Stephen OuMIAilsport; p. 2 (top) Mike Spencernnterstate Baneries, (bottom) Jim Gund1AIIspot1; p. 3 (lop leh) Marlws BoeSCIVAilsportt, (top right) ono Gruete1AIIspot1, (bonom) Bob Rosato; p. 6-9 Marl< SpencernnterstateBanenes; p. 10 Jim GundiAIIsport; p. 11 (top) Gary Nev.1<ir1</AIIsport; (bonom) Holly Stein'AIIspot1; p. t2,13 Mar1<us Boesch/Ansport; p. 14 Bob Rosato; pp. 16-17 Bill H~key/AIIsport; p. 18 Stephen Ounn'AIIsport; p. 19 Marc S. Levine/New York Mets; p. 20 (top) Pressens/AIIsport, (bonom) Focus on Sports; p. 22 AI Tielemans!Philadelphia PhiHies; p. 23 M1ke PoweiVAispot1; p. 24 John SchenkiWor1d ViSK>n; p. 25 Lee alld Sharon De Bevoise; p. 26 Otto GretJie/AIIsport; p. 27 Glenn Crany/AIIsport; p28 (top) Marc S. Levile!New Y0<1< Mels, (bottom) Jon Soohooltos Angeles Dodgers; p.29 Stephen DuM'AIIsport, Note: The Major League Baseball lrademar1< alld the Major League Club insignias depict· ed herein are the exclusiveproperty ol Major League Basebal alld the respective Clubs alld may not be reproduced without their oonsent: p. 30 (top) Courtesy: Ned Jarren, (bonom) AP Wide World Photos. 2

S POR T S S PECT R UM • J U LY/ A U G U S T 1 99 3

D I

Playing on the Sand Building on the Rock

Familiar Faces in Strange Places

Pro beach player Janice Harrer serves more than just the volleyball by Karen Rudolph Drollinger

Have you seen Kevin Seitzer, Harold Reynolds, Frank Tanana, Jody Reed, and Scott Sanderson in their new uniforms? by Jim Gibbs and David Moriah

Open Court

Legends

Ace returns from Sports Spectrum readers SS Fan Poll

Catching up with Ned Jarrett by Tom Felten

5 Clippings

Sports news worth a second look

Airing It Out A closer look at numbers- both in sports and out by Rob Bentz

Stats Central compiled by Rob Bentz

The Swirsky Report by Chuck Swirsky

Leaderboard With Dickie Noles, Howard Cross, Addis Gezahegn

He Speaks Softly, but He Carries a Big Stick ••• He's HoJo

i ·'

The Mets' 30-30 guy talks about what is important to him off the field A Sports Spectrum interview

25 Front Row Taking you on the scene in the world of BASS fishing by Lee and Sharon De Bevoise

Volume 7, Number 6 SPORTS SPECTRUM MAGAZINE A DISCOVERY HOUSE PUBLICATION. PUBLISHER Dave Burnham, MANAGING EDITOR Dave Branoo, MARKETING/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom Felien: ART DIRECTOR Steve Gier: PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Rob Bonlz: ADMINISTR ATIVE ASSISTANT Lisa Quist. ADVISO· RY CO MMITIEE Chuck Swirsky, Sports Director, WGN Radio, Chicago; Dick Mason, Prestdent. Discovery House Publishers: Ralph Drollinger, Prestdent. Sports Outreach America; Kyle Rote Jr.. TV sports commentator; COVER PHOTO Stephen Dunn/Altsport SPORTS SPECTRUM is produced sl11. times a year by Discovery House Publishers, which is al111!atod with Radio B1ble Class, a nondenominational Christian organization whose pur· pose Is to lead people of all nations to faith and maturity in Jesus Christ by teaching principles from the B1ble. Printed in USA. Copyright c 1993 by Discovery House Publishers. Grand Rapids, Michigan. B1ble quotations. unless otheMise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ¢1 1973 , 1978. 1984, lnternattonal Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions are aval!abte for S3611welve issues or $48.00 outside the USA (•n US funds) by writing to SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions, Box 3566. Grand Rapids. Ml 49501·3566, by call ing toll f ree 1·800·653·8333. or by sendmg a FAX to 1·616·957·574 1. S PORT S S PCC TR U M • JULY / 1\U G U S T 1 9 9 3

For Subscription Services,•

CALL TOLL FREE:

1-800-653-8333 ·New subscriptions, change of address, or other corrections 3

••••••••••••••••••• Ac<e Reftw,Tr~s

lFTr({]JlJt/1!, Sp(lliTrlts SfllJcecftlrlU£~ ~e([Jl.Af/-AeTrs

any possibility of Sports Spectmm becoming a monthly publication? - BILL CORNEL/SSE Coral, MI

Big (Baseball) Business I want to comment on your column Airing It Out "The Business of Baseball" (March/April). That is just what baseball is now-BIG BUSINESS. It is no longer a sport- not since the so-called "professionals" started striking for higher wages and making outrageous salaries. I used to love baseball, but no more. I don't even watch it on TV. It's been many years since we've been to a game, and that was before the salaries got out of hand. I wholeheartedly agree that the players should be paid on performance and at a level that would not rule out the average working man, whose tickets pay their salaries. I would li ke to see the fans go on stri ke at every stadium unt il the players recognize who is paying their salaries. Let them go on unemployment for a couple of years, then maybe they would be glad to work for $ 100,000 a year. -MRS. HELEN DUFFEY Troy, MO

55 Monthly? I appreciate your magazine. I have enjoyed it so much that I have canceled my subscription to Sports Illustrated. I' m thankful that there's a sports magazine that shows good, godly examples of athletes. My young children enjoy Sports Spectmm also. I have one question. Is there 4

Bill, it's readers like you who have prompted our evaluation and implementation of a monthly publishing frequen cy. See page 2 for information about this exciting change! -Ed. Fia-st 1.-npa'essions At first I thought a spm1s magazine like yours would be boring. From what I knew, there weren't that many Christian athletes around. When I received the magazine, I saw Barry Sanders on the cover. I thought, Is this the right magazine? I opened it up and to my disbelief, it was. Barry Sanders a Christian, I questioned? Then I began reading the article and I realized Christians don't have to be unknown. Being a young Christian athlete, I find it very refreshi ng to discover that I'm not the only one.

opportunity to interview Rob the ! Here are a couple of addresses clay after you did, and I found him : for our biker friends: Team to be as sincere about his faith as ' Redeemed, Bruce Wasserman, he is about his love for basketball. 1517 Cedmwood Drive, San I hope that Pelinka's example Mateo, CA 94403. lntemational will set a precedent for young, Christian Racers Association, Box aspiring student-athlete sub281, Carey, OH 43316. - Ed. scribers to follow. - KR ISTA SAROKA What's You.. Call? Rochester Hills, MI We want to know what you think about the issues and people we Needed: Cycle present to you in Sports Minist:ry Spectrum . Send your thoughts and questions about this magaI enjoyed reading the "Wheels of Thunder" (January/February) zine, or about the sports world in article on cycling. Do you have general, to this address: any information on a Christian Sports Spectmm Letters, motorcycle association? Box 3566, - BE\IERLY LARSON Grand Rapids, MI 4950 1-3566.

- ANDREW ZOOK Laramie, WY

Fia'st Class Sixth Man "The Sixth Man" (March/April) about Rob Pelinka of Michigan is the most uplifting sports-related article I've read this year! Most young men with outstanding talent who don' t start for their teams protest their circumstances. Not Pelinka. His faith, plus his belief that Jesus is leading hi m, allows the young Wolverine to appreciate the gifts he's been given. We could all prosper from such a humble attitude. - TOM ROTfKAM P Levittown, NY

Setting the Pace Thank you for sharing the article on Rob Pelinka. As a Sport Management and Communication major at Michigan, I hacl the S PORTS S P EC TR UM- .JULY/ AU G U S T 1 993

Princeton, I L

c:L••••Naa •••••••••••••••••••

T.-avel Tips HEADED OVERSEASTHIS SUMMER? If you happen to be in Barcelona, Tokyo, Berlin, or London in

ill2JJ

early Augus_t, ~ you m1ght want to , stop by the ticket office at the local soccer stadium and pick up some NFL tickets. On August I , 7, and 8, eight NFL teams will do what the WLAF no longer does- take American football overseas to give the eastern hemisphere a look at quarterbacks, tight ends, touchdowns, and post patterns.

August 1: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers in Barcelona New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles in Tokyo August 7: Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings in Berlin August 8: Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions in London Just think. If you show up at one of these games, you may be the only fan who knows the players without a program.

Notice the Change? WHO SAYS BASEBALL doesn't change? A brief look.at what has transpired or what is being proposed in baseball reveals that the grand old game is not afraid to make needed alterations. • Speed up the game. In meetings during spri ng training, baseball officials decided to speed up the game with a set of new guidelines like: encouraging hitters to stay in the batter's box, enforcing the time limit between pitches, limiting trips to the mound by catchers and infielders, and hav-

announcers introduce the next hitter sooner.

• Clean up !he air. Several teams have instituted new antismoking rules. The Dodgers, Orioles, Tigers, A's, Padres, and Blue Jays have restricted smoking to certain areas. elncrease the interest. By 1995, as many as eight teams may be playoff bound. Both leagues may also be split into three divisions, meaning that when October rolls around, more teams will be in the hunt for a World Series berth. • Ban !he booze. A few teams have noticed that sports and alcohol is not a good combination for their players. The Dodgers have banned beer from the clubhouse and from team flights. Other teams like the Red Sox have given such a move seri ous consideration, and the Indians no longer serve alcohol on their team flights.

The IC:id G.-o...vs Up WHEN YOUFIRST START TOREAD The Gamer, the autobiography of Gary Carter, you may find yourself agreeing with those who were not especially enamored with the eight-time All-S tar catcher as he raced through his 21-year pro baseball career. Because Carter and his coauthor Ken Abraham chose to lead off this 272-page book with a recounting of Carter's rather unhappy experiences as a once-ina-while catcher for San Francisco in 1990 and for LA in 199 1, a reader could get the impression that Carter really was the whiner and complainer that many labeled him to be during his stellar years with the Expos and Mets. Carter seemed to complain a

bit too much about how unfairly he was treated in 1990 and 1991 - years in which injuries and advancing age led his managers to reduce his playing time to platoon and backup status. And when both teams let him go at the end of mediocre seasons, Carter expressed some real bitterness. Yet as the book marches on and as Carter replays his marvelous years in Montreal and New York, a new appreciation for the man begins to replace what at first seems to be a nagging feeling of irritation. Watching the growth of Gary Carter from being the brash, cocky Kid to being a mature man of faith is a valuable lesson for all of us who question what God is doing with our lives. There is real triumph in reading Carter say, "The last 4 years of my baseball career were not always the most enjoyable in my li fe, but I will always regard them as a pivotal period of my life. God wanted to teach me some things about who He is and who I am. .. . I believe it was necessary for me to go through those dreary, disillusioning clays of my life so I could learn to keep my eyes focused on Him." He had to first reveal the bitterness for his story to be true and for his growth to be seen. If this book has a hero other than Carter in his search for contentment, it is his wife Sandy. Time and time again, his former high school sweetheart brought Carter back to reality with wise, God-centered counsel. As Gary Carter tells the story, it is Sandy Carter who deserves much of the credit for his success-always

S P O RTS SPECTRU M • .JULY/A U GLJS T

1 99~~

knowing when to be tough and when to be tender as she helped him through crises we non-professional athletes know nothing about. It's refreshing to see how much genuine, unconditional love Sandy and Gary have for each other-and how much Carter appreciates and cares for his wife. Besides detailing the growth of Carter as a person and as a believer in Jesus Christ,

The Gamer also provides an exciting inside look at some of the great baseball games of the eightiesincluding the ExposDodgers fifth playoff game in 198 1 when Rick Monday sent a Steve Rogers' fastball into the cold Montreal air and over the fence to clash the Expos' hopes, the Mets-Astros 16-inning playoff marathon in 1986, and the phenomenal Mets-Recl Sox World Series that same October. Also, Carter gives important clubhouse insight into the rise and fall of both the Expos and Mets. In The Gamer, Gary Carter allows himself to be vulnerable as he lets us in on what goes through a player's mind from the promising beginning of his remarkable career to the sometimes bumpy end. Whether you start off liking Gary Carter or not, by the time you have followed him back to Montreal for a triumphant swansong year of 1992, you learn to appreciate his honesty and his sincere efforts to be a godly, Christ-centered athlete, husband, and father. As usual, the Gamer comes through.

- Dal'e Branon 5

FEA

••

~--~~-

As he navigates the dangerous world of For~nula One powerboat racing, Steve deSouza depends on ~nore than skill, courage, and perseverance • By Brian Carroll TEVE DESOUZA'S 300-HORSEPOWER ENGINE barely had time tO COO) off before his crowning moment in professional powerboat racing was in cinders. What was supposed to have been the pinnacle to 25 years of achievement on the water was swiftly transformed into humiliating defeat. An entire raci ng season had become an innocent victim. Although deSouza had taken the checkered flag in what had been a thoroughly entertaining Formul a One boat race, the victory would not be his to savor. Success proved to be a cruel impostor. As the result of an official 's controversial ruling, deSouza's sweet triumph and a shot at the elusi ve Intern ati onal Outboard Grand Pri x (IOPG) world title were abruptl y ripped away and exchanged for disqualification from the race. " It was a win, whether we got to keep it or not," says deSouza, a short, stocky sparkplug of a man. The Seaule native had traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to stake a claim on his place in powerboat racing history. He had entered the 199 1 Players Ltd. Grand Prix, poised to capture his fi rst world title in tunnel boat racing, a title he felt would assure him a spot as one of the best racers ever. More than 48 laps into the 50-lap race, deSouza executed a deft defensive tactic to protect his lead and prevent second-place Scoll Gillman from sli pping ahead. Just two laps prior, he had maneuvered brilliantly in heavy traffic to jump out front, past Gillman, for the first time in the race. A lth ough th e defensi ve action thri lled the 35,000 observers on hand, it didn' t sit well with the people in ihe judges' box. Minutes after the race 's improbable finish, officials ruled that deSouza' s tactic was a foul. He was in the middle of one of those "talk to the winner" TV interviews when he was summoned to the judges' stand and told that the victory was no longer his. " I prayed at th at moment fo r th e self-control and patience not to explode," said deSouza. " It was the low

.A. Recreational boating it isn 't. Steve deSouza's Hi-Performance Mariner

Outboard powers his 17-foot tunnel-hulled boat to top speeds of 140 miles p e r hour. The V6, 2 litre, 122 cubic-inch engine can take deSouza from zero to 100 miles an hour in 5 seconds, and covers the course at average speeds of 110 to 120 miles per hour. SPORTS S PECTf'IUM • JULY/AUGUST ·19!)3

RID IN G

.A Winning for

Charity. When Steve deSouza finished the 1992 season In second place on the IOGP circuit , It was not just team Interstate that benefited. Before the season, he had committed 1 0 percent of the winnings to the American Cancer Society in memory of his sister, Jackie Schaeffer, who died of breast cancer. " I believe the Lord has a mission for each of us. He has put me in a position to help those in need financially. The best thing we could come up with would be to donate what we could to a worthy charity."

THE

point of my career and a severe blow to the team. The next year, the IOGP changed the rules to prevent what happened to me from ever happening again." For a tattered and tired deSouza, the judgment was costly. His $9,000 in prize money and, more important, his hard-earned season points lead had evaporated. DeSouza's prayer, however, enabled him to take the decision with placid acceptance and, perhaps a more difficult task, to face the wai ting media agai n, this time as a loser. He stepped out of the judges' tent and into the horde of reporters eager to record his vicious reaction. They were wildly disappointed. Anger may have raged inside, but deSouza displayed calm integrity. He responded to the flurry of questions by honestly articulating his disagreement with the outcome and hi s intenti on to file a protest. Then he stopped by Gillman's post-race party to congratulate the winner. He felt it was the right thing to do. "One characteristic that has always marked my Christian life has been self-control," he says. "But that experience was the supreme test. I think I passed." Although the controversy is now a couple of years old, it still motivates the veteran racer. "I sure hope it isn't God's will for me to come close each time," he says with a laugh. "I want to win the overall points championship. I've always been a good driver, but I think wi nning the [season point] title would establish me as a great dri ver." Even without the title, deSouza's stature is secure. Top-five in point standings 7 consecutive years, owner of two world speed records, and winner of three national championships, he's already been nominated to the American Power Boat Association Hall of Champions. DeSouza's self-discipline-his ability to channel Godgiven talent and ability toward a singular goal- is perhaps what has sustained him during the past 8 years of tunnel boat competition. His consistent success is unprecedented and unrivaled in tunnel boating's Champ class, the highest level of professional tunnel boat racing. "I know that vengeance is never mine," he explains. "My reward will come in the way I choose to handle certain situations. A verse I really like is James I:5. 'If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.' I find myself asking God for wisdom a lot." Although the virtue of self-control doesn' t normally conjure up images of a powerboat screaming across the water at speeds of greater than 120 miles per hour, for deSouza they go hand-in-hand with racing. Given a choice between raw effort and controlled skill, he has learned that the latter will usually win boat races. This precept has culti vated in deSouza a balanced temperament and a stable cast of mind. "I believe it was the Lord's plan for me to get into boat racing and certainl y to stay in," he says . "It's risky, but it's something I love to do, and it has put me in the spotlight. A lot of people are looking at me and to me, and God is using that as a tool. I look at it as an honor and a privilege." DeSouza grew up in Seattle, where water sports are a part of the landscape. In fact, boat racing is to the Pacific Northwest what NASCAR stock car racing is to much of

WAVES

the South, so deSouza's climbing behind the wheel of a power boat was almost a foregone conclusion. "During the summer, my parents would drop me off at the water and then pi ck me up at sundown," he recalls. "That's the way it was for most kids. I can't really remember life before boats." When he was kid, deSouza would stop by the home of neighbor and boat enthusiast Ken Knowlen every night after completing his paper route. "Ken would usuall y be tinkering on his boats," explains deSouza, son of a former tugboat chief. "He quickly saw my interest in boats and gave me one that had been crashed up pretty badly." Th e 30-year-old Knowl en and the 14-year-old deSou za teamed up to repair the 9-foot kneel-down hydro boat, a craft that would prove to be the precursor to deSouza's career in tunnel boats. "Ken helped me repair the boat and he took me to his races," deSouza remembers. "He really took me in and got me started. I think I got my first trailer from him." Today, deSouza pilots a 17-foot tunnel-outboard racer, which he characterizes as "an airplane wing with an engin e on th e back." Tunnel boats can also be described as Indy cars without wheels. "The capsule in a tunnel boat is basically an Indy car cockpit," he says. "Only it has a boat built around it instead of a car." The sport, which is populated on a national scale by approximately 40 professional drivers, can be a dangerous enterprise. With average winning speeds at the championshi p level hovering around 120 miles per hour, it isn't for novices. "There isn' t a formal training ground for this type of racing," deSouza explains. "So it takes at least one flip to show you what it takes to turn a boat. We've all done it at least once." Knowing what the limits are, and then staying within them, is what separates the consistent contenders from the one-time wonders. Amid a swirl of sea spray, encased in four tons of steel and fiberglass, deSouza is the calm eye in the middle of a speeding hurricane and its governing force. His reputation for poise under pressure is well-known. "It's the feeling of fl ying completely free," he describes. "Some of it's acqui red ski ll- a lot of it- but there is also that knack, or feel, that some people never get. And to win, you have to have the equi pment." Getting the equipment is perhaps the most difficult aspect of launching a career in racing, be it boats or cars. To be a fulltime professional boat racer, a driver needs a fulltime sponsor. He needs a backer who understands the demands of the sport in both finances and personnel. Often, a good sponsor is more difficult to obtain than the checkered fl ag itself. DeSouza considers his sponsor one of the more profound affirmations from God that he is indeed where the Lord wants him to be, doing what the Lord wants him to be doing. Three years ago, not long before the ni ghtmare in Winnipeg, deSo uza hooked up with Interstate Batteries. Stockcar race fans recognize the Interstate name as the company emblazoned across the neon green-andblack Chevrolet Lumina of 1993 Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett , a car owned by former Washington

SPORTS SPEGTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ JULY/ AU G U ST 1 993

<II The Nolan Ryan of Racing. After 23 seasons of skimming across the water with more velocity than a speeding fastball, Steve deSouza wonders If his racing days may soon be over .

.A LOOK D.ACK

Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs. "I was so close to getting out of racing in 1990," says deSouza, a three-time national champion in tunnel boat racing's lower classes. "My sponsor and I had parted ways. I was ready to retire. I had sold my equipment. But every business venture I tried to put together fell apart." Then, at a boat show he bumped into Fred Keikhafer, the president of Mercury High Performance, a producer of outboard motors and a participating sponsor on the IOGP circuit. He introduced deSouza to Thomas Miller, president of Interstate Batteries, and 2 months later deSouza was back on the water proudly displaying the familiar neon green, black, and red of Interstate. Missy deSouza, Steve's wife, remembers well the highs and lows of life without boats and boat racing. The depri vation confirmed for both of them God's desire that Steve stay in the water. "Winnipeg represented a low point, but in many ways, searching for a dependable sponsor was much more trying," she says. "It was a long period of soul-searching. Steve was trying to determine what direction he felt God wanted him to take, and nothing was coming through. Nothing was working. There was friction at home. Our maiTiage suffered. But we never lost hope. Our faith was tested, but we knew it was a matter of time." Steve deSouza remembers the turning point one sunny day in Augusta, Georgia, where he, Missy, and their two children, Clem and Margurite, now live. He had ducked into a church by himself for a quiet place and a quiet time before God. Steve describes hi~ talk with God. "I told Him, 'My goals are Your goals, Lord; my company is Your company.' After that, I saw the light." The light, he was certain, was Interstate, and the two have teamed together ever since. His contract with the battery producer runs through the 1993 season with options for 1994 and beyond. According to deSouza's calculations, that's plenty of time to get at least one fickle and nettlesome world title. "Missy and Steve represent the same morals, values, and prioriti es that we do here at Interstate ," says Thomas Miller. "When he speaks for us, I know Steve will represent us in the best possible light. I have complete confidence in him and I respect him as a businessman as well as a competitor."

Still exuberant over the NASCAR win at Daytona, Miller is excited about the possibilities for the Interstate-deSouza team this year (see A Look Ahead). "I know Steve well enough to know he wants the whole enchilada very badly," Miller comments. "He's got a lot of inspiration from the Joe Gibbs team at Daytona and he's very focused." He's also very forgiving. In an ironic twist that speaks volumes about Steve deSouza the man, he has added a second driver to the team for 1993. Guy named Scott Gillman. The driver who was awarded the Winnipeg trophy after deSouza was stripped of his victory. As important to deSouza as trying to bring home this season's championship is, he has another goal that surpasses it in lasting value-helping establish a permanent chapel program for the IOGP. Interstate has been a wi lling sponsor in this endeavor as well. The company has financially enabled the ministry, providing both Bibles and high-caliber speakers, and has offered its pit area for race-day chapel services the past 2 seasons. DeSouza's efforts, in conjunction with Interstate's financial backing, have led to the installation of the IOGP's first fulltime chaplain this season. "One of my goals was that when I left the sport, the chapel ministry would be standing on its own and growing," he says. "That's been largely accomplished now." When deSouza does decide to drydock his boat for good, he'll have etched an indelible mark on both the sport and its participants. In many ways, pro tunnel boat racing and its now thriving chapel ministry have been inextricably linked to deSouza. "'' ve tried to be an ambassador both for Christ and for the sport," he says. "I've worked very hard promoting the sport and getting it on television. [Thanks to Steve's efforts, the IOGP's eight races can be seen this season on The Nashville Network.] And I've labored to give guys the opportunity to hear the gospel." Steve deSouza is reaching people both in and out of racing with a message everyone needs to hear- that God works not only in our championship moments but during our Winnipegs as well. D

Brian Carroll lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he is a freelan ce sports reporter for th e Greensboro News & Record.

S PO RTS S P ECTF.t UM •.JULY / A U G U S T 1 99 3

Steve deSouza is nearing the end of a successful career behind the wheel of his Formula 1 tunnel boats. Here's a recap of his 1992 year and his past 48 races. .1992 • Second place in total point standings on the IOGP circuit. • First place finish at Augusta • Second place finish at Pittsburgh • Third place finishes at Bay City, Michigan; Minneapolis; and West Palm Beach.

• Previous 48 races before 1993 • Top 10 Finishes: 32 • Top 5 Finishes: 23 • Top 3 Finishes: 18 • Victories: 6

.A LOOK .AHE.AD The Interstate team ofSteve deSouza and Scott Gillman will take to the water on the following dates in their quest for IOGP Powerboat &ries points. July 9-11

Kansas City, Missouri July23-25 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan August 7,8

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania August 20·22

St. Louis, Missouri August 27·29

Chattanooga, Tennessee September 10,12

Austin, Texas September 24·26 West Palm Beach, Florida

~~·«010~------------------------------------------~ •••••••••••••••••••••••••

The pionship over a team as talented and determined as the Michigan Wolverines, you have to be mentally tough. From your mind has to come the kind of total selfcontrol, combined with talent, that leads you to the top of your sport. Eri c Montross has that kind of mental strength. It gives him the edge that produces victories and leads to greatness as an athlete and an individual. In sports and in life, being mentally strong is a tremendous advantage. Way back in the first century AD, when the tyranny of Rome put everyone under terrible pressure, the apostle Peter wrote, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled" ( I Peter I: 13). Good advice for anyone facing the kind of pressure we li ve under today! But ho w do we develop the kind of mental edge that makes us winners in sports and in life? Here are some suggestions.

Without self-control and n-tental toughness, success is impossible-in sports or in life

• by David Egner

March 3, Shaquille O'Neill had that happen. The Magi c were fighting for the last playoff spot. So were the Pistons. With about 2 0 Focus on the task. The minutes to play in a close game, successful athlete, be it heavyeverybody's All-Pro bad guy Bill weight boxer Evander Holyfield, Laimbeer fouled Shaquille on two ERH APS IT'S TH E LOOK-the Sphinxgo lfer Bernhard Langer, or successive offensive possessions. like stare that characteri zes bi g Rangers slugger Juan Gonzalez, The Shaq Man charged Laimbeer, Doubl e Zero for the University of focuses his full mental abilities on only to be bear-hugged by Piston the task in front of him. He won't forward Alvin Robertson. Shaq North Caro lina-that makes Eric let the crowd, opposing players or • took a poke at Alvin, got tossed Montross seem so menacing. It suggests pressure from the media keep him out of the game, and had to pay a from concentrating, not even for a heavy fine. Even worse, he was a toughness-:-a certainty that if a job needs to get done, the split suspended for the next game-a second . Holyfield has to man to do it has arrived. It's a look that doesn't change with · watch that right hand; Langer must key game in the pl ayoff stretch the winds of basketball change. Bump Montross hard and concentrate on that millisecond run and one the Magic lost. when his 5-iron impacts the ball; To avoid doing things you' ll the look stays. Call a terrible foul on him and the expression Gonazalez has to track that fast- regret, establish strong principles doesn't change. Block his shot and he remains unperturbed. ball and make a split-second deci- of behavior beforehand- and sion to swing or take the pitch. sti ck to them. Don ' t let yo ur But it's more than a look. Behind the look is an attitude that To keep that focus, an athlete mind be drawn away by what's suggests mountains of self-control. Watching Montross go • must ignore the distractions of his going on around you. If everyone else gets sloppy, that's no reason environment. He cannot get so about his business is a lesson in the value of keeping men- cau ght up in what 's going on for you to let your performance tally tough. And the big trophy sitting in the Dean Dome arou nd him or the actions of his slide. The person with self-control will remain separate from his opponent that he stops concentratdisplay case is testament to that toughness. ing and does somet hing he environment, thus protecting his To acco mpli sh a feat li ke winning the national cham- shouldn't. Let me illustrate. Last mental edge.

S POFtTS SPECTRUM - JULY / AU GUST 1993

REFLECTION

On Focus Besides the ir c h a mpions hips earne d with m e nta l t oug hness-Eric Montross ' NCAA ring, Bernh a rd Lan ger 's G r een .Jack e t from Au g u s t a , a nd E v a nde r Holyfie ld's h eavywe ight b e lt- these th ree a ls o s h are a f a ith in .Je sus C hris t.

@ Keep improving. The mos t successful peoplewheth er athl etes or not-see th emsel ves as al ways hav ing things to work on and improve, even when they' re at the top of their game. They w'ork as hard on problem-solving when things are going well as they do when they are in a slump. That kind of mental toughness keeps th em from thinking, " I've arrived." I f you rel ax in your determinati on to improve, you hurt yourself in two ways. First, it begins a gradual decline. The minute you stop

going forward, you start going backward. Second, it keeps you from achievi ng what you may otherwise have accomplished.

Th e best middle linebacker ever to play pro football, many contend, was Mike Singletary. He retired at the end of the 1992 season after nine consecuti ve Pro-Bowl appearances. Bears linebacker coach Dave McGinnis said of Singletary, " He' s got one straight-line focus: To be the best he can be, and there's no lip service to that. He puts it into practice. Day to day to day discipline is very hard to do, and he does it." In spite of all he's achieved, Singletary does not believe he's ever played a perfect game. " I'd like to play a game with no mistakes-none. M ake every pl ay I'm supposed to make. No mental errors, be everywhere I'm supposed to be and make the play." No one, in sports or in life, will become all he can be if he stops work ing to improve, stops wrestling with problems, or stops emphasizing achievement. 0 Be Mentally Tough. An athlete with a disciplined mind keeps the big picture in perspecti ve. He devel ops th e kind of self-control that keeps him from brooding over a mi ssed free throw or a strikeout with the ba ses l oaded. He wo n't l et a missed putt so dwell on his mind that he double-bogeys the next three holes. He refuses to let one

little failure keep him from stri ving hard for major achievements. Look at the mental toughness of Jerry Rice, the NFL's all-time l eader with 103 TO catches. Michael Carter, 49er nose tackle, said of Rice, " It's his work ethic. All the things he's achieved, we can see the hard work he's put into it." Another athlete with a mental edge i s 49ers t i ght end Brent Jones. Comments 49ers coach Ray Sherman, " Great concentration. When it's crunch time, you can count on him." Jones backs it up off the field with a life of faith and purpose.

0 Know Yourself. An athlete who is brutally honest about his weaknesses and knows his strengths has a di stinct mental edge. He won' t go out there and try to outdrivc golf's big hitter John Daly and mess up his game. An athlete acknowledges his strengths too-that he can throw out runners from left field, that his best pitch is his screwball, or th at his strength i s parkin g in front of the net and knocking in rebounds (like the Red Wings' Dino Ciccarelli). It takes mental toughness to work within your limi ts, but it gives you a crucial edge. Suppose you can' t co ntro l your temper. If you want to overcome it, you must first have the courage to admi t it. You must decide beforehand to control it, then stick to your decision when provoked. We have to ad mire Steve deSouza. He had inadvertentl y fouled as he took over first place in one of the most important powerboat races of his career. He crossed the fini sh line first but was later DQ 'd by the judges. Steve maintained his mental edge. He didn't go into an angry tirade

SPORTS S P ECT R UM • -JU L Y /AUG U ST 1993

THE QUEBEC NORDIOUES last spring completed the most phenomenal turnaround ever accomplished in NHL history. After an abysmal20·48-12 record last year, the Nordiques fashioned a 47·27-10 mark for 1992-93. The improvement rivaled the gains of three pro teams who made the great· est turnarounds in their sports: •The 1946 Red Sox (from 71·83 to 104-50). •The 1963 Oakland Raiders (from 1· 13 to 10·4). •The 1990 San Antonio Spurs (from 21·61 to 56-26). The Nordiques credit most of their turnaround to the acquisition of goalie Ron Hextall in the Eric Lindros deal. Why? Hextall is an intensely focused veteran who hates to lose. "We had young guys who were talent· ed and confident," GM and coach Pierre Page said, "but we needed emotion and [Ron Hextall] brought it to us. He's all business." The mental focus and energy of one man has helped turn the Nordiques around. Life, like hockey, gets better with a sharp focus. And life gets best when the focus is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. "Let us throw off everything that hin· ders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). To find out what it means to make Jesus the focal point of your life, ask for the free booklet Who On Earth Can We Follow? Write to Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml49501 or ca/11-800·653-8333. or spout off to the press. He accepted the decision graciously. He even showed up smiling at the post-race celebration. It takes selfcontrol and uncommon courage to display such graciousness! A person without self-control is his own worse enemy. Wise old Solo mon wrote, " Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who l acks self-control " (Proverbs 25:28). Developing strong-as-steel sel f-control wi II give you that all-important mental edge. 11

Discouraged from playing collegiately by coaches who saw her height but not her heart, HatTer refused to quit the sport she loved. She frequented the beach to participate in mixed 2-player games, and when women's doubles developed into a televised pro sport, she was ready. HEALTHY GOOD LOOKS and entertaining "I was always competitive and can look personality, beach volleyball star Janice back now and see where that discourageHarrer could be the net counterpart of ment pushed me toward the beach. Playing Katie Couric. It's not in an immaculate TV with the guys helped me learn to play studio that HatTer plies her trade, however. defense and set the ball close to the net It's on a dusty, sun-drenched strip of sand, where they could spike it. God just used all 30 feet wide and 60 feet long. that adversity to inspire me to be a fighter A Women's Professional Volleyball and push [for success] on the beach. Association founding member, Janice has "Someone might look at my life now competed professionally since 1987, winand thi nk everything's perfect-! have ning enough to place her fourth in career this wonderful , good-looking husband, I earnings while appearing in 37 finals and live in Hawaii , I can come back during capturing 12 titles. the summers and play the pro tour and be In 1992, 167 women competed for a around my family in San Ju an record total prize money of $840,000, Capistrano [California]!" she says, her To pro beach volleyball enthusiasm showing. with Karolyn Kirby the top money winner at $74,987. Janice, after three "top "But that doesn' t necessarily mean I player Jan Harrer, three" finishes in the previous 5 years, will feel content. I can thank and praise slipped to number eight. Still, she capfor giving me those blessings. But for knowing whont to serve God tured one championship and took home me to be satisfied, my soul has to be right $37,225 in prize money. Her volleyball with Jesus. Those other things are just is just as vital as success has helped the blonde, blue-eyed temporary distractions!" veteran pick up sponsorships from comHatTer appreciates the scenery and the knowing how to serve panies such as Danskin (exercise clothlaid-back island lifestyle of her Hawaii ing) and Oakley (eyewear). home. "It's breathtaking," she says, "with By Karen Rudolph But this "All-American girl" looks the water, the mountains, the rainbows. Drollinger beyond the rankings and earnings and God's beauty is overwhelming!" She endorsements. As she chats with a visitor knows, however, that life is more than between matches at the San Diego Open, a tropical weather and verdant landscape. toumament at which Harrer and her part"But with day-to-day things it's like livner Deb Richardson finished fourth, Janice ing everywhere else. The most important focuses instead on life' s other priorities. thing is that I feel challenged spiritually." With a Honolulu address 9 months of And that means pursuing God's priorities the year, a supportive husband in Thom (a in her life, which, she explains, are her junior college physical therapy instructor), relationship with God, her relationship a Chaminade Uni versity head coaching with Thom, and her volleyball career. job, and a challengi ng at hletic career, "Thom and I try to hold each other Janice acknowledges that some would accountable to be the persons God wants think she's got it made, but she would us to be, and we try to balance that with remind them that she's had to overcome encouragement as well. We have a desire some formidable obstacles- like being 5to build our marriage on the foundation foot-7 in a sport of 6-footers-to succeed. of Jesus Christ. "I didn' t play in a big collegiate pro"Thom [who had a brief career on the gram," notes Harrer, who played volleymen's tour] has been incredibly supportball and led cheers for Saddleback Junior ive. We want to reach out to others, Coll ege in Mission Viejo, California, whether it's in volleyball or in teaching a before transferring to the Uni versity of yo un g marr ieds class through our California at Irvine. churc h." A welcome mat with a verse With a build more suited to long-disfrom the biblical book of Joshua greets tance running, surfing, tennis, or mountain biking Uust a few of her visitors at the Harrer household and sums up their family focus: hobbies), Harrer succeeds because of her tenacity, experience, confi"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve; as for me and dence, and all-round team play, often barking out encouragement to her my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24: 15). teammate. When she's on center court at the beach, the temps-and the HatTer's enthusiasm for sharing her faith in God began only after she tempos-rise. Her volleyball vocation proves once more that it's not had ended her own philosophical search for significance. She says she how big you are but how big you play that counts. had "read the Bible in bits and pieces and believed in God," but hadn't 12

S PORTS SPECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ JULY/A U G U ST 1993

~ Net Results. The 1990 WPVA Defensive Player of the Year, Harrer has parlayed her skill at defense into 62 career Final Four finishes.

â&#x20AC;˘ Getting AlongOn and Oft the Court JANICE HARRER, who has competed in 83 different events and played with 9 different partners, offers these reminders on how to be a better team player. "'communicate A be positive/encouraging A accommodate your partner's weaknesses A have a coordinated, agreedupon game plan A try to be selfless "If I can learn to be selfless," Harrer says, "everything in life would be 10 times easier."

to come and be encouraged in God's love, rather than being so fu ll of anxiety about havi ng to compete and make money and please sponsors and fami ly and friends. Those things can really weigh on people. "God says that we can cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us [I Peter 5:7], and the fellowshi p time becomes an opportunity to demonstrate that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who really care." If there is a downside to pro beach volleyball, Harrer feels that it includes two prevalent attitudes abou t competitiveness and attire."For the most part, the women on the tour are pretty good to each other. But competition sometimes creates an air of dissension, and some players think that they' ll have an edge when they compete against their friends by displaying certain [haughty] attitudes. That bothers me," she acknowledges. "And as far as working in my swimsuit, the suits that I play in cover more than the average suit. It better-it has to stay on while I play!" she laughs. "As far as the other players' modesty, any photographer can get an obscene angle whether it's a girl in a bathing sui t, a girl in a leotard, or a girl in a dress." Instead of dwelling on what might be perceived as negatives, Harrer says she would rather concentrate on her own ongoi ng personal challenges, such as memorizing and retaining Scripture and learning how to be more of a discovered how to have a meaningful relationship with Him. Over a 2- to servant. "Walki ng with Christ is a continual process. Sometimes I feel like 3-year period she sorted through the twin foes of doubt and unbelief. "If there was no one in charge of life, then there was no meaning I'm growing and other times I feel like a complete failure-'how can I and purpose," she recalls thinking, "and to me, that would mean life be a Christian when I just behaved like that?' God's grace is always would be futile." there for us, so when I stumble and fall and get caught in my own selfFinding that kind of thinking unacceptable, in 1985 she prayerfully ish world, God will still be there for me. "God is real and alive and loving- He's not a fictitious, incompreinvited Christ to come in and be the Lord and Savior of her life. "Today, people ask me about my conversion and how I came to know hensible character. His love, power, and strength exceed our underJesus Christ, and I tell them that it wasn't overnight. It was a very deli b- standing because it's so great. Knowing and accepting Jesus is the thing. "People don ' t understand that. erate, methodical 2- to 3-year process of analyzing and investigating and Even if someone believes in God, he Beach Ball or she may not understand the congoing beyond just believing in God. WPVA games are played between 2-person teams on a cept of Jesus as Savior and friendThere had to be something more than 30-foot by 60-foot outdoor sand court. T he top of the just living and dying, and my questhat He wants to be there for us. This women's net stands at 7'4" off the ground; the men's is what I've found, and this is what I tions were satisfied when I came to at an even 8 feet. want to tell others." believe in and trust in Jesus Christ." Games are played to 15 points. Team seedings in Janice and a dedicated nucleus of 5 This beach volleyball player has the 2-day, 32-team double elimination format that is defi nitely built her career on someother women volleyball pros have characteristic of pro beach volleyball are determined thing more substantial than sand. She organized a Saturday evening fellowby rankings. ship ti me during which their peers, has built it on Jesus Christ, the Man Each participant earns points for her tournament the Bible calls the Rock. along with their families and friends, finishes throughout the season. These points, when Freelance writer Karen Rudolph and "anyone sitting on the beach" combined with her partner's points, determine the week's ranking or seedings. can join in. Drollinger lives in Califomia with - Karen Drollinger her husband and their three children. "It's a fellowship open to anyone

SPOATSSPECTRUM•JULWAUGUST1993

He Speaks Softly, but He Carries a Big Stick "' â&#x20AC;˘ "'

He's

80 Sports Spectrum: Last season was a disappointment for you and the Mets. What was it like living through a year in which the team struggled on the field, you had to learn a new position, and you spent a lot of time on the disabled list? Howard: Well, it didn't go well . It's one of those things. You can' t predict injury. That's really what made it bad- not being able to perform. But learning new positions and things like that, that's standard stuff. You work as hard as you can and hope to try and get it. SS: When you find yourself in the middle of a discouraging season, what elements in your life give you the encouragement you need to get through to the end? Howard: Well, basically, you reali ze that baseball is not your li fe and you know there are more important things- like family and children. My strong belief in Christ really got me through all the tough times. Along with my wife, we really battled through it. It was just nice to know that when the game's over you still go home- you've got a famil y to go home to and kids who love you. You hate to go through difficult periods, but you really have to. That's part of the j ob. And you learn to deal with it and move on. SS: Is there a specific Bible passage that helps you through tough times? Howard: Mainly the book of James-where James talks about tri als that we need to go through to develop the perseverance that's needed. Scripture says that we have to go through it so that perseverance will have its perfec t work. So there's no option there. Life i s full of tri als and di sappointments, and as a Christian you use that as your stepladder to maturity-Christian maturity. SS: After your phenomenal 199 1 year, the media guide for the New York Mets had Howard Johnson on the cover for 1992. That shows how much the team respects you. Howard: That was a big honor. It was nice of them to do th at. I had come up with a real good year, and the team _,.. R e turning to F o rm . .Jus t wanted to do something special for me two s umme rs re move d by doing that. It was a nice token of their appreciation. from leading the leagu e in SS: What other struggles, even outhome runs a nd R B I, side of baseball , has th e Lord guided .John s on is b a ttling to you through? m a k e p eople forget a n Howard: I think the biggest struggle injury- rid d le d 1992 a nd a is j ust dea ling with the children, you s low s t a rt in 1993.

Howard Johnson usually does his talking with his bat, but in this Sports Spectrum

interview, he opened up about what's important in his life.

continued o n page 18

S P O RTS S P EC TRU M â&#x20AC;˘ JULY/ AU G U S T 1 99 3

HOJO

.A Back at Third. With the centerfield experiment of last year behind him, Johnson can concentrate again on third base, the position where he has had the most success-and the one for which he was selected to the 1989 and 1991 National League All Star teams.

kn ow, being a father and everything. And trying to be a husband and father when you're not around the house very much. It's a difficult thing that people don' t see in baseball. SS: Wh at di d you do last winter to try to make sure there was not a repeat of 1992? Howard: There's really nothing you can do to guarantee it won't be a repeat, but I think all you can do is try to learn from it. For me it was just getting healthy and getting prepared to play this year and going about my business. I was trying to get healthy and strong and get into shape and get into a good frame of mind heading into the year. And I was trying to forget about last year. SS: Let 's talk about your background a little bit. Wh at do you remember abo ut grow ing up in Florida? Howard: It was enjoys''""'"00""'"''sPOâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ ab le. We were fortun ate that we be able to play baseball year-round clown there. So that probably was a big advantage. We played as much as we could growing up. It proved to be a real big help. SS: What were some of the interests you had as a kid? Howard: Played baseball- mostly all I did was pl ay baseball. I di dn' t do much el se. Of co urse I enjoyed basketball, football, and things like that, playing with the guys and stuff. But primarily I was interested in being the best ball player I could be. SS: Who was someone who influenced you while you were growing up? Howard: Mainly my father. He's the one who gave me what I needed. He taught me how to play, about hard work, and about dedication. SS: Tell us how you came to faith in Christ. Howard: I grew up in a Chri sti an home, but I never reall y knew the import ance of committing my life to Christ until 3 years ago. My wife had a lot to do with that. She started attending church in our hometown. She had some concerns about our famil y, about how we were bringing up our family, and about our future. She had accepted the Lord, and through her prayers and the prayers of her friends I was able to come to the Lord. I realized that i f you love Christ-if you love God and you want to be a Christian and be saved-you need to commit yourself to Him . You need to love Him and obey Him . Those are th e thin gs I learned. So that October at home, I decided to commit my heart and life to the Lord and give him everything I S P O R TS

S P ~GTRUM

had. When I got saved, I told myself th at this was a commitment and there was not going to be any turning back. Baseball wouldn' t the most important thing and my fami ly wouldn't be the most important thing, but God would be the most important thing. That decision put everything into perspective. SS: Was there anything abou t taking thi s step of faith that frightened youth at you were reluctant about? Howard: I think I was reluctant only because I like to be in control. Ballplayers have so much control as far as what they do on the field. And as a player you make a lot of money, so you're able to buy what you wantdictate how you're going to live. It was very hard for me to accept giving th at up and playing for different values. Once I realized that I could do that, I was able to make the full commitment that was necessary. Going into spring training that year, 1 decided I was not going to compromise my faith with the media or with my teammates, and I was going to let them know that I was a different person. I think Christ has been fairly well represented. SS: How do you see the Christi an ballplayer's role in baseball today? Howard: I don't know i f there's a specific role set out for the Christian ball player. But each Christian guy in lockerrooms all over the country has a responsibility to act in a way that represents Jesus Christ well and to be there for the guys who might need help. We' re supposed to stand for consistency and all the good that's in the world through Jesus. So we 're supposed to be able to be there and be the j oyous spirit that people like. SS: Can you tell me about Kim and the kids and what you do to keep your marri age strong? Howard: Well, Kim is a great wife. I mean, if it weren' t for her I'd probably be in a lot of trouble today. She got me on my feet financially. She's the mother to my children, spending the time that 's necessary when I haven't been there. My kids are growing up in a good home, and it's really because of my wife and the work she's put in. SS: Is Kim a big sports fan? Howard: No, she's not. She's not a big sports fan at all. The only thing she'll watch is baseball. And she's really not that interested in what we do or anything like that. But she certainly knows that baseball is important to me, so indirectly she's a baseball fan. But she cares more about what goes on inside of me than anything. SS: Is she the disciplinarian in your fami ly? Howard: She used to be. And she can't get around it sometimes when I' m not there. But that' s definitely a father's role, to be a disciplinarian. To be the authority in the house. But certainly when I'm not there she has to be that and she does a great j ob. But it's definitely my responsibility. SS: Getting back to baseball. You talked about having to face struggles as a player. One of those had to be when you were with Detroit in 1984, and Sparky Anderson chose to play Marty Castillo at third instead of you in the League Championship Series and th e World Series. This was after you had played more than 100 games at that position during the season. How did you deal with that?

â&#x20AC;˘ JULY/ A U G U ST 1 993

HO.J O

Howard: I was disappointed by that, but there was nothing I could do about it. I tried to stay ready and when it was my opportuni ty to do the best I could . Mainly I wanted to win, and i f th at's the route they wanted to go, then I wasn 't going to argue with him. Sparky was the manager and the one in charge. SS: Talk about the trade that brought you to the Mets in December of that year. How did you feel at that time, what was going through your mind, and how did it affect your family? Howard: My little girl Shannon was only a year old, so she didn 't know anything about it. But my wife cried when I got traded. After we thought about it, though, we just decided at that point that it was for the best. We weren't believers at the time, but we j ust tried to make the best of it. It looked like a good situation for me- a chance to play every day. My career has really been blessed. I didn 't think I would ever be in this position, but I got a chance to be an everyday player after the 1986 season. So starting the 1987 season I was given the opportunity to play for Davey Johnson. I think that when you're young, you need time, and I was given that time. The last few years have been really good, and the Met organizati on has been good to me. It has worked out really well. Th ere have been some reall y difficult tim es, of course. But you' re gonna find that anywhere. Certainly I don' t want to think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. SS: The media has got to be a lot tougher here. Howard: The media i s a li ttl e bit tough here. There's just more of them; it's just less free time. You just do the best you can with them. The main thing is you give them respect and just play hard. SS : Wh at were your goals as you prepared for 1993? Howard: To stay healthy. I was mentally prepared for thi s year, and J wanted to have a great year. My goal is to put ' 92 behind me and move on. During the spring I was looking forward to thi s season more than any other season in the past. I like our team, and I want to see us win. It's just a matter of conti nuing to go out there, play hard and do my part. SS: Is there a Bible passage that you're clinging to this year to gi ve you strength through another long, tough season? Howard: I' ve been li steni ng to a l ot of John MacArthur's tapes on trials and temptations in James. And that 's the one boqk in the Bible that my wife and I spent the most time in last year. It helps me to understand that we need to go through difficult times to achieve maturity. If everybody had good things all the time, it would be a very dull world because there would be no setbacks. SS: You' re a 3-time 30-30 man (at least 30 home runs and 30 stol en bases in one season). How do you view yourself in compari son with other hitters both past and present? Howard: Well, I don't know because I think the game's changed a li ttle bi t as far as how pi tchers attack hitters now. You know, 30-30 is a nice thing to accomplish, and it's really a testimony to endurance. It 's kind of like running a marathon. You have to do it

over th e course of a whol e year. It's not something you Y.HE POWER OF do in one week. It' s a marked PRACTICE consistency and being able to At 5'10" and 195 pounds, Howard Johnson do a lot of thin gs . That ' s will not remind anyone of Cecil Fielder something that the Lord has (6'3'; 245), Frank Thomas (6'5'; 240), Fred blessed me with- a real good McGriff(6'3'; 210), or Mark McGwire (6'5'; body and a desire to play. I t's 225). But some other numbers he has post· been one of my happied will remind est accomplishments. us that he is SS : What i s th e quite a ba.sher thing th at you' re mos t in his own proud of as yo u l oo k right. His 200· back over your basebal l career? plus home runs, Howard: I think his nearly 700 ju st getting to the big RBI, his three l eagues is one of the 30-30 seasons, proudest moments. Also his two All-Star th ere was winn i ng a appearances, World Series in both the and his American League and National th e National League. League record And of course going 30for most switch· 30. I th in k achi ev in g th ose numbers wi ll hit home runs always stand out. in a season (38 SS: The 1986 World in 1991) all Seri es had to be a thrill for mean that Howard Johnson stands tall you. among sluggers. For any young player Howard: Yeah, it was. It who wants to improve his game-even if was a lot of fun. I got to play he IIUty never achieve what HoJo has in the second game against the achieved- here's some advice from the Red Sox. It was an interesting Mets' third baseman. series, and one of th e most exciting I've ever seen. HE BIGGEST THING you as a young SS: It definitely was one of ballplayers can do to improve your hit· the most exciting Seri es anyting is to put the time in to hit in the cage. one has ever seen. Was there a Also, play as much as possible. I think a lot of memorable moment in th at kids don't take the time to get into the leagues World Series for you? and play as many games with their friends as Howard: No question . It possible. And when you are playing, play has to be that ball going hard. It doesn't cost anything to run the bases through [Bill] Buckner's legs. We just couldn ' t believe we hard or to run on a fly ball. won that game! When It comes to practicing, maybe your SS: What kind of goal s Father or Mother can help. Get them out there have you set for yoursel f, spirto throw the ball to you and just let you hit. If itually speaking, both on and that Isn't possible, hit as much as you can off off the field? the batting tee. Hit whenever you can. That's Howard: I think we make the best way to make improvement. D a mi stake if we se t goal s, because you don't really know where you' re going to be. You don' t reall y know where the Lord 's going to lead. My goal is to be available. If I had to narrow it down to one thing, it would be to be available to Christ- to do what He wants me to do. I think he wants me to play the game and do my j ob well, and be as good a husband and father as I can be. It' s reall y simple for me to do. I hate to get into any kind of number goals or speci fic things I want to accomplish. I just want to be everything that Christ wants me to be.

SPOR T S S P ECTn iJ M • .JU L Y/AUG U S T

1993

STAT8

CENTRAL

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• Keeping Score ofPascinating ~ts and Terrific Compiled by Rob B entz

TTTTTTTTTT.TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT• •TTTTTT • 1 b Se urit With ig-na players ~ike Shqpuille 0 eal, A nzo Mourning, an Christ (;m Laettner in l t year's BA dr t, some r.ather lqrge contl!acts wer. expect tl. What as not expecffd was t~ lengtR of som of the d~als. Ch ck out t~r long-,fm co111rdtment that wl e exten ed to laf.t year's ! top ten draft nicks.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 7. 8. 9. 10.

SHaqullle 0' ~a1 ......... ......7 yea s......... ... ......... orlando Magic Alonzo Mourning ... ,. ......oye rs ............t:"...... charlotte Hornets Christian Laettner ............oyears .........MJnnesota Dmberwolves Jim Jackson ............................oyears ....................oanas Mavericks LaPhonso Ellis ........................5 years .......................oenver Nuggets Tom Gugliotta ........................7 years ..................washington Bullets walt Williams .......................&years ..................sacremento Kings Todd Day .................................5 years .....................Milwaukee Bucks Clarence Weatherspoon ......7 years ..................philadelphia 7Gers Adam Keefe ...........................5 years ...........................Atlanta Hawks

Fresh out of college, that's some kind ofjob security! • The Manage:r's Musical Chai:r During the San Diego Padres' National League championship season of 1984, they had perhaps the most bizarre managerial situation in baseball history. They had four managers in one game. The Padres and Atlanta Braves hooked up in a beanball festival that saw Padres Manager Dick Williams thrown out. He was replaced by coach Ozzie Virgil, who also got the thumb. Next, Jack Krol took over, onl y to get tossed out as well. The Pad's fourth manager, Harry Dunlop, stuck around long enough to watch as Braves manager Joe Torre was sent to the showers. The final score: Padres 4, Braves 2-in managers that is. • wo:rld Cup 1990 Revisited With an average of 53,2 16 spectators per game, the 1990 World Cup of Soccer Tournament packed in 2,767, 198 fans over its 52-game schedule. But those in the stands weren' t the only ones 20

watching. According to officials, a cumulative total of 26.7 billion soccer-crazed fans tuned in around the world to watch at least some of the 1990 World Cup Tournament on television. As soccer continues to grow in popularity around the world, look for those numbers to grow for the 1994 World Cup ~ Undetermined. In 1990, the West Germans cele- : Tournament. An esti- brated after defeating Argentina to capture the mated viewership of World Cup. Who will take the Cup In 1994, and can : US match the 2.7 million fans who turned out to ; 31.2 billion is expect- the watch the 1990 tournament In Italy? : ed to watch during the 1994 tournament as it is will be played. That's a lot of broadcast from the nine US cities soccer fans in a world that has a where the soccer extravaganza population of 5.5 billion people.

• Supe:r Mario and The G:reat One Both Mario Lemiuex and Wayne Gretzky missed a considerable amount of time due to injury and illness the past season, yet it didn't take away from their superstar status. The two have combined to win 12 of the last 13 NHL scoring titles, dating back to the 1980-8 1 season. When one name is brought up, the other isn't far behind, so let's take a look at how their first five NHL seasons compare. • Mario Le.u.iuex YEAR GAMES GOALS ASSISTS 1984-85 73 43 57 1885-86 79 48 93 1986-87 63 54 53 1987-88 77 70 98 1988-89 76 114 85

I I totals 388 300 415 I I • Wayne G:retzky I YEAR GAMES GOALS ASSISTS 1979-80 79 51 86 I

1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

80 80 80 74

55 92 71 87

109 120 125 118

POINTS PENALTY MINUTES 100 54 141 43 107 57 168 92 100 199

715

348

POINTS PENALTY MINUTES 137 21 164 28 212 26 59 196 205 39

I I 393 358 558 914 173 I totals 1 Hockey fans today are being treated to perhaps the two best players ever to lace up a pair of skates. L

-------- -------=---.... SPORT S S P ECTR U M • JULY/AU G U S T "1993

~ Unreal. Dale Jarrett described his win and the resulting fanfare as something "far beyond what I could ever Imagine."

• Hey Son, Can I Do:r:ro-.M So.u.e Cash? Dale Jarrett, winner of the 1993 Daytona 500, won $289,135.00 in his first three 1993 Winston Cup events. Compare that with the lifetime earnings of his father Ned Jarrett, a two-time Winston

7rivia from the World of' Sports Cup champion, who earned $289, 146.00 in his entire career. In case you don't have a calculator, that's a difference of $11 . That's three races in the 1993 season, compared to a career of 352 NASCAR races. My, how times have changed!

.M ..

Consistency Veteran tennis player Ivan Lendl finished 1992 ranked number 8 in the IBM/ATP Tour Rankings. That's an LENDL'S admirable feat in itself, LEGACY but consider 1880 .......8th that Ivan has 1881 .......2nd 1882 ......Srd finished in the world's 1883 .......2nd top ten for 13 1884 .......3rd consecutive 1985 .......18t years. Jimmy 1988 ....... 18t Connors' top 1987 .......1st ten ranking 1988 .......2nd 1989 .......1st for 16 straight years 1990 .......3rd 1991 .......5th is the only streak longer 1992 .......8th than Lendl 's.

• Naane That A.-ena Try your hand at matching the following Division I basketball schools with the somewhat unusual names of their home courts.

0 0 0 0 0 0

1. Memphis State 2. Canlslus 3. Prairie View 4. Alcorn State 5. sw Louisiana 8. St. Louis

a. The Arena b. The Cajundome c. Scalpln' Grounds Arena d. The Pyramid e. The Baby Dome I. The Aud

•• Is free agency good for the NFL?

Chuck: It depends on whom

you talk to. It's been a bonanza for the players, especially offensive and defensive lineman. Salaries are going through the roof, but that should change after the NFL Institutes a salary cap in 1994. One thing to keep in mind is that most NFL contracts are not guar· anteed. I personally feel that the players have the right to become free agents and test the market. But It's the own· ers who hold the key-a very expensive ~ne.

• I follow the North 0

Stars and a.m troubled by their departure to Dallas. What are your thoughts?

Chuck: Minnesota deserves NHL hockey. It's a wonder· ful state, and iti will be hard to fathom looking in the newspapers andlnot finding "Minnesota" in 'the stand' ings. However, hockey is a business, and owner Norm Green found a city that can promise him revenue from a huge radio-TV package and a high number of season tickets. e

0 Tell me about Dave Winfield.

Chuck: David Mark Winfield

was a muti-sport star at the University of Minnesota. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, the Utah Stars of the ABA 1 the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, as well as the San Diego Padres of baseball's National League. He signed with the Padres, and the rest, as they say, is history. His very successful career has taken him from San Diego, to the New

York Yankees, to the California Angels, to the Toronto Blue Jays, and back home to Minnesota. Winfield is now in his 20th year in the majors. During that time, he has played in 12 All-Star games and two World Series. In 1992 Winfield won the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He began 1993 in 20th place on the all-time home run list with 432.

Q: I'm trying out for my high school football team. Could you suggest where I might be able to locate a football playbook?

Chuck: Every coach has his

own playbook full of offensive sets and defensive schemes. Some are very simplistic, while others are as thick as the New York phone directory. Ask your coach if you can get a head start by talking with him about his coaching philosophies and ideas regarding his team. Your school library should also have some literature that talks about the basics of football. I wish you all the best.

Q: Has a. woman ever tried out for an NBA team?

Chuck: Anne Meyers, who

was recently elected to the basketball Hall of Fame, had a tryout with the Indiana Pacers about a decade ago. She didn't make the ballclub, but proved that she could hold her own against some of the world's best male athletes. She works during the season as a TV analyst for women's college basketball.

Q: I have an old baseball glove endorsed by Jerry Lynch. Could you tell me about his career?

SPO RTS S P ECTR.UM • .JU I. Y/A U G U ST 1 993

CHUCK SWIRSKY,

host of Sports Spectrum radio, is also sports director of WGN Radio in Chicago and play-by-play voice of the DePaul basketball team. Chuck: Lynch played with the

Pirates and Reds from 1954 to 1966. He was a terrific pinch hitter. In both 1960 and 1961, Lynch had 19 pinch hits to lead the league. He is fifth on the all-time pinch hitting list with 116 hits off the bench. Lynch helped the Reds to the 1961 National League pennant. Jerry's career included nearly 1,200 games and a career batting average of .277. He currently operates Champion Lakes Golf Course in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Got a Question?

If you have a question about sports, send your question to "The Swirsky Report," Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Listen to Chuck Sports Spectrum radio with

Chuck Swirsky is on the air live each Saturday at noon Eastern time nationwide. Call 1-800-598-7221 to find out where you can hear this lively sports program. 21

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• Athletes Who are Leading by Exa-mple

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Party to a Relationship by Dickie Noles

with Ken Walker Dickie Noles was a relief pitcher for 11 years with several major league clubs. He now does community relations work with the Philadelphia Phillies as well as alcohol and drug rehabilitation counseling in middle schools and high schools. Noles tells of one small success he enjoyed in his work with a high school student. "YEAH, I GOT SUSPENDEDfrom school for a day, but for something I didn't do," Jerry [not his real name) complained. "So what did your father say?" I asked. "He grou nded me. Said I couldn' t go to the party tonight. Said he would put my bike away if he had to. Took away my Walkman too." Jerry wasn' t the typical "atrisk" student. Not a drug user or a delinquent, he was popular and intelligent. But he suffered from a troubled home li fe. Left unchecked, the problem could create a simmering kettle of emotions that would ex plode years later. Friction with his father lay at the heart of his lackadaisical attitude. The symptom- neglecting his school work- led to his place22

ment in SAVE (Students Attitudes Values Education). I volunteered to join this experimental program once a week as a favor to a friend who was the principal of a rural middle school. A pinched nerve had cut short my final pro baseball season and gave me time to convert 7 years of informal, recreation-oriented work with youth into real-life intervention. I was sti ll hoping to receive a call from a major league team, but in the meantime I was learning how to help kids. Six weeks into the course, I was facing my first urgent challenge. It would appear tougher than pitching to Barry Bonds with the bases loaded. As I talked with Jerry, I noticed that he veiled a lot of problems beneath his happy-go-lucky exteri or. His frequent late-night bike rides, accompanied onl y by his beloved headset, betrayed his chatty behavior. In the darkness, he could never pedal long enough to find the discipline, love, and attention he craved. "So how do you feel about what your father did?" I asked, referring to the party his dad said he couldn' t go to. "I told him, 'Fine, I'll just walk to the party.' I'll just leave when my parents leave. They won't stick around to see what! do." How I identified with that! A th ird-grader when my parents divorced, I relied on Grandma for discipline while Dad spent most of the day sitting around the house drin king beer. Unlike Jerry's father, he was home all the time. For all the attention he

gave me, he might as well have been miles away. Once in a while we watched baseball together, a precious occasion, since during the telecasts we talked a little. However, every time our conversation reached the plate, he walked out of the ballpark. He either didn't want to get close- or didn't know how. It didn't matter. By the time I reached high school, I shunned all discipline. Instead, I found comfort in the alcohol that hooked my father

"Why should I listen to him?" Jerry's normal smile turned into an angry scowl. "He never listens to me." "You have to show your father that you're willing to listen to him. In a sense, teach him that he's neglected you; treat him like 're talking to him, not at him. If he ignores you, stop talking. If he starts paying attention

when he gave up on life. Years wou ld pass before faith in Jesus Christ enabled me to hop off a drunken merry-go-round of brawls, jails, fines, and lawsuits. I didn' t want to see Jerry get stuck on the same ride. After a wandering conversation, Jeny admitted to me, "I'd really like for him to stay home to make sure I don't leave and make sure I don't try to ride my bike." "Well, let's try to help you understand your father and help you deal with this," I suggested gentl y. "First, you have to respect your father .. ."

again, start talking. Make him come to you. Loosen him up. ' Despite my pep talk, painful memories tugged at my heart. Here was a 14-year-old reliving my agony. His father's kneejerk method of discipline avoided any discussion of Jerry's problems. My own father never listened to me either. Although the circumstances differed, the outcome was the same: Neither of our fathers provided the male guidance that every child desperately needs. "He's still your father, and you need to respect him," I con-

SPORTS SPEOC TRUM • JULY/ AU G U ST 1 993

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• tinued. "By respecting him, you' re obligated to listen to him. Do me a favor. Sit at home and do what he says, whether he's there or not. Then tell me how you feel next Friday." ''I'm not gonna do that, I can tell you that right now," he shot back. The response chilled me. In his own way, Jen-y was careening down a dangerous road. He wasn't abusing drugs or alcohol, nor brushing up against the wrong side of the law. Nonetheless, if he kept bottling up his emotions, the stress would finally empt. Two, three, five ... maybe ten years later. I worried about the form it would take. Would his private heartache eventually lead him into drug abuse? The bottle? Or would he become one of the "silent statistics," people who sleep-walk through life, never ful filling their true potential? "Look," I said, trying to disguise my plea with a calm voice, "that's up to you. Just do me a favor. Think the situation through, think about what's right and wrong and what you should do." Nodding just as calml y, he deadpanned, "Okay . .. I' ll think about it. But I'm still going to the party." I didn't want any favors. He didn' t need to do this for me. It was for him. I couldn't change his father, but I could help him reach out and take the first step toward mendi ng their tattered relationship. That seemingly minor, insignificant stride could ultimately weave personal outings, "small talk," and other tiny threads of communication into a life-changing partnership. All this could come if Jerry would just say, "No, Dad, I didn't go to the pat1y tonight. You told me not to." When I walked out of the building to drive home, I shook my head, "He's going to the party." Turning the igni tion key, I

sighed. If he followed those defiant impulses, I would have to accept that setback and push on. SAVE already had accomplished a lot with the students, but it couldn't make them perfect. Driving home, I thought about JetTy's traits. He had erected those emotional walls to protect himself. And, like so many students I observed, he often reacted hastily without thinking. He was smart too. Maybe the seeds I had planted would bear fruit in self-consideration. If he opened up and released those feelings, he had a chance. I knew too that if he considered how obedience would lead to the rewards he sought, he would follow my suggestion. Suddenly confidence oozed out of my chest. "He's not going," I proclaimed aloud. "He's not going. I just know it." While I try to devote weekends to famil y and leave the cares of the world behind, on Saturday and Sunday I felt the dilemma pulling at my mind. I could hardly wait to see Jerry again. The following Friday he walked in for our personal counseling session and flopped in a chair. "Got anythi ng to say?" I asked. "As a matter of fact, something happened this week," he said, descri bing an incident at school. "So S POR TS

SPEC T~UM

what happened with you? Did you make any connections with the Reel Sox?" "No, nothing happened there. I'm still not sure if I'll be able to sign with a major league club next season." I hesitated. The chess game had to encl. "So, what happened at the party?" "I didn't go," he said. All right! I wanted to jump and throw my arms in the air, li ke I had just smacked pitched a no-hitter at Veterans Stad ium. Instead, I nodded and smiled, "Good. Good. Tell me about it." "Well, it was all right," he shrugged. "I just sat at home." His cool manner was about as convincing as mine. Beneath that tough exterior, I knew he was brimming with happiness. He knew that what he had done was good for him and that it would make his father proud. Most important, he had taken

the first step. In the weeks that would follow, Jeny would describe how his communication at home had improved, along with his grades. Although he never openl y admitted it, his heart had softened by trying to understand his father instead of always insisting on having his own way. I often told my students that God loves them so much He sent His only Son to die for them. Now, Jerry would be better able to understand that divine love by watching it flower in his earthly father.

• Howard Cross Sp ..eading Hope CULTURE SHOCK CAN PARALYZE a

person who goes from a small town to a big city. It gri pped Howard Cross li ke a python grips a mouse, until he began to turn his fear into positive action. A native of tiny New Hope, Alabama, and a former All-

MIKE POWELliAlLSPORT

• .J UL Y /A U G U S T 1 993

LEADER BOARD

Southeastern Conference tight end at Alabama, Cross has built his pro football career in New York City as a member of the Giants. The money and fame have been nice. The adjustment has been difficult. Cross used to lock his car doors when he drove through the roughest parts of New York. But then the culture-shocked man from New Hope felt a divine calling to spread new hope. So he unlocked his doors and started to walk those mean streets of drugs and crime. "I helped start a mentor program for high school kids," Cross explains. "A lot of kids have great potential. They' re out there trying to figure out which way they want to go. "I tell those kids, 'Look, you can' t just be a good kid and go into a shell. You've got to be a good kid and stand out. You've got to talk with other kids.' That helps." With a Super Bowl ring from 1991, when he caught four passes for 39 yards in helping the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills, Cross has instant credibility with his young audience. And when he brings along teammates like Rodney Hampton, Joey Smith, and Lewis Tillman, along with the Jets' Rob Moore, hope springs anew on streets of despair. "We might play basketball or stickball with the kids," Cross said. "We may have five events, and between every other event we' ll have a lillie message." To counter any negative images of athletes that are presented to kids in the New York media, Cross likes to tell them about Mark 9:33-34. That's where Jesus asked His disciples what they had been arguing about on the road to Capernau m. Ashamed that they had been discussing who was the greatest among them, the disciples decided to keep quiet. Cross loves to tell that story to troubled youth in The Bronx, Harlem, and Queens as a means of showing them that peopleeven followers of Christ like himself- are not perfect. The tight end refuses to allow his imperfections hinder his volun24

teer work in the forsaken places. "I tell the kids, 'If you see a guy up here telling you something, hopefully he' ll li ve up to it. But every once in a while, you' ll see us on the field and we' ll lose our temper. We're not perfect.'" The man from New Hope, li ke men from all backgrounds, will never be perfect on this earth. But that's not important. What really matters is that he has a Father who helps him not to be afraid of visiting the streets to share his faith. D

- Allen Palmeri • Addis Gez ahegn Racing to Stop Poverty . It's not as if Addis Gezahegn wanted to be an Olympic marathon runner as she was growing up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. What she really enjoyed was playing soccer with boys. And it's not as if there were women's marathon heroes in Ethiopia for her to emulate. When she ran her initial marathon in 1988, she became the first woman from her country to finish a 26-mile race. Having no marathon dreams

nor role models to follow were not the only obstacles Addis had to overcome on her way to running in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where she fi nished a disappointing 30th. The roadblocks were numerous. • The grinding poverty of her family-caused by a 1974 Marxist takeover of Eth iopia that led to her father's losing his farm land. • The poor diet of the fami ly as she was growing up. They subsisted on injera, a spongy, sour pancake; bread; wat, a stew made without meat; and ko/o, or roasted grain. • Her mother's embarrassment over her daughter's being a wondila, or tomboy. Addis would spend most of her days playing soccer. Yet there were also encouraging circumstances-hopeful signs that Addis could escape the cycle of poverty. At the top of the list is the influence of World Vision , a worldwide relief and development organization that helps the poor in the name of Jesus. World Vision did two things for the Gezahegn famil y. First, it provided food for the famil y and

SPORTS SPECTR UM • ..JULY/AU GUS T 1 993

school materials for the children. But for Addis, the second benefit is the best. She feels that her greatest gain from the organization was her becoming a Christian. "This is the main ... thing I got from World Vision-to know the Savior of the world." As a schoolgirl, Addis was introduced to the gospel, and she still remembers the clay she wrote in her schoolbook: "I am a Christian." Speaking of her faith, she says, "It's my life's guideline. For whatever I do, simple or complex, I turn to Christ for my guidance." What Addis Gezahagn is doing these days is not simple. She works fulltime in a clerical job for the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia while training for and competing in marathons across the eastern hemisphere. She has run in Japan, Holland, Germany, Poland, Spain, Kenya, Ireland, and the UK. But what she really wants is a trip to Atlanta in the summer of 1996. "l have a dream to be the best female marathoner. I even want to win the Atlanta Olympics." Not solely for herself, though. "By being Ethiopia's only female marathoner," she says, "I feel greater and stronger responsibility put on my shoulders. I am now a model for women and children." And part of that responsibility can be seen in her desire to let others benefit from her success. "If I get enough money from running, I want to improve my ... family's life. Then I will try to help those needy World Vision children in my country. Because I know the pains of poverty, I want to progress from beyond a sponsored child who is a success to a sponsor and donor." At age 23, Addis Gezahagn is a picture of what can be done when people set out to help people-a goal that is on her mind each day as she strives to win the race against poverty.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Taking You On the Scene in the World of Sports

Professional Bass Fishing By Lee and Sharon De Bevoise Each weekend from March through September,fishing contests are held in lakes and rivers throughout/he US. Here's an onthe-scene look at what goes on during a bass fishing toumament. AWN IS JUST HINTING at the edges of the horizon. In the predawn darkness, 40 of the world's top pro bass anglers prepare to do battle. The mist parts as each of the identical 20- foot bass boats is launched. The countryside thunders as the I SO-horsepower outboard motors roar to life. Aboard the boats, conversation is hushed as the pros make final adjustments. Some sit and sip coffee; others pace the decks. As the sun rises and begins to burn off the mist, conversation stops. The contest is about to begin. A loudspeaker blares the numbers of the first flight of bass boats. They idle past their identical twins and into open water, where the boats jump to life and skim across the water at speeds in excess of 60 mph. The hunt is on. Largemouth bass is the quarry. And the fi rst boat to reach the prime fishing spots will catch the most and biggest bass. As each boat nears a pre-chosen fishing area, the outboard is shut down. The pro clambers up onto the front casting deck, lowers the trolling motor, and maneuvers the boat into position. His reel sings its shrill song as the angler makes his first cast. Li ve bait is not permitted, so much of the angler's strategy involves what lures to use and retrieval technique will work best. The pro usually chooses the lures to match the favorite food sources of bass.

..&. Left: The morning mist lifts and hopes rise as the fishermen prepare for the starting signal.

Right: Pro angler Rick Clunn brings aboard a Junker (which for landlubbers should be read huge) largemouth bass.

As the pro continues to make • his casts, he surveys the water. His : movements take on the appear• ance of a bird dog as he leans over the bow of his boat looking for underwater structures that may be home to a bass or two. The shoreline begins to come ali ve at midmorning. Wildlife approach the water's edge to drink. The air is never fresher • than it is at this time of day. Suddenly the boat rocks as a bass propels itsel f out of the water. The pro's rod arches as the largemouth makes one fast, strong run after another. In a few minutes the fish tires and is lifted into the boat. After the angler takes a moment to admire God's handiwork, he removes the hook • and lowers the bass into the livewell. It will remain there, alive and well, until the weigh-in. Later, the bass will be released into the waters he left behind. Soon a second bass propels itself into the mid-morning sunlight. This time the bass violently shakes its body, throwing the

lure from its mouth. Score one for the fish. Often there are large gaps between the action. This is when the pro angler's ability to concentrate is tested. One lapse of concentration can cost him the big bass he needs to win the tourney. Soon it's lunch time. There are four largemouth bass in the livewell. Weigh-in is at 2 p.m., so shortly after lunch the anglers begin their 60-mph run back to the launch ramp. The ramp area is loaded with fans and members of the press who crowd around each boat as it is trailered to a holding aJea with the pro still aboard. Each competitor brings his catch to the weighin stand and proudly displays it. Here the true measure of pro bass anglers can be seen and appreciated. They're never too busy or tired to chat with fans, pose for pictures, or sign autographs. They carry their own Pro Bass League trading cards to sign and give to their fans. And the emcee asks the competitors some questions.

S P OR T S S P E C TR UM • JUL V / A U G U S T 1 993

Many pros will use the opportunity to share their testimonies of how God has guided their lives. One such angler is Shaw Grigsby Jr. " lied a wild and crazy life in high school and college. I got married and we had kids. But something was not right," explains Grigsby. " It really hit me when I was driving home from a fishing tournament. I had an audio tape of Hank Parker's testimony [a star in the Pro Bass League]. It really touched my heart, especially since my life was similar to the one he described on the tape. It opened my eyes, but I was hardheaded. ''Three months later I was having dinner with Terry Chupp (an evangelist who travels the pro circuits)," Grigsby continues. " Over a bowl of hot soup l accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I've got the greatest gift ever bestowed on a human being- salvation." That's a pri ze far better than even a great day of fishing. D

Outdoor photographers and writers Lee and Sharon De Bevoise live in Millville, New Jersey. 25

---.. ~ ~ -~-~-~ -~-~- ~ ~ .•.•

!': •••.

FAMILIAR

,' faces ~, In unprecedented numbers, major leaguers switched

I I '

'I STRANGE aces- I .

•

they move, and how are they responding to their new surroundings? Sports Spectrum writers David Moriah and J im Gibbs found the answers.

IN GOOD HANDS KEVIN SElTZER HAS TASTED the bitter and th e sweet in hi s 7-year American League career. Hi s first full season with th e Kevin Seitzer Kansas City Royals ( 1987) establi shed him as one of th e bes t young players in baseball. Playing ................... , in 161 games, he pos ted a· .323 batting average, with 83 RBI, and a league leading 207 hits. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year balloting, and his potential seemed unlimited. Since his spectacular debut, a lot has happened to the 31-year-old third baseman. He experienced a nightmarish season in 1991 , suffering with two painful knee injuries while rumors circulated that he had " lost his desire" to play the game. Released by the Royals in the spring of 1992, it appeared his career might be over when th e Milwaukee Brewers gave him a chance to make their club. Seitzer seized the moment. He established himself as the team's regular third baseman and contributed significantl y to the Brewers

surpri sin place finigshsecond in th e

AL East. After his solid .270 average with 70 RBI, • Seitzer fi gured he would play a prominent ro le in ~ th e Brew Crew's 1993 ~ pl ans. Milwaukee management had other ideas, however, and informed Seitzer th at he was slated for a backup role if he chose to stay with the team. The news hurt, and Seitzer once again felt adrift in his career. " I knew in my heart that it wasn' t time for me to be a backup player and sit on the bench most of th e time," Seitzer reflects. He entered the free agent market, expecting to be in a strong positi on since he and Wade Boggs were the only established third basemen on the block. Although several teams expressed initial interes t, the winter dragged on with no solid offers. "It was tough. It was like I hit .180 last year with about 20 RBI. I

Five major leaguers who Kevin Seitzer, .. changed teams before the • Harold Reynolds, &.. Season began talk about JodyReed, ~ l. -1". h h ... A.... lJ e On t e Ot er ..... Frank Tanana, and ~ side , Scott Sanderson, were among 4llt _,. - - - Ill those transplanted players. Why did teams for 1993.

•

All A 's . For the third straight season, Kevin Seitzer has taken his potent bat to a new team for evaluation.

S P O R TS SPECTR U M • JU L Y / AU G U ST 1993

OTIO GREULe/ALLSPORT

couldn ' t figure it out. I knew I had a better season than that, but nobody seemed interested in me." Through it all, Seitzer rested in his faith that the future was in God's hands. His decision to leave the Brewers and go into the unknown was the result of much time in prayer with his wife, and on the advice of his agent. "My agent doesn't share my fai th, but I believe God can use nonbelievers to impact believers," Seitzer explains. At the last minute the Oakland A's, a team he never expected to hear from, offered him the opportunity to be their regular third baseman. To Seitzer, who never doubted he was still capable of playing every day, it was a sign of God's faithfulness. Seitzer's .385 spring training batting average was a sign to Oakland that they had made a smat1 decision. A fter another long winter of wondering how things would turn out, Kevin Seitzer learned a few things about making tough decisions. " M y whole l ife before I became a Chri stian I had to worry about making wrong decisions and messing up my li fe. Now I don' t have to worry anymore. As long as I walk hand in hand wi th the Lord, and stay in close contact with Him, I can't mess up my life. I'm in great hands."

- David Moriah

A TOUGH CHANGE ,-=~~·~··==~ AFTER 12 YEARS IN SEATTLE' s organi za ti on, Haro ld Reynolds felt he needed a change. He got a big one. Not only did Reynolds change tea ms, he changed coasts. He moved from Seattle to Baltimore in ~-------~~~~~0111 a cross-co ntinental odyssey th at took him out of Seattle's modern Kingdome and into Baltimore's new, yet traditional Oriole Park at Camden Yards. " It was so tough to leave Seattle, because I had been in that organization for 12 years," Reynolds expl ains. "B ut I was reall y at a point where I needed a change. I was in a comfort zone, and I felt like I was stagnant. ·sometimes you need a change to shake you up spiri tually, and I think that's what this move did for me." At 32, Reynolds is the youngest of eight children. He is single, but his entire family lives on the West Coast, making the move even more difficult for him. " I kn ew it was something God wanted me to do, but I still fought it until the end," he says. " When you're comfortable, you really don' t want to change anything. But, deep down, I felt the Lord was calling me to make a change, and I knew that i t was something that I had to do." But it was not something that Reynolds did without prayer. Once he found out that he didn't fit into the Mariners' plans for the 1993 sea-

Cal and Hal. Harold Reynolds' move to Baltimore brought together a couple of 32-year-old infieldersReynolds and Cal R ipken .Jr.- who, combined, have ~ played in more than 3,000 games and who began the year with identical .978 fielding averages. ·

E ---------------------------------------~ son, he began praying specifically that God would open just one door. ~

"Going into the winter meetings, I felt li ke there would be about seven clubs interested in me," he recalls. " I knew then that I would have to be praying specifically that the Lord would show me which team he wan ted me to play for. I can remember talk ing to Brett Butler of the Dodgers about it, and he told me to forget about the money and forget about which teams have a better shot at a pennant. Forget about all of that, he said, and j ust try to sign with the team that the Lord wants you to si gn with. And , l ooking back, that was the best advice th at anybody ever gave me. " I began to pray th at just one door would open and it did. For a while, no one appeared interested in me at all. Then, I had a meeting with Cincinnati and it looked like I wuulu si gn with th em. Bu t th en th at . fe ll through. The next day I had a meeting with th e Ori oles. They were very interested, and we had a contract signed in about 2 hours. It was amazing how God worked all of that out for me." Reynolds has already established a church home in Baltimore. " Finding a church home is so important. Baseball players have a totally di fferent lifestyle than other people, so we really need that perspecti ve that being around other people at church can give you."

-Jim Gibbs

BATMAN? PROPPED UP among uniforms, spikes, assorted mail, and other items in Frank Tanana's locker at the New York Mets' Port St. Lucie trainin g camp in Flo ri da t hi s sp ring, was a not-so-sub tl e reminder that Frank is no longer an \..!:==========' American Leaguer. I t was an oversized, red, wiffl eball bat, sent to Tanana by Bruce Reynolds, the southern coord inator for Baseball Chapel. On the bat were these words: "Thi s bat is specially designed for newl y acquired National League pitchers who have spent th eir entire

Frank Tanana

SPORTS SPEC TRUM • JULY/ AU G U S T 1 993

T FA MILI AR

FACES

S TRANGE

PLA CES

The Big Hit. After playing big league basecareer in the American League." ball since 1973, Frank Tanana finally Tanana may need it. He began his career 20 years ago in California and has since got his first hit- on April 28 against played for Boston, Texas, and for the the San Francisco Giants. previous 8 seasons, Detroit. In those 20 years, he batted exactl y one time-in 199 1. just have to trust the Lord and know Tanana has had to adjust to a that whatever happens, He has the new league where the DH is best in mind for you." disdained and the pitcher must It was not long, however, before take his cuts at the plate. Reed found him self in Dodger Before the season started Blue. The Dodger front office swung a deal for the veteran secand guys like Greg Maddux were standing 60 feet, 6 inches ond baseman in order to help away, Tanana said he was shore up a porous infield. "looking forward to it." And he "! had not seen Jody play before because he had been in the American spent part of his winter preparing for it. Working out with hi s old League all those yea rs," decl ared Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda before teammates last winter, Tanana put the season began. "But after seeing him some time in on the business end of the bat. "It's not like I just fell out of bed play down here all spring, I've just about one da y and started hitting . I've been fallen in love with this guy as a player. He's a putting my time in at the batting cage." hard-nosed young guy, he's enthusiastic, and we' re But the Mets didn't acquire the former Tiger free just glad to have him. Jody Reed plays baseball like my E wife goes shopping-all day long!" agent last December because of his bat. What they needed was a > left-handed starter who could give them a lot of innings, and most ~ At 5' 9", Reed's size made him an instant hit with teammate Mets observers feel that Tanana, who turns 40 this summer, still has Brett Butler. enough left to help the Mets capture the division title. â&#x20AC;˘ "I pushed all winter long to get him over here," Butler said wryly, Tanana said he has no immediate plans to move his family out of ~ "This way, I'm not the shortest person on the team anymore." The the Detroit area. "We're just renting a place in New York for the ~ Dodger centerfielder towers over Reed at 5' 10". Reed said he found himself watching the Dodgers play a lot last year ffi summer," he said. "We didn't really feel like it was necessary to move out of Detroit at this point in my career." on cable. "It's really kind of funny when I think back on it now," he ~ What is necessary, Tanana added, is finding like-minded indi- says. "When I'm not playing the game, I like to watch baseball on TV. S vi du;~ ls you trust. "When you get into new sitnilfions, it's imporSo, when our games were over in Boston or wh;~tever city we would be ~ tant to look for a body of believers who can challenge one another in, I'd go back to my hotel room and catch one of the late games on the ~ to live for Christ." West Coast. The Dodgers were on TV a lot, and I watched a lot of their a After eight seasons in a Tiger uniform, Tanana said it was difficult games. I can never remember thinking I ~ to leave the close friends he had made in the Detroit area. might be playing for these guys at "I will miss all of my friends back in Michigan, but it's important some point, but I think that just to realize that for me those relationships I have back in Detroit are shows how God can prenot ending. Instead they have just been put on hold," he explains. pare your heart some"It' s also important to realize too, that nowhere on earth is our times." home. Heaven is our home. Everything else is just temporary." After spending a little time this season in the batter's box, Tanana Filling 8 Hole. may be glad of that.

-Jim Gibbs THE BREAKS OF EXPANSION . WH EN JODY REED was a bo y growing up in Tampa, Florida, he probably never envisioned himself playing major league baseball Jody Reed in Colorado. Yet, after the Boston Red Sox left him unprotected in last year's expansion draft, Reed appeared headed for Denver when the Rockies made him an early draft choice. "Things weren't working out in Boston, and suddenl y I had become expendable," Reed says. "I reall y wasn' t surprised that I was left unprotected in the draft and in a situation like that, you 28

After sufferIng through a horrendous season with Boston in 1992, Jody Reed surfaced in LA, where he fills a significant hole at second for the revitalized Dodgers.

S PORTS S P ~C TR UM â&#x20AC;˘ JULY/AUG U ST 1993

FAMIL I AR

FACES

Most of the Dodgers, Reed said, have made him feel right at home. "When you first come over, you do feel like the new kid on the block, but these guys have reall y made it easy for me," he says. "It takes time to build friendships, and there is a time of being kind of alone. But there are always going to be times when yo u feel by yourself. When that happens, I just have to remind myself that the Lord will always be there for me. A verse that I' ve clung to that has really helped me has been Philippians 4:13, which says, 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.' " And that includes enduring the breaks of expansion.

PURPOSE, PATIENCE, ANC PERSEVERANCE

~ . .)..

years is a long time to last in major leag ue baseball, especially for a

pitcher. Gifted pitchers come and go, flas hing brightl y for awhile ~========-:9 before succumbing to arm injuries or younger and faster competition. Scott Sanderson came on the National League scene in 1978 , grade school days for many of today's players, but he's not ready to leave yet. In fact, he seems to be doing a Nolan Ryan imitationgetting better with age. He's posted double figures for wins in each of his last 4 seasons, after accomplishing that onl y twice in his first II years. During that time ( 1989-1992) he has pitched in a World Series ( 1990 with Oakland), two league championships ( 1989 with the Cubs, 1990 with the A' s}, and was selected for the 1989 All-Star game. This year it's the California Angels who are counting on another reliable performance from the 36-year-old righthander. After wi nning 28 games the past 2 years for the anemic New York Yankees , Sanderson was not offered a contract for 1993. Although it was not a situati on of his own making , Scott Sanderson look~d at it as an opportunity to serve God. "I've had to leave four teams in my career (Expos, Cubs; A's, and Yankees) and it wasn' t my choice to leave any one of them. But I believe that if you ask for God's direction you have to be willing to follow. Each move was not one I welcomed or looked forward to, but each was a move of obedience. With each team I tried to look for the reason I was there." Of course, Sanderson knows that part of the reason he is there is to win games and give his team his best athletic performance. He takes that responsibility seriously; witness a lifetime record of 143- 121 while pitching frequently for second division ball clubs. But he is convinced there are other reasons why he sometimes finds himself in places not necessarily of his own choosing. "God has His reasons for the way things work out. I'm constantly l ,,,,,,,,,,,l.: l ••

PLAC ES

Angel Unaware. After a couple of successful y ears as a Yankee (28 wins , 401 Innings pitched, and 234 strikeouts), Sanderson was somewhat surprised to find himself out of the Bronx Zoo and headed for Disneyland.

-Jim Gibbs

Scott Sanderson

STRA N GE

~ ~

searching for what those reasons are, what my purpose is in every situation." Ending up this the spring wi th California Angels was not something Scott Sanderson had orchestrated. When the Yankees cut him loose, Sanderson spent plenty of time in prayer with his wife and several Chri sti an friends, seeking God's will for his career. "I asked God to make it obvious to me where He wanted me. Sometimes when I'm left to make my own decision I mess it up," Sanderson confesses. "As we were talking with different teams, doors began to shut . In one case the door slammed shut. The Angels were the team left, so I believe there's a reason we're here in Anaheim." The biggest challenge he faced was remai ning patient in the days before God revealed His plan. "Sometimes we ask God for an answer to prayer, and then we don't wait around for His answer. Perhaps it's a matter of immaturity or anxiousness or maybe even worry that our prayer won't get answered. So the biggest challenge for me was to ask God where we should go and then to wait on Him." Patience has landed Scott Sanderson on his fifth major league team, perseverance has earned him a I5-year major league career, and his decision to follow Jesus Christ has guaranteed him an eternity in heaven while giving him a real purpose behind his pitchingno matter who he is pitching for. D

S P O RTS S P ECT RU M • .JULY / A U G U S T 1 9 93

- David Moriah

••••••••••••••••••••

Catching Up By Tom F e lte n Most Meano:rable Ca:ree:r Moanent: " THE ONE T HAT STICKS

Stats Glance - Raced 13 years- half in the Sportsman class and half in what is now Winston Cup - Was behind the wheel in 352 Winston Cup raceswinning 50 times - Finished in the top five in 185 races and in the top ten 239 times Awards/Honors: - Was given the NASCAR Heroism award in 1964 for his efforts to help "Fireball" Roberts from a buming car -Selected for seven differ· ent racing Halls of Fame. - Invited to the Presidential Prayer breakfast in 1966 by Preside®ndon Johnson. (_J

is when I won the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina. It's the oldest 500-mile stock car race, and at that time it was the most presti· gious. It gave me a great feeling of accomplishment to wi n it. "It's always hot in Darlington on Labor Day. Cars were overheating-particularly the Fords. I was driving a Ford. They had brought some new aluminum radiators for us to try out. Whoever engineered those radiators didn't take into consideration the rubber that comes off the track. They put the air fins so close together that particles of rubber stuck on the radiator and wouldn't be sucked through by the fan. That caused the Fords to blow up-all but mine. Mine just overheated. "The temperature gauge only went to 240 degrees. I noticed with about a 100 miles to go that every time I accelerated down the straightaway it would just peg the gauge because it was above 240. I decided to keep the accelerator wide open. When {needed to decelerate in the turns, I kept the accelerator open and cut the switch off. It would have a slowing effect, and the raw gas running in it gave a cooling effect. "It would cool down to about 210 or 220 in the turn. The Ford officials came to my pit, and they were embarrassed. They knew I was having cooling problems, so they told my crew chief to bring me in and cool it off. "They gave me the signal to come in. I had enough gas to finOUT

rooting his son home to a first place finish in front of a huge TV audience. Dale had won Daytona-something Ned had not accomplished in his career, but now had vicariously achieved through his son. The JmTetts

ish the race and something higher than the officials of the Ford Motor Company told me to keep going. I obeyed that other command and I won the race."

~EDJARRE'JT

knows what it takes to win a stock car race. He also knows what it takes to run the race called life. His parents instilled in him two basic loves as he was growing up-one for stock cars and the other for Jesus Christ. He has made his li ving around the track, but he feels his successes are all from riding in the backseat and letting God take the wheel. Born on a farm near Newton, North Carolina, and raised in the South, Ned is a southern gentleman. His easy manner and subtle southern drawl belie the fact that he was a tough competitor during the 13 years he raced. In 1965, for instance, he scorched the tracks to win the triple crown in racing- the Grand National Championship, the most prize money, and the most victories (tied with Junior Johnson). · His stats are impressive, but Ned would rather talk about the victory he's found in Jesus. "I grew up in a Christian family. Dad and Mom took us to church every Sunday and they tried to teach us right from wrong. But there comes a time in your life when you need to make a personal commitment and dedicate your life to the Lord. "In 1959 I committed myself to the Lord. I was out doing my

have a close l~ ~::~::.::.:~--:----::~ family. His bride and

best friend of 40 years is Martha. Glenn, who raced in the 70s and daily jog and I just stopped right 80s, is the Jarretts' oldest and in the street and prayed. He came Dale is second. He and his wife into my life and gave me the Kelley have 3 children: Jason, direction I needed." In the street Natalee, and Karsyn. Patti is Ned praying ... seems to be an approand Martha' s "baby." Her huspriate spot for a racecar dri ver to band, Jimmy Makar, is Dale's change lanes for a lifetime. Now an auto ..-..,.,.....--~ crew chief. Ned loves to racing comspend time with mentator on his family. But TV, Ned covhis busy life also ers approxiincludes the racmately 35 ing announcing, races each year doing a weekly for CBS and TV show and ESPN. Many daily radio show races he calls on NASCAR, as feature his son well as speaking Dale. to many school, In 1992, durchurch, and civic ing the Daytona groups. Currently 500, Ned he is active with watched helpDARE (Drug lessly from the Abuse Resistance TV booth as Education), for Dale's car was Happy Days. Ned got a trophy demolished in and a hug from Martha after his which he shares an accident that victory in the 1964 Dixie 400. his testimony with students. could have Ned JatTett continues to speed taken his son's life. He wa callthrough life, touching hearts and ing that race in February of this lives-still listening to that "highyear as well- but with different er" voice as Jesus guides him results. Ned had the unique pleasure of through a very good race.

SPO nTS S P EC T R U M • JU L Y / A U G U S T 1 903

AP/wtoe WORLD PHOTOS

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Nu~nbers Ga~ne Where can you find numbers that really count?

The

• By R o b B e ntz E'RE NUMBER ONE! "

"We' re num ber one!" Hold th e phone. Stop the presses. Let's examine this numbers thing a bit closer. Look at las t season's NCAA Division I Me n's Co ll ege Basketball Poll . First Michigan was number one, followed by Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, and then IMNU. Exc use me? IMNU ? Yeah, I. M. Numero Uno. Ameri ca is obsessed wi th numbers, particularly the number I. Nu mber one in the year-end college football polls. Number one in the rotisserie league standings. Number one in line at the offi ce cafeteri a. Number one at being number one. We've gotten carried away. But it's not only the number I that has attracted such attention; it's numbers in general. What 's the significance of a specific number? For some people, numbers are very important. • Cleveland Cavaliers' AllStar ce nter Brad Daugherty wears number 43 because that was the number on the side of Richard Petty's car. • When Carlton Fisk signed as a free agent with the. White Sox in 1981, he chose a number that's usuall y reserved for rookies in spring training-72. Why? It was the mirror-image of the nu mber he wore for years as the Red Sox' catcher-27. • The Boston Celtics seem to think more of their numbers th an does any other pro franchi se. They ' ve re tired 16 of them, never again to be worn by another Celtic. • Wade Boggs wore number 26 for I I seasons in Boston, but

when he signed with the Yankees, relief pitcher Steve Farr wouldn' t give up the precious number. Now Boggs wears number 12. Talk about the number 23, and almost anyone can tell you it's Michae l Jordan's. Ask any hockey fan Wayne Gretzky's number and they' ll be quick to say, "99." For an athlete, a numb e r is like a signatu re. ln f act , Kevin Johnson even incorporates his number 7 into his KJ autograph. For sports fans, numbers have become an integral part of the game. Not just the numbers on the back of a j ersey, but the numbers on the stat sheet and in the box score.

w h 0, s

batting .300? Who's thrown the most TO passes? Who rushed for I ,000 yards last year? Fans are becoming increasingly numbersoriented. Rotisserie baseball and footba ll leagues, which provide participants wit h the chance to manage their own " fantasy" teams, are wildly popular. After drafti ng a team, you keep a close eye on yo ur playe rs' real-life statistics. The team with the best stats at the end of the season wins. Man y fa ntasy team ow ners spend hour upon hour studying

home runs and earned run • 58- A foo tball fanat ic averages, trying to find the might know that this is the numbest possible players for ber of ga mes in whic h Jim their team. Numbers, num- Brown rushed for more than I00 bers, and more numbers. yards. I prefer 58 as in Romans The sports media feed 5:8, which tells us, "God demonthe numbers frenzy. Take strates His own love toward us in a look at the sports sec- this: While we were still sin11ers, tion in your newspaper. Christ died for us." You'll find stats about • 146-A hoops fan could any thing and every- mention that Jeff Hornacek has thing. How many hit 146 of 160 career free times have the throws in the NBA playoffs. I'd Dodgers won in their sugges t 146 as in John 14:6, last 10 games? What where Jesus tells us, "I am the was the Atlanta way a11d the tmth and the life. Hawks' record when No one comes to the Father they played away except through Me." from the Omni? The • 289- Diehard Orioles' only statistic I haven't fans will recognize .289 as Joe found is the number of Orsulak' s batting average for career doubles Andy Van 1992. More importan t is Slyke has with a man on Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, "It third base and the sun shining is by grace you ha ve been ovt:r the left field stands- saved, through faith-alld this while chewing more than 110t from yourselves, it is the gift 2 pieces of bubble gu m of God-not by works, so that on a Saturday afternoon 110 one can boast." as a man named Rastis Numbers like these are absosits directly behind home lutely crucial, for they come from plate. the Bible, the book where th e Could I ask you to number one person is Jesus Christ think about some and the number one fact is that He other num bers? died on the cross and rose from the Without these grave to give each of us the oppornum bers, we tunity to have our sins forgiven. would miss out You' re not going to see nu mon something that's bers like these in any newspaper incredibly more impor- sports section. But they are the tant than how many only numbers yo u' ll ever fi nd times Nolan Ryan has struck out th at offer you etern al li fe and the side since 1968. the hope of true happiness and What do these numbers mean joy now. Have you ever made to you? sure you are numbered among • 316- A sports fan might those who have trusted Jes us mention that this is Ron Cey's Christ as Savior? career home run total. But how about 316 as in John 3: 16, which If you want to know more about says, "God so loved the world, this subject, write and ask for the that He gave His one and only : free booklet Born Again- What Son, that whoe1•er belie1•es in Does It Mean? Th e address is Him should not perish but have Sports Spectrum, Box 3566 , etemallife." Grand Rapids, Ml 49501.

S P O R T S SPGCl R UM • .JULY/ AU G U ST 1 9!>3

.. • TWELVE: Minutes in aquarter of an NBA game. Number of triples for Lance Johnson in 1992 to lead theAmericanLeague. Number of World Series home runs for Yogi Berra. Total of perfect innings Harvey Haddix pitched onMay 26, 1959, before losing in the 13th, 1·0. Home runs Wally Pipp hit in 1916 to lead theAmerican League. Draft pick used by the Washington Bullets to draft Muggsy Bogues in 1987. Number of bowl games Paul "Bear" Bryant lost as Alabama's coach (he won 15). Number of roundsin aprofessional boxing match. Theuniform number for John Stockton, Derek Harper, JimKelly, Randall Cunningham, BrianHarper, SidBream. • TWELVE: The new number of Sports Spectrum magazines you'll receive inayear. We'vedeep·sixed our old number 6 because we felt that ahalf dozen issues did not give youthe cov· erageyouneeded. Beginning with our next editionof Sports Spectrum, this magazine is amonth· ly-doubling your reading pleasure as wecontinuetobring youclose tothe peoplein sports who know that life is not a game. Now we will becoming your way adozen times ayear to help you not only know the score in sportsbut alsoknow howyou can be awinner. • TWELVE: Legends. Posters. Airing It Out articles. Cover stories. Clippings. Swirsky Reports. Stats Centrals. Leaderboards.

Sports Spectrum. Twelve issues a year. Twice the sports. Don't miss even one issue. Discovery Hou_se Publishers Box 3566 Grand Rapids, MI 4950 1-3566

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID RADIO BIBLE CLASS

FORWARD & ADDRESS CORRECTION

• Don't miss a single issue. To subscribe, simply return the card inside, or call toll free: 1-800-853-8333