Thursday, March 20, 1986 Daily Nebraskan Page 9 life much diff y u b so Poland, says former Mustier By Jeff Apel Senior Reporter Curtis Moore's first impressions of Poland were so bad that he almost came back to the United States the minute he stepped off the plane. Moore, a former Nebraska forward, had just arrived in Krakow, Poland, when he began to notice the Polish military armed with machine guns parading around the airport. That startled him so much that he almost went home to New York. "I knew Poland was a communist country, but I never expected to see anything like that," Moore said. "I felt trapped because I didn't know I woul i be behind a wall." . Moore said that as a member of the Hupuik-Krakow Polish basketball team, he was seen as an all-star because of his playing. The Polish people, he said, used to chant "Curtis Moore, Krakow" when they saw him on the street because of his 25 point-per-game average on the court. "I was viewed as kind of the Harlem Globetrotter of Poland," Moore said. "Polish people had never seen anybody just dribble up the court and shoot the ball, so when I started doing it without passing at all they really liked it." Moore said that the biggest barrier he had to overcome playing Polish bas ketball was his need to find a way to communicate. The first two months he was there, Moore said, he spoke with very few people because he didn't have a A g u ide to f i rid i ng a Nebraska's athletic hierarchy is facing some difficult questions these days. The most difficult of these questions is who to hire as the new men's basket ball coach. The answer to that question, in part, depends on the seriousness of the commitment they are willing to make in continuing the progress of the Neb raska basketball program. Are they willing to spend the money to hire a top-notch coach or are they going to settle for someone of lesser quality to save money? Bob Asmussen No one knows for sure, but one thing is certain: the new coach will not make more money than Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne. That puts the limit at about the $80,000 a year range for the new basketball coach. Certainly not enough to attract a Bobby Knight or Denny Crum and probably not enough to attract a John Chaney or a Dick Versace. Without spending gobs of money, what does the Nebraska basketball job have to offer? Several things. First, of all, you have a beautiful arena to play in, the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Secondly, Nebraska has a winning tradition in its overall sports program, something that the basketball program should be a part of. And finally, the Nebraska job gives a coach a chance to build something big. Nebraska is ripe for a winning basket ball program and the new coach might be able to take that enthusiasm and turn it in his favor. I've made a list of coaches that might be able to put Nebraska in the NCAA tournament every year. These are people the administration should con sider when making their decision. Some of the people are almost unattainable, but some of the others Nebraska would have a good chance at landing. Happy shopping. Tom Baack, Nebraska assis tant coach Baack has the definite translator. Even after he was given a translator, Moore said that he still ran into com munication problems on the court. "The coach would call a timeout and he'd be yelling instructions in Polish, so I couldn't understand a word he said," Moore said. "I guess I was doing all right, though, because he never even tried to say anything to me during the timeouts." Moore said that he was forced to end his Polish basketball career when he realized that he wasn't making enough money to support himself during the offseason. By Polish standards, Moore said, his salary of 50,000 zlotys per month was wealthy. . But when he checked the exchange rate he said that he was getting paid about $80 a month in American dollars. "It's unfortunate that I had to leave," Moore said. "The basketball season wasn't even over yet, but I just couldn't afford to stay there because I wanted to come home to the United States during the off-season. Moore said that Polish basketball is not comparable to the American style of basketball. Poland, he said, plays a lot slower style of basketball and doesn't have the professional level of talent found in the National Basketball Associatioa "I was named the Polish basketball Player of the Year and that was after I was cut by the (Portland) Trailblaz ers," Moore said. "There is different leagues you can play in, but the one support of the players. He has said he will not apply for the job. Baack has been a good recruiter for Nebraska. The feelings of his players show that he is liked and respected. The main problem with hiring Baack is that he is consi dered part of the Iba regime, a regime that ended under fire. Bob Wenzel, Jacksonville Wenzel is probably at the top of Neb raska's list right now. A negative for Wenzel is his overall record with the Dolphins, 69-75. Wenzel had a brain aneurism last season, but has had a remarkable recovery. Jacksonville plays an up-tempo game that Nebraska fans would enjoy. John Chaney, Temple Cha ney would be a great pick if Nebraska The hardest thing about break ing into professional music is well, break ing into professional music. So if you're looking for an oppor tunity to turn your musical talent into a full-time perform ing career, take a good 100K at ine Army. It's not all parades and John Philip Sousa. Army bands rock, waltz and boogie as well as march, and they perform before concert au diences as well as spectators. With an average that I was in wasn't at all comparable to the NBA." Moore said that he was one of three Americans playing in the Polish baske tall leagues. "Polish people are jealous of Ameri cans. They think they are rich," Moore said. "There is so few Americans play ing basketball over there, though, that anytime one is there they really like them." Moore said that, generally, he found Polish people to be cold and unfriendly. He attributes that to the fact that Pol ish people are constantly under the threat of the Communist government. He also said the fact that he was black didn't help to open communication barriers any. "Polish people don't see too many black people so when they saw me, they used to stop and just turn around to stare," Moore said. "I was somewhat of an oddity to them." Moore said that he has no immediate plans to return to Poland, because of the low Polish pay scale. He's hoping to continue his career in either Spain or Austria, and perhaps one day get another shot at the NBA. If his dream of playing professional basketball in the United States is not fulfilled, Moore said he will always be thankful for the basketball opportuni ties he has had. "Basketball has gotten me where I am today," he said. "It has shown me that I can't take anything for granted, including such things like drinking water you can't even do that in Poland." basket bal I coach could get him. He's a good bench coach, has good contacts in the bigger metropolitan areas on the East Coast and is very personable. The main ques tion other than money for Chaney is whether or not Nebraska would be wil ling to hire a black basketball coach. Kevin Mackey, Cleveland State One thing can be said about Mackey, he sure ain't boring. He insulted Bobby Knight after beating him in the NCAA tournament. Mackey and the Vikings are two wins away from the Final Four. What fun he'll be there. A problem with Mackey is the question of how many of his current players would be eligible under the new academic guidelines that will soon take effect. Mackey's teams play playground style basket pmai mm nAnnc?ruiMi rn? rvin U LfLi of 40 performances a month, there's read music, performing in the Army also the opportunity for travel could be your big break. Write: not only across America, but possibly Chief, Army Bands Office, Fort abroad. Benjamin Harrison, IN 46216-5005. Most important, you can Or call toll free 1 -800-US A-ARMY. expect a first-rate fessional environment from your instructors, facilities and fellow v 'J musicians. The Army -i' " A tMvnrnmc fh can help you instruc- & nun. anu u you qual ify, even help you ,M' -r;; t . , Hani-, mrnii " ...v.w!i- ' ... i 1 1 lit 1 1 u VI Curtis Moore dunks the ball during last season's picture day at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Moore has just returned to the United States after playing professional basketball in Poland. ball, meaning they shoot running one handers and don't have Steve Alford form on every shot. Charlie Spoonhour, Southwest" Missouri State Spoon has SMSU one game away from the NIT Final Four. His team is fun to watch and they win. Spoonhour is a former Nebraska assis tant coach and has good contacts in the junior colleges. If he's ready to make a move, Nebraska might be as good, a place as any. His name hasn't been rumored, which is a good sign that he's probably one of the leading candidates. Jim Boyle, St. Joseph's Boyle got St. Joe's to the second round of the NCAA tournament before losing to here comes that name again Cleve o pro - nr jj v n. your federally-insured student loans. Ifyoucansight- f?r?n X Mfitl, if ' c - 1 - David CreamerDaily Nebraskan for U N L land State. Boyle had the benefit of Maurice Martin on his team this year. Can Boyle be as successful without Martin? Sure, why not? Lafayette Stribling, Mississip pi Valley State Did anyone catch Duke's opening round NCAA near nightmare against MVS? If you did, you might have noticed this guy wearing about the nicest looking three-piece suit in the world. Talk about a good dresser. But, Calvin Klein was never noted for his coaching. Stribling got the Delta Devils through their confer ence tournament and scared the living heck out of Duke before losing by seven. Asmussen is a senior journalism major and Daily Nebraskan sports editor. CFy mm mi c