May/June 1993 - Vol 7 Num 5 by Sports Spectrum

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Hall of Names ORRIE ADERHOLT NEVER

had a chance. It's not his .267 lifetime batting average as a member of the Washington Senators and Brooklyn Dodgers that did him in. It was his name. Morris Woodrow Aderholt is not a name a major league baseball player should have to overcome. Baseball names have always intrigued me, and l have often noticed a correlation between good names and fame. A quick look through the baseball Hall of Fame reveals a definite prejudice toward names that have certain characteristics. We can categorize baseball names by using some of the game's greats as prototypesand then list some players of today who fit the pattern. Whether that will help or hurt their search for baseball immortality is unclear, but it seems clear that names do make a difference.

THE

Alexander, Sanely Koufax, Ernie Lombardi, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Stan (The Man) Musial, Carl Yastrzemski. • Current: Roberto Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Juan Berenguer, Dante Bichette, John Candelaria, Torn Candiotti, Jose Canseco, Dennis Eckersley, Pedro Guerrero, Candy Maldonado, Rafael Palmeiro.

Ed Delahanty (Unfortunate names, difficult to pronounce or recall) • Hall: Dan Brouthers, Stan Coveleski, Rube Marquard. • Current: Kent Bottenfield, Paul Assenmacher, Fidel Compres, Joe Kmak, Ever Magallanes, Heathcliff Slocumb, Ryan Howblitzel, Bob Zupcic.

All-time oddities (Weirdest Red Schoendienst (Intriguing

names in baseball history)

but not weird) • Hall: Rogers Hornsby, Waite Hoyt, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ferguson Jenkins, Enos Slaughter, Pie Traynor, Honus Wagner. • Current: Moises Alou, Herm Winningham, Marquis Grissom.

e Cupid Childs ( 1888- 190 I)

Mickey Mantle (Alliterative) • Hall: Don Drysdale, Harry Hooper, Robin Roberts, Candy Cummings, Harry Heilmann, Judy Johnson. • Current: Barry Bonds, Brett Butler, Danny Darwin, Darren Daulton, Willie Wilson, Bobby Bonilla, Walt Weiss, Mike Moore, Mark McGwire.

Hollie Fingers (Functional)

• Hall: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ernie Banks, Lou Brock, Johnny Bench, Rod Carew, George Kell, Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Warren Spahn, Cy Young.. • Current: George Bell, Steve Sax, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Jack Clark, Rob Deer, Ron Gant, Mark Grace.

• Hall: Rabbit Maranville, Lefty Grove. • Current: Jack Armstrong, Cecil Fielder, Ted Power.

majestic) • Hall: Roy Campanella, Roberto Clemente, Grover Cleveland

Duke Snider (Great nicknames ) • Hall: Three Fingers Brown, Yogi Berra, Cap Anson, Chief Bender, Kiki Cuyler, Dizzy Dean, Whitey Ford, Satchel Paige, Pee Wee Reese, Cool Papa Bell. • Current: Skeeter Barnes, Chili Davis, Storm Davis, Bip Roberts, Sparky Anderson.

• Hi Church ( 1890) • Buttercup Dickerson ( 18781885) • Bug Holliday ( 1889-1898) • The Only Nolan ( 1878-1 885) • Razor Shines (1983-1 985, 1987) • Snuffy Stirn weiss ( 1943-1 952) • Peek-a-Boo Veach (18841890) eStill Bill Hill (1896-1 899) • King Lear(l 914-1915) • Phenomenal Smith ( 1884-1 891) • Van Lingle Mungo (1931-1 945) The expanded version of baseball will supply 48 more opportunities for names to be added to the ongoing pantheon of baseball nomenclature. Look for the melodic, the monosyllabic, and the mundane as you compare toclay's names with the great ones of baseball's past. D

6 The Legacy ol Laura Hawkins A lesson from Mom helped Hersey Hawkins achieve basketball excellence by Jeff Smith

Chang!

Dave Branon, managing editor Sports Spectrum

A name that stands alone in the tennis worldMichael Chang gets better with age by Karen Rudolph Drollinger

Photography Credits: Cover. Greg Schneider; p. 2 (top) AI Tietemans'Duomo, (bottom) Greg Schneider; p. 3 (top) Coortesy Topps, Inc., (bottom) Coortesy Daytona International Speedway: p. 5 (le~) Duomo, (right) Courtesy Team Bell<ley; p. 6 Ed Mahan/Philadelphia 76ers: p. 7 AI Tielemans'Duomo: p. 8 AITielemans'Duomo: p. 9 Tim Defrisco/AIIsport: p. t 0 (lett) Richard E. Hughe!>Kent State University, (right) V.J. Lovero' California Angels: p. 11 Tim Delrisco/AIIsport; p. 12 (upper left) Rick Stewart/ Allsport, (lower le~) Otto Gruele JrJAIIsport, (right) Simon Bruty/AIIsport; pp. 14·19 Greg Schneider: p. 20 (lower te~) Otto Gruete Jr/AIIsport, (lower right) Ken Levine/Allsport, (upper lett) Doug Pensinger/AIIsport, (upper right) Brian Spurlocl<; p. 21 (upper lett) Jonathan DanieVAIIsport, (upper right) Tim DefnscoiAIIsport, (lower lett) Brian Spurlock, (lower right) Mitchel Layton/Washington Bullets; p. 22 Daytona International Speedway; p. 23 Richard Dole/Duomo; pp. 24, 25 Daytona International Speedway; pp. 26,27 Baseball cards, Courtesy Topps, Inc.; p. 27 Focus on Sports: p. 28 Kris Cunningham; p. 29 Focus on Sports; p. 30 Montreal Expos. 2

EDITOR

Ty Cobb (Short and sweet)

Joe DiMaggio (Melodic or

SPORTS SPEC TRUM • MAY/JUNE 1993

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1Brother 20 Act. Brothers and sisters in sports can teach the whole family some lessons by David Egner

Open Court

Legends

Ace returns from Sports Spectrum readers SS Fan Poll

Catching up with Gary Carter by Tom Felten

Clippings

Sports news worth a second look

Trials of the "Can't Miss" Kid

Bobby Meacham did everything but the windows for the Yankees, but he could never get any respect by Gari Meacham

Leaderboard With Sue Lilley, Bryan Harvey, and Avery Johnson

Stats Central compiled by Rob Bentz

113

The Swirsky Report

by Chuck Swirsky

ADifferent Darrell NASCAR star Darrell Waltrip learned that winning isn't all there is to life A Sports Spectrum interview

~~irth or the Rockies Third in a three-part look at baseball's new mile-high team by John Long

Volume 7, Number 5 SPORTS SPECTRUM MAGAZINE A DISCOVERY HOUSE PVBLICATION. PUBLISHER Dave Burr/lam. MANAGi tlG EDITOR Dave Branon; MARKETING'PROOUC· l iON MANAGER Tom Fenen; ART DIRECTOR Sieve Gier; PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Rob Benll, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Usa Ouisl; ADVISORY COMMITIEE Chuck S-.irsky. Sports O.reciOr, WGN Radio, Chicago, O.ck Mason. President, Discovery House Publishers: Ralph Drollinger. President. Sports Outreach Amenca. Kyle Rote Jr.• TV sports commentator. COVER PHOTO Greg Schneider. SPORTS SPECTRUM is pt"oduced six times a year by Discovery House Publishers. which •s aflil•ated with Radio BU:Jie Class. a noodeoominattonal Ctvistian organization whose purpose is to lead people of all nations to laJth and matunty In Jesus Christ by teachiflg pnnciples from the B•ble. Printed in USA. Copynght 4.1 1993 by Discovery House Publishers. Grand Rapids. MiChigan. B1ble quotations, unless otherwise noted. are takon hom the HOLY BIBLE, NEW 1NTERNATt0NAL VERSION. Copyright Cl 1973. 1978, t 984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan B1ble Publishers. SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions are available for S15/six issues or 521.00 outside the USA (in US funds) by writing to SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions. Box 3566. Grand Rapids. M! 49501·3566. by catlmg ton free 1-800-653-8333. or by sendmg a FAX to 1·61 6-957-5741.

SPOnTS SPECTRUM • MAY/ JUNE 1993

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tions. This can make it extremely difficult to find the traffic lights. I hope this sheds some light on the colorblinclness question. - CARLTON REINHARD

Hamilton, IN

Thanks, Bob and Carlton,for giving us a firsthand, enlightening look at how to handle colorblindness. -Ed.

lls Cleaa" lls ll Headlight One of your readers wondered how Andy VanSlyke can see traffic lights because of his colorblindness. I have the same problem. The way I handle it is to see whether the three-toned light is on the bottom (green), middle (yellow), or top (red). The green appears to me as a clear headlight, whereas the other two appear as a darker shade. - BOBMEEB

Sheboygan, WI

Coloa"blind: Pt. 2 My son Nathan found Jonathan Stahnke's letter in the JanuaryFebruary 1993 issue to be of special interest. He showed me this letter because not only am I colorblind to greens and reds, but I am also a driver education instructor. The answer to Jonathan 's question is that the red light is always on the top·and the green light is at the bottom. Although I am colorblind, I can determine which light is actuall y on. But there is a more interesting aspect to this problem. Some intersections are marked with onIy one blinking light. As I approach this kind of an intersection, I must look for stop signs or other signs that tell me who has the right of way. The worst time of year to drive is during the Christmas season. Many towns decorate their streets with beautiful lights and decora4

Official Reaction In the January-February edition of Sports Speermm a fan commented on Christian officials. My pattner anel l have officiated high school volleyball in Nebraska for 22 years. We wear lapel pins (Jesus is #I, Jesus Cares, etc.). You would be surprised by the number of girls and parents who comment and thank us for weari ng these! We pray at the edge of the court before games at the time of lineup announcements. We feel officiating is a ministry. God has blessed us and our families. We have mel lots of Christian scorekeepers and other officials who wear Chri tian symbols. You can make a difference wherever you are.

White. As he signed an autograph for my son, Reggie asked, "Did you go to chu rch today?" He said he sure was glad he could tell Reggie, "Yes!" The tri p home that clay was made complete when we were able to share the gospel with a friend who wanted to know what John 3: 16 meant. II was written on an autograph he received from Andre Waters! - RONALD BURROW

Lindenwold, NJ

Sony for sending you 111'0 magazines ~rhen you had ordered just one. We really are not /l)'ing to imitate a certain "pizza pizza" company! Your subscription has been corrected. -Ed.

- RENEE DAVIS

Y·Y-Y-Yes, Ma". White My son and I both enjoyed the fi rst issue of your magazine. The only problem was that I received two copies of it ! Again, thank you for a fine magazine that shows that there are godly men and women in the world of sports. We need to pray for these athletes, that they contimre to walk with the Lord in the fast-paced and high pressure world they li ve in, anclthatthey would use the opportunities they have to share God' s Word. My son will never forget the Sunday afternoon at Eagles trai ning camp when he met Reggie SPORTS SPECTRUM • M AY/.J U N E 1993

Playing Bette.. I have been getting your magazine for a couple of years now and it has been a real encouragement to me. Its tips have helped me play my sp011s in a fashion that is much more glori fying to the Lord than it used to be. Thanks! - TODD HARRISON

Nonh Canton, OH

Tallc to Vs Address your comments about this magazine to: SS Leiters, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 4950 I. Correction: In the March-April SS Radio log, an incorrect dial number was given for KNGN radio in McCook, NE. The correct dial position is 1360 AM.

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Sports News Worth a Second Look The ski venues are ready, and Lillehammer sits waiting for the world to descend.

<11

CUOMO

Little Lillehanune .. Pa'epa..es fo.. Pri:ane Ti:ane IF IT FEELSA BIT SOON after Barcelona and Albertville to start talking about the Ol ympics again, there's good reason. Normally we would still be 2 years and 9 months away from discussing bobsled venues and curling stadiums. But with the deci sion to stagger the Olympic Games so that we can enjoy them every 2 years, the nex t Winter Ol ympics were moved up to February 12, 1994. To familiarize you with the town that will host the world in just a few months, here's a look at Lillehammer, the second smallest town ever to host the Games. • Location: Lillehammer, Norway, II 0 miles north of Oslo. Its population is 23,000, which is smaller than all previous host citi es but Lake Placid, New York, site of the 1980 event. • Venues: All of the venues for the 1994 Games will be new, and they are all within 37 miles of Lillehammer. Competition sites include Hamar Olympic Hall, a 250-meter speedskating rink th at

looks like a huge overturned Viking ship, and the Gjovik Cavern Hall, which is inside a hollowed-out mountain. • Who's going: An estimated I ,800 athletes, I ,200 officials, 7,000 j ournalists, 8,000 volunteers, 3,000 police, and 100,000 spectators are expected to wind their way over mountain roads and by train to this quaint village with its preserved 19th-century main street and its traditional Norwegian ways. As Norway prepares for this $1.05 billion extravaganza of cold weather sports, it stillnmst battle potential problems such as housing shortages, less than ideal transportation, high prices, and the threat of a mild winter (four of the past five have been warm). Yet they arc confident that when the time comes and the 2 billion TV viewers tune in, they'll be ready. "Everything is pretty much ready," claims Bjorn Sund, the man responsible for construction of the venues. 'There's just detail s left." D

Da'avechy Goes West DAVE AND JAN DRAVECKY have found a way to encourage and support people who are suffering from pain that they too are familiar with. The Dave Dravecky Foundation was formed by the Draveckys after seeing the overwhelming public response to Dave's battle with cancer, his incredible pitching comeback, and later the amputation of his arm. "The amount of mail we received was astounding," says Jan. "In organizing the foundation, we are trying to utilize the things Dave knows-depression, cancer, amputation, and baseball."

Help Stop Ste..oid Abuse

.&. National cham-

pion Team Berkley NEIL BERKLEY IS UPSET. He hates what steroid champions a abuse is doing to today's young athletes. national campaign The Navy veteran is an athlete himself- a to stop steroid powerlifter. Last year he and other members of abuse in sports. "Team Berkley" won the World Natural Powerl ifting Federation Championship, a title they will defend on June 5. "This competition is a 100-percent tested, drug-free meet," Neil says. He feels that drug-free sports are important because " in 1990 there were 250,000 teens abusing steroids. In 1993 the stats have doubled. Where will they be in 1996?" To comhat steroid nbuse nnd its harmful side effects, Berkley and his partner Tom Moore have championed an on-site steroid testing kit. It can be used at any sports event to test athletes for traces of steroid use. Development of an on-site kit had been considered impossible, but Neil and Torn found a lab to develop it. The FDA and other government offices have since shown interest in the proj ect. But they need help. "What we need from citizens is not a donation," says Berkley, " but their support to keep the government on thi s endeavor. We would like to obtain a government grant to help us implement the kit as part of a non-profit, anti-drug abuse organization." To help stop steroid abuse, send a copy of this article, plus your comments, to your congressman. Encourage him or her to contact US Senator John Murtha. You can also help by becoming a club member. Write to Team Berkley, 344 Main Street, Meyersdale, PA 15552. Or call 1-800-2-NO-DRUG. 0

The Dravecky family and the foundati on will soon be moving from Ohio to Colorado- a state that now hosts a major league baseball team, a large hub airpori, and the well-known organization Focus on the Family. These ingredients made the Denver area an attracti ve home base for their ministry. Although the foundation is still in its elementary stages, it is actively reaching out to people

SPORTS SPEC T RU M • MAY/J UN E

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dealing with cancer and amputation, along with ballpl ayers and the unique, sometimes overwhelming lifestyle they are thrown into. "We thought i nterest in our story would die down," says Jan, " but it hasn't. We just want to be available to help those we can." The Dave Dravecky Foundation can be reached by calling 216-726-3520. D

- Ga ri Meacham 5

I J

IF'm:

THE LEGACY OF -.AURA H~ Philadelphia's Hersey H,...._LA..,.I-.,• ., ....i .,..__ from Morn, and the lesson aid off big-time during his OBreer e • By Jeff Smith

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A URA H AW KI NS WA SN'T ABOUT TO

Chicago's tough west side. So when basketball team, the young high sch "I made the team as a freshman Hawkins Jr. "We had practice in the wasn' t willing to make that com · "My mom sat down with me and I stuck with it." Commitment is no longer a foreign one word that best describes the Phi and life. He learned his mom's lesson All hough the scenery has continued to r h o,n m>"in 93- two new coaches, some new tea Barkley-Hawkins has contin ued excel on the court, averaging more than 20 points a game for the second time in his 5-year NBA career. "Hersey is a terrific player," said Philly's former head coach Doug Moe. "He does a good job every night. He comes to play and does the best he can." With Barkl ey taking his bruising inside game to Phoeni x, the 76ers opted for Moe' s run -and-shoot style while adding center Andrew Lang, forward Tim Perry, and guard Jeff Horn acek to the roster. The changes have meant new responsibilities for Hawkins, but the 6'3 ", 190-pounder has met the challenge. " It was a little tough on him at first, him and Hornacek reall y, because neither of them is a point guard," said Moe. "It makes it tougher on both of them when they're playing together, but he's adjusted." Hawkins says that under Jim Lynam, who coached the Sixers before Moe arrived, Philadelphia's style was "run if you have the opportunity." If the opportunities aren't there, run the plays. But when Moe was at the helm during the first 56 games- well, it was <4 Whe th e r driving past th e Knicks' Rola ndo Bla ckma n or run and run mo' . s hooting free throws, H e r sey Hawkins di s pl a y s a d e dlca"He was a more feisty guy," Hawkins says of Moe. tion tha t k eep s him a t th e top of hi s ga m e , no m a tte r who "He would yell at you. He's the type of guy who let's is c o aching the S lxe r s or how toug h things may g e t . EO MAHAN/PHilADElPHI A 76ERS

S PORTS SPEC T R UM • M A Y / JUN E 1993

A With Barkley gone, opponents could put the squeeze on Hawkins, yet the former Bradley sharpshooter hit for high games of 39 and 37 as he stayed in the Top 20 In scoring all year.

you go out and play the way you want to. Th e offe nse was do as yo pl ease. It was take 1 quickest shot." That sa t well Hersey, the 76ers' at leader in three-point goal s. Hawkin s r pr•n r i1 P £1 the first triple-double career agai nst lndi January, scoring 28 while selling career in both rebounds ( I assists ( I 0). He also in a season-high 39 against New Jer ey. these highlights, it hasn been a smooth ride for the guard or the Sixers in this season of change. Hawkins explained the changes th at he and his teammates worked through as they grew accustomed to Moe's styl e. " I n hi s motion offense, the key is to get the ball moving and get peopl e invol ved. My initi al feeling was to get everybody involved. In the meantime I wasn' t taking my shot. It took me about 15 or 20 games. I still find myself from time to time doing it again. It's still one of the things I'm not over, but I know I have to score in order for us to win." But the Sixers weren' t doing much of that, so in early March, they made a surprising announcement. They let Moe go before he had completed his first year wi th Philadelphia. A 19-37 mark was too much for GM Lynam to overlook, and he sent Doug Moe on his way. "The way things were going, I felt that we had to make a change," Lynam stated. Assistant coach Fred Carter was named to coach the team the rest of the sea on. Hawkins and Hornacek, with almost identical scoring averages of 20 points per game, had shouldered much of the scoring burden, but there wasn' t enough support to keep the Sixers winning and keep Moe on the bench. " I'm disappointed things didn't work out the way he expected, or the way we expected," Hawkins responded when he heard that Coach Moe had been let go. " I thought his system was right for the team. It's always the coach that gets it in the encl." The backcourt tandem with their complementary styles was one of the few bright spots for Moe's 76ers. Speaking of Hawkins, Hornacek said, " He may have to handle the ball a lillie more than he used to in the past years, bu t if they decide to pressure me, Hawk can always bring the ball up court." Not bad for a former center. Upon returning to Westinghouse High as a sophomore after his mother's words put him back on track,

He a points as a year. That set t Hawkins gained His numbers soared to average in I I years and 15th highe t ry. He left Brad ley as the school 's all-time scoring leader, and he now ranks fifth on the all -time NCAA list with 3,008 points. The honors rol led in. He was named Player of the Year for 1987-88 by the Associated Pre , UPI, United States Basketball Writers Association, The Sporting News, and ESPN- plus he was a consensus all-American. That made Hawkins an easy first-round choice in the NBA draft. The LA Cl ippers took him with the sixth pick overall and promptly traded him, along with a 1989 first-round pick, to Philadelphia for the draft ri ghts to Charles Smith, the third player selected. The transition from big-time college player to second fiddle on a team that showcased Barkley's talents was a little bumpy at first. Yet Hawkins' 1,196 poi nts was tops for a rook ie in Phi l ade lphia 76ers' history. Hawkins capped his rookie campaign by being named to the NBA All-Rookie first team. As Hawkins recalls those early clays in an NBA uniform, he remembers that " the most difficult part was the traveling-just the schedule, from 30 games to 82 games. With the competition in college, basically you could take the night off at times and still get 25 or 30 points. Here you need to get ready every night or you'll get your head handed to you." Hersey received some encouragement from a couple of unlikely ources his rookie year, including one nicknamed Sir Charles. "We never had a probl em," said Hawk ins of his relationship with Barkley. " He was one guy who I knew from day one. He sort of took me under his wing when I got here. " He was there when I had those 3-for-15 nights. He said it was gonna be all right."

SPOFIT S SPECTRUM • MAY/JUNE 1 993

THE

rs 1 Hawkins struck up a friendship with was team cha lain mce McDonald, who himself was a high-scoring, II- merican guard in college-on the small-colleg;2evel. oth men still vividly remember a co n vers~ti9 n they ad t a local T.G.I. Friday's restaurant. " J..r rifember hin tal ·ing to me my rookie year," says ~kins. "We went to lunch. He talked about Christ and hat was in store fm me He said for me to come to him when I was ready. I d dn' . think about it much then." Hersey's mind wa, on~1oops. He had a disappointing playoff series follow ng is rookie season as the 76ers were swept in three sam s by the Knicks. Hawkins shot just Hor-24 fro!Ilthe fLe~ I. But this was n m~n l ho had learned his lesson from Mom when in yot~hfu frustration he had tried to give up This time theJe w s no quitting. Hawkins went to r in the smmp,er tcf improve his shooting, determined to ake sure a serie hke that didn't happen again. It didn't. ersey cap~e an outstanding sophomore year in the BA with a 2 .5 scoring average in I 0 playoff games. In 1990!91) improved, upping his point total to 22. 1 per gtrne.during the season. In the playoffs, he chipped wit ~0.9 points an outing. n in the 199 1-92 season, with the team missing the payoffs for the first time in his career, Hawkins noticed a change in his attitude. He wasn't enjoying the game, and he stm1ed to bring the negative pat1 of his work home. " I wasn' t happy goi ng to th e gym to practi ce," Hawkins remembers. 'The on:y way to get myself on track ... to get the bad feelings out of me was to give mysel f to the Lord. I didn ' t want to come home and argue with my wife about basketball anymore. It was the best decision I ever made in my life." Hawkins took McDonald up on his offer of 4 years earlier and gave his life to Christ. " I had been thinking about it for a couple of months," comments Hersey on the deci sion to follow Jesus. " For some reason I had been thinking about it. What if something happened? Would I end up in heaven or hell? " My wife [Jennifer] was already a Christian. She never pressured me. Never once. When it happened, she was thrilled as much as I was. I appreciate her a lot more now. I try to be a lot more understanding. I have a lot better relationship with her and wi th the ki ds [Brandon Dante 3, and I 1/2-year-old Corey Deshon)." His attitude has changed for the better. Before his departure, Moe noti ced the difference. " He's very quiet," said Moe. " He doesn' t really say th at much. He's the type of guy who leads more by example.He's the type of guy who wants to do things right. I think everybody on the team respects him. He's a class act." Armon Gilliam, the 76ers' 6'9'' starting forward, has seen Hawki ns also re fine hi s basketball abilities. " I think when he carne into the league he was more or less a shooter," says Gilliam. " He didn't want to drive the ball too often. Now ! think he's a versatile scorer. He's pretty tough to guard because of that." Hawkins now has a clear head when he takes the court and a clear perspective when the game's over. " It's my job. I go out and play as hard as possible," says No. 33. " But it's not everything. Before, it was what I ate and slept. I'm still dedicated, but now I have

) n

L EGAC Y

LAURA

H AWKINS

time to enj oy my fami ly." McDonald notices another dimension as well. ''They [Hersey and Jennifer] are insti gators to get people to Bible studies," says the chaplain. " He has a boldness to share and a desire to grow as a husband. He's sensitive to help other people in ministry." For Hersey, inviting others to Bible studies is as natural as sinking a three-pointer. Says Hawkins, " I want them to realize the feeling I have in knowing there's something better when you leave here. I invite any of my friends who I 'm close to. Just coming to chapel and Bible study-it's a start. Maybe they' ll think they do need to give their li fe to the Lord. I want them to know there's a sacrifice, but they' ll be rewarded for i t. When it's all over, I want them to be in heaven." The rocky 1992-93 season has forced Hawkin s to devel op his all-a round game on th e court. " I can improve in all aspects. Each year I try to improve in some category. I don' t want to be labeled as j ust somebody who can shoot 3-pointers. I want to be labeled as a complete ballplayer." Whatever he's labeled, it won 't be as a quitter. Mom wouldn' t stand for that. D

Jeff Smith lives in Camden, New Jersey. He works for a Chen)' Hill, NJ, newspaper.

Hitting the Long One H ERSEY HAWKINS' DREAMas a young man was not to become a professional basketball player. His sights were on the diamond. In fact, to this day, Hersey Hawkins Sr. says his son would have made a better baseball player. So it's no wonder Hersey Jr. likes the long ball on the court. Through the 1991-92 season, Hawkins had launched 865 trey attempts, canning 354 of them. Before the season began, his .409 shooting percentage ranked fifth on the NBA's all-time three-point field goal percent· age list. He also holds the 76ers' record for 3-pointers made in a season with 108. "I get as much of a thrill out of hitting three's as Michael Jordan gets out of dunking," says Hawkins. ''There are not a whole lot of guys who can shoot 3-pointers, but there are a lot who can dunk." Hawkins says there are two keys to the art of shooting treys: 1. Practice until you feel comfortable. "Just like shoot· ing a free throw." .& Number 33 likes noth2. When you step on the court, you have to feel confident ing better than firing the home run shot from way you're going to score. downtown. During one eight-game stretch midway through last season, Hawk canned 17-of-28treys, a .607 percentage. "I've got to the point where if I miss a shot I can go down court and know why I missed it," Hawkins says of his knack for hilling the long ball. "I don't practice any more than any other shot. I feel comfortable. I want to shoot it. "If I shot 10 of them, I should make four. On a good night six." The Babe and Hammerin' Hank couldn't do that. Even on a good night. D -Jeff Smith

SPORTS S P ECTR UM • MAY/ JUN E 1993

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• Athletes Who are Leading by Example

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• players didn't want to go [to the nursing home], but when they saw the response of the older people, they wanted to stay longer. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY's SuE They've even wanted to go back LILLEY wants to do more than just on their own initiati ve. My players teach her team about softball. She were talking about it for weeks!" wants to teach them about life. What is it that dri ves Coach Lilley, who coached KSU to a Lilley to encourage her players to seventh place finish at the 1990 be so active in helping others? College World Series, encourages Perhaps it's her favorite Bible her players to look at life beyond verse, which says, "Those who the academic world. "One of my suffer according to God's will main duties as a coach," she says, "is to get my players ready to step should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continback into life. It's so easy to get ue to do good" ( I Peter 4: 19). into the unreal li fe of the uni verThe words "continue to do sity, and it's not a fair view of good" flash out for the Lady what life' s goi ng to hand you Flashes' coach. "In the academic when you walk out the door with world," she says, "different your diploma. It doesn' t hurt to philosophies are thrown at them give back an hour or two." [her players] every day. I just With that in mind, Lilley has want them to be exposed to taken her team to sing Christmas Christianity- that there's a huge carols at nursing homes and is difference between what Jesus working on a community effort taught and what is happening in to obtain unused restaurant food and distribute it to homt:lt:ss sht:l- the world. I want them to find out who God is." ters. With a van to pick up the Because of her influence, one extra unsold food and her players • of Lilley's players, former catchto provide the moving power, er and two-time Academic AllLilley makes a difference in the American Samantha Gordon, is lives of the people of Kent, Ohio. going a step further. A 1992 "Life is not all softball and getgraduate, the elementary and ting your degree. It's giving back gifted education major is conto the community. Most of the

• Sue Lilley Fielding Son.e o ..ean.s

templating a move to fulltime athletic ministry. To demonstrate where her focus was during games, Samantha put tape over the trademark of her glove and inked in a cross. "I wanted people to see that my motivation to play wasn't to please the people in the stands or to promote myself. I wanted to give thanks to God and glorify Him." Lilley sums up her goal as a coach. "I want my players to leave their mark on the university in things other than athletics." D -Karen Drollinger

• Bryan Harvey Angeln.an's Assist AFrER WINNING The Sporting News co-Fireman of the Year and the Rolaids Reliever of the Year awards in 1991, Bryan Harvey would just as soon forget 1992. Arm trouble reduced the former California Angels' closer from 78 2/3 inni ngs to just 28 2/3. Worse was the inactivity. 'That's 10

SPORTS s·PECTRUM • MAY/JUNE 1993

the hardest part about the game," he says. "It's easy to drive yourself crazy." If mound setbacks and injuries ever threaten to get the North Carolina nati ve clown, he knows where to go to ee how insignificant those things are: Home to his 6-year-old daughter, Whitney, who suffers from Angelman's Syndrome. She's never spoken a word, requires constant supervision, and faces a future filled with uncertai nty. "She can walk, but not real good," Harvey says. "She has no fear of anything. She loves water and would walk right into it and drown. We have to watch her all the ti me." The disorder is named after an English doctor, Harry Angelman, who identified it in 1965. Persons with Angelman's lack chromosome# 15. This deficiency affects speech, motor skills, and can cause seizures and learning problems. The number of people who are known to have the syndrome is

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• minuscule: Some 400 ca es have been diagnosed in this country and another 400 around the world. However, the Angelman 's Syndrome Foundation estimates that there may be 7,000 people handicapped by it in the US. It's not easy to detect. For 3 years, doctors said Whitney had cerebral palsy, but Harvey's wife, Lisa, insisted they were wrong. In 1990 a genetic specialist finally pinpointed the problem. Harvey and his wife then learned about medical research and a parental support group in Florida. He donated his $20,000 Rolaids charitable award to the Angelman's Foundation and became its most visible supporter. The expansion draft that sent Harvey to the Florida Marlins moved him nearer the Uni versity of Florida, one of several US research centers for the syndrome. It also put him closer to foundation participants, who plan to attend a Marlins' game this summer with banners proclaiming their appreciation for his support. "Without Bryan, we wouldn' t be up and running the way we are," says Jill Hendrickson, the first fulltime national coordinator for the Angelman's Syndrome Foundation. "Because of his financial help and stories in the media, a lot of children have been diagnosed. I can't say enough about Bryan, Lisa, and their family." Watching his daughter silentl y face life and observing his 9year-olcl son Christopher adapt to his sister's handicap has strengthened Harvey's faith. "When things are going good, it's easy to say, 'I'm a man of God,' " Harvey reflects. "When things are going bad, you have to dig clown. Sometimes you want to say, ' Why me?' l don't worry about the 'whys.' I have faith in the Lord, and I know everythi ng has been taken care of." D - Ken Walker

THE 1992-93 NBA SEASON began with great anticipation in San Antonio. Fans packed the HemisFair Arena, brimming with hope, for the talented Spurs had a new coach- Jerry Tarkanian. But 20 games into the season, the Spurs had a dismal 9- 11 record. Tarkanian's plea was "we need a point guard." Management decided they needed a new coach.

19. "It wasn't an ideal situation when I came to this team," Johnson remembers. "[Tarkanian] wasn't in favor of me, but we had a good relationship. He really didn' t know Avery Johnson the basketball player." What the Shark didn't know really hurt him. Lucas immediately inserted Johnson into the lineup. He started the next 28 games, the Spurs went 21-7, and he averaged 11.4 points and I0.1 assists.

Enter John Lucas, a former NBA player who had his 14-year career marred by drug and alcohol problems before he conquered them. With no previous NBA coaching experience, he found himself in charge of the Spurs. It was a good team, but the problem at point guard was still there. Or was it? Lucas, a point guard himself, noticed something Tarkanian had missed. Down on the end of his bench was a 5' II " play maker named Avery Johnson. Under Tarkanian, he played in only 13 games, averagi ng just 9.6 minutes after signing as a free agent from Houston on November

Along with thousands of San Antonio fans, Johnson is excited about the new dimension Lucas brought to the team. "John is encouraging, enthusiastic, and energetic," says AJ. "He knows how to moti vate. And that's all you really need to do on this level." "This is David's team," says Lucas of his all-everything center David Robinson. "And everyone else is his supporting cast." If this were a movie, Avery Johnson would be a leading candidate for best supporting actor. Johnson was born and raised in New Orleans. "We didn' t have it

• Avery Johnson Making a Point

SPORTS SPECT R UM • M I\Y/JUNE i 993

easy, but we made it. We were God-fearing people." Playing in the NBA enabled Johnson to buy a home in the New Orleans area for his parents. Johnson speaks affectionately of his father, who died last October, saying, "My father taught me how to be a man and a leader, and he taught me how to accept responsibility." One responsibility that Johnson has taken seriously is his faith in Jesus Christ. "I've always prelly much known about the Lord, but l had never fully committed myself to Him. I was basically a 'Sunday Clu·istian.' But I got to the point where I was breaking my communion with God, and I wanted to get right with Him on a fulltime basis." Johnson made that commitment in July of 1989. The Christian devotion of teammates such as Dav id Wood and that other David creates a positive atmosphere on the team, according to Johnson. "We really feel that this is God's team because we honor Him. I don' t know if that means a championship or whatever, but we know that He is with us." AJ often returns to New Orleans to speak at youth functions and to share his testimony. "I think the Lord has called me to minister, mainly to young people," he says. "I go out to a lot of schools in San Antonio and Houston, and I'm starting to go to more in the New Orleans area. We should try to affect people who are in our world. If everybody does his or her part, I think we can make this world a better place. But the only way it's going to be a better place is if everyone accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior." In Mr. Robin on's neighborhood the need for a point guard has been met in Avery Johnson, a man who is making a point to talk about faith wherever he goes. D - Scott Bradley

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• Keeping Score of&scinating Facts and ':terrific Compiled by Rob B entz ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~T~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• T'W'o Canad iens turned in a Sieves and stellar performance a Plug as he became the first goaltender to shut out When the NHL held its All-Star game in the opposing All-Star Montreal this season, team for an ent ire there was quite a period of action since Grant Fuhr and contrast in goaltending. The Campbell Mario Gosselin did it Conference got little in 1986. or no support from their goaltenders, • Pi ..ates while the Wales in any Conference got a Sport The city of performance that hadn't been seen in A Nothing got past Pittsburgh has a hisAll-Star competition Patrick Roy, who was tory of Pirates. " M-m m-m good" against Pirates that play for 7 years. the Campbell kids In the hockey, Pirates that The Campbell All-Star game. Conference gave up play football, and of 16 goals in getting shellacked course Pirates that play baseball. Pittsburgh sports fans will by the Wales, 16-6. Goalies Eel Belfo ur of Chicago and Mike have to go back to 1925 to find Vernon of Calgary both surrenthe Pittsburgh Pirates of the NHL. They took the ice from dered 6 goals in less than oae period of work. 1925 through 1930. Patrick Roy of the Montreal What is known today as the RICK

• m ...

RBI goes fo., Fou. .. If Detroit Tigers slugging first baseman Cecil Fielder leads Major League Baseball in RB I this season, he will become the only player in baseball history to lead both leagues in runs batted in four consecutive seasons. Babe Ruth didn' t do it, Lou Gehrig didn't do it, Hank Aaron didn't do it. Nobody. The Motor City's Big Three only wish they had the success of Detroit's number one import.

• Cities of Chaanpions

Here's a glance at Arnerica's winningest cities since 1980, based on championships in the four major team sports: baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. City

Baseball

Hockey

Total

o...................o.................... o................... o...................

o...................o....................

Pittsburgh Steelers was first recognized as, you guessed it, the Pittsburgh Pirates. From 1933 through 1941 Pittsburgh football fans watched as the Pirates tossed the pigskin around. And everybody knows the Pittsburgh Pirates of baseball ' s National League, who have been known as the Pirates since their inception in 1887.

~ The Australian Open win gave teenager Monica Seles eight Grand Slam titles, but she's still looking for the silver tray at Wimbledon.

Not only have they won 9 straight, but they have also taken top honors in 17 of the last 21 Grand Slam events. Can you say dominance?

• Hope fo .. the Mavs Sure, the Dallas Mavericks are Monopoly bad. They have rivaled the When Monica Seles captured Philadelphia 76ers of 1972-73, the 1993 Australian Open with a the previous NBA really bad 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, win over Steffi • boys. But they can take heart that Graf, it was the ninth straight racking up at least six wins this Grand Slam event won by either season gives them a better perSeles or Graf. centage than their foot ball counThe last time a player other terparts, the Dallas Cowboys, had than Seles or Graf won a Grand just 4 short years ago. The 1- 15 Slam event was in 1990 when Cowboys had a wi nning percentGabriela Sabatini captured the age of .062. The Mavs have bestUS Open.

Q 12

Football

Los Angeles ........2 ...................5 .................... 1 ................0 ...................8 New York .............1 ...................0 ....................2 ............... .4 ...................7 4 ................0 ...................4 San Francisco ..... Boston ................. 3 ....................0 ................0 ...................3 Chicago ...............0 ................... 2 ....................1 ................0 ................... 3 Detroit..................1 ...................2 ....................0 ................0 ................... 3 Pittsburgh ...........0 ...................0 ....................1 ................2 ...................3 Washington ......... 0 ....................3 ................0 ...................3 Minneapolis ........ 2 ...................0 ....................0 ................0 ...................2 Oakland ...............1 ...................0 ....................1 ................0 ...................2 Philadelphia ........1 ...................1 ....................0 ................0 ................... 2 Baltimore .............1 ...................0 ....................0 ................0 ...................1 Cincinnati ............ 1 ...................0 .................... 0 ................ 0 ...................1 1 ................ 0 ................... 1 Dallas ................... Kansas City .........1 ...................0 .................... 0 ................ 0 ................... 1 St. Louis ..............1 ...................0 .................... 0 ................0 ...................1

• .11. Tennis

A If Cecil Fielder drives home at least 11 1 runs for the Tigers this summer, he'll have reached 500 RBI In just 4 seasons.

Basketball

SPORTS SPECTRUM • MAY/JUNE 1993

7rivia fro:m the World ofSports rTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ed that sorry record, giving them a head start in their attempt to emulate the Cowboys and win a championship. Now, if the Mavs can just pull off a Herschel Walker-type trade, if they sign a couple of great draft picks to go along with Jimmy Jackson and Derrick Harper, and if Quinn Buckner turns out to be hoops version of Jimmy Johnson ...

• The Best Pitching Staff Money Can Buy When the Atlanta Braves signed John Smaltz to a 4-year deal worth $16 million dollars, they guaranteed themselves one of baseball 's best pitching staffs through the 1996 season. How much money? How does $65 mill ion sound? That's what the Braves are paying Smaltz, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Steve Avery over the next 4 years for their pitching services. Smoltz--4 years, $16 million, and up to $1 million in performance incentives. Glavine--4 years, $20.5 million, and a $4.5 million option for the fifth year. Maddux-5 years, $28 million. Avety- l year, $560,000. That's $65 million dollars of guaranteed money, an.amount equal to the gross domestic product of the 48,000 people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for I year. • Quotebox Look out, Yogi. Rickey Henderson is gaining on you. Commenting on the possibility of stay ing with Oakland for the entire 1993 schedule, Rickey said, "When the season is over, I' m either going to be here or I'm going to be gone." D

'JP)n •e

What player struck out the most times in m ajor league history?

Chuck: Reggie Jackson holds the all-time record for strikeouts. Reggie could hit the long ball and was definitely a post-season hero, but his name stands atop all others in the dubious strikeout category with 2,597.

•• Could you give me some information about Red Sox outfielder Andre Dawson?

Chuck: I'd love to tell you about "the Hawk.1' Andre broke into the big leagues with the Expos in 1976, playing in just 24 games. The next year, Dawson won the NL Rookie of the Year award. Andre later moved on to the Chicago Cubs, where he won MVP honors in 1987- his first season in the Windy City. Dawson hit 49 home runs, had 137 RBI, and batted .287. Quite a season! The Red Sox are the third team in Andre's brilliant career.

•

• Could y ou tell me about the Pistons' Joe Dumars? 1

066

Chuck: With pleasure. Joe graduated from Natchitoches Central High School in Louisiana. He then attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he scored 2,612 points in a brilliant career. J oe was drafted by the Pistons as the 18th player in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft. Since that time Joe has established himself as one of the premier guards in the league. As a member of the "Bad Boys," Joe was MVP of the 1989 play-

n()

~"lS

\~)] '\;

offs as the Pistons won the first of their back-to-back NBA titles. Joe has continued to improve his game each year.

•

e Who is the jockey with the m ost victories at the Kentucky Derby?

Chuck: Two men share that distinction. Jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack have both won 5 times at Churchill Downs. Arcaro won the Derby in 1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, and 1952. Hartack's victories came in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1969.

•

• James Worthy was the first player chosen in the 1982 NBA draft. Who was selected with the second and third selections?

Chuck: The Clippers made Terry Cummings of DePaul University the second choice, while the Jazz selected high-flying Dominique Wilkins of the University of Georgia with the third pick. But before the human highlight film ever donned a Jazz uniform, he was traded to the Hawks for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and cash. Not one of the Jazz' better deals.

Q: Who was theNBA 's

winni.ngest team in the 1980s? Chuck: The Lakers. With 594 regular season victories, the Lakers edged the Celtics for the top team of the decade. The Celtics won 583 regular season games, but "Showtime" was responsible for more wins than any other franchise.

•• How many different teams did Hall of Fame pitch-

SPORTS SPEC T R UM • MAY / JUNE 1 993

I CHUCK SWIRSKY, host of Sports Spectrum radio, is also sports director of WGN Radio in Chicago and play-by-play voice of the DePaul basketball team. er Gaylord Perry play for during his career?

Chuck: Gaylord was a welltraveled man. His major league career began in San Francisco, but then he moved on to Cleveland, Texas, San Diego, New York (Yankees), Atlanta, Seattle, and Kansas City. In his 22-year major league career , Gaylord finished with 314 victories. He was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1991.

Wondering? If you have a question about sports, ask Chuck Swirsky. Send your question to "Stump the Swirsk," Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Air Chuck Sports Spectrum radio is

heard live each Saturday at noon Eastern time nationwide. Calll-800-598-7221 to find out where you can hear Sports Spectrum, or write to us for a radio log. 13

Q 14

SPOATS~PECTRUM•MAY~UNE 1 993

1989

LOS ANGELES TIMES FULL-PAGE AD

by Michael

Chang's shoe company seemed to say it all in describin g the youngster's astounding win that year in the French Open: "Some kids go to Paris to study hi story, others go to make it." And make it he did. That June, Chang, all 5-foot-8 inches and 134 pounds of him, became the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam singles title. At 17 years and 3 months he vaulted ahead of other teenage titlists such as Boris Becker, Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, and Stefan Edberg and into the record books. Chang's win was the first by an American male at Stade Roland

Garros since Tony Trabert in 1955, and he captured fans' imaginations with a stirring 5-set win over top-ranked Ivan Lend! (despite losing the first 2 sets) and with a title-producing victory over third-ranked Stefan Edberg. As he accepted the French Open winner's trophy, Chang thanked God, and despite scattered derisive whistles, shared the importance of his personal faith in God with a worldwide TV audience. Four years later, he makes no apology for say ing that "my first priority is to be a Christian. I feel I've been ·put in thi s posi-

A lready one ofthe highest-rated tennis play ers in the world, Michael Chang feels that at age 21 his best years are still ahead.

tion to touch people's lives in a positive way. It's important to have good morals and values. I look at my role as a tennis player <4 Increased strength and

as doing more th an hitting fore-

the added wisdom of becoming a full-fledged adult are favorable factors for Michael Chang as he strains to push his game to new levels of success.

hands and backhands. "For me, it's important to do the work that I've been called [to do]. A lot of people see me as a role

• By Karen Rudolph Drollinger • Photos by Greg Schneider

continued on p age 18

SPORTS SPEC TRUM • MAY/ JUNE 1 993

CHANG!

model- not everybody, but some-and I want to portray a Christ-like image. "People may say 'What's that?' whe n there are things going on that give Christianity a bad name. But I look at it this way: When people read the Bible, and read it genuinely, they see that it expresses a lot of love, a lot of giving, a lot of peace. It's something I feel the people of this world-especially the young kids-need. "There's a lot of turmoil, a lot of peer pressure, and a lot of temptations that can lead a youngster astray. I see my purpose at the moment is to play some good tennis, work hard, and touch people's lives." Michael Chang's G-rating for General Audiences would not only stand for Good, but also for Gutsiness. Since winning in Paris, he has added nine ATP Tour (Association of Tennis Professionals) titles and nearly $3 million in prize money-including win s in San Francisco, Indian Wells, and Key Biscayne last year- to the string of "youngest" accolades: youngest player ( 15 years, 6 months) to win a main draw march at the U.S. Open . .. youngest player to reach a Tour semifinal (15 years 7 months) at Scottsdale ... youngest player to rank in the top 5 (August 7, 1989) . .. youngest to play on Wimbledon's Centre Court in 60 years (in 1988) ... youngest to play 011 a U.S. Davis Cup team in 61 years (against Paraguay, Januwy 1989). Now a vete ran at age 2 1, Michael co nfidentl y returns post-game interview questions as well as he does hi s opponents' 125-mile-per-h our serves. His qu ick wit matches his quick feet. He' ll parry with the assembled media and trade friendl y banter, whether it's about his age or his strengths and weaknesses. He' ll chuckle when asked about the naggi ng back spasms he suffe red at the Newsweek Champions Cup at Indian Wells in Palm Desert, California. It was an injury that required 30 minutes of treatment following his thirdround win in the earl y March IBM/ATP Tour event. "On a running backhand I tried for it a little too much. When we sat down for the changeovers, it was a little stiff and I had to warm it .A. Tennis Is a family affair for the Changs. F~ther Joe back up," he explained, grinning. "When you get a back {upper left) provides moral strain, you wonder if it's old age or what!" support and brother Carl "Aging" Michael has added I 0 pounds of muscle {lower right) gives advice since his 1989 French Open win, and he notes that "my about Michael's game as his coach. body's getting bigger and stronger and maturing more. Therefore I'm able to serve harder. I've put a lot of effort into improving my serve over the past year or so. Actually, hav ing more confidence with my seco nd serve helps me to open it up a little more with the first," he claims, joking that his serving speed has increased "from the 60s to the 70s. "I've lost a lot of matches because of my serve. Guys are able to take advantage of that. I want my serve to be a strength now. It gives me a few more things to rely upon instead of just my ground strokes all the time. I 18

want to be an all-court player. I'm not content to just play the baseline," says Michael. The efforts to speed up his serve are paying off. To Chang's surprise and delight, in March he entered the top 10 list for serving speed. It was the first time he had ever made that elite list. "To play power tennis, you have to mi x in a lot of smart tennis- which shots to hit, which shots not tobecause you can't expect to hit every ball hard and wi n. There still needs to be a strategy and a game plan," he said after beatin g MaliVai Washington to advance to the Newsweek Champions Cup quarterfinal s. "That added strength helped me today. I didn't have to work so hard to get back to deuce or to win a game. "Stats for me don't really mean a whole lot. It's nice to be able to pop in a good hard first serve, but if the guy gets it back it doesn't really matter. If I get one serve in at 118 [miles per hour] and then don't get another in for the next 10, it doesn't really help me out. I'd rather be able to get a good percentage of quality first serves. A lot of the top guys like Go ran [l va ni sevic] and Pete [Sampras] are serving big bombs, but they' re serving some double faults as well," he says. Joe, a research chemist, introduced his two sons (Michael's older brother Carl serves as his coach and training partner) to tennis while they were in grade school, and in 1985 he refinanced their Southern California house to cover the costs of training and travel. They've more than recouped their family investment since Michael turned pro in February 1988. Michael 's mother, Betty, insists that Carl, who played for Stanford, was "just as good. But Michael really enjoyed the competition. I don't thin k we really knew that Michael was going to be the better player, because they' re pretty similar." The Chang famil y's protecti ve ness has irritated some tenni s afic ionados, but it also has all owed Michael to mature and deal wi th the pressures of being a professional athlete. "We do everything together as a family. We pray and read th e Bible together," says Carl, reluctantly acknowledging that sometimes they must correct inaccurate media accounts of their famil y's faith in God. One newspaper account, for instance, said the Changs were members of a culti sh religious group. But the Changs' resolve remains clear. "We're always teaching kids that no matter what, do your best," Betty explained after watching her son defeat top-ranked Jim Courier 7-6, 6-4 in an exhi bition win in Los Angeles. Despite the competitive pressures from fans, sponsors, media, and even himself, Michael takes that advice to heart. Both Courier and Chang cooled the competitive fires a bit for the exhibition at the Great Western Forum, as Michael explained: "Exhibitions are a good time for the general public to see our personalities more." Indeed, after Michael shanked one smash opportunity, Jim obliged him additional practice by feeding him another lob. At one point, Courier bummed some soda from a front-row spectator. And Chang decorated himself with a blue curtain draped over his shoulders after a

S P O RTS SPECTR UM â&#x20AC;˘ MAY/JUN E 1 993

ICHAEL's FATH ER,

CHAN G I

.A. Michael Chang carries the baggage of

fame well- perhaps because he Is not among the new wave of athletes who think Image Is everything.

MICHAEL CHANG'S ENDORSEMENTS AND WINNINGS have landed him among the COUntry'Stop 10 highest-paid alh· letes-but he's not ready to purchase a $2 million lockheed Jetstar like tennis rival Andre Agassl. "Travel's a big problem for tennis players, but Andre makes a few more bucks than I do with that big Nlke contract!" Chang explains. "He stands out in a crowd with the long hair and he's going to get a few more people asking him for autographs, especially In the US. If I'm In Asia, it would be more comparable. "Bulin the US there are so many famous people. When they see me, they may say, 'Oh, there's Michael Chang. No big deal.' But when they see Andre, they go 'Whoa, there's Andre Agasslllet's go bug him or something!' "It's a little different when I go to Asia," he smiles, "although I don't know how. Everybody has black hair, and they still spot mel" He recalls fans In Hong Kong rocking his car after one match. Another time, he had to wear disguises (hats and sunglasses) to escape the mobs. "They follow me to the airport when I leave and actually run after the car. And they are always walling for me at the hotel. But I'm more of a quiet person, and I like to avoid anybody getting hurt.'' Chang has found that his fame gives him an opportunity to tell others about his faith. On occasion, he speaks at his home church In Thousand Oaks, California, a church where his grandfather was a founding member. Also, he testified about his faith in Jesus Christ at Billy Graham's Hong Kong crusade. "I found that by reading the Bible and knowing the lord personally, I'm on the right track. I think it's Important to try to be a positive role model and a positive Influence when you are up on a platform, regard· less of what you do," remarks Michael. " When you turn pro, there are a lot of things that can get your mind off your main focus. It's easy to get conceited, and your head swells. You see the popularity. It's easy to say to yourself, 'I'm a big star now and I'm making a lot of money. People are after me and they want my time.' "But it shouldn't be that way, because tennis is a career like anyone else's. Tennis just happens to be more In the spotlight. Everyone can contribute to society. It's really your choice what you do.'' D -Karen Drollinger

futile effort to chase down a cross-court shot to his deep forehand. The pair even watched overhead replays of their missed shots, correcting their errors with that electronic second chance. "Because of our Christian background, we believe in doing our best and letting God take care of the rest," continues Betty, who generall y sits courts ide when Michael plays. "With that mentality, Michael does not put that much pressure on himself. He prepares as best he knows how, and it's up to the Lord to guide him on that particular day." A nearby fan and mother of a toddler has been listening in to Mrs. Chang's words, and she agrees out loud wi th that philoso phy. " I wish all parents had that healthy attitude," the young mother offers. Don' t think, though, that this attitude affects Michael Chang's competitiveness. Actually, he feels that he is getting tougher. Along with his added physical strength has come a sharper mental edge. "Before," he says, "l was more tentative, like 'let's not go out early.' Now that I' m getting older, I'm getting a little more excited to be a defending champion. There's a little stress that comes with the territory and that's a new challenge. But it will help me to be a better player." He has his sights set on win ning Wimbledon someday, even though he recogni zes that smaller players have a disadvantage there because of the grass. "But I want to prove them wrong," he says. He should have a few more seasons to do that , because, as he says, the best is yet to come. "My best years are just ahead and I'm preparing for that. Guys like Courier, Sampras, and [Andre] Agassi realize that, and I see myself in the same group. The majority of the time, I'm just a year or two behind them."

At Indian Wells, Chang went into the tournament as the defending champion. In addition, the field was stocked with 42 of the top 50 players in the world, and the prize money was $1.7 million. But Chang was unfazed. "I don' t feel all that much pressure. I don' t know why. I think it's a good opportunity to try tu ut:ft:nu ti tlt:s, and obviously if you want to be the best in the world, you're going to have to do that time and ti me again." It was a critical month for Chang as he tried to repeat in both Indian Wells and the Lipton Championships in Key Biscayne, Florida. His agent in Washington, D.C., Tom Ross of Advantage Intern ation al, clai med that Michael's ranking could drop from "number 5 to number 12 or lower in a matter of weeks if he plays poorl y. This is a crucial time for him." Indeed, Chang was unable to defend the Newsweek Champions Cup, losing to eventual champion Jim Courier in the semifinals. And he made a surprise exit in the earl y going at the Lipton tourney. As Chang stood before a press conference for the Indians Wells tourney, he told reporters that his mother "carne acro.ss a verse that says, ' Perfect love casts out fear [I John 4: 18].' A lot of times when you are defending a title you have that fear of losing. You don't want to come up short, and you know that guys are gunning for you because you' re the defending champion. "For me, I' ve come to reali ze that, and I know that I need to go out and play my best tennis, the best tenni s I know how to play, and the win ning and losing is out of my control and into higher hands. Over the past year or so, there have been other players, like Jim Courier in defending both the French and Australian Opens, who approach it differently and have had success. "I do it my way-ac tuall y Hi s way," Chang says with a chuckle. D

SPORTS SPECTR UM • MA Y/JU N E 1 993

~~'-~1~~----------------------------------------~ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••

What happens when siblings have to share the family sports spotlight? • By David Egner ENTION THE NAME Michael Chang,

and every tennis buff from Perth to Paris recognizes it. He's the rock-solid, consistent defensive specialist from the USA who won the French Open in 1989. He is currently ranked in the top ten in the IBM/ATP Tour Rankings. Michael Chang is a threat to win any major tournament. But mention the name Carl Chang, and people wi ll say, "Who? You mean Michael, don't you?" But Carl is not Michael. He's his brother and a pretty good tennis player in his own right. Hi s morn and dad supported and followed his tennis career at the University of California-Berkeley every bit as much as they do his more famous younger brother's pro career. Brothers. Over the years, some famous brothers have excited the fans in the world of sport. Perhaps the most famous were baseball 's DiMaggio brothers. While "Joltin' Joe" was roaming center field for the Yankees and tearing up the American League with his bat, brothers Vince and Dom were playing in the majors as well. In fact, Dom is still considered one of the best defensive outfielders ever to play the game. Imagine being Jay Dean's brother. His antics, rural accent, and unusual behavior earned him the nickname Dizzy. A little later, when his brother Paul broke into the majors wi th the St. Louis Cardinals, it was no time

..i. Bennie (left) and Brian Blades 20

before the journalists nicknamed him Daffy, and it stuck. My guess is that Paul never forgave his fireballing, clown-home talkin ' brother for that! When brothers play sports, there can be both positive and negati ve factors. And it ce11ainly adds spice to the family! Let's think together about competition and loyalty, two key factors that affect brothers in sports- and in life.

• Co:anpetition The factor that most characterizes brothers and sisters in sports is competition. True, they may be competing with all their might to beat their cross-town rival or carry their team to the finals. But you can be sure they are also competing with one another. There's always that drive to outdo your brother, even though you are very proud when he succeeds. Bennie Blades is the tough free safety for the Detroit Lions. He's a fierce competitor and a hard hitter. An interviewer asked him how he felt when the Lions played Seattle, because

his brother Brian is a wide That, along with some other factors, produced ajealousy in his receiver for the Seahawks. " It's no problem getting up for the brothers that turned into hatred. game," says Bennie. " I'm going When the opportunity presented to do all I can to keep Brian from itself, Joseph's brothers sold him embarrassi ng me." into slavery. Some even wanted to ki ll him. It was many years "If you see Brian go up for the ball when the game's on the before the family was reunited. line," Benny was asked, " would One-third of all adult siblings you take it easy on him?" have developed a relationship "No way!" laughed Bennie. that they would classify as dis"I'm going to hit him as hard as tant or hurtful. The percentage is anyone else, if not harder. But I'd no doubt the same for brothers in never hit him to hurt him." sports. This usually happens In a game that season it hapwhen one brother is favored over the other-or when one brother pened. Brian caught a pass and Bennie leveled him with a jarring thinks this is happening. It may tackle. Both brothers were smiling be an issue of grades or athletic as Bennie helped Brian to his feet after a nice gain. Competition in athletics is a positive factor when it drives each brother to work hard to improve. Being better than your brother, being able to outdo him or show him up with a new move, is all part of the fun. And it's enjoyable ..i. Bobby (left) and Danny Hurley to watch-as anyskills or looks or interests. one who has seen Danny and Bobby Hurley go at it knows. Whenever one brother feels The home environment deterneglected or unloved by the parents in comparison to the other, mines how siblings in sports will relate. When brothers or sisters are jealousy and even hatred result. That could cause the competitreated equally by Mom and Dad, tion in the stadium or on the court each receiving individual parental attention and support, they are far to become unhealthy. By outperforming the other, or by making more likely to have a healthy relationship on and off the court. the other look bad, the brother When there's favoritism, who feels neglected hopes to capture the attention or admiration or though, the results can be disastrous. The Bible character Joseph acceptance he feels he is missing found that out. His father, Jacob, from the parent. When the feelobviously favored Joseph over his ings remain unresolved, a rift older brothers, giving him special between the boys could continue gifts such as his multi-colored well into the adult relationship. The brothers feel like strangers. coat (a rarity in those early days).

SPORTS .SPEC T R UM- M AY/ JUNE

1993

A brother on the high school varsity basketball team last winter got his first start as a junior. It was a big night for him, and he got 5 points, 7 rebounds, and a couple of blocked shots. That night his younger brother, on the JV team, .A. Sterling (left) and Shannon Sharpe scored 24 points When the brothers or sisters and snared 13 rebounds in the prefrom such a family come together linlinary game. When the older brother called his grandpa to tell as adults, a cross look or unkind word can reduce them instantly him about the evening, he barely to children again. The old, deep mentioned himself. He kept saying, "Did you hear how Herb did? feelings of hurt and jealousy and Did they tell you about Herb's anger come back to the surface. It takes a lot of work and grace to game?" He was more proud of his heal those deep wou nds. brother's accomplishments than his own. That's loyalty. The biblical story of the prodigal son illustrates what can happen between siblings. The prodigal leaves, and the father is sad. Every clay he watches for his wayward son to return. The older brother is not so eager. When the sadder, wiser prodigal returns, the ovetjoyed father throws a party to celebrate. The older brother is jealous and angry, sul king and complaining (see Luke 15: 11 32). How many brothers and sisters in sports feel .A. Horace (left) and Harvey Grant that way toward one another? How much resentment is felt This year's Pro Bowl featured a first: The Sharpe brothers were at the success of the other? More than we would like it to admit. the first brothers ever to play in the same Pro Bowl game. Sterling â&#x20AC;˘ Loyalty Brothers and sisters in athletics Sharpe, the premier receiver for are often intensely loyal to one the Green Bay Packers, was an another. They give each other automatic choice. When his brother Shannon, a wide receiver for encouragement and rousing suppOit. They are glad when the other the Denver Broncos, was selected has a good game. by the coaches to join the team, no

one was happier than Sterling. Brothers in professional sports usually keep track of one another. When the sports pages come out, before they look at anything else they check to see their brother's slats. It's true of the Grant twins, Horace and Harvey. Horace plays with Michael Jordan and the World Champion Chicago Bulls, while Harvey has a great contract with the Washington Bullets. They keep an eye on how the other is doing, even though their styles are vastly different. Horace loves to bang bodies and gets most of his points in the paint, while Harvey has always been an outside shooter. Horace and Harvey have been competiti ve since grade school. Neither gives in to the other, especially on the court. But each is the other's strongest supporter, with the possible exception of Mom. Speaking of supportive brothers, consider Moses and Aaron in the Bible. Moses was called by God to lead Israel to freedom from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3,4). He got into a headto-head contest with the mighty Pharaoh, was the human agent for a series of spectacular miracles that culminated with the parting of the Red Sea, and climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from the hand of God . Moses' brother Aaron was commissioned by God to be Moses' spokesman. He did his talking for him during the showdown with Pharaoh. He took a key supportive role during the wilderness wanderings. He was never the star; the miracle perfonner. Yet Aaron suppot1ed his brother Moses (with one brief exception) during his entire career.

SPOR T S S PECTRU M â&#x20AC;˘ MAY/ JUN E 1 993

REFLECTION

B RoTHERS AND SISTERS. No one can ever take their place in your life and heart. They're always there, even when they're far away. The Bible tells of One who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). That friend is Jesus. His love for us, His sacrifice on our behalf, His loyalty throughout our lives is our greatest gift. Whether or not you have a brother or sister, you can have the constant companionship of Jesus Christ. He did more for us than anyone could ever do-He died a cruel death on the cross to take the punishment of our sins. And he does today more than anyone ever can-He offers eternal salvation, a permanent home in heaven, and the constant help of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever put your faith in Jesus Christ to be your Savior? Have you let Him forgive your sins and set your free from their penalty? Why don't you do that today. In prayer to God, tell Him something like this: God, I realize that I'm a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe that You sent Jesus to earth to die on the cross for my sins and rise from the dead. I repent of my sins and receive Jesus by faith as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Make me the person You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen. For more information about knowing Jesus, write for the free booklet Born Again- What Does It Mean?The address is Sports Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501-3566. D

Our brother and sisters are important to us as we move through life. We need them long after we've retired from the playing field or the basketball court. They provide for us a solid reference point by which we can evaluate ourselves and our relationship to the world around us. They give us a gentle warn ing if we start to drift out of line. If we head for the deep end, they drop what they are doing to come and get us. At our highest moments and as we walk through our deepest valleys, they are there. They share our history and they are "in this thing" with us. They help us maintain the kind of perspective on ourselves and life that can make us more successful athletes-and better people. D 21

!-~1 路.~1:-~-=~ "::

路~ ~-; 路_;'.-.:~路::.1:;._;:.::

â&#x20AC;˘ Darrell Waltrip talked with Sports Spectrum about the changes that have taken place in his life and career over the past 10 yearschanges that have made him a different Darrell from the cocky young driver he used to be.

Sports Spectrum: In your NASCAR career, you've

SS: How did you deal with that time of struggle?

had three Winston Cup Championshi ps and more

It had to be pretty tough coming off a really strong

than 80 victories- the list goes on and on. What spe-

season.

cific career highlight stands out in your mi nd?

Darrell: It was devastating. I had spoken to my car

Darrell: Oh, 1989. In 1989 I won the Daytona 500,

owner, Rick Hendrick, about forming my own team.

I won six events that year, and I was voted the most

I just wasn't happy with the way thi ngs were going,

popul ar dri ve r by the fans.

and I felt that the onl y alterna-

That was a great year!

tive for me was to just do my

SS: Being voted most popu-

own thing-to have my own

tar dri ve r seems to have

team and make my own deci-

touched a cord in you. Is that

sions. I had informed Rick of

really important to you?

that in late April or early May,

Darrell: Well, 10 years ago

so we were working toward

people would have said, "One

that when I got hu rt. For all

thin g you can bet. Darrell

practi cal purposes, I had no

Waltrip will never be the most

car to dri ve, no sponsor, and

popular driver." So getting that

really no future. A broken-up

award was a real turnaround in

race car driver who is 42 years

my life, in my career. I won it

old- there's not a real big

again in 1990, and I' ve fin-

demand for somebody in that

ished second several times.

condition. The late summer of

I feel like that's a work of the Lord. He changed my spirit. He changed my heart, and I think people have realized that.

1990 was the loneliest, darkest, scariest time of my career-of my life, I guess. I never said, "Why, Lord, why did this happen to

SS: After such a successful year in 1989, 1990

me?" I just asked the Lord to give me the strength to

turned out \Obe something of a drought for you,

get well. Every time he had closed one door, He had

didn't it?

opened another one. And I knew He'd do it again.

Darrell: Yeah, I had a drought all right. I wasn't hav-

SS: One of the doo rs that has to open for

ing a real great year in '90. Our expectations were

NASCAR drivers is the one that says SPONSOR on it.

really high that we would win the championship. Then

You' ve had several sponsors in your career, among

we got off to a slow start and we were struggling

them a brewery. What made you decide to drop that

every week. In July, I was in a bad crash at Daytona in

sponsorship?

practice and I broke my left arm and shattered the femur in my left leg. I was out of racing for a while.

Darrell: Well, that was a conviction I had to work through. I' ll never forget in 1985 I was sitting in my

~ With the

retire m e nt of Ri c h a rd P e tty, D a rre ll W a ltrip move d to the front of the p a ck In ca r eer NASCAR wins a mong active drive rs with 8 5 trips to th e win n e rs c irc le .

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

SPO RTS SPECTRU M â&#x20AC;˘ M AY/JUN E 1 993

li ving room at home. I looked out the front window as Dr. Cortez Cooper, our minister, and a group of 5 or 6 men from the church were coming up the sidewalk. I was sponsored by Budweiser at the time, driving for Junior Johnson-one of the most successful teams in racing. Dr. Cooper and the others were there to tell me that I needed to get another sponsor. I said, "Hey, whoa! Time out! You don't understand. I don't make those decisions. I don't have anything to do with it." I really felt they were out of line. We talked about the church accepting donations from people who run liquor stores and things of that nature. It was an interesti ng conversation. They prayed with me. All Dr. Cooper said was, "If you ever have opportun it y to make a choice, the Lord's going to judge whether you did the right thing or not." The very next year I had an opportunity to dri ve for another team, and it was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. I would be leaving a team for which I had won 50-odd races, three Winston Cup championships, and several million do llars-in order to go with a team that was brand new. As I pondered it, I just kept thinking about what Dr. Cooper told me, "If you ever have the opportunity to make a choice, the Lord's going to want you to make the right decision." SS : And as fan s can see when they look at the Western Auto Number 17 on the track, you made the decision to drop the brewery sponsorship. Let's go back and talk a bit about your roots. Tell us a little about your younger days. Darrell: I grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, where I went to Davis County High School. I started my racing career in Owensboro by racing go-carts when I was 12. I moved to Franklin, Tennessee, in 1970. SS: Talk about your parents. What was their impact on your life? Darrell: We were a church-going family. My father was a deacon in the church. My mom and dad were real good Christian people. We were churchgoers 3 or 4 nights a week.

D I FFERE NT

DARR ELL

II> It was appropriate for

Western Auto's Darrell Waltrip to capture his first victory of the 1993 NASCAR circuit in the Western Auto Shootout.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Participating in a sport as popular as stock car racing puts Darrell Waltrip in touch with thousands of fans who want a piece of the action. Here's a glimpse of what Waltrip says he experiences when the fans and the driver meet.

PROBABLY SIGN 10,000 AUTOGRAPHS in a weekend. Kids, moms, and other fans are always bringing you different things-things they've made, blankets they've sewn together, or something they've crocheted or knitted. Kids bring you wooden cars, model cars, pictures of your car that they've drawn in school. I've had 1....:."""'!~~~~~1!111111 teachers use our sport, which I think is a pretty good A Well, maybe not curriculum in a lot of cases, for their little first- and sec- 10,000 autographs, but Waltrip does try to ond-graders to study geography about all the travel we oblige as many fans as do. And others study numbers using stock car racing. he can. Another thing that sticks out in my mind is seeing the kids who come to the races just specifically to see me-kids who are handicapped physically or mentally. Those are certainly special times. D

Then as I got involved in racing, it kind of pulled me away from church. Most of the races were on Sundays, so as I grew older I got more involved in racing and less involved in the church. Racing actually took me out of the church from the time I was probably 16 or 17 years old until I was in my thi r1ies. That's when I came full circle and came back to the church and the love for the Lord. SS: Explain what happened to bring you back to God. Darrell: In 1983 I had just come off 2 great years as a driver. I'd won 12 races each of those 2 years. I won the dri ving championship both years, and I was really feeling quite invincible. I had the world by the tail, and nobody could tell me anything. I was pretty arrogant, pretty cocky, pretty much an "I" person. I was having great su<.:<.:t:ss i11 r11y career but having a lot of failures otherwise. I started the '83 season and had a bad crash at Daytona. It knocked me unconscious, and I spent the night in the hospital. It ki nd of messed me up for 2 or 3 weeks. I couldn' t remember anything. When I fi nally got back to normal, my wife was terribly upset. She knew that we were on a path of destruction, and she reall y started pressing me to get my priorities straight and stop worrying about my career and making money. That's when we started going to a Wednesday night Bible study. Thi s was my introduction to Dr. Cooper, whom I mentioned earlier. He was a great sports fan. He knew me, he knew about racing, and he knew about my reputation as a cocky, smart, hard-to-get-along-with individual. He started to minister to me, and he counseled me and showed me a lot of love and respect. He was the first minister in my whole life who could reall y make the Bible come alive. So I made a commitment to Jesus Christ. We prayed that the Lord would help me get my priorities and my life straightened out. I made a commitment to the Lord that night and have been working hard to live up to it ever since. SS: Can you tell us a little bit about how you try to keep life somewhat normal while on the road? Darrell: I don't think I'm any different from any other professional person. All of us get busy making a living, and that's probabl y the most important thing in our life-to support our fami lies and to establish ourselves

SPOR TS SPECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ MAY / JUNE 1 993

and [be at] church every chance you get. That's kind of where we were. Our j ustification for being not going to church was, " Hey, we work on Sundays. I' m out of town all the time. We don' t have time to go to church." As time went by, my wife and I reali zed th at our li ves were out of order. That's when I really started working at the race track to make sure we had Bible studies throughout the week and church on Sunday. There were three racers who were the core group of what became Motor Racing Outreach (MRO): Lake Speed, Bobby Hillin , and me, along with our wives. That was the group that brought [MRO president] Max Helton to Winston Cup Racing. We've tried to put God, family, and career in that order. It's really helped a lot having Max with us every time we go to the race track. He's had a big impact on the entire garage area. Our services on Sunday are attended j ust like a regular church. Th ey se t aside about 45 minutes to have church, and it's reall y well attended. Everybody has a lot of respect for Max. That's been a real plus, not just for me and Stevie, but for a lot of people. SS: Could you tell us a little about your wife? Darrell: Well, Stevie was the one who kept on me, saying, " Li sten, we' ve got to get back in a church, we've got to get into a Bible study and get our priorities right." I think most wives probably have a bigger infl uence on their husbands and their commitment to the Lord then they'd like to admit. Her persistence is why we do some of the things we do. I have a Bible study in my home every Tuesday morn ing, and it's attended by as many as 120 men. Stevie was responsible for all thi s. She pressed me to have a Bible study in the home, and I did. I'm really glad I did, because it's been real gratifying to me and to all the men who come. Stevie's faith was much stronger than mine in the beginning. She was much more persistent than I was about our commitment to the Lord and getting back involved with the church. I am reall y thankful and grateful for her. SS: Tell us about your two little girls. Darrell: Stevie and I have been married almost 24 years, and we tried to have children for 18 years. We SPORT S SP( C'rR U M â&#x20AC;˘ MAY/ J U N E

had three miscarriages and doctors told us there was no way we'd have children. We were really close to adopting when we had Jessica in 1987. I really believe that she's a girt from God. Looking back, I believe that the Lord didn' t want me to have children at fir t. I think He withheld children from me, not Stevie because it was hurting her the most, but from me because I wouldn't have made a good father back in those earl y days. I really think the Lord held the kids back until a time when I could really appreciate children. Before we had Jessica, they said we' d never have her. Then they said, ' You' ll never have another one,' and we had Sarah, who is less than a year old. We 're really grateful for the children. SS: You mentioned earlier the fellowship that exists among NASCAR driver who are followers of Jesus Christ. A couple of them, Kyle Petty and Bobby Hillin, had the lillie incident at the Daytona 500. From a driver's standpoint how do you view that situation? Darrell: It was a nobody's-fault accident. Hillin had no control over his car, and he was not at fault in any way. Kyle was frustrated because he had a car that was capable of winning th e race, and he took i t out on Bobby. But I'll also tell you thi s. Bobby Hillin could have knocked Kyle out, because Bobby is a Gold Glove boxer. But he and his wife Kim are two of the sweetest, kindest, lovingest people I know. The thing that's important to realize is that Kyle was upset and he was taking it out on Bobby, but Bobby j ust stood there and took it. All Bobby was reall y trying to do was explain what happened, but Kyle was a little bit too hot to listen. That's the thing about our sport. All of our races are televised. When you' re out there in competition and you' re keyed up and you' re fired up, some heads are gonna fl y. Our sport is wide open, so what you see is what you get. SS: What NASCAR fans have seen is a big change from the beginning of Darrell Waltrip's career till now. How would you describe the spiritual growth that has taken pl ace in your li fe in the last few years? Darrell: It seems like it was just 2 or 3 years ago that I made a strong commitment to the Lord. But actually it was 10 years ago. There's j ust been such a change in my heart and in my atti tude. I' m not the same guy I was even 7 or 8 years ago. I didn' t have a lot of respect for other people, and that has changed dramati cally. I don't want to be a contradiction. I want people to know that I' m a strong Christian and my faith's important to me. But by the same token I want them to know that I' m a strong competitor and that I'm gonna do everything I can within the realm of reality to win and be as competitive as I can be. The growth has been incredible. The Bible studies, the knowledge I have of the Bible, my prayer life, the time that I give to the Lord increases almost daily. SS: You've already had a long and very successful career. What's nex t for Darrell Waltrip? Darrell: I' m 46 and I could feasibl y drive 5 more years wi thout any problem, and probably will. I really think age is not a factor as long as the competiti veness is there and you can compete and stay up front and have a chance to win. 1993

I. • •••

• •••••••

Glamour. Recognition. Money. All romantic trademarks of a life in pro ball. But reality is often quite the opposite. No one knows this better than former Yankee Bobby Meacham, as his wife Gari can attest.

By Gari M eacham BBY MEACHAM HAD ALL TH E TOOLS. He was

e kind of young player who was sure to ecome a "supers tar" in the major leagues. ali fornia A ll-Star in high school. First team ll-American in college. First-round pick in 1e 1981 baseball draft. Soon the promise of I is remarkable amateur career seemed ready o be realized on the pro level. Shortly after e was traded to the Yankees in 1983, Bobby egan to see his big league dream come true. " I remember my first spring training with th} big ~eag e cl1b," says Bobby. " I was an unknown rookie, su ountled y f~nous ballplayers. They were incredibly nervo IS a1d u tight. I couldn' t help but realize that because of m trus in Jbsus Christ, I wasn't experiencing their anxiety." Bobby's peace and ability were quickly noticed. Soon he was being dubbed " the Yankee shortstop for the next 10 years." But that's not what happened. Although Bobby played for New York for more than 4 years, he never became the mainstay at sh011. Instead, Bobby and I saw his career, and our lives, spiral into tribulation and perseverance. A prevalent dagger in Bobby's career was playing for one of the most controversial owners in sports, George Steinbrenner. In 1984, Bobby won a spot on the Yankees' roster out of spring training. Four games into the season, however, he made a fieldit1g en-or. A naming Steinbrenner sent him two notches down into the minor leagues. When teary-eyed manager Yogi Berra broke the news to Bobby, he voiced his disgust with the move, yet explained that he had no control over the decision. Reporters swamped Bobby for weeks, sure that this young, fragile kid would never regain his confident demeanor. Bobby and I prayed through those weeks, thanking God for the plan He was working in our lives. Even i f we didn 't understand the move, we looked forward to seeing how the Lord would work. The temptation to j oin the bandwagon and despise Mr. Steinbrenner for his manipulation of Bobby's career was great, but Bobby and I chose to take another route. We prayed for Mr. Steinbrenner's character, security, and most imp011ant, his sal-

vation. We prayed to be filled with a love for him that only Jesus Himself could give us. Although our Oesh wanted to hate, Christ could give us love. "In a strange way I actually enj oyed playing for Mr. Steinbrenner," Bobby recalls. "He liked me at first, but when he saw that I wasn't afraid of what he could do to me, I think it in·itated him . Once a reporter asked me about Steinbrenner and my future. I replied that my future was in God's hands, not Steinbrenner's. He kn ew he co uldn ' t contro l me, which angered him, but I think deep inside he really did like me. I turned to Psalm 56:3-4 for comfort: 'When I am afraid, I will trust in You .... What can mo11alman do to me?' " Bobby thinks his character was misjudged by the owner and some of his managers. "Anyone's character can be misjudged," he says. "What can't be misjudged is what you do on the field." He recall s being tol d by Lou Pinell a, the Yanks' manager from 1986 to 1988, that it would benefit Bobby to kick, scream, and throw dirt when he made a mistake. He replied honestly that he chose not to react that way, which led Pinella to comment about Bobby's faith. He thought it was Bobby's downfall , but his character proved otherwise. Shortly after this encounter, Bobby was abruptl y sent back to the minors. He had been the Yanks' starting shortstop for a year and a half, and with no explanation he was shipped out. When he arrived in the minors, he sat on the bench for months. Bobby and I now consider that season to be one of his richest spiritual blessings. " It di dn •1 upset my Switch-hitting Meacham is a day younger confidence in my ability, than another can't-miss shortstop of the but I did n' t handl e it early80s-CatRipkenJr, buttheir careers very well," he says now have taken different paths. Ripken streaks toward immortality; Meacham works his about that year in exile. " I felt sorry for mysel f way up through the coaching ranks. PHOTO BY FOCUS ON SPOR1S

S POR T S S f'>f: C TRUM • MAY/ JUN E

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SPOHTS SPEC-I JlUM • MAY/JlJNE 1 993

TR I ALS

Having spent time In Eugene, Oregon, where Bobby was coach of the Royals' Single A team there, the Meachams and their three children tr.lve settled In Colorado. For 1993, Bobby Is a hitting Instructor and Infield coach for the Colorado Sky Sox, the Rockies' top farm team. Garl Is the founder of a ministry called Truly Fed, an organization created to help people who suffer from eating disorders. &

T H E

and fe lt I was being per ecutecl unfairly. I knew I wasn't in [the Yankees') plans anymore, and I wanted to blame them and rationalize my behavior. I fin ally began to study my Bible and try to learn something from the situation. God impres ed upon me Proverbs 16: 18, ' Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.' " I realized that even as a Christian ballplayer, pride can seep in around the edges. It will always bring you down. No matter what people tell you about yourself, you struggle with these things like everyone else. " My troubles made me realize that I wasn't going to fall apart if baseball didn't work. I have the security of knowing that I have Jesus with me no matter where I am or what I do. All He wants is the best I can give Him." Bobby returned to the Yankee in 1987 after a brief stint in the minors, and he had one of his most producti ve seasons. His role had drastically changed from starting shortstop to utility man, but he thanked God for the opp011Lmity to be there, free from pride or security in anything beyond God's plan for his life. " Whenever we begin to cling to titles or positions the world gives us," Bobby say , "we are relying on the world for our security, and that security can be gone in an instant. Our only true security is in the knowledge and freedom of a relationship wi th Je us Christ." One of the mos t fru strating years for Bobby was 1988. After a productive year in 1987, his role as utility 1nan in '88 was assured, and the season promised peace and potential. Midway through June, Bobby dove for a ball behind second base, and he instantly knew something was wrong. He had dived for hundreds of balls in his career, but thi s was different. Pain radiated through his head and neck, nausea overwhelmed him, and he felt li ke the stadium was a spinning top. He was immediatel y treated by th e Yankee trainer and doctor, and placed on the 21-clay disabled list. Bobby also saw a neurologist, who ques-

Have Glove, WI hvel

Bobby and Gari Meacham have moved 41times in their 10 years of marriage. Here's a capsule of Meacham's moues while with the Yankees.

I I I I I I I 28

1982 December

Traded from Cardinals to Yankees.

1983 June July July July August September

Called up to Yankees from AAA Columbus (OH) Sent to Columbus Called up to Yankees for one day; sent back to Columbus Called up again for one game; back to Columbus Called up again for one game; back to Columbus Called up to Yankees for the rest of the season

1984 April April April June

Started first four games of season for Yankees Sent to AA Nashville Moved up to Columbus Called up to the Yankees for the rest of the season

1985

Played entire season In New York

1986 June September

Sent to Columbus Called up to the Yankees

1987 April May

Started the season at Columbus Called up to the Yankees

1988

Played entire season In New York

1989 December

Traded from Yankees to Rangers

1990

Retired as a player

"CA N' T

M I SS "

KID

tioned the treatment that had been prescribed by the team doctor. His diagnosis was a bulging disc in his neck, but nothing seemed to bring any improvement or dull the unbearable pain. At the end of his time on the disabled list, Bobby decided to see a doctor on his own. After one visit, the pain subsided, and within I 0 days he was ready to play. Bobby never pl ayed another day that season. Without his consent or knowledge, he was placed on a 60-day disabled list, which virtually ended his year. Although he felt fine, he was not allowed to touch a baseball or bat for the remainder of the 1988 season. Bobby continued to support his teammates despite his disappointment. He sat with them on the bench, talked baseball in the lockerroom, and devoted himself to helping the team in any way he could. One day he was told that he was no longer allowed to sit with his teammates during the game. Appalled and hurt , Bobby questioned the verdi ct. The entire team voiced their disapproval, and they unanimously agreed that they wanted hint with them on the bench. The next day Bobby arrived at Yankee Stadium to find that his locker had been emptied out. His belongings had been stuffed in a bag and thrown in the corner. Some of Bobby's closest friends at the time- Don Mattingly, Dave Righetti, and Mike Pagliarulo-took an old trunk and set it on its side. They placed hangers in it, a poster, and taped " Meacham" on the top of the trunk. "Th at inci dent made me reali ze that in thi s game you' re like a piece of meat-not a person with feelings. My friends helped me see that my presence was appreciated and welcomed. If your teammates feel that way about you, it says a lot." Bobby never pl ayed another major league game. He cominuecl to play in the minors for 2 years, and he turned down a lucrati ve offer to play pro baseball in Italy because he was still hoping to return to the big leagues. Those last 2 years Bobby spent playing ball challenged us to examine our motives and desires. We discovered that sometime the dreams we think we want so badly aren' t in God's perfect plan for our lives. As the wi fe of a pro ballplayer for more than I 0 years, I've found it interesting-and sad-to see the effect that money and status have on ballplayers and their wivesmyself included. No matter how committed to the Lord we may be, there' something intox icating about fame and wealth. It's almost as though you become your own segment of society, dri fting away from the heartaches and struggles most people in this country face every day. Bobby and I have been f011Lmate to have experienced both sides of the spectrum in a short time. We understand what Paul meant when he said, "I have learned the secret of being content ... whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4: 11 - 13). Our story isn't exactly the Cinderella version of life in Maj or League Baseball, but I don't think that version exists. There is little glamour, recognition, or monetary reward in our lives right now, but every clay we have the peace that surpasses all understanding. That peace stems from knowing that in God's eyes we are a success. That's much better than anything baseball and its fleeting fame can ever offer. D

SP0f1 f S SPEC rRUM â&#x20AC;˘ MAY/..JUN E Âˇ1993

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Part 3 ofa 3-part introduction of the expansion Colorado Rockies

• A Winner at the ,-op By John Long OCTOBER 27, 1992. DENVER, CO. . "The Colorado Rockies today amwunced that Don Baylor has been named the first major league field manager in club histOI)'. "

~TH THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, Don Baylor was rewarded for a lifetime of hard work and courage. As early as 1962 and as far away as Clarkesville, a mostly black section of Austin, Texas, Baylor was stri ving to achieve. First, it was the struggle to be allowed to attend previously allwhite 0. Henry Junior High in Austin. Once admitted, he was one of just three black students. Next, Baylor entered Stephen F. Austin High School, another formerly all-white school. Baylor had to request a chance to play on Austin's baseball team as a sophomore. His aggressivenes got him a chance to try; his talent got him on the team. He didn't play much that year- his coach had never coached a black player. "He probably hadn't ever seen a black student either," Baylor says. The winds of change were blowing through America, though. When his coach moved on to another school, Baylor came under the influence of Frank Seale, who clearly changed his life. He took time to teach Don the intricacies of the game and made him captain his senior year. When Baylor went to the World Series in 1987, he invited Seale to attend as his gue t. It took a while for Austin High to accept Don Baylor, but he made many friends there. One was Sharon Connoll y, the governor's daughter. "I remember how excited Sharon was on November 22, 1963," he recalls. "School was to be let out early because her father was to esco1t a special visitor to the state capitalPresident John Kennedy. But he never made it to Austin. The prin-

..&. Noted for leadership and his knack for winning, Don Baylor means good news for the new kids on the Rockies.

: cipal announced over the PA that ' the President and the Governor had been shot in Dallas. He made the announcement before telling her. I could hear her screaming : two classrooms away. I'll never : forget Sharon's screams." • After high school, Baylor was : drafted second by Baltimore, : signed to a $7,500 contract, and : dispatched along with number one : pick Bobby Grich to Bluelield, : West Virginia. His manager was ' Joe Altobelli, who turned out to be : the perfect baseball father ror : Baylor- preparing him to handle : both the pre sure of the game and the opposing pitchers' curveballs.

"Alto taught me the impo11ance of good work habits. He taught us to respect the game. He was a friend and teacher. I had a lot of growing up to do, and he helped me get there," Baylor recalls. He at o taught Baylor something about hitting, as he led the league in batting (.346), hits (85), runs scored (50), stolen bases (26), and triples (8), on the way to being named player of the year. Making his way through the Baltimore farm system was easier than cracking the big club. There was a roadblock named Frank Robinson. The outlield of Paul Blair, Don Buford, and Robinson didn't need Baylor, so it was back to the minors. During this 1970 layover in Rochester, Baylor stroked 22 home runs, drove in I07 runs, and hit .327. On September 8, 1970, he received ''the call." Along with Johnny Oates (now O's manager), Baylor was brought up to the big show. In his first major league at-bat, Baylor hit a bases-loaded, tworun single-the first of many clutch hits in a 19-year career that included three consecutive World Series appearances ( 198688) with three different teams. Along the way, Baylor rang up some impressive numbers2, 135 hits, I,276 RB I, and 338 home runs. He was the AL MYP in 1979 and won the Roberto Clemente award while displaying class, professionalism, and faith at every stop. Faith came early for Baylor. The one place he found peace from the pressure of crossing the color barrier was next door at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. "It was like a second home to me," Baylor recalls. With his dad a deacon and his mother the church clerk, it could hardly be any other way. Don remembers joining Sweet

SPORTS SPECoRUM • MAY/JUNE 1 993

Home at 7 years of age. "I stood up before the congregation and told why I wanted to be saved and baptized. My mother officially recorded the event in the church records on Mother's Day." As Baylor began to mature, his faith became more central to his life. He served for several years as Sunday school superintendent, overseeing the youngsters. One thing Baylor's faith helped him with was his temper. Once, when he was with the Red Sox, he was on the verge of lighting teammate Jim Rice. Dwight Evans, a fellow Christian, stepped between them and shared several Scripture verses to remind Baylor of God's Word in relation to lighting. "Now, I had carried my Bible everyw here for years, but I had never seen a Scripture telling me not to fight Jim Rice," says Baylor of that situation. "Dwight helped me through a lot, and I took him seriously. When he handed me his Bible, I read it and found solace. Enough solace to coexist with Jim Rice." As the inaugural manager of the Rockies, Baylor will be coexisting in the baseball world with a number of pros who helped him on his journey to Denver. People like Frank Robinson, the assistant to the general manager of the Orioles, who says of Baylor, "He's typical of the old Orioles' style. Fundamentally sound, tough, aggressive, and always willing to listen. There's only one way to describe Don Baylor- he's awinner!" D 29

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Catching Up 'With

•••

By Tom Felten

~RY

This year he' ll run his seventh annual golf tourney to benefit the Society. Great athletes like John

~~le guy with baseball in the

Florida's freshest catch of the major pro spOits variety. He appreciates the new lifestyle. "I blood. What proves he's likable? Well, he once received the prestiwanted to have more time with my gious "Good Guy Award" from family. l didn't want to have as many separations. NY Press Stats Glance Photographers That's not the luxury (1986). And, of l' ve had the last 18 -Caught 2,066 major league seasons, when I've course, it takes a lot games during his career. Only Bob Boone (2,225) left and wouldn't see to impress a New and Carlton Fisk (2,199) Y01-ker. What indithat home for the have caught more next 7 months." cates that baseball is -During 18 seasons he hit coursing through his Gary is happy 324 home runs and com· about being at the capillaries? Anyone piled 1,225 RBI -Holds National League homestead with his who wraps up 18 records for putouts by a wife Sandy, and outstanding seasons catcher (11 ,319) and for of major league ball their three children, chances accepted (12,538) Christy 14, Kimmy and then simply Awards/Honors: - Named to the National 12, and D.J. 8. changes unifonns League All-Star Team 11 and moves up to the But the retired times receiver is also announcing booth -Won the All-Star game must be single-mindpumped about the MVP award in 1981 and ed. (Double, triple, 1984 Marlins, and he feels - Received three Gold and homer-minded that they're primed Glove awards too-for that matter.) to be a successful -Was the Danny Thompson When Gary hung · franchise. "This Award winner, given by up his cleats last organization is very Baseball Chapel, in 1988 - Roberto Clemente Award year, his career committed. They recipient in 1988, awarded may not have a ended with the same by Major League Baseball world championship team he debuted Most Memorable with: Montreal. In on the field in 1993, Career Moment: between, he played "There are a lot of memo· but they have clone a rable moments. When we for the Mets, the tremendous job of won the World Series in Giants, and the putting personnel 1986. I had two MVP Dodgers. He was a together who are awards in the All-Star National League going to be competigames. And my very last at bat in the major kind of guy. tive. That's what leagues was a double off So now that his you try to establish the wall, which turned out in your first couple new fulltime job is to be the game winning of years." doing color comrun, as we beat the Cubs, mentary on TV on September 27, one to At age 39, Carter nothing."O broadcasts of basemust go back to the ball, he's still in the mid 1970s to recall good old NL, right? Bingo! his first few years in the big But he won't be describing leagues. His impressive rookie season in I 975, when he was Larry Walker tape-measure homers or other Expo exploitsnamed The Sporting News unless his old Montreal club is Rookie of the Year, was an indifacing the Florida Marlins. cation of great things to come. But Gary's life has not consistCatter, who will be working with play-by-play man Jay ed of total happiness. His mother Randolph, is "only doing 110" died of leukemia in 1966 at the age of 37, when he was I 2. home and away games for

E DMUND CARTER

is a

/::J _,.,~PJ't,~'L.:vl~~ ~;.;-;21

will tear up the fairways for charity to help raise nearly $100,000 for the cause. Gary has raised almost

l~ro~B~a:s:eb:a~II~P:Ia:v:e~r~~---:----:::~. "When I lost my mother, I really didn't understand why a loving God would take away someone so clear," he says. "I did some soul-searching fur a IIUIIIber of years." When the future baseball standout went to an Expos spring training camp in 1973, a teammate led him to Christ. "I realized there was a void, and I wanted to have the peace he had," Carter recalls. "I asked Christ into my life and started growing from there." While Gary grew in his faith, he also began looking for opportunities to reach out to others. For the past several years he has been acti vely in volved in the Leukemia Society of America.

$2.5 million to help the Society. "It's very gratifying," he says. "Especially since I lost my mother to the disease." Carter may be participating in the tournament too-he was the 1990 Bob Hope Pro-Am Champ. But Gary is a different champion too-a champion for Clu·ist. "I know that Jesus Christ is the reason for my ability and the reason for me having the career I had. It's all to glmify Him." One of his favorite verses is John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The former catcher has caught on to a lifetime commitment to his Savior. Baseball may make his hea11 beat faster, but Jesus Christ has changed his life. And, oh yes, Christ may just be the real reason Gary is such a likable guy. D

The Cartea' File • Was an All·American high school football player who would have played at UCLA if he hadn't torn the ligaments in his knee during his senior year in high school. • Is an avid baseball card collector who has over 100,000 cards in his collection. • Went on only one date with someone other than his high school sweetheart (now his wife) and had "the worst time I ever had." • Reads the Bible more than any other book or publication. • Had double knee surgery about 6 months ago, and the prognosis is "that I don't have to catch anymore." • Enjoys "mellow music-people like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and NewSong." D

SPORTS S P ECTRUM • M A Y/JUNE 1993

A.llll.NG

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OUT

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They're Doing What at

Halfti~ne?

An Open Letter to Sports Executives

• By Tom Felten

Dear Sports Execs: What ever happened to the GA ME? It seems that at every pro-and some amateur-sporting event I watch or attend, my enjoyment of the action is negatively affected by the antics of the E-Team: as in "Entertainment Team." And I' m not alone in my dismay. Here's an excerpt from a recent letter: "Could you tell us the reactions of Christian football players to Michael Jackson's lewd performance during halftime at the Super Bowl? It's important for kids (including mine) to know that not everyone approved." Michael is a legend. But that statue-like pose he struck at the beginning of his gig seemed to last longer than the 15 1/2 minutes of actual football action (adding up all plays from start to finish) during the game. Unfot1tmately, he finally broke the pose. What happened next could best be summed up by that infamous movie title, Dirty Dancing. Perhaps Vulgar Dancing would be more exact. Sure, he ended with a touching song as lots of wide-eyed kids gathered 'round- but that's the problem. Those kids and millions like them at home had seen him, seconds before, perform some primetime indecencies. Not healthy. What ever happened to the GAME? More on dancing. Last winter, I attended a Division I men's basketball game featuring two Top 25 schools. Good game. Raunchy entertainment. At halftime some cheerleaders who had changed into black mesh stockings with skin-tight black leotards slinked and writhed on the tloor-completing a series of suggestive gyrations and positions. If the refs had been out

~~w

there, they would have called an offensive foul. Was this necessary? No. Does it add to the GAME? Not one iota. Also during this event, I was subjected to music blaring out of mammoth speakers. Does the music really need to be so deafeni ng? If I wanted to go somewhere and shout at my friend so he could hear me, I would stand underneath a jet revving its engines. But that wasn't the worst part. The music had lyrics that were, at best, rated R. I'd rather not recall the theme of one Recently, II AC/DC tune, but I do know it Durbin proposed graphically stated what degraded an example for thing the lead singer was going to ning smokeless do to his girlfriend. League Baseball are All this and more at your local heroes and role models for our colfege game. Once again, what nation's you ng people," Durbin ever happened to the GAME? said. "Banning smokeless tobacco Recently I talked with a man at all levels of the game will help who had decided not to buy his ensure that the message the playusual season ticket package for ers are sending to our kids is posithe NBA team in his city. Why? tive and healthful." Because he was offended by the Yes, smokeless tobacco is dan• gerous, and it's a good idea to . .. ahem . .. "entertainment." He told me that he had comdiscourage its use. But some of the "entertainment" that seeps plained to an acquaintance in the team's front office and was into various sports activities is informed that "they had to feaalso harmful-encouraging moral decay, evoking negative and ture these things as part of a league entertainment package." harmful thoughts, and forcing What we need are some deciunwanted sights and sounds on sion-makers at the top who are children (and adults) who simply willing to say, "The muck stops came to see a game. These activihere," to remove the dit1 and sli me ties cannot be legislated out of in spot1s entertainment, and to existence, so we need the support replace it with decent, fun stuff. of spot1s leaders like you to help S P O R TS S P ECTRUM • MAY/ JUN E 1 993

clea" th;,gs "P· Look at the NFL. We fans feel powerless to do

h~~~~~;,~. ~~~t:~~~~u1~~~sc:~~;

it this league will discourage players from praying on the field (Oooh! A damaging act), and stop TO celebrations (A hei nous crime if there ever was one), but they allow women to wear little more than a handkerchief as they prance in front of TV cameras. They allow vulgar dancing, and they blare anti-social lyrics though stadium speakers. I' m a sports fan. I go to the game for the pure enjoyment of athletics. If I bring my children along, I don't want to have to cover their eyes and ears every time there's a break in the action. Remove the visual titillation. Throw out the raunchy behavior. Chuck the high-volume-vulgarlyrics music. I just want to enjoy the GAME. Sincerely, A Disappointed Fan Tired of the offensive stuff at athletic contests? Sign the statement below and fax it (616-9575741) or mail it (SS, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501) to us. We'll send them to tl1e league offices ofmajor pro sports and the NCAA .

r:- -----,

Please remove vulgar I I and offensive entertain1ment from your sporting I Make the game I I events. more enjoyable for me I andmyfamily. I I I Sincerely, I I L.;; _ _ _ _ _ _ ;J 31

1Dillarant Kind ol Magazine • It startedout os a typical NBA clash, the high·flying Phoenix Suns and the up·and·coming OrlandoMagic. The RoundMound of Rebound, Charles Barkley, versusThe Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal. What the fans saw that day was something legends are made out of. • The Magicwere running their half-court offense. They workedthe ball to forward TomTolbert, whofired anerrant shot. Suddenly, out of nowhere, come Number 32. With one sweeping, thunderous motion, The Shaq brought the crowdtoits feet. He tookthe slamdunk toanother level. Basketball fans had seen Or. J's high-flying, take-off-from-the-free-throw-line dunk, they had seenDominique Wilkins' windmill jam, they hadseenMichael Jordan's soaring lean-in dunk, and theyhad seenDarryl Dawkins shatter some glass with his ChocolateThunder. • But Shaquille did somethingnew. He brought the entire hoop down. He didn't hangonthe rim- he lowered it. He slammedwith suchauthority that the entire basket support came waffling downin a heaping hydraulic mess. Definitely a different kindof dunk. • Sports Spectrum doesn't claim to be a Shaquille O'Neal power jam, but it is definitelya different kind of magazine. We take you into the lockerroom but spare youthe locker roomlanguage. We talktopeoplewhoare not just good- they're good examples. We feature athletes whose thinking goes beyond sports tosomething more important- to matters of faith in God. We bring you sports people who live for more thancham· pionships-they live for Jesus Christ. • Sports Spectrum: Lookfor the difference. Di scovery

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