February 1994 - Vol 8 Num 2 by Sports Spectrum

/VI

Next he hauled out a strange device that somehow told the Rim Man something very imp011ant, because he took out a bunch of tools and began tinkering. Next the Rim Man went to work on the collapsible standards that hold the backboards. It looked okay to me, but something had to be adjusted. As I watched the Rim Man spend all afternoon fussing with the rims, I thought about the

just right. I'm talking about: Steve Gier, who has been designing this magazine since the days when it was called Dr. J' s Sports Focus. Like the Rim Man, OM FELTEN AND I had driven he's a stickler for perfection, yet to Detroit to pick up some NBA interviews, including you don 't have to look far to see that this does not get in the way the chat with Kevin Johnson of his remarkable creativity. that led to this month's cover article. After talking with him and a Laurie Nelson, our newest teammate, we went to the Palace to Sports Spectrum teammate. She honed her skills designing things watch the Suns play the Pistons. for the Kellogg cereal people, and Arriving early, we were able to watch the New Jersey for the past 8 months Nets practice. In town for Laurie has assisted Steve in our graphics department. a game the next night, they were working out Lisa Quist is an unstoppable energy source. When under the watchful eye of she's not doing killer aeroChuck Daly. I thought he looked terribly out of bics or hunting with her husband Brad, she's acquirplace shouting instructions ing photos or monitoring to Kenny Anderson instead of Isiah Thomas. the subscription list- keeping the SS wheels turning. Next we watched Rex Beverly Flynn works Walters, who stayed for both the magazine and behind for extra shooting our radio program- helppractice. He took at least 500 practice jumpers. ing with magazine editorial tasks and keeping things Then came the Rim organized for the radio Man. He was part of the arena crew that was putting production. We don't have a Rim everything together for the • One Fantastic Foursome. (clockwise) Steve Man, but we do have a game later in the evening. Gier, Lisa Quist, Laurie Nelson, and Bev Flynn Lots of people did lots of quietly keep SS on course with above par work. great team of people who are excited to be a part of a tasks, but we were most behind-the-scenes people who magazine that brings you the stoimpressed by this guy. make anything work- whether a As you know, a basketball rim is ries of sports people whose faith in Jesus Christ is important to supposed to be 10 feet off the floor, sports franchise or a magazine. which sounds pretty simple. But for You hardly ever notice them, but them-and is ultimately what without their expertise there the next few hours, the Rim Man makes them important. made it look like nuclear physics. would be no end product. At Sports Spectrum we have First he tested the tension of the breakaway rims-hanging on them people like that. They seldom have their names printed anyto see if they broke away under his where but in the small print on non-Ewing-like weight. Then he page 3, yet they spend countless Dave Branon, managing editor took out a level and made sure the rims were parallel to the floor. hours, making sure everything is Sports Spectrum

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The Rim Man

Allin The Family 1993 Daytona champion Dale Jarrett races for family and Joe Gibbs Sports Spectrum Interview

The Motivators What is it that keeps athletes-and us-going? by David Egner

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: COVER: Mitchell Layton/Duomo; p. 2 (left) Dan Spoelstra, (top right) International Speedway, (lower right) Rk:k Stewart/AIIsport: p. 3 (top left ) Jerry Wachter/Focus on Sports, (lower left) Woody Smith/Tully Blanchard Ministries, (right) Jim Gund/AIIsport; p. 5 Courtesy: A. C. Green Programs for Youth: p. 6 1nternational Speedway; p. 7 Duomo; p. 8 Focus on Sports; p. 9 Richard Dole/Duomo; p. 10 (top) Focus on Sports, (bottom) David Madison/Duomo; p. 11 (left) Ben Van Hook/Duomo, (right) Rick Stewart/AIIsport; p. 12 Courtesy: U.S. Professional Tennis Registry: p. 13 (left) Courtesy: Georgette Wright, (right) Greg Schneider: p. 14 Ray AmatVFocus on Sports: p. 15 Rick Rickman!Duomo: pp. 16·17 Jon Soohoo/NBA Photos; p. 18 Jerry Wachter/Focus on Sports; p. 19 Jonathan DanieVAIIsport: p. 20 (left) Jerry Wachter/Focus on Sports, (right) Focus on Sports; p. 21 AI Tielemans/Duomo; p. 23 Woody Smith/Tully Blanchard Ministries; p. 24 Woody Smith/Tully Blanchard Ministries: p. 25 Tully Blanchard Ministries: p. 26 Jim Gund/AIIsport; p. 27 (left) Jim Gund/AIIsport, (right) Courtesy: Janet Gillingham; p. 28 Jim Gund/AIIsport; p. 30 Courtesy: Paul Anderson. 2

S P O RTS S PE C::: TRUM • F E BRUARY 1994

4 Open Court Ace returns from Sports Spectrum readers SS Fan Poll

Clippings

Waddy's World by Watson (Waddy) Spoelstra

It is more than a great move to the basket that sets Kevin Johnson apart from other athletes by Tom Felten

Something Special

Leaderboard

On The Rebound

Eric Highsmith by Beverly Flynn Georgette Wright by Karen Drollinger Stu Grimson by Karen Drollinger

Sports Med by Richard Dominguez, M.D.

30 Legends Catching up with Paul Anderson by Tom Felten

Airing It Out It's Time For A Change by Rob Bentz

Life has fired some tough shots at Heidi Gillingham, yet she's learning to han- Stats Central compiled by dle them with grace Rob Bentz by Karen Rudolph Drollinger

The Swirsky Report

by Chuck Swirsky

Wrestling With a Phenomenon What is going on in the ring, and what should clearthinking people do about it? by John Calsin Jr. and Mike Sandrolini

Volume 8, Number 2 SPORTS SPECTRUM MAGAZitiE A DISCOVERY HOUSE PUBLICATION PUBLISHER Dave Burnham; MANAGING EDITOR Cave Btanon; MARKETING/PRODUCTION MA/lAGER Tom Felten; PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Rob Bentz; ART DIRECTOR Steve Ger. GRAPHIC DESIGNER laurie Ne~on; ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Usa Ouis~ Beverly Aynn; STAFF WRITER David Egne<; ADVISORY COMMITTEE CI>K:I< &Mrsl<y. Sports ();rector. WGN Radio, Chicago; DO< Mason, PreSident, O.S<:OYery Hoose PubliSher>; Ralph Otollingef, President, Sports Ouueach America; Ky!e Rote Jr.• President, Attie~ Resource Management SPORTS SPECTRUM is pt"oduc:ed 12 tunes a year by 01scovery House Publishers, which ts alfll.ated With Radio Sb!e Class. a nondenominatiooal CMsban organization whose purpose is to lead people ol au nat.ons to personal faith in Jesus Ctvist and to growth in His ~keness by teaching principles !rom the 81ble. Printed in USA. Copyright 0 1993 by Discovery House Publishers. Grand Rapids, M.ctjgan. 81ble quotations. un~ss otherwise ooted, ar& taken from the Hot..Y BIBLE. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 0 1973, 1978. 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permiSSion ol ZondeNan 81ble Publishers. Freelance wnters should query the managing editor by mail !Of writers· guidelines. SPORTS SPECTRU M subscriptions are available tor $18.97/twelve issues or $23.97 outside the USA (in US funds) bywnting to SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions, Box 3566. Grand Ra~ds, Ml 49501·3566. b~ calling toll free 1·800·653·8333. or by sending a FAX to 1·616·957·5741 . SPORTS S P ECTRUM • F E BR U ARY 1 9 94

For Subscription Services, •

CALL TOLL FREE:

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·New subscriptions, chan~e of address. or other correct1ons 3

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Ace

Being Ready I read your article "The Year of Living Dangerously" (November 1993). Something very similar happened on September 9 to Mike Chronister-a member of our football team. After running wind sprints, Mike collapsed on the field and died. Our team was shocked and emotionally drained. But we went undefeated after dedicating the season to him. I'm sure when Mike got out of bed that morning it never occurred to him that this was going to be the last day of his life. Mike died at age 14. We never know when the Lord will take us. I thank you for the way your article clearly illustrated how we have to be ready for eternity. MIKE GARVIN

Newville, PA

Devotions, Anyone? Teen Missions sent me a list of people to write for Christian literature. If you could please send me some devotional guides, I would really appreciate it. I can guarantee they will be put to good use. LEAH 0' DONNELL

Douglasville, GA

Hey, Leah, tlwnks for the letter. Our parent organization, Radio Bible Class, has two free eleva4

their footsteps-at least watch the because we have a value system tionals that you and any other SS sports sections closely. subscriber can receive each that's more peaceable. JACKIE RASCH RONALD REISER month. Campus Journal is a Conklin, Ml devotional for high school and Windsor, ON college age individuals. Our Our suggestion that people control No H itting E ithe., Daily Bread is intended for their language instead of using I'm writing about Dave Branon's young adults and up. Write for a obscenities and profanity does not : column condemning foul language mean we condone violence. James copy of either: RBC, PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, Ml 49555- : (December 1993). Although it is 3:10 sets the standard. It says that : distasteful and leads children on a cursing and praising slwuldn't 0001. - Ed. worldly road, isn't it preferable to come from the same mouth. - Ed. insult someone else than to hit S S In The Shoppe someone with a baseball bat? I am very happy to be receiving Talk To Us Insults, and the more insulting the : Send your opinions abollt this your magazine in our Christian better, are a great way to get rid of Ball Card Shoppe. The store magazine or the sports world in anger and hostility. It sure beats features comic books too. My general to: • physically injuring someone. We husband Mike, his sister Betty, Sports Spectmm Letters and I are owners of the shoppe. : have to avoid the trap of becoming Box 3566 : unreasonable with others just Looking forward to receiving Grand Rapids, M/ 49501 -3566 each issue. JEAN ASHFORD Zanesville, OH

st ..ong Flaunting My son requested a subscription to Sports Spectmm magazine and we received it for a year. It has helped to show us the error in all competitive sports- it offers such a glamorous temptation to our son (and all the boys we know) to flaunt his strength in a sort of military style. NA ME WITHHELD

Timely Cove..age Your magazine is excellent. All the sports fans will be thrilled that it is now a month ly. How timely that you had Joe Carter on your cover (September 1993) and that he should hit that fi nal World Series home run! IVAN PETTIFOR

West Palm Beach, FL

G ood Footsteps To Follo'W' Thank you for your wonderful work and your ministry. It is so nice to hear positive and encouraging words from pro athletes. There are many people, young and old, myself included, who look to these people and follow SPORTS SPEC TRUM • FEBRUARY 1 994

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Sports News Worlh a Second Look

• TheWisdo.n Of Youth When you begin viewing the video It Ain't Worth It, produced by A. C. Green Programs for Youth, you assume you know who the stars of the show will be. After all, it's hosted by Phoenix Suns forward A. C. Green himself. And it features appearances by David Robinson of the Spurs, Barry Sanders of the Lions, and COURTESY Of A.C. GREEN PROGRAMS FOA YOUTH Darrell Green of the Redskins. .&. Men with a message. A. C. Green had help from David Robinson What's more, A.C., David, Barry, and Barry Sanders In putting out his abstinence video. and Darrell don't just talk. They ing no to sex until they are marA. C. got together to talk about don the earphones and put togethsaying no to sex. ried. Unashamedly. Boldly. With er a pretty decent rap. pure teenage enthusiasm and funGood-looking kids. Nineties But they don't end up being loving excitement. kids. Cool-as-a-cucumber kids. the stars. The most lasting Kids standing before a camera Bolstered by segments with a impression in the video is made medical doctor who destroys the and vowing that they are sayby the ensemble of teens that

AH, SPRING TRAINING! Many in baseball, players and fans, insist it's the most wonderful time of the year. Of course, there is a downside. Some prob· lems demand solutions. John and Michele Wetteland of the Montreal Expos can tell you that. In the official evalua· tion system of the owners for draft compensation, John, 27, is rated No. 3 among all major league relievers over the past 2 seasons. Rod Beck of San Francisco is No. 1 followed by Duane Ward of the Blue Jays. You can see how pride could sneak in and trip up Wetteland. On the first day of 1993 spring training, he took the mound to throw some batting practice for the Expos. He fumed when "a horrible curve ball" got away. John kicked the protective

screen in front of him. He struggled off the field at West Palm Beach in intense pain. Doctors counted four cracked toes on his kicking foot. He was flown to Montreal for next·day surgery. The prognosis-out 6 to 8 weeks. "A mixture of anger and stupidity," he later told Roy Firestone of ESPN. That incident, though, does not typify John Wetteland. Perhaps the baseball love story that follows does. John was pitching for the Dodgers in the Double·A Texas League in 1988 when he met Michele. She was just out of high school and preparing for college. Michele took a dim view of ballplayers. John didn't get to first base. She lived in Shreveport, miles and miles from San Antonio where John was assigned.

tired old arguments that a condom is the answer and assisted by bold graphics and a fast-moving pace, this video can be a valuable tool in letting young people know that there is an alternative to so-called safe sex. The video goes beyond the glamour of appearances by four highprofile athletes, and it gets to the heart of what can stop premarital sex: The wisdom of young people who refuse to believe the lies about sex that can wreck their future, or even kill them. t::l - Dave Branon For more info, write to A. C. Green Programs for Youth, 575 Sowll Figueroa, Suite 2000, LA, California 90071 or call 1·800·AC YOUTH.

John persisted in his pur· he "had put baseball on top. I suit by phone. Michele spoke was so anxious to get the seaof spiritual things. She had son going. I wanted to show I accepted Jesus Christ at a was the best in baseball." young age. She says, "John Through the pain, a message told me what he stood for in became clear. Give maximum life. It was so different from effort with Ood·given ability my faith in Jesus." and be thankful for natural While in Puerto skills. John Rican winter ball made a fairly Long-time sportsthat year, he was swift recovery. exposed to intense writer Watson He resumed (Waddy) Spoelstra, Bible explorations pitching in late a scribe for The with several playApril and enerers. One was pitch· Detroit News for gized the Expos. 30 years and founder He finished with er Mike Munoz. John says, "These of Baseball Chapel, 43 saves for a 2· guys knew the takes an inside look year count of 80. Bible. They could at some key people in He won 9 games refute anything I and fashioned a baseball. had to say. They 1.31 ERA. backed up everything with the Montreal manager Felipe authority of God's Word." John Alou called Wetteland aside in committed his life to Christ and late stages of his comeback then called Michele. She says, and said, "Let me tell you the "That's when our relationship story about Paul of the Bible. began. It was all prayer." They Paul was rough on Christian married the following summer. believers. He did his job with Now back to the broken toes. zeal. After he was struck John, as a believer, established down on the Damascus road, priorities for his life and Paul never lost that zeal. It career. For him it would be, he was the same Paul. Only now says, "God first, then Michele, he used his ability for a dif· and baseball." Michele says, ferent cause. Don't let kicking "The sore foot was a blessing in the screen take away your disguise. His priorities weren't fire. Use your zeal in the right in order." John agrees. He says way. " 0

S POR T S S PECTR UM • F E B R U A R Y 1 99 4

The Jarrett fa~nily has long been respected on the NASCAR circuit, and Dale Jarrett's success with the Interstate Batteries tea1n continues to add to the success that is still ...

Sports Spectnun: Last year's Daytona 500. You 're coming down the stretch. Your dad is cheering you on to a national television audience. You take the checkered flag. Describe that moment and some of your thoughts and feelings at that time. Dale: Everything was really running wild through my head. During the last lap or so, it never really entered my mind as to what I was fixing to do. I just had a task at hand and that was to try to win this race for my team. As soon as I took the checkered flag, everything started running through my mind. In 1963 I had stood with my brother and watched my dad run out of gas with two laps to go in the Daytona 500, and he was leading the race when he ran out of fuel. The thing that was most prevalent when I won was that I was happy for my family that I had done something for them that no one else had done- that the Jarrett family had fi nally gotten into victory lane at Daytona. SS: You mentioned that your dad came so close, but never won the Daytona 500. After your victory, you dedicated it to your dad and to your whole family. Looking back, what does that victory mean to you and to the Jarrett family? Dale: Personall y, it meant the culmination of hours and hours of hard work. It certainly is a great satisfaction to beat the 40 best drivers in the world. From that perspecti ve, every-

INTERNATIONAl SPEEDWAY

SPORTS SPECT RUM â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 1994

.A Th e s tuff of dream s . When he w as 9 y ear s old, Da le J a rre tt u sed to s it in Mom a nd Da d ' s c a r and pre t e nd h e w as winning th e Da ytona 500. Whe n h e w as 36 y ears old, h e won it fo r real, b est i n g pole-sitte r Kyle Petty a nd capturing a fa mily dream that h ad b een unfulfille d s ince Ne d J arre tt ran out of gas at Dayton a in 1963. SPOR TS S P ECTR UM â&#x20AC;˘ F E BRUARY 1 994

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thing was just tremendous for Dale Jarrett. But for our family to succeed- not just myself, but my brother, my dad , my sister, and my brother-inlaw-it meant a lot in a lot of ways that are even hard to put into words. This is the biggest race that we have. It 's like winning the Super Bowl. It got us a lot of recognition , but I guess the biggest thing is that it allowed Joe Gibbs and me to share our faith. SS: While you were growing up, your parents tried to take you to church as often as they could and raise you in a Christian environment. What other things did

FOCUS ON SPORTS

.6. Nice call, coach. When

Joe Gibbs decided to give up the reins of the Redsklns, he found another championship caliber team In Dale and Kelley Jarrett.

r---------0818 Jarran ThaAthlata Is a racecar driver an athlete? Dale Jarrett has some definite ideas on that question. 'It depends on how you define an athlete. Does an athlete have to be able to run fast and jump high? If that's the case, then maybe racecar drivers aren't. But if you have to have quick reflexes, which we have to have, then we are. You need to remember that we don't get a halftime. Plus, if we make mistakes, we don't get a 15路yard penaltythe consequences can be much greater. So the level of concentration that we have, I think is as great or greater than any other athlete.' 8

they do that influenced you to be the kind of person you are today? Dale: It was instilled in me that you had to work hard at whatever you were going to do, whether it was going to be a professional athlete or a lawyer. Nothing was going to be handed to you, and although many people feel that my racing career was handed to me, I know differently. I've worked awfully hard to get to where I am. My mother and dad always tried to tell me that hard work is what gets you to the top. And whatever I do, I do it 110 percent. Sometimes I take it a little too far in tenns of winning and losing, but I don't like to lose at anything. SS: Your parents' Christian faith is well documented. But when did Dale Jarrett make a decision that it was his faith and not just his parents' faith? When did you make a commitment to Christ? Dale: I think that there's really been two times. Growing up, that 's what I believed in , but as I got older, I thought Dale Jarrett can do these things on his own. And I found out you can't do that. Shortly after Kelley and I got married in 1984, both of us realized that to be successful in what we're doing, to have a family, and to make our marriage successful that God was going to have to be a tremendous part in our lives. So we made a commitment then, but we rededicated our lives to Christ in 1992. We were at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis with Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs. We hadn' t even driven a race for his team yet, but Coach Gibbs invited us to the Super Bowl. We were at the team prayer meeting and service on Saturday night before the Super Bowl. We heard a number of people speak and had the opportuni-

FAMILY

ty there to rededicate our lives. That's when we decided once and for all that this is the way it was going to be- that God had led us in this di rection for a reason. I had no reason to leave the job that I had with another race team. I was fairly successful, and I enjoyed the people, but there was something missing, and there was something more for Dale and Kelley Jarrett to do. That 's why I think God put Joe Gibbs in our life, because everyone knows what he stands for and the things that he does to help other people, and I think that 's why we were put here. SS: You mentioned the impact th at Joe Gibbs has had on you personally, and it's well-known that he shares your beliefs. What type of infl uence has he had on the racing community in general? Dale: Tremendous. I think when people think about the racing community, they're not exactly thi nk ing about Christian people. But it's been a very good experience to see how Coach Gibbs has come into a lot of people's li ves. He affects people if he can get just a couple of minutes with them. I think they respect him because most have seen him as a coach and the things that he's been able to accomplish. And then for him to go out and speak the Word of the Lord, they see that there is something to our faith. And as he has come into the sport, we have seen our MRO (Motor Raci ng Outreach) ministry grow, and he's had a direct influence on that. He speaks at some of our chapel services. I think he's helped people to understand what is the right direction for their lives, and as he continues to be around and touch different people, you see those people's li ves change. SS: How have you seen you rself grow since you rededicated your life to Christ at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis? Dale: Much more of a commitment in just letting God take His direction with me. Before, I still wanted to have a hand in what was goi ng on. I still had a better idea of the way that things needed to go. That's not the case now. As I've gotten a little bit older and as I' ve been around others like Coach Gibbs, I've leamed that there's only one direction and that's the Lord's. That's the way things are going to be done correctly and that's the way I want it. Before, I wasn' t as outspoken about my faith. Now I'm ready and I'm willing to witness to others. I'm not one to get up and make the talks in front of people, but I've grown a lot in sitting and talking with people oneon-one. I've learned a lot more about the Bible because even though I grew up around the church, the Bible wasn't something that I read a lot. I'm doing that quite a bit more now. I've also grown in my marriage and the commitment that it takes, which is very difficult in this sport because we're apa11 a lot and the family is the one that sometimes suffers. But my fami ly is very important to me, and I've tried my best to be here for the important things in their lives. I thin k the best thing that Kelley and I can do for the kids, though, is bring them up in a Christian environment. And we're tryi ng our best to do that, because if we can, then God's going to do His works with them, and that's all we can ask. SS: What was it like growing up as the son of a very popular NASCAR driver?

SPORTS SPECTRUM 路 FEBRUARY 1 994

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FA MILY

_,. Heartbeat of Daytona. It was a tale of two Chevys when Jarrett outdistanced Dale Earnhardt last February. Jarrett's Interstate Batteries Lumina edged out Earnhardt's Lumina by barely two car lengths after 500 miles.

Dale : It was different when my dad raced. The sport was just getting on its feet. It was still considered a red-neck sport. But even then, we were still very well known around the community where we lived, because dad was in the papers and I was Ned Jarrett 's son. It certainly opened a lot of doors for me. It helped me to enjoy a tremendous life growing up, being able to travel and meet new and interesting people. There was pressure, but that was only what I put on myself. There was nothing saying that Dale Jarrett had to be a race driver just because of my dad. Overall , I've enjoyed it. 55: You mentioned that you reall y didn 't feel a whole lot of press ure growing up. Do you feel any pressure on you to continue winning now that you've won the Daytona 500? Dale: I see it as tak ing pressure off. I've done something a lot of people haven't done. I think there's always a certain amount of pressure that goes with any job, but I think the people who succeed are the ones who learn to handle that pressure. People certainly expect more of us now, but so do I. The way I've always looked at it is that people can't expect any more out of me than what I expect out of myself. So I know that if I can please myself, then others are going to be happy with the results also. 55: As you prepare for a race what goes through your mind? Do you st.ill get butterflies? Dale: Yeah, you still get the butterflies. The adrenaline really starts to flow a couple of hours before race time. And I think trying to keep myself calmed down is what I have a harder time with because I'm very anxious to get in the car and get the competition rolling. And certainly winning is what we're trying to do every day, so we have to be prepared and ready to try to make the best of every single race. SS: From a motivational standpoint, you've already won the Daytona 500, what keeps you motivated? Dale: Winning the next race. There's always going to be another race. I don 't know when the competitiveness will end, but each race has something different in it. A different challenge. And it keeps you going. And

trying to win the Winston Cup Championship is the next major goal. 55: I understand that yo u want to make some improvement in your qualifying times. What changes are you going to make going into the 1994 season? Dale: One is qualifying, and that's a team effort that we're working on. Being prepared to win a few more races. We had some opportunities that slipped away last year, so we want to improve on that. Our pit work can improve just a little bit, and some techniques in driving on certain race tracks that I want to work on myself. And I want to be in a little better shape than I was last year. It never presented a problem as far as getting tired in a race, but I just set a goal to be in a little better shape. l think as I get older, and another year has gone by of traveling and working, that I need to work a little harder on my physical condition. And from an aspect of just being a better race driver and representing our sport and God, I want to try to improve in those areas. 55: What kind of physical preparation do you make in the offseason to prepare you for your grueling sp01t? Is it cardio-vascular training? Is it strength training? Dale: It's a combination. The cardio-vascular ceJtainly comes into play quite a bit, because you're sitting in a car that's 120 to 130 degrees for 4'/2 to 5 hours dUJing the summer. I used to nm a lot, but I had back surgery last year, and that has cut my nmning. So I do a lot of walking and do a lot of work on the treadmill. Strength-wise, I'm very fortllliate that I've always been pretty healthy, but a little more work with the weights, to keep my upper body strength, is something that I'm going to do. SS: What goals have you and the Interstate Batteries team set for next season? Dale: Last year we sat down as a team, and set our goals to finish in the top I 0, and to win at least one race. We certainly got the one race out of the way in a hurry, and that was good. Then we were able to run in the top 5 and finish fourth in the points. This year, the main goal is try to win the Winston Cup Championship. We feel like we've grown enough that we have a legitimate shot at it. So, I'd say to win the championship or finish it in the top 5 and win 3 races. D

SPORTS SP E C T RU M • FEBR U ARY 1 9 94

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...R H At Daytona HAVE YOU EVER wondered what it's like to drive at 200 miles per hour in heavy traf· fie like Dale Jarrett does almost every weekend? Well, wonder no more, Dale takes us inside #18. "I guess most people have been in rush hour traffic at times on the freeway-trying to get somewhere faster than they need to be. That's basically like we are, you just have to magnily that about 3 times, because you're probably going 60 or 65 miles an hour. We're sitting there doing it close to 200 miles an hour. But I think that what we do is much safer than someone dri· ving around town at 50 miles an hour. "But it's hard to put into words the feeling, because it's like nothing else. The sensation that you get separates our sport from others. I have been fortunate enough to play other sports and to be a good enough athlete to succeed at some of them. But there is absolutely nothing that I've ever done that is more of a thrill than driving a race car and competing against these other guys. When you win, it's just the greatest feeling in the world. "I really enjoy it and respect it. I get up every day and thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to do what I do. Too many people have to get up and dread going to their jobs."

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a.t:ca..s The fires within t h at motivate the g r eat ones • By David Egner veryone who attended or viewed the 198 1 playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins surely remembers the awesome courage of Kellen Winslow, the veteran tight end of the Chargers. Along with perennial All-Pro Charlie Joiner and quarterback Dan Fouts, he had carried coach Don "Air" Coryell 's team th rough the long season and into the playoffs. Playing hurt and nearing exhaustion, Winslow was catching pass after pass as the highscoring, seesaw game went into one overtime, then another. It took him longer and longer to get back on his feet after each reception and subsequent tackle. By the time Rolf Benirschke kil:keu the game-winning field goal for the Chargers, Kellen Wi nslow had 13 punishing catches for 166 yards, a touchdown, and victory over Bob Griese and the Dolphins. What drives a man like Kellen Winslow to keep going? What motivates the great players to compete game in and game out at their very best? What straps a race dri ver like Dale Jarrett, who has won NASCAR' s "big one," the Daytona 500, and has nothing left to prove, back into the cockpit of his car? What brings veteran performers like Moses Malone and Wayne Gretzky and John Elway and Arnold Palmer back into the arena of competition long after they've reached the top? What drives them? The answer to this question can tell us some important things about life. It can motivate us to reach and even surpass our own personal goals.

This is consistent with the findings of experts who study such things. Money, financial security, and enhanced creature comf011s were classified by the people they surveyed as lowlevel motivators. The paycheck provides a low satisfaction level for most employees. The drive to keep performing with excellence comes from two high-level motivators.

OThe ego. One reason

One thing is certain: It's not money. When a person's been at the top of his or her professional sport in these days of multi-million dollar contracts, it's not the drive to accumulate even more. A big paycheck may be a motivator to an athlete on the way up, and a pride factor after he's there, but in his heat1 he's out there for deeper, more complex reasons. Qua11erback Jim McMahon, now of the Vikings, has played for wi nners. He's won the Super Bowl. He's also been injured often. "Why do you keep doing this?" he was asked. "Because I love the game of football," he replied. "It's not the money. I want to play until I absolutely can' t, because I love the game. It 's definitely not the money."

an athlete will keep playing after he's made a lot of money and achieved greatness is that he has a strong desi re for continued recognition. He puts himself through the yearly grind of conditioning, training camp, a long season, and grueling playoffs because it presents him with the ongoing opportunity to demonstrate that he's still the best. It makes him feel good for his skills to be recognized by the media and the world. Jerry Rice, speedy veteran wide receiver of the 49ers and a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, is motivated by strong competitive needs. "When Andre Rison (of the Atlanta Falcons) says he's as good as Jerry Rice, I want to prove I' m still better." • Japanese gymnast Shun Fuji-moto chose to compete on the rings in the 1976 Olympics after seriously injuring his knee the clay before. When he did the dangerous but all-important dis-

S PORT S S PEC TRUM - FE BRUARY 1 994

mount, he was overwhelmed with pain. Yet he held the landing. Later he commented, "But now I have the gold medal and the pain is gone." Ego-moti vation is a powerful drive. It explai ns why experts say the fact that Alonzo Mourning came into the NBA the same year as Shaq uille O'Neal will make Shaq a better player. He' ll always be compared to Mourning, who is shorter and 50 pounds lighter. It will drive him to stay ahead, to achieve at an even greater level. He can 't let Mourn ing do better. @The vision.

Ath letes are also motivated to keep competi ng after great

achievements because they are striving to become what they see themselves to be. They see themselves as excelling and constantly improving. They thrive on opportunities to demonstrate new skills. They love the challenge to reach new levels of creati vity. The owner of the Twins said he could give centerfielder Kirby Puckett a longterm contract and never worry about receiving I00 percent effort. "It's the kind of man he is. He gives every inning of every game his very best." These athletes have vision that goes beyond themselves. They are driven to bring victory to the team. Jerry Rice said, "Winning the championship is what it's all about. Individual records don't mean a thing; that's something you think about after your career's over. I don't care what you've done individually, if you lose the championship it just leaves you with a hollow feeling." Eric Liddel, whose story was immortalized in the film Chariots of Fire, was a man with vision. His victory for the British Empire in the 1924 Olympic Games was enormous. But the drive to lead through example was his way of life. Few remember that after the games he went to China as a missionary. Even fewer know

that he died ministering in China to prisoners of war who were trying to survive in deplorable conditions. AWay o£ Li£e

Joe Carter, whose ninth-inning home run won the World Series for the Blue Jays last October, is motivated to be accepted by his

peers. He said in an interview, "Unfortunately, I've played in towns where the media is not as prominent as Chicago or New York. But publicity is not why I'm in the ball game. I've earned the respect of my teammates and peers. That's all that matters." On and off the field , Joe

Carter has a vision to be the kind of husband, father, and Christian who brings credit to his fami ly and to the Lord. His life is styled around a passage from the Bible that has a lot to say about motivation. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain f rom sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God ( I Peter 2:9- 12). These verses set a goal for a select group of people-those who are believers in Christ. The passage spells out some distinctives-some motivators for people like that. They can be motivated in knowing that they are: ..,. a people chosen by God ..,. a royal nation following Christ the King ..,. a people who belong to God And they have a task to do: ..,. to declare the praises of God ..,. to li ve so that others will see

SPORTS S P ECTRUM • F E BRUARY 1994

their good works and glorify God More and more athletes can identify with that because they are believers in Jesus. What is driving you? What is your vision? Does it include a desire to excel in sports? In music? In a career? In every aspect of life? Is obeying Christ part of your goal? Do you try to glorify God? When those two factors come together in your way of life, you' ll be on the way to becoming a hall-of-famer, even if you don't play any sport at all! D 11

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• Athletes Who are Leading by Example

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • Eric Highsmith IC:eeping Positive

WHETH ER ON OR OFF the tennis court, Eric Highsmith can be described by one word: Positive. But it's not onl y his attitude that sets the doubles and singles player apart from his competitors. Eric plays tennis with a handicap-he has only one leg.

had to amputate his left leg. • get some good godly wisdom. And if l can't find anyone who's Highsmith lost his leg, but the former track runner never lost his a Christian, I'll pray. I play a lot of praise tapes and sing." love for sports. But why tennis? As a positive role model, Eric says it happened by accident, "I got into playing basketball. Eric nets various opportunities to share his experiences with Some people who had seen me play talked me into going on the others. He has done some tennis court with speaking for Fellowship of Christian Athletes functions. A them, and I just member of the U. S. Tennis Association, Eric has also visited tennis training centers to speak to you ng people about tennisrelated pressures. And he has spoken to handicapped groups, veterans groups, and schools. Whether speaking to groups or talking with fellow competitors at tournaments, does Eric ever get to share why he's so positive? "It never fails. The ultimate question is really ' how do you handle it?' There's no way I can share how to handle it without saying that I'm a Christian- that God helps me." -Beverly Flynn

• Georgette Wright Da'iving Haa'd fell in love with it." In 1985 Highsmith, then a stuSo instead of giving dent at West Georgia College in up and living in selfCarrolton, Georgia, was on his pity, Highsmith startway back to school after visiting Atlanta. Because of a head injury ed serving it up on the tennis court. He has improved he had suffered in an accident 2 his new game so much that he months earlier, )1e blacked out at the wheel-sending his truck plays competitively. Sometimes playing in open tournaments and careening 130 feet down a sometimes playing by invitation, ravine, where it wrapped itself around a tree. Eric plays against both handiIt wasn't unt il several hours capped players and non-handilater that Eric was discovered by • capped players. He has won at a doctor on his way to work. least five toumaments. Highsmith attributes his ability After reporting the accident, the to handle the situation to his faith doctor stayed to care for him until help arri ved. After rescue in Jesus Christ. But even with an over-all positive attitude, there are workers struggled for more than times of frustration. Eric's solu2 hours to free Highsmith from the wreckage, he was transported tion is to "find other Christians to be around, or I call my parents to to a local hospital where doctors 12

BEING ATTHE AUTORACE TRACK is nothing new for Georgette Wright of St. Augustine, Florida. She's been there since the day she was born. "Almost," corrects her mother, Carol. "I was looking in her baby book recently and right there it said, 'First outing with Mom and Dad-Volusia County Speedway to watch Dad race!' " With four daughters to raise, Buck Wright probably thought his racing days "and the fussing and canying on around the track," according to Carol, were through. But when Georgette, then II, begged for a go-kart for Christmas, he could hardl y refuse. To overcome Carol's hesitation and to earn the extra $500

SPOFITS SPEC T R UM • F E B RUARY 1904

it cost, Buck cut and hauled cypress in area swamps. One day while out cutting, he discovered an unusual palm tree, dug it up and transplanted it in his yard. The tree had circled around itself and then had grown up through the knot. When a friend joked that the local Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum might be interested, it took only a few phone calls to generate some attention. A Ripley's rep looked it over and concluded that all he could give them was $500! Wright, now 23 and living in North Carolina, continues to watch God provide in such ways for her racing career. "When He closes one door, He opens another," she says. Wright boldly paints "God is Awesome" in nearly foot-high block letters on the back of her race car. "I' ve always believed that the Lord has total control of my life, and that is one way to let people know the faith that I have in God," she confides. After racing go-karts until she was 16, the 5-foot-6 1/2 inch, 125pound racer graduated to ministocks, then to late model stock cars. In Febmary 1993, she desperately wanted sponsorship for the Florida 200 Goody's Dash during Speed week prior to the Daytona 500. When that fell through, she was keenly disappointed. After contemplating a change of scenery, she packed up and moved north to the Charlotte, NC, area. She quickly got a job with the state's largest Chrysler dealership, starting as a receptionist before, as she admits, "getting a promotion to the service department! "I've been in racing 12 years now, and God has canied me through every year. As far as sponsorship is concemed, He's always provided a way," the softspoken young racer remarks. "I pretty much gave up when I decided to move to North

•••••••••

Carolina," she recalls. "Even though I had a name in Florida, I had to build my name back up, but I know God has me in this place for a reason." With that in mind, in midNovember her employer purchased a Legends series car designed to run on a 3/sth-mile dirt or asphalt track. With 125-horsepower engines, the Legends series cars built by Allison Brothers Race Cars are designed to put challenge and fun back into rac ing. Wright's goals in racing are apparent. "Of course, I'd like to be the first woman to do certain things in racing. But if I' m not the fi rst, I would just want to be one of the best and leave some kind of mark for other. little girls that it's okay to have dreams. In 10 years it might be an even game in racing between men and women, and being a female racer wouldn 't be that big a deal. "As a woman in racing, there are advantages and disadvantages. You have to drive twice as hard and prove twice as much. Once you do that, you gain respect on and off the track. "Winning can be done in the right manner, but it makes it so

• •••••••••••••••••

"A Christian can play a contact sport and be a tough competitor," says Stu. "My teammates would disrespect me if they thought my faith kept me from doing my job." The Kamloops, BC, native joined the expansion Anaheim team after stops in Calgary and Chicago. It's been a pleasant adjustment, he admits, "going to the rink in shorts every day. It 's a bit of a switch for a western Canadian!" He and his wife Pam are seeking to start a wives' Bible study; what he tabs "a real nonthreatening sharing time." much sweeter In addition, Stu mentioned when you progress on a league-wide chapel accomplish someprogram, which is being presentthing others think you can't." • ed by the New York Rangers' - Karen Drollinger : Mike Gartner, an executive commiuee member of the players association, to the NHL brass. • Stu GriTnSon "S ince the guys are away The Mightiest from home so much , we want to Ducic? meet in a pre-arranged WITH AN ON-ICE DEMEANOR '"' city with a designated I nearly as menacing as his hockchapel leader from that ey team's colorful logo, the Mighty Ducks' Stu Grimson has established himself as an NHL enforcer. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound left wing has logged so many penalty minutes that he's earned the nickname "the Grim Reaper." Even good friend Don Liesemer of Hockey Ministries International· in Montreal says tongue-in-cheek in his rich Canadian brogue, "You know, he plays pretty tough, eh!" Stu, a popular instructor at summer hockey camps with his infectious sense of humor, takes it all in stride. "People who don' t understand hockey may misunderstand my role on the team and consider it a compromise. I need to be a physical support for my teammates. I know I can play fair and still play physical. N <I 'J

SPOR T S S P ECTR UM • FEBRUARY 1 994

community. Spend some time in the Word and have someone share a testimony," he ex plains. Grimson's ministry desire derives from his gratitude for the impact hockey-based ministries have had on his spiritual life. He credits not only Liesemer, but also Norm Brown, a Campus Crusade staff member, plus a collection of hockey testimonies in a book called Breakaway. "I'm a product of the hockey ministries outreach. Prior to my first year of pro, I was overwhelmed and intimidated, and was having trouble coping. When I read [Breakaway], it was a key time, and after careful consideration and prayer and with Norm's helpfulness, I decided Christ was the answer for my life. "Now I don't deal with the struggle of being a pro athlete as much, but I do deal with the dayto-day preparation of being physically and mentally sharp. The time I struggle most in my life is when I'm listening to God the least. That's when I have to get back in touch with what His will is for my life." - Karen Drollinger

The wise words of a loving morn, a caring grandfather,

SOMETHING SPECIAL

a good friend, a great coach, and a time-honored Book

have helped make Kevin Johnson one special person By Tom Felten " Kevin, do you want to be special?" " Yeah, Mom, I want to be special."

In the early 1970s

this exchange took place between a youngster named Kevin Johnson and his mother, Georgia West. Kevin 's father had died a few years earlier, and Georgia and her parents were the home team that made sure the fledgling point guard was pointed in the right direction. Could Mother West have meant special, as in being first team AII-PAC I 0 as a junior and senior in college, a two-time NBA All-Star, and starring for the Phoenix Suns-a team that competed in the 1993 NBA Finals and is favored by many to be the 1994 World Champions? Perhaps. But when she first told Kevin that "to be successful in life you have to be different," it's likely she had hi s personal welfare in mind. The neighborhood that greeted her youngster each day was Oak Park, a deteriorating part of Sacramento that has the usual big-city problems of substance abuse, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, and gangs. It was his welfare vs. gang warfare. This young man born in the turbulent 60s (1966) was able to turn away from the powerful pull that could have sucked him into the urban machine. "I think my mom was telling me that sometimes you have to say no to negative peer pressure and you have to seek positive peer pressure. Sometimes they 're going to mimic you, they're going to tease you, they 're gonna -contin u ed on page 18

"" He's back. After a 1992-93 season beset by injuries (K.J. missed 33 games), the Suns' point man is back in formreturning his scoring average to Its customary 20-plus points per game. RICK RICKMA.N/OUOMO

SPORTS SPEC T R UM â&#x20AC;˘ FEB RU A RY 1994

• FEBR UAR Y 1 994

SOMETHI N G

mock you-all that is a part of being different, what's going to make you special and make you stand out." Kevin will be the first to tell you that he wasn't a saint. There were some things in his early years that he wished he had avoided. But the focused love and attention of his mother helped him to avoid the more seri ous snares that could have hindered-or even ended-his life. K.J.' s being a bit " different" has not gone unnoticed. " It's how he carries himself," notes Suns center Mark West. "If you're looking for someone who's going to show his Christianity in how he walks, I think he and A. C. Green are living examples of that." Kevin points out, "There's a verse in the Bible that tells us there will be many who go down the road that 's wide and leads to destruction. It 's the common route and where most people go. But the narrow road, the road of righteousness, very few people are going to choose that one. That's the different road, and my mom didn 't realize fully what she was telling me, but there was a Christian principle in that." A principle that helped him take a different road that has made all the difference in his life. " Watch your toes, Kevin. "

Now IT MAY SEEM that this cryptic advice came from K.J. 's manicurist or podiatrist. But, no, it was hi s grandfather who showed keen interest in where his grandson' s " little piggies" wandered. He wanted Kevin, whether he was at the market or home or wherever, to watch his step. It 's obvi ous that Kev in has always possessed a pretty fabulous set of wheels. He was quick enough in his lateral foot speed to be drafted by the Oaklanli A's in 1986 as a solid infield prospect. He still has America's favorite pas tim e on his mind today. Danny Ainge, his teammate and former Toronto Blue Jay, and Johnson have talked about making a baseball team out of their basketball squad. Batting cl ean up, Charles Barkley ... " I keep telling Danny that he' ll have to play second base or third base," Kevin says while smiling. " He'll say, ' K.J., l was a shortstop.' A nd I 'II tell him , ' Danny, you were a shortstop, but you hit .200-you hit below the Mendosa line. We need to JERRY WACHTER/FOCUS ON SPORTS put you at second or third so you K . .J.'s BEST PLAY can concentrate a little more on Th e following are Kevin Johnson's regular season your hitting.' " highlights: If yo u want flat out foot Points ........44 .....vs. Milwaukee .......... 3/27/90 speed, you 've come to the right Rebounds ...13.....vs. San Antonio ........4/13/88 person too. K.J. has long been Assists ...... 21 .....vs. L.A. Lakers .........2/28/89 regarded as one of the fastest Steals ..........B.....vs. Mlaml ...................1/7/89 players in the game. His speed and quickness have enabled him vs. Cleveland ..............1/9/91 to penetrate defenses for easy Blocks..........3.....vs. Sacramento ......11/18/88 lay-ups and pinpoint passes. In 18

SPEC I AL

the 1990-9 1 NBA season he became only the fifth player in the history of the game to average more than 20 points and I 0 assists. That's averaging a double-double. Which spells double trouble for Phoenix foes. Yes, he's light on his feet as he polishes the hardwood. He dances. He prances. He zigs. He zags. Hey, his toes and the rest of his feet can do some pretty unique- and occasional Dominique-type- things. But, all Kevin 's grandfather meant by watch your toes was, " If you walk in the right direction, if you put you feet on solid ground and focus on Christ, then your life will be very solid and fulfilling," K.J. relays. It's a serious thing. Not looking to the left or to the right. Keeping your eyes on the ultimate goal and making sure you don' t step off the path. If you do get turned aside, warns Johnson, you'll have "a very negative experience as you travel through adulthood." That's wisdom born out of-in part-grandfatherly advice given to Johnson in his childhood. " Come to church with rne. "

WITH THOSE WORDS a high school teammate, a fellow senior, asked Kev in to expl ore something he had found-salvation and peace in Jesus Christ. K.J. and his friend had first discussed spiritual things during a geometry class that for Kevin tumed into Knowing God 101. Kevin remembers that leading up to that time he had been thinking, "There has to be something more to life than getting up every day, going out there and having 5 good days and 5 bad days. Life just seemed like a roller coaster. " He started attending church with his buddy and soon asked Christ to come into his life. But it wasn't until Johnson was a j unior in college that he truly came to grips with what being a Christian is all about. " I made up my mind to read at least one chapter of the New Testament each night. I read it all the way through anÂˇd that 's when I feel my true conversi on came. It turned my life upside down and since then life has been easy, it's been fun, and every day for the most part I've been able to have joy in my heart." The faith that Johnson enjoys has certainly been bolstered by having A. C. Green as a traveling companion and teammate on the Suns. Some of the special qualities that K.J. is known for are also seen in the life of the former Laker and NBA championship ri ng bearer. " He's not a normal brother in Christ," says Johnson enthusiastically. " He's exceptional. His presence has made a big difference in my approach to basketball and in life. When you have someone who takes a stand day in and day out and is very confident in who he is and what he believes, that sort of devotion and confidence and faith permeates the whole team." Obviously Kevin's walk with Christ has received a real power boost from A.C.- and there appears to be reciprocation. K.J. also enjoys moments of sharing spiritual truths with his coach Paul Westphal, another believer in Christ. Westphal appreciates the reality of K.J.'s faith and says, " He's very true to his beliefs in all that he does, and he's someone everyone can look up to as someone who lives by his beliefs." Another source of spiritual growth for K.J. is reading

S P O RT S S P ECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 1994

SO M E THIN G

SPECIA L

Johnson's old neighborhood. "We have 75 kids in our core program yea rround," Johnson says . "What we' re tryin g to teach our young people is that if you couple character with education you can succeed in life. It's not a guarantee, but it puts the odds in their favor. "We take their school curriculum and build on that and teach values that we feel are im portant. There is also an in-house program called ' A Rite of Passage.' It entails a few di ffe rent components and it strictly deals with character. We teach bibl ical princip les, we memorize Scripture, and do other things." During the summer sess ion St. Ho pe is opened up to even more young people and to the community itself. All this because K.J. wan ts to help others. His teammates on the • Getting the point. Although there will be no Suns also sense his desire reprise of the 1993 Finals tussles between KJ and MJ, Johnson knows what it means to guard His to help . "He 's a good Alrness. " It's painless. Michael gets the ball, you get leader," says forward/cenIn your defensive stance, and it's over so quick." " H e lp others." ter Oliver Miller. " He K.J. HEARD THOSE WORDS from John Wooden, the UCLA tries to keep the team pumped up, keeps us in good spirBruin coach who has won more NCAA Division I col- its, and if we make a mistake K.J. is always there to say, lege basketball championships than any other coach ever 'That's all right, you're gonna do it next time.'" will. (Unless Duke's Coach "K" lives to be 193.) Kevin Kev in is tough. He's a compet itor. He wan ts to had the opportunity to chat with the legendary coach one win- but not just on the court. day. He asked him, "What piece of advice would you Somehow it all goes back to that memorable moment share with me that will help guide my life?" with a kid and his mom. "Kevin, do you want to be special?" If you know anything about Coach Wooden, you "Yeah, Mom, I want to be special." already know the answer he gave. Kevin feels that Coach Wooden, a fellow follower of He is. Jesus Christ, was sayi ng "that ' to help others is our Christian duty.' He was saying, ' You will find fulfillKEVIN'S BIGGEST FRUSTRATION ment if you always keep in mind the basic principle of helping other people.' " "THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING is that the world we live in is The man who gave so much of his li fe to helping so messed up. As a Christian, I know there's something else than this world. One day in heaven we'll be able to say, 'This is the young men develop not just their games but more way it was supposed to be.' important their whole lives, has left an indelible imprint "You see so many people who are lost and struggling. Or on Johnson. Kevin has followed Coach's game plan to spending a lot of time and energy doing the wrong things-like a the point of ... well ... a Point of Light award. dog chasing his tail. How do you show them the joy of the Lord? That's exactly what K.J. received from form er How do you get through to them? President George Bush for his work with the St. Hope "Too many people think being a Christian is hypocritical or a Academy, which the Suns' guard founded. He was also very boring lifestyle. It's neither one of those." given the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1990-9 1- an honor bestowed on a person in the NBA If you find yourself struggling to make sense out of the world we who shows outstanding community involvement. live in and the life that you are living, perhaps we can help. Write lor the free booklet Why in the World Am I Here? The address is St. Hope Academy features a 7,000-square-foot, milSports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501-3566. lion -doll ar facilit y that was erected in Oak Park ,

what other Christians have written. He is a voracious reader who takes with him on road trips a pile of books that parallels the points he piles up during games. He fee ls that read ing books , especially the Bible, is beneficial for everyone. "You may not have the benefit of having parents or grandpa ren ts or someone who will talk with you, share things, and answer questions that yo u have. But if yo u read good books and read a lot, individuals are opening their minds and their way of thinking to you. "I just fini shed a book titled Th e Makin g of a Disciple by Kenneth Phillips, and it left a lasting impression on me to be a disciple of Christ. Second, to help my friends and others to become di sciples of Christ. That reminds me of Keith Brown, head of our chapel services in Phoeni x, who has been very helpful in my walk with Christ." A walk that started back in geometry class.

S P ORTS S P ECTRUM· F E BRUAR Y 1 994

Number 7's Top 7 These are the things K.J. recommends for a growing relationship with J esus Christ: • • • • • • •

Prayer Read the Bible Read Christian books Memorize Scripture Meditate on verses Hear the Bible being taught Go to church

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• Keeping Score ofFascinating &cts and Terrific Compiled by Rob B entz

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT • The AII·P.,o, AII-Deg..e e T e a an A number of players in the NFL today not only attended college but are also college graduates. Among NFL players, some not only excel but are also worthy of being named to the Pro Bowl. But it's a very select group that are both col lege graduates and ProBowl performers. For this elite group, we've picked our team of distinguished scholarathletes. Let's call them the All-Pro, All-Degree Team.

...

Offense Player

Team School Degree Pro Bowl WR .•.•..•.•.•curtis Duncan •.•....•.•..•.Oilers •....•.••...•Northwestern ...••....•...••...Business/Pre-law ........................1992 WR ...........Haywood Jentres.........OIIers .............N.C. State ........................Recreatlon Admlnlstratlon.............1991 & 92 TE .............Steve Jordan ...............VIkings ...........Brown .............................Civil Engineering ..........................1988·91 T.............. Jim Lachey ..................Redsklns .........Ohlo State ........................Marketing ...................................1987,90 & 91 G..............Mike Munchak .............Oilers .............Penn State .......................Business Administration ...............1984,85,87·92 c ..............Bruce Matthews ..........Oilers .............usc.................................lndustrlal Engineering ..................1988·92 G..............Carlton Haselrlg ..........Steelers ......... Pittsburgh-Johnstown .......Communications ...........................1992 T..............Jackie Slater ...............Rams ..............Jackson State .................. Bachelor of Arts ..........................1983,85·90 WR ........... Sterling Sharpe ...........Packers.......... south carolina .................Interdisciplinary Studles...............1989,90, & 92 QB ............Dan Marino .................Dolphlns..........Pittsburgh........................ Communlcatlons ...........................1983·87,91 &92 RB ............Neat Anderson .............Bears .............Florida ............................Public Relations ...........................1988·91 K..............Nick Lowery................ Chiels .............Dartmouth ........................Government .................................1981, 90 &92 Defense DL... ..........Lee Williams ................Oilers .............Bethune-Cookman .............Business Administration ............... 1088 & 80 DL... .......... Howle Long..................Raiders ..........Villanova.......................... Communlcatlons ...........................1983·87, 80 & 92 DL... ..........Cortez Kennedy ............ seahawks ....... Miami (fl.) ....................... Criminal Justice ..........................1991 &02 DL... .......... Pierce Holt ..................Falcons...........Angelo State (lx.) .............Physical Education &History ........1002 LB .............AI Smith ...................... Oilers ............. Utah State ........................ Soclolgy ......................................1991 & 02 LB .............Kart Mecklenburg ........ Broncos ..........Minnesota ........................Biology........................................1085·87, 80 & 01 LB .............Andre Tlppett ...............Patrlots ..........lowa................................Liberal Arts.................................1984·88 s ..............Mark carrier .............. Bears .............usc ................................. communlcatlons ...........................100D & 01 S..............Steve Atwater ............. Broncos ..........Arkansas .........................Business Administration ...............1000·92 CB ............Eric Allen ....................Eagles ............Arizona State ...................Broadcasting ...............................1080, 01 & 02 CB ............Gill Byrd ...................... Chargers ........San Jose State ................. Business Admin. &Finance ...........1901 &92 P..............Mike Horan ................. Giants .............Long Beach State ..............Mechanlcal Englneerlng ................1988

• The NBII. st..ange But T..ue File • The Big E, Elvin Hayes, played exactly 50,000 minutes in his 16-year NBA career. • During his 14-year NBA career, Dennis Johnson played in J.. E for Excellent: D for Defense. 1100 games. Elvin Hayes used his 833 hours of NBA • NBA Hall-of-tamer time to score 27,313 points, while OJ Rick Barry has a career was All-Defensive First Team six times. free throw per.centage of exactly .900. • The Piston franchise has won ~oth the highest and lowest scoring games in NBA history. On Novem~er 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons ~eat the Minneapolis Lakers 19-18. On Decem~er 13, 1983, the Detroit Pistons outran the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime. • Tun 7 - G ..ass 2 Of the nine teams in the Canadian Football League, only two play their home games on a natural surface. The league's newest addition, the Sacramento Gold Miners, and the 1993 Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos are the only teams that play for the Grey Cup on green grass. 20

• ll.h.vays a Bridesanaid, Neve .. a Bride Winning the Tri ple Crown of horse racing is a rare accomplishment. Only II times in the history of thoroughbred racing has a horse been victorious in all three legs of the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. But rarer yet is the story of Alydar. Alydar finished second in all three legs of the Triple Crown in 1978-the fi rst and only time this has ever happened. In all three races, Alydar crossed the fi nish line behind Affirmed, who won the Triple Crown that year. And it was close each time. In fact, the two horses ran nine races together, and in the nearl y nine miles they ran against each other, the total distance separating them at the wire was less than three lengths. Affirmed won six of those races.

Trivia from, the World of Sports 'TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT • off Like a

Roclcet When the Houston Rockets began their season with 15 straight wins, they tied the alltime record for most wins at the start of an NBA season. The record was set by the now defunct Washington Capitals in 1948. But which team really got off to the better start? Let's take a look. The Capitals, who were coached by the legendary Red

•• Who was the first player in NHL history to reach 500 goals? Chuck: You have to go back to 1957, when Montreal great Maurice 1'The Rocket" Richal'd beat Chicago goaltender Glenn Hall to become the first player to reach 500 goals in a career. Richard finished his fine career with 544 goals in 18 seasons and played on 8 Stanley Cup winners in Montreal.

.&. No looking back? Behind the leadership of Vernon Maxwell {above), Hakeem Olajuwon, and Otis Thorpe, the Rockets have soared to record heights.

Auerbach, averaged 79 points per game, a 7 point pe1:game margin of victory, with an ISpoint victory over the Indianapolis Jets as their largest margin. Compare those statistics to the Rockets' 99 points per game average, 9 point per game margin of victory, and a 30-point blowout of the New Jersey Nets in the season opener. It appears that the Rockets 15-game winning streak was even more impressive than that of the old Capitals. Sorry, Red.

Where did Milwaukee Bucks center Frank Br ickowski attend college? Chuck: Brickowski was a Penn State Nittany Lion. He played at Penn State from the 77-78 season through the 80-81 season. His best year for the Nittany Lions was his senior ,y ear when he averaged 13.0 points per game. Brickowski was drafted by the New York Knicks in the t):lird round of the 1981 NBA Draft .

I know that Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions was the thir d player taken in the 1988 NFL Draft. Who was taken ahead of him? Chuck: The Dallas Cowboys had the first pick in 1988 and chose quarterback Troy Aikman out of UCLA. The Green Bay Packers then used the second pick to nab highly-touted offensive lineman, Tony Mandarich from Michigan State. The Lions then used the third pick to draft Sanders. Looking back, Aikman already has a Super Bowl ring, many

consider Sanders the best running back in the NFL, and Mandarich is totally out of football. If only the Packers knew then what they know now.

Is Charlie Ward the first Florida State Seminole to win the Reisman Trophy? Chuck: Yes, he is the first Seminole to win the big br onze award. He is not, however, the first player from the state of Florida to win. Steve Spurrier, of the University of Florida won the Reisman in 1968, Vinny Testaverde of the University of Miami won it in 1986, and Gino Torretta, also of Miami, won the award in 1992. So even though it's not the state of Florida's first Reisman Tr ophy, it is Florida State's first.

•

• Who is the last PGA golfer who successfully defended his US Open title? Chuck: Curtis Strange won the 1988 US Open with a playoff victory over Nick Faldo to capture his first title. He then defended the title with a one-stroke victory over Chip Beck, Ian Woosnam, and Mark McCumber in the 1989 US Open at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Q : Who scored more points during his NBA career, Earvin "Magic" Johnson or Bob Cousy? Chuck: Both men are known for their floor lead-

CHUCK SWIRSKY, host of~ Spectrum radio, is sports director of WGN Radio in Chicago.

ership, but they could fill it up pretty well too. Magic finished his 12-year career with 17,239 points, while Cousy played for 14 years and finished with 16,960. Johnson averaged 19.7 points per game compared to an 18.4 per game average for Cousy. Pretty impressive scoring numbers from the point.

One Way To Find Out

Got a sports question? To get the answer, you have to ask. Send your questions to The Swirsky Report Box 3566 Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

Tune Chuck In Each Saturday at noon eastern time, you can hear Chuck Swirsky talk sports on Sports Spectrum radio. Call 1-800-653-8333 to find out where to listen to the program. 2 1

It's wildly popular, it's exciting, it's a TV happening. But what should we make of professional wrestling, really? By John Calsin Jr. CREAMING. EVERYONE IS ON THEIR FEET. SCREAMING.

"Kill him!" yells a young girl of no more than 10 as she stands on the seat next to me and shouts to no one in particular. Blaring music beats as if there were a thousand drums. Strobe-like, the arena lights flash off and on as the music, the crowd noise, and the ring announcer reach a deafening crescendo. Parents hold their babies and young children with upward and outstretched arms, as if making an offering to the gods. Then comes the focal point of all this cacophony: The wrestlers. Surrounded by security guards, they strut arrogantly down the runway. As they pass the crowd on the way to the ring, they give high路fives or reach out to the children. The screaming and the beating music get louder. The fans are standing, waving, cheering.

Welcome to a World Wrestling Federation bout at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Swirling around me is a tornado of turbulent sounds, sights, and emotions as the contestants begin to entertain the screaming crowd, showing the worst in themselves and bringing out the worst in the audience. A friend wanted to return the favor for some tickets I

had given him to various sports events. Knowing that I I start to wish death to the heels. Uncharacteristically, I wanted to write an article about the goings-on at one of find myself shouting along with the rest of the scream these events, he bought floor seats near ringside to thi s ing crowd. WWF extravaganza. Our tickets cost $18 each, plus $4 [ was glad when the mayhem was finally over and I parking. And the food concessions aren't cheap. The could return to a more sane, sober world. father who is sitting behind us has four young children. I was shocked by the events of that Friday evening. I try to guess how much he had spent to subject his Later, while contemplating all that had gone on, I called kids to this. a friend and asked him, "Do you know any Christians I glance down at my WWF program and notice that it who are pro wrestlers?" says both Sensational Sherri and Shawn Michaels, two of His answer: "Isn't that a contradiction in terms?" the principles on tonight 's He then sugges ted card, are "treacherous" as Tully Blanchard, a forwell as "selfish and self-cenmer pro. tered." I wonder for a moment In a Philadelphia abo ut role models and all Daily News article these children in the seats. written back in the The main event, a tag mid -80s, the wri ter team match, pits Hulk Hogan ca lled Tully a "bad (303 pounds) and Rowdy guy" and gave him a Roddy Pipper (235 pounds), " not-so- honorab le against Ric Flair (242 mention" with the likes pounds) and Sid Justice (3 18 of Abdullah the pounds). The crowd goes Butch er, King Kong absolutely wild when their Bundy, and Brui ser names are announced. Our Brody. But Tully seats are close to the runway, Blanchard later had a but we can' t see their change of heart, which entrance becau s~ uf the peoled him to leave the ple jamming the pathway's chaotic world of pro edge. Fan s are sc reaming wrestling (see accomeverything from encouragepanying story). ment to epithets. The My night at the announcer is screaming to be fi ghts led me to do heard over the tumult. I'm some research on this screaming to my budd y phenomenon. What I about my disbelief at what I found was not encour,4 It really hurts. People often want to know if the am seeing and hearing. aging. hired hit men in pro wrestling really suffer pain. Tully Twice during the match, Blanchard verifies that they do, but perhaps what Accordi ng to The one of the wrestlers picks up really hurts Is having to watch one of these matches. Encyclopedia of Bad a chair from rings ide and Taste, written by Jane hits one of his opponents and Mi chael Stern , over the head or on the back. This only spurs the fans "Professional wrestling is melodrama with muscles. It to scream for more. is less a test of athletic skill than it is a giddy morality As the match goes on, the baby faces (wrestling term play in which good guys whop the stuffings out of for good guys Hulk and Roddy) are taking a plastering bad guys." from the heels (wrestling talk for bad guys Flair and In a 1987 arti cle titled " Radical and Ethnic Justice). Somehow as the screaming and hatred rise to Stereotypes in Professional Wrestling" written by new heights among the 15,000 or so fans, I feel my Brendan Maguire and John Wozniak in the Social adrenaline rising. I could almost imagine myself as a Science Joumal, Vince McMahon, titan of Titan Roman citizen watching the gladiators kill the helpless. Sports, Inc., the parent company of the WWF, was

quoted from an interview on the ABC-TV newsmagazine 20/20: 20/20: Is it a legitimate sport? McMahon: It's not perhaps a legitimate sport in terms of what someone would think of in a traditional way. 20/20: What is it if it's not a sp01t? McMahon: I don't know. After my experience at the Spectrum, I don't know either. The Maguire-Wozniak article mentions a definition of sport that says it "builds character, teaches individuals how to win or lose with grace, rewards hard work." The article concludes: "While millions have responded positively to professional wrestling's return, this sociological assessment is negative." As my mother used to tell me, "Just because everyone's doing something, that doesn't make it right." While many proponents of the sport would agree that pro wrestlers are in good physical shape and demonstrate some athleticism, it's hard to find people who would consider what they do a legitimate sport. Yet there are people who stand behind pro wrestling, even to the point of finding value in it. A woman office manager is in her mid-twenties. She said she has been watching wrestling "since I was in second grade." She looks at it as "entertainment" that draws a person in- like a soap opera. She said, "I think there is a good influence because families don 't have someone to look up to. And wrestlers often encourage kids to do their homework or take their vitamins." The 12-year-old daughter of a Sunday schoolteacher often watches TV on Saturday morning. The entire family will be in church on Sunday praising and worshipping God and listening to the preacher's message, but 24 hours earlier the young girl had been perched in front of the flickering eye watching the World Wrestling Federation. She says, "It's fun to watch." While she has never been to an actual event, she watches it on TV "nearly every Saturday." What are these people looking for when they watch this exercise in unbridled chaos, anger, and aggression? Gary Papa, TV sports anchor on Philadelphia's Channel 6 Action News said he viewed professional wrestling as "entertainment." He went on to say, "It is fixed." And when asked if he ever covered it, he quickly answered, "No. No." He feels there is a "good comic sense to it," with a "little bit of drama" and "good versus bad." And while Papa doesn't feel wrestling made things worse, he said, " It perpetuates stereotypes." Another Philadelphia area sports authority is Kevin Mulligan. The beat writer who covers the Philadelphia Eagles for the Philadelphia Daily News, he has been writing sports for 15 years. "I've done practically everything: volleyball to soccer to high school sports." When asked if he ever covered pro wrestling, Mulligan responded, "I guess we would start with saying we don 't view it as sports. We classify it as e.ntertainment. We don't feel it merits coverage, even though there is a large following for it." Mulligan acknowledges that there are "athletic aspects of wrestling, obviously" and that the wrestlers "do a lot of amazing things with their bodies." But he went on to say, "It's a fixed event designed to entertain people." I've been there. I've seen the "entertainment." And I have to wonder, what is the price we are willing to pay for what we call a good time? Is this another of those situations where we are just entertaining ourselves at the cost of our values, our sensitivity to others, and our concern for good taste? Take a look at the life of Tully Blanchard and see if he-and the rest of us-are better off in or out of the world of pro wrestling. 1:1

Jo/111 Calsin Jr. is a freelance writer who lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Once an integral part of the wild world ofwrestling, Tully Blanchard has exchanged his macho image for a more gentle, more valuable message

By Mike Sandrolini

RO WRESTLING CARDS draw millions of fans to arenas across the country every year. TV shows such as the World Wrestling Federation's WWF Superstars and Wotld Championship Wrestling (WCW) fill regular time-slots every weekend. And pro wrestling fans are often as dedicated to following their favorite performers as most sports fans are dedicated to their athletes. They recognize today' s famous wrestling personalities: Hulk Hogan, "The Total Package" Lex Lugar, The Undertaker, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ravishing Rick Rude, Missy Hyatt, Sensational Sherry Martel, and Miss Elizabeth , among others. A few yea rs ago, Tully Blanchard's name could have been added to a similar list of wrestling' s most popular individuals. Blanchard locked horns wi th pro wrestling's best for 13 years. During the mid-to-late 1980s, Blanchard was one of wrestlings's top draws. "I've walked down the aisle," Blanchard says. "I' ve been in every major building and every one that's not so major. I've been .A. The color of money. Not even hit, and hit people with chairs the lure of big bucks could get from Wooster, Massachusetts, to Tully back Into the ring now t hat Portland, Maine, to Seattle to he knows where true riches come from . Newfoundland."

What brought Blanchard great fame was his association with long- out that Blanchard had flunked the drug test with the WWF. time National Wrestli ng Association (NWA) stars Rick Flair, Arn Panic set in. "I laid there in turmoil for about 3 hours," he recalls. Anderson, and Ole Anderson. Together, they were known as "The After tossing and tuming all night- the end of his wrestling career; no Four Horsemen," one of the most successful banks of "villains" ever to 3-year, $750,000 contract; the end of fame seemingly staring him in the face-Blanchard says he "cried out and said, 'Jesus, take over my life.'" step into the squared circle. Looking back on that night, Blanchard believes God "manipulated" "I was arrogant, cocky, confident, and proud," Blanchard says, his life to the point where he could say "Jesus, come into my life" and matter-of-factly. "I wasn't 6'5" , 280 pounds, or chiseled out of granite. The only make it stick. His mother and father had become Christians years before way to achieve an ything in that business being 5' II", 218 pounds and had placed Blanchard on prayer chains and prayer lists. They also kept sending Tully tapes of sern1ons from church. He threw the tapes was to do things that got more reaction than somebody. "I had an intangible to create emotion. I got people out of their homes into his closet and never listened to them- until Ric Flair called. "At 4:03 in the morn ing, the peace that and into a seat. There was a sense of accompasses all understanding came over me, pli shment on a personal level when you could have 15,000 to 20,000 people react to and I fell asleep," Blanchard recalls. "I woke up at 7:30 refreshed. I went to my every move you made. My concept of the business was to make people scream." closet and started getting out the sermon Blanchard was introduced to wrestling tapes and started listening to them. " Blanchard later found out that his parearly in his life. His father, Joe Blanchard, ents had people pray ing for his salvation was a pro wrestler who later became an for 12 years. independent wrestling promoter. At the hei ght of his career, Tull y Now, 4 years later, Blanchard heads up Blanchard was traveling across the country Tully Blanc hard Min istries, based in with The Four Horsemen, appearing regularCharlotte, North Carolina. "I've probably seen about 1,500 people make commitly on TV and on the cover of wrestling magments to the Lord in the last year-and-aazines-and earning a six-figure salary. However, Blanchard's life away from pro half," says Blanchard. Blanchard's sudden transformation from wrestling was something less than a main pro wrestler to hom-again Christian caught event. Alcohol was a constant companionhis wrestling colleagues by surprise. He Blanchard says he drank "every day since I retired from wrestling and the WWF shortwas 17." He also experimented with cocaine. "I tried to live each day the best I could ly after his conversion experience. for me," says Blanchard. "To meet my "I was told [by other wrestlers] I was taking this God thing too far," Blanchard needs and pleasures . I always perceived says. "They told me to make money now, that a star shou ld live with women all and go to church when I'm 60." around him and have drugs or alcohol ur whatever else he wanted." Blanchard says he has received offers Blanchard and Arn Anderson left the from Turner Broadcasting periodicall y NWA to join the WWF in 1989, eventuall y over the last 2 years to rejoin the NWA becoming the WWF world tag-team chamand come out of retirement. And he' s pions. But even though Blanchard had turned every one of them down. WOOOY SMITMITl..U Y BlANCHARD MNISTRlES vaulted to the top of pro wrestling's top "God has made it very clear to me that I league, he started thinking about life after 4 A new look; a new outlook. No longer surround- can't straddle the fence. I have complete ed by the sometimes unsavory characters of bigwrestling. It worried him. peace in my spirit when I say that I've time wrestling, Tully Blanchard now hangs out "The thoughts I had the last 6 months of with his wife Courtney as they tell others about the prayed long and hard about that." Blanchard my career were that I was 35 years old, and I faith that changed his life. cites biblical reasons for not being involved can only do this for so many more years," he in the wrestling business. "I'm not trying to says. "I don 'I have a lot of money in the bank. What am I going to do?" raise controversy, but when I seek my God, the Scriptures tell me not As it turned out, Blanchard had to make a decision about his future to do these things." Blanchard minces no words when it comes to his critique of the sooner than he expected. He failed a cocaine test in October 1989 and . was suspended from the WWF. business he participated in for 13 years. "When you've got no subInitiall y, the suspension didn't faze Blanchard because he had been stance, when you build your house on sand, it doesn't stand very well," he says. "You've got to have a whole bunch of glitter and negotiating to rejoin the NWA and resurrect The Four Horsemen. In fact, he reached a verbal agreement with the NW A: a 3-year deal glamour when you can't perform . worth $750,000. " I watched WWF wrestling for about 5 minutes recently. Vince "I figured I had a little pot at the end of the rainbow," Blanchard McMahon has a voodoo guy on there cursing. That 's righteous and says. "I didn't care about working for the WWF anymore. I came back holy? That's good for our kids? God is goi ng to take that business to Matthews, North Carolina, my home. I had 2 weeks off. I was work- down for reasons just like that." ing out. I was training hard. I wasn't drinki ng. I wasn' t running Despite his disdain for what pro wrestling has become, Blanchard has around. I wasn' t doing nothing." a place in his heart- and on his prayer list-for his fom1er colleagues. But near the end of those 2 weeks, Blanchard received a surprise "I pray for Vince McMahon," he says, "I pray that the wrestlers will telephone call at I a.m. from Ric Flair, his old partner. "He told me the become a benefit to the Kingdom of God. I pray for each of them." people in Atlanta (WTBS) were not going to honor their verbal agreement with me," he recalls. The NWA and Turner Broadcasting found Mike Sandrolini is a freelance writer who lives in Warrenville, Illinois.

Heidi Gillingham has found a way to stand tall when life's intimidations and difficulties try to get her down By Karen Rudolph Drollinger

once wept when peering into a mirror to the beaming and confidentÂˇcollegiate homecoming queen interviewed by Paula Zahn on CBS This Moming, basketball player Heidi Gillingham assuredly has blossomed. On the court, that maturity translates into All American and All -Southeast Conference honors for Gillingham, who led Vanderbilt to a 30-3 record last year, a season highlighted by a Final Four appearance in Atlanta. The Commodores lost in the semifinals to eventual national titlist Texas Tech 60-46. She averaged more than 14 points and 7 rebounds per game, leading opposing coaches such as Tech's Marsha Sharp to say, "You have to account for her presence on both ends of the playing floor." And now, having attended Pete Newell 's specialty 26

SPORTS SPECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 1994

camp for women post players 6'4" or taller, and having added I0 pounds of strength and 3 inches to her vertical jump over the summer, Gillingham could catalyze women's basketball the way George Mi kan influenced the pros. With increasing fan supp01t, including a recordsetting home crowd of 15,317 for a contest with Tennessee, and with more TV air time and medi a attentio n, Heidi, the Commodores, and women's basketball are coming of age. But the challenges don't stop on the hardwood, she acknowledges. Consider, for instance, that Vanderbilt 's senior center stands 6' I0" and is the tallest player in women's basketball. It was unsettling, she admits, growing up ... and up . . . and up . .. and up ... and wondering when those frisky height genes would play out. "It's really scary when you don't know how tall you're going to be, and you' re still growing while in college, " the softspoken and articulate Gillingham confides while relating how she deals with living in a 5-foot-10 world. "Very few people can accept you when you don't accept yourself. People see when you're insecure, and they feel almost embarrassed by that. It's a big turning point when you can finally li ke who you are just the way you are." Her growing confidence reflects a deepening trust that God is in control of her life. But like Heidi says, "You can hear all about it [knowing and trusting God and receiving Christ as your Savior] all your life, yet there comes a time when you have to believe it yourself. " Heidi credits her family with teaching her how to have a personal relationshi p with Jesus Christ. To show one way her willingness to talk about her faith has matured, she relates a tale about when she was age 7 or 8, and God answered a heartfelt request for her to capture a certain wil9 horse in their pasture. "I was so amazed that God had answered my prayer to catch that horse. I wanted to tell my family about how God had answered my simple prayer, but I decided they would laugh at me. Pray to catch a horse? As I walked in leading this horse, I dec ided not to say anything about praying in that way. "Right after I made that decision, the horse tripped on some irrigation pipe, got scared, and ran off! But it taught me a lesson that when I pray about something and receive God's power through it, I have an obligation to tell everyone how I got my strength and power." Although she's not naturally aggressive, it's that kind of inbred detem1ination that follows her onto the basket-

..... Lessons learned. Whether chasing down a horse as a child or defending the basket as a college basketball player, Heidi Gillingham has disÂˇ covered that she always has Someone to lean on for help.

ball floor. Her coach, Jim Foster, concedes that her athletic improvement has come because of her "intense work ethic." "Heidi 's goal is to have a perfect game. I have to remind her that just about everybody in the Hall of Fame missed half their shots," he quips. Nevertheless, after her first 2 Jâ&#x20AC;˘M GUNOIAI.lSPORr yea rs at Vand y, incl udin g a sophomore season when she set an SEC record for blocked shots with 131, Heidi questioned her purpose in both life and basketball. "My sophomore year I nearly quit playing basketball. I felt like I was only playing because of my height. I wondered what else I could be doing had I not grown this tall," the honor student recalls. She has a cumulative 3.1 grade point average on a team where all five starters last year made the all-SEC all-academic team. "I know I'm very capable intellectually, and I know there are other options. But I hated basketball so much back then!" she stresses. "It wasn't a place where I glorified God. Then I decided to give it over to God- l'd given everything else over to Him-and play for Him." Heidi catches her breath, incredulity mounting as she underscores the changes that surfaced. "When I did that," she voices, punching out the words, "I- actually-started-enjoying-basketballbecause there wasn't the pressure there was before. "I didn 't find basketball futile anymore. I was building a pl atfor m to share my faith, and it was very rewarding for me for once. I would pray that God would use my hands and make my legs agile and move them up and down the court; to put the shots down, to have a good sportsmanlike attitude for the game and the grace to accept inevitable losses." Besides her newfound love for the game, Gillingham also needed grace in other areas- including deflecting taunts from opponents' fans like, "Manute can't shoot,"

S P O RT S S PECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRU ARY 1 994

ith lour new teams in the 1993 Women's Final Four-champion Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, and Iowatournament merchandise sales shattered all existing records. With daily capacity crowds ol1 6,141, T-shirts and other paraphernalia sold out quickly. Proceeds topped $190,000, more than doubling the $77,000 that women's hoops fans spent in Los Angeles the year before. -Karen Drollinger

1fJ

l9t:

did Heidi Gillingham, at 6't0", find clothing for her Homecoming extravaganza? Consider that, as her friend Susan Schall noted, "Heidi just can't walk into a shop and buy ready-made clothes. Her sister, Heather, out of the blue, had ordered an outfit from a designer in New York for her, and it was ready for her when she needed it.• What was the basketball star's reaction to her selection as the football homecoming queen? "I felt honored that I got to represent the school and proud that my classmates accepted me as Heidi, and not just the basketball center. 'I told one paper one major reason I got elected was that God has changed my life so much that my relationship with Him shows through in my rela· tionships with other people on campus on a daily basis. People recognize that and appreciate that I respect them. The fact that I have that type of character, and am a suc· cesslul student and basketball player has given me esteem." -Karen Drollinger

or "Olive Oyl." Heidi, the group's vice president "There's no way you can exist and and its nominee for the queen 's completely block those kinds of court, had penned a letter to God as things out. It's a silly, silly attack, but part of the activities, thanking Him it still hurts," she says before concedfor her life's challenges and traumas and expressing how she wanting, "yet it keeps me level-headed ed to see God as a Father. Within a regarding all the publicity I get!" few days, the letters were mailed Team publicist Rod Williamson back to the participants, and Heidi says the Vanderbilt star frequentl y recalls with calm assurance those receives letters from teenagers who reminders of a loving God. ask her for advice on how to deal with "I was right where God wanted wounds from unthinking people. How does she answer those quesme to be spiritually to receive that news. I realized that God was tions? She replies that her success preparing me and that everything and self-image comes from God. was completely under His con''I'm happy with the way I am ." trol," she concludes. She pauses before blurting, "Now! Gillingham says she has experi"There's nobody I'd rather be. God has designed me to be this way. He enced a great sense of loss in her father's passing, but not devastamade me the way He made me in tion. "Overall, I'm left with gratiorder to serve Him th e way He planned. I encourage others to look at tude because God allowed me to have such a wonderful mother and themselves-and me- that way. He father for so many years. has created each one of us uniquely." Someday, she says, she might li ke "Jf you think of life as a gift from God, when it 's go ne you to be a counselor or do missionary work. "I spend a lot of time ponder- A The big question. Many ask Heidi don't have the same sense of loss If she will dunk In a game. " If an ing life and wo nderin g about the opportunity to do It came about and that you do if you feel someone owes you a certain number of mind. And I have empathy for people I could, I would," she replies. years," she says. who feel they don't fit quite right in society and have to deal with being different." Indeed "I have chosen to live my life in a way that honors she jokes now that she selected her major, psychology, my parents," she explains. "I don't have any regrets in because of her own in-depth analysis. "I thought I'd try dealing with them. I think that's why a lot of people to be a psychiatrist myself and not have to pay anyone! are devastated by death- they wish they could go back "There was a time when I hated being tall, and not and change things. But I don't have that at all. The just being tall but being that tall ," she says disdainfully adj usting is a whole lot easier when you have great as the awkward image settles in her mind. memories instead of remorse." Heidi describes how she was so skinny she could take Following the memorial service for her father, which her thumb and middle finger and completely encompass Nashvi lle family friend Susan Schall termed "a celebraher biceps. "I was really thin, and I wondered what God tion of life," Heidi retumed to school for the homecomwas doing," she admits, quickly adding, "and I probably ing preparations. Her siblings, including younger sister Gwen, a 6'7" inch sophomore center at North Carolina; prayed that God would stop me from growing. "I just didn't realize that God knows the whole pic- older sister Heather, who works in the fashion industry in ture. And that goes for anything," she advises. "Just be New York City; and older brother Greg, a forn1er college patient and let Him take over, and He'll work it out." football player at Rice, also resumed their activities. That attitude carried Heidi through some emotional Not long afterward, on homecoming day, as Heidi extremes last fall, from the death of her father, Kent, in was escorted onto the football field by her fri end a September 27 private plane crash in San Antonio, to Susan's father, Dr. David Schall, the cloudy skies parther election as Vandy's football homecoming queen. ed and sunshine poked through. The 1993 football Kent Gillingham, M.D., Ph.D., was an award-winning queen wore black crushed velvet Palazzo pants with a aerospace researcher assigned to Brooks Ai r Force Base vest in 70s retro-style. in Texas to study the effects of high-G stress on fighter On CBS This Moming, when Paula Zahn asked about pilots. Heidi's mom, Janet, continues to live in nearby the meaning of the message sent by the Vanderbilt stuFloresville, Texas, and works as a nurse in San Antonio. dent body, she replied, "that you can deviate from the "I called home to ask my dad to reserve homecoming norm and it's okay." "In the past there may have been different ideals for weekend," comments Heidi , who had just learned that she would be one of the I0 finalists for homecoming women based on appearance. But differences can be seen as uniquenesses and not negatives. In the end, queen. "Nobody answered at home, which was odd. Later that night my mom called me with the news about what 's most important is the character of a person and my dad's accident. I had an unusual peace about the loss, what he does." and I know that peace was a gift from God." Karen Drollinger, whose husband is four inches taller On the previous weekend, Gillingham had attended a tlwn Heidi Gillingham, is a freelance writer who lives Vanderbilt Fellowship of Christian Athletes fall retreat. in Southem Califomia. SPORTS SPECTRUM • FEBRUARY 1994

Ans'W'e..ing you.. questions about physical &tness and spons naedicine By Richard Dominguez, M.D. â&#x20AC;˘ Toning Up For Golf We know Payne Stewart, 199 1 US Open winner, as one of the more flamboyantly attired players on the professional golf scene. Many fans may not know, however, that Stewart is one of the most dedicated players on the pro tour when it comes to following a strict exercise program. And his recent success reflects that dedication. Until sidetracked by a disabling neck condition that kept him off the tour for many months, Stewart by his own admission never participated in an exercise regimen throughout his early career. Then he was placed on a specific, prescribed exercise program as an integral part of his rehabilitative process. His condition improved and he went on to win the US Open. Payne Stewart's success is proof that the propt:r exercise program, done faithfully, can improve one's golf game. If you're serious about improving your game, you need to specifically strengthen the muscle groups that power your stroke. This power originates in two areas. One area is the "core" muscles. These are the strong muscles in the thigh, buttocks, and abdominal regions. You 'll notice that most of the "heavyhitters" on the golf tour have large, well-developed thigh and hip muscles. John Daly is a classic long-hitter who fits this mold. Most of the long-hitters on the ladies' tour fit this description too. If you don't walk 18 holes three times a week, you need to walk, jog, run, bike, ski, or use a stair-machine for 30 minutes three times a week for basic aerobic fitness and leg strength. In addition to this aerobic exercise, you should do trunk and abdominal exercises to strengthen the core muscles.

One effecti ve way to do that is with torso-curls, sometimes nicknamed "crunchies." Sit on the floor with your feet hooked under a heavy chair or sofa. With your knees bent, do partial sit-ups where you are "crunching" your abdominal muscles. Do three sets of I0 to 20 sit-ups each session, at least 3 days a week. After doing the torso curls, or to alternate between torso curl sets, turn over onto your abdomen and do spinal extension exercises. Some people call these "sissy push-ups," but they are an effective exercise. With your feet hooked under an object or even with them out straight, push up and arch your back as much as you can. Never jerk or strain. The object here is to raise your head, neck, and shoulders off the ground, strengthening the back muscles. In the beginning, you can push up with your hands. An advanced exercise that allows you to work specifically on your golf swing utilizes a twisting bar. You can start out with a dowelrod or broomstick and then advance to a true weight lifting bar in I0-, 20-, or 30-pound weight increments. Rest the rod, broomstick, or bar across the back of your neck and your shoulders. Loop your arms over the top of it. Practice the turning motion of your golf swing. This exercise will improve your flexibility and strengthen the core muscles as well. The other group of muscles you should strengthen are those in your forearms. Wrist-curls are good for that, but swinging a weighted club will do it too.

Simply practice your swing in slow motion. Especially emphasize the "waggle." If you perform these exercises to strengthen your core muscles, strengthen your forearm muscles, and increase your spinal flexibility, you will then have the physical elements necessary to hit the ball long. You 'll be able to "grip it and rip it!"

â&#x20AC;˘ Ask the Doc

If you have these symptoms, see your family doctor, internist, or allergist for an evaluation. This is a relatively common condition, usually easily treated. Proper treatment can vastly improve your ability to exercise and participate in sports.

Q: My son is in junior high. He has heel pain and is li mping, but it only happens when he plays sports.

Q: Dr. Dominguez, I usually don't have any trouble breathing, but whenever I run I seem to get short-of-breath very easily. I get a "tight" feeling or even wheeze a bit when I run. Why is this?

A: Increasing numbers of people are afflicted with what is known as exercise-induced asthma (EIA) or exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). These difficulties indicate an overreaction of the bronchi (small air tubes in the lungs), which go into spasms and tighten up. This makes exhaling air difficult, causing shortness of

breath, sometimes with a wheezing sensation. There are many good treatments for this, including using medications known as bronchodi lators administered through a small inhaler device.

SPORT S SPECTRUM - FEBR U ARY 1 994

A: Heel pain in junior-high aged students is very common. This is time when the growth-zone at the end of the calcaneus (heel bone) is growing rapidly. This type of pain is almost always activityrelated and not serious. If it only hurts when the child plays sports, then it is usually not anything to worry about. If it occurs with just ordinary walking, however, consult your family doctor, pediatrician, or orthopedic surgeon. This condition can be called "Sever's Disease" or "calcaneal apophysitis." It simply means irritation or stress on the growth-zone in the heel bone. It is a self-limiting condition, in that when your child finishes growing, the pain will go away. Be sure your child has well-padded, well-cushioned shoes. You can add a 1/4- or 3/sinch felt heel-lift to the shoes or use over-the-counter shoe inserts to add cushioning to the shoes. Applying ice to the heels if they are painful after activity is also a good relief measure. Dr. Richard Dominguez is on the staff of a sports medicine clinic in Carol Stream, lllinois. If you have a medical question that relates to sports, write to Sports Med, Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501-3566. 29

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Catching Up VVith ••. By Tom Felten ~ AUL A NDERSON JOKES , about being a 97-pound weakling . .. when he was four years old. The big man from Toccoa, Georgia- a dot on the map in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains-without a doubt was never without strength. Paul was born to be big. Consider these eye-popping physical dimensions he possessed at the peak of his career: 5'9", 375 pounds, 60-inch chest, 24inch arms and neck, and 36-inch thighs! Talk about genetic engineering without trying. This man was built to pump. But maybe Anderson was built for speed too. He played fullback for a season at Furman University in South Carolina, where he thundered his 240 pounds through the 40-yard-dash in under 5 seconds. At that time he could also do a standing broad jump in excess of I0 feet and had a vertical jump of 3 feet. This man was an athlete. But powerful Paul doesn't dwell on the past. Things like: .... Lifting over 3 tons, which makes him the Guinness Book of World Records' "strongest man who ever lived" .... Raising a carousel filled with

• World Champion (1955) and Olympic Champion (1958) • 9 WOrld Records • 18 American Records • TWice USA National Champion

: : : :

children riding live ponies on The Ed Sullivan Show .... Slamming a tenpenny nail through a 2-inch board (without any tools) .... Pressing 402 1/2 pounds, destroying the previous world record of 360 pounds, in a United States vs. Soviet Union contest in 1955 .... Winning a gold medal in the 1956 Olympics while fighting an illness that gave him a 104-degree fever : and caused him to lose • 40 pounds. No, Paul will tell you that his crowning achievement "isn't that I lifted over 6,000 pounds. It's the Paul Anderson Youth Home. ~ I Anderson : It's lifting young men We1ghf Lifter and ! and helping them tum to " Strongest Man on Earth" : the Lord Jesus Christ." ! This man is on a mission. established a few more homes. More than 30 years ago, Paul Others caught his vision. Tom ! Anderson opened his first youth Landry and Roger Staubach of : home in Vidalia, Georgia. He Dallas Cowboy fame, along with ! gave up his brilliant amateur stathe Dallas Mavericks' Donald ! tus to raise funds so his dream Carter, opened four homes in : could be a reality. Since then he Texas. Former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs also set up a home like the one Paul built. Glenda Anderson, Paul 's wife • Paul's Best Litts: and co-founder of the Paul • Squat, 1,175 pounds Anderson Youth Home, has been the director of the home since • Bench press, 700+ pounds Paul became incapacitated • Deadllft with straps, because of illness several years 960 pounds ago. Since the early 60s, more • Clean and press, 485 pounds than a thousand troubled young • Clean and jerk, 485 pounds men have come to reside in the Vidalia home, where they have • Snatch, 375 pounds been spiritually nurtured, emo• Back lift, 6,270 pounds tionally healed, academically • One-arm dumbbell press : instructed, and physically streng240 pounds, 40 times thened. Only a handful have 300 pounds, 11 times failed to live changed, productive lives after leaving the facility. SPORTS S P ECT R U M • FEBR UARY 1 99 4

These days Paul Anderson's life is a constant struggle for good health. The 500 speaking engagements he used to do each year and the tons of weight he's hoisted, along with a chronic kidney problem and other physical problems including a double hip replacement, have taken their toll on his body. Even though he can no longer walk, his walk with Christ remains intact. "I can't get through a minute of the day without Jesus," Paul will say. "The greatest thing in my life is being a Christian." Although he is weakened, Paul Anderson will always be strong. T Heavy Lifting Author Jerry B. Jenkins was working with Paul Anderson on the strongman's autobiography in the early 1970s. Jenkins decided to take photographs of Paul pressing a 600pound barbell over his head for the book. Anderson, holding the weight for a time, explained that he couldn' t hold it over his head all day. So he put on some phony wooden weights and let his photographer friend snap away. After taking the time to get the shots he needed, Jenkins suggested that Paul take a shot of him hoisting the barbell to show his wife. Paul grabbed the camera. Jerry grabbed the weights- lifting them 2 inches off the ground. The phony weights weighed a mere 275 pounds! T Paul's Place To get more info on Paul 's Youth Home, write: Paul Anderson Youth Home, PO Box 525, 1603 Mcintosh Street, Vidalia, GA 30474. r::::J

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~ CH~NGIE Sports Spectru1n plays "sports genie" and 1nakes so1ne changes

IT1 S

TIME FDA

• By Rob Bentz A YBE IT WAS President Clinton who got things started when he campaigned for change in 1992. Maybe not. Nonetheless, change seems to be the battle cry of today's society. But what do we really want to change? One look at the wonderful world of sports gave me a few ideas: Let's change the artificial surface at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. I think Wendell Davis would agree . . . Let's change the NHL playoff system. Just because a team has a pulse does not mean it should qualify for the post-season. Let's change the "losers" tag defensive that some people have placed on replacements are the Buffalo Bills. How many teams have made it to the Super for. Pull Buckner, replace him with Dave Stapleton, your Bowl three times, much less three consecutive times? better defensive first Paul Molitor's career. The Let's change the Jacksonville baseman, and win way he's played in the past Beantown's first World Jaguars' and Charlotte Panthers' few years makes you wonder what uniforms. Why does every expan- Series since 1918. Let he could've done had he been Billy Bucks be rememsion franchise feel the need to healthy in his younger days. bered for a fine have some outrageous design? . Let's change the things we Folks, let's stick to a few stripes : career- not for a ball now call shorts back to shorts. here and there, maybe a logo, and that he should never Wouldn't it be more comforthave had the call it good. 0 able to play hoops in things chance to field. Let's change the media's that don't dangle below Let's view that Christian athletes are your knees? change the artisoft. When I think of Reggie ~=~~iiilili-... :4(Let's change White, David Robinson, and ficial surface in the average age of the Hoosier Dome. Michael Chang, the word soft NFL officials. Why I think Steve Emtman just doesn't come to 11,1ind. are 50- and 60-year-old men Let's change the no-stirrup would agree. running around on the same field look in baseball. I always thought . Let's change the close-up with 20- and 30-year-old men? shots of athletes shouting profanisocks and stirrups were part of Hey, back judge, get out of the • ties. Trash talk is a regrettable the uniform, silly me. way! part of today' s game, but I reaII y Let's change any thought that Let's change the editing out don 't need to read their lips. the Red Sox' Bill Buckner is the of postgame comments that give scapegoat of the 1986 World Let's change the obnoxious glory to God. I'd like to hear the Series. It's the bottom of the lOth advertising behind homeplate in part of the interview that actually Detroit and Milwaukee. What and the Red Sox have just taken a says something, other than the 2-nm lead. Why does manager ever happened to watching a standard "we gave 110 percent." John McNamara stay with a man game on the tube without soft Let's change the artificial whose ankles are so bad he can drink and tire ads swallowing the surface at Giants Stadium. I think hardly walk? Mac, you just scored catcher? Mike Sherrard would agree. Let's change the clock on two runs. You don't need his bat Let's change the proposed S PORTS SPECTRUM • FEBRUARY 1 994

baseball playoff system. If you win your division, you go to the playoffs. If not, you go home. * Let's change the "carousing athlete" stereotype. Players like A. C. Green and Barry Sanders provide good examples that not all athletes live on the wild side. *.Let's change the reactions of world championship cities. A World Series or Super Bowl win doesn't give anyone the right to set the city on fire. . Let's change the injury report of the Golden State Warriors. Wouldn't it be great to see Chris Mullin, Sarunas Marciulionus, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Webber all play at the same time? ~Let's change the name of the Big Ten conference. I know the Big Eleven sounds strange, but so does calling a league with II teams the Big Ten. * Let's change the Montreal Expos' logo. What is that thing? *.Let's change the tradition of a Gatorade bath for the coach following a big win. Enjoying a victory is fine, but dumping ice-cold liquid on an unsuspecting coach is not an intelligent way to do it. . Let's change the artificial surface at ... wait a minute, let's get rid of artificial surfaces altogether. It's going to take some time before indoor stadiums like the Hoosier Dome can pull it off (although the Pontiac Silverdome experiment may help), but the need for natural grass is obvious. Need proof? Wendell Davis, Steve Emtman, and Mike Sherrard don't. . And finally, let's change something much more important. Let's change our focus and follow the words of the author of Hebrews: "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" ( 12: I). That's living in a way that pleases God-a change we all need to make. 31

When we talk about "g ood sports," we're not talking about choosing whether you think soccer is better than basketball or whether football tops baseball. We aren't here to tell you what we think the best sports are. No, when we talk about "good sports," we're talking about men and women who know that there are things more valuable in life than who wins-things like integrity, commitment, family, helping others, being respected, hard work, and fair play. People like Darrell Green of the Redskins, Avery Johnson of the Warriors, Frank Reich of the Bills, Joe Carter of the Blue Jays, Betsy King and Barb Bunkowsky of the LPGA, Kevin Johnson of the Suns, Darrell Waltrip of NASCAR, Corey Pavin and Bernhard Langer of the PGA, Michael Chang and David Wheaton of the IBM/ATP Tenni s Tour, Mark Price of the Cavs. These people are good sports who are good at their sport. And we have lots more good sports to tell you about in the months ahead. Tired of prima donna sports figu res? Then turn to Sports Spectrum. We feature men and women who love to play, love to win, but neve r forget that they should first of all be people who put God and others first.

Sports Spectrum: Great Players Who Are Good Sports.

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